Chapter 212 Regent, Royal Family, State Religion

"Retreat to advance?"

The old emperor narrowed his eyes and thought for a moment, then continued:

"My daughter, I believe you have enough intelligence to deal with any problem in the imperial political arena, but... that man is different from others."

"What's the difference between him and other imperial nobles?"

Agnes snorted coldly, somewhat disdainful.

Of course, for this princess who has established a firm foothold in the imperial political arena at such a young age and supported her own power, she is indeed qualified to express disdain for other imperial nobles.

Although the princess party is currently at a disadvantage, Agnes is confident that she can turn the situation around by relying on her next layout.

"Aren't they all greedy people who covet the foundation of our Leon Dynasty? They are nothing more than smarter than other termites, have been operating for a longer time, and are more ruthless and decisive in their style of doing things."

"Hahaha cough cough cough cough."

Hearing Agnes' words, Frederico smiled and shook his head.

But because of this action, a series of violent coughs were triggered, and the whole face flushed red in a short time.

He raised his hand to stop Agnes from calling the imperial physician, took a handkerchief from the bedside, wiped the corner of his mouth, and slowly drank a mouthful of warm water.

"No need to call anyone, I know my own physical condition best, I will not die until the last day."

Listening to her father's somewhat self-destructive words, Agnes's brows frowned imperceptibly, but soon relaxed, and then continued to listen to her father patiently.

"Norton II is completely different from the other enemies you face. His ultimate goal is not even the throne in this great palace. Because of this, he will be more difficult to deal with."

"Father, what are you talking about?"

For the first time tonight, Agnes directly expressed her opposition to her father.

"If the 'throne' is not important to him, then why does he form a clique and do everything he can to suppress me and our royal family?!"

"For what? Hum."

Frederico's eyes flashed with a haze.

"The throne is not important to him, but it is important for him to not have us. Do you understand what I mean?"

"But he obviously..."

"Agnes!"

Frederico interrupted his daughter rudely and continued:

"If you have been relying on the experience and methods of fighting against traditional imperial nobles to deal with him, then you are very wrong.

That is why I think that your "retreat to advance" will make you fall into the trap set by Norton II!"

Frederico's words made Agnes fall into silence.

After a long time, Agnes reached out and helped her father lie down on the pillow again.

Then she stood up and saluted him, and left the palace directly.

"If you really want to fight him, you must abandon the experience of traditional party struggles in your mind and take a more radical approach."

Frederico's cold words sounded before Agnes stepped out of the palace.

The latter did not say anything, nodded and walked out directly.

The emperor's palace was quiet again.

After an unknown amount of time, a third person's voice was heard in the bedroom.

"It seems that she didn't listen to you."

As the voice sounded, a figure walked out from the shadows in the corner of the bedroom and finally stopped in front of the emperor's sickbed.

If a devout believer of the state religion saw this person's dress, he would immediately kneel down to worship and kiss his toes.

Jules Mazarin, the archbishop who was supposed to appear at the Star Dragon Altar to preach, appeared in the emperor's bedroom at this time.

"If she could listen to me, the situation would not be like this today."

The old emperor glanced at the elegant archbishop and was not surprised by his appearance.

Or he knew that the archbishop had been in the bedroom.

"I'm curious why Agnes didn't notice your existence."

"Your Highness's 'Dragon Power' and 'Dragon Knowledge' have indeed improved greatly compared to before, but the power of faith should not be underestimated.

Obviously, because of my identity and my devout faith, Lord Dragon God has given me enough protection."

Jules Mazarin opened his hands, and a layer of light golden light flashed on his body, forming a 'robe'.

"Is every archbishop required to maintain this state of mysticism?"

"."

Frederico's words were enough to offend 'God's wrath', and Jules Mazarin's face froze for a moment, but he still tried his best to maintain his expression.

"Dragon God, it's hard to imagine that an emperor like you would appear in a country under the protection of the Dragon God."

Jules Mazarin's counterattack was also merciless, but the old emperor did not say anything about it.

Obviously, this is not the first time these two have 'criticized each other' like this.

"I am a dying man, I don't have the time to argue with you, let's get down to business.

Frederico waved his hand and took the initiative to end the topic.

Jules Mazarin also sat down on the chair in front of the bed, and the long staff symbolizing the authority of the archbishop was casually placed on the armrest.

"I still maintain my long-held view. If you come forward to confront the Regent, the situation will definitely be better than now. At least the royal family will not be completely suppressed by the Regent and his gang."

"You know the ability of Norton II. Even in the current situation, I can only compete with him, but what's the use? Exhausting the last energy in the confrontation will make me die prematurely. , and let him easily overcome the remaining obstacles?"

"Maybe you shouldn't have issued an edict to hand over the power of regency to him at that time."

"Oh, then the Leon Dynasty and the state religion will become history at that time. You religious people still don't understand what an imperial military aristocrat with a profound foundation accumulated over several generations can achieve."

"Then what are you going to do now, Your Majesty?"

Jules Mazarin put away his relaxed expression and said seriously:

"The church is willing to stand with the royal family, not just to see you die suddenly a few months later."

"Archbishop, do you know how the royal family maintains its rule over the empire?"

"The bloodline of Star Dragon makes the people of the empire bow before you, and the powerful force makes the nobles of the empire surrender to you. Anyway, that's what the former archbishop said."

"So he is a former archbishop"

Frederico seemed to have remembered something funny, shook his head with a smile, and then looked at Jules Mazarin.

“The theory of blood can only deceive the ignorant people, and the force controlled by the royal family cannot suppress the united imperial aristocracy. The Leon Dynasty has been able to survive to this day because of its long-term layout.

I also believe that the layout we have laid out over the years is enough for us to complete the winning blow in the final showdown. "

"What about Her Royal Highness the Princess? You have never told her about these things you did."

"Agnes? Doesn't she want to 'take retreat in order to advance'?"

At the mention of this name, the love and doting in the old emperor's eyes lasted for a moment, and then changed back to that emotionless state.

"Let her 'retire', and she can help test the quality of Norton II."

"You are really cold-blooded towards your only heir." Jules Mazarin shrugged, but did not raise any objection to the old emperor's approach.

"Heir? If you can complete the research on the 'Star Dragon Body' before everything is irreversible, then there will be no need for any successor in the future."

Under the dim light of the palace, the Archbishop watched calmly as a pair of huge dragon wings slowly opened on the shadow behind Frederico.