I Am Louis XIV

   Chapter 269 The King's Love

  Louis XIV silently walked a few steps around the portrait, and suddenly smiled: "It is indeed a beautiful child."

This sentence sounds like a compliment, but even if you don't count the irony (since the Bourbon family from Louis XIV on down has a very beautiful face, a tall and straight body, and a bright and agile mind) ), which is a bit too much, because Maria Teresa was the half-sister of Carlos II, who was equal to Louis XIV, but he ruled a mighty Spain, even if he asked for Louis XIV's niece, Louis XIV, should not judge a king in this way.

"It's a big deal, and I can't give my answer right away," Louis XIV said to the Spanish envoy. "I'll give you my answer in three days." His tone was calm, and he couldn't tell whether he was angry or not. Delighted, the waiter on the side stepped forward, put the velvet curtain over the portrait again, and moved it down, Juan Patinho bowed silently, he has done everything he can do, Next, he can only pray to God, hoping that God can bless Spain through this disaster.

   As he passed by the big county lord, Louis handed the nectarine in his hand to the big county lord.

   For the French, being able to marry the Spanish royal family is of course a good thing, but what about the Spaniards? Flanders was originally a territory of Spain, and the war between France and Flanders was also a war between France and Spain. In this war, the Spaniards could not even send a local army, and all of a sudden they let France and Spain fight. Other countries saw the weakness inside this behemoth. It is conceivable that there will be many small actions against Spain in the near future - not to mention that the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, Leopold I, is of the same Habsburg bloodline as Spain. When the French invaded Flanders and Leopold's response was surprisingly slow and feeble, the Spaniards guessed that the French must have pre-empted a secret agreement with Leopold I.

In addition, as Carlos II finally grew to ten years old, the Queen Mother of Spain who was expelled and her supporters could not help but get ready to move. Disgusting joke - Louis XIV was originally against consanguineous marriage, and the marriage to Queen Teresa was a last resort, but fortunately their children were not cursed by the blood of the blood, and the blood of the Habsburgs However, in order to hold the power and territory in his hands, he married more than once, and Carlos II had four or five older brothers, all of whom died young.

According to the calculations and speculations of later generations, if the consequences of consanguineous marriages will be 0.25 percent of the disability rate, then Philip IV fully increased this possibility tenfold, and also It is 2.5%, such a high rate, it is a miracle that Carlos II was able to be born and grow up.

But Louis XIV, the Duke of Orleans, or anyone who loves the Grand County Lord, would not want the Grand County Lord to have anything to do with this "miracle", but the ministers and nobles in the French court seem to have replaced Louis. After making a decision, they even started to dig around, trying to get a foot in the team of the wedding-because the ministers who sent the wedding generally received the king's reward, or a title, or an official position. But they probably don't know that there is probably no wedding party, but there is a room in the Bastille. The Duke of Orleans is gearing up, and the handle in his hand can keep these **** in the Bastille until the end.

   There is only one person and one thing that makes the Duke of Orleans hesitate, and that is his royal brother.

  The benefits that the ministers can see, can't the Duke of Orleans see it? The king could only see better than them, but when he thought that his daughter, whom he had held for only a few years, was about to be married to such an abominable monster, the Duke of Orleans could not help trembling. Since the Spanish envoy proposed this marriage, He refused to attend all banquets and balls, casinos and hunts, listening to music, and watching plays without the young duke's flamboyant figure.

   He was in his daughter's room every day, accompanying her until she fell asleep, and then tossing and turning in the next room.

More painful than him was the Duchess of Orleans. She used to worry that the Duke of Orleans didn't like herself, and then she didn't like her and his children. This kind of thing is not uncommon in political marriages. Fortunately, under the persuasion of Louis, the Duke of Orleans still took the responsibility. The responsibility of father and husband, but now, she hopes that the Duke of Orleans does not love their daughter, she is equally anxious, but can only cry to the young son, she dare not let the Duke of Orleans find out that she has been Worrying that the duke would rely on the king's favor for him and ask the king to refuse the marriage.

In just two days, many people were tortured in the court. When the Duke of Orleans was summoned to the king's reception room, he felt relieved. He had already decided that no matter what the cost, he would try to destroy this place. The marriage, although this may create an irreparable rift between the king and him - thinking of this, his heart is like being pulled on a saw, but he has been prepared to bear the king's distrust, alienation and Indifferent preparation, and decided to use everything to make up for his brother - the Duke of Orleans is still very rich.

When he saw that Bontang did not take him to the meeting room where the king usually receives ministers, but a small room closer to the king's bedroom, the Duke of Orleans could not help but feel lucky, maybe Louis would only give him a few years of birth. Angry, can he be forgiven and go back to Versailles? This thought continued until he entered the room, and the king was dressed in his regular clothes—a loose linen shirt with a royal blue velvet coat, and unlike what the king showed to his people and ministers, the king in private did not like to enjoy too much, Like the buttons on the coat, they were all made of shells. Although they were shiny, they were absolutely incomparable with gems or pearls.

  The heart of the Duke of Orleans was suddenly filled with boundless guilt. If you want to sacrifice for the country, doesn't he have a brother? Louis often laughs at himself as a dull and boring person, that is because he must devote all his energy to state affairs, his private feelings have been relegated countless times, and at any time he must put the interests of France first— He might be accused of being callous, but there would never be a Duke of Orleans in there.

   Another terrible thought came to his mind, they were still meeting in this room, was it Louis on purpose, and wanted to use their feelings to change his mind? The Duke of Orleans admitted that he was indeed shaken, and that the thought of his brother showing contempt for him, or simply ignoring him, made him despair to commit suicide.

  Louis raised his hand when he saw that Philip was coming, and let him sit down in front of him. Then he didn't say much, and shoved a document into the hand of the Duke of Orleans.

The Duke of Orleans opened it subconsciously. The first time he thought it was an hallucination caused by his too much pain and entanglement, the second time he thought that he might have misunderstood the meaning of the letter, and the third time he even thought it was an illusion. A bad joke, he didn't get out of his trance until the fourth time, he looked at the king, and for a while he didn't even know what to say...

   "What's the matter," the Duke of Orleans heard a familiar voice from far away: "Aren't you happy?"

   The Duke of Orleans raised his head and saw his brother's bright eyes: "I'm still thinking about how to delay for a few more days, fortunately..."

   He could not finish the next words, because the Duke of Orleans had already rushed up and hugged him tightly.

  ———

Bontang waved his hand and told the waiter outside the room to leave. After all, the Duke of Orleans and the King are not a three-year-old child, a five-year-old child, and the scene of two sturdy adult men hugging tightly is not beautiful enough. , what's more, the Duke of Orleans was still in tears, constantly muttering that I thought you were going to be angry with me, brother, and Louis XIV could only rest on the back of the chair with one hand, and comfortably stroke the other's hair and hair with the other. Back, mouth didn't know what to say - eyes were helplessly staring at the ceiling.

The Duke of Orleans should remember that he was six feet one inch, and weighed one hundred and fifty pounds, and he was almost twenty years away from being a spoiled child. Bontang didn't know if he should walk over and remind the duke - he should. Yes, because just a few seconds later, an ominous click sounded from under the king's buttocks, and the slender legs like a swan's neck are indeed lovely, but it seems that it can't stand with only two. The crush of a pair of strong men...

  It broke, and the two most distinguished men in France were thrown to the ground together. If it weren't for the thick carpet on the ground, the banquet the day after tomorrow would have been better.

Bontang went over, trying not to look like he was gloating at his misfortune, but rather that he was pleased with the grand dwarf, who first dragged the king from under the elbow of the Duke of Orleans, and then helped the Duke of Orléans from being brought down. He broke free from under the table, and the Duke of Orleans always held the document tightly, as if holding his daughter's happiness, "Then..." As soon as he climbed out from under the table, he couldn't wait to say: "Can I call the minister? His Majesty?"

"Go, no, wait." Louis rarely ignored his image, and said with a grin: "Bontang, you should call Varro Vesalius first, and let him bring some potions." There are many places on him. The pain was terrible, and coming to the Duke of Orleans was no exception. When he fell, the Duke of Orleans was clearly above him, but at the last moment he tried to block between him and the ground. Although it was not completely successful, it was ruthless. It fell hard and was smashed by a heavy table—the table at this time was solid hardwood, no different in weight and hardness than metal.

  There are enough rumors in the palace, there is really no need to add brothers to the wall, even disregarding face, fighting with each other until the nose is blue and the face is bruised.

Varro Vesalius arrived quickly. Given his status, although his room was small, it was really close to the king. He carefully checked the scars on the king's body and showed a fake smile: "Merlin Proof," said the hateful potionist, "Your Majesty, your injury today is even more serious than what you suffered on the battlefield."

  Louis gave him a roll of eyes.

To be honest, although Varro has been preventing her daughter from entering the court, Madame Montespan really has to thank him and the Duke of Mortmar for their "admonition" for her understanding of the king. The standard backfired, Louis. I don't know if I should thank them or express their anger. Varo Vesalius and the Duke of Mortmar seem to be aware of this, so they rarely appear in front of him recently.

   But Mrs. Montespan... Thinking of this, the king sighed, "You have to thank Mrs. Montespan, she got this document."

   The Duke of Orleans nodded lightly, but he also knew that this document would never have appeared here so quickly without the king's order, or even force.

   "Brother..." he murmured, tears streaming down again, but not tears of pain, but joy and relief. Louis rudely stretched out his sleeve and wiped his tears, relieved to find that the Duke of Orleans did not put powder on his face today.

   "Remember the night we were at Versailles Hunting Palace?" Louis said lightly: "I am the king, brother, and I promised that as long as you are loyal to me, I will protect you until the last moment of your life."

  ———

  The ministers entered the king's meeting room, and they filed out after a while. Their expressions were not very good-looking, but they were not very bad.

The document that Mrs. Montespan got was nothing important, just a strictly confidential case, but it had the signature of the Spanish archbishop, and several important witnesses - from Don Juan Jose's safe , the Prince Regent kept this document is undoubtedly a way out for himself - this case clearly states that Carlos II's organs were defective and excretion was difficult, and he was unable to have **** with a woman, let alone produce offspring.

   He is a… **** eunuch.

In the marriage between countries, whether the husband and wife succeed in cohabiting is one of the important contents for the marriage contract to be recognized by God and the law. Not to mention the other, when Louis XII of France wanted to marry Anna of Brittany, he did it by himself. He did not succeed in **** with his first wife, Jeanne of France, and asked the Pope to invalidate the marriage contract, and he also succeeded - so, even if the grand princess and Carlos II concluded a marriage contract, as long as the Duke of Don Juan has such an agreement. With a document in hand, either Spain and France would be willing to endure the Duke's blackmail, or they would have to admit that the engagement was invalid.

French ministers and nobles are willing to make sacrifices for the great county lord to be rewarded. If the great county lord cannot give birth to a Spanish heir, he may not be able to get the love of his husband, and the marriage contract will be invalid at any time. If you are crazy, you will send the big county master to Spain.

   After a while, the Duke of Orleans walked into the king's room with the lord of the county, and the lord of the county fell at the feet of the king, grateful.

That night, there was a little joke, that is, the big county lord actually ate the nectarine that the king had preserved for several days-although the nectarine had a very thick skin and would not rot very quickly. , but it is not new. The Duke of Orleans had to go to the imperial doctor, and the princess lay in bed for several days before getting up and getting out of bed.

   (end of this chapter)