Chapter 51
It took some time for Li Jia and Moise to exchange information.
Efficiency is key when doing things. Passing the ball around like a football won't solve anything.
Having received the specific information, Li Jia was finally able to sleep soundly.
Sleepiness suddenly overwhelmed her; she was sleepy.
As Li Jia leaned against Hera, Mois could feel the chilling pressure from her suddenly subside.
The woman held Li Jia in her arms, the little one's cheek pressed against her chest, the familiar faint fragrance lingering around her nose, and Li Jia fell asleep peacefully.
Hera glanced at Mois out of the corner of her eye and said calmly, "We'll be there that day. You make your own decision."
After saying that, he vanished into the inner chamber.
Over the next three days, Doreen and Winslow inquired about the matter, but Hera told them they would know that day, so they didn't ask any further questions. The group then spent three whole days exploring the North.
Li Jia thought this job was really good; not only could she travel all over the country, but she could also solve people's livelihood issues in a down-to-earth manner.
They are better than those who just say "received" in chat groups all day without doing anything.
The most important point is that the expenses are reimbursable. To this day, Li Jia still doesn't know how much money the Temple of Marriage makes each year.
However, Winslow revealed a little bit that Her Majesty Hera uses a large portion of the fireworks offerings she receives each year to support women and children.
Offerings to the Temple of the God of Marriage take two forms: one is monetary, which can be understood as wages; the other is spiritual, which can be understood as the people presenting banners as a form of initial praise, while also receiving a small bonus.
But since ancient Greece didn't have banners, they would transform into clusters of bright, shimmering fog lights that would never dissipate.
These are the blessings and prayers of the believers.
Generally, no one would choose the second option.
Therefore, in each shrine, only fire offerings were made. Over time, everyone forgot about the second type of offering and assumed that there was only one way to make offerings.
Winslow suddenly remembered it and mentioned it to Li Jia. Li Jia thought about it and agreed. If she worked hard all day and her boss gave her a broken little light, wouldn't that be just plain stupid?
No wonder everyone in modern society is so obsessed with taking civil service exams. At first, most people wanted to become public servants because they had a heart full of enthusiasm to serve the people.
Modern employment is too competitive; nowadays, people only pursue the stability of having five social insurances and one housing fund.
The youthful passion is worn down by the mundane realities of daily life.
Being unfamiliar with the area, Winslow spent a small amount of money to hire a local guide to take them to the northern ice plains.
The aurora borealis in the North became the perfect backdrop as they set up fishing rods on the glacier and built snow huts with pine branches and animal hides.
They fed the friendly sea lions and seals, as well as the wicked fur seals, and surprisingly, they even spotted a baby snow bear.
Even the guide himself was shocked, because he had lived in the North for nearly fifty years and had only seen a snow bear twice, yet these four strangers encountered one as soon as they arrived.
The little snow bear didn't hide when it saw them. Li Jia had a name tag given to her by Lina, and the name tag had Artemis's scent on it, which would naturally make the animals want to get close to Li Jia.
But Hera blocked her way with her arm. Only after Hera checked that the snowball was alright did she hand the fluffy little thing over.
The little snow bear trotted towards Li Jia with its round, chubby steps, but before it could get really close, it was stopped by the woman.
Li Jia was a little dissatisfied and puffed out her cheeks to ask for the little snow bear. Hera checked the snowball and found nothing wrong with it before handing the chubby little thing to Li Jia.
Li Jia pulled the snowball into her arms. It had round eyes and a fluffy body, but it was still far inferior to Lina's in terms of feel.
Li Jia unconsciously started comparing them, still thinking her best friend was better. She took out the carrot she had brought and tried to feed it, but the little snowball didn't buy it at all and turned its little head to the side.
"This is a bear, and bears eat fish."
Doreen picked out the largest sea fish from the fish basket and placed it in front of the little snow bear. The little snowball sniffed it with interest, then turned its head away again.
"Are you stupid? How big is it? Can it even eat that much?"
Winslow cut the fish into thin strips with a knife and placed them near Little Snowball. The little guy immediately opened his mouth and started chewing. She put down the knife, turned her head and gave Doreen a look that said, "Look at me like I'm an idiot."
Doreen: ...
"It would be so nice to have a camera to capture this beautiful scenery," Li Jia couldn't help but sigh, feeling it was a pity.
Suddenly, an idea struck her, and she summoned the system in her mind.
The system is currently enjoying a wonderful vacation. Li Jia, the strategist, is so worry-free. It feels like it's only been out of power for a short time, and every time it's out of power, the mission makes rapid progress.
What is this called?
How can a person (system) always be unlucky? As long as you're bold, you can have summer and winter vacations every day.
So when Li Jia looked for it, it was having a great time on the beach with the new young man from the bookstore. When its darling called for it, it immediately answered her message.
"Master, what do you want with me?"
It was extremely obsequious; it had to cherish such a precious gem.
I want a camera so I can take some pictures.
Li Jia made her request, and the system began to hesitate. The Book Bureau clearly stipulated that nothing from the world in the book could be left behind, as being discovered would disrupt the operating order of that world.
Even slight changes can create a butterfly effect, leading to utter ruin.
The system sighed, indicating its refusal.
"Master, no, you can't. There are rules and regulations in the Transmigration Bureau. Actually, the mission is already 90% complete. You just need to wait for the birth of the Goddess of Spring, and then you can return to your original world."
"Here, it's just a plot from a book, just a bunch of data, fleeting and meaningless."
Li Jia smiled.
I know we are not from the same world. I have changed her fate. She is no longer the vicious goddess that people criticize. I am content.
Before I leave, could you give me something to remember me by, even just a photo would be fine. I won't tell anyone, and no one will know about this sentiment.
The system was moved by Li Jia's words, hesitated for a long time, and couldn't bear to do it again, after all, she had helped it avoid having to go through the process of being remade.
Those who work on systems still need to be loyal, otherwise they won't amount to anything.
I decided to secretly use some points to help Li Jia get a new camera, but it can only take one photo; it doesn't have permission for more.
Even taking one picture is good; it's better than having none at all.
"What does the owner want to film? You tell me, and I'll film."
"Single or double?"
"But you only get one chance, Master, you'd better think it over."
The system held up a camera and attached it to Li Jia's hair. Li Jia whispered, "I've made up my mind."
She made Hera stand up straight, then nestled against Hera's chest, with Winslow on her left and Doreen on her right. No one knew what she was going to do, but they obediently let her pull them along.
"Shout after me!"
The girl said loudly.
"Eggplant~"
Amidst the four different tones of the word "eggplant," a deafening roar echoed across the sky.
The system violated the operating manual and was struck by lightning. Returning to the beach with messy hair, all interest in hooking up with rich men vanished, and he was sent away with a small tip.
The system lay lazily on the beach.
But to be fair, the photo it took was really good!
I'd like to consider becoming a photographer after I retire.
——
On the day of the Queen's Festival, King Mel, wearing a dark monarchical robe embroidered with a double-headed eagle and clutching a jeweled scepter in his left hand, slowly walked toward the inner sanctuary of the priests.
Queen Fran followed behind him, with four bodyguards on either side of him.
As Fran stepped over the white marble steps, his deliberately slowed pace echoed on the empty steps, as if he were testing something.
As she passed the priests standing outside the temple, her peripheral vision quickly swept over the second rose-red figure from the left in the first row. The other person's sleeve moved almost imperceptibly, a signal that they were ready as agreed.
The prayers for the festival were sung from noon until dusk, and the scent of incense permeated every corner of the inner sanctuary.
As the last minister bowed and withdrew, the heavy palace doors slowly closed behind him. Mel turned to look at Fran, the jewel at the top of his scepter shimmering in the candlelight: "Before tomorrow's dawn, it will be just us here."
When he turned around, he didn't see Fran's hand hanging by his side, his nails digging into his palm.
In the shadows behind the west corner gate, Catherine was clutching the corner of the secret letter. The red marks on the defense map were already etched into her mind. She knew exactly when the guards changed shifts at every point, from the beams and pillars of the ancestral hall to the dark corridors of the side hall.
She struck a match, the orange-red flame licking the letter paper, the ink curling into ash in the high temperature, scattering into the corner with the wind.
We absolutely cannot let this piece of paper become leverage against them.
The burning pain lingered on her fingertips, a reminder of the price of her scheme, but she simply placed her hand on the token at her waist, her fingertips tracing the engravings.
"Guard the east and west passages as planned. Once you hear the bells ring three times inside the hall, immediately lead your men to seal off all exits."
As soon as Catherine finished speaking, a soft rustling sound came from the roof tiles, and dozens of black figures descended from the sky like night owls, their breathing synchronized as they landed.
They were completely encased in airtight black armor, with only the silver wolf emblem on their chests gleaming coldly in the shadows.
Those were the dead servants that Fran had been training for nearly ten years, who were not loyal to the royal family and did not obey the laws of the country.
In an instant, the entire sacrificial hall was transformed into an airtight prison.
They only obey the orders of the one who issues the token.
Catherine looked up toward the inner sanctum. Night was slowly falling. She had plenty of patience; this couldn't be rushed.
After the three chimes, the candlelight shone through the window and onto the wall, casting two shadows on the flickering light. Fran had already lit the candle.
The candle wick flickered on the altar, making the cold light in Fran's eyes even clearer. Her hand, holding the candlestick, was as steady as a rock as she slowly walked toward Mel, who had her back to her.
He was bending down to gaze at the Queen's memorial tablet on the altar, and Fran couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth in a self-deprecating smile.
Was he worshipping the empress, or the demon within his own heart?
"What are you thinking about, Your Majesty?"
Fran's voice was soft, like the whispers of an ordinary couple.
"I wonder how Hawthorne is doing over there."
"Moise fell ill today for some reason, and left in a hurry after offering her prayers twice."
"But she really does look more and more like her mother."
When Mel turned around, she still looked tired from the festival, but her eyes couldn't hide her rage.
He wanted to reclaim the right of men to rule Stuart; he wanted to seize the throne, and he wanted to seize the women. The flowers that had been painstakingly raised within the palace walls should bear their responsibilities to the country.
“When Moise turns eighteen, I will marry her, but I will retain your position as queen.”
Once Moise gives birth to his son, the country will completely belong to Harrington!
After years of enduring humiliation and hardship, he finally got the result he wanted.
Before he could see the unfamiliar chill in her eyes, Fran's pupils suddenly contracted, and she swung her arm up, smashing the bronze flower pot on top of the candlestick hard against the back of his head!
With a muffled thud, blood instantly gushed from his hair, slid down his cheeks, and dripped onto the white silk in front of the altar, spreading out in glaring red patches.
"Help! Help!"
"The Queen has gone mad! The Queen has gone mad!"
Mel swayed in terror, staggering backward. Before the sword at his waist could be drawn, the palace door was suddenly pushed open.
Catherine stood at the door, holding the token. She had overheard the entire conversation between Mel and Fran, and anger burned in her chest. She understood why Queen Fran was so desperate and relentless in her fight!
The biological father developed feelings for his daughter and even fantasized about marrying her to him!
How absurd!
How unbelievable!
This is utterly absurd!
“Wang Fumeier”.
Catherine's voice carried a hint of laughter, yet was colder than a blade. She no longer addressed him as king, and the death servants behind her surrounded her, long swords in hand.
"You should know that this country should no longer be ruled by the Queen's husband."
"You actually have such thoughts about Mois? If I were the Empress, guess what I would do?"
"Skinning and dismembering? Or the torture of branding with hot irons? Which do you prefer?"
"But it seems neither of them is enough to vent my anger."
Mel's face turned deathly pale. He looked at Fran, his lips trembling, "You...you two were in cahoots all along?"
Fran didn't answer, but instead drew a short dagger from her sleeve. The gleaming silver blade reflected her resolute face. She approached step by step, and on the white jade floor, Mel's retreating legs made a soft scraping sound. He looked at Fran in despair and pleaded.
"We've been married for so many years, don't we have any affection for each other at all?"
"Fran, it was me! I gave you the throne of Queen! You cannot! You cannot conspire with outsiders to rebel!"
"Don't forget, you've been in the palace for many years without bearing me a single child. It was me! It was me who rejected those ministers' proposal to depose you. If I die, what good do you think your fate will be!"
"How long can a queen who brings misfortune to her husbands and has no children keep her around?"
Mel was still struggling, trying to persuade Fran to change his mind, anxiously analyzing the downsides.
"Go to hell."
As Fran's voice fell, his dagger was already aimed at Mel's chest. Mel instinctively reached out to block, his fingertips slicing across the blade, and blood gushed out instantly, dripping onto the dark monarch's robe, like adding a ferocious red to the two-headed eagle.
Mel groaned. He dodged in time and was not seriously injured. His body slowly slid down and finally collapsed in front of the altar, his eyes fixed on Fran, as if he wanted to carve her face into his bones.
"etc!"
The girl's voice came from outside the hall. Moise stepped in and stood between Fran and Mel, separating the two of them.
"Mois, my good daughter, this madman is trying to kill me! Quickly bring the guards to save me! In the entire palace, we are the only ones who share the same blood. If you spare my life, I will pass the throne of Stuart to you tomorrow!"
Mel was almost insane. He shouted Moise's name and offered her an extremely generous reward. He didn't believe anyone could resist!
Unexpectedly, Mois simply squatted down, stroked his blood-soaked cheek, and breathed a sigh of relief, saying, "Thank goodness we made it in time, Your Majesty Hera, please come out."
"To put an end to their disgusting marriage."
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