Chapter 322 Successfully Passed
It was only Daphne who came.
This made Yang Ming feel somewhat uneasy.
He had thought that Director Ino would show up at this moment, so he had to reorganize the series of speeches he had prepared before.
The alloy door that seemed as thin as paper to Yang Ming slowly opened. Daphne, wearing a fluffy long skirt, a top hat and a scarf, smiled and nodded to Yang Ming.
Two maids were guarding outside the door. Daphne went in alone and the alloy door slowly closed.
Yang Ming showed a tired look, fastened the top two buttons of his shirt, and looked up at the beautiful princess.
"I didn't expect to meet you here."
Yang Ming shook his head and smiled.
Daphne bowed gracefully, then sat down at the table in the corner and said softly, "I didn't expect that Uncle Ino would write to me and ask me to come here to see you."
"Director Ino?"
Yang Ming frowned slightly: "Did he have any instructions?"
Daphne smiled sweetly: "My great uncle said that he didn't expect you to reject the Sherman family's kindness in this way."
She is cheating.
Yang Ming's first reaction was to smile bitterly: "The director should know better than anyone that I care deeply about this opportunity."
"But you were very resistant before," Daphne's ice-blue eyes seemed to be able to speak, revealing a little cunning, "It's no use saying these things now. Father has given up on you, the sword, and the hero of the empire has left the stage in disgrace."
Yang Ming asked: "Your Highness, are you coming here at this time just to ridicule me?"
"Of course not," Daphne said, "My great uncle asked me to come over and ask you a few questions."
Yang Ming nodded: "Ask."
"These questions will affect your future. I must remind you to think carefully before answering."
Every movement of Daphne seemed to have been trained by the court etiquette officer, including the moment she raised her hands to take off both earrings.
She pinched the two light blue earrings gently, causing them to flash with a faint light.
“From now on, our conversations will be recorded by these two devices.
"In order to prevent us from hurting each other with the content of the following conversation, please choose an earring and keep it with you as our common secret.
"If you don't trust me, I can ask them to bring you your watch."
Yang Ming shook his head and smiled: "Your Highness, you are joking. How could I not trust you? I just... want my personal equipment more now."
Daphne nodded politely and turned to walk out the door.
After wasting two more minutes, Yang Ming slowly put on the watch that had been checked several times, and took the left earring to his hand.
"Your Highness, what do you want to ask?"
"That was a question from my great uncle," Daphne said. "He's investigating your possible connection with foreign forces."
Yang Ming frowned slightly.
Daphne said:
"My great uncle said that there were two questions he couldn't figure out. The first question was timing. The timing of the kidnapping was too clever, especially when the royal family began to hype up the scandal between you and me. Suddenly, a series of anti-White Ghost opinions emerged in the empire.
“My great uncle asked me, who in the empire today likes to manipulate public opinion the most?
"My answer is White Ghost."
"What do you mean ?" Yang Ming frowned and asked, "Are you saying that I sent someone to scold myself?"
"I asked the same question to my great uncle at that time," Daphne smiled gracefully and gently, "but my great uncle told me that he couldn't find any motive for you to do this. You should be extremely eager for this opportunity. This is a very important responsibility for you, unless..."
Yang Ming narrowed his eyes slightly.
Daphne smiled and said, "Unless, while investing in the Empire, you also invested in other powerful countries, such as the New Federation, the Free United States, the Guel Alliance, or several other countries ranked in the top ten in national strength."
Yang Ming shrugged: "That's a bit too high of an opinion of mine."
"My great uncle also thinks it's unlikely. You don't have enough time. He also studied suspicious individuals in the top ten countries and didn't find any politicians who are similar to you and have emerged as a rising star."
Daphne paused, a hint of doubt in her eyes:
"I don't quite understand what my great uncle said. Can you help me understand?"
Yang Ming groaned for a few seconds and said, "This is confidential, Your Highness Daphne. I will consider whether to answer you after you ask me the second question."
"I could actually ask my great uncle."
Daphne smiled softly:
“My second question to you, great uncle, is that you shouldn’t have cared so much about Hanton’s parents, but you insulted the emperor for this couple.
"You know the Emperor. He will act very open-minded in front of the people, but he will be petty and hate you. This is the worst moment he has had in the past hundred years. This makes him nervous. Whenever he sees you, he will think of those three words. You have just lost your chance to develop in the Imperial Star.
"Why?
"The above are my great-uncle's original words. I don't actually agree with his evaluation of my father."
Yang Ming rubbed his brows and whispered, "The director should know the answer to this question, why are you asking me again?"
"Great uncle wants to hear your answer."
Yang Ming's thoughts raced.
In front of him, into the recording device, Daphne described her father as neurotic and petty.
This is actually a gesture of sincerity, and she will ensure that the recording will not be circulated.
But after careful consideration, Yang Ming still pressed the hidden button on the watch.
A few weak arcs of electricity flashed, and white smoke came out of the two earrings on the table, the button on Daphne's chest, and the hairpin hidden in her long hair at the same time.
Daphne asked with a smile: "Why?"
"I think your great uncle didn't ask you to record the conversation. You just wanted to get more leverage over me," Yang Ming said with a smile. "Now we can talk openly."
Daphne opened her arms: "Aren't you going to search me?"
"No, I have confidence in my gadgets."
Yang Ming tapped the dial a few times with his fingers, and a shielding tape wrapped around the two of them.
Yang Ming said: "I didn't have many thoughts in my mind at the time. Yes, I have great respect for my parents, but compared to my responsibilities, I can indeed sacrifice them."
Daphne's eyebrows twitched slightly, but she remained polite and did not interrupt Yang Ming.
Yang Ming sighed:
“I thought at the time that if I chose your majesty’s reputation and sacrificed my parents, my credibility among the people would collapse.
“I care more about how the people see me, which is also the fundamental reason why Your Majesty would use me.
“The Empire can create more powerful Super-Changers at any time, but there are not many combat individuals who can gain the recognition of the people and possess their own military deterrence.
"Public opinion and public trust are the foundation of my politics. Your Majesty's favor and reward are just branches extending from this foundation. If it were you, would you protect your foundation or this achievement?"
"Foundation," Daphne said softly, "but I might take another approach, such as making the public feel that your parents should be sacrificed."
"My parents are also citizens of the empire. In certain circumstances, they are citizens," Yang Ming said. "This actually hides an equivalence problem. When the empire is in crisis, should I, as a hero, choose to save the people or the nobles?"
Daphne was thoughtful.
Yang Ming said: "The current situation is that His Majesty the Emperor doesn't like me anymore. If I guess correctly, my territory and rewards will still be issued normally, and His Majesty will give me these benefits with great fanfare."
Daphne asked, "Hasn't it occurred to you that my father could take these back at any time?"
"Yes, he can do that," Yang Ming said, "but as long as my popularity has not collapsed, he won't do that."
Daphne said quickly: "The emperor of the empire doesn't need to care about the feelings of the people. The solid military power and technological barriers make the possibility of a rebellion in the empire almost zero."
"This is not what the emperor wants. Your Majesty has been on the throne for decades. There are very few things he wants now, such as historical positioning and public recognition."
Yang Ming leaned forward and stared at Daphne:
“Every emperor who wants to be a wise ruler and leave his name in history will consider reputation more important than actual benefits.
"Material desire is the lowest level of pursuit, spiritual satisfaction is the greatest desire. Do you really understand the emperor's desire?"
Daphne was silent for a few seconds, then smiled and said, "In other words, you made the decision after comprehensive consideration?"
"In fact, it was those rubbish robbers who cursed the emperor."
"But this is already the most serious loss of imperial authority and deterrence in the empire's modern history."
"Perhaps this is the biggest purpose of the planner," Yang Ming whispered, "From this perspective, who will benefit the most from the decline in the deterrent power of the imperial power?"
Daphne whispered, "Great nobles? New Federation?"
Yang Ming said: "I don't know, but I have been thinking about a question now, who can meet the industrial base required for that batch of warships?"
Daphne nodded slightly. "I will tell my great uncle exactly what you answered."
"Thanks."
"Why thank you?"
Yang Ming smiled bitterly and said, "You can still be a messenger so that Director Ino won't give up on me completely."
"My great uncle also had to consider my father's feelings, so he didn't come to see you directly," Daphne said, "Can you explain to me why you need this power so urgently?"
Yang Ming uttered two words softly: "Secret."
Daphne frowned slightly, but remained restrained, reserved, and elegant.
She said, "You can rest assured now. Father has no intention ."
Yang Ming breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good."
Then!
Daphne pursed her lips and glared, her expression seemed to indicate she was angry.
Yang Ming spread his hands and said, "I have a girlfriend, and I love Catherine very much."
"Okay, Earl of Hanton!" Daphne stood up and saluted gracefully. "It's been a pleasure chatting today. I hope we can have a chance to discuss these topics in more depth next time!"
After saying that, she took off her buttons and hairpins, placed them on the table, then turned and walked towards the iron gate.
"Your Highness, please take care."
Yang Ming leaned over to take a look, and saw Daphne's back as she angrily walked away with her skirt lifted up, and he couldn't help but laugh.
That’s it?
Still fighting with him?
Couldn't make it through two rounds.
But then again, will Hanyin and Hanxiang be implicated by him?
The old emperor should not take his anger out on them.
…
“That’s not fair!”
Inside the palace of the Luofeng Empire, Emilia walked back and forth holding her metal sword.
"This is absolutely unfair! The emperor told him to say it, and he still wants to punish him for saying it! How can he be an emperor like this! Brother, can't you be tougher and make a direct diplomatic protest!"
"Exposing our relationship with him will only make him more passive."
Edwan sighed helplessly:
"Don't worry, he will be fine. The rulers of an empire care most about public opinion.
“The ideological erosion of countries like the New Federation has made everyone aware of the concepts of democracy and freedom, and the Imperial Network is still a unified structure.
"Levi Sherman once taught his children that the only thing that can tear an empire apart is public opinion. When the people want to leave, the empire will cease to exist.
"So, he must be fine."
"But the old emperor of the empire is now a tyrant. He is a tyrant!"
Emilia was so angry that she beat her chest and stamped her feet:
"The tyrant is capable of anything. He might be hung up and being whipped with a whip right now!"
Eduard: ...
"Uh, is that the little whip I was thinking of?"
"What?" Emilia was confused. "Isn't it just caning?"
"Ah, that's right," Edwan smiled with narrowed eyes, "If you believe that your brother, the little emperor, has a little insight, then just wait here peacefully. Probably... I calculated the time on the Imperial Star... In another seven or eight hours, you will be able to see a grand awarding ceremony."
"Award?"
Edwan pushed his retinal protective glasses and said slowly:
“I can’t guess the details, but this incident needs an end.
“When public opinion is tired of praising the emperor, and when the people’s enthusiasm for the three words ‘big idiot’ fades, this incident should come to an end.
“I speculate that His Majesty the Emperor will take back most of White Ghost’s authority, and then reward him with some noble titles that sound impressive but are actually useless, and then give him a rich fiefdom and let him leave the Imperial Star temporarily.
"If that's the case..."
Edwang smiled and said, "Then I probably know who planned this incident."
"Who?" Emilia blinked.
Edwang rubbed his nose and said, "This is confidential... By the way, if you have time, go visit Yang Ming's Uncle Hatton. That energy tycoon is one of the pillars of our Luofeng."
"So mysterious," Emilia rolled her eyes, "I'm going back to class!"
"Remember! Don't do anything!"
"I know!"
Edwang chuckled twice and continued to look at the projected document.
It's another hardworking day.
…
Yang Ming slept for a long time in the cell.
When he was awakened by a knock on the door, he stood up and shouted "Come in". Hanyin and Hanxiang, holding two sets of clothes, walked into the cell dejectedly.
"What's going on?"
Yang Ming asked cheerfully:
"My parents have been rescued, why are you two so depressed?"
They have been getting along with each other for a year. Although these two subordinates are not qualified in Yang Ming's opinion, their friendship is deep.
Hanyin sighed softly and briefly recounted what had happened before.
They were expelled from the Tentacle Organization.
This was actually done by those aunts to protect the two of them. If they were allowed to return to the palace, the emperor might get angry with them when he saw them.
Now in the palace, all elements related to the white ghost are being quickly cleared out.
Yang Ming laughed dumbly: "Then you two can continue to work with me. I will still pay you as usual, and you can also continue to pass some information back to the Tentacle Organization."
"Why are you so nice to us?" Han Yin threw a dress at Yang Ming. "Although this maid is unemployed, I still have principles. I will never become your mistress casually!"
"Look," Yang Ming spread his hands, "What did I say? You are judging others by your own standards."
Hanxiang wondered, "What is a gentleman?"
"It's a man who abides by the rules, is polite, principled, reasonable, and knowledgeable," Yang Ming pointed at himself.
"You are not a gentleman at all," Han Yin snorted, "Hurry up and change your clothes. There are a lot of people waiting outside. People from the Council of Elders and the military are coming to confer honors on you and promote your military rank. His Majesty has also issued an order and a reward."
Yang Ming asked: "Live broadcast?"
"certainly."
"Go get me an Imperial Army uniform," Yang Ming said, "I want the camouflage uniforms of the carrier commandos."
Hanxiang immediately agreed, turned around and ran away.
Han Yin muttered softly: "From now on, my sister and I will depend on each other. If I find out and you attack my sister, be careful of me..."
"Can you beat me?" Yang Ming asked back.
"I!"
"Just live your life honestly, am I that hungry?"
Yang Ming sneered: "From now on, let's change the address. Don't call me you, you, you, you. Call me boss!"
"Boss? What kind of vulgar name is that?"
Yang Ming was too lazy to argue with her and just started to unbutton his collar.
Hanyin took the initiative to come over and helped Yang Ming take off his shirt, naturally performing the duties of a maid.
More than ten minutes later.
Yang Ming, dressed in military uniform, walked out of the main cabin of the Noble Court ship and arrived at the front deck covered by a transparent shield.
The front deck was covered with flowers, hundreds of soldiers formed the outer wall, and dozens of media reporters sat in neat rows.
Right in front of Yang Ming, more than a dozen etiquette ladies were holding trays. The acting chief elder of the Council of Elders and two powerful leaders of the Imperial Military were standing there with smiles on their faces, nodding slightly to Yang Ming.
Hanyin and Hanxiang stopped and let Yang Ming enter the spotlighted area alone.
Warm applause broke out all around, and Yang Ming's "bitter" face forced a slight smile, and he managed to cheer up.
He had seen what was in those trays.
Honorary titles, military ranks, noble medals, military medals, administrative star fiefdoms, imperial coin rewards, the right to form a private fleet...
Although the reward is generous, it also means that Yang Ming’s journey to the Imperial Star has come to an end.
Yang Ming suddenly felt like laughing.
This old emperor who was too concerned about his reputation slapped him in the face, but he still said thank you.
Well, this must be a significant chapter in the empire's unofficial history.
