Iron Powder and Spellcasters Chapter 406

   Chapter 406 The Last Chance for Peace (middle)

  [The capital of the Republic of Vine, the plain city]

  [Imperial Consulate]

  The melodious sonatas flowed from the stringed instruments and harpsichords in the southeast corner of the hall. Waiters carrying heavy silver plates and crystal wine glasses walked silently. Foreign affairs activities and intelligence activities were going on together.

  Since there are various receptions during the Alliance Assembly, there are naturally also various intelligence activities - whether it is the representatives of the public opinion of the republics, or the foreign envoys from afar, they are well aware of this.

   Each of them is part of the intelligence operation, but avoids talking about it.

   Each of them aspires to manipulate intelligence activity, yet all try to contain it in one way or another.

   For the dignitaries who are in the St. Andrew's Hall of the Imperial Consulate at the moment, the seemingly contradictory dualities coexist in opposition and unity in them.

   However, the undercurrents surging between Alliance representatives and foreign envoys also have areas beyond their reach.

  On the edge of the staggered banquet hall, two young people who didn't care about the reception were taking the opportunity to drink the unlimited supply of fine wine from the Imperial Consulate.

"Wine people are not very good at fighting, in politics or in business." One of the young people drank an empty glass, wiped his mouth, and said happily: "Only in the matter of winemaking, I will never say anything about them. bad talk."

  The young man who made rude remarks without hesitation was not tall, with almond eyes, a brain gate, and a mustache on his upper lip that was well-maintained at a glance. There was a cynical smile on the corner of his mouth, but the innocence of a child in his eyes. There was always a strange sense of incongruity in his gorgeous and delicate dress, and he couldn't tell what was wrong.

   By the way, he also generously wore a top hat with exaggerated decoration, which he did not take off even indoors.

   "Mr. Ma Wei, you haven't answered me yet!" Another young man drank a glass of wine and immediately picked up another glass of wine, hiccupped, and asked curiously, "Why on earth are you humiliating the emperor?"

  [3 months ago]

  [Eternal City]

  [Burbage Brothers Theatre]

   "Romulo and Remus" is in its second act, scene five.

   "Romulo and Remus" is the hottest new drama in the imperial capital, and the Burbage Brothers Theater is almost full. Whether it is a high-ranking official or a famous lady, it is fashionable to appreciate this drama on the spot.

  The success of this play has also made the playwright Ma Wei, who was only a little famous in a small circle, famous.

   In the fourth scene of the second act, Romulo just killed his twin brother Lemus. After a brief stage change, the second curtain opened again, and the fifth scene that followed was entirely Romulo's monologue.

  I saw the actor who played Romulo Ping Duan pulled out the dagger from his brother's corpse, walked slowly to the center of the stage, stared at his blood-stained hands, raised his head, and looked sad:

"Listen! The night owl is screaming, and it is ringing its death knell, saying a mournful good night. My twin brother lay there quietly, life and blood flowing from his body. I killed him, It was I who stabbed the dagger into his chest with my own hands."

   "Can all the water in the sea wash away the blood on my hands? No, I'm afraid the blood on my hands will dye the boundless sea water into a bright red."

   Having said that, Romulo lowered his head again.

   Usually when the performance reaches this stage, the audience will always give some responses. For a small theater like the Burbage Brothers Theater, which is only an arm's length away from the stage, the interaction between the audience and the actors is an important part of the performance.

   But today the audience was silent.

  Romulo on the stage stood for a moment, suddenly took a deep breath, threw the dagger in his hand, ripped open his shirt, and shouted impassively:

   "But would I be ashamed of it? But would I feel guilty about it? But would I regret it?"

   "No! Never! I will never be ashamed, guilty, or regretful about this."

"If a man is slightly wounded, he will seek revenge; if a man has been greatly wounded, he cannot do anything even if he wants to. When I take the crown of Remus, I must kill him. For either do not, do Just do it!"

   "Even once again, I will never forgive Remus' life!"

   The actor who played Romulo gave the audience what was perhaps the best performance of his career.

   However, after the powerful monologue ended, the audience not only did not burst into cheers, but instead became more silent.

   Audiences who have seen this play have found that what the actors just recited was not the original lines.

  's original line should be Romulo's regret, pain and despair for killing his twin brother, creating a tragic image of having to kill his brother.

   is by no means the cold confession of today's "either do it or do it"!

  The theater owner Richard Burbage, who was sitting in the first row of the audience, was soaked in cold sweat. His knees were shaking involuntarily, his neck and back were stiff and numb. He wanted to turn his head to look behind him, but he didn't dare to do anything.

   Generally speaking, in the Eternal City where the civil culture is developed, discussing the secrets of the royal family is not a big crime. Even since written records, the inhabitants of the Eternal City have taken pleasure in choreographing the little things under the belts of emperors, queens, and lovers. The emperors of all dynasties also turned a blind eye, because they knew that the imperial power could not stop the mouths of the citizens. If you really tear your skin off, you will only be humiliated even more obscenely.

   Therefore, "Romulo and Remus", which is obviously a play that alludes to the reigning emperor, is unanimously sought after by nobles and commoners.

   But what happened today is far beyond the scope of "joke".

  Because the supreme emperor of the empire is now sitting in the box on the second floor of the theater facing the stage.

   The young man who asked the question was thinner and younger than Ma Wei, and his voice was still a childish voice. It looks like the young son of a noble family who is just entering the social arena. But the hair is messy, and the clothes are well-made but wrinkled and untidy.

Hearing the other party's question, Ma Wei, who had already picked up another glass of sweet wine, put down the glass, restrained his smile, and corrected the other party seriously: "Mr. Aaron, I have never humiliated the emperor. In fact, I am His Majesty's most loyal and fanatical one. Admirer. I think His Majesty will eventually become the greatest Emperor the Empire has ever seen."

   The questioner, known as Aaron, frowned at Marvey for a while, trying to tell if the latter was lying.

  Unfortunately, no evidence of lying was found. Aaron seemed a little discouraged, but he quickly raised new questions: "How to explain the change on the spot? Isn't it deliberate humiliation?"

   "What's wrong with changing the scene on the spot?" Ma Wei was inexplicable: "I often change the scene on the spot."

   "Then that...then why did you change to that?"

  Mavi raised his glass and answered proudly: "I just told the truth."

   "The truth?" Aaron was indignant.

   "Otherwise?" Ma Wei asked back: "Do you think Your Majesty will feel pain and regret for the execution of Archduke Karl?"

   "You don't know the emperor, how do you know the emperor doesn't exist?"

   Ma Wei laughed: "Don't you know your Majesty, you know that His Majesty regrets it?"

  Aaron was speechless. After a while, Aaron said unconvinced: "If the emperor is given another chance, he will surely forgive his brother."

   "How could you have such a childish idea?" Ma Wei showed a sympathetic smile: "His Majesty executed Archduke Karl because Archduke Karl had to die."

"why?"

When asked about his itch, Mavy simply put down his glass, pulled Aaron to sit down at the table, and asked a series of unstoppable questions: "Do you know how many court officials supported Carl during the War of Succession? Grand Duke? How many local princes support Grand Duke Karl? What kind of difficult situation is your Majesty facing?"

  Aaron couldn't answer at all.

"I'll tell you!" Ma Wei was in high spirits, and asked and answered himself: "At the beginning of the war. The court officials, almost all sided with the Archduke Karl. Of the seven great emperors, three supported the accession of the Archduke Karl, and the three stood by the wall and did not express their position. The only one who publicly supported His Majesty was the Duke of Lothair.

   As for those nobles in robes who fled from the south, they all gave their hearts to Archduke Karl. Because they thought that only the Archduke Karl could bring them back, His Majesty, who had to borrow money from the rebels in the south to pay for the army, was untrustworthy.

   What a dangerous and desperate situation it is! His Majesty, however, used his vertical and horizontal means and acted step by step, and finally reversed the defeat and turned defeat into victory—what a glorious and legendary victory it was! Sooner or later, I must write a long epic based on His Majesty's experience..."

   Ma Wei was so excited that Aaron was ignorant.

   After a while, Aaron cleared his head and asked: "The emperor's victory is great, of course I know it, but what does this have to do with the death of Archduke Karl? Didn't Archduke Karl surrender?"

"Humph." Ma Wei sneered: "It is true that Archduke Karl surrendered, but it does not mean that others are willing to surrender. As long as Archduke Karl is still alive, sooner or later there will be traitors who are not willing to fail to rescue him; as long as Archduke Karl is alive, sooner or later There will be traitors who will rebel in his name.

   Archduke Karl is alive, which means that anyone dissatisfied with His Majesty's rule has another option. So instead of leaving hidden dangers, it is better to simply kill and end it completely. Therefore, Archduke Karl must die, which has nothing to do with His Majesty's subjective wishes, but a necessary choice to defend the imperial power. "

   Aaron was speechless. After a moment of silence, Aaron whispered: "The emperor is not what you imagined, he would laugh and be happy, but people just don't know him..."

"Tenderness, kindness, these weak emotions are reserved for people, not for the emperor." Ma Wei interrupted impatiently, his cheeks flushed, and he said vigorously: "As the monarch of the empire's supreme authority, the emperor Must transcend mortals. Morality, religion, law, those are things that bind the subjects, not the emperor. The emperor must cast off those shackles and use his power as skillfully and decisively as a skilled swordsman masters a sword. Fulfilling the duties of the monarch can achieve immortal greatness.

   In my opinion, Your Majesty is the most ideal monarch. He is not afraid to use any means necessary. The mediocrity insults His Majesty as an 'oath-breaker', but I regard the 'oath-breaker' as a compliment. And the scene I temporarily modified is the most ardent hymn dedicated to Your Majesty! "

  Aaron was stunned, completely unable to answer.

   After finishing the long speech in one breath, Ma Wei picked up the glass and drank cleanly. Then he cleared his throat and added: "Your Majesty must understand me too! You see, he didn't punish me, did he? If His Majesty wants my life, can I still sit here drinking wine?"

   "But the emperor didn't reward you either." Aaron smiled and his eyes crooked: "And if you're not afraid, why did you leave the imperial capital and run to the south?"

  Ma Wei's face, which had been flushed from drinking, seemed even redder. He argued: "Of course Your Majesty can't reward me. After all, Your Majesty still rules those mediocre people. But in his heart, His Majesty must still appreciate me!"

   Aaron's smile was even stronger: "Then why did you escape from the imperial capital? Aren't you already famous in the imperial capital?"

Ma Wei's breath was stagnant, he held his forehead slumped, and sighed: "The reason for my escape is similar to the reason why Your Majesty executed Archduke Karl. Although Your Majesty doesn't want me to die, but... But the emperor has too many idiots who want to To please Your Majesty with my blood... alas..."

  Aaron was so overwhelmed he nearly fell off his chair.

  Ma Wei picked up another glass of wine and drank it silently with tears, the wine didn't seem so beautiful anymore.

  Aaron hesitated for a while, but still smiled and reached out and patted Ma Wei's shoulder: "Don't worry, you will be able to return to the Eternal City sooner or later. It really can't...it really can't, I can say something nice for you."

  Ma Wei looked Aaron up and down, and said insultingly: "Looking at how you have never seen the world, you can't wait to eat every dish, it's not the same as me!"

  Aaron became angry: "Eat every dish, that's because...that's because I'm too hungry!"

"Okay, okay, don't explain." Mavy laughed indifferently, and already got rid of his annoyance, he reached out and brought the food tray placed on the inside of the table to Aaron, picked up two more bottles of wine, put them in A bottle was quietly put into the inner pocket of the clothes: "The fine wine that doesn't need money, don't drink it for nothing."

   The two of them retaliated and wasted some imperial money.

  Aaron suddenly remembered something was wrong and pushed Mavy hard, who almost choked to death.

   "You lied to me!" Aaron's voice rose.

  Ma Wei slapped his chest hard, coughing repeatedly: "What?"

"Not only did you change the scene in Act 2, Scene 5, but you also changed the scene in the last act! In the original ending of "Romulo and Remus", Romulo built the Eternal City, defeated the Epiphanies, Under the witness of the subjects, he was taken away by the strong wind and ascended to the kingdom of heaven. But in the last scene you changed, Romulo was murdered by the nobles!" Aaron was furious: "You deliberately changed the happy ending to a tragic ending, and you said no humiliating the emperor?"

   Romulo and Remus, Act V, Scene IX.

   The dying Romulo was lying on the ground, his robes had been dyed red with "blood", and the dagger stuck in his chest was the one he used to kill his twin brother before.

"Eternal City! Eternal City!" cried the dying Romulo: "You incompetents! You can kill me! But who can inherit my cause? You are not killing a king. , you are killing the glory and greatness that belongs to the eternal city! This city will experience catastrophe, and then you will think of me again.

   The gods are not qualified to judge me, dismember my body, and bury it on the seven hills. Don't blindfold me, I will watch all this until the next true king comes. Until then, he will surely give me the fairest judgment. "

The    trumpet was played, and the curtain was slowly drawn up.

  The audience was still dead silent, and no one dared to look back at the central box on the second floor. The theatre owner, Richard Burbage, was as pale as paper, rowing desperately in prayer.

   After an unknown period of time, a person's crisp applause came from the second floor of the theater. It's not loud, but it's definitely a signal.

  The whole theater burst into applause and cheers.

   When the curtain opened again and Ma Wei and the actors came on stage to greet him, the box on the second floor of the theater was already empty.

   "Change the happy ending to a tragedy!" Aaron asked aggressively: "And you said you weren't humiliating the emperor on purpose?"

   Ma Wei was stunned after hearing this, but instead of rushing to explain, he silently poured himself a drink: "It's really a last resort to change to that ending."

   "A last resort?" Aaron was shocked and angry.

  Ma Wei picked up the wine glass and sniffed lightly, with a proud and unrestrained smile on his face, he replied in the tone of a martyr who sacrificed his life: "Because the artistic achievement of tragedy is high!"

   At the same time, everyone in St Andrew's Hall clearly heard the emcee's loud and clear announcement: "Prince Richard - here!"

  Everyone can't help but turn their eyes to the front door.

  The heavy door slowly opened, and the graceful Prince Richard led a group of attendants into the banquet hall calmly.

   Perhaps because he was freed from the shadow of the emperor, the young prince glowed with confidence and a look that was rarely seen in the court.

   Among the prince's entourage, a handsome and straight-haired military attaché stands out.

   [A man's promise! ]

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   (end of this chapter)

Chapter end