I Am Louis XIV

"People who have not received higher education are very simple in their thinking," Elizabeth said: "Whoever lets them live, they will let live."

When she said this, she and little Eugen were in front of an elegant chapel. Visby, like most ancient cities originating from the Roman period, built buildings, paved roads, city walls and old buildings on rugged mountainous terrain. The buildings are basically built of gray-white limestone, and the new buildings are mostly built of red bricks (sometimes painted with chalk). They walked here from the city hall, about four to five hundred feet, and people bowed to Elizabeth along the way. The salute showed that they were not unaware of Elizabeth's identity.

But Elizabeth only has two maids, the Governor of Visby, two Swedish officers, and a little Eugen. This number may not be of much use in assassinations and riots: "My father told me, how to see Whether a king is successful depends on whether he dares to walk among the people alone. If he can walk among the people and come back from the people, it means that he must be loved." She turned around and said, He smiled mischievously and contentedly at little Eugen, "It's a pity that he can't do it, and my husband can't do it either. In other words, it's almost impossible for the king of any powerful country to do it, because while they are powerful, they cannot do it. There are many enemies in the world of avoidance, and if these enemies are immoral or too stupid, they will do something that catches people off guard."

She turned to the end of the street: "But Visby is just a city and Gotland is just a big island. Wouldn't it be too disappointing if I still can't do what my father said?"

"Your father is admirable," Governor Visby said sincerely: "The name of the Sun King shines like his honor and will never fall."

"I only hope to be able to achieve one hundredth of what he expected." Elizabeth said, and then they continued along the downward slope. Several buildings below the chapel belong to Santa Maria. Cathedral, Santa Maria Cathedral is the main church of Visby and the most conspicuous building in the city - white walls, red roofs, three towering wooden towers - these three wooden towers have pointed spiers. The top of the building has been stained a deep dark brown due to years of erosion and smoke, which is particularly eye-catching in the blue sky.

The Cathedral of Santa Maria was not originally the largest church in Visby, but in a man-made fire, a tsunami of flames roared across most of the city. People at that time were almost desperate, thinking that they were about to They completely lost their home. Unexpectedly, the flames were extinguished as soon as they touched the St. Mary's Cathedral. The Gotlanders believed that they were protected by the Virgin Mary, so they changed the church into a church. A church as a great monument.

The three wooden towers that were scorched by the fireworks but miraculously did not catch fire have also become holy objects. Now, except for the archbishop and the owner of the city, Queen Elizabeth, ordinary people are not allowed to climb the towers. It's not that the priests who manage this church are following the trend, but those devout people always want to break off and saw off a piece of wood to take home to protect themselves and their families. If there are no restrictions, it may not take a few days for these three buildings to be destroyed by the fire. The tower will be destroyed in the hands of believers.

However, Elizabeth did not bring them to visit the holy site today. Little Eugen was like a family member to her, and Visby was her territory, so she avoided some red tape and completed her work step by step as soon as she arrived in Visby. A series of important tasks are about to be completed - after all, she is the Queen of Sweden, and she still has to spend most of her time fulfilling the Queen's obligations. In any formal occasion, the absence of the Queen by the King's side will inevitably cause a lot of discussion. She The reason why I came to see the Duke of Orleans and Little Eugen this time was because they were envoys of the Sun King, and also because there were Swedes who wanted to join the New Crusade.

"This is the Santa Maria Orphanage," Elizabeth said.

What appeared in front of everyone was a wide courtyard, also surrounded by green mulberry trees. There was only one road in the courtyard leading to the hall. Both sides of the road were not the usual shrub mazes or fountains, but rows of bed sheets and The robes and white fabrics were bathed in the sun on the clothesline, swaying gently in the breeze, as if a group of noble female knights were dancing.

The ones who came to greet them were the Bishop of Visby and several priests, followed by the nuns. "That's great," the bishop said, "Your Majesty, we have admitted one hundred and fifty-three new babies. I’m just waiting for you to bless me.”

"What?" Elizabeth frowned slightly, "There has been no major war recently."

"No," said the bishop. He was a sharp-eyed middle-aged man. Judging from his appearance and his hair that was hard enough to hold up his yarmulke, he was not a man willing to compromise easily: "It's those Polish people." The Tatars and Cossacks, who heard that there was a monastery here that was willing to accept abandoned children, put their children in small boats and took the high tide in the evening to push them to the shore of Gotland... Well, what if When we find out, we have to tie up the people they brought and throw them in the boat and send them back, but sometimes we can't, and we can't throw the children into the sea."

Little Eugen suddenly thought of the things he had experienced in Poland, and couldn't help but feel deep sympathy. However, it would take a lot of money to raise so many babies to be able to make a living on their own, and it was conceivable that You know, this fee will flow continuously like a stream.

"Wait a little longer." Elizabeth said. How can any parents be willing to abandon their children? They just don't want their children to become slaves, but... "Maybe it will be fine in the future." Wait until Bourbon truly becomes Poland. Master, if the existing serfdom system in Poland is abolished, the Cossacks will no longer be forced to abandon their children.

"Bring the children here." She said, and then she and little Eugen came to the main hall of the orphanage. There are rows of benches and tables here, which can be used as a chapel, restaurant and handicraft workshop. Someone prepared a high-backed chair for the queen. Little Eugen saw the bishop bringing a box from the priest and serving it beside him. He only felt that the scene was somewhat familiar, until a nun brought a baby, Elizabeth. He gently touched his forehead and cheek with his hand, and then hung a gold coin with a hole punched through and a ribbon around his neck.

Little Eugen immediately remembered, isn't this a "touch and cure" procedure?

Louis XIV also had "touch and cure". In order to show his nobility and orthodoxy, and to be favored and affirmed by God, almost all kings would have "touch and cure" when they were in power. At first, it was just lymphatic tuberculosis, and later All diseases can be treated through "touch and cure", but little Eugen did not have the honor to see the Sun King's "touch and cure" because - Louis XIV smiled and said to him, "touch and cure" is just a kind of "touch and cure". As a means of comfort, tuberculosis is originally a disease that can heal itself. As long as the patient is in a comfortable mood and has adequate nutrition, the possibility of recovery is very high. The mood is of course due to the king's "touch and treatment". As for adequate nutrition—— Isn’t that gold coin a gold coin?

But when the king popularized hospitals just like education, and countless students came out of medical schools every year to become doctors, the people's desire for "touch and cure" became smaller, and they did not even have to leave their own cities. If they can receive effective treatment, the price is not that high, the recovery speed is very fast, and the full purses and abundant goods can ensure that they are well-nourished, why bother to travel all the way to Paris or Versailles?

But the abandoned babies of the Cossacks and Tatars here obviously need this "cure". Little Eugen couldn't hide his excitement as he watched every baby who received the "blessing". This is undoubtedly the queen's exercise. Despite the king's power, the people present looked calm and normal, which showed that Elizabeth did have unquestionable authority over Gotland.

These children...will become a force unique to Elizabeth in the future.

"This will happen a long time later." Elizabeth saw his thoughts and smiled: "I was just about to tell you that you might have a group of Swedish students in the future."

"Swedes?" Little Eugen asked immediately: "Only Swedes?"

"How should I put it? Isn't Gotland a part of Sweden?" Elizabeth said, "You have to teach them well."

"I don't know what will happen to me...my future," little Eugen had an urge to tell the older woman the frustrations he had suffered since Leopold I's serious illness, but he was ashamed of it. Some of the contents are unspeakable: "Your Majesty, I am not a person worthy of their imitation."

"Let us speak more frankly," said Elizabeth. "My dear friend, my dear brother, I once thought you a frivolous person, but now it seems that you are not a naughty child, or a naughty child." On the contrary, you are very harsh on yourself, which is worrying - if you are an ordinary Frenchman, a baron, viscount or earl, the things you are worried about are as worthless as dust and feathers. , but you still can't figure it out, oops, I think I know why my father asked you to come here."

She paused, "I saw you showed a strange look of relief when you saw those Tatar babies. I guess you also know how the Poles treat them."

"They are treating the Cossacks with a cruelty that is worse than the ancient Romans and worse than the devils in hell."

"Then why don't you want to change this situation?" Elizabeth said: "Brother, I am a woman and I am destined not to go to the battlefield, but I also have my own ways to eliminate injustice and disasters in the world. You are a strong person. A man who can go to the battlefield and is a famous general, why are you still standing here, regretting and restless for a frivolous and foolish act in your youth?"

She didn't wait for little Eugen to speak, and continued: "If I were you, Eugen, I would immediately jump on my horse, run to the battlefield of the New Crusade, and use my military exploits to make those Shlachitas bow their heads in front of you. , bow down, I will use the heads of the Ottomans to exchange the lives of the Cossacks with them, even if they are unwilling, they have to obey; I will stand in Henry's court and shout out to any nobleman who dares to challenge the king's authority. Roar, making them tremble with fear; I will lead my soldiers, gallop in the wilderness and fields, listen to all the cries full of despair and pain, accept their complaints, and give them Swedes, French or It’s everything that Spaniards can enjoy, including freedom.”

"When that time comes," Elizabeth said, "when a hundred people, a thousand people, ten thousand people, or even more people look at you like a saint, will you still remember your past mistakes? I'm afraid At that time, you will still laugh at yourself now. How like a giant elephant tied by the thin iron chain of childhood, afraid of the pain in the memory and not daring to try even a little bit - obviously as long as You can break free from the shackles with just a little effort."

"I am just the illegitimate son of an unjust man," little Eugen shouted: "Your Majesty, I once tarnished your reputation because of the dark thoughts in my heart, and..."

"And the eldest princess, my cousin." Elizabeth said, and then she saw little Eugen's face turned pale again.

"So you're going to Prussia and apologize to her, just like you're apologizing to me now."

"Then..." Elizabeth held little Eugen's face. She was still taller than him and more determined than him: "Then go and atone for your sins, if you think those are your sins!"

"Can I?"

"able!"

Elizabeth said firmly.

——————

"It seems that I don't need to say anything more." The eldest princess, who is now the Crown Princess of Prussia, said.

"No need." Little Eugen said: "I am a fool, Your Highness. I regard myself as too humble, and I regard you as too weak. I am addicted to the past and cannot extricate myself. But I should know that in my Outside of the world I am familiar with, there are many more people who are suffering. Compared with them, I am just like a worthless waste."

He was silent for a while, and under the encouraging eyes of the princess, he continued: "I want to accept the Queen of Sweden's suggestion and join the New Crusade." Little Eugen rubbed the buttons on his cuffs: "My only talents are all On the battlefield, if that's what I can do, then I'm going to do it."

"You are a moral person, but you have no ideals. I am very happy that you finally found it." The princess said kindly. Although so many years have passed, it may be because she is still the crown princess and not the princess. Because of the queen, the eldest princess seems to be more docile and less aggressive than the eldest princess, but judging from the prestige she has established both inside and outside the Berlin Palace in the past few years, even if she is not an Eleanor (Eleanor of Aquitaine) Lenore), or at least Elena (wife of Edward I).

The princess smiled comfortingly and stretched out her hand to him: "I would also like to thank you for escorting my father to Berlin."

"He is also my uncle." Little Eugen said, "This is my right and obligation."

"It's my fault," the princess said. "Then," she stood up, "let's go find him together. He will be very happy to see us."

The Princess Royal, now the Crown Princess of Prussia, would of course try to avoid being alone with young men to avoid rumors. They walked and talked in the courtyard of the Berlin Palace, followed by maids and attendants, and the Duke of Orleans was invited to talk with them. King Wilhelm I of Prussia was speaking. They were in the signing hall of the Berlin Palace, which could be said to be a semi-formal and intimate meeting place.

William I has been working hard to repair his alliance with France. After Leopold I finally made a truce with Louis XIV, he was finally able to get rid of that embarrassing state. He talked with the Grand County on the promenade. The Lord met, "Your father should have gone back to his room." He said.

The princess could only go to the Duke of Orleans' room. Just like the Palace of Versailles, such an important guest's room must be close to the suites of the royal family. At this time, night had fallen, and the servants were lighting lamps. When they stepped into the door, In an instant, the mirror on the wall of the small hall suddenly reflected a slender white shadow. Little Eugen turned his head suddenly, holding the short gun in his hand, but he could not see anything in the corridor.

Is it an illusion caused by the flickering candlelight?

Note: Eleanor of Aquitaine is called the "Two Queens", which means that she was the queen of the King of France and the King of England, and caused a war between the two countries because of the territory of Aquitaine in her dowry, and later also because of King Henry (second husband) fought against her husband in an attempt to deprive her of her power and that of her son.

Elena was the wife of Edward I, the wisest and greatest king of England. She had a very sincere relationship with Edward I. She participated in the Crusades with Edward I. After her death, Edward I escorted her coffin back to the capital. He erected crosses at every stop on the road and wrote a poem: My harp plays a sad song. I love her passionately when she is alive, and I cannot help but love her even when she is dead.