486 Ludovic (1/2)
It had been a week.
Ye Qingxuan had sat in jail, waiting for news all this time.
Perhaps one day late at night, someone from the Scared City would bring him out, stick him into a black carriage and let him disappear from this world. Maybe he would be brought to trial in front of all countries and be executed according to the results. Or, he would just spend the rest of his life here in obscurity.
He would age here until he would be thrown out because of some political interests, live a difficult life, and die somewhere.
Although Ye Qingxuan had imagined all kinds of accidents, he had made up his mind to break out immediately after collecting enough information in a few days. But never did he think of this situation. In a way, it could be said to be the worst.
Ye Qingxuan did not think that Ludovic just came here to have a lunch with him.
”Take a seat, Ye Qingxuan.” Ludovic pointed to the chair before him. ”It's not proper to have a guest stand up for dinner.”
Ye Qingxuan did not restrain himself. He unabashedly pulled the chair to sit down, calmly gazing at the old man across. ”You talk about courtesy here in a prison? Is the nobility so detailed?”
”The details are embodied in every aspect, child.” Ludovic was like a kindly old man with a mild tone. Compared to him, Ye Qingxuan was indeed a kid. Ludovic was more than five times older than him.
Ye Qingxuan frowned without replying.
Ludovic casually raised the glass. ”For example, eating is an art.”
”Is it?” Ye Qingxuan lightly asked, ”It can help you eat better?”
Ludovic heard his sarcasm but shook his head. ”You are too young. Young people always eat and drink too much but have no idea about the collocations of food.”
The waiter came up and poured the red wine for the two. Ye Qingxuan frowned. This was not the Fontainebleau that he ordered.
”You know what?” Ludovic lightly said, ”Actually, the most precious thing about smoked salmon is the succulent fragrance. Fontainebleau is good just because of its rareness. Otherwise, the taste will be destroyed.
”Taste it. I've helped you pair it with the best wine from the Anglo Royal Winery wine, the most suitable for the table. The brewers call it the knight because it smells like a knight, escorting without affecting the taste of the food.”
He cut a piece of salmon and put it in his mouth. He was graceful while dining and even when drinking.
”It's so good. The last time I tasted it was sixteen years ago. I didn't expect that I can still taste such delicious food after so long. Please deliver my thanks to Mr. Plan, whose craft has made me taste the essence of food.” The second half was said to the waiter. The waiter nodded and left. The chef must be ecstatic to receive praise from Ludovic.
But Ye Qingxuan didn't care. ”Aren't you an ascetic monk?” he asked, ”I'm afraid it's not good to be so indulgent.”
Ludovic smiled, slowly shaking his head. ”Child, you are not well-informed. My ascetic career ended yesterday. There is nothing else in this world worth my penance.”
A newspaper was put before Ye Qingxuan. It was just printed this morning. On the front page was the biggest news. Archbishop Ludovic would be the next Pope. After the next day, he would be the new Kind of Red, the shepherd of all sentient beings, the agent of God in the world.
That was the worst news. Ye Qingxuan glanced at it and tossed it aside.
”I know what you're thinking.” Ludovic lowered his head, tasting the dishes, and said lightly, ”Abraham was rescued but he still can't leave the emergency room yet. Don't worry, I won't let him die. Now he has been put into the Mithril Cellar to be frozen. You can expect him to live a long time, maybe longer than you.”
The Mithril Cellar was a grim prison or a depository for all musicians. The musicians who committed a felony but could not be killed for a variety of reasons were sent there, frozen up after many processes. Then they would fall into slumber and in the coffin until the day the Sacred City found a way for them to redeem themselves and be woken up again. But most people would die quietly in the long sleep and disappear silently.
”Bai Xi is with Hermes, rest assured.” When talking about Bai Xi, Ludovic couldn't help sighing. ”She is really a clever little girl. The slightest action could drive her away. I wanted to bring her here today to meet you.”
Ye Qingxuan was silent but his eyes turned cold and dangerous.
Ludovic did not perceive this. He just picked up the raw oysters and oyster knife that had just been served and said enthusiastically, ”Don't let the food down. Enjoy the lunch, Ye Qingxuan.”
With a snap, the oyster's shell was pried open, exposing the white soft meat inside. It filled one's mouth with luscious sweet juice.
The taste of life was delicious.
-
This was perhaps the most exquisite meal Ye Qingxuan had ever had. But he could taste nothing.
Ludovic seemed to really have come here to enjoy lunch. He chatted about what had happened in the Sacred City these days with humor and occasionally told small jokes. No hostility or malice could be seen from him. Instead, it was a pleasure.
Ye Qingxuan could not refrain from thinking that maybe Ludovic could still earn a lot if he just accompanied dinners.
Soon, the lunch was finally finished. The table was cleaned up. The pianist finished, saluted, and departed.
The waiter served a box of cigar and a knife with matches.
Ye Qingxuan did not wait for Ludovic's enthusiasm. He picked one up directly and cut it open casually. He did not care that the way he was spoiling the treasure would distress many smokers. He was too lazy to even use a match. Putting a finger to the cigar, a flame lit up. The smoke swirled in the air.
Ludovic just smiled. He did not comment on his rude behavior but slowly struck a match to heat the cigar.
After two matches, the cigar was lit. The smoke curled up and blurred his face.
”Let's get down to the business, Ye Qingxuan. I think you may not be able to wait any longer.”
”No, I like chatting with you.” Ye Qingxuan chuckled. ”I am not anxious at all, really. It'll be better if you take me to take a hot bath and sauna. We can talk to each other frankly and finally go to drink in your private club and chose some beautiful girls together to spend your last day before the throne, leaving a precious memory.”
”Really?” Ludovic smiled. ”Then I want to thank you.”
”You are welcome.” Ye Qingxuan humbly shook his head. ”This is what I should do. I always cherish good times since they're always so short.”
”I can give you such kind of life if you like.” Ludovic threw up his hands and said warm-heartedly, ”How about I help you rebuild this prison into a holiday destination? As long as you don't leave here, you can have whatever you want. Food, sauna, beauties? No problem at all, even if you want to see the little girls in the choir do a striptease, I can satisfy you.
”I must say, some girls now are really hot and bold after taking off their church robes. You'll be shocked.”
After a silence, Ye Qingxuan clenched his teeth and said, ”That sounds great.”
”But you don't want that, Ye Qingxuan.” Ludovic sighed. ”Don't lie to an old man, especially to someone so good at telling lies like me. It's meaningless.
”Why can't you see how things are? You think I'm going to use negotiation skills on you? You want to take the initiative but it doesn't matter because I don't even want to negotiate with you.
”You have tried your best. Now the initiative is in your hands but what can you change? Relax, Ye Qingxuan. I've already said, be honest with each other. It's good for both you and me.”
Ye Qingxuan was silent. His expression became gloomy. Ludovic was right. Ye Qingxuan would be unable to resist if Ludovic wanted to something to him.
One was the pope, the other was a prisoner.
There had never been a bigger gap in the world.
The next day, the whole world would be in Ludovic's hands. Would his ideas and thoughts change if Ye Qingxuan took the initiative of the conversation?
”It seems you have learned to be humble, child. That's good.” Ludovic nodded, taking a cigar. He said, ”Maxwell is now going crazy, you know?”
”Because of me?”