Chapter 590 Stepping to the Forefront

Earl Jeffreys took a step back, and Smith was still asking, "Who is it?"

"Simon!" Earl Jeffreys took a deep look at Smith and asked tentatively, "You kept this good thing from me, which is a bit unfriendly."

Smith was confused. What good thing? Why didn't I know?

Jeffreys didn't see the disguised expression, and said with relief, "Congratulations, your son-in-law may officially step into the spotlight."

A year and a half ago, Qin was named Earl of Augusta, and the political implication was obvious.

But he was just a hollow earl after all, without any real power.

But Simon came back with his son and formally participated in the grand court meeting. Earl Jeffreys smelled something different.

Calculating the time, Qin is already seventeen years old, and it's time.

When His Majesty the Emperor was seventeen and a half years old, he had already served in the Knights, and at the age of twenty, he officially embarked on the road of legend as a wandering knight.

So seventeen years old has a special meaning to the Augusta family.

Smith didn't understand it at all. He was a complete political novice, and was not at the same level as Earl Jeffreys.

The palace gates opened a little late today, and Simon's reputation had already spread.

Smith could see with his naked eyes that there was a circle of empty space around him, which was something that an official of common origin like him could not understand at all.

"Is it so terrible?"

Earl Jeffreys smiled, he was not afraid of others.

"Look at these people, at least one-third of their relatives and friends have been hanged by Simon, and many of them have had their entire families killed.

And one-third are officials from our northern lineage, do you think it's exaggerated?"

Smith really hadn't thought about the relationship here. Most of those who can become officials of the empire are descendants of nobles, otherwise their families don't have the capital to support them.

So the nobles who surrendered that year have been mixed up in high positions again.

After going around in circles, it's actually the same people above, just a different skin, and a better name.

It's only been more than a decade, and Simon's reputation has subsided among the people, but it is at its peak among noble officials.

The teenagers who watched the tragedy back then are now standing outside the palace gates. Do you think they are afraid?

Maybe someone's childhood sweetheart was hanged by Simon.

Smith took a deep breath after hearing the detailed analysis of Earl Jeffreys, and unconsciously took two steps away.

It's better to stay away from such a vicious person.

Earl Jeffreys felt superior. As a member of the Northern nobles, he had never been punished by Simon, so he was not afraid.

But to be honest, this kid was able to climb up because he was ruthless enough.

There were so many old brothers back then, why did Simon stand out?

It was because he pulled the rope when Derek hung people, and sharpened the knife when Derek killed people.

So there are so many old brothers, many of them survived, but each of them had Simon's luck.

Others were either relatives or nobles, and only Simon could be considered to have climbed from a commoner to an earl.

Just thinking about it, Earl Verut, the Minister of the Army, also came.

He recognized Simon just from the back. After all, the two had fought side by side for many years, and they were more familiar than outsiders could imagine.

He walked around Earl Jeffreys and stood in a row with Simon.

"Simon, why did you come back early?"

According to convention, Simon would come back two months before the New Year, but this year he came back early.

Simon's smile was much more sincere this time. On the one hand, the two had fought side by side, and on the other hand, the two had never lost contact.

All the armies of the Griffin Peninsula were under the jurisdiction of Simon. In name, he was still the deputy minister of the Army Department, and he had to get huge military funds from the Army Department every year, so of course he was familiar with each other.

The two chatted enthusiastically for a few words, and Virut was still so generous, patting his chest and promising: "Albert, come to me if you have any problems. There are not many things I can't solve in the imperial capital. Your father and I are like brothers, so you don't have to be polite to me."

Albert felt sincere, stared at Virut and smiled: "Okay, Uncle Virut."

Virut didn't feel anything wrong at all, nor did he realize how jumpy this little guy was.

At this time, the palace gate finally opened.

Virut said casually: "The palace gate opened a quarter of an hour later today."

Simon didn't speak, he knew it might be because they talked too late last night.

When they entered the meeting hall one by one, officials from various ministries lined up in order.

Senior officials at the ministry level and high-ranking nobles all went up a flight of stairs and were very close to the emperor.

After a while, His Majesty the Emperor came on stage with Qin.

This was the first time Qin stepped to the front.

Count Augusta, once again on the political stage.

Smith's eyes widened. He finally knew what Count Jeffreys was congratulating him for.

It was just that the two of them looked at each other and were a little embarrassed.

Qin also knew that he would attend the grand court meeting last night.

He had wanted to confront his father-in-law a long time ago, but he had been dragging it on and had forgotten it.

It was particularly awkward to meet at this time.

He had a smaller seat next to the emperor's seat.

After each of them sat down, they were facing Smith.

You two looked at each other, very awkward.

But it was better than Albert.

He didn't even get a seat, and stood behind Simon pitifully, out of tune with the surrounding environment.

Derek still noticed it and signaled the eunuch to bring him a stool.

This is the rule of the grand court meeting, and the eunuchs will not act on their own.

It was just a stool, a square soft stool without a backrest.

Fortunately, it was not so awkward to sit down.

Derek spoke first: "Earl Simon guarded the Griffin Peninsula for the Empire, and he worked hard and made great contributions. As the saying goes, meritorious service should be rewarded. Today, his eldest son is conferred the title of Imperial Baron and the title of Thousand Captain of the Royal Guard to show his favor."

Neither the title of Imperial Baron nor the title of Thousand Captain are considered light rewards.

The former is a formal fifth-class title, with real power.

The latter is considered to be a promotion of one level, which is almost equivalent to a regimental-level position, that is, the Royal Guard still has such a retro position.

At the age of fifteen, he has such treatment, and he has become a winner in life in an instant.

Looking across the country, he is also one in a million.

So, his father and son have worked hard for two generations, what can you do to surpass him?

Compared with officials of civilian origin, his starting point is the end point of most people.

Albert felt like standing up to thank him and received the title on the spot.

He himself did not expect that returning to the empire would yield such a great harvest.

Virut glanced at Qin belatedly and understood the situation.

Count Jeffreys smiled alone, feeling a sense of being the only one awake while everyone else was drunk.

As expected, Derek soon announced again that Count Augusta was ordered to form the Imperial Air Force Department and officially take up a specific position.

If nothing unexpected happens, Albert will be his guard officer.