Kingdom’s Bloodline Chapter 223: Handling (on)

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

"Doyon's family, have you finished the meal inspection?"

Zhan En's voice sounded coldly, making no secret of his disgust and impatience:

"I don't know if there is poison in it? Is there a note with a message in it?"

Behind Zhan En, d.d in the side hall opposite held the tableware in his hand and pulled his face from the table full of plates.

"Huh? Oh - soon, soon."

Doyon's mouth was full of greasy. Hearing this, he stared at Zhan En viciously, then scooped up a large spoonful of mashed potatoes from the messy dinner plate, and bit into his mouth. Posture:

"Please wait a little longer, after all, you are the Grand Duke, you are a big man! Your status is noble and important, what will happen, hey, I am from a small family in Jinghe, I can't afford it--how about you first Play with my little puppet bear, so as not to be bored?"

Jen En turned his head to look at the puppet 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 lunch time.

On the other side, d.d ate another mouthful of roast pork, and did not forget to let out a sound of admiration.

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

"Is this the same way you inspect your Highness's meals?"

"Hey, you're right!"

d.d took a bite to the left and took a bite to the right, and did not forget to feed the little bear on the table ("Why are you so picky about eating, no wonder you can't grow up! Tsk tsk, you don't want to try it first, how will the Duke eat it? Be good, Open your mouth, ah ah..."):

"I was the same way back then—ahem, I'm sorry, it's almost over."

Because of Thales' unexpected and sudden eye attack, d.d paused halfway through his speech.

Doyer bowed his head obediently, put down his—Jenn's to be precise—meal, and hid in the distance.

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

"Sorry."

Jane sighed softly.

"You must know that my father and I depend on him very much--Lord Brennan has passed away, and the emerald city's grief cannot be filled."

Tiers sat down on his seat and didn't answer. The wine glass full of wine was placed by his hand, but he didn't take a sip.

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

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

Jane nodded.

"What happened to the Emerald City?"

"It's getting worse."

Thales raised his head, his eyes were indifferent:

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

"The Emerald Legion paid their salaries in time, so it was stable anyway, but another group of officials from the Construction and Construction Administration who received the wind and knew that they might be owed wages were very dissatisfied. Someone planned to make a big news during the celebration-but was Discovered in time, it is still negotiating.”

"Oh?" Jen En gracefully picked up a glass of wine to satisfy his hunger.

"An accident happened again in the blood bottle gang, the gang broke up, the streets were in chaos, and it gradually began to affect ordinary citizens, and the legend of the water ghoul became rampant again...

"In addition to the low morale in the trial hall, the recent backlog of security cases is too much, and the prison is almost full, with only a dozen prisoners in one room. The security hall complains once an hour, saying that it is about to become a gangster inside. Branches, and their control effect is limited.

"The head of the Ministry of Construction and Construction fell ill by coincidence, the deputy couldn't make up his mind, and the order to cut expenditures and reduce government was delayed, and once I got angry and wanted to replace the candidate..."

Thales snorted coldly:

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

Whether the flood outside is torrential, one day it will drown itself.

Thales thought so, and was in a bad mood.

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

"That's a bunch of jerks, right."

Thales looked at him.

I saw Zhan En shaking his wine glass, full of emotion:

"At the beginning, they acted according to orders, and they 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 go wrong in almost every link that may go wrong-the smallest details-whether it is intentional or unintentional, or self-interested, or follow the trend , just like moths can always find the gaps and hollows in the building and build their nests.”

Zhan En's eyes tightened:

"As time goes by, it is mottled from top to bottom, with flaws everywhere and full of loopholes, and you can only repair it with all your strength.

"Even, in many cases, you can only be led by the nose by their pretending to be crazy and cunning. Even if you know it, you can't attack it.

"In the end, you find that even if you sit at the highest place, you can only follow the system, the operating principle and general direction of this machine, try to get the most out of it, try to use the part that is still usable, make the best use of the situation, follow the trend, But there is no way to recover."

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

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

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

"Forget it, I'll write a letter now," the Duke put down his wine glass, walked to the desk and sat down, picked up a pen, "You take it to the Poppon family who are in the funeral business, they owe Kevin Dill's debt, after seeing the letter, I will give you 10,000 gold coins, of course, if you are charismatic enough, you may be able to get more."

Thales' eyes moved.

"Why."

"Please use this money to bury Lord Brennan generously, and make sure that he can rest in peace after his death, so that the hearts of the Emerald City will be safe." Zhan En didn't lift his head, but just scribbled, "You can take the rest Fill the financial deficit and 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 on my territory again, lawless."

Thales picked up an untouched wine glass and stroked it lightly, but his eyes were locked on the other party.

"But if I don't bring your letter and ask them for money, or even borrow money," he sarcastically said, "then I can't even beg for a copper coin, right?"

"That's not necessarily true." Zhan En didn't raise his head, neither in a hurry nor annoyed, "Maybe if you show the ancient empire sword that the old bone of the West Wilderness gave you, they will agree to it?"

Thales snorted and laughed.

"Huge debts, a declining market, disorderly prices, bad law and order, bureaucrats who are obedient and vigilant, and the Emerald City in chaos," Thales counted one thing, with a sharp tone, "One What can ten thousand gold coins do?"

"That's your problem," Jen En kept writing, but turned his attention to the guests, "Thals Regency?"

Thales just played with the wine glass and remained silent.

"As the lord of the city, do you really understand Brennan?"

Jen En frowned slightly.

Reminiscing about the suicide note, Thales felt a little emotional:

"His last wish is to have a light burial, no tombstone, no writing, the simpler the better, and even the ashes are thrown into the sea."

Jane paused.

"So that's how it is, thin burial, thrifty."

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

A few seconds later, 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 money. Even if there is no funeral, Brennan died unexpectedly, and people are in panic. Whether it is the courtroom or the entire emerald city officialdom, you need Appease."

Telspie is laughing:

"So, if a few more people die, the debt of Emerald City will be settled?"

Jen En hummed and shook his head:.

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

"Brennan committed suicide."

Thales' words made Zhan En's pen tremble.

"In his study, he drank poisoned wine."

"Didn't he be killed? Or was he forced to commit suicide?" The Duke of South Bank frowned suspiciously.

"He also left a suicide note," Thales ignored the other party's question, "a suicide note full of remorse and pain, condemned by conscience, admitting that the decision was wrong."

When the prince said this, he raised his head and looked straight at the Duke:

"Including the files and evidence of the assassination of the old Duke."

Zhan En looked as usual, started writing again, and signed the signature.

But Thales kept staring at him with burning eyes.

"Jen, tell me now, what happened back then," he said softly, but with great strength, "Before I have to investigate and the truth comes out?"

Jane was silent for a while.

"Then what are you waiting for?"

His attitude cooled down, uncompromising:

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

Thales smiled.

"It's come to this point, you still bite the bullet, it seems that this is the crux of the problem."

"And you bite to death on this issue, until you bite through and crush it, and dig out the so-called truth you want, and then?" Zhan En at the desk suddenly raised his head, "Let me be with the Emerald City Destruction? So that you can come back from the ruins and achieve the great cause of the emperor?"

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

Thales looked at the wine glass, full of thoughts.

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

"You can keep the Emerald Legion."

Jen En came back to his senses and couldn't help wondering:

"What?"

Thales took a deep breath and put down his glass heavily.

"I said, you don't have to surrender military power to the royal family—of course, you still have to give up the right to conscript conscripts, but anyway, the conscription system on the South Bank exists in name only, so you don't have much to lose."

Jen En frowned and said tentatively:

"Huh?"

"Eternal Star City will not intervene in bureaucracy and personnel appointments, at least not too much. Of course, as far as this mess is concerned, their intervention will also add to the chaos."

"That's it?"

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

Thales finished talking about the conditions calmly and looked at Zhan En.

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

Finally, he let out a breath and said seriously:

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

Thales raised his eyebrows.

"Then he has to pass me first."

Jen En snorted and pondered for a moment:

"What about taxes?"

Thales sighed inwardly.

Damn it.

Can he not be so sensitive to digital accounts?

"The officials under Mr. Joke Mann are very professional," Thales said bravely, "I believe they will work with your staff to discuss a set of fairness and efficiency that is in line with the interests of multiple parties. ..."

Sure enough, before he finished speaking, Zhan En sneered.

"You know this is not what I want."

"But you know this is what he wants," Thales emphasized, "A deal?"

Jane stared at him tightly.

"Wait a few more days and come back," he said, which disappointed Thales. "Maybe at that time, because of the changes in Emerald City, you will give a better proposal?"

Thales' expression turned cold.

"Jane," the prince leaned back, "my patience has a limit."

"Coincidentally, so is the Emerald City."

Negotiations broke down.

Thales looked at Zhan En with firm eyes, and heaved a long sigh in his heart.

The room became quiet again, only the rustling of Zhan En's letter was heard for a while.

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

Jane has a meal:

"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 a little lost in thought.

"He's also a good judge," Jann added.

"He shouldn't have died from meaningless political turmoil and official turmoil." Thales shook his head with emotion.

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

Thales shook his head, disapproving.

"This is the price you have to pay for bringing together a large group of people with different thoughts and incompatibles to move towards the same destination," Zhan En continued, "helpless, ruthless, powerless , meaningless."

Zhan En picked up the melted wax and looked at the prince:

"But necessary and realistic."

After speaking, the Duke hung his head and put the letter in an envelope.

Thales frowned deeply.

Necessary and realistic?

Unknowingly, the sense of oppression and urgency that can only be felt in the Fuxing Palace reappeared in him.

"I want to give the seat to Xilai."

"That's more—what do you think?"

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

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

"I said that I have to govern the city and investigate and arbitrate, and I really have no skills at all," the prince said solemnly, like a diplomat, "so I decided to let Miss Cecilia participate in political affairs, Maybe go a step further and take over as the city lord—after all, Emerald City has been named Kevin Dill for generations, and I shouldn’t do it for you because of emotion and reason.”

The more Zhan En listened, the worse his expression became.

"Then you take my safety as a condition," he said coldly, "leaving her with the unsustainable problem of the Emerald City?"

Thales shrugged, noncommittal.

"Then she will come to me and force me to give in," Zhan En continued with a sneer, "or even worse, she will bite the bullet and hit her head with her own strength, even if she wants to dance. No hesitation."

"Maybe." Thales thought of Xi Lai's appearance, and his heart sank.

The two were silent for a while.

"It must be his idea, right."

Zhan En'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, emphasizing the second half of the sentence, "You know, weigh the pros and cons."

Jane raised his eyes and breathed faster.

"I want to see Xilai, now."

The opponent's performance moved Thales' heart.

"Your Excellency, as far as I know, you are undergoing an arbitration investigation," he said in a businesslike tone, "To avoid suspicion, no outsiders are seen."

Jen frowned.

"Really?"

He was half asking rhetorically, half threatening.

"Yes. And Emerald City is busy saving itself and stabilizing order," Thales raised his brows, "You understand."

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The light in Zhan En's eyes flashed away.

He sneered.

"I thought you were smart, Thales."

"Oh, what do you say?"

Jen En picked up the pen again, remained silent for a while, and continued writing.

"When I was a child, Feder smashed a precious prophecy and blamed it on the young Xilai, and then he stood by and watched to see if I would stand up and take responsibility for her..."

Thales' expression changed slightly.

"If I admit my fault, it is because I acted frivolously and destroyed the family property; if I allow Xilai to be punished, it is the elder brother's lack of guardianship; if I plead that Federico did it, it is the elder brother's weakness , blame the younger brother..."

Zhan En's eyes are sharp:

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

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

"You are like a **** now, Thales, you can go as he wants you to."

"But you didn't realize it," Zhan En sarcastically said, "According to Federico's chess style, no matter how you move, you will lose."

Thales nodded silently after listening.

"You and Federico, and maybe Xilai, there must be no 'retreat' and 'concession' in your Kevin Dill dictionary," he sighed softly, "or, do you think these Words can only appear in other people's dictionaries, right?"

Jen En snorted coldly.

"You promised me, Thales," the Duke stared at Thales closely, "No matter how ugly things develop, Helai will never be involved."

Thales' eyes darkened.

"Then consider my proposal," the prince said softly, "just as I am also considering his proposal."

Jen was silent for a long time.

"I thought you were a good person before," Zhan En said blankly, "It seems that I was wrong about this too."

Thales shrugged.

"If I want to bring together a large group—or just two people with different ideas and incompatibles, to move towards the same destination," Thales shot back, "then maybe, I will Have to pay the price?"

"Reality," the prince stood up, ready to leave, "it is also necessary."

Jen En didn't speak, but took up the wax step by step, poured the envelope, and started to stamp.

Thales no longer delayed, turned around and walked.

Not much to gain here.

Or, the harvest is enough?

"I want him dead."

Thales paused.

He turned around:

"What?"

I saw Zhan En put down the wax, his eyes were cold, and his whole body was fierce.

"All the above conditions are included, Jade Legion, personnel appointment and dismissal, tax..." He almost gritted his words, "But I want to add one more point."

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

"Federico, must-must-die."

Thales was taken aback when he heard the words, and then frowned deeply.

Maybe he's wrong.

He looked at Zhan En:

Perhaps the harvest was greater than expected.

The prince took a deep breath and tried to bargain:

"Exile?"

Jane didn't answer.

"The Prison of Bones?"

Zhan En didn't change his face, he just stared at him wholeheartedly, his eyes were disturbing.

"I can't..."

"It's okay, you can think about it slowly," Zhan En interrupted him, unquestionably, "It's really not possible, you can still write to the Fuxing Palace and ask His Majesty what to say."

Thales frowned.

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

"This is the letter I just agreed to send to the Popon family, directly to Mrs. Tuolier," Jan En interrupted him with a cold snort, "They don't have much cash, and thirty thousand is the limit. Of course, if If you dare to have less than 30,000, you can directly lead your troops to copy them, not only do I have no objection, I will even help you find a reason afterwards."

The Duke of South Bank stood up and took two envelopes from the desk, the iris paint prints on them were extremely conspicuous.

"But for the second letter, show it to the three major guilds in the textile industry, wine industry, and building materials industry, as well as a few business groups. You can raise 100,000 yuan, or one that allows them to cut meat to stabilize the market and the market." Promise—to solve your urgent needs.”

Thales' eyelids twitched.

"Only these?"

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

That's it?

Two letters, 130,000...

A tenth of the debt...

Is it that simple?

"This is my sincerity, maybe it can help you figure out what to do next~IndoMTL.com~Jen walked up to him, handed out the envelope, his eyes sharp.

"If it's less than one hundred thousand?"

"Then you just bring your soldiers back and copy me." Zhan En didn't change his face.

Thales hesitated for a moment.

A few seconds later, he finished his consideration and made up his mind to reach out to get the letter, but Zhan En suddenly pulled his hand and took back the envelope!

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

Thales swallowed.

Well, the choice is tough though.

But it's not all for nothing.

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

"It should be said that you love your sister too much," Thales stuffed the letter into his arms, rolling his eyes, "or do you hate your brother too much?"

Jane smiled hypocritically.

"Anyway," he turned around and walked towards the window sill, "Don't let Fede kill people in my city, Thales."

His eyes are fixed:

"Don't let him manipulate you anymore, and don't give him more chips."

Thales walked towards the door thoughtfully.

"But if he dies, the arbitration and everything will disappear, and the old memories will never be over again," 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 when the time comes, you will be the one with the chips and the one who can control me?" The prince said softly, "By the way - you can eat now."

There was silence in the room for a while, and Zhan En didn't go to eat.

"You should think from another angle, Thales."

Jen En has a strange expression.

"If you insist on losing both sides, then when you go back to the capital..."

The Duke of South Bank turned his head and looked intriguingly:

"Who will pick you up again?"