Lin Gao Qiming

Chapter 1414 Appearance
As if struck by electricity, all the people in the audience turned their attention to the door, and there was already a burly visitor standing there. He was dressed like a fashionable young man from Europe, with a embroidered vest and luxurious lace, and a cloak. Pleated velvet coat in dark grey.He had no ruff, and the outline of his dark coat was framed by golden ribbons that ran from the neck to the sides, past the hem of his shirt, and down to the top of his stockings.A small piece of white long silk glove was exposed from the side of the pocket.His right hand is nonchalantly holding a feather hat, and his left hand with a gleaming ring rests on the hilt of a saber inlaid with gold and jade.The guests whispered about the newcomer's identity, experience, clothing and various related legends. Even the crest decorated with ribbons on his chest was even said to be the Pattani rewarded by Queen Raja Ongku. The gem medal, in fact, is just an ordinary cross issued by the Jesuits.

As if struck by electricity, all the people in the audience turned their attention to the door, and there was already a burly visitor standing there. He was dressed like a fashionable young man from Europe, with a embroidered vest and luxurious lace, and a cloak. Pleated velvet coat in dark grey.He had no ruff, and the outline of his dark coat was framed by golden ribbons that ran from the neck to the sides, past the hem of his shirt, and down to the top of his stockings.A small piece of white long silk glove was exposed from the side of the pocket.His right hand is nonchalantly holding a feather hat, and his left hand with a gleaming ring rests on the hilt of a saber inlaid with gold and jade.The guests whispered about the newcomer's identity, experience, clothing and various related legends. Even the crest decorated with ribbons on his chest was even said to be the Pattani rewarded by Queen Raja Ongku. The gem medal, in fact, is just an ordinary cross issued by the Jesuits.

Weisslando stepped into the hall with squinted eyes. Hundreds of thick blubber candles bloomed like beautiful flowers, and the light reflected from the walls painted with white ash made people dazzled for a while.Manila, like most cities of this era, is completely ruled by darkness at night.Even if he stayed in the best hotel in the area, the lighting in the room was only a dim, flickering coconut oil lamp.The torch cages on the fort and the torches that lined the main road were but a few stars in the night.

Only at this moment, this brightly lit living room made him feel as if he had returned to Lingao, returned to the civilized world, and even stepped onto the stage of the metropolis. Count Vincenzo Lando Divanano is about to make his official debut.

"The count had the air of a conqueror. He stood in front of the door, looking down on his guests like Trajan on a column. And when he entered the mayor's drawing room, he seemed Just like Hernan Cortez stepped into the palace of Montezuma II. The handsome boy is insulated from the earl, but he must be a lover who can make people enchanted. The most proud bull in the bullring will feel ashamed when he stands in the hall and nods his head slightly. Looking at the profile of his head, it reminds people of the head of Augustus on ancient Roman coins. Every line is so clear and distinct. His round forehead, attractive chin, and large Adam's apple all the more strengthened my impression of his valor and strength. The count walked into the middle of the hall and saluted the mayor. Demeanor kissed his wife. The gentle gesture of his lips, and the smiling glance of his eyes in giving the kiss, added a touch of refinement to the count's heroism, which made him a great legend in the eyes of men. Yingjie, the perfect and suave gentleman in a woman's heart."

This colonial high-society lady wrote the first appearance of Count Van Nova in her diary in beautiful fonts, and then hid the diary in the hidden drawer of her dresser until it became a spoil of war for the imperial army who captured Manila— ―When a member of the special search team of the Planning Institute carefully opened the drawer, hoping to find something valuable from it.

As all eyes blinded by emotion tend to distort the truth, former mercenary Weislando has no regard for how a loving lady might describe her gentlemanly demeanor in her diary.When he ungentlemanly broke free from Mrs. Isabella, that is, the mayor's wife's overly enthusiastic kiss, he was almost suffocated by the strong smell of the greasy sweat on her body and the incense on her clothes.It's just that he just got rid of a warm embrace, and found himself surrounded by a large group of enthusiastic crowds and curious eyes.

"Sir, Mr. Earl," Basilio, the port tax official, rushed through the crowd and greeted first, "It's really a lively event. You like the bullfighting here. The brave knights are all wonderful. What do you think? Woolen cloth?"

The count cast a contemptuous glance at Don Basilio, the first colonial official he had met in Manila, and the insinuating smile on his sinister face always reminded him of the character in Rossini's opera. Hateful namesake character.

"Mr. Basilio is quite right," he said, half teasingly, "the weather in your country is extraordinary. As for bullfighting, unfortunately all my experience as a soldier is in What I learned in fighting against the enemies of the Christians. If the archbishop had the insight to detect that the cattle here have heresy or heretical beliefs, I think it may be as good to ask the knights for the experience of fighting bulls at that time. It's not too late."

There was a low chuckle among the guests.The harbor tax collector was never a popular fellow, and it was a pleasure to see him thwart his new arrivals.

"Hey, my lord, Your Royal Highness, don't worry about him," the hostess relieved Weiss, "Mr. Basilio is very smart, especially when dealing with Chinese guys. But it is precisely because he deals with Chinese guys all day long, He doesn't know how to speak like a well-bred person anymore." Lady Isabella took the count's arm with envious eyes, and complained in a babbling manner: "Find twelve soldiers to ride in the field." Running around with a horse, swinging a spear at a poor buffalo, and watching it bleed slowly to death. It's a horrible thing to look at. I can't stand it." She put her handkerchief over her eyes, To express condolences to the unfortunate cow.

"Native buffaloes are not suitable for bullfighting," said a handsome gentleman. "It's a pity that there are no Castilian bulls here!"

"In terms of size and agility, the buffalo here is not inferior to any kind of cattle in the peninsula!" Another gentleman retorted immediately.

When a small dispute broke out between the two about which bull was the best bullfighting bull, Lady Isabella had left the argument, holding the guest's arm, and persuading her guest to take the first place, but The count refused to give up, and chose a seat with the back against the window.The shutters were all drawn, and the evening breeze blew into the stuffy hall through the windows where frangipani and catalpa hung.Weiss sighed deeply in his heart, in this sweaty heat, it is really a hard job to dress up and look like an aristocrat.The temperature at night is nearly [-] degrees Celsius, and I am actually wearing a full woolen suit!But as far as the eye can see, the guests at the dinner party are all going to the trouble of keeping their appearances. The gentlemen are all dressed in crisp woolen dresses and starched ruff collars.The female guests hid themselves under hats studded with peacock feathers, or hid their faces behind face scarves of various colors.

"Would you like some stewed oxtail, dear Earl?" Weiss was greeted by the mayor himself, whose appearance was the exact opposite of his wife, with white hair and a thin figure, as if he had been dried out by the hot weather in Manila. , "This is the good bull that fell in the fight this afternoon."

"Thank you, Your Excellency. But I must take the liberty to tell you that, despite your hospitality, I must leave this place before the city gates close, otherwise I will not be able to return to my residence when the big clock strikes 22. I The request for a special pass has not been granted. As far as I know, His Majesty's decree does not allow unauthorized foreigners to stay overnight in Manila."

"Both the special access permit and the residence permit need to be issued by the governor himself. Of course, it will never be a problem for you to leave the city," the mayor looked a little embarrassed, "as long as you have a warrant from the commander of the San Diego fortress, you can enter and leave the city gate at any time." The commander of the fortress It was an old colonel with a gray beard. He just nodded to Weiss in response, and then buried himself in the plate, munching intently, soaking the plate with his gray beard, and splashing the soup.

"If you don't mind, we can arrange a place for you here. My wife and I, as long as His Royal Highness the Earl is willing to give you some instructions, we can do our best to serve you."

"Your Excellency, I am very grateful for your kindness." Weiss motioned the Tagalog servant to take the pot of stewed oxtail that he had never touched before him, and he picked up a glass of sherry: "But bothering you will make me I'm uneasy. I've found lodging in Parian, where my luggage is stored."

"My God, you're living with filthy, uncouth pagan Chinamen, wicked idolaters, smugglers, thieves, gamblers, and swindlers! Best at stealing dogs and covering criminals, you're afraid I can’t see your luggage anymore.” A gentleman who had probably had his chrysanthemum exploded by the Chinese exclaimed exaggeratedly.

　(Note) Parian is Jian Nei, the Chinese community in Manila at that time, and now Chinatown.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)