Chapter 244
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“And Lord Andrew is so frightened that he has already gone to look for his master. Lord Joshua and Lord Avery are staying at home. But I heard that Mr. Wallen is so distraught that he’s ignoring everyone now,” Amber continued.
Listening to these words, Margaery felt an unprecedented indifference. She no longer cared. Thinking back on the past at this moment, those heart–wrenching memories seemed to have lost their color, like a faded picture, becoming unclear and devoid of warmth.
She lowered her head to eat and casually said, “Let’s eat. Afterward, we need to practice swordsmanship.”
Adam temporarily rented the inn’s backyard. After finishing her meal, Margaery took her wooden sword downstairs. Under Wayne’s guidance, she began practicing the Nine Sovereigns Sword manual, and Wayne also taught her lightness skills.
However, this was a hard skill, not something that could be mastered overnight. Moreover, Margaery’s foundation was lacking.
Therefore, in the evening, Simon sent someone to deliver medicinal herbs to unblock her meridians, and Adam personally decocted them.
The four assassin bodyguards stood at the side, dumbfounded. They had thought the four of them were formidable enough, but when they saw Wayne make his move, they suddenly felt so much smaller. Even their fierce reputation seemed less impressive now.
For a moment, the four wore grave expressions. Soon after, all of them joined the martial arts practice. In the entire courtyard, wind and snow surged, and a chilling, murderous intent filled the air.
By midnight, Norman arrived. “The ‘Nine Sovereign Sword‘ has reappeared in the martial world; it’s truly astonishing,” he
said.
He appeared directly on the rooftop, overlooking below, sighed, and said, “But the Nine Sovereign Sword is too rigid and easily broken. Immediately starting today, I’ll teach you the ‘Prajna Secret Technique.”
Margaery looked up in astonishment, and upon seeing him, hurriedly clasped her hands and called out, “Mr. Brim.”
Frederic descended from the rooftop, stood before her, his gaze quietly resting on her face. “To have passed the King’s test, 1 truly did not misjudge you.”
Margaery was puzzled. ‘When did the King ever test me?‘ she wondered. ‘Could it be that he was watching how I retaliated against the Chancellor’s estate?‘
Frederic cleared her doubt. “Your ability to counter the Wallen father and son is one thing. But what the King values even more is your calmness, composure, and patience in lying low,” he said.
As he spoke, he glanced around, as if encompassing the entire world. “Struggles in the court differ from those among ordinary people, which may spill blood within three feet, but soon they must pay with their lives, sacrificing themselves.
“Court struggles are like walking a tightrope within a net of heaven and earth, surrounded by storms of blood. If you make a single misstep, someone will seize the opportunity to grind you to dust.
“Balance, careful planning before action, and a decisive strike, these are the essence of court struggles. This is what the King was testing in you,” he looked at Margaery and said.
The same was tested among the princes. After all, ruling the world was not a street brawl. What was desired was peace under heaven, not mere ruthlessness and bravado.
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Chapter 244
Margaery carefully digested his words. “I’ll remember this,” she said.
Frederic nodded and said, “From today onward, you’ll only sleep five hours each night.” Margaery nodded.
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Those who wished to wear the crown had to bear its weight. Moreover, this was what she had sought all along. Therefore, she cupped her hands and said, “I’ll not disappoint the King’s expectations and your teachings.”
Frederic nodded. “Not only that. After the recognition party, come to Inkwell Academy to look for me in the morning on odd days, and go to the palace to see the King in the afternoon.
“On even days, go to the Hall of Divinity to look for Simon in the morning, and go to the outskirts in the afternoon to look for Craig.
“Each month, you’ll have only one rest day. So, whatever you wish to do before the recognition party, do it quickly, or you’ll have no time for it,” he said.
He came today to remind Margaery of this. Margaery was stunned and said, “The recognition party is three days later. So I only have tomorrow and the day after?”
She indeed had some matters to handle. At the very least, she needed to thank Christina and Phillipa. After receiving their help, she had not had the chance to thank them. Even if she could not afford expensive gifts, she should at least meet them in person.
Frederic nodded. “Yes, two days. Go and take care of your affairs.” With that, he left behind a scripture and said, “Read this first. On the fourth day, come to Inkwell Academy to look for me.”
After speaking, he glanced into the distance and said, “It’s too late today. Rest early. I’ll head back now.” He still had other royal orders to carry out.
**
Meanwhile, Andrew arrived at the entrance of the Princess’s residence. Grace was thirty–five this year, still in the prime of her charm. With the princess title, she held authority in the residence, while her husband, Finn McKay, was second in command.
At this moment, the two of them were sitting in the main hall, both wearing rather grim expressions. Finn said, “I never expected the downfall of the Chancellor’s authority to happen without warning.
“From the first signs to the Chancellor’s dismissal, it took less than 20 days. If you say the King wasn’t behind it, that’s impossible.
A top–ranking official, unique in the realm, is not someone who can simply be toppled at will, Finn thought.
Although Finn did not take part in politics, he was not a fool. After all, he was once the third–ranked scholar in the imperial
examination.
As he spoke, he looked at Grace. “I had thought that Andrew, being the youngest son of the Chancellor’s estate, had been accepted, and after the King passes away, with the support of the Chancellor’s estate, our position would remain unaffected.
“Yet unexpectedly, the incident happened so suddenly, and now, it has become a burden.”
Grace’s expression darkened at these words, a shadow flickering in her eyes. “I was aware that the King disliked Raul’s excessive power, but I didn’t expect him to be so swift and merciless when he acted,” she said.
Before this, she received not the slightest hint. Yet she remained, in the eyes of outsiders, the King’s most cherished cousin. ‘What should we do now?” she asked.
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Chapter 244
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Finn looked at her and said, “I heard the imperial guards have just smashed the Chancellor’s estate’s nameplate. All the princes are restless now, secretly building alliances, while the King took a day off and skipped the morning court. It’s truly baffling.”
Grace pressed her glabella and said, ‘We can only watch and wait, doing nothing.
“The King has been a hero unrivaled in his time, not a man of fickle moods. He excels at planning before acting. Now that he has made his move, he must have everything under his control. There’s nothing we can do.”
Grace gazed out the window, taking a deep breath. “We can only wait. If the Wallen family collapses, once the imperial edict arrives, we must neither add insult to injury nor offer assistance.”
“If Raul is no longer the Chancellor, who will be the next Chancellor?” Finn could not help but ask.
Grace, shaking her head, said, “Most likely, there’s no more Chancellor. From what I know of the King, he would not take the trouble to topple one Chancellor and appoint another to vex him. Just watch; things will get lively out there from now on. And this liveliness will be stained with human blood.”
Grace took a deep breath and glanced at Finn. “From today onward, no matter which prince requests an audience, refuse them all!‘ she said. “Tonight, I’ll meet that Star of Fortune.”
Finn was somewhat surprised. “Why do you want to meet her? Isn’t she just a pawn used by the King to bring down the Chancellor’s estate?” he asked.
“It’s not that simple.” Grace narrowed her eyes and snorted. “Even if she’s a pawn, for my royal brother to select her out of the countless people, she must be exceptionally rare.
“After so many years, why was she the one chosen?” Grace felt a bit jealous.
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