lovenovelstory Chapter 98. Conflict with the Church
Chapter 98. Conflict with the Church
Chapter 98. Conflict with the Church
Sergei and Razumovsky entered the room.
Archbishop Simeon sat opposite Elizabeth and got straight to the point: "I've heard that there's a piece of land that should belong to the Church, but has become Your Majesty's private property."
"private property?"
Elizabeth couldn't help but laugh.
"All of Russia is mine, even the church is mine, how can you talk about private property?"
The archbishop remained unmoved by these words: "The Church belongs to God. If Your Majesty does not agree, you may ask God whether He permits such disrespectful language."
Elizabeth glanced at the other person before getting back to the main topic.
"The Church owns a third of Russia's arable land and two million serfs. Your Honor, isn't that too much for a country with only 15 million people?"
The archbishop remained silent.
Elizabeth continued, "The national treasury is increasingly empty, but the Church is insatiable and will not donate a single ruble."
The archbishop pressed on: "Then spend less money on this devil's revelry! The church grounds are sacred, and so is your money!"
Elizabeth didn't continue the topic. Instead, she looked at Razumovsky with a gentle smile, extended her hand, and Razumovsky stepped forward to shake it.
"Father, I would like you to officiate my wedding with Count Razumovsky."
Razumovsky looked surprised and looked up to meet Sergei's gaze, who smiled and nodded at him.
However, the archbishop ignored Razumovsky and even verbally insulted him.
"I don't know anything about a count. Are you talking about that peasant boy from Ukraine who sings in the church choir?"
'
Such blunt words enraged Razumovsky.
He didn't care what the other person said about his past, but the other person deliberately insulted him in front of the Queen, saying that he was not worthy of the Queen, which he, who was in love with the Queen, could not tolerate.
Ignoring Razumovsky's anger, the archbishop stood up.
"My answer to His Majesty's wedding is no, and I will never change my mind! The church will not bless such an unequal marriage, especially one without children. What you need is repentance; you do not need to get married."
Elizabeth also slowly rose, a smile on her face.
"Father, your land will be directly incorporated into the state property, and the national treasury needs funds!"
The archbishop looked directly at Elizabeth.
"Your Majesty, Russia has been at peace for seven years, yet the treasury remains empty. Never in Russian history has there been a ruler as extravagant and dissolute as you!"
Elizabeth retorted, "Don't forget how we achieved so much peace over the years! Bishop, it is because of my wise rule that we have the ability to expel our powerful neighbors and keep them in line!"
Gradually, her voice became louder and her expression became more dignified.
"It is because I tirelessly protect the people of Russia that Russia is at peace, the churches are safe, and the people are carefree!"
The archbishop scoffed: "The most pathetic kings are those who refuse to relinquish their pride. It is only through divine mercy that there is no chaos and war, and it is because of the tireless prayers of the pastors in the Christian churches that the people can live in peace and prosperity!"
After saying that, he left without looking back, not believing that Elizabeth would dare to dispose of his property!
The other archbishops followed suit.
After the bishops left, Elizabeth could no longer contain her anger and angrily swept the things off the table.
Razumovsky tried to step forward to persuade him, but Sergei grabbed his sleeve.
Sergei Chollazumovsky shook his head.
Elizabeth quickly calmed down, but was still incredibly angry. She walked outside, with Sergei and Razumovsky following closely behind her.
At the ball, when everyone saw that the Queen was angry, no one dared to dance, and the music stopped abruptly.
The Queen headed toward her office.
"Congressman Alex! I order you to immediately recover all debts owed to the church, and there will be no delay in carrying out this order!"
"Sergei, from this moment forward, according to the treaty, all church properties must be managed by retired officials. Give me a list!"
Razumovsky couldn't help but advise, "Your Majesty, such a decree must be approved by Parliament."
Elizabeth looked at Sergei, who nodded.
Elizabeth's eyes flickered: "Sergei, go and have a good talk with those clueless and dissenting members of parliament. Don't waste time on those stubborn people."
Sergei nodded and suggested, "Your Majesty, Peter the Great once melted down church bells to make cannonballs. We can learn from Peter the Great."
Elizabeth gave her an approving look: "Do something similar!"
"clear!"
For the next two weeks, the parliament and the church were plunged into a complete nightmare.
In a mansion, the bedroom door was pushed open, startling the man awake. A group of secret police officers walked in.
"Your Excellency, following an investigation by the secret committee, you are suspected of accepting bribes, and we are now ordered to arrest you!"
"You have no right to do this! I am a member of parliament, you secret police have no right to arrest me!"
Sergei walked slowly into the room.
"What if it were me, Your Excellency?"
"Saltikov! What are you doing here! You can't arrest me! Even if you're the Vice Chairman, you can't arrest me without His Majesty's decree!"
But after the man said that, his expression completely changed.
This means that the other party came to arrest him on the orders of Queen Elizabeth!
The secret committee dared to do this because they must have already obtained evidence of his crimes. Even if they didn't, once they entered that kind of place, who could keep quiet about it?
He looked at the handsome young man in front of him, and a chilling coldness swept over his entire body.
"Vice Chairman, you must help me! I'm innocent! Help!"
A member of parliament was on his way to the parliament when he found someone waiting for him at the end of the corridor.
"Saltikov".
The senator saw through the other party.
"If you cannot express your agreement with the latest decree, I think you may lose your seat as a member of parliament, and even the Prime Minister will not care about you."
"Are you threatening me? Do you think I, a member of parliament, would be threatened by someone like you, the head of the secret police? And who are you to influence the Prime Minister?"
Sergei slammed a file onto his chest.
"You can decide after you've read it."
After saying that, he left without waiting for the other person's reaction.
The senator intended to reprimand the other party, telling him not to think he could spout nonsense just because he was a favorite of the Queen. He should hold back.
A favorite of the Queen?
The senator quickly flipped through the file, which contained evidence of his crimes, along with a note left for him by Sergei: "The Queen asked me to tell you that you should be glad that you committed only minor offenses, but please remember that the severity of a crime depends on whether the Queen wants to pursue it."
The other person instantly broke out in a cold sweat.
He had just been on the verge of death!
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