Chapter 1361: The Wager

"This..."

The expressions of the Councilors were uncertain; after all, Teresa had been supported and pushed into power by the Duke of Lorraine, who had overruled all objections at the time.

Back then, they had opposed her vehemently precisely because Teresa was a woman.

Yet, they were later won over by Teresa; although she was a woman, she had governed Austria to be even more prosperous and powerful.

The current prosperity of Austria is unprecedented in history.

Now, asking them to believe that Teresa committed treason is truly quite impossible.

Why would the Duke of Lorraine want to frame Teresa for treason? They all knew the reason: wasn't it because Franz had been out molesting women?

Teresa found out, and then her friend, a Longyan, took a dislike to him and beat him up.

Franz is a menace, and he deserved it, but why are you, old man, defending him?

They all knew the reason, but now they remained silent, not daring to speak.

At this moment, someone sneered: "Duke of Lorraine, we all know what you're saying. Don't spout useless nonsense. Isn't the fundamental reason actually that good-for-nothing idiot in your family, Franz, who was messing around outside and then framed Archduchess of Austria Teresa?"

"As a result, he got beaten up by Teresa's friend, that Longyan!"

"He deserved it!" the man said fearlessly.

However, the Councilors present were scared stiff. The sound of guards marching and raising their rifles was right in their ears; you would expose the Duke of Lorraine's shortcomings like this?

Are you not afraid of death?

They turned their heads one after another to look at the man who had spoken, who was lighting a cigarette with his feet propped up on the conference table, his military uniform covered in medals.

When they saw it was him, the Councilors all fell into silence.

The Duke of Lorraine stared at him, his face as black as iron, and said nothing.

But outside, the Austrian Army guards were already prepared to fire; the sound of rifles being raised and bolts being locked echoed in their ears, just waiting for the Duke of Lorraine's order.

The man chuckled and said indifferently: "Duke of Lorraine, give the order. I've seen this sort of thing plenty of times; there's nothing to be afraid of."

The Duke of Lorraine stared at him, knowing his background: the head of the Austrian Army.

Although he is currently in a semi-retired state, his influence over the Austrian troops is unimaginable.

He is eccentric; no one expected him to come and participate in the political discussion today, as he never usually attends these council meetings.

Killing him would bring unnecessary trouble, and besides, he is still needed to resist the Longyan.

The Duke of Lorraine laughed, signaled for the guards outside to lower their weapons, and said calmly: "Weikeduo, then do you believe that an Archduchess of Austria doing business with a Longyan does not count as treason?"

"As far as I know, there is currently no regulation in Austria stating that Longyan cannot do business in Austria; we still need to trade goods with the Longyan."

"Based on this point alone, there is no way to judge Archduchess of Austria as guilty."

The Duke of Lorraine had long expected him to say this, and subsequently said: "You are right, but Teresa is simply too close to him."

"How do you explain that this Longyan has repeatedly beaten the Noble Franz, and has been protected by Teresa every time?"

"Although Teresa is the Archduchess of Austria, she is still Franz's wife."

"Is there anything wrong with a husband wanting his wife to fulfill her duty of bearing children? Yet this Longyan publicly declared that he would duel Franz for Teresa's sake."

"You tell me, is the relationship between friends this intimate? Could it be that you will only believe she has committed treason when you see Teresa marry this Longyan?"

Once these words were spoken, the whole room was shocked.

They had not expected Teresa's relationship with this Longyan to be so intimate, and that this Longyan had actually publicly wanted to duel a Longyan for Teresa's sake.

This matter was enough to prove that the relationship between the two was extraordinary.

But Franz is indeed a menace, yet Teresa, as the Archduchess of Austria, truly cannot have

such a close relationship with a Longyan.

The Duke of Lorraine looked at Weikeduo and said with a calm face: "Teresa is also a married woman. She shields a man her husband does not want to see, and their relationship is so close."

"If this happened in the army, how would you handle it?"

Weikeduo said coldly: "Kill! Kill that man as well."

Once these words were spoken, everyone gasped; if they followed Weikeduo's suggestion, both Archduchess of Austria and that Longyan would have to die.

That is Teresa, the current Archduchess of Austria.

She cannot be killed just like that.

"Cannot kill her, absolutely not!"

"If Teresa dies, Austria will fall into chaos; this is a special period, and such a situation cannot be allowed to happen."

A smile appeared on the Duke of Lorraine's face as he quietly watched this farce.

As long as Teresa's guilt is confirmed, he can easily manipulate the situation. He looked at Weikeduo; the only trouble is this eccentric old man.

Just at this moment, Weikeduo tapped the table, and the crisp sound immediately put an end to the farce.

"Teresa is guilty."

The Duke of Lorraine was slightly stunned upon hearing this; he had not expected this eccentric old man to stand on his side this time.

"However..." Weikeduo pondered for a moment and then said: "As for Franz's crimes, if it were in our army, death would be too easy for him. We would throw him into a snake pit and watch him be slowly tortured to death."

This... is too ruthless!

The Councilors' expressions all changed as they looked at him.

The Duke of Lorraine's face, however, turned black; if they followed Weikeduo's method, Franz would certainly die.

"The matter regarding Teresa is already a fact. I propose here to remove her from her position as Archduchess, and wait until the investigation is clear before deciding further."

"Who among you is in favor, and who is opposed?"

The Duke of Lorraine scanned the room; no one dared to speak in opposition, which was a tacit agreement.

Just at this moment, Weikeduo coughed: "I oppose."

The Duke of Lorraine stared at him with cold eyes; it was him causing trouble here again, but he could not kill him yet.

"Weikeduo, do you mean to say you think Teresa is not guilty? Everyone present has seen the scenes of her being intimate with that Longyan."

Victor met the gaze of the Duke of Lorraine without the slightest fear: "I never said Teresa was innocent."

"Then what do you want to do?"

Victor smiled and said: "I heard an interesting story when I arrived; that Longyan man named Liu Sheng is going to duel Franz, and the wager is Teresa."

"Franz was in the wrong first in this matter; he has done so many things to wrong Teresa, he cannot go unpunished."

The Duke of Lorraine's expression turned cold; his plan for today had been perfect, but it was because of this bastard that his plans were disrupted.

"Fine then, Duke Victor, tell me what to do!"

"I think we should suspend Teresa from her duties for now, let Franz duel the Longyan man, and let Teresa choose for herself."

"I do not agree!" the Duke of Lorraine said.

Victor spread his hands and said: "Then Teresa, Franz, and that Longyan man will all just have to die together."

The Duke of Lorraine glared at him, feeling the urge to kill Victor, but he could not kill him yet. He could only say: "You... very well."