The afterglow of the setting sun slanted over the wide streets of Yulong City.
Pedestrians on the road were driven to both sides by the guards, but they didn't dare to complain at all.
Because the guards were escorting a carriage slowly passing by, the flame emblem on the side wall of the carriage clearly indicated that this was the carriage of the San Lorenzo family, the royal family of the empire.
People could only watch the carriage drive into the gate of the imperial prime minister's private estate with curious and respectful eyes.
The moment Baron Heidegger, who had been waiting for a long time, saw the carriage open, he hurried up to greet him, bowed and saluted:
"Your Majesty, welcome to the Heidegger Manor!"
Emperor Reinhard stepped down from the step stool, smiled at Baron Heidegger, and said, "Prime Minister, you invited me this time, you won't be preparing another sweet potato meal, right?"
"Of course not." Baron Heidegger stepped forward and made an inviting gesture, and said, "Tonight's dinner is prepared according to the highest standards, and you will definitely not be disappointed."
Emperor Reinhard nodded in satisfaction and walked towards the manor.
Baron Heidegger followed up, and said again: "But your majesty, although sweet potatoes are indeed not worthy of your status, this crop has been planted on a large scale in the northern border, and the yield is extremely high. I think you may You can reconsider Maester Sonny's suggestion back then."
Emperor Reinhard frowned immediately, and said, "Let's discuss this later."
Baron Heidegger didn't say much anymore. Obviously, this was not his real purpose of inviting the emperor this time.
The two walked into the banquet hall, the long tables were already filled with all kinds of delicacies, and the air was filled with the intoxicating smell of boutique champagne.
Emperor Reinhard's expression relaxed again, and he sat down on the main seat without hesitation.
It was only at this time that he realized that there were only three sets of tableware on the table, so he wondered:
"Heidegger, won't your people attend this dinner?"
"They are lowly in status and behave vulgarly, so they won't bother you."
"Then who is this third tableware for?"
"There is another guest coming tonight, I hope you don't mind."
"Really?" Emperor Reinhardt took a deep look at Baron Heidegger and said, "What about others? They won't be late, right?"
"Of course not." Baron Heidegger said respectfully, "It's just because he didn't inform you in advance, it's really rude, so he needs your permission before he dares to attend."
Emperor Reinhard smiled and waved his hand, and said, "Let him come out."
Only then did Baron Heidegger clap his hands, and the attendants in the hall retreated one after another. Then, an old man in a red priest's robe slowly walked in.
"Nopton?" Emperor Reinhard raised his brows and asked in surprise, "Didn't Gregory send you to the Western Region?"
Cardinal Nopton stepped forward, first saluted respectfully, then sat down on the left hand side of Emperor Reinhardt, and said:
"Your Majesty, you should also know that I have had some unpleasant experiences with the Duke of St. Grian, so why bother to make fun of yourself at this time."
Emperor Reinhard smiled comprehensibly. Of course he knew about the dark history of the other party. At the time, this incident was quite a big deal, and it was not a secret among the high-level empire.
"Then, Cardinal Knopton, you hid in Yulong City and didn't go to the western border, aren't you afraid that Gregory will punish you if you find out?"
"I'm afraid." Pnaughton nodded with a smile, but there was no trace of fear on his face. "That's why I asked the Prime Minister to invite Your Majesty here and seek refuge with you in person!"
"My protection?" Emperor Reinhard seemed to understand something, and said leisurely, "I may not be able to protect you alone, it depends on your own strength."
Nopton immediately understood, and said: "Your Majesty, I have been staying in Yulong City these days, and I have secretly visited the deacons of the Church's Council of Cardinals. They all agree that Pope Gregory is playing tricks and running amok, which caused the current tense situation. and therefore no longer fit to continue as Pope!"
The so-called College of Cardinals is actually similar to the Senate of the Empire. It is the highest authority of the church. Every pope must be voted by members of the College of Cardinals. conduct impeachment.
So, hearing that Nopton claimed to have quietly won the support of the Cardinals, Emperor Reinhardt couldn't hide his surprise, but soon he stabilized his mind, pretended to smile plainly, and said :
"Cardinal Knopton, since you have already gained the support of the Cardinals, just mobilize them to impeach Gregory. Why do you still need to seek my asylum?"
Nopton sighed and said, "Because I'm not sure how to convince the Paladin knights."
Emperor Reinhard's heart moved, and he immediately understood Nopton's concerns.
This Paladin knight is the head of the Knights Templar and also a diehard loyalist of Pope Gregory. Nopton said that he was not sure of persuading this man, presumably because he was worried that Gregory would refuse to accept the impeachment of the Cardinals, and even launch a The Knights Templar adopted a resolution to suppress the Cardinals by force.
Therefore, Nopton came to seek the asylum of Emperor Reinhard this time, obviously wanting to use the power of the royal family to suppress the Knights Templar and prevent Gregory from jumping over the wall in a hurry.
Knowing this, Emperor Reinhard hesitated immediately.
The reason why he didn't express his position on the murder of the Duke of St. Hilde before was that he didn't want to get involved in the battle between the church and the northern border.
In his view, the church is certainly hateful, but the northern border also needs to beware of repression, so it is the most beneficial countermeasure to let the two parties fight dog to dog.
In order to maintain a neutral attitude, he even did not hesitate to annoy Queen Midella away.
So at this moment, I naturally don't want to be pulled into this vortex by Nopton.
"Cardinal Knopton, the "Glory Code" clearly stipulates that nobles are not allowed to interfere in the church's internal affairs, so I'm afraid I can't do anything about your request." Emperor Reinhardt spread his hands and said helplessly.
Nopton seemed to have expected that the emperor would shirk, and his tone suddenly became deep:
"Your Majesty, if you are unwilling to lend a helping hand, then I have no choice but to go to the St. Hilde family. I believe they will be willing to cooperate with me and make Gregory pay the due price..."
boom!
Hearing this, Emperor Reinhard seemed to have been stabbed in the throat, and immediately put the wine glass heavily on the table, and his expression became extremely dignified.
Nopton didn't seem to realize that he had angered the emperor next to him, and he still picked up his glass leisurely and took a sip.
The hall fell silent in an instant, only the sound of flames beating in the fireplace could be heard.
(end of this chapter)