Chapter 236 - Su Luxi (26) <2-in-1> (1/2)

Once Jiang Li was back to the capital, he briefly talked with the Pope about the ceremony, saying he wanted to be the one to officiate the mid part of the ceremony, namely the wedding. He was not a priest. However, due to his special position in the Church, since the Pope approved and the Emperor had no problem with it too, the matter was then settled. His goal was achieved just like that.

”There are really reasons why many are so hungry for power and influence. Depending on the situation, there are things money could not help one get or accomplish, but power and influence could. If it is other people who requested what I just requested, even if they give up all their wealth to get the chance to host or officiate a very prestigious event, they will be rejected within a second.”

He shook his head as he sighed to his valet. Lando, one of the two youths always giving the female lead a sharp glare whenever she approached Jiang Li, looked at him in puzzlement and asked, ”Did something happen, milord?”

They were inside a spacious and luxurious white painted horse-driven carriage, on their way back to Wade Mansion. The ride was slow to ensure there would be little to no bumps along the road and dozens of knights and servants were either marching or riding their horses as they escorted the carriage.

Since the trip would take a little more than fifteen minutes, the valet couldn't help but wonder if his master was bored and thus wanted to talk about random or philosophical things.

Jiang Li shook his head and laughed. ”Nothing. I just suddenly recalled our experiences outside. I couldn't help making the comparison since the people we encountered are helpless as they have neither money nor power and are subject to the others' rules. Had I been one of them, or someone with only one of the two, would His Holiness still smile and agree to my request?”

”Milord, you are the prophet. The Holy Church only had two people who can communicate with the Esteemed Goddess. There is no way they will not hear you out.”

”If I was not the prophet?”

The valet thought for a moment, keeping his silence. If he was a simple lad, he would have answered, the young master was still a Duke's heir, a position of less weight, but still with considerable power. It was just that the power was not one which a personality like the Pope would think highly so it would be no use bringing it up.

Something flickered in his mind, 'The prophet's mental condition... People said there are two things that could happen when a person neared their death, either they become wiser, or stupider than ever. Is he being the latter? Asking things that don't actually matter in the current situation...'

The thought rendered the valet silently contemplating for quite a while.

Lando then could only say in a serious manner, ”.... Milord, actually, there is no use pondering over the what-ifs and other possibilities. If you are feeling burdened by the responsibility or in some sort of internal dilemma, please just remember that you are important because you matter not only to the family, but to the whole empire. Young master, don't fall into depression!”

”...” Depression? Just what the hell had gotten into this servant of his?

Jiang Li's almost burst into laughter. Shaking his head, he chose not to speak anymore as the valet was not in the right state of the mind to hear out his complaints about life. Just the opening questions already made the other person's brain flew far away.

The march, under the watch of the several spectating civilians and escorting knights, safely reach the destination by the afternoon. Jiang Li was warmly welcomed back. A feast was even thrown for him and many high personages were invited. It was near 10 pm when the mansion turned quiet.

The young man obediently went to sleep after that, feeling a bit worn out by the long travels and the acc.u.mulated fatigue. The next morning, he rose early. Wearing suspicious overalls that hid his features and body figure, he snuck out with no one in tow.

He didn't want to bring servants or errand boys around as first, he was not comfortable with people tailing him, and second, if he brought them, it would be blatantly telling them his illness was now nothing but a lie.

Before daybreak graced the horizon above, Jiang Li was already sneaking into the Bolden's place. The guards in the residence were not negligent people, however, Jiang Li was using qinggong learned from Jiang Ying Yue's world to bypass the patrolling guards and other roaming servants.

'This is the first time I'm the one going inside the female lead's house without permission or advance notice. What a funny experience,' he snorted in his heart, his mouth forming a lopsided smile.

After jumping one last wall which separated the chapel of House Bolden from the 'sick' girl's compound, Jiang Li halted for a full minute to catch his breath. His eyes also wandered around. Since the sky had barely tinged of grey, the visibility in the place was still poor. The man did not dare use magic right now since the Ducal house might have some safety measures placed around, like stuff that could detect magic power not from people of the mansion. No, actually, he was positive House Bolden had something like that since no matter what position they had fallen these days, they were still publicly recognized as the second most powerful and wealthiest family of the Litus Empire.

Jiang Li lightened his footsteps as he entered the tall, dome-like entrance to the residence owned by Rumina Bolden.

Meanwhile, inside the building, the girl opened her eyes, feeling that something changed in the air. She sat up on the bed and looked out of the window. Seeing that no light was pouring into the room through the glass pane, her heart tightened a bit. The maid should be in the nearby room, on standby in case she called out for them. Outside, there was somebody else whose presence seemed not one of her father's people. It felt a bit familiar. However, she had no time to rummage through her memories to recall whose was it...

'Who would visit me at this ungodly house? Somebody curious about my situation?'

Having lived in a palace where treacheries and assassinations were a common thing, she didn't panic much. Or at least, even if she did, she immediately regained reason and decided for her next course of action.