Checkmate

Two years had passed since Agrippina assumed full control of the Roman Empire, while Nero immersed herself in her own artistic pursuits. 

However, it's not all about art; Nero occasionally donated massive amounts of her private wealth to civilians and the poor, built many orphanages, welfare institutions, and gave her troops of Rome better treatment, better equipment, and generous salaries, almost to the point of emptying her treasure. 

Occasionally, she would come to the barracks to train herself with the soldiers of Rome and form camaraderie with them. 

Her purpose was to gather popularity among the people and military and gain momentum. 

Despite never attending court or showing interest in power, her popularity never fell because of her generosity. 

Different from Nero in history and Nasuverse who lived extravagantly and luxuriously, her wealth was almost emptied to the point that she fired almost all of the maids in the palace and liberated all the slaves she owned, as she couldn't afford to maintain their food or give them proper treatment. 

For reselling them?

No way was she a slave trader; she disdained slavery. 

As much as she lacked empathy, it doesn't mean she would stoop that low. Of course, she wouldn't hesitate to enslave her enemies, but to strangers or her own people, she would never do that. 

Because the Emperor was absent from the court, decision-making was left to her mother, Agrippina, who ruled with an iron fist, swiftly demoting senators and nobles while simultaneously promoting her allies and friends to fill the vacant positions. 

She showed no mercy, even to civilians and slave citizens, coercing them into enlisting in the army and thus bolstering her own forces. 

This relentless consolidation of power plunged once-peaceful Rome into a maelstrom of bloodshed. 

In response, under the secretive orders of the Emperor, Vespasian was recalled from Jerusalem to put an end to Agrippina's reign once and for all, leveraging the troops stationed in the Roman garrison. 

Being cornered on all sides, Agrippina sought to dethrone her daughter in a last attempt. 

Unfortunately, Nero moved faster and gained control of the Imperial Armory and Treasury, forcing Agrippina to abandon that thought. 

Her troops lacking weapons and proper equipment made her dare not implement her plan and could only anxiously wait for her downfall as Vespasian's reinforcement arrived in Rome. 

With an additional 50,000 troops now in Rome, Agrippina's coup plan spectacularly failed. 

Her hastily assembled army of civilians and slaves stood no chance against the combined might of the Praetorian Guards, loyal to the Emperor, and Vespasian's forces. 

Ultimately, these forces were forcibly disbanded by the Senate without even putting up a fight or resistance as they simply abandoned their cause. 

They didn't dare to refute the Senate's disbandment for fear of being accused of treason and rebellion; moreover, they had never been loyal to Agrippina in the first place. 

The Praetorian Guards, initially thought to be loyal to Agrippina, revealed their true allegiance at the last moment, turning against her.

Now, she found herself isolated, devoid of any friends or allies within the court, as the Senate united to suppress her ever-growing influence once more.

Her supposed allies and friends dared not associate with Agrippina, witnessing the tide of favor turning against her. 

Their friendships and alliances were built solely on mutual benefit and favor, devoid of sincerity, and thus, they turned on each other as swiftly as a lightning bolt.

Even before the arrival of Vespasian's troops and the Praetorian betrayal, both the Senate and Agrippina paid a bloody price for their rivalry. 

They engaged in fierce conflict, tooth and nail, weakening themselves with the consequences of their own discord that had already crossed a dangerous threshold.

Amidst this chaos, Nero Claudius emerged and ordered Vespasian to return to the capital with his troops. She also commanded Agrippina's Praetorian guards to betray her at the eleventh hour.

Feeling helpless due to the combined efforts of Nero Claudius and Vespasian, Agrippina made a desperate plea for assistance from her father, former legion generals. 

However, they chose not to respond after seeing the widespread distribution of Nero Chronicle, a damning account of Agrippina's atrocities. 

They and their supporters feared being labeled as traitors or losing the allegiance of their men by aligning with her.

The dissemination of the book, though challenging without the aid of a printer, saw the efforts of bards and storytellers who spread its contents far beyond the borders of Rome. 

This revelation of Agrippina's deeds turned public sentiment against her.

The Roman treasury, under Nero Claudius's control, had ample resources to support the propaganda campaign launched against Agrippina. 

Senators, sensing the shifting winds, began to favor Emperor Nero and Vespasian. They approached Vespasian, seeking confirmation of the Emperor's plan to summon him.

"So, Vespasian, what does Caesar intend to achieve? Why does she seek to turn us against Agrippina? Is she doubting our loyalty, akin to how Tiberius once did in the past?" queried one of the senators. 

None of them were naive; they understood that the Emperor's hand guided these events, and they sought to confront Vespasian for confirmation.

"I fear she places her trust in none of us," Vespasian replied, his tone tinged with bitterness. 

He had no desire to witness the Emperor's missteps driven by paranoia and infamy. 

His purpose here was to mend the fractured relationship between the Emperor, the Senate, and the nobility, encouraging senators and nobles to declare their allegiance to the Emperor in the hope of earning her trust.

Though Nero was a shrewd politician, her deep-seated trust issues often clouded her judgment. 

Vespasian had known the Emperor since her childhood, witnessing her transformation into a capable monarch. 

Yet, her cruelty and her profound trust issues were glaring flaws that could not be overlooked. 

He had heard of the gruesome demise of Nero's stepmother, which had revealed her cruelty from a young age. 

She had been driven by vengeance because her stepmother had plotted to assassinate her, and she had wanted to inflict every imaginable suffering upon her, denying her even a dignified death.

Furthermore, a quote from Nero Chronicle, where she stated that it was better to be cruel than being overstepped, had exposed the extent of her ruthlessness. 

Surveying the senators before him, Vespasian began to offer his counsel. "You should do what you did earlier, kick out Agrippina's influence from Rome and unite with the citizens of Rome to put our Emperor back on the throne. And I will bear the responsibility if there is anything wrong with my plans."

"Don't worry about our Caesar not welcoming you. What she wants is absolute control like Augustus. As long as you show her that, she will respect you as you were respected by Augustus in the past. Did you not see proof of this in Seneca?"

Vespasian was resolute in his determination. If there was even a hint of rebellion against his monarch, he would show no mercy. 

The fact that she had entrusted him with bringing troops to Rome indicated her desire to defend herself against potential coup attempts by nobles and senators. 

Vespasian's loyalty to Rome was beyond question. 

While history might depict him as the ultimate victor in the Year of the Four Emperors, he had consistently upheld Rome's interests. 

When rebellion had erupted, he had been occupied with the Jerusalem uprising and had revolted because he believed the one he served was not the true monarch but a traitor to Rome who had forcibly removed Nero Claudius through treacherous means.

In a world where trust was scarce and treachery was rife, he had sought to eliminate all threats and emerge as the ultimate victor, eventually becoming Emperor himself.

Now, with the Emperor ordering his return to Rome, he saw it as a sign of her trust and honor.

How could he possibly disappoint the Emperor's trust? 

The senators exchanged glances and nodded, willing to consider a compromise if Vespasian's claims held true, with the understanding that it might indeed be for the best, assuming his words were sincere.

The senators are on board, cautiously. If Vespasian's for real, they're willing to give peace a shot. But if he's playing games, well, they're senators, they can be ruthless too.