Chapter 210

Morning.

Levinde Platinum Palace.

Golden sunlight shone into the ornate, classical parliamentary hall.

An old man with a full head of silver hair, spirited, wearing silver robes, stood on the central podium.

He loudly said: "The evil that occurred in the Platinum Palace tells us that no one, including the king, should possess excessive power!"

"A kingdom, the king holds the most noble status, that is only natural!"

"But as nobles who assist the king in governing the kingdom, they should absolutely not be driven like cattle by the king."

"If the kingdom's power could be dispersed into multiple centers, then even if one person errs, or even falls, others can easily correct his mistake, just as we did in this demon-subjugation operation!"

"Therefore, I suggest retaining only the king's supreme veto power, but the specific executive powers should be divided one by one and entrusted to each of the nobles present."

"If the king wishes to initiate any major matter concerning the kingdom's fate, it should be handed to the noble council for thorough discussion."

"If the council does not approve, then no one, including the king, can implement this!"

"On the podium, the old man was fervent and impassioned."

"He clenched his fists, constantly waving them before him, as if grasping the truth of the world."

"And his words received unanimous approval from the 168 noble legislators in the hall, with occasional young assistant legislators cheering loudly for him."

"At the head of the noble council, upon the king's platinum throne sat the platinum queen Moli Shela, dressed in splendid attire, wearing a platinum crown, holding a platinum scepter, seated properly."

But also note that the glossary includes "Duke Weilan", "Levin", etc. Those are already provided as English forms; we must use those exactly. So for those we use given forms.

Thus for Molly Shela we need to romanize.

"She listened expressionlessly, looking at the silver-robed legislator on the podium; her snow-white, exquisite cheeks showed neither anger nor fear, as if everything happening before her had nothing to do with him."

Thus line 【15】 includes: Platinum Queen Moli Xila, Platinum Throne, Platinum Crown, Platinum Scepter.

"She watched the nobles' proud performance while striving to maintain composure, her left hand lightly resting on her abdomen, feeling the subtle stirrings within."

"A life has begun to gestate, and this life belongs to God!"

"Perhaps some have given this god many aliases, like Legendary Mage~, Eleven-ring powerhouse~, etc., but in her eyes, her husband is God!"

"Now she has become one of God's wives, so in her eyes, that group of nobles jumping about like grasshoppers is merely a fleeting cloud."

"Soon, these people will follow the path of the Weilan nobles and the Aaron nobles."

"Not knowing how long passed, when Moli felt her straight back sore, the kingdom's five marquises came together walking toward her, and each bowed in salute."

"Their posture was standard, their demeanor respectful, leaving no fault in etiquette."

"Only their gaze was somewhat unrestrained."

"After the rites, the Marquis of Nuobodun, whose prestige among the nobles shone like the midday sun, stepped forward several steps and presented a beautifully bound contract."

"Your Majesty, this is our newly agreed kingdom charter; please review."

"The attendant stepped forward, placing the charter before Moli."

"Moli casually glanced at it, then nodded, saying, 'No big problem.'"

"She raised the king's platinum scepter; the tip showed condensed five-ring power, yet she delayed sealing it."

"And when the condensed five-ring power manifested, the marquises all slightly startled, exchanging glances."

"In today's world, Four-ring mages are a dime a dozen, not unusual; previously, Four-ring mages were often given the title of Master, but gradually no one mentions it anymore."

"A kingdom has over ten thousand Four-ring mages; if that still counts as Master, then Master is too cheap."

"But Five-ring mages are still valuable."

"Although after Duke Weilan announced the latest cultivation techniques, a few more emerged, but overall still not exceeding fifty."

"The entire Natural Alliance numbers close to six hundred million; with fewer than fifty Five-ring mages, they remain respected Arcane Sages."

"Therefore, when they sensed the queen possessed five-ring power, the marquises' eyes flashed with a hint of gravity."

"Of course, it was only a hint."

"Even a Five-ring Sage cannot stop firearms."

"One can only say that henceforth we must show the queen more respect and patience, for she is a genuine natural divine descendant; if her magical talent is outstanding, she will receive even greater favor from Mother Nature."

"At this moment, Queen Moli spoke: 'I can seal this charter, but I want to add an extra clause.'"

"Marquis Nuobodun immediately said: 'Your Majesty, please speak.'"

"Compared to burdensome governance, I prefer pursuing arcane mysteries, so I need a regent minister."

"But the nobles already handle plenty of affairs, and commoners should also be given positions, so this regent minister must be a commoner."

"Or put another way, my cabinet must have a chief minister, whom I call the kingdom's prime minister."

"You may disagree, but if you do, then this charter will certainly not bear the platinum seal of the Shela family!"

"After speaking, Moli retracted her scepter, leaned back on the throne, displaying an uncompromising posture."

"There was no way; the charter could only return to Marquis Nuobodun's hands."

"Marquis Nuobodun bowed again: 'Your Majesty, we need to discuss.'"

"Please proceed; I have plenty of patience, but I heard that Duke Weilan has already cooperated with the Kao royal family to establish a large flour mill, with an estimated daily output of five thousand tons!"

"This is a major matter, and Duke Weilan only acknowledges my authority; if I don't nod, none of you can hope to cooperate with him!"

"No one doubts the words of a Five-ring mage; since she said that, she will surely do so."

"And her words indeed greatly affected the interests of all the nobles."

"The new flour mill must be introduced, and we must also introduce the latest conversion formation and flour conversion technology; otherwise we will fall behind other kingdoms, especially Kao."

"Levinde usually looks down on Kao, thinking Kao people are too dissolute, so when the queen dowager was dissolute, his reputation among the populace was extremely poor."

"Now if the dissolute Kao people surpass our nation, it would be hard to accept."

"Thus the marquises carried the charter back to the council's round table and discussed quietly."

And her words indeed greatly affected the interests of all the nobles.

We must introduce the new flour mill, and also adopt the latest conversion formation and flour conversion technology; otherwise we will fall behind other kingdoms, especially Kao.

Levinde usually looks down on Kao, considering its people too dissolute; thus, when the queen dowager behaved dissolutely, his reputation among the people became extremely poor.

If we allow the dissolute Kao people to surpass our nation, it would be very hard to accept.

Thus the marquises brought the charter back to the council's round table and began to discuss it quietly.

Putting a peasant prime minister in the cabinet— isn't that disgusting?

"Obviously, Her Majesty has been angered by us; she's just finding ways to disgust us." "What should we do?"

"What can we do? We can only agree."

The speaker was Marquis Nuobodun.

He looked around at everyone, spreading his hands in a helpless gesture.

"It's quite clear: the queen's backer is Duke Weilan; I bet she's already polished the duke's gun."

Another marquis sneered: "I don't just stop there; maybe we'll even have to bear children for the duke."

Marquis Nuobodun then said: "So she is the duke's mistress."

"The duke will surely use her to influence our Levinde Kingdom's politics; this idea of a commoner prime minister must have been dreamed up by Duchess Weilan."

The dispirited Marquis Laralmo glanced at his old rival whom he had once stepped on, and said lightly: "If we agree, the duke's hand will be stuck in our Levinde cabinet—how will we conduct affairs thereafter?"

Marquis Nuobodun immediately replied: "Weilan is far from me, and she's merely a prime minister without any background—what waves could she possibly stir in the cabinet?"

Marquis Laralmo snorted: "No background? Isn't the duke his background?"

That's correct; the remaining three marquises also found it quite a headache.

Someone said: "I say, why not simply ignore Her Majesty?"

Immediately someone objected: "That won't do; Her Majesty is a properly crowned divine descendant, and the commoners' feelings also need to be looked after."

I personally even think that appointing a commoner prime minister would help pacify those increasingly restless peasants domestically.

That makes a lot of sense.

Although the nobles of Levinde still control the kingdom's vast resources, the people's power is also undeniably growing, already reaching a point that cannot be ignored.

Again someone said: "We also need to rely on Duchess Weilan's power; we cannot truly escape her influence."

Even if we refuse Her Majesty this time, Duchess Weilan will surely think of reaching out in another direction; since we must extend a hand anyway, we might as well let it be out in the open.

That's also correct.

Marquis Nuobodun was quick-witted; he came up with an idea: "We can agree to this, but we must require that the commoner be someone who grew up in Levinde from childhood, a Levinde native."

"This commoner should have family and friends domestically, and preferably his own business; once he becomes prime minister, we'll feed him benefits and turn him into one of us."

"That way, no matter how long the duke's reach, it will be useless."

Marquis Nutebun actually leaned toward Duchess Weilan in his heart, because his family had many collaborations with her, and his family's progress to this point was inseparable from her support.

His idea was indeed excellent; the marquises looked at each other and finally nodded in agreement.

After adding this clause to the charter, it was once again presented to the queen.

The queen looked it over, nodded satisfactorily, and said: "Then let it be so."

But she immediately added: "The prime minister serves a five‑year term, with a maximum of three consecutive terms, and each appointment must be made by me personally. You may nominate, but the final decision rests with me."

Do you agree?

This is a minor matter, and it is a right the king ought to have—at least in form.

The marquises looked at each other, none wanting further trouble, and so they nodded approval.

"For the first prime minister, I already have a candidate."

Having said that, Queen Molly clapped her hands: "Come out, my cabinet prime minister."

The rear door of the parliament opened, and a middle‑aged man in dark‑red ceremonial robes strode in, kneeling before the platinum throne and proclaiming, "Holy and exalted platinum queen."

It was no one else—namely, the Levinde merchant Muradi, who had once specialized in running brothels and had placed a heavy bet on Duchess Weilan when she was still a baroness.

Queen Molly gazed at the marquises wearing expressions as if they had eaten feces, and said: "My choice fully meets your demands, and I insist on using him; otherwise I would not sign the kingdom's charter."

What can we do? We can only hold our noses and accept it, after all it's merely a minor matter.

Muradi may have some talent, but in the end he's just a commoner merchant, his popular influence extremely limited.

Once he entered the cabinet as prime minister, he couldn't stir up any major storms.

After some wrangling, the kingdom's charter finally received the platinum seal of the sacred authority of the royal house.

At the moment the matter was confirmed, Muradi felt as if he were dreaming.

No, one should say that even in the wildest dreams he never imagined himself sitting in such a position.

But he is a very clear‑headed and rational person.

Although his heart trembled, he still kept his composure.

"'I must cling to Duchess Weilan's leg, or else I'll surely be killed by those great nobles who slaughter without blinking.'"

"'Not only will they kill me, they'll also have to kill all my family.'"

Thinking it over, he felt that merely clutching the duke's thigh wasn't enough; he also needed to unite the domestic commoners' strength and find a way to topple those great nobles.

He didn't think it necessary to kill all the nobles outright; at the very least, like Duchess Weilan's northern nobles, they must be barred from meddling in state affairs.

Only then would his post as kingdom prime minister be truly secure; even after stepping down, he wouldn't be purged by the nobles and could still retain great dignity.

Thus, overthrowing the great nobles is not only Duchess Weilan's expectation; it also fully serves his own interests.

Muradi also harbored many feelings in his heart.

There was a giant who never appeared in parliament, yet the shadow he cast already exerted enormous influence over it.

The young man he once invested in has now grown into an azure‑sky great tree.

Now the tree's shadow not only shades Duchess Weilan, but also gradually begins to stretch toward Levinde.

He secretly wondered: "I don't know how tall this tree can grow, or how wide an area its canopy can cover."

Of course, that's all for the future.

Today, a brothel owner has become Levinde's first regent minister, representing the interests of Levinde's commoners, and together with the kingdom's foremost great nobles entered the cabinet to jointly govern the vast platinum kingdom.

The Levinde Kingdom, too, has turned to a brand‑new page.

(End of chapter)