I Am Louis XIV

Just like every day before, Viscount Turenne calmly and calmly solved the troubles inside and outside North Holland. Only Villar could see a little pride and self-satisfaction on the face of this boss and teacher who got along day and night. Although The old man tried his best to pretend that he didn't care about Villar's record - but this was Villar's first battle! He was saying that in a battle as a coach, even if his enemy was not powerful, capturing a duke and a royal brother was enough for Villar to get a room in the Palace of Versailles.

There is a reason why Viscount Turenne values ​​Villars so much. He has been in a state of disarray in the military for many years. Even though the king has always been concerned about his marriage, he declined because he had devoted all his energy to the army and God. No wife, no children - not even illegitimate children. In this era, apprentices, students, and disciples can almost be regarded as heirs. If someone wants to leave his property to a student, it is the same as leaving it to his son, and no one will raise any objections.

Similarly, students will serve their teachers as they serve their fathers. Their relationship will always be extremely close, they can guarantee each other, and they can even trust each other with their lives.

Viscount Turenne entrusted Villars to the king in the hope that Villars could stand out in front of the king. However, Villars was thinking about his old teacher and gave up such a precious opportunity to return to Amsterdam. Because of this, Tiray It was only then that Viscount Nadine decided to make him the commander-in-chief of the Amsterdam Navy. This was a risky move. Fortunately, Villars did not disappoint his teacher. If it was not difficult to destroy the fleet with a mixed crew and different thoughts, Capturing the most important Duke of York is a great achievement.

After all, the Duke will definitely be in the safest place...

Viscount Turenne was smiling with Villarde to discuss whether to inform His Majesty the King of the good news first, or to send the Duke of York directly to the King. His attendant came to inform that a man came from Paris overnight. Your Excellency is waiting to meet Viscount Turenne.

At this time, Viscount Turenne had not changed his clothes from last night, and he looked a little haggard. He still smelled of wine and perfume. He looked at the attendant's expression and said, "Tell me who that is, and he told you who he is." What are you here for?" He decided whether he should change his clothes first.

"It is Monsieur the Marquis de Créqui," said the squire.

Viscount Turenne and Villar looked at each other, and their expressions changed: "Let him come to see me." Viscount Turenne said, pulling the vase aside, pouring some water on the handkerchief, and wiping it hard. Wipe your face.

The Marquis of Créqué was considered an old man. He came from a military family and was loyal to the king. However, during the Fouquet incident, he foolishly misjudged the king's dislike of Fouquet, so that there was a long period of His time was not put to good use, and he later managed to bribe Madame de La Valliere, the royal wife at the time, and he was able to recover, but the king sent him to Rome as an ambassador.

It was also because this marquis, who had a frivolous and aggressive nature, had a conflict with the Pope's nephew in Rome and almost got killed, which almost led to another "Avignon" incident. Looking back now, maybe the Roman Church has always been He looked covetously at Louis XIV and was dissatisfied with him in every possible way, probably because more than hatred, he was still afraid.

After Mr. Crechi returned from Rome, he finally gained the king's understanding, and performed well in several subsequent battles. Therefore, he accompanied the king on this expedition - but the attendant said that he He came from Paris... "Isn't His Majesty the King in Italy?" Viscount Turenne couldn't help but feel excited.

When he saw Craigie, his heart sank again. The Marquis of Craigie changed from his usual splendor. He was dressed in black, and even the feathers and diamond ornaments were taken off his hat. Viscount Turenne, who was old and had not slept all night, was even paler. Viscount Turenne reached out and grabbed Villars beside him to prevent him from falling after hearing some bad news. Fortunately, the Marquis of Créqui was not here either. "Viscount Turenne," he said: "His Majesty the King asked me to tell you..." He paused briefly: "The Queen Mother of France, Anne of Austria, one week before All Saints' Day, Unfortunately he passed away."

Viscount Turenne did not hear that terrible name - he almost showed joy at such news - not to mention that Louis XIV was in his prime, in this era, even if there were wizards, death was still like a breeze, It could happen at any time, and to them, the Queen Mother was undoubtedly the one among all the royal family members who would not have much influence.

He forcibly suppressed his emotions and said, "May she rest in peace." Then he asked anxiously: "So, has His Majesty the King returned to Paris?"

"Your Majesty was very sad," said the Marquis of Créqui. "When the Queen Mother felt unwell, the king was fighting the Ottoman Turks, so she insisted on cutting off the news and not letting the king know. By the time the war calmed down, she was already terminally ill. Fortunately, Your Majesty saw her for the last time, with her children and grandchildren surrounding her, the Archbishop of Paris gave her last rites, and she should be sitting among saints and angels now."

"That's for sure," said Vicomte Turenne. "That's a chaste and kind lady."

"His Majesty the King has sent envoys to each of his generals. At this critical time, he does not ask you to rush back to Paris to attend the funeral of the Queen Mother." In fact, the war was not that urgent, but Louis XIV was worried about Ti. At such an age, Viscount Reynal hurried back to Paris, and after the funeral, he hurried back to Amsterdam. The long journey and the rush of time were an extremely heavy burden on his health. He really didn't want to have to hold the Queen Mother's funeral again. The funeral of Viscount Turenne was held, so taking advantage of the war, Viscount Turenne was not allowed to return to Paris.

But then he has to worry that someone in Versailles will think that Viscount Turenne has lost the favor of the king and cause some trouble, so he decided - "You, the Duke of Luxembourg, General Vauban, Marshal Schaumberg , were all left on the battlefield by His Majesty the King," the Marquis of Créqui said: "You can send an envoy to attend the funeral of the Queen Mother on your behalf, and the same goes for everyone else."

We all already know what kind of person Viscount Turenne is. He understood the king's intention as soon as he heard it. He was moved and sad at the same time. He looked at Villars: "It seems that you should go back to Paris once." Now, take the Duke of York with you."

The Marquis of Creky glanced at the young man next to the Viscount in surprise, "When was the war fought?"

"Just last night." Viscount Turenne patted Villar on the shoulder: "I think I should at least mourn for Her Royal Highness the Queen Mother for a day. Let Villar tell you."

The Marquis of Crequi looked at Villar again, and he showed a slightly sad smile. "It looks like a great victory, my good general," he nodded condescendingly to Villar. : "Tell me in detail. I think His Majesty needs such good news to appease his painful heart."

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Anne of Austria, the daughter of Philip III and the sister of Philip IV, was still the princess of Spain and Portugal at the time, and her status was noble and needless to say. But like all women at that time, she was just a tool and decoration in front of her father and husband. If, as a princess, she had long accepted that there would be no love but only responsibility in her marriage, then the loneliness and torture of nearly thirty years after marriage was beyond her imagination.

She was born in 1601 and married Louis XIII in 15 years. So when was their first son, Louis XIV, born - 38 years, that is to say, for a full twenty-three years, she suffered There was heavy pressure from both France and Spain. Although it was known that Louis XIII preferred hunting and gambling with his attendants than spending time with his wife, all the accusations were still thrown at her, as if she were the Virgin Mary. , you can give birth to a son by yourself without a man.

In the end, Cardinal Richelieu forced Louis XIII to return to the queen. They had Louis in 38 years. Even so, another disgusting voice came from the mouths of the Duke of Gaston and his supporters-they thought this The child was born from an affair between the queen and her lover.

Bishop Richelieu asked the queen to have another child - the future brother Philip.

Although the Queen Mother loved these two children deeply, the past events - the indifference of her mother's family, the wariness of her husband, the jokes of the ministers, the cruelty of Bishop Richelieu... did not leave any trace on her heart. , that is really a big mistake. The tenderness that once belonged to the girl has been worn away in the first few years, leaving her with only a sense of unwillingness - why? Why should she suffer such torture!

With this feeling, when she loved Louis and Philippe, she also had a secret and bad intention - she must admit that she transferred her frustrations to these two children - although they They will be kings and dukes in the future, but at this time, they will undoubtedly be at her mercy. This emotion allowed her to accept Mazarin's suggestion and educate Philip into a "noble daughter", and she could also support Philip to become a "king regent" when Louis was seriously injured.

But she...she regretted it...

The room was dimly lit. Cardinal Elario, who had rushed back from Rome, listened to the Queen Mother's confession. After a moment of silence, he whispered to the Queen Mother: "Don't you have anything else to say?"

The Queen Mother knew that what he reminded her was what was on her mind, but she didn't want to tell him or God behind him that if this matter made her go to hell, she would go to hell. Anyway, she had spent eighty years In the second half, I am completely satisfied and have no regrets.

"Then I let your majesty come in," said Elario.

The Queen Mother nodded slightly, Elario walked out, and a few seconds later, Louis walked in.

The Queen Mother could barely see him clearly, but she could imagine what a solemn and glorious saint he was! Sometimes she would wonder how her unfortunate and painful marriage to Louis XIII could produce such perfect fruits. She would say that even Alexander or Solomon were not as good as her son!

Louis was at her bedside, holding her hand.

As we all know, old people at this age, even if their eyes are dim, their backs are stooped, and they are always drowsy, as long as they keep it up, their time seems to be endless, but as long as they fall or catch a cold, it is like... If an old and decayed tree is given a slight push, they will immediately break and never stand up again.

At first, the Queen Mother only had a cough and dizziness. But within a few days, she suddenly had a fever and difficulty breathing. Later, she also developed sores, convulsions and fainting. At that time, Philip had to give His Majesty the King wrote a letter, but was stopped by the Queen Mother - the Queen Mother had expected this. She persuaded the Duke of Vendôme, Philip and other male members of the Bourbon family, as well as the Queen and the Duchess of Montpensier. My lady, she did not allow them to tell the king until the war in Italy was over.

But by that time, the news of Versailles had also reached the ears of Louis XIV. Although the Queen Mother blocked it, the king's eyes and ears could still detect the clues.

When Louis XIV stepped into the Palace of Versailles, the Queen Mother had already been oiled.

"Where's Philip..." the Queen Mother whispered.

"I'll let him in right away." Louis was the first to come in because he didn't know what the Queen Mother was going to say. Soon, Philippe also ran in and held his mother's other hand.

The Queen Mother knew that she should apologize to Louis and Philippe respectively, but she was worried that she would die before she could finish her words - she lay on the soft goose down pillow, her eyes turned to one side, looked at Louis, and then looked at Philip, she made the right choice, because she found that she could only make an extremely weak breath sound next.

She had to try hard to keep an eye on Philip. Before death, her sense of smell, hearing and vision would be greatly reduced, as if all the remaining strength was concentrated in her mind. She tried her best to make her lips make an "sorry" mouth shape while tightening her breath. Holding Phillip's hand - in fact, Phillip could only see her lips moving slightly and her fingers flicking only slightly. He raised his head and met Louis' eyes, but suddenly leaned down and got closer as if he had a tacit understanding. The face of the Queen Mother.

"I have never blamed you," Philip said: "Mother, I know your heart, no, I have never resented you, I know..." If his brother was not Louis XIV, but Charles II, The Queen Mother's actions were love, not mistakes. Anyone who wants to accuse this mother only sees him as a survivor.

"Me too," Louis in turn held the Queen Mother's hand: "For France, mother, and for Spain."

He paused, "Mother, are you proud of us?" His question made Philip look shocked, "We took back Spain for you."

The Queen Mother smiled.

Philip burst into tears, and Louis' eyes were sore. He stared at the Queen Mother without blinking. He had seen death, and death always brought fear and sorrow to people, but the Queen Mother's face finally solidified in comfort and sadness. On to happiness.

Anne of Austria died.