【Photography ABO】White Rose

"Are you coming too?" Aesop's first reaction was joy as if he had found a savior, but then he quickly realized: If Joseph also came, would Britain directly implement the bad intentions towards him? ?

Just as he was hesitating about how to answer Joseph, Joseph patted him on the shoulder: "Why are you hesitating, afraid that I will cause unpleasantness when I go there? Don't worry about this, social visits, even countries with the worst relations Superficially, if there is any serious conflict, it is not an exaggeration for the two countries to go to war directly."

Only then did Aesop suddenly realize that if the King of France died accidentally during his visit to England, no matter what the truth was, it would arouse the anger of the French people.Thinking of this section, he immediately felt more relaxed.He settled down, and calmly found another reason to cover it up: "No, I'm worried that the planning progress of the coup d'etat will be disrupted. If something happens in the parliament during the few days we left, then we will be back." Trouble."

What he said was also another serious problem they need to face after this trip.Since the beginning of the parliamentary coup, Joseph has been sitting in the palace to control the overall situation. It is precisely because of this that the overall progress of the coup can be carried out smoothly and smoothly.But if he and Joseph both went to England, it would take at least five days for the journey by boat and car plus the time to visit relatives.During this period of time, both he and Joseph will cut off contact with the inside line of the parliament. During this period, will the situation suddenly get out of control?

"Oh, so that's what you were thinking. Don't worry, if all goes well, I think the end of this month will be just the right time for us to start. Not that the coup will be successfully concluded by then, but the 'seeds' we planted will also need It will take some time to 'germinate'." Joseph stretched out his hand to straighten his collar, smiling beautifully and unpredictablely, "To put it bluntly, after our people are placed in, it will take some time for them to control the work in hand , grasp the real power. During this period of time, our trip has no effect."

"Yeah." Aesop lowered his eyes, until then, he finally nodded in relief.Joseph looked at him, as if his expression relaxed a bit: "Don't worry? Let's go to dinner then. After eating yesterday's dessert and using today's dinner, maybe there will be a different experience."

Aesop was almost amused by his brisk tone.So he put his hand on Joseph's extended hand and nodded vigorously: "Okay."

After dinner, Aesop took the letter sent from England back to his room and read it over and over several times.

No hidden information.Everything seems to be just like its appearance, just an ordinary letter from home.Aesop tried roasting it with fire, soaking it in soapy water, and using the unique cipher taught by his teacher to decipher the hidden meaning in the letter. The only conclusion he got was this—there was no hidden message.In this letter, the only important words and sentences are only one sentence: the one that asked him to return to China.

This is definitely not a good thing.What will happen after returning home?What kind of information can't be conveyed by secret letter, but can only be conveyed by meeting face to face?After much deliberation, Aesop felt that there were only two possibilities: one was that the news was extremely important and it had to be delivered in person; the other was that the British royal family did not want to "tell" him anything, but to "talk" to him .

Moreover, the latter is much more likely than the former.

After figuring this out, Aesop sat back on the bed helplessly and let out a long sigh.The wound on the side has healed, leaving only an unhealed scar and the slight itchiness of the wound as the body repairs itself.These remind him all the time: Aesop Karl, you have forgotten the surname of the Karl family and the mission entrusted to you by the family.You have betrayed the family, the royal family, and the country.

Did the UK find out?If so, how did you find it?Aesop decisively ruled out the possibility of Nabu Sabeda's initiative to leak the secret, and he believed that Nabu Sabeda was not that kind of person.In the end, he thought about it for a long time, but he had no idea. He could only be sure of one thing: that is, before going to the UK, he must prepare for the worst and prepare a response plan for the upcoming questioning.

Fortunately, Joseph accompanied him, and Aesop believed that the British would not dare to make any big moves against him.

After thinking about this section, Aesop immediately got up and sat in front of the case, turned on the lights, and began to conceive a countermeasure.He knew that the path he had chosen was very difficult, but his heart had never been so firm: no matter what happened, Aesop firmly believed that he would be able to go on.Because only in this way - he can really be with Joseph.

Time passes quickly.

During these days, Aesop sat in the king's office and tried his best to coordinate the internal affairs of the parliament.Joseph also stayed in the office sometimes, and accompanied him by the way while processing the documents at hand; more often, Joseph was floating outside.Aesop knew that Joseph needed to face more things and understand the larger situation. Therefore, although he felt disappointed that the time spent together was reduced, Aesop still respected what Joseph had to do, and he reluctantly put on the dress and tie for Joseph every day. , tied the cute bright yellow bow at the end of her hair that didn't fit Joseph's identity, and watched him go out.

So far, Joseph's plan has worked fine.After more than a month of thorough investigation, the parliament finally reluctantly completed this "big shakeup" of staffing, replacing some people with unclear backgrounds, people who are vegetarians, and old people who have cultivated their own power in the parliament. A new look from top to bottom.Even Joseph couldn't help feeling that the work of the parliament was done beautifully, but the people who did it had the ability but lacked ingenuity. After all, they were still slightly inferior, and they unknowingly fell behind in this power struggle.

Aesop sent away the insider who was responsible for observing the reform of the parliament, and ushered in the insider who was in charge of personnel deployment.After several meetings and reports to Joseph, Joseph finally made a judgment: the time has come, and then just wait for the seeds to "germinate", and the two can set off for London.The itinerary was scheduled for two days later, and Aesop was caught off guard by the sudden decision, so he had to pack the suitcase.While packing the suitcase, he did not forget to complain helplessly: "I will be in heat in three days..."

It's frustrating to think that he's about to enter a rut that will be spent in various modes of transport and wits with the British royal family.Joseph gently hugged his waist from behind in understanding: "There is really no way, the schedule can't be moved, you bear with it. When this matter passes, I will definitely let you enjoy yourself next time."

...the focus of the two people seems to be different.

These days were originally peaceful, but one day before the two set off, an extraordinary incident suddenly happened.

It was in the evening of that day, and Lina's aunt went to the palace to pick her up - after hearing that Aesop was going to travel, the little girl rushed to ask for leave to go home, and Aesop naturally agreed.She and Aesop had known each other for a long time, so things became more and more trivial, and she even dragged her aunt in to help her pack her luggage.Her aunt was the complete opposite of her jumping vigor, with a gentle and stable temperament; when helping Lina pack things, the aunt looked at the gorgeous decoration in the palace room and couldn't help sighing: "How many years... Nothing has changed here from before.”

Aesop had already packed his things, and was standing at the door boredly looking at the two people in the room.Hearing this, his heart skipped a beat: "Listen to your tone, have you stayed in the palace before?"

"That's right, my aunt was a very good maid in the palace 20 years ago!" Lina nodded vigorously, and she rushed to talk, "She saw His Majesty at that time!"

Aesop keenly captured the key number in Lena's statement - 20 years ago. 20 years ago, that was almost when... Joseph retreated!It's the piece of secret information that Naib failed to find out, the piece of truth that is closest to the mystery of Joseph's age!

The sudden surprise of being close to the secret made his heart tighten, and he asked quickly: "Then do you know what happened when His Majesty stayed behind closed doors? What was he doing during that time?"

"Your Highness is so close to His Majesty, you can just ask His Majesty about this kind of thing, His Majesty will definitely tell you..." Lina stood aside and joked, but was interrupted by her aunt, "Lina Don't be rude to Your Highness." The steady woman took a step forward, put Lina behind her, lowered her head and replied respectfully: "Know a little bit."

"Then what do you know?" Aesop hurriedly asked.

The woman in front of her paused.Then, she replied hesitantly: "I don't think I should have said it...but I heard that you and His Majesty are deeply in love, so it shouldn't matter if I said it."

Her gentle voice began to narrate: "Back then, it was a secret that our generation of palace servants never dared to tell outsiders. I don't know the details of the matter, and those who know it well... may not be alive anymore. .I only know the following.

"Back then, His Majesty the King stayed behind closed doors, but by no means, as some rumors said, His Majesty did not become a monster. Because I know that someone was responsible for delivering food and daily necessities to him back then, but it was very strange. The person in charge of these things became dumb shortly after taking the task, and the person was illiterate, and after that, we could only have the simplest communication with him.”

"Your Majesty didn't show up in those few years. Was it three years or four years? I'm too old, and I can't remember. He handed over all the affairs of the palace to a secretary, and I don't know about other political affairs. When I was a little girl, I didn't know much about these things.

"Later, His Majesty finally came out of that room. On the day he came out, there was a big commotion in the palace. I heard that several people disappeared mysteriously that day. I arrived later, and I didn't see that horrible scene. But when I rushed over, His Majesty was still at the door of that room, and no one around him dared to approach him. He looked quite normal, but he seemed younger than a few years ago. Now, um, let me think about it...it seems to be on a stand...a camera?"

When the woman said the word "camera", Aesop's heart was shocked.Later, the woman seemed to say something like "Anyway, this incident is so bizarre that it will end later", but Aesop couldn't listen to it.His heart has been firmly grasped by the word "camera".

The key to everything really lies in that camera.It was not two things that Joseph was hiding from him, but one.How did he use a camera to manipulate age, and even... human life?

Aesop couldn't think of a clue.But he felt that he had never looked forward to Joseph's explanation so urgently.

Why did Joseph hide it from him?Aesop thought that even if Joseph had blood on his hands due to political struggles, he could still accept such Joseph with a smile; he believed that Joseph also understood this.So, what concerns does Joseph have?Why can't we be honest with each other?

he does not know.

Right now, he only knew that the trials that followed did not allow him to think about these small things.

TBC

Aesop is having his brain explode with Joseph's age mystery and trip to London