Fangzhou Xier, starting with failing the art exam

The sound waves, as if they were tangible, crashed against the tower's walls again and again, and against Iraq Congreve's heart, which was already filled with fear.

He slumped into the chair, his face ashen.

He knew it was all over.

The deafening roar outside was his death knell.

In the tavern, Iron Hammer put down his beer mug and calmly spoke into the communicator: "This is Iron Hammer, reporting to the lord, the candidates are in place, and public opinion is boiling."

"Araq Congreve is doomed."

……

Holy Leitania Empire: Chapter 74: Inciting public opinion, dividing the country, tantamount to treason!

At your behest, Professor Rudolf's lecture stirred up a huge wave in Heiligenburg.

This highly respected former law professor, drawing on his own experiences, brutally dissected the tyranny and greed of Iraq Congreve, presenting it to all the people of Rupercan.

The public's emotions were completely ignited, with chants of "Get out of Rupercan!"

Taylor led his elite guard, ostensibly to maintain order, and completed the assembly around the Rupercan district.

[Iraq Congreve's guard completely collapsed under the overwhelming tide of popular support and external military pressure. Soldiers threw down their weapons and joined the march, their families among them.]

Beset by internal and external troubles, Alec Congreve utterly despaired within the tower.

Looking out the window at the angry faces below, and hearing the death knell tolling for him, he finally understood that his era had ended.

Faced with the abdication edict presented by the Workers' Party representative, he trembled as he signed his name, relinquishing his title as Elector and begging only to save his own life.

To his surprise, the Workers' Party did not completely seize his wealth. His factories and farmland were confiscated, but his remaining assets were preserved, for which he felt somewhat grateful.

The following day, amidst the cheers of hundreds of thousands of people in Heiligenburg, Professor Rudolf was elected as the new lord of the Rupercan district.

The old professor delivered his inaugural address, announcing that Rupercan would join the "Leitanian Economic Community" and requesting His Excellency Lacey, Elector of Vaser, to send a working group to assist in rebuilding a new Rupercan that belongs to the people.

[At this point, seven of the nine electoral districts of the Empire have clearly fallen into your camp.]

The bloodless takeover of Rupertham was another unprecedented political upheaval, mirroring the overthrow of Otto Gladstone.

[Before the throne of the Twin Queens, Trinity, the White Queen Liselotte finally realizes that you have grown from a pawn into a player capable of overturning the entire game.]

The tool she initially envisioned as controllable and exploitable has completely spiraled out of control.

She realized that you were no longer content with simply sweeping away the corrupt vassals; your gaze had now fallen upon the crowns atop their heads.

……

Trinitylme, Twin Towers, Throne Room.

Helemat Hildegard, the Empire's "Ruthless Authority," was pacing back and forth at that moment.

Her black military uniform made a slight rustling sound with each movement.

"We must send troops."

She stopped and turned to face Liselot, who sat silently on the throne.

"immediately!"

"By uniting the five districts of Haydenschweil, Enward, Odenholl, Fordgang, and Oschdenheim, plus the royal family, we could form an army that could crush him!"

Herlinmat placed her hand on the sword at her waist.

"Lassie has just taken Rupercan, and its foundation is not yet solid, nor are the people's hearts settled. This is the perfect opportunity for us to wipe out Wasser territory in one fell swoop!"

"Those two opportunists, Walner and Mecklen, will immediately realize they've chosen the wrong side when faced with overwhelming military power!"

On the throne, Liselotte Ivignad sat quietly, her pure white dress spreading out like a blooming holy flower.

She didn't look at her sisters; her gaze was fixed on the window, as if she were staring at the vast sky of Letania.

"And after pacifying the Vase territory, Helinmat?" she asked softly.

Herlinmat couldn't quite understand her sister: "Of course, we should destroy the Workers' Party, send Lacey to the gallows, and get everything back on track!"

"Do not."

Liselotte finally turned her gaze back to the hall, her eyes devoid of any warmth.

"That won't be a return to normalcy, but rather the beginning of another period of chaos."

She stood up and slowly walked down the steps.

“Herlinmat, have you forgotten how we ascended this throne?”

"It was their rejection of the witch king's tyranny that elevated us to the altar."

“Lassie is different from us, but he is doing something similar to what we did back then.”

"At this moment, in the eyes of countless people in Letania, who is he?"

Herlinmat frowned but did not answer.

“He was a hero who came from humble beginnings but won back land and bread for his people through his own abilities,” Liselotte said for her.

"He was a liberator who dared to challenge the corrupt aristocracy and speak out for the underprivileged."

She walked up to Helena and looked directly into her eyes, which were burning with anger.

"Now, we, the twin queens of Letania, are going to send troops to suppress this people's hero in the name of 'maintaining the old order'?" Liselot said with a hint of sarcasm.

"Which side do you think the public will take? What will they do?"

"They will rise up in rebellion, and an uprising that will sweep the country will be far larger than the September Revolution of that year."

"And Lacey, even if he dies in battle, will immediately be molded into a martyr who resisted tyranny and spoke out for the people, a totem."

"At that time, we will not be facing just one Vaser territory, but thousands upon thousands of Vaser territories."

Herlinmat pressed her lips together; she could picture the scene: the foundations of the empire would be utterly shaken by the people's wrath.

Liselotte continued, "Besides, those guys, Ziegler, Gabriel... they were just flirting with Lacey, do you think they'd genuinely help us?"

“They will just hide in the back and watch us and Lacey suffer heavy losses, then happily divide up the power we have conquered, and even turn around and install a new emperor who is more in their interest.”

“We can’t let that happen,” Liselotte said, emphasizing each word.

"What we need to do is pull him down from his pedestal, ruin his reputation, and turn him from a hero into a sinner."

"We must strip him of his legitimacy."

Herlinmatt's breathing gradually calmed down, and the anger in her chest was extinguished by Liselotte's rational words.

She had to admit that Liselotte was right.

Military victory could lead to utter political ruin.

"What's your plan?" Herlinmat asked.

Liselotte's lips curled into a smile.

She really enjoyed this scene, the scene where she used her political wisdom to persuade her sister.

She turned and walked back to the throne.

"In your name and mine, let us issue a decree."

"The charges against Lacey are threefold: first, a conspiracy to overthrow the Elector's legitimate rule and undermine the foundation of the Empire."

"Second, inciting public opinion and splitting the country is tantamount to treason."

"Third, it desecrates the Golden Law and betrays the traditions of Letania."

"The decree will be issued, stripping Lexi of all political status and power as Elector of Vaser and ordering him to immediately dissolve his illegal regime in Rupercan."

……

Holy Leitania Empire: Chapter 75: His Majesty must have been kidnapped by villains! Cleanse the court of corrupt officials!

Helena added, "He should also be ordered to come alone to Trinitylme to apologize to us."

“Of course.” Liselotte’s expression shifted slightly.

"At the same time, in the name of the supreme ruler, a summons to the Imperial Central Conference was issued to all electors."

"The time is one week from now."

“We must summon Lacey to be questioned by all the Electors.”

This is a blatant and overt conspiracy.

If Lacey comes, he will be walking into a trap. The voices of the Golden Law Guard and the Queen are enough to ensure that he will not return.

If they do not come, it will be blatant disobedience, confirming all the charges, and the royal family will then have a legitimate reason to use force.

"Second point."

Lizzielot continued without pausing: "You immediately send an envoy to see those three fence-sitters, Ziegler, as well as Werner and Mecklen."

“Tell them to distance themselves from the traitors, and the royal family will grant them more trade privileges and even open up parts of the capital region’s markets.”

"If they remain obstinate and continue to associate with Lacey..."

“...They will be considered accomplices and share the wrath of the royal family.” Helena took over the conversation, a dangerous glint in her eyes.

Liselotte nodded.

"The third point."

"I hereby declare that all trade between the Royal Territories and the surrounding capital region of Trilintelme is hereby prohibited from any form of trade with Vaser Territory, Shiton Territory, and Keprania."

"Especially Originium Arts products, high-end luxury goods, and refined metals."

“We must let that greedy fat man, Mecklen, know who really bestowed his wealth upon him.”

"Then we'll promise the market share freed up by the sanctions to those electors who remain neutral or are willing to stand on our side."

"Use our capital economic zone to counter his economic community."

"the last point."

"Abraham Rossetti and Hoffman Herbert are officially authorized to form the Imperial Order Restoration Force, which will be assembled at the border under the pretext of 'restoring the legitimate order of Rupercan'."

"We'll stop them from fighting for now, but we'll keep that sword hanging over Lacey's head at all times."

Liselotte smiled and continued:

"Also, get the spies moving."

“Go to Wasserland and Rupercan and make contact with all the old nobles, disgruntled merchants and capitalists who are dissatisfied with the Workers’ Party.”

“Give them money, give them weapons, and let them create chaos and carry out assassinations.”

“I’m going to set fire to Lacey’s backyard too.”

Looking at her sister, Helena Matt felt for the first time that beneath that white robe lay a darkness deeper than her black armor.

"I'll get on it right away." She turned around and acted swiftly.

……

That afternoon, the decree of stripping, bearing the seals of the twin queens, spread throughout Letania at breakneck speed.

Countless messengers rushed to the various electoral territories, and the royal propaganda machine was in full swing, portraying Lacey as an ambitious traitor who was about to bring disaster to the empire.

By the time the news reached Essenwild, the capital of the Wasser territory, it was already dusk.

Gertrude, carrying the strongly worded decree, strode into Lacey's throne room.

High up in the tower, Lacey sat on her throne, processing documents.

"Lassie!"

Gertrude's voice was somewhat urgent, "A message from Trilintelme!"

Lacey didn't look up, and casually said, "Read it."

Gertrude cleared her throat and read the contents of the decree aloud without missing a single word.

After the reading was finished, the throne room fell silent.

Gertrude awaited Lacey's reaction.

However, Lacey simply turned away calmly, the setting sun casting a long shadow on his face, obscuring his expression.

He took the parchment from Gertrude, examined it carefully, and then he smiled.