When the Saint comes, she does not collect food

Chapter 1256 Charlie Saves His Mother
"I strongly advise you not to do this." In the king's study, Lorenzo had dissuaded him for what seemed like the umpteenth time.

As for Charlie, while drafting his military orders, he replied without looking up, "Is it befitting an emperor to stand idly by while my own mother is besieged?"

"Your actions are undermining France's century-old fine political traditions. By launching an army without going through the Royal Council, you will cause incalculable consequences."

"The capture of the Empress Dowager would also have incalculable consequences!"

Contrary to popular belief, Lorenzo, who was rumored to have had an affair with the Queen Mother, was now trying his best to dissuade Charlie.

Charlie, who was rumored to be at odds with his mother, was now on the side supporting the march to rescue her.

"Have you really thought this through?" Lorenzo stood in front of Charles VIII for the first time, blocking his way. "Behind you are countless subjects of the Kingdom of Fran."

While blocking the door is considered normal behavior by the Holy Alliance, it is not the case in Frankfurt.

It's quite common for the high-ranking monks of the Holy Alliance to bang on the table and shout insults in their offices, or to joke and fight, and to block the door and refuse to give explanations or let people leave.

As a country with a long history, France has always valued rules and etiquette.

For a high-ranking official like Lorenzo to forcibly block the king's door and prevent him from leaving was extremely rude.

“What do you want me to do? What do you think I can do?” Charles VIII stared intently into Lorenzo’s eyes.

"You must consider the ancestors and the royal family of France, and the countless French people behind you!"

"Just tell me what you want to say."

"This is exactly what I really wanted to say!"

“No!” Charles VIII was unusually enraged, pressing his chest against Lorenzo’s chin. “I know what you’re thinking. Say it.”

"........."

“You won’t talk, huh? Fine, I’ll talk.” Charles VIII took a step back. “You’re just thinking that since the royal army has arrived, I’ll pretend to risk my life to save my mother, and you’ll stop me, so you can take the opportunity to let her die, right?”

The Queen Mother is the biggest traditional force in the court that is hindering the rise of new nobles. She opposes you at every turn, obstructs reforms, and can change my mind, can she?

"It just so happens that the Golden Fleece Beach has been breached and there's no hope of saving it. And coincidentally, Mother was vacationing at the Hot Spring Palace when she was killed by the royal army. Isn't that good news?"

“Watch your language, Your Highness.” Lorenzo, his face equally flushed, forcefully blocked the doorknob. “Is this how you assume the opinions of your trusted ministers and your loyal subjects?”

"High-ranking officials? Subjects? The high-ranking officials and subjects who forced me to let my mother die? Where is their loyalty?"

"Your Highness!"

"How many people think this way? You all think this way, right? Everyone, right?"

With trembling hands, Lorenzo pushed up his glasses, the redness slowly fading from his face. He silently blocked the doorway: "You need to calm down. As the Prime Minister of the Kingdom, I cannot allow you to make decisions on impulse."

Staring at Lorenzo, apart from the servants and guards in the corner who were bowing their heads and not daring to breathe, the only sounds were the heavy breathing of the king and his prime minister.

Stepping back a few paces, Charles VIII, with a stern face and his hands behind his back, walked to the window.

Silence, like a flood, instantly engulfed the entire room.

It's unclear how much time passed—perhaps thirty seconds, perhaps ten minutes—before the no-longer-young king finally spoke:
"If I really had to evaluate my mother, I would say that she was definitely not a clever empress dowager, but definitely a foolish but good person."

She always cared about everyone around her, even if that person was just her servant.

She would sulk because of the servants' deception, and the greatest punishment she would give them was to deliberately not speak to the servants who had deceived her, but this usually lasted less than a week.

Lively balls and banquets were her favorite things, and she especially loved life. She feared pain, death, and all things terrifying, including war.

Through the reflection in the glass window, Charlie could see Lorenzo's somber face.

“I know you are angry because I let her have her way, and you think I am too obedient to my mother. I know that is unwise. She argued with me to uphold the traditions of the nobility, but then she cursed the nobleman in the room, saying that he was deliberately sowing discord in the royal family and that she never wanted to see him again.”

Then she took out my childhood toys and begged me to forgive her. I forgave her, and she forgave the nobleman as well.

I know she never did it on purpose, because it is what I and the French royal family owe her.

She was forced to leave her hometown, her true love and family, and marry someone who didn't love her, giving birth to her only relative.

Charlie turned around, his expression incredibly resolute.

"But it was this woman who protected me, allowed me to grow up like a normal person, and helped me deal with my father who didn't love her."

She foolishly kept me in her sight at all times to ensure I wouldn't be taken away by any other royalty or nobles.

Please don't blame her for being too controlling; she's used to it.

Without her, I wouldn't be where I am today. If she were here today, she would definitely do everything in her power to save me.

My whole life has been like a cold political machine. I demote those I like who are detrimental to the new policies, and promote and reward those I dislike who are beneficial to them.

This time, I'll be willful just this once, the first and last time in my life.

After saying that, Charlie strode towards the door. He was going to gather the troops that were being reorganized and assemble all the generals.

This time, however, Lorenzo did not stop him. He only sighed after Charlie had passed him by, pushed open the door, and walked out.

Sometimes, he wished the country were ruled by a cold-blooded, heartless killer.

Always calm, always right, just as Charlie said, like a cold political machine.

But the truth is, as long as the king exists, as long as this person who holds all the power exists, it will never be possible to make the best strategic decisions for the country.

The actions and policies of a nation will always fall on individuals who are either foolish, intelligent, or prejudiced, simply because they have a good surname.

Even a wise monarch like Charles had a stubborn and impulsive side.

Perhaps the right choice is not to have a king, but to have a group of national elites jointly rule.

"Oh, damn it."

The Spider Chancellor's rare swear word was ignored by the guards, who kept their eyes down and pretended not to see it.

As for Lorenzo, who was still lost in thought, perhaps the republican system of the Holy Alliance was the best.

Putting aside this absurd idea, Lorenzo slowly walked to the window and looked out at the square below.

In the square, His Majesty the King, unable to wait for the carriage to arrive, grabbed a horse and rushed towards the Hall of Military and Political Knights.

He would ring a bell there to summon the courtiers, nobles, and officers, and announce the king's plans for the campaign to them.

This was a life-saving strategy left by successive kings to their descendants, allowing them to bypass royal councils and forcibly issue orders and laws.

Charlie knew that if he raised this proposal at the Imperial Council, even if Lorenzo asked him to leave now, he would use every means to prevent it from passing.

Lorenzo suddenly began to pray silently, but by the end of his prayer, he was unsure whether to pray for the Queen Mother's safety or for something to happen to her.

God bless France!

Extending three fingers, the prime minister reverently drew the character "屮" on his forehead.

(End of this chapter)