I Am Louis XIV

Madame Montespan was so angry that her cheeks turned red, but anyone who has a place in the Palace of Versailles knows that the most trusted person around the king may not be the Queen Mother, the Queen, the Dauphin, or even the Duke of Orleans - it's not that they don't love the King. , or the king did not love them, but their identities destined Louis XIV to have reservations about them, but Bontang was different. He had been with the king when he was still a boy, and had seen this illustrious king for the most time. He looked embarrassed and at his weakest, and he had seen the most dangerous and filthy darkness under the blazing light of the Sun King. Louis was completely carefree and relaxed in front of him.

It was also for this reason that Bontang decided not to get married, because he didn't know if his loyalty to the king would be shaken if he had a beloved wife and children connected by blood. Even if not, Louis XIV might They would still choose to remove him from their side - lest their sincere friendship still end up in a bad way.

Bontan made such a sacrifice, which can be seen from the fact that the Duke of Orleans sometimes complained jealously that his brother was closer to his chamberlain than to himself. Nowadays, as long as people get close to Louis XIV, they can get plenty of heat and light just like bathing in the sun. Bontang, who is almost inseparable from the king, has huge power. Those who want to see the king will even pay a price Even His Majesty the King was surprised.

Mrs. Montespan did not have enough courage to refute Bontang's words, because Bontang was not wrong. In the heart of Louis XIV, Mrs. Montespan's status was far lower than that of the two previous royal ladies. The reason why she was chosen by the king She was selected just because such a person was needed to take on this position at the time. The king looked at her just like he looked at those talented but ambitious and morally inferior officials. To a certain extent, he would tolerate them, but once the bottom line was touched, they would There is no friendship to be had with His Majesty.

What made Madame Montespan even more angry was that none of the people surrounding her dared to do it. Bontang showed a kind smile. Maybe this was what His Majesty often said, people flock together and birds of a feather flock together. How about Madam Montespan? Her friends—those sycophants, lustful fools, or opportunists who take advantage of every opportunity—would certainly not risk offending the king's servants by speaking on her behalf.

Finally, for the sake of Louis XIV, Bontan bowed slightly to Madame de Montespan and asked her to leave His Majesty the King some time for meditation and mourning. If His Majesty really wanted to see her, his attendants would bring him He went to see her with a gift, almost suggesting that Louis would soon appease her with a gift-Mrs. Montespan didn't care about gifts, but it was also a subtle hint-that she had not lost the king's love. pet,

She should immediately walk down the steps given by Bontang calmly, but she didn't know if the devil was at work, so she blurted out: "If this is Mary..."

Bontang straightened up and looked at her expressionlessly.

Madame de Montespan fell silent, turned and walked away, followed hurriedly by a large crowd of people around her.

"It's really annoying," Bontang said.

When he returned to the room, he saw His Majesty the King sitting by the fireplace laughing at him, gloating that smoke was rising from the earthenware cup he was holding, and the smell of heated mead filled the bedroom. In every corner, soft and thick blankets were placed on the knees, and the chairs were shaking gently, making the people above them look more at ease.

"I should have asked Madame Montespan to come in and wait on you," said Bontang in a bad tone.

"I'm listening," Louis said, "you really don't like her." As Buntan's closest servant, he was always very tactful. Mrs. Montespan should feel honored to allow this servant to speak harshly. , there are not many people who are merciless.

"It's not all personal reasons," Bontang said.

The king stopped smiling, "I know." He said that Bontang was angry just now. Is it not possible for the Duke of Orleans to appease His Majesty? Can't the queen? Can’t the Crown Prince? Even the Duke of Vendôme was more legitimate than Madame Montespan - Madame Montespan attempted to enter the palace without the King's summons, but she was trying to take advantage of His Majesty's weakness and show her love for Louis XIV. The particularity may have left a deep mark on the king's heart.

"...I think people in Versailles should know who is the first person in my heart from now on." He said nonsensically in a serious manner: "What kind of weird expression do you have? Bontang."

"I was hesitating whether to laugh or to be angry," Bontang said, "but I'm glad you finally have some energy."

"Although my mother's death was sudden," Louis said, stroking the cup, "but she was already eighty years old after all. It's not that I can't accept it - it's just..." He raised his head and looked at Bontang, "It was just sudden. Feeling tired, Bontang, do you know what I mean?"

"I understand, you should take a good rest for a while. You are not Alexander I, King Arthur, or Caesar. You are just a little king." Bontang walked over, took the king's wine glass, and pulled him to the bed. Sit down, help him lie down, and pull the blanket over him: "You have so many generals and ministers, your treasury is as full as a granary after autumn, and your people love you like their own father. You don't have to be like this at all. Tired.”

Louis let out a long sigh.

"Well, I'll have a good sleep, and then, Bontan, I'm going to the Bastille tomorrow."

Bontang was leaning over to blow out the last candle, and couldn't help but roll his eyes when he heard this.

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The Duke of York rolled his eyes: "I'd like some oysters and veal for lunch today," he said bluntly.

Compared with the Tower of London, the Duke of York obviously lived more comfortably in the Bastille, not because the treatment and conditions in the Tower of London were not as good as those in the Bastille, but because he knew that the French King would never throw away his good card easily.

Not to mention that Charles II already had a son. Anyone who knew about the child who was not born with the blessing of God could not help but feel a little scared - is the wizard easy to use? So useful! Especially in places that seem forever out of reach of mortals.

But even wizards themselves have to admit that when they go against their fate and do something, the consequences are often extremely terrifying and unpredictable. Especially about life - whether it's new life or death.

For example, Carlos II was born paralyzed, stupid, and deformed, and his life span was short. But before the Queen Mother of Spain and her ministers put all their chips on the dark wizard, he was really not a person with a bad temperament— —Among the people who served him were relatives of Juan Patiño and disciples of the Archbishop of Toledo. If Carlos II was a devil from the beginning, they would not let their relatives and friends suffer like this. Yes, for Jose and Alberoni, the original Carlos II was also a very ordinary person, even a good person, because he was seriously ill, and many people who suffered from illness would become eccentric. , bad-tempered.

Then - the dark wizard made Carlos II recover. He looked as strong as a calf. Although not handsome enough, with the glory of the king, he could also attract the admiration of many women. At that time, everyone, from the Tang Dynasty Duke Juan, the Queen Mother, the ministers and the archbishop all thought that their wishes had come true.

But this health and integrity were exchanged for his soul.

Carlos II, who returned to Toledo from Paris, was a devil.

Then, no one can be sure whether the son of Charles II who borrowed the power of a wizard will be a visitor from hell wearing a human skin. When he thinks of what Carlos II did, Congress and the court The people inside were frightened to death. Therefore, although Charles II disliked the Duke of York in every possible way after having an heir, he could not execute the Duke of York under the obstruction of the ministers. He could only vent his anger and kill the Duke of York again and again. Sent to the Tower of London, I hope he dies due to fever and illness caused by ghosts or mental oppression.

Compared to the Tower of London, where assassins or the king's executioners could sneak in at any time, the Bastille made the Duke of York much more at ease. What kind of person Louis XIV was, after coming and going so many times, the Duke of York could sort of figure it out - the Sun King was obviously not the kind of person to be emotional, not to mention he was not the Charles II who declared war on him. .

"That's why I became your prisoner." When he saw Louis XIV, he said with a smile. It could almost be seen as a provocation.

But Louis XIV was really not angry: "Ah, Villar said the same."

"Vilar, is that the young general? Louis, my brother, you are really a lucky man. You have so many outstanding talents under your command - he was even unknown before, but this time, Even if he can’t keep me, he can still keep half of the ships in the fleet.”

"You said that." When Louis heard what he said, he was confused for a moment - hell, the mother of the Duke of York and Charles II was the daughter of Henry IV and Marie Medici, and Marie was the daughter of Louis XIII. Sister, the aunt of Louis XIV. Speaking of which, he, Charles II, and the Duke of York are indeed cousins, but this kind of relationship probably has nothing to do with warmth: "Mr. Duke," anyway, he said Looking at the Duke of York, he couldn't say the word "brother", "Are you telling me that you intentionally betrayed your country and surrendered to my general?"

This sentence immediately made the Duke of York jump up. He ignored the nervous expressions of the attendants around the king, stretched out his arms toward the sky, and shouted dramatically: "God, Your Majesty! How can you say that? I am exactly the same person." For the sake of my country, I am willing to endure the temporary pain and seek refuge with you to seek help from justice and orthodoxy!"

"Justice and orthodoxy, very good, sir, you have grasped two key points," Louis said: "This name can be used a thousand years later, but what I know is that Charles is the king of England and you. My brother, he may be unjust, but he is definitely orthodox."

"Believe me, Your Majesty, neither orthodoxy nor justice has anything to do with that guy!"

"Good guy, you are blaspheming and disobeying your king. This is not an act of loyalty."

"If you knew what happened at Hampton Court Palace, you would believe what I say." The Duke of York returned to Louis and bowed exaggeratedly, "I want to say, Your Majesty, I am extremely unwilling to compete with you. You are your enemy. I was deceived and forced to come to the sea. Even so, when I found that I could escape the control of the devil, I immediately raised your flag!"

"Isn't it because you realize that your fleet is about to face inevitable defeat? Even if you escape back to London, you will inevitably be executed as a scapegoat by Charles II?"

"That's why I have to say, my poor brother, the King of England, has been controlled by the devil's servants -" The Duke of York said through gritted teeth with a strange expression of hatred: "You are also an elder brother, and you also have a younger brother. , but Your Majesty, would you treat your blood relatives like this?"

"Ah, I can't." Louis looked him up and down: "But my brother won't be like you...that's all."

"How can a person who has not experienced oppression and torture be compared with a person who is always worried about being guillotined by his brother." The Duke of York said confidently: "How much you love your brother, if Charlie had your One tenth of the time, I will be so grateful to him that I will be willing to go to hell to fetch water."

If you were my brother, maybe I would do it more thoroughly than Charles II. Louis said in his mind, but not in words, "Then you have come to seek my refuge?"

"You are such a generous and pious good person," said the Duke of York: "Henrietta told me how you loved her as much as you loved everyone around you. You also helped my brother. It was you who gave him a large sum of money when all of Europe was trying to expel him."

"You said this," Louis leaned back and said leisurely: "Charlie has also repaid this kindness."

This time it was the Duke of York's turn to be stuck. Of course he knew that Charles II sold Dunkirk to Louis XIV at a low price. This was also the heavy artillery shell he always used to attack Charles II. One, but he also knew in his heart that at that time, Charles II was only half a puppet of Congress. He had to rely on the help of Louis XIV to regain the royal power, so he had to abandon the last British stronghold in France.

Of course, more importantly, Charles II had no soldiers or ships at that time. Those who stayed in Dunkirk were all soldiers of Lord Protector Cromwell, that is, rebels. How could they accept the request from Charles II? The order? If the Duke of York has to choose, the Duke of York will also exchange this seemingly impossible asset for a small but usable bargaining chip.

The problem is, Louis XIV said this, it seems that he can't rely on empty promises and oaths to win the support of the Sun King.