Kingdom’s Bloodline

Chapter 725: Figure it out (Part 1)

In Kongming Palace, in Zhan En's room, Thales sat in the main hall, silent.

"Doyle's family, have you finished checking the food?"

Zhan En's voice sounded coldly, without concealing his disgust and impatience:

"I wonder if there's any poison inside? Is there any note stuffed with a message?"

Behind Zhan En, D.D in the side hall opposite held cutlery in his hands and lifted his face from the plates on the table.

"Huh? Oh - it's almost done. It's almost done."

Doyle's mouth was full of oil. After hearing this, he gave Zhan a vicious look. He scooped up a large spoonful of mashed potatoes from the messy dinner plate and bit into his mouth, as if he was going to crush the spoon:

"Please wait a moment. After all, you are the Grand Duke and a big shot! Your status is noble and important. If something happens, hey, I, who come from a small family in Jinghe River, cannot afford to live in a shabby situation - why don't you just have some fun first? My little stuffed bear to keep from getting bored?”

Zhan turned his head to look at the stuffed bear on the dining table and pursed his lips in disgust.

He suppressed the burning sensation in his stomach and looked at the clock again:

It's been an hour since meal time.

Over there, D.D ate another bite of roasted meat, not forgetting to let out a sigh of admiration.

The Duke of South Bank finally couldn't bear it anymore:

"Is this how you inspect meals for Your Highness?"

"Hey, you're right!"

D.D took a bite from left to right, not forgetting to feed the little bear on the table ("Why are you such a picky eater? No wonder you don't grow up! Tsk tsk, if you don't want to try it first, how will the Duke eat it? Be good, open your mouth, ah Ahh..."):

"I was like that at the beginning - ahem, sorry, I'll be fine soon."

Under Thales' sudden and sudden glare, D.D fainted mid-sentence.

Doyle bowed his head obediently, put down his - or rather Zhan's - meal, and hid far away.

Zhan and Thales looked at each other, and the atmosphere in the room suddenly changed, falling into suffocating silence.

"that's too regretful."

Zhan sighed.

"You must know that my father and I relied heavily on him - Lord Brennan passed away, and the Emerald City's sorrow cannot be filled."

Thales sat quietly and did not answer. The glass full of wine was placed in his hand, but he did not take a sip.

"Promise me, catch the murderer and bring justice."

"Of course," Thales said softly, "If I can wait until that day."

Jenn nodded.

"What's going on in Emerald City?"

"It's worse."

Thales raised his head with cold eyes:

"More than a dozen large business groups have united to see me and begged me to take measures - the market disorder and price instability have begun to affect their income and future plans.

"The Emerald Legion paid their salaries on time, and it was finally stable. However, another group of Construction Department officials who had received the news and knew that they might be owed wages were very dissatisfied. Someone planned to make a big news during the celebration - but they were discovered in time. Still negotiating.”

"Oh?" Zhan gracefully picked up a glass of wine to satisfy the hunger in his belly.

"Trouble has happened again in the Blood Bottle Gang. The gangs are fighting, chaos is happening on the streets, and it is gradually beginning to affect ordinary citizens. The legend of the water ghoul is spreading again...

"In addition, the morale of the trial hall is low. There has been a backlog of security cases recently, and the prison is almost full. There are only a dozen prisoners in one room. The police department complains every hour, saying that it is about to become a gang branch. And their control effect is limited.

"The head of the Building and Construction Department happened to be ill, and his deputy couldn't make up his mind. The order to cut expenditures and reduce administration was delayed, and once I got angry and wanted to replace him..."

Thales snorted coldly:

"As for the Financial Secretary and the City Hall, they are still arguing. It seems that if they just shrink their heads and kick the ball to others and throw the responsibility to other departments, the matter will be over and the problem will be solved by itself."

Regardless of the overwhelming flood outside, one day it will eventually flood us.

Thales thought so and was in a bad mood.

After listening to this long list, Zhan En nodded slightly, and then laughed out loud.

"That's a bunch of assholes, right?"

Thales looked at him.

I saw Zhan En shaking his wine glass and sighing with emotion:

"At first they obeyed orders and seemed loyal, which made you quite satisfied as the master, thinking that they could perform their duties and help you rule smoothly.

"But soon, you will find that they will make problems in almost every possible link - the smallest details - whether intentionally, unintentionally, self-interested, or following the trend, just like Borers can always find cracks and hollows in buildings to build their nests.”

Zhan's eyes tightened:

“So as time went by, it became mottled from top to bottom, with flaws and loopholes everywhere, and even if you tried your best, you could only patch it up and paste it here and there.

"In fact, many times, you can only be led by their pretentiousness and cunning schemes. Even if you know about it, you can't act on it.

"In the end, you find that even if you sit at the highest place, you can only comply with the operating principles and general directions of this system and this machine, try to draw as much as possible from it, try to use the parts that can still be used, take advantage of the situation, go with the flow, but you are unable to turn back. sky."

After Zhan finished speaking, he was silent for a long time and looked at Thales.

But the prince just looked at him quietly and didn't reply.

Zhan lowered his head, thought carefully for a while, and suddenly sighed, as if he had made some decision.

"That's all, I'm just going to write a letter." The Duke put down his wine glass, walked to the desk, sat down, and picked up a pen. "You take it to the Popon family, who are in the funeral business. They owe Kevin Dill. After receiving the letter, I will withdraw 10,000 gold coins from you. Of course, if you are charming enough, you may be able to get more."

Thales' eyes moved.

"Why."

"Please use this money to bury Mr. Brennan properly, and make sure he has a peaceful death so that the people of the Emerald City can be at peace." Zhan didn't even raise his head, just writing quickly, "You can use the rest to fill the financial deficit. , to overcome the difficulties temporarily.”

Speaking of this, Zhan En's eyes moved:

"Also, get rid of that Lausanne II. I don't want to see him killing people and taking lives in my territory again, and he is lawless."

Thales picked up an untouched wine glass and rubbed it gently, but his eyes were locked on the other person.

"But if I don't bring your letter and go ask them for money myself, or even borrow money," he sarcastically said, "then I won't be able to even beg for a copper, right?"

"That's not necessarily true," Zhan En said without raising his head, not anxious or annoyed, "Maybe if you show the ancient imperial sword that Old Bones of the Western Wasteland gave you, they will agree?"

Thales sneered.

"Huge debt, declining market, disordered prices, poor public security, reneging bureaucracy, and the Emerald City in chaos," Thales counted one thing in a harsh tone, "Ten thousand gold coins can What's the matter?"

"That's your problem," Zhan continued writing, but turned his attention to the guest, "Regent Thales?"

Thales just played with the wine glass and remained silent.

"As a city lord, do you really know Brennan?"

Zhan En frowned slightly.

Thales thought of the suicide note and sighed with emotion:

"His last wish was to be buried sparingly, leaving no tombstone or writing. The simpler, the better. Even his ashes would be scattered into the sea."

Zhan's writing paused.

"That's it, a sparse burial and frugality."

He put down his pen and frowned at the half-written letter, his eyes fixed on the phrase 'a rich burial'.

After a few seconds, Zhan En sighed, picked up the pen again, and continued writing.

"It doesn't matter, I will still write this letter, and you can still use it to get the money. Even if there is no funeral, Brennan died unexpectedly, and people are panicked. Whether it is the trial hall or the entire Emerald City officialdom, you need to be comforted."

Talspi was smiling but not smiling:

"So, if a few more people die, Emerald City's debt can be solved?"

Zhan hummed and shook his head:.

"I believe you know who killed Brennan and who is eager to add fuel to the fire and use you as a puppet."

"Brennan committed suicide."

Thales' words made the tip of Zhan's pen tremble.

"Drinking poisoned wine in his study."

"Wasn't he killed? Or was he forced to commit suicide?" The Duke of Nan'an frowned in suspicion.

"He also left a suicide note," Thales ignored the other party's doubts. "A suicide note full of regret and pain, condemned by conscience, and admitting that the case was wrongly concluded."

When the prince said this, he raised his head, his eyes like daggers, looking directly at the duke:

"Including the case files and evidence of the old Duke's assassination."

Zhan En's face remained as usual, and he started writing again and signed the signature.

But Thales kept staring at him with burning eyes.

"Zhan, tell me now, what happened back then," he said softly, but with great strength, "before I have to pursue it and the truth comes to light?"

Zhan was silent for a while.

"Then what are you waiting for?"

His attitude cooled down and he was uncompromising:

"Get to the bottom of it, complete the arbitration, and arrest me in prison - a real prison. I heard that the interior of the Prison of Bones is quite grand..."

Thales smiled.

"It's come to this point, but you still won't let go. It seems that this is the crux of the problem."

"And you bite this issue to death until you bite it to pieces and dig out the so-called truth you want. Then what?" Zhan at the desk suddenly raised his head, "Let me destroy the Emerald City together? So that you can To come back from the ruins and achieve greatness as an emperor?"

After saying this, both of them were quiet for a while.

Thales looked at the wine glass, worried.

Zhan looked at the tip of the pen, his eyes fixed.

"You can keep the Emerald Legion."

Zhan En came back to his senses and couldn't help but wonder:

"What?"

Thales took a deep breath and put down the wine glass heavily.

"I said, you don't have to hand over military power to the royal family - of course, you still have to give up the right to recruit compulsory soldiers on the surface, but anyway, the recruitment system on the south coast is in name only, so you won't lose much."

Zhan En frowned and said tentatively:

"uh-huh?"

"Yongxing City will not interfere in the appointment and dismissal of bureaucrats and personnel, at least not too much. Of course, in this situation, their interference will only cause chaos."

"that's all?"

"Other conditions remain the same - I can ask Federico to stay away from you and stop causing trouble for you in the South Bank."

After Thales calmly stated the conditions, he looked at Zhan.

The Duke was silent for a long time, his eyebrows trembling slightly.

Finally, he took a breath and said seriously:

"Feder, he won't give up willingly."

Thales raised his eyebrows.

"Then he has to get through me first."

Zhan En hummed softly and pondered for a moment:

"What about taxes?"

Thales sighed in his heart.

Damn it.

Could he not be so sensitive about digital accounts?

"The officials under Mr. Qiuke Man are very professional," Thales said bravely, "I believe they will work with your staff to come up with a plan that takes into account fairness and efficiency and is in the interests of all parties..."

Sure enough, before he could finish speaking, Zhan En sneered.

"You know this isn't what I want."

"But you know this is what he wants," Taylor emphasized. "Deal?"

Zhan stared at him hard.

"Wait a few more days before coming back," he said, which greatly disappointed Thales. "Perhaps at that time, because of the changes in Emerald City, you will make a better proposal?"

Thales' expression turned cold.

"Zhann," the prince leaned back, "my patience has its limit."

"What a coincidence, so is the Emerald City."

Negotiations broke down.

Thales looked at Zhan with firm eyes and sighed deeply.

The room became quiet again, and for a while the only sound was the rustle of Zhan's letter.

"Brennan shouldn't die like this." After a long silence, Thales suddenly spoke.

Zhan En paused:

"It really shouldn't be."

"He is a good man, a good husband, and a good father." Thales thought of the other party's suicide note and was slightly lost in thought.

"Also a good inquisitor." Zhan added.

"He shouldn't have died in a meaningless political turmoil and official strife." Thales shook his head and sighed.

"Otherwise, politics itself is the meaning," Zhan En said without raising his head. "Whether it is strife or unity, it is just a process."

Thales shook his head disapprovingly.

“This is the price you have to pay in order to bring together a large group of people who have their own thoughts and are incompatible with each other to move towards the same destination,” Zhan En continued. “It’s helpless, heartless, powerless, and meaningless. "

Zhan En picked up the melted fire paint and looked at the prince:

“But it’s necessary and realistic.”

After saying this, the Duke lowered his head and put the letter into the envelope.

Thales frowned deeply.

Necessary and realistic?

Unknowingly, the sense of oppression and urgency that could only be felt in the Fuxing Palace appeared on him again.

"I want to give my seat to Heeley."

"Then more - what do you want?"

Zhan En was taking care of the envelope, his expression changed when he heard this, and he suddenly looked up!

Thales took a deep breath, feeling like he had just broken something in this room.

"I said that I have to govern the city as well as investigate and arbitrate cases, but I really don't have the skills to do it." The prince said solemnly like a diplomat, "So I decided to let Miss Cecilia participate in political affairs, and maybe go a step further. , take over as the city lord - after all, Emerald City has been named Kevin Dill for generations, and I should not overstep the bounds of the rules."

The more Zhan listened, the worse his expression became.

"Then you use my safety as a condition," he said coldly, "and leave the unsustainable problem of Emerald City to her?"

Thales shrugged, noncommittal.

"Then she would come to me and force me to give in," Zhan continued with a sneer, "or even worse, she would bite the bullet and beat her head to pieces with her own strength, even if she had to dance. "

"Maybe." Thales' heart sank as he thought of Xi Lai's appearance.

The two were silent for a while.

"It had to be his idea, right."

Zhan's tone was cold and he didn't say his name, but both of them knew who "he" was referring to.

"This is just a proposal, I'm still considering it," Thales looked at the other party and emphasized the second half of the sentence, "You know, weigh the pros and cons."

Zhan raised his eyes and breathed faster.

"I want to see Heeley, now."

The opponent's performance moved Thales's heart.

"Your Majesty the Duke, as far as I know, you are under arbitration investigation," he said in a business-like tone. "To avoid suspicion, you do not see outsiders."

Zhan frowned.

"real?"

He asked half rhetorically, half threatening.

"Yes. And the Emerald City is busy saving itself and stabilizing order," Thales raised his eyebrows, "You know."

The light in Zhan En's eyes flashed away.

He sneered.

"I thought you were smart, Thales."

"Oh, what do you say?"

Zhan picked up the pen again, was silent for a while, and continued writing.

"When he was a child, Feder broke a precious prophecy artifact and blamed it on the young Shilai. Then he stood aside and watched to see if I would stand up and take responsibility for her..."

Thales' expression changed slightly.

"If I admit my fault, it means that I behaved frivolously and destroyed the family property; if I allow Shire to be punished, it means that the eldest brother's guardianship is not good; if I plead that Federico did it, then it means that the eldest brother is weak and shirks the responsibility. Young brother..."

Zhan En looked sharply:

"And no matter which step I take, the entire family will be disappointed in their eldest son."

After hearing this version of the story, Thales thought for a long time.

"You are like a chess piece now, Thales. You can do whatever he wants you to do."

"But you don't realize," Zhan said sarcastically, "according to Federico's chess strategy, no matter how you move, you will lose."

After hearing this, Thales nodded silently.

"You and Federico, and perhaps Shiley, must not have 'retreat' and 'concession' in your dictionary of Kevin Deere," he sighed softly, "or in other words, you think these words can only Appears in other people's dictionaries, right?"

Zhan snorted coldly.

"You promised me, Thales," the Duke stared at Thales closely, "no matter how ugly things develop, Xilai will never be involved." Thales' eyes dimmed. "Then consider my proposal again," the prince said softly, "just as I am considering his proposal." Zhan En was silent for a long time. "I thought you were a good person before," Zhan En said expressionlessly, "it seems that I was wrong about this." Thales shrugged. "If I want to bring together a large group of people - or just two people with different thoughts and incompatible ideas to reach the same destination," Thales retorted, "then maybe I have to pay a price?" "Reality," the prince stood up and prepared to leave, "is also necessary." Zhan En did not speak, but picked up the wax step by step, poured it on the envelope, and began to stamp it. Thales did not delay any longer and turned around. There is not much to gain here. Or is it enough to gain? "I want him to die." Thales paused. He turned around:

"What?"

Zhan En put down the wax, his eyes were cold, and his whole body was full of momentum.

"All the above conditions are included, the Emerald Army, personnel appointments, taxes..." He almost bit his teeth, "but I want to add one more thing."

Zhan En raised his head suddenly, his eyes were as sharp as a sword:

"Federico, must-die."

Tales was stunned at first, and then frowned deeply.

Maybe he was wrong.

He looked at Zhan En:

Maybe the gains were beyond expectations.

The prince took a deep breath and tried to bargain:

"Exile abroad?"

Zhan En did not answer.

"Bone Prison?"

Zhan En did not change his face, but stared at him wholeheartedly, his eyes were uneasy.

"If it doesn't work..."

"It doesn't matter, you can think about it slowly," Zhan En interrupted him, without questioning, "If it doesn't work, you can also write to the Fuxing Palace and ask His Majesty what he says."

Tales frowned.

"But Emerald City can't wait..."

"This is what we just agreed on. The letter to the Popon family should be sent directly to old lady Toriel," Zhan En interrupted him with a cold snort. "They don't have much cash, and 30,000 is the limit. Of course, if you dare to pay less than 30,000, you can lead your troops to raid them. Not only do I have no objection, I will even find a reason for you afterwards."

The Duke of South Bank stood up and picked up two envelopes from the desk. The iris lacquer seal on them was extremely conspicuous.

"But for this second letter, send it to the three major guilds and several merchant groups in the textile, wine, and building materials industries. Can you get 100,000, or a promise that they will cut their meat to stabilize the market and market conditions - to solve your urgent needs."

Thales' eyelids jumped.

"That's all?"

Although he said so, Thales looked at Zhan En with surprise.

That's it?

Two letters, 130,000...

One tenth of the debt...

Is it that simple?

"This is my sincerity. Maybe it can help you figure out the next step."

Zhan En walked up to him and handed over the envelope, his eyes sharp.

"What if it's less than 100,000?"

"Then you can just bring your troops back and kill me." Zhan En said calmly.

Thales hesitated for a moment.

After a few seconds, he finished thinking and made up his mind to reach out for the letter, but Zhan En suddenly pulled his hand back and took back the envelope!

"And I hope that when you come back next time, you will also be sincere." He stared at Thales.

Thales swallowed his throat.

Well, although the choice is difficult.

But it's not nothing.

Thales exchanged glances with the other party, and the next second, the prince took away two letters.

"Should I say that you love your sister too much," Thales stuffed the letter into his arms, his eyes rolled, "or hate your brother too much?"

Zhan En smiled hypocritically.

"In any case," he turned around and walked to the windowsill, "Don't let Fed kill people in my city again, Thales."

His eyes fixed:

"Don't let him control you again, and don't give him more bargaining chips."

Thales walked to the door thoughtfully.

"But if he dies, the arbitration will disappear, and the old case will never be overturned," Thales said slowly, "I will lose the means to restrain you, right?"

Zhan En raised his eyes and looked at the Emerald City outside the window.

"Maybe by then, with the chips in hand, the person who controls me will be you?" The prince said softly, "By the way - you can have dinner."

The room was silent for a while, and Zhan En did not go to eat.

"You should think from a different perspective, Thales."

Zhan En had a strange expression.

"If you insist on both sides being hurt, then when you return to the capital..."

The Duke of South Bank turned around, his eyes intriguing:

"Who will control you again?"