In the end, the emperor returned to the dormitory with a distressed look on his forehead, but he came not to Irene's dormitory, but to Malena's.

The first thing I saw was Constantine standing there. Augustus, who was playing with his servants, suddenly saw that the emperor was a little overwhelmed, and really did not know what to call him, so he could only call out "Your Majesty" and then salute.

Then Prince John followed from behind and saluted his father as well.

Alexios bowed his head, encouraged him a few words of study, and then went to the inner hall, where he lay down on the couch and sighed.

Soon, his "adoptive mother" Marlena crept up from behind, slowly rested her hand on the emperor's broad but slightly wrinkled forehead, and pressed it very gently, "Tired?" ”

"Sometimes I want to leave this throne and the world and enter the monastery." Alexios said, "How nice would it be if you covered your eyes with these hands, and if you couldn't see, there would be no trouble?" ”

"The empire still needs you, it needs your protection, and it needs to raise Constantine and John to grow up as your right-hand men." Marlena smiled and dismissed the emperor's illusions.

The Emperor sighed, as if his mood was lightened by his adoptive mother's soothing, and then he slowly opened his eyes and sighed, "What about the icon pendant you used to have, my favorite." ”

"In order to protect the Warden Captain on the battlefield of Xiaoya, I have already given it to the other party, with the blessing of me and Constantine, you won't blame me, right?"

Alexios pursed his lips tightly, and the two of them looked up and down, and then Marlena saw that the wrinkles on the emperor's forehead were suddenly twisted together, and then the emperor smiled slightly, and said very gently, "No, of course not." ”

In the middle of the night, in the curtain of the palace, the little bird Nikdemia knelt at the foot of the steps, and the emperor stood silently on it, with two fine leather-wrapped boxes lying at his feet. ”

"Yes, I'll take care of it." The little bird said with a distressed look on his face.

"Investigate clearly, don't wronged the warden chief, and try to appease the morale of the army." Alexios gave the instructions for disposition, and then he looked at the expression of the little bird Nydemia, and comforted, "Don't worry, the original plan you made will not be changed, until the end of the spring, the captives of the Pechenegs are settled, and I can borrow the mercenaries of the Cumans and Roma, and I can attack Zahas and the Normans with all my might." The army of the warden will continue to guard the borders of Asia. ”

"Your Majesty is wise!" Nikdemia bowed his head, kissed the Emperor's purple boots, determined to do it with all his heart, and then he took out the contents of his bosom and gave them to Alexios.

Under the candlelight, Alexios looked at the paperwork, his eyebrows tightened

The next day, Caesar Macaulinus entered the Brachna Palace, followed by his numerous assistant bureaucrats and doormen, for he knew from the moment he was summoned by the Emperor that the situation in Asia had changed under his painstaking management, otherwise His Majesty would not have been so anxious to receive him.

"Is my sister okay?" The Emperor sat precariously and began to say the first thing to Caesar, who bowed.

"Theodora's health is very good, after all, she has served the empire for so many years, and she has been running around for a long time, so she can be by Theodora's side some time ago, which makes her feel quite relieved." Macaulinus replied in an elegant and sentimental court language, which had the implication of secretly inviting favors.

"You've done a great job." Alexios nodded, acknowledging Caesar's exploits. Then the Emperor mentioned the matter of the Warden George, "I have verified the behavior of the Warden recently, and it is true that there are many obscurities as you and Zaifu said, so I will send someone to replace him back to the Imperial Capital." ”

As a result, as soon as Chrysostom said this, Caesar's subordinates were so excited that they couldn't sit still, and at this time, one of the helpers took the opportunity to bow down and said to Alexios, "Your Excellency Caesar has been fighting in Asia for many years, and he was born there, and his prestige is high, so Your Majesty can restore His Excellency Caesar's reputation as the chief archduke of Asia and send him to guard the town, so you can rest easy." ”

A wave of approval rang out, and Macaulinus laughed apologetically, but remained humble.

Alexios stood up with surprise, "Why didn't you come and recommend it to me earlier?" I have sent my brother Isaac and the eunuch Nick Demia to Nicaa to clean up the situation. ”

At this moment, the sound of approval froze instantly, the smiles and joy on everyone's faces froze, and Macaulinus felt that his intelligence had been greatly humiliated, but he did not dare to say anything, because the emperor had just achieved a great victory, and it was the peak moment of his reputation, and at this time lifting the table was tantamount to hitting a stone with an egg. So Caesar thought for a while, and then continued to request, "After all, Lord Isaac is young and has little seniority, and the old man is afraid that he will not be able to suppress the situation in Asia Minor, so Your Majesty can let the old man go and serve as the auxiliary of Lord Isaac." ”

"No, I have given my brother Isaac Sebatocrator a new title, a combination of 'King' and 'Augustus', a title that is enough to keep Asia." Alexios explained kindly, "As for Caesar, you will continue to be here, serving as my right-hand man with Zaisuke, and you can also spend some more time with my sister." ”

Macaulinus's nostrils and mouth were crooked, and the aging muscles at the corners of his mouth were shaking, until one of his fellow party pulled the corners of his coat behind his back, and he reacted and thanked the emperor for his "grace" in a muffled voice, and praised the wisdom and wisdom of the emperor in inventing the title "Sebastoclat", which would inevitably bring stability to the empire.

Looking at Caesar's back with a group of helpers and leaving in disgrace, a happy smile appeared on the corner of Alexios' mouth.

On a rare warm winter day in the barracks by the lake of Nicaea, the sun seemed to be able to scorch all the oil out of the human body, and many peasants came out to celebrate the ancient festival of good fortune for a good harvest, and the haystacks of various shapes were lit, and the crowd was running and dancing with joy. Under a huge oak tree, Gawain stood smiling, and many young girls from the village held hands, circling around him, singing old songs.

"They're showing you affection! Get out of the way, or the bachelors and young men in the village will soon come looking for your bad luck!" At this time, Farov, who was half-naked and holding a scarred belly, came over with a laugh, and the girls screamed and scattered, "Women and enemies are just as afraid of me!" ”

Then Farov shouted, "How can you do it without bathing in such a warm weather!" ”

Then Gawain turned his head and saw countless half-naked and naked Varangian warriors rushing towards this direction