Chapter Four Hundred and Ninety-Fourth [Tit-to-Tit (Part 1)]
Chapter 494 [Tit for tat (Part 1)]
In fact, among the three major festivals held every year on the Roland continent: Summer Festival, New Year, and Harvest Festival, the church generally rarely participates in them. The only festival that the church participates in is the "New Year"
According to tradition, when celebrating the New Year, the Pope will personally preside over a prayer ceremony.
As for summer festivals and harvest festivals, generally speaking, the church will not participate. There is a traditional reason for this: according to the church, especially the more fanatical Yeni sects, summer festivals have always been considered
The two festivals, the Festival and the Harvest Festival, are religiously "illegal"!
For fanatical believers, they believe that since the world was created by the goddess, then for festivals such as harvest celebrations or summer festivals, the object of people's gratitude should be the goddess! Rather than being grateful to any heaven and earth.
Especially for the Harvest Festival, in history, the Yeni faction has launched several motions to ban this festival. Although they later failed, there is no doubt that this also represents the church's attitude towards this festival.
For example, a traditional item during the Harvest Festival: in order to express gratitude for the harvest this year, people have to sing and dance around a burning pillar of fire. This tradition was fiercely opposed by the Yeni sect, because this celebration custom came from the Roland Empire.
It has been passed down since before the founding of the People's Republic of China. This behavior of dancing in front of burning fire pillars is believed to have been spread by a certain branch of fire-worshiping religion in the era of various sects before the unification of the continent.
Since after the reunification of the mainland, the Church of the Goddess of Light has been designated as the state religion and the only legal religion, then any other form of worship should be strictly banned!
However, the harvest festival has been retained. Because, for most farmers, they may also be willing to believe in the goddess, but the annual harvest is a matter of life and death. If it continues
If you don’t even care about eating a full stomach, who has the mind to take care of other things?
Moreover, as for the Yeni sect's belief that the ritual of "dancing around the fire pillar" during the Harvest Festival was inherited from a certain Zoroastrian religion that has disappeared...but they can't provide strong evidence! Does my liking to dance around the fire pillar mean that I am a Zoroastrian?
Then there are still people who like to sing and drink when going out to campfires in the wild! Are they all Zoroastrian?
The majority of the people attach great importance to the harvest of crops, so they banned the Harvest Festival. It has always encountered great resistance, and finally it was abandoned.
However, at such festival celebrations, the church never shows up to silently express its dissatisfaction in this way.
Therefore, when today’s feast of the harvest festival, His Majesty the Pope Paul XVI of the temple suddenly arrived, this thing that had never happened in hundreds of years immediately shocked many people. Of course, there were also some people with a keen sense of smell.
Guessing what might have happened...
During the ceremony, the door of the main hall opened. Pope Paul XVI, wearing a white robe trimmed with gold. He held a scepter in his hand and wore a papal crown that was round on the outside and square on the inside. He slowly
walked in. Behind him were two holy knights in silver light armor. Looking at the badges on their chests, they were both eighth-level warriors.
When the spiritual leader of Roland Continent walked in, the cheerful music immediately stopped. Then the dancing guests also stopped dancing, stepped back to both sides, and made way for the middle passage, following the Pope.
As he walked in step by step, people on both sides bowed and saluted, paying high respect to this spiritual leader of the mainland.
Prince Chen and Du Wei exchanged a quick glance, with a hint of worry in their eyes. However, Prince Chen stood up quickly, walked down the steps quickly, and then faced Paul XVI with a slight smile.
, said calmly: "Godfather, today is the Qingfeng Festival. On such a day, I really didn't expect you to attend."
Hearing Prince Chen call himself "godfather", a faint smile appeared on Paul XVI's old face. He deliberately raised his voice and responded: "My son, because clergy also have to
To eat.”
"My child" was called like this, causing Prince Chen's eyes to flash a hint of haze, but he covered it up instantly, with a flawless smile on his face. He even reached out to help the Pope, and walked together with the Pope.
Up the stairs.
And "His Majesty Augustine VI" also stood up. I have to say that the tailor who had been performing perfectly before tonight finally looked a little embarrassed.
After all, I didn’t expect this kind of scene to happen!
The old emperor's face was obviously not very good-looking, but under Du Wei's eyes, he quickly calmed down, coughed, and said lightly in a slightly hoarse voice: "Welcome, Your Majesty."
"That is my honor, Your Majesty." The Pope smiled lightly.
Soon, the palace servants moved a new seat and placed it next to His Majesty the Emperor's throne, slightly lower. This is also tradition. In public places, the seats of the Emperor and the Pope are usually side by side.
The only difference is whose "home court" it is. Today it is in the palace, and the Pope is a guest, so his seat can only be slightly below the emperor's.
The two holy knights brought by the Pope also have very high status. In fact, their seats are placed under Du Wei, because of their identities, they are the current Grand Knight Commander of the Holy Knights!
After all, after the Hussein Rebellion, the Holy Knights no longer had ninth-level knights. They only relied on eighth-level knights to fill their facade, which seemed a little shabby.
Prince Chen was sitting next to the Pope. He raised his hands and clapped his hands before the music started again and the guests below continued to dance.
Afterwards, Prince Chen exchanged a few words with the Pope in a low voice, which were neither salty nor light. The only effect was to attract the Pope's attention and prevent him from having a chance to talk to the old emperor.
And Prince Chen's mind was racing with thoughts: At this time, the Pope suddenly appeared, what is the purpose?!
Sure enough, after a few words of greeting, Paul XVI quickly turned the topic to Augustine VI. He looked at the old emperor and smiled: "Your Majesty, I heard that you were slightly unwell a few days ago?"
The old emperor hesitated for a moment, nodded slowly, and said vaguely: "It's nothing."
"Oh, that's good." Paul XVI smiled faintly: "However, you are the king of the empire, and your physical health is related to the national destiny of the empire. There are some powerful priests in our church. The light-based divine healing arts
, it should be of some help to your body... How about I send two senior priests to the palace tomorrow to give you..."
"No need." Prince Chen suddenly interrupted and said with a smile: "Father's body has recovered, so there is no need to bother the priests in the temple. And..."
At this time, Prince Chen deliberately glanced behind him. Behind him sat an old court magician wearing a red mage robe.
This old guy probably only became the head of the court magicians after the coup day. He is naturally a confidant of Prince Chen. He looks to be in his sixties. He said calmly: "Your Majesty, among our court magicians, there are naturally
There are people who are good at healing magic. His Majesty's health problems have always been taken care of by us and the court physicians, so I don't think the church needs to worry about it."
This was said in a firm and unceremonious manner.
However, the Pope didn't care and just smiled. Whether it is the magicians of the magic union or the court magicians, they have always had a somewhat disdainful attitude towards the church. Because magicians believe that in this world, only magicians are the closest to God.
What a profession! As for the church... hmph, they are just a bunch of magicians!
"I'm just expressing my concern." The Pope replied in a good temper, and then suddenly began to chat with the old emperor.
Amidst the melodious music, the two top leaders of the empire were just whispering and talking nonsense. It was nothing more than the weather today is good and the harvest this year is good! You look good.
Ah, wait, wait, wait...
After the two of them talked a few more words, Prince Chen and Du Wei next to them became obviously a little nervous. Because the tailor Grum could barely answer a few words at the beginning, but by the end, he was already sweating on his forehead.
, it was clear that the tailor was a little too nervous when facing the continent's spiritual leader.
In the middle, Prince Chen made a few symbolic remarks. Unfortunately, the old pope seemed to want to talk to the emperor on purpose, and within a few sentences he deliberately changed the topic back to the old emperor.
At this time, there is still a very difficult question:
Originally, according to the plan, during the third dance, the old emperor could announce his exit.
But now, with the sudden arrival of the Pope, "His Majesty the Emperor" cannot leave!
After all, as the head of the Temple of Light, the spiritual leader of the mainland, His Majesty the Pope is here, and such a heavyweight guest is sitting in front of you, as the master, how can you have the nerve to get out of the way first? In both emotions and reasons, Augustine VI.
I can’t leave! I can only sit here and accompany you!
Finally, Du Wei spoke.
Duke Tulip suddenly stood up from his seat, took two steps, looked at Paul XVI, and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, speaking of it, I haven't seen you for a long time."
Paul XVI narrowed his eyes, looked at Du Wei, and said with a smile: "Grand Duke Tulip...ah, I made a mistake, it should be my Archbishop of the Northwest Diocese. I heard that under your leadership, the Northwest
The diocese is very prosperous now."
Du Wei's heart trembled, and he cursed the old fox secretly. These words were clearly meant to remind Du Wei: You are now also a bishop of the Northwest Diocese, so after all, you are my subordinate!
Although Du Wei didn't care about the identity of his bullshit subordinates, he had to admit that if he said such words, his momentum would easily weaken.
There was a smile on his face, but he cursed several times in his mind before continuing: "Thanks to you, the development of the Northwest Diocese is pretty good. However, something happened some time ago, and I still feel guilty about it.
, after all, in my jurisdiction, there are people pretending to be the Holy Knights to deceive and deceive... Well, luckily I caught them all and executed them, but after all, it was my poor management of the northwest diocese, and I feel really ashamed."
As he spoke, Du Wei looked up at Paul XVI with infinitely sincere eyes and a pure 45-degree angle: "Your Majesty! I have decided that after returning to the imperial capital this time, I must go to the temple and face the goddess of light.
I would like to repent properly and pray to the goddess to forgive my sins...and please agree to my request!"
When Paul XVI heard this, the muscles in the corners of his eyes trembled imperceptibly, and he gritted his teeth secretly...
Hundreds of people! Those were hundreds of reserve members of the most elite Angel Legion! They were all slaughtered by this guy in front of me!!
But Jiang was old after all. The Pope took a deep breath and his voice became more kind: "Duwei, my Lord Bishop Rudolf, please don't take it to heart! This kind of thing is often impossible to do.
Avoided. Moreover, I think you have merit in this matter, and I have ordered you to be commended for your behavior. I think that if the bishops of various dioceses in the mainland can be as dedicated to their academic affairs as you are, then our church will
It will definitely be more prosperous.”
After a pause, the Pope suddenly changed the topic: "I have heard that the northwest region is not very stable. Because of its remote location, there are often some 'wanted criminals' and the like fleeing there. Alas... you are not only
You are the bishop of the church, the duke of the empire, and the lord of the northwest. The heavy responsibility of maintaining local peace also falls on you, so thank you for your hard work."
Du Wei chuckled "hehe" and looked at the old fox in front of him. He couldn't help but think: Why are you pulling? If I hadn't saved your life, you would be sleeping in the coffin now! There is still a chance to sit here.
Are you causing trouble for me on the throne? Humph!
At this time, Paul XVI had already turned his head. Probably after saying a few words to Duwei, he became angry and did not dare to say anything to Duwei. He was afraid that if he continued to speak, he would not be able to control his heart.
got angry.
He looked at His Majesty Augustine VI, smiled and said: "Your Majesty, actually I came here suddenly today because I have something to ask you."