Chapter 463: The End Of Oscar

"Outrageous!"

Prince Simon exploded in anger, "Since when did I stop handling serious matters, allowing these good-for-nothing scholars to talk nonsense all day long!"

Baldwin cautiously glanced at Simon. This outburst showed him a glimpse of the dignity a prince should have.

He bowed and said, "Your Highness, please calm down. This bunch of scholars have never truly respected our Oxford Academy. They are focused only on studying the classics, hoping one day to pass the imperial exams. To them, encouraging scholars to learn such ’tricky skills’ is despicable, and they believe their own path is truly the best way on.

"How ridiculous!" Simon said as he gnashed his teeth, "Can’t they see the development Brambleford has made so far? Are they all blind?" Simon was extremely angry. Doctor Oscar’s death had already upset him, and now these scholars were stirring trouble. Why won’t he be furious right now?

"But right now, the most important thing is to find out the real cause of Doctor Oscar’s death," Simon said bitterly. "This bunch of troublesome scholars are making a fuss for nothing. Could it really be that Doctor Oscar valued the teacher-Student legacy more than his own life?"

At this, Prince Simon calmed down, as he suddenly felt defeated. He hadn’t expected the power of deeply rooted ideas to be so strong.

"Yes," Baldwin only nodded. After hesitating, he asked, "Your Highness, should we arrest these troublemaking scholars and interrogate them?"

After a moment’s thought, he said, "No need. Let them continue making noise. It’s better if they make a big scene; otherwise, how can I have a solid reason to deal with them?"

"But letting these scholars slander your name might harm your reputation," Baldwin said with a worried heart.

Simon then laughed, "Minister Baldwin, you worry too much about me. If this was actually the empire, I would be concerned. But don’t forget what Brambleford’s foundation is. Now that there are no powerful aristocratic families around, I rely on the common people. These scholars are useless to me in my domain."

"Your Highness speaks truly. As long as the people are stable, these scholars won’t be able to cause real trouble," Baldwin said.

With that, he turned and left.

After watching Baldwin leave, Prince Simon sent someone to call Gius to the castle. Everywhere in Brambleford was under secret guard surveillance, so to find the root of this matter, they only needed to ask him.

Before the servant could leave, Gius had already arrived.

"Your Highness, you must have summoned me about the death of Doctor Oscar?" He asked.

Simon nodded thoughtfully. "Since you know, tell me what you have found."

Gius nodded and said to Prince Simon, "Your Highness, Doctor Oscar really poisoned himself. Before he did so, he told his family that he did not want to offend you, nor be criticised by his fellow doctors. So he chose death. These words reached the ears of the religious scholars, which is why they started talking nonsense about You."

"I see," Prince Simon sighed softly. "Why did it have to be this way?"

Gius continued, "But Your Highness, Doctor Oscar’s suicide may not be your responsibility. I believe this is also strongly connected to Doctor Oscar old time friend. The day before Doctor Oscar committed suicide, his old-time friend, Andy, visited him. From what I know, they parted on bad terms."

"Old time friend, that’s a good progress. You’ve already figured out the whole story first," Prince Simon felt relieved.

Richard manages external affairs, and Gius manages the internal affairs. Together they form a complete secret guard. Over two years, Prince Simon had invested hundreds of thousands of silver coins into it, building the secret guard. Now, Brambleford truly has eyes and ears everywhere.

"Your Highness, I told you I would not disappoint you when the time comes," Gius said happily. After repeatedly being overshadowed by Richard, he was now motivated to improve in his own actions.

During this time, he worked hard to train his subordinates, while securing firm control over the domain.

"Good. Immediately give the clues you have gathered to Minister Baldwin and inform him to arrest Andy at once," Prince Simon ordered.

Gius nodded and left.

Prince Simon then left the main hall. His heart was already filled with killing intent. He had not feared the Battle at Dunmere or the Battle at Preston. Why should he fear the deeply rooted feudal superstitions or the endless chatter of the good-for-nothing scholars?

Doctor Oscar’s death was surprising, but if anyone wanted to use this to attack his policies, they were thinking too shallowly.

If necessary, he wouldn’t mind a confrontation with these scholars to see if their stubborn words or his guns were stronger. For the past two years, his tolerance for these scholars was only to avoid unnecessary trouble.

But this time, Doctor Oscar’s death affected him deeply. He felt it was necessary to strike back at these scholars.

However, before that, he must thoroughly handle Doctor Oscar case. Otherwise, his medical academy would be finished, and his army would lose its battlefield medical unit.

Frowning, Prince Simon sighed. He thought it was necessary to establish an astronomy academy within Oxford Academy.

In his view, this would be the most effective weapon against feudal thinking. But he would not use it yet; only when necessary. Because once he introduces astronomy, it means denying the divine right of each Prince.

At that time, the most frightened would not be the religious believers but the reigning emperor, Aleric. If the scholars stirred trouble then, Prince Simon would be no different from a rebel.

So it was necessary to prepare secretly. Once the opportunity pin in, he could release astronomical knowledge and even use it as a weapon.

He already had a plan for this, a risky and bold plan, but carefully sought out. If successful, the Nelson family of Wilmington might be under his control as well.

While he was thinking this through, Gius had already delivered the news to the minister.

After receiving the news, Baldwin immediately ordered the arrest of Andy. He understood Prince Simon’s plan: to clean up the corrupt doctors in the territory. Andy was the key point in this event.

Meanwhile, at a medical official’s home south of Brambleford City, Andy sat facing three other men dressed as scholars.

One scholar said, "Doctor Oscar was a man of great righteousness. To uphold religious teachings, he would rather die than bow to Prince Simon. He is truly a model for us."

"Exactly. The Oxford Academy has long lost favour. We scholars despise it. In Brambleford and Stardust Lands, the home of sages, such absurd things happen. We have sent many petitions to Wilmington, asking the religious believers to speak for us."

"Yes! Why does the state reform forbid us scholars from taking the exams and entering official services? What qualifications do those ungrateful students in the Oxford Academy have to compare with us?"

"We must get to the bottom of this issue and prince Simon must answer for it, weather he likes it or not."