CHAPTER 457: CHAPTER 457 WARNING

"It can’t be stopped," Hughes shook his head. "If it could be halted effortlessly, we wouldn’t be standing here."

"But..."

Hughes did not let the Secretary General continue and instead asked, "Do you think, did my father, Emperor Joseph, truly make a mistake ten years ago?"

The Secretary General hesitated, "I don’t know."

"Just now, historians and family researchers came to seek my opinion. They want to write a biography for Emperor Joseph, assessing his merits and demerits," said Hughes with self-mockery. "Although they chose their words carefully, their criticism will be harsh in their writings. The evaluations will not be flattering."

The Secretary General dared not speak.

It was well known that ascending to the throne by killing a brother, the control of the Mecklenburg Royal Family had fallen to its lowest in just ten years under his reign, starting with a coup and ending with one. Although there had been quite a few eccentric Emperors in Mecklenburg’s history, their quirks were personal; politically, they had mostly been faultless.

Enlightened and valiant rulers were numerous; even Joseph IV, who was considered too soft by the members of the Royal Family during his reign, seemed in retrospect to have used gentle methods, balancing the Empire’s various powers with the subtlety of a spring breeze.

Joseph IV was not weak, but politically wise.

"Let’s go. If it can’t be stopped, then so be it. Starting now, I must learn from Joseph IV," Hughes thought. The greatest mistake of his father was seeing issues too one-dimensionally and his overly ruthless methods. After all, he was always more suited to be a powerful Prince than an Emperor.

Sadly, his father’s ambition, grown from wielding great power, lacked the deportment and depth of an Emperor. Many measures taken after his coronation were misguided, and his perspective on handling affairs had not shifted; he still operated as he had when he was a Prince.

By the time he realized it, it was too late.

He must always remember his father’s mistakes to avoid repeating them; the Mecklenburg Royal Family could not withstand another internal war. In the past six months alone, the Empire had seen four rebellions, with three Cosmic Fleets still engaged in quelling them.

Duke Fuxing’s Eighth Universe Fleet would also be dispatched to suppress the rebellions. The thought of so many planets rebelling against the Empire’s rule caused Hughes many sleepless nights. And he was keenly aware that Duke Fuxing’s departure from the Capital Star to miss his coronation ceremony was not just due to their strained relationship—nor their reluctance to swear fealty.

It was a warning to him.

Although his father was the one who had acted, he was the one left to bear the consequences. Both he and his father had been severely outmaneuvered by Prince Clive, who was responsible for the murder of so many students on the Helheim Star, many from Noble families, with some being their families’ primary heirs.

Though the matter had finally been settled and the storm had passed, they all knew deep down that the Military Academies and families had placed the blame squarely on the Royal Family.

Prince Clive’s abduction of Xia Huangyu and Lin Fu, along with Fuxing’s departure, was also a warning to him.

Under these circumstances, he only had to remain low-key, as Joseph had said, "Politics is the art of compromise."

Hughes had changed greatly from before; he had lost his previously sharp edge, replaced by a greater sense of composure and restraint.

His temper had improved considerably; he was no longer haughty and cold, and his gaze appeared much more affable.

Anyone would think that he could indeed become a wise ruler.

He had become exactly what the Cabinet Ministers hoped for, and indeed, he was in close and frequent contact with them. He no longer advocated for attacking Eternal City; his political philosophy of expansion had softened, and one could vaguely see the shadow of Joseph IV in him.