It's the cyber age now, and you're still playing traditional villains?

And the effect is just as the little queen said, it is indeed very good.

Since the renovation, both the convenience and maintenance costs have been greatly improved compared to before - not only herself, but also other princes and ministers, except for a few staunch diehards, have given surprisingly high evaluations after contacting them. The most common memorials seen these days are probably requests for the royal family to upgrade their mansions comprehensively...

This also made her more convinced that choosing Xu Shi to cooperate was the right choice.

"Well, that's fine."

Xu Shi nodded slightly. "As for how to promote it, you can handle it yourself... I sent someone back to Night Sin City before, and they should be back in the next few days, and they will bring more supplies."

"Thank you, teacher."

Dongfang Xiao bowed and saluted. This alone was enough for her to be disrespectful to Xu Shi.

"Okay, let's stop here for today."

Xu Shi didn't seem to want to stay any longer, and after a brief exchange he was about to get up and leave.

"Uh...are you leaving now?"

Seeing that he was about to leave, the little queen asked subconsciously.

"otherwise?"

Xu Shi narrowed his eyes, "Is there anything else you want to do?"

“…No, no.”

Dongfang Xiao came back to his senses and waved his hands quickly.

Of course she knew what Xu Shi meant by "other things". It was nothing more than training her... Of course she would not rush to ask for such things. She was just enduring humiliation and suffering, and her brain was not really a mess.

She was eager to enter the small dark room at that time.

But the fact that he didn't do so was actually the most abnormal thing - did this also indirectly indicate that there was really a big problem with his relationship with Xie Qingyan? He didn't even want to spend a single second with her alone...

Well.

……

"Brother Xu, long time no see."

After leaving the palace with Xie Qingyan, Xu Shi met Cheng Gujian who came to see him after a long time.

"Brother Cheng, long time no see."

Xu Shi responded politely, "I rarely see you come to the palace these days. What are you busy with?"

"Brother Xu has devoted all his efforts to the development of the empire. It seems that it doesn't matter whether I come or not, right?"

Cheng Gujian rarely teased, "But I have also experienced the transformations you and your wife have made. They are more interesting than I expected."

To be honest, he was actually the first person to reach a deal with Xu Shi, but the deal with him only involved weapons and did not involve daily people's livelihood, so many things were new to him, and this admiration came from the heart.

"Since it's a collaboration, I certainly won't break my promise."

Xu Shi smiled and said, "I am a very honest person."

"I see it."

Cheng Gujian did not comment. "But I still want to remind you that although you are taking the nibbling method against the Church, they will not tolerate even a grain of sand in their eyes. Now that they seem to have no reaction, I am afraid they have not stopped their plan against you at all."

"I'm not that naive, but again, who's afraid?"

Xu Shi waved his hands, very confident in himself.

"Oh? So it seems that Brother Xu already has a follow-up plan?"

Cheng Gujian asked curiously.

"When that day comes, Brother Cheng will naturally know the outcome."

Xu Shi said mysteriously, the plan involves not only the Holy See, but also you.

"Yes, we will see the result then..."

Cheng Gujian nodded in agreement, with a hint of meaning in his tone.

……

same moment.

For Lu Baiyan, what happened to Xu Shi actually had little impact on him.

Because he was still thinking about what Pan Ling said to him that day... Thinking about it now, he still felt mixed emotions.

On the one hand, it was really embarrassing to be lectured by a little girl, but what the other party said seemed to be nothing wrong - no matter how you look at it, it seemed that Xu Shi's side was more popular, and now with the pressure from the Holy See on him, it seemed that keeping a low profile was a good choice.

There is an old saying that teaches us that a gentleman should not stand under a dangerous wall.

But he is indeed the same as Pan Ling said, the type who won't release the eagle until he sees the rabbit. Now that everything is not settled, it is not easy to make him really defect.

Of course, he also knew that adding icing on the cake was not as good as helping someone in need, but his choice would involve his own life and even the life and property of his entire family... Even if Xu Shi failed, it would be easy for outsiders like them to withdraw, at least easier than for him.

By that time, he himself would definitely be highlighted as an example and would be infamous as a clown forever.

Ugh……

While thinking, he seemed to realize something and suddenly looked up at the air behind him.

The expression in his narrowed eyes suddenly became very unfriendly, and even tinged with murderous intent.

"Is that enough? How long...are you going to keep an eye on me?"

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 283: Restoring the glory of the Holy See is our responsibility!

2023-10-05

As Lu Baiyan questioned, the air he was looking at twisted slightly.

"…Don't be so angry, Lao Lu."

Then came the faint sound of mosquitoes, "I am only following orders. Pay attention to your actions. It is not my intention to send people up and down."

"Your Holiness the Pope or Your Highness the Saint?"

Mimiyan didn't buy it and asked again.

"This is an order from the Holy See."

The mosquito responded calmly, "I actually don't know what you did... Have you been in contact with outsiders too much?"

Lu Baiyan was silent.

Although he had noticed it a long time ago, he still felt bad when he saw that the methods used by the Holy See to deal with outsiders were now being used on him.

Others may not know, but he knows best that the mosquito sound also comes from one of their Knights Templar, Han Jingchuan, who is ranked sixth.

As for his ability... although it's hard to see clearly with the naked eye, if you look carefully, you can actually find a very small bug hiding behind him.

This is Han Jingchuan's ability, which is most suitable for acting as an eyeliner for the Holy See and quietly searching for various intelligence.

Even if they are the "Chosen Ones" of God, it is difficult for ordinary people to detect the existence of these small eyes unless they focus on mental power. Even those with a certain level of mental power may not be able to detect them.

Lu Baiyan's strength was not weak, but he could only roughly perceive it, and this was based on the fact that he knew all of his colleagues well.

The other party is also considered an old man among the Knights Templar. Sometimes rank does not explain everything, but relying on such ability, with his help, the Holy See has always been able to collect a lot of unknown information in the past, and seize the initiative in some open and secret struggles with the royal family or other parties.

But this is not the problem. The problem is that this ability is now being used on their own people.

Of course, Lu Baiyan still thought of himself as a member of the Holy See, which was why he was unhappy - he remembered very clearly that the other party had a mission before and had left the main city for a long time and had not returned.

Now you suddenly appear here, obviously you have received an urgent message from the Vatican and come back to monitor me... What were you doing before?

Why didn't you come back when Xu Shi launched the economic war and made a fuss in front of the Vatican? Now that the child is dead and your mother is here, are you using this method to bully others?

You can call it a case of closing the stable door after the horse has bolted, or something else, it is true that Lu Baiyan is unhappy - he doesn't care whether the person who issued the order is the Pope or the Saint. Of course, it stands to reason that the former is more likely, but no matter who it is, the nature of this practice will not change.

In fact, for Mimiyan, who came from a noble family and had been in the Vatican and the royal family for many years, if he couldn't even think of this, he might as well find a piece of tofu and kill himself.

Otherwise, he would not have been so vigilant in front of Xu Shi’s mansion before. He would not have said a single word that was unfavorable to the Holy See. Even if he had said it, it would have been a hundred... He would just have to wait for the consequences.

Now he had a clear idea in his mind. Compared with the gentle means of peace talks, he was afraid that the Pope himself would prefer to cut the knot quickly and use more radical means to end the conflict that was shaking the status of the Holy See. This was completely different from the previous statement of using courtesy before force.

Sending people to keep an eye on me was, of course, also to avoid unnecessary trouble. Once I showed any dangerous tendencies, the unnecessary trouble would be nipped in the bud.

Fortunately, I was alert early, otherwise... Lu Baiyan knew what would happen without even thinking.

But think about it the other way around, if you really doubt yourself, then you shouldn't act so indifferent, as if you trust yourself so much, okay?

Thinking of the scene in the previous argument where the Pope stepped in to act as peacemaker and they even accepted the suggestions he made, he sighed silently in his heart with his eyes narrowed.

In comparison, he suddenly felt that Xu Shi seemed to be a better person - it was undeniable that this guy was very arrogant and his methods were very sinister, but he was very honest when dealing with himself.

At least his way of winning over was quite direct. As for whether his apprentice's psychological attack was instigated by him, it actually doesn't matter. In squinting eyes, all of them are tied together, and it doesn't make much difference who says it, especially since it was Xu Shi himself who started it.

He also believed in his own judgment. If Xu Shi said it himself, the meaning would definitely not change. The only difference was that his words would be more sophisticated.

Tsk.

Lu Baiyan now realized firsthand how uncomfortable it was to be caught in the middle and waver - if he had made a decision earlier, at least he wouldn't be as helpless as he is now.

But unfortunately, if I want to make a decision now, the effect will not be much good - even if I break off all ties with Xu Shi, I am afraid I won't be able to win back much trust from the Holy See. But if I make up my mind to go to Xu Shi, although it will be okay for me, the family behind me and a series of related people will definitely not be able to escape unscathed.

Because he had a premonition that the Vatican had recalled the Knights Templar outside, and he was afraid that there would be big moves.

"Anyway, I think you have no major problems. You didn't do anything out of the ordinary when dealing with outsiders. You just have a more moderate and gentle personality."

Han Jingchuan could monitor his actions, but he couldn't read his mind. Seeing this, he just comforted his old colleague, "So you don't have to worry about anything."

"Let me lend you some good words."

He squinted his eyes and said calmly.

"I'm just telling the truth."

Han Jingchuan said, "But since you have discovered me, it just so happens that the Pope has called everyone to a meeting, so you should not be absent."

"understood."

Lu Baiyan said in a neutral tone, "Please take away your little bug. It's annoying enough that it keeps buzzing in my ears."

"…Just arrive on time."

Han Jingchuan didn't argue with him, and the fluctuating air returned to normal after a while.