I Am Louis XIV

Compared with the first time, when they left Paris for the second time, both Louis and the Queen Mother were much calmer. Although the aristocrats and ministers still couldn't help scolding those hateful thugs, this time the aristocrats The people calmed down a lot, and the king inquired a little while playing cards, and then he realized that it was ironic. Compared with some poor and lowly people who they didn't pay attention to at all, it set off the second Fronde rebellion. Prince Kong Dai is also a nobleman, and also has royal blood. Even if Prince Kong Dai is more threatening, they will not think that they have been humiliated.

However, this kind of tolerance is only for the nobles. After all, even if Prince Condé becomes king, they will only be treated coldly and rejected at most, and the fiefdom and title will not be shaken in the slightest. Years, the king will change his mind, or there will be another new king, look at the Duke of La Rochefoucauld, because he was involved in a court conspiracy, he was exiled, and now he is Condé The Prince's guest, in Bordeaux, he unabashedly went out with the Duchess of Longueville, as if they were a legal couple-although the Duchess of Longueville traveled a long distance to Bordeaux to rescue her husband and brother of.

But the change of the throne is not a good thing for the king. Apart from other things, there is only Edward V of England, this poor young king, who was the same age as Louis now when he took the throne, but His uncle, the Regent, the Duke of Gloucester (later Richard III) declared the marriage between the old King Edward IV and their mother Elizabeth Woodville illegal-a bishop took the initiative to stand up and declare himself as Edward IV and another A woman witnessed the marriage, and this woman was still alive when Edward IV married Elizabeth, so the subsequent marriage contract was not established. Edward V and his younger brother, the Duke of York, also became illegitimate children and were deprived of inheritance rights. The two children were imprisoned in London Tower, who mysteriously disappeared after a few months.

Louis also deliberately searched for the whereabouts of the two children. Some people say that when Henry VII of the Tudor dynasty tortured James Taylor, a supporter of Richard III, he admitted that he was in Richard III. Two princes were killed at the behest of the third king, and they are still in the Tower of London, their bodies sealed in a niche in a small clothes box.

When he saw this result, Louis couldn't help feeling chills all over his body. He didn't doubt at all that if the matter really developed to the point where Prince Condé or Prince Gaston of Orleans became king, the fate of him and Philip would be the same. The only consolation is that in France, the king’s enemies certainly exist, and there are also many people who are willing to support and be loyal to the king, including a young general from the Holy Roman Empire who led about 300 soldiers. The infantry came to fight for the king.

Louis once asked Bishop Mazarin if he could take away Prince Condé, Conti and the Duke of Longueville, at least Condé should be taken away. Now the bishop, who already knew a little about his king, immediately understood what he meant, but as a churchman, the bishop, who was better at plotting and trading than fighting openly on the battlefield, was in a dilemma again. Tell Louis that even if they take Prince Condé away, they must treat Condé as if they were a prince during the journey, because he has no real crime at all, but in this way, some people may feel guilty because of Condé. If he is shaken by Dai's words and deeds, or directly helps Kong Dai to escape, it is better to let the three of Kong Dai continue to be imprisoned in the Castle of Vincennes. That castle is still the strongest military fortress in the whole of France. The Watchers are also the most trusted subordinates of the Bishop.

Louis didn't say anything more about this, anyway, there will soon be facts instead of him to slap the bishop who is sometimes too self-willed.

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On the seventh day after the king's motorcade left Paris, in the middle of the night, a group of people arrived in Vincennes in a carriage. The forest at night was like an opaque cloak, swallowing all the light. Owls could only occasionally be heard flapping their wings and flying by. The sound of the carriage rattling was so piercing in the dead silence. The gatekeeper of the castle was awakened. He jumped up and rang the small bell. The guards They opened their eyes, and they haven't been able to sleep well for several nights. After all, everyone knows that Prince Condé, his younger brother, and the Duke of Longueville are in Vincennes. The mob in Paris, those loyal to Kong It is possible that Dai's army, or an ambitious man like Gaston, could break through the city gates in order to rescue Prince Condé.

But when they came to the city wall, they felt more at ease. Only artillery can penetrate such a thick city wall, and there is no place to climb on the smooth wall. Even if someone can climb up with a ladder, the narrow windows will still Putting them in a dilemma, they held up their lamps and looked down—the people below also raised torches, and under the light brought by the blazing torches, the first thing they saw was the cape that cardinals often wear when they go out. The brim hat, and then the other party took off the hat, handed it to the priest beside him, and raised his head.

"Oh, my God," said the chief guard at once, "how could it be you, Monsieur Bishop!"

Yes, the person who came was Cardinal Jules Mazarin. He was almost the same as when he left. While waiting for the guards to move away the bags of stones and soil piled up behind the city gate, he kept frowning, revealing The expression of impatience and having to endure, the lines at the corners of the eyes drooped severely, and the thin lips that had destined the fate of countless people were even tighter. The guards might want to say a word or two of compliments, but when they saw In such a situation, he immediately bowed his head wisely and said nothing, and only followed the bishop's request to take him to the room of the three nobles.

As the three most important "guests" of Vincennes, the Prince of Condé, Conti and the Duke of Longueville are of course imprisoned at the highest point of the main tower of Vincennes Castle. Looking down from the tower, you can almost overlook the In the whole of Paris, as the guard said, the only people who can talk to His Royal Highness are Asuka. The main tower is surrounded by four walls. There is no gap in the stone bricks of the tower, and the windows are narrow and rare. Upon arrival, the guards also sealed some of the windows below thirty feet.

When seeing Bishop Mazaran, Prince Condé was also surprised, but apart from being surprised, the proud prince and general did not show much emotion. Perhaps in his heart, no matter how far Mazaran had climbed, He will always be a priest with a humble background; compared to Prince Condé, his younger brother Conte's performance is much worse. When he saw the bishop, he thought that the bishop might bring people to execute them When the bishop asked them to go with him, Conte even yelled loudly and refused to obey. He grabbed a candlestick and waved it, swearing that he would never die silently like a coward.

The wax oil fell on the carpet with sparks and almost caused a small fire. Fortunately, the Duke of Longueville was there. He used a bottle of wine to avoid the tragedy of being burned first, and then used the empty bottle to let the Prince of Conti Be quiet and at least look like a decent person.

Bishop Mazarin led them away from the main tower and the castle. When he boarded the carriage, Prince Condé looked around and found that there were not many people brought by the bishop. He glanced at the Duke of Longueville. As for the embarrassing shouting and screaming like Prince Conti, it doesn't mean that they will die willingly.

When the speed of the carriage became slower and slower, and finally stopped in a clearing in the forest of Vincennes, Prince Condé was asked to get out of the carriage. He jumped out of the carriage. In the castle, the treatment he received was still the same. It is the same as what a prince should have, silk shirts, wine, steaks, golden bread and carpets, soft beds, etc., no trifles to worry about, no assassinations and plots, he is even a little fatter, he is now very healthy and energetic Sufficient, Bishop Mazaran was standing opposite him, less than six feet away, and Prince Condé could catch him.

The Duke of Longueville thought the same way. He moved his feet and walked to one side, blocking the way of the bishop.

The bishop didn't seem to notice it. He smiled at Prince Condé, lifted his wide-brimmed hat, threw it on the ground, unbuttoned it, took off his bright red cassock, and stepped on it. The stupid Prince Conti also knows that something is wrong... Even the most absurd priest would not do this, because the cassock is the best decoration, weapon and armor for them.

In the end, Mazaran, or the guy who didn't know what it was, raised his hand, pressed it on his face, and then moved it away gently, as if removing an invisible mask, Prince Condé and others watched What they saw was a completely unfamiliar face. His hair fell to his shoulders and was almost gray. His eyes were like the darkest rubies they had ever seen.

When Prince Kong Dai realized that he was facing a non-human being, he couldn't help taking a step back.

"It's nothing to fear, Your Highness," said the vampire, "it's an honor to serve you."

After finishing speaking, he let out a sharp and long cry, and with the long cry, those followers raised their cloaks one after another, turned into countless bats with him, and flew away.