Chapter 2753: Xierdalanna's Worries

However, Xia Duo also realized that the scale of the banquet should not be a strictly guarded secret, otherwise how would Xierdalanna know? Moreover, such a grand banquet must be notified and prepared for in advance; otherwise, it would inevitably be too hasty and ruin the reputation of the grand banquet, which in reality would mean ruining the reputation of Yierlan.

Regarding Xia Duo's doubts, Xierdalanna also appeared very puzzled, "Indeed, Yierlan already held a grand banquet last year. Normally, there wouldn't be another banquet of this scale for several years to come."

"I was also somewhat incredulous when I first heard this news, but the preparations for a grand banquet are hard to keep completely hidden. Although the Crown King and the Council have not made an official announcement, it is already tacitly accepted within our country that the Midwinter Banquet two days from now is a grand banquet."

"So that's how it is!" Xia Duo said, lost in thought.

Since Yierlan had not even made an announcement within its own borders, it was not hard to understand why they hadn't notified him, an outsider. But this matter was still very strange; how could there be no announcement even two days before the grand banquet!

Thinking of this, Xia Duo cast his gaze toward Xierdalanna once again. Could it be that the other party invited him over just to remind him of the scale of the banquet in two days?

Clearly, it could not be just that.

Thus, Xia Duo remained silent. Seeing that Xia Duo was unmoved, Xierdalanna gritted her teeth and continued, "The stated reason for this banquet is to reward the relevant personnel who contributed to the previous Metier Incident."

"I am worried that Crown King Helien might take the opportunity at the banquet to strike at those of us who were past opponents, so I would like to ask Lord Xia Duo to lend a helping hand at an appropriate time."

Asking for help?

No wonder Xierdalanna was so relaxed yet so anxious!

To a certain extent, the Council, which possesses legislative and supervisory powers, is the true ruler, rather than the Crown King standing in the foreground.

"The trend of Crown King Yierlan consolidating local administrative authority is already hard to stop, especially after the Metier Incident not long ago. What we can do now is to control the Council as much as possible, yet we still have to worry about the Crown King's continuous infiltration of the Council."

If it were merely local feudal forces, they would not actually be overly sensitive to Crown King Yierlan consolidating local administrative power.

Hearing Xia Duo's unhesitating refusal, Xierdalanna could not help but feel a bit anxious and hurriedly explained, "Lord Xia Duo, the helping hand I speak of does not require you to confront Crown King Yierlan head-on; you only need to speak up for me at the appropriate time."

"Ms. Xierdalanna, you may be overestimating my influence in front of Crown King Yierlan. I am afraid I am powerless to fulfill such a request."

Administrative power is not equivalent to complete ruling power. They still have enough confidence and ability to sit on equal footing with the Crown King; it is nothing more than being a city lord or a councilor, and their actual power would not be lost much. Instead, they have become more united and stronger because they have unified their front.

Fine, Xia Duo admitted that Xierdalanna made sense. Even if it were just for show to outsiders, Crown King Yierlan would show him respect and would seriously consider his suggestions.

But if it were a previous opponent, encountering the current situation, they would indeed need to worry about Crown King Yierlan making an issue of it and cutting away flesh that shouldn't be cut during the process of consolidating local administrative power.

If it were just abandoning one of the original reform opponents, from the perspective of the overall interests of Yierlan, the Crown King's previously accumulated anger would be released, and there would be one less sharer of power within the Council. Doing so might make the political landscape within Yierlan more harmonious!

They might even simply single out a typical example and suppress them vigorously.

"Many things cannot wait until they happen to be dealt with; that is often too late. We need to respond in advance."

"Please do not underestimate your own influence. Not to mention the titles that are widely circulated within Yierlan: Sword Master, Arcane Controller, Mediator of Ashofier, Destroyer of Tuokesente, and Creator of the Great Xia Code."

And the Moonhorn Family, where Xierdalanna is located, is not only a local feudal force but also a staunch opponent when Crown King Yierlan's reforms were first proposed.

The Moonhorn Family undoubtedly belongs to a local faction within Yierlan, possessing cities completely under their own control, and even having family members serving as city lords, councilors, and other positions in other cities.

Perhaps for this Midwinter Banquet, Crown King Yierlan really wants to do something about the feudal forces in the localities!

After all, although the current Gaoshu Elder Council is at odds with the Crown King in terms of the power structure, they are not necessarily all opponents of the Crown King.

No matter which camp the local city lords belong to, they will eventually become part of the Crown King's camp—either by directly defecting or by being dismissed and replaced with new city lords from the Crown King's camp.

Xia Duo did not say the rest, but Xierdalanna could fully understand. He explained, "If Crown King Yierlan only launches certain actions temporarily, we are not afraid to confront him with our voice in the Council."

But that was not a reason for him to help Xierdalanna.

Or rather, the current Crown King of Yierlan cannot freely replace local city lords, but the Crown King has already reached a compromise with the Gaoshu Elder Council, ceding legislative and supervisory powers to obtain administrative and partial military powers.

Xia Duo could not help but be stunned. As a Yierlan noble, Xierdalanna actually expected him, an outsider, to lend a helping hand in their national affairs. Is this not ridiculous?

"Crown King Yierlan wants to take the opportunity to strike at opponents—is this your guess, or does Crown King Yierlan already have concrete actions?" Xia Duo changed the subject, while further probing for the inside information Xierdalanna knew.

Before the Metier Incident, the speed at which Crown King Yierlan consolidated power was very slow, but since the Metier Incident, the speed at which the Crown King consolidated power has not changed significantly.

"Just by virtue of being the greatest contributor to the Metier Incident, Crown King Yierlan will grant you extra respect."

Comparing it with Xierdalanna's account, Xia Duo also recalled in his mind the situation within Yierlan that he had learned through other channels, and he naturally made a guess—

But Xierdalanna acted as if she had not heard the question at all and continued to answer the question raised on the surface, "I haven't discovered any actions by the Crown King yet, but it is not just the Moonhorn Family; the original opposition factions have all sensed it. Most importantly—"

"But if Crown King Yierlan prepares thoroughly in advance and we are completely unprepared, then the situation is different. Even if we are prepared, we may not be the Crown King's match; he already has the upper hand now."

But this had clearly aroused the vigilance of the Moonhorn Family where Xierdalanna was located.

Or rather, the reason many high-ranking families belonged to different camps in the first place was to create the current situation, allowing them to obtain long-term and stable ruling status while completing the centralization of power within Yierlan.

Of course, this could also be considered an indirect expression of potential refusal.

"Aren't you afraid of being counterproductive? Originally, Crown King Yierlan wasn't planning to do anything to you, but then he saw you starting to collude, and so he—"

But as the reforms within Yierlan progress, all of this will change.

At present, after the centralization reform in Yierlan, the first thing to be concentrated is the Mythallar Permission of various places, or in other words, military power, but the administrative power that handles specific affairs still belongs to the local nobles.