CH 86

In the end, Xia Zuoyi rejected the Pope’s proposal.

He wants to return to the Grand Duke’s mansion to pack up his things, and then immediately leave the Anas Empire.

After all, the empire will be very turbulent in the next period of time, and he has no intention of participating. So taking advantage of the chaos, it’s the right time to leave here.

But the plan can never catch up with the change—the imperial port has been jointly blocked by Orville and Archibald in advance. Without the order of the two of them, no one can leave the empire by ships.

Not to mention, the gates that can enter and exit the royal city have long been firmly guarded by the knights.

Xia Zuoyi faced Fernandi who he found from the port and said, “So, we can’t leave the Anas Empire for the time being?”

Fernandi: “Yes, my lord.”

“Walker and I have ordered the soldiers to dismantle all the stalls in the port, and the goods for sale have also been moved into the cabin… “

Everything is ready. As long as the order prohibiting ships from leaving the port is lifted, they can immediately travel back to the territory.

Xia Zuoyi frowned.

“Ao.”

Snowball quietly leaned in and gently rubbed his furry head against the little lord’s to comfort him.

Egg Yolk wrapped his long tail around his waist, and Briquette and Brown Sugar stood beside him and surrounded him, feeling the little lord’s angry and depressed mood again.

Xia Zuoyi sighed, “In this case, Fernandi, you order people to go back to the ship, inform Walker and Samuel to watch the fleet, and strictly manage the entry and exit of soldiers and servants.”

“The royal city is now in chaos. Someone may take advantage of this opportunity to do something…”

After all, those royal family members who had followed King Paul and committed mistakes together still had families. Knowing that they will die, it’s impossible for them to sit still and be captured one by one by the royal knights.

If they want to escape, they must find a way to do something.

For example, further create disorder, confusion, and deception in the royal city.

Or, in tumultuous places, some defenses will always relax no matter how much attention is paid. Someone may find the right opportunity to hide on the outsider’s ship to avoid pursuit.

Fernandi obeyed his order and went out. When he came in again, two people were following behind him—Vincent, the chief steward of the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce, and Robert, the subordinate of the Grand Duke.

Both of them faced Xia Zuoyi and explained their intentions.

Vincent: “The leader will guarantee your safety in the empire.”

“In addition, he wants to personally apologize to you…for everything before… The leader understands that his choice has hurt you to some extent.”

“If he can, he wants you to be under the protection of the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce…”

Robert: “The Anas Empire will be turbulent for a period of time.”

“During this period, some people may fight back, but the Grand Duke’s residence is absolutely safe. The Duke will ensure that you won’t suffer any harm here.” 

The two looked at each other after they spoke, and then looked away as if nothing had happened.

Xia Zuoyi: “…”

He pinched his eyebrows with a headache, “No, I don’t need the protection of the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce, and I can understand Bori… Mr. Leader’s approach…”

“Go back, Vincent.”

Vincent: Hearing the strange and distant name of “Mr. Leader”!

—Leader, after you change back to your original name, being intimately called “Boris” is even gone. It seems that you really have to apologize to the little lord!

In view of Xia Zuoyi’s resolute attitude, Vincent finally bowed respectfully and left the Grand Duke’s residence.

Robert won the first confrontation without a fight.

Just as he was about to say something, he saw the little lord waving his hand at him.

“You too.” 

After Robert said “I hope you have a good rest tonight”, he didn’t dare turn around and leave.

Xia Zuoyi was right. The Anas Empire indeed became very chaotic.

Ordinary civilians living in the royal city lived behind closed doors. People dare not walk around at will for fear that they will be arrested by the royal knights as suspects and sent to prison for interrogation.

Xia Zuoyi thought both Archibald and Orville would be extremely busy during this period, but he unexpectedly saw Archibald the next day at the Grand Duke’s residence.

—He obviously managed to find time to come over.

Archibald hasn’t closed his eyes and rested since last night. His golden hair is a little messy, and he’s wrapped with the cold air that hasn’t receded in the morning and a slight bloody smell…

Xia Zuoyi stared at him, “Aren’t you going to say anything? You just keep looking at me like this, are you trying to get me to find some clue in your face?”

Xia Zuoyi wasn’t very polite.

Archibald’s expression obviously became bleaker, “Of course I want to say something. I want to apologize to you most, but I’m afraid you won’t accept it…”

His voice is very hoarse.

Xia Zuoyi certainly didn’t want to accept it now, so he remained silent.

Archibald has too many things to say to the person in front of him, but he also has more things to deal with immediately.

After being relatively speechless for a while, he handed a badge representing the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce to Xia Zuoyi.

“What is this for?”

Archibald: “I know you want to leave the empire most now. With this badge, the royal knights guarding the harbor will no longer block your fleet.”

“But be careful not to reveal the news in advance…to avoid someone secretly boarding your ship…”

Xia Zuoyi finally reached out and took the badge. It’s heavy, with the word “Abel” engraved on the back.

Obviously, this is also a badge that represents the identity of the leader. It’s not difficult to think of what can be done in the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce with this badge.

Archibald said before finally leaving, “I hope that when the conflict in the empire is over, you can welcome me in your territory to express my apologies.”

Xia Zuoyi sat on the sofa and watched his back disappear at the door.

A pile of furries is lying on the ground around him. Relying on his small size, Brown Sugar leaped on the sofa and laid down next to Xia Zuoyi. He put his round little head on his lap and then turned slightly sideways to reveal his soft belly.

Xia Zuoyi put his hand on it and rubbed it. Brown Sugar narrowed his golden eyes and gradually shook his long tail again and again.

The soft belly makes people happy.

After a while, Udit, who had just gone out to see people off, came in again, followed by Orville.

Xia Zuoyi: “…Have you made an appointment with Archibald?”

Orville looked at Xia Zuoyi suspiciously, and then involuntarily looked at a pile of furry bodies. He said, “I did see Archibald when I came in just now.” 

“But I didn’t make an appointment with him…except for the plan to split the empire.”

He added in the end, “The independent territory is called Archiayoli, what do you think?”

Xia Zuoyi: “…No problem at all. You don’t have to ask me.”

Orville nodded unconcernedly, his light gray eyes stopping on his hand touching Brown Sugar’s belly.

Immediately, he sat down on the sofa opposite Xia Zuoyi, “Last night, I saw the Pope hug you and left the banquet… Were you afraid?”

Xia Zuoyi shook his head.

Orville: “I thought you would leave my residence and live with the Pope’s…”

“But here I promise you won’t be hurt in any way. No one dares to offend the Archiayoli family.”

I’m just too lazy to change places.

Xia Zuoyi thanked him.

“You’re welcome.”

Orville changed into a comfortable position.

He then handed over a badge engraved with a roaring lion to Xia Zuoyi, and said, “This is the Archiayoli family badge.”

“Robert said to me that you want to leave the empire. With it, the knights guarding the port will no longer stop your fleet.”

Xia Zuoyi raised his eyebrows, “Archibald had just given me a badge showing his status as the leader of the Nagabi.”

He took out another one and put it on the table.

Orville glanced at it, “Two are more effective.”

Xia Zuoyi put the two badges away, and then he asked Orville about what happened after he left last night.

Orville maintained the usual cold expression on his face, “His Majesty and Lady Joana committed suicide after being forced by Archibald.”

“The king’s other mistresses are all imprisoned, and his illegitimate children will be beheaded in public after the unrest ended.”

“Tosi Cavendish was killed by myself.”

Xia Zuoyi raised his head.

Orville: “He tried to escape, and it just happens to be in my direction.”

“He’s very unlucky…” Xia Zuoyi didn’t know what to say.

Orville continued, “And those royal family members who are on the side of King Paul are also detained and will be convicted according to the situation later, but their families haven’t completely been arrested at present…”

Orville obviously still has a lot of things to deal with. After talking about the situation, he made a simple farewell to Xia Zuoyi.

He hugged him, then tried to touch Brown Sugar’s little head, but was avoided in disgust.

…

After getting the two tokens, Xia Zuoyi immediately prepared to pack up and leave the Grand Duke’s mansion. When he returned to the ship, he sent someone to tell the Pope.

After the person he sent returned, he received a letter from the Pope.

It said—I wish you a smooth return. I will visit you in Desinian Territory after the affairs of the Anas Empire are over.

Xia Zuoyi said, “…” 

It’s not necessary.

The upheaval in the Anas Empire continues.

However, after taking out the two badges, Xia Zuoyi boarded the ship at night under the clearance and cover of the royal knights, the springboard was retracted and set sail.

More than half a month later, the fleet successfully returned to Desinian Territory.

At the same time.

News about the current situation of the Anas Empire also came. With the support of the Pope, and with the preparations of Archibald and Orville, the Anas Empire was successfully divided.

One half was led by Grand Duke Archiayoli and became an independent territory. Some nobles of the empire surrendered here and became vassals of the Grand Duke.

And the other half became the Anas Kingdom.

However, when the nobles who followed Archibald wanted to support him as king, they were rejected by him without any room for reversal.

Archibald made an astonishing decision—the Anas Empire no longer exists, and the remaining Anas Kingdom is left to Minina Laurie as the queen.

This decision undoubtedly set off waves in the divided empire.

However, even more unexpected news followed behind—Grand Duke Archiayoli quickly annexed the small country Helgeda after establishing his territory.

A battle without gunpowder smoke—His Majesty the King of Helgeda voluntarily abdicated and has since become a vassal of the Archiayoli family.

After Archibald’s identity was finally revealed, he changed the previous behavior where most of the affairs of the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce were handled by Vincent and began to show iron-blooded and ruthless methods.

Since he can force his uncle, King Paul, and his biological mother to commit suicide, he’s even more merciless to others.

Some nobles who wanted to resist his decision—make Minina Laurie the queen of the Anas Kingdom—were all suppressed in a short time and could no longer afford to resist.

Finally, the Pope came forward to calm the dispute.

His attitude is very obvious—he officially recognized the existence of Archiayoli Territory and the identity of Queen Minina Laurie.