In the Name of Empress-Chapter 385 - 269: Some People Refuse to Keep Their Dignity

Chapter 385: Chapter 269: Some People Refuse to Keep Their Dignity

Just as William was preparing for the ceremony, several high-ranking ministers were secretly gathering at the home of the Minister of Finance, Sim.

The number of attendees far exceeded William’s expectations.

Except for him and Wald, nearly everyone else was here.

Wald was the Empress’s teacher, an Iron Imperialist, so naturally, he wouldn’t come.

William was the Prime Minister, holding vast political resources, having the qualification to switch sides, unlike the other cabinet ministers.

The Minister of Culture and Education asked cautiously, "Are we... really not going?"

The ministers all looked towards Sim, who organized the gathering, and Sim in turn looked at Alben beside him.

Unknowingly, the Minister of Justice had become the backbone of this group.

After all, his conflict with Her Majesty the Empress was the deepest, and his determination to limit imperial authority was the strongest.

Glancing angrily at the Minister of Culture and Education, Alben said coldly:

"It’s not that we’re not going, but rather that our country has laws. Unless there’s an irresistible force, the new emperor should ascend the throne in the Imperial Capital according to procedure."

"I won’t stop you if you want to go, but as a defender of the law, I’m not going."

Alben’s resolute attitude silenced the waverers.

The other ministers exchanged glances, unable to resist asking, "So how should we respond?"

"Very simple, write an open letter, sign it together, and urge Her Majesty the Empress to return to the Imperial Capital to ascend the throne."

The Minister of Finance, Sim, was so frightened that he stood up immediately, his lips trembling, unable to speak.

Writing a private letter to request the Empress’s return is a discussion, using an open letter to urge her return is tearing the mask off.

This is publicly accusing the Empress of violating the ancestral laws, acting recklessly outside.

His heart raced wildly, even regretting inviting this extremist Alben over.

He just wanted power, not to stage a coup.

His thoughts coincided with those of many ministers.

Soon, someone objected.

"Alben, writing an open letter is forcing the palace, is this appropriate?"

Alben looked disdainfully at the speaker, coldly saying, "Gentlemen, this is a life-and-death struggle, does anyone still fantasize about switching sides now?"

"Well then, please."

He gestured, inviting them, and everyone fell silent.

A year ago, switching sides might have still saved their power and position, but now it’s too late.

Empress Sylph built a base overseas and formed a team under the Governor’s Mansion.

All cabinet ministers have backups abroad.

This means that as soon as the Empress ascends to power, they will all have to leave.

Yes, they have no retreat, they can only grit their teeth and confront the Empress to the end.

What if Sylph ascends the throne abroad? Can she never return to the Imperial Capital?

When she returns, that will be the final showdown.

The ministers present were all seasoned politicians; once the Empress enters their domain, they have plenty of ways to sideline imperial authority.

The title of Emperor is merely a title, real power is authority.

Since it was Her Majesty who rebelled first, they can’t be blamed for disloyalty.

The secret meeting at the Minister of Finance’s home continued into the night, after much bargaining and debate, the cabinet ministers finally reached a consensus.

In the name of the Cabinet and the government, they would request the Empress to return to the Imperial Capital to ascend the throne.

This open letter was impeccably written, not mentioning Sylph’s refusal to return, but rather recounting the Empire’s glorious history and long-standing tradition.

Since past emperors mostly ascended the throne in the Imperial Capital, naturally a new emperor should not break tradition.

This is the ancestral law and the Empire’s rule.

An emperor who doesn’t follow the rules deals a huge blow to the Empire’s prestige.

This is also their key to countering Sylph.

In fact, many of them admired the achievements Sylph had made overseas in a year and were willing to acknowledge her as a competent ruler.

But they were not of the same path.

Having tasted the sweetness of power, it was truly difficult for them to go back to drinking plain water.

Detachment from fame and wealth is a rare virtue, not a basic quality everyone possesses.

After the meeting ended, Alben raised his collar and boarded a carriage.

Before leaving, he glanced back at the Minister of Finance seeing off the guests at the door, waving goodbye to him.

As he lowered the carriage curtain, Alben’s smile instantly vanished, replaced by cold indifference.

A bunch of fools.

Corroded by power, their brains are gone.

He secretly thanked that he caught the last train of Empress Sylph through Roland.

If he hadn’t boarded, he would be much like Sim now, scheming to no avail, ultimately becoming a joke.

With Roland housing Norton, does Sim’s outcome even need to be questioned?

Thinking of his greedy working style, Alben sighed softly, shrugged, but couldn’t help but smile.

Even though the Empress hadn’t explicitly stated, he knew his task was to expose those waverers and renegades hidden in the dark.

The dissidents had already appeared.

Sim was one, and Winston too. The fate of these die-hard individuals would not be good.

Alben suddenly thought of another person, William.

He originally thought William was bound to fall, allowing him to smoothly replace him.

However, William was very cunning too, with signs of changing alliance.

How hateful, the cabinet is still resisting, yet this Prime Minister surrendered first? 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

...

Standing on the deck of the New Monarch, Sif personally felt the formidable force of this giant ship.

She murmured softly, asking, "What’s the displacement of this ship?"

"Standard displacement 11,235 tons, full load displacement about 13,500 tons," Roland, standing behind her, skillfully reported the figures.

"Wonderful."

Sif spread her arms, facing the sea breeze and the rising sun, her smile radiant like a flower.

"Roland, can this ship not be called the Monarch?"

"Of course, it’s your ride, you have the right to name it." Roland responded calmly, somewhat indifferently.

It’s just a ship name, even calling it Empress Sylph wouldn’t matter.

Sylph pondered for a long time, slowly saying, "How about calling it the Endeavor?"

Endeavor? It sounds like a famous aircraft carrier from some world.

"Good name, I support it!"

Seeing Sif’s smile as bright as the sunrise, Roland almost didn’t want to spoil her good mood, but some things had to be done.

He took out a document, handing it to Sif.

"An open letter from the Imperial Capital, urging you to return."

Sif received the open letter, smiling as she read it until her expression gradually hardened.

"In the end, they made a choice, just not knowing how many were coerced. The coronation ceremony, they won’t come, they refuse to come..."

Roland didn’t try to persuade.

Some things she had to face herself.

This is the harshness of political struggle.

Sif raised her beautiful plain hand, allowing the open letter to drift away with the sea breeze, disappearing into the ocean.

"Good, now I have no more concerns. Except for Teacher Wald, Prime Minister William, and Mr. Alben, everyone else can retire."

After pausing for a moment, she thought of someone, smiling as she said, "Of course, I arranged a gift from Jin Yuan for Mr. Sim."

Roland, of course, knew what the gift from Jin Yuan was.

The guillotine Alina had given to Sif.

Supervised by Marco, quality guaranteed.

Since some don’t want to face it graciously, then there’s no need for grace.

The gallows are prepared for gentlemen, for those without grace, heads must be moved.