Chapter 246: The Urgent Task at Hand
Chapter 246: The Urgent Task at Hand
So... should we directly support Prince Joshua, and have the Queen and the Chancellor of the Exchequer behind him, to fight against the Princess?
After hearing the proposal from the elderly noble, the group of old nobles couldn't help but start weighing the pros and cons, and they all fell into deep contemplation.
For most of the old noble group to turn against the royal family, who wanted to curb their power, this sounded like a stupid idea that couldn't be more foolish.
After all, Prince Joshua and the Queen were also members of the royal family. Supporting him would also bring about constraints. If he successfully overthrew the Princess and ascended to the throne, becoming the representative of the royal will, he would also target the old nobles relentlessly. The situation would still not change.
But just like what the Duke of Lionheart did, when one no longer has the ability to be a chess player, why not try to sell oneself to the highest bidder?"
For the Princess, who has already successfully gained power, these old nobles don't hold much value. But for Prince Joshua, whose succession rights are in jeopardy, and who might be 'married off' out of the kingdom at any time to marry the Mother Monkey across the sea, the support of these nobles is like a blessing in disguise!
In order to gain the power to counter the Princess, Prince Joshua and the Queen, who stand behind him, will undoubtedly try their best to curry favor with these nobles, and proactively give up their interests, offering exceptionally generous terms, there is room for negotiation.
As for what will happen after Prince Joshua ascends the throne, that's a matter for the future! Right now, if they can't control the Princess, who has gained power, these nobles will immediately be thrown into the doghouse, or even slaughtered in large numbers, without the qualifications to consider the future! Moreover, compared to the cunning Princess, the arrogant and proud Prince Joshua is much easier to deal with!
"This idea is not bad... I agree!"
The young noble, who previously wanted to discard the Lyon siblings, once again took the lead, being the first to express support for the new proposal.
Immediately after, a large group of nobles whose interests were threatened and who strongly resisted the implementation of the new policies, also stood up, expressing their support.
"I also agree."
"Seconded!"
"Let's go with this. We don't have a choice!"
When more than half of the old nobles had expressed their stance, the more conservative ones, even if they still had some reservations about the proposal, couldn't come up with a better solution at the moment. So, they chose to tacitly approve or simply agreed to give it a try.
"Since the majority agrees, then it's decided for now."
After glancing around at the nearly unanimous situation in the room, the middle-aged man presiding over the meeting took over the conversation and announced loudly:
"To counter the Princess' new policies, we will collectively support the Queen in the future and try our best to assist Prince Joshua in his succession.
Additionally, let me be blunt. Among the ninety-two noble families present today, even if there are those with different opinions, please maintain unity with everyone. Even if you don't support Prince Joshua, please don't hold us back.
Otherwise... don't blame others for being ruthless."
...
The collective shift of the old nobles towards the Prince was such a significant event that it was impossible to keep it hidden. Even before the gathering of the old nobles had ended, and they had not yet taken any action, the Princess had already received the corresponding intelligence.
"This is going to be troublesome..."
After obtaining the list of old nobles who chose to support Prince Joshua, the Princess couldn't help but frown deeply at the shocking names on the list.
Prince Joshua aside, when it came to that ambitious stepmother, the Princess knew her inside out. Even without this incident, she would not give up on her plan to have him succeed the throne. She would definitely cause a huge ruckus, and now with the support of the old nobles, the commotion she creates would undoubtedly be even greater.
Unfortunately, if it were just a matter of backstabbing and intrigue, it would be easy. With a mind as sharp as Joshua's, all it would take is a small pitfall, and she'd fall right into it, bruised and battered, and be forced to behave for a while.
But her brother, her dear uncle, is the current Chancellor of the Exchequer, and he, along with his powerful family, are the true masters of the Exchequer. There's no way she can get a foothold there.
The key to implementing her new policies is financial support, and she doesn't even need to do much. As long as she can create a small hiccup in the Exchequer's finances during the succession struggle, it will be enough to kill her new policies in their infancy.
As for breaking this stalemate...
She dipped the quill into the inkwell and wrote a few words on the paper, causing the princess to sigh softly.
The best solution is to deliberately provoke a bloody incident by initiating a war.
With the six-year-old war with the neighboring country as a cautionary tale, as long as the kingdom enters a state of war preparedness, even if it's just the most basic level, the Queen and the Exchequer won't dare hinder her in the slightest.
Otherwise, forget about Joshua inheriting the throne. If the Queen dares to cause trouble at this critical moment, the King might get up from his sickbed and strangle Joshua himself.
However, while this solution can break the stalemate and she doesn't even need to get directly involved, a mere hint to Old Hill would be enough. As the Minister of Defense, he can get things done quietly and efficiently.
But the very purpose of her new policies is to avoid plunging the kingdom into war. This solution goes against her original intention...
She crossed out the word "war" and moved the quill to the side, circling the word "force through" with emphasis.
The most suitable option right now is to take advantage of the old nobility's recent shift towards Joshua, before they've fully negotiated their cooperation. She can use the Lane family's Senate seats to pass some of her new policies into law.
By pushing through the part of her new policies that restricts the privileges of the old nobility and promotes commercial development, she'll give the Chamber of Commerce, which controls the Lower House, a chance to exert its influence. They'll help her implement some of her new policies.
Even if the Exchequer tries to block her, they'll face the Chamber of Commerce's counterbalance as they'll be touching upon the interests of the merchants. As the largest source of the kingdom's finances, the Chamber of Commerce holds significant influence over the Exchequer. This gives her the leverage to pry open the Exchequer's doors and secure the full budget for her new policies...
That's the one!
After ticking the box next to "force through," the princess didn't stop there. She continued to ponder, using the quill to tap on the paper.
To achieve all this, she must secure the Lane family's Senate seats and push through her new policies. And to secure the Lane family's Senate seats...
She must complete the marriage alliance with the Lane family, which means she has to win over Lyon!
Dipping the quill into the inkwell again, she wrote "Lyon" after "force through," clarifying her thoughts. The princess paused for a moment, then rang the bell to summon the maid waiting outside.
"Milly, is the Wilde Master's Morning Star Theatre currently performing?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
The maid recalled and nodded, then asked with concern, "If you'd like to take a break, the Morning Star Theatre has sent the top-tier balcony tickets..."
"No need."
Waving away the maid's suggestion, the princess instructed, "Get me two slightly better seats in the second-floor box area... Remember to get the couple's box!"
(End of Chapter)
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