I Am Louis XIV

This small hall has only one entrance and exit. Madame Montespan stood in the center of the hall, facing the king and others, with the jailer and priest behind her, and the small door.

The body of the Marquis of Montespan was brought in through that small door just now. Vesalius re-covered the unfortunate man with white cloth to prevent... Although Mrs. Montespan had already guessed, she still felt dizzy - -She heard a steady and light footsteps coming from behind.

Louis looked past Mrs. Montespan and towards the two children. Ah, no, they were still children when their father was murdered. Now, one of them has grown up to be a handsome man, and the other is a delicate girl. ——They have some similarities with Madame Montespan, but they can also see the characteristics inherited from their father in some places.

Under the arrangement of Duke Mortemar, Mrs. Montespan began preparing for her marriage when she was sixteen. She always claimed to be the daughter of a duke, but no one who knew the inside story would accept her - at that time, the Marquis of Montespan was a high-profile target for her, and people around her had objections, but this The Marquis lost his parents very early, and his guardian was far away in Paris, so he could not choose a wife for him well... The Duke of Mortemar did not agree with it at first. The Marquis of Montespan was considered a wealthy man. But we also know that when Atenaïse (that is, Mrs. Montespan) makes up her mind, it is difficult for anyone to resist her temptation.

Duke Mortemar thought at that time that maybe it would be good to let his nominal daughter marry such a person. After all, this was what she had fought for, but he did not expect that the Marquis of Montespan was chosen by Atenais from the beginning. Springboard, even if they later had a son and a daughter, Mrs. Montespan never hesitated when the opportunity came.

For Auguste, her son with the king, just because he was unwilling to fight, beg, or frame Mrs. Montespan according to her wishes, she was extremely dissatisfied with him, and even did not hesitate to say vicious words to hurt him. He, not to mention the two children who were born just to paralyze Duke Mortemar - mothers should be born with maternal qualities, but Mrs. Montespan is an exception. When she was pregnant and raising these two children, she was full of resentment - although the king's royal wives must be married, under normal circumstances, they would avoid having sex with their husbands, let alone giving birth... In order to ensure their own The appearance and figure were not affected by these two children, and Mrs. Montespan suffered a lot of unnecessary hardships.

She didn't care about them, and of course she didn't know that their playroom was above the room where she poisoned her husband. She didn't even know that the floor of the playroom shrank due to dry cracks, revealing a small gap just above the light fixture. It's inconspicuous, but as long as you remove the carpet upstairs and put your eyes up, you can see the scene below.

The two children saw how she mixed the wine with potion, and how their father died from the poison. The content of their quarrel was also heard clearly by the children, but at that time, the eldest son understood. But he didn't understand. The eldest son who understood was afraid of his cruel mother and never dared to tell the truth. The younger daughter didn't understand what her mother had done to her father until she was about to become someone else's wife.

When Duke Mortemar, the grandfather who had no blood relationship with them but still took care of them from time to time, came to inquire, they said that maybe they were worried that their grandfather would be biased towards their mother, especially them. It is said that their mother has become the first royal lady and dominates the sky in Paris.

Madame Montespan's eyes suddenly turned red and filled with tears. Without any warning, she turned around abruptly: "My child! My child!" she shouted in a trembling voice, But her eldest son immediately raised his hand and covered his sister's eyes. This move made Prince Conti laugh unabashedly, "It seems that your child is also very aware of your tricks." He showed no mercy. say.

"Take her out," said Louis, and the priests immediately came forward and took Madame de Montespan away from the little room next door, where she could hear and see, but not make a sound or make a sound. facial expressions, or using any means to interfere with the two witnesses.

The eldest son of the Marquis of Montespan then put down his hand. Of course, we can also call him Mr. Gundland, because he has inherited his father's title and territory. His sister was at a loss and his brother comforted him in a low voice. She said a few words - no child would not have expectations of his mother, and he also had a little fantasy, but this fantasy was quickly broken by Madame Montespan's tears.

Uninformed people might think that Mrs. Montespan was moved because she saw the child she had not seen for a long time, but Mr. Gundland, the scene when his father died is still deeply imprinted in his memory.

What's more, since Madame Montespan went to Paris, even if he got married, had a child, or his sister got married, she didn't have a letter or a verbal message. You know, not to mention how many people were willing to work for her at that time. Even Duke Mortemar often meets her.

What Miss Gondlain didn't know was that Mr. Gondlain had actually secretly been to Paris. At that time, Madame de Montespan was cleaning Paris on behalf of the king. The corpses hanging on the gas lampposts showed that the king had How much power she had and how much trust she had in her, but no matter what kind of rumors, rumors and gossips there were about this lady, no one mentioned her two previous children in the tavern or the salon.

Mr. Gondrain was severely reprimanded and warned when he tried to test her. It was obvious that this was Madame de Montespan's fault. People in Paris and Versailles only knew that she had a son with the king - Auguste, Duke of Montreal.

Mr. Gondran went back without saying anything. He thought that maybe even if Madame Montespan was expelled from Versailles by the king, she would not return to him and his sister.

In the past ten years, to the brother and sister, Mrs. Montespan was a non-existent person and a name. To the brother, she was a sword of Damocles hanging above his head. He was worried that if Montespan Mrs. Pan gained more power from the king, or went one step further and completely confused the king, and his and his sister's lives were threatened.

Even though he thought so, Mr. Gundland still thought...she would be at least a little sad.

If Mrs. Montespan had screamed and become hysterical as soon as she saw them, he would not be too sad, nor would he be as scared as he is now, but she...she guessed that the witnesses were them without turning around. , and quickly made the "correct" response - intending to impress them with tears and calls, and may also perform another affectionate performance... When the testimonies of low-level servants such as servants are not accepted. They were probably the only two witnesses in the era of admissions.

No matter what it is, as long as it can make them shake. Even a moment is enough, and Mrs. Montespan is confident that she can find a breakthrough.

Unexpectedly, Mr. Gundland remained unmoved and immediately held down his sister who might have been bewitched by her. As for the king's order, it was timely and reasonable.

There is no need to say anything else. Although the two children were still very young at the time, this incident was really horrific and had a long-term impact - "I will replay this scene in my nightmares every night. "Mr. Gundland said calmly that his sister also had a very deep memory of this incident. They corroborated each other, told what the other did not see, and added some details, even the lace used on Madame Montespan's cuffs at that time. I remember the style clearly, it was like... putting the scene in front of people again.

"She... made a prompt decision..." Vesalius said in a hoarse voice. Nicotine was hidden in Madame Montespan's desk. At that time, she had just finished writing a letter to the Duchess of Montpensier when she heard that her husband had returned. The Marquis of Montespan hurried back, feeling hot and anxious all the way, so he drank a large glass of wine as soon as he saw it - he was so excited The blood surge after strenuous exercise made the nicotine take effect faster, and he died in anger and confusion within a few minutes.

Because the unfortunate Marquis had no other relatives around him at the time, almost all the servants were bribed by Madame Montespan, and the children were small. In addition, in this era, there was no complete medical system, and people could not or did not know how to treat their bodies correctly. ——Poor people lack fat and protein, and there are too many rich people. Many people die in their forties or fifties.

Even if someone had doubts about the cause of the Marquis' death, the doctors at the time could not figure out the reason - the Marquis' lips and nails were not black, there was no smell of bitter almonds in his mouth, he was not foaming at the mouth, and there were no obvious wounds on his body. How could he be murdered? The most they could conclude was that the Marquis died suddenly because he was too tired from the long journey and argued with his wife, which caused the bile to thicken and his blood to overheat.

At that time, Louis was fighting the most important battle - the war against Flanders. Except for the Marquis of Lovas who suddenly lost an overly passionate subordinate, no one would remember this name. Even if the Marquis of Lovas remembered it later I didn't expect that - Madame Montespan had not yet come to Paris at that time, and even if she came, she would have no reason to murder her husband.

The Marquis of Lovas did not know that there were people in the world who did not want their wives to become royal ladies.

Judging from the testimony of the two children, Mrs. Montespan did not even hesitate for a moment - she did not even consider that the Marquis could be persuaded and poisoned her.

There were witnesses and evidence. Louis first asked the two children to leave, and then recalled Madame Montespan.

"I think I need say no more," Louis said gently: "You are guilty, madam, for murdering your husband. You cannot be freed from this crime."

"I do not plead guilty... Your witnesses were all children at that time. They have been here for more than ten years. They may be wrong. Your Majesty, it is also possible... they were bribed by mine or your enemies to come here. Falsely accusing me... That corpse is also... Your Majesty, please! I don't plead guilty, I didn't do this! For the sake of what I do for you, for the sake of our son! Have mercy on me, I He is innocent, Your Majesty, you must be fair, you should be fair!!"

Louis smiled suddenly, and Madame Montespan's eyes shone with hope.

"You think you know me very well, yes, madam." He put down the file in his hand and turned to the last page of the thick book: "I attach great importance to rules, for people, non-humans, the entire country, and even the entire country. The world, I hope they can continue in an orderly and orderly manner. The law is an extremely important accessory, so even if it is me, I do not want to be above it. Yes, I am willing to accept its constraints. "He gave the ministers a reassuring glance and then said:

"You have been reminding me, madam, you said that I want justice because you know very well that you have committed an unforgivable crime, and the only way to escape is to escape through the loopholes in the current law—— You may go to a monastery or another country later, but the money you have accumulated now, as well as the title and status you have obtained from me, are enough for you to be at home in other courts."

He sighed softly: "But you are wrong. You can take advantage of the loopholes in the law, and so can I. I am here, madam. So, do you know what the 'Royal Circuit Court' is?"

“When the king, queen or other members of the royal family are on tour,” Prince Conti added understandingly, “he has the right to open a royal court anywhere, and in this court, the complaints of all free people will be accepted. , the writ (judgment) signed by the king is greater than the decree of the local judge or princes."

"So," Louis whispered softly: "Madam, if I say you are guilty, you are guilty. This is in line with the provisions of the law." He made a gesture, "Madam, do you remember that you came to me with a token? That time we met? You said you only wanted glory, power and money, but not my love. Alas, you should regret it, and you regretted it too, because you realized, right? With my love, you can do whatever you want. .”

"For example, now," Louis said seriously, "if I love you, you can at least keep your life." He raised his hand, and Bontang presented the ink, pen and writ. Prince Conti stepped forward and bowed, so that The king signed the writ.

Madame Montespan's eyes widened until the corners of her eyes cracked and bleeded. She wanted to yell something, but was dragged out by the priest and the jailer.

Bastille was originally a military fortress, that is to say, it had a small square used for knight training. A guillotine has been set up in this square. "Welcome, madam." The warden said happily, while Cut off Madame Montespan's long hair, "I deliberately chose an experienced executioner, madam. He was originally booked for the Duke of Gaston. He has exquisite gestures and handsome appearance. But he is still not as good as the one who was given to Charles I." The beheaded executioner, time is short, madam, he is in London again.

But I also painted the guillotine, asked the academy painter to paint a portrait of the saint, and made a new sword with your name engraved on it. Do you want to see it? "

Madame de Montespan uttered a curse, and from the time she was on the scaffold and the executioner brandished his sword, she cursed everyone, from her fathers, Vesalius and the Duke Mortemar, To her cowardly mother, to her children with the Marquis, and then to the Duke Auguste of Montreal, the Duchess of Montpensier, the Queen Mother, the Queen, Marie Mancini...

Finally, Louis XIV.

As she screamed at the top of her lungs, the executioner's sword fell.

The cry stopped suddenly, and a beautiful head rolled and fell into the dust.

——————

"Farewell," said Louis, "Madame de Montespan."