She changed Europe

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In 313 AD, Constantine I, who had reunified the Roman Empire, issued the Edict of Milan, making Christianity the state religion of the empire.

Helena formally converted to Christianity at the age of seventy, after which she embarked on her famous pilgrimage (circa 326-328 AD), during which she traveled to the eastern provinces of the Roman Empire, particularly the holy land of Palestine (then known as the province of Syria-Palestine).

During her journey, Helena became known for her piety and generosity, making generous donations to churches, the poor, prisoners, and the army along the way.

The most central and legendary part of Helena's pilgrimage was her "discovery" in Jerusalem of several extremely important relics directly related to the Passion of Jesus:

The True Cross: This is the most famous discovery. Legend has it that Helena discovered three crosses while excavating Golgotha ​​(the site of Jesus' crucifixion) in Jerusalem. To identify which was the True Cross of Jesus (the other two were believed to be the crosses of two thieves crucified with Jesus), they placed a critically ill (or dead) woman next to each of the three crosses. When she touched the third cross, the woman miraculously recovered (or rose from the dead), thus confirming that it was the True Cross. Helena took part of the True Cross back to Rome, while the majority remained in Jerusalem for veneration.

The Holy Nails: Legend has it that Helena also discovered the nails used to crucify Jesus at the same location. These nails hold powerful symbolic meaning. It is said that she incorporated one nail into the protective band of Constantine the Great's helmet (symbolizing divine protection), and another (or others) into the bridle of his warhorse (or the imperial crown), bestowing upon the emperor divine authority and protection. Other nails were left in Jerusalem or distributed to other churches.

But in fact, the sacred nails were cast into rings, one in Old Rome and one in New Rome (Constantinople).

PS1: Actually, Constantine the Great wanted to create gods, but he lost control after his death.

Chapter 548 The Turkish Symphony of the Vienna Rose: Capter 45 That woman, she's here! (Seeking votes)

Bringing her thoughts back, Bismarck looked at Marta before her, a plan forming in her mind. Leaving aside the power contained within this ring, you don't actually intend to use it…

"Shh!"

“Lord Bismarck, some things lose their meaning when explained too clearly…” Marta raised her right index finger and placed it to Bismarck’s lips to stop her from saying anything further. Then she smiled and lowered her hand, took a few steps back, and went to the window.

"The fox holds many secrets that we cannot know, and as far as I know, even in the Eastern countries, a magic user like Su Beiming is quite special, and the power she possesses is enough to change people's beliefs."

Hearing this, Bismarck bit her lip and held her breath, because what she hadn't finished saying seemed too blasphemous. Marta wanted to overthrow the entire old church system and create a new faith...

She didn't know if God could actually come to earth, but miracles were right before their eyes.

The meeting of East and West, that earth-shattering blow on the Ticino River...

"Have you ever considered whether this is what she truly wants, whether she really wants to become a new god?" Here she is clearly referring to Gisela herself.

“I will follow her wishes. This is also a test for her. If she only wants to be a king in the mortal world, then let her be for the trivial matters at hand. After all, I am just someone who does things out of interest.”

“Madman…” Bismarck murmured the word again.

"The order of the world is nothing more than a stage for fools to amuse themselves. They play their respective roles in it, but never truly understand the meaning of their roles."

"The invisible giant ship of fate carries us to an unknown future, while we are stuck in the cabin, arguing over a crumb of bread."

"The voyage of the Ship of Fools is a microcosm of human society. The fools on board keep repeating each other's foolishness, but never realize where they are heading."

Marta softly used words from "The Ship of Fools" to express her disappointment with human society itself, suggesting that the guidance of great men might be the right choice.

"Humanity's greatest advantage lies in rational thinking and the pursuit of truth. From totem worship in primitive societies to the vigorous development of science today, we have used our wisdom to continuously break through the limits and explore the mysteries of the unknown. Our history is not a cycle of ignorance, but a magnificent history of progress."

"Everyone is the captain of their own life's ship, and we are not foolishly drifting with the tide. Our thoughts and choices give direction and meaning to life. Even if there are storms ahead, we have the courage and wisdom to steer our own ship of life."

Unlike Mata, Bismarck was proactive. Although her methods were realistic, she was an idealist at heart. She believed in the power of great men, but she also believed in the power of the people. Otherwise, she would never have chosen that young Austrian princess, who seemed weak and alone, but was ultimately placed on the throne by the people...

"How about we make a bet? We'll bet on which path the fox chooses?" Marta asked with interest.

"it is good!"

—Let's turn our attention back to Gisela.

“Rita, we should get ready to go back.” Gisela looked up at the sun that was gradually rising overhead and said to the maid beside her. At this moment, Aponia, Rita, and Jeanne also reunited with Gisela, waiting for her next instructions.

"Aponia, you and Jeanne go back to the villa first." Gisela looked up at her watch to check the time.

"As you command, Your Majesty."

“Understood,” Jeanne and Aponia responded to Gisela in their own ways.

"Rita, today Queen Cloris of Prussia and their Prime Minister, Bismarck, will be arriving in Constantinople. Given the current friendly relations between our two countries as members of the German Confederation, please convey my greetings to them and my hope for pleasant cooperation with them in the future."

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Rita nodded to indicate that she understood.

“By the way, Your Majesty, how should I answer if the other party brings up that question?” Rita bowed politely, awaiting Gisela’s further reply.

"What's the problem?" Gisela, who seemed strangely slow to react, appeared to have forgotten the love letter incident that had recently caused such a stir in European public opinion.

"Just do what you think is best! I trust you to handle things." Because of the hot weather, Gisela didn't want to say much, so she simply waved her hand casually, leaving the matter entirely to her most trusted maid.

Gisela didn't notice the secret delight Rita concealed beneath her polite demeanor when she mentioned the camera. Perhaps Gisela herself was unaware of it. From beginning to end, Rita considered Chloris her most formidable adversary, even prioritizing her over the cunning maid Aponia and the outsider Jeanne Alter. As for outsiders like Marta, she placed them even lower on her list. The thought that a simple refusal would ruin the whole thing made Rita feel much better.

After all, His Highness is now surrounded by more and more people, and he has fewer and fewer opportunities to be alone. If this continues, his position will only become more and more dangerous... Of course, this refers to a different level of position.

Following Gisela's instructions, the three set off towards their respective destinations. Not long after they set off, Rita seemed to realize something and suddenly turned around, only to find that the spot where Gisela had just been standing was now empty.

Perhaps His Majesty has other matters to attend to? With this in mind, Rita did not doubt it and turned to leave.

Unbeknownst to her, behind a thick tree, a gray-haired woman with red eyes was holding the waist of a blonde fox-eared girl, covering her mouth with her left hand, while her right hand skillfully grasped her fluffy fox tail.

“I’ve missed you so much, darling, it’s been so long.” Chloris’s tone was filled with joy, and with each word she spoke, she exerted more and more force on Gisela.

"Let...me go...I'm the Empress now!" Gisela's legs tensed, and her waist straightened as Chloris moved. Because her tail was being grabbed and manipulated, her eyes gradually became glazed.

"Okay, I'll let you go now." With that, Chloris's lips curled into a slight smile, and with her signature playful grin, she stopped Gisela's misbehaving hands, thus freeing Gisela.

"Your expression is still so adorable, you truly are my woman." Chloris squinted, observing Gisela's every move as if admiring a treasure.

PS1: The Bad Woman is Coming

Chapter 549 The Turkish Symphony of the Vienna Rose: Capter 46 The Music Queen (Seeking Votes)

"It's all because of your sudden attack; I wasn't prepared at all." Gisela's cheeks were slightly flushed, and she leaned against the tree trunk to barely maintain her balance. Combined with her slight panting and the way she clenched her chest, she looked even more "feminine," causing even the seasoned driver Chloris to momentarily lose her composure.

"Here, take this." Chloris calmly took a sun hat from her bag and put it on Gisela's head.

"What are you doing!" Gisela frowned, looking at the unusually behaving Chloris with great confusion.

“Put your hat on properly so you won’t be recognized on the street. Now change your clothes!” Chloris then threw a women’s long dress into Gisela’s arms.

"Huh? What does that mean?"

"Wearing a skirt will hide your fox tail. Don't tell me you didn't do that when you ran away in Berlin." Clearly, Chloris was referring to Gisela's sneaking away from Rita when she first went to Berlin.

Gisela stared wide-eyed, as if she wanted to devour Chloris.

"You change, I'm not looking at you," Chloris said, looking at the somewhat unhappy Gisela. Although Chloris had actually seen Gisela's body countless times, as a proper lady, she would never embarrass a woman. Thinking of this, she walked to the other end of the tree, leaned against the trunk, and whistled.

"A strange request." Although she found it strange, Gisela did not refuse Chloris's request. Instead, she began to unbutton her military uniform and skillfully took off her clothes.

“You handled things very well recently, eliminating all these destabilizing factors before the real reforms even began,” Chloris said, leaning against a tree stump and gazing at the clouds on the horizon.

“I owe half my success to you. Without your help, I could not have defeated the Prussian army commanded by your brother Frederick so easily. Without this great victory, my plans would not have gone so smoothly.” Gisela untied her hair tie and then tied her long hair into a ponytail.

Although this hairstyle seemed too simple and ordinary for the Queen, and such a simple hairstyle was unlikely to convey the majesty of royalty, since the purpose was to conceal her identity today, there was clearly no more suitable hairstyle.

"In my opinion, without your help, I would not have been able to obtain power in Prussia, and even with Bismarck's assistance, it would have been far from enough."

“This is what we call mutual benefit and win-win,” Chloris concluded.

"By the way, have you completely eliminated the Jesuits?" Gisela asked again, raising the question that had been bothering her. Although Black Saint was dead, the organization still posed a constant threat to Gisela and her country. Since Chloris had the list, she certainly wouldn't let these charlatans off easily.

“Leave no one alive. Unlike the rioters in the capital who are being publicly tried, I have ordered my men to execute immediately upon arresting anyone identified as a Jesuit.” Chloris showed absolutely no mercy to anyone or anything she considered an enemy or a significant threat. Moreover, Prussia's state religion was Protestantism, so naturally she had no compassion for these Catholic radicals.

As for Frederick's death, the two tacitly agreed not to mention it again, because his death was very much in line with his character.

"Is it done?" Chloris turned her head to look at Gisela on the other side of the tree stump.

“Okay,” Gisela replied softly.

At this moment, in Chloris's sight, a girl dressed in a snow-white dress was standing obediently in front of her. Her fair skin and delicate features were so perfect. Even though she had dated countless people, Chloris could guarantee without hesitation that the girl in front of her was the most beautiful one she had ever seen.

Of course, it's not just her appearance that has improved; she has also made considerable progress in her demeanor. Compared to her time as Princess Gisela, the current Gisela appears more mature and composed.

“Let’s go.” Chloris grabbed Gisela’s wrist.

"Where to go?"

"Kostaniye." (Turkish: an alternate name for Constantinople, meaning "go into the city"; here Cloris uses a double entendre.)

A moment later————

Strolling through the old city of Constantinople, I measured the city's long history on foot. Two beautiful emperors, one in dashing men's attire, the other in a captivating long dress, passed slowly through the Golden Gate, the gate known as the "King of Marbles."

It is said that during the Byzantine Empire, this gate was the grandest gate in Constantinople. It was never open on ordinary days, only when the emperor went to war or when the army returned in triumph. The troops and generals who passed through this gate would receive blessings from hundreds of thousands of citizens amidst a shower of flowers.

Following the main gate, Gisela and Chloris arrived at the ruins of the famous Brechner Palace. This was once the daily residence of the Eastern Roman emperors, and it is said that royal members born in this palace would receive a higher status than other royal members, euphemistically known as the Purple-Robed Nobles.

Of course, by this time the palace had been completely abandoned due to years of disrepair, and its bricks and stones had been dug up by the surrounding residents to repair and reinforce the brick walls of their own houses.

"This is Blacknell." Gisela felt a slight, inexplicable flutter in her heart whenever she thought of the name. (A reference to a meme)

“Our ancestors were so impressed by the wealth of this city that they named it the Queen of Cities,” Chloris said, gently stroking the brick wall.

"Her history is much longer than that of Germany." Generally speaking, Germans consider their nation's history to begin in 962 AD, the year Otto I was crowned and established the Holy Roman Empire. Of course, I'm emphasizing national history here; the history of the people is much longer.

The two chatted idly while keeping an eye on the street performers in the square not far away.

At this moment, two men in the center of the square were playing music for the people, one on the violin and the other on the piano. It seemed that because monarchs from all over Europe had gathered in Constantinople, this unexpectedly sparked a Western craze in the city, and various Western musical instruments began to appear in the streets and alleys of the city.

"It's rare to hear such authentic Western-style music in a foreign land." Gisela took the lead and walked up to the artist to stop and listen with the few audience members.

"Well, as Europe's most famous 'Queen of Music,' wouldn't you like to play a piece for everyone?" Chloris smiled and then pushed Gisela to the center of the crowd.

PS1: Okay, Chloris is starting to woo the fox.

PS2: The issue of succession was already a plot hole dug by Su Beiming before!

PS1: The fox went on a date!

Chapter 550 The Turkish Symphony of the Vienna Rose: Capter 47 Brilliant Fireworks (Seeking Votes)

“Did you know that the fireworks we enjoy now were originally introduced to Europe via the Silk Road from that ancient Eastern country that produced silk and porcelain?” Chloris gazed at the blonde girl before her with her captivating scarlet eyes, and Gisela read a completely different feeling in Chloris’s eyes than usual.

"Of course I know." Gisela still has a deep impression of the history of her motherland in her previous life. After all, the Four Great Inventions are almost "common sense" engraved in her bones.

"However, the invention of gunpowder was more of a coincidence. It was accidentally invented by a group of alchemists who were engaged in alchemy. At first, it was mostly used by the common people to celebrate festivals and pray for blessings." To put it bluntly, the earliest gunpowder was mostly used by civilians, which also reflects the peaceful and law-abiding mentality of our ancestors.

In fact, at least during the Ming Dynasty, the military application of gunpowder was not significantly different from that of the West, and in some aspects it was even more advanced. The decline of firearms only occurred in later dynasties.

When the Manchus entered the Central Plains, these well-trained nomadic cavalrymen had perfected their skills in using cold weapons. With their flexible tactics, they completely defeated the Ming army, which possessed firearms but suffered from low morale and insufficient pay.

The glory created by our ancestors led every Qing emperor to be superstitious about the power of bows and arrows and scimitars, neglecting this technology, which ultimately resulted in China's backwardness in weaponry.

Of course, today is not about criticizing or condemning that period of history, because dwelling on such issues at this point would be incredibly naive.

Fireworks lit up the sky, completely illuminating the ancient city. The colorful lights soared across the heavens, accompanied by crisp sounds, displaying their brilliance. Most striking was the massive dome of the Blue Mosque, which shimmered with iridescent light under the glow of the fireworks, evoking a profound sense of awe.

“That’s Galata Tower. From there you can overlook the entire city. The other end of the famous Golden Horn Chain Bridge connects to it.” Following Chloris’s guidance, Gisela looked at the Galata Tower in the distance, which seemed to be burning like stars in the night sky.

"The place with lights is the Dolmabahçe Palace, a new palace built by the former Ottoman Sultan Abdullah at a cost of 500 million Ottoman gold coins on reclaimed land. Its interior decoration cost 14 tons of gold and 40 tons of silver. There was originally an old palace on the site that was a hundred years old, but it was completely destroyed by fire."

The palace is not only filled with gold and silver, but also reportedly contains 12 massive stone gates, 43 halls, 70 bathrooms, 285 rooms, and 1427 windows. Inside, there are 58 candlesticks, 156 clocks, 280 vases, 131 giant silk carpets, and 99 smaller carpets, all exquisitely crafted by the royal workshops of Areke (not far from Istanbul, where the world's most precious and unique double-knot carpets are produced; they are said to become stronger with use).

The palace's annual expenses reached £200 million, a large portion of which went to personnel. At its peak, the palace employed 5320 court workers, 300 cooks, 200 stable hands, 400 ship handlers, around 100 daily reception staff, and 1200 women in the harem. Cloris had already gathered this information before arriving in Constantinople.

Upon hearing this information about the Ottoman Empire's extravagance, Gisela couldn't help but frown. Despite constant internal and external troubles, the Sultan still had the mind to enjoy himself and build gardens. In this respect, it was almost identical to what a certain Empress Dowager of the Qing Dynasty did in her later years.

"Do you like that palace?" Chloris put her arm around Gisela's shoulder and pulled her closer, but Gisela skillfully dodged her.

"If you like it, I'll beat it up later—no, I mean, I'll buy it and give it to you." Chloris waved her hand with a touch of domineering confidence, her tone as self-assured as ever.

"Look at you, so capable." Gisela couldn't help but complain. For some reason, Chloris's behavior just now gave her the feeling of a domineering CEO. If she had been talking about a fishpond instead of a palace, it would have been even more like it.

“Could you try a different style? I prefer seeing you with silver hair.” Chloris first took a lock of golden hair from Gisela’s hand, then put it down, stood up and walked towards the higher part of the Hagia Sophia Cathedral.

"I reject!"

"Of course I was lying!" With that, Gisela took a deep breath, her golden hair turning silver, and her purple eyes gleaming with a unique majesty. Soon, Gisela followed Chloris, running towards higher ground.

“Actually, if you want to go even higher, you can go to the four minarets over there.” Gisela pointed to one of the four towers.

“You’ll understand what I mean in a moment,” Chloris replied calmly.

Under the cover of night and the glow of fireworks illuminating the night, two beautiful ladies strolled one after the other atop the dome of Hagia Sophia, enjoying a tranquil moment rarely experienced by ordinary people. Moonlight occasionally shone on their snow-white skin, making it appear as beautiful as alabaster.

"How do you plan to deal with the Ottoman problem?" Chloris asked softly.

"Short-term or long-term?" Chloris Gisela didn't intend to hide anything from him, after all, their relationship seemed ambiguous and quite subtle, at least in the eyes of most people.

"Let's talk about the short term first. The Russians, British, and French will all arrive here tomorrow. Let's focus on the meeting at hand."

“I want to help the British deal with Russia. First, I can get the economic rights to railways and factories from the Ottomans. The Ottomans have no reason to refuse this, and this can also be Gisela’s ‘reward’ to the British.”

"Given Victoria's attitude towards you, she won't agree easily. However, Victoria's opinions don't carry much weight within Britain. From Parliament's perspective, Britain will ultimately accept these conditions." For the British Parliament and the vast majority of the public, France is currently their primary adversary, followed by Russia. As for the Austrian Empire, there aren't many core conflicts, at least not at this stage.

"Claus, to be honest, the Prince of Wales actually visited me earlier today. She hopes we can agree to a strategic cooperation with them—to contain the Russians together. However, their offer has never satisfied me."

PS1: Ra!

Chapter 551 The Turkish Symphony of the Vienna Rose: Capter 48 You Talked About Garlic Today! (Seeking Votes)

"Besides the economic privileges you just mentioned, what else do you want?" Chloris looked at Gisela with interest, wondering if Gisela realized that her speech and aura were more assertive and that she had a stronger desire to conquer when she had silver hair.