I Am Louis XIV

   Chapter 302 A Burlesque (2)

Rembrandt's "Night Watch" was completed more than 20 years ago. Captain Banning Koch, the Dutch archer captain, occasionally saw Rembrandt's portrait of a businessman and his wife, the famous Anse I admired the portrait of Luo and his wife quite a bit, so I deliberately asked the artist to paint a portrait of himself and his team members.

In the captain's imagination, he should see a huge portrait, proud of himself and his team members, sitting beautifully around a round table with china plates, silverware and rich food, Everyone was in high spirits and graceful—of course, that's how most painters at the time did it.

But Rembrandt obviously had his own ideas. He placed this group portrait on a stage at night. After hearing an alarm, the shooter captain and the team members dispatched together and took to the streets, surrounded by people. In this picture In the portrait, not only is the composition uncharacteristic, but even the image and light are different from usual. In the center are only the captain and the adjutant, and a little blonde girl snuggling up to the captain. Only these three people are bathed in bright light, and the others. It is hidden in the dark background of the middle and back, maybe only a face is exposed, or there is only a vague outline.

This method of narration, while creating a picture like a grand drama, annoyed Captain Cork and his crew, who each gave Rembrandt a hundred guilders, that is, they thought Everyone (not just captains and lieutenants) should occupy the same place on the screen, the same clear face and body, not a blurry blob, even Captain Cork, who occupies the very center, is not happy because Rembrandt also added an unknown blonde girl in the main position of the picture. Of course, she is the finishing touch, but Captain Cork and the team members obviously do not have that kind of appreciation, they just feel that their money has been hit. Drifting, almost taking Rembrandt to court.

This incident made Rembrandt very upset and lost his good reputation in the past, and his life has become difficult since then, so although in the hearts of the Dutch, King Louis XIV of France is a devil-like figure , he was still at the age of sixty-eight, and he made a long journey to Paris, hoping to find an opportunity here.

But to be honest, even in a dream, Rembrandt never thought that such a poor man who was not even qualified to enter the French Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture (he did not receive a recommendation) would be favored by the Prince of France. Even introduced to the king.

And the Sun King, whom the Dutch hated and feared, was unexpectedly amiable. He not only appreciated Rembrandt's use of color and light, but also invited Rembrandt to enter his academy as a professor, of course. , also gave him the title of a royal court painter. Since Rembrandt is good at depicting stage-like group portrait scenes, Rembrandt will succeed LeBron for the king's banquets and parades, as well as Versailles and Paris. The human landscape record".

   But that's all for the future.

The aesthetics of the Marquis of Lois must be consistent with that of the king. He even commented on Mr. Rembrandt's new "Night Watch" appropriately and accurately. The Duke of Orleans, who was beside him, touched the handle of his cane and laughed unabashedly— Even Louis couldn't help but patted the Marquis of Lois on the shoulder. Even if he knew that this gentleman was intending to compliment, His Majesty the King must be grateful for this deep friendship - although it is said that this is probably because someone recently suggested that it should not be allowed. The fact that the Marquis of Lois succeeded his father as Minister of War made the former so worried.

   This suggestion may be selfish, but it is not completely unreasonable, because if an important position is held by a family for too long, it is easy to breed all kinds of ambitions.

The most impressive chestnut is Pepin the short who ended the Merovingian dynasty. He was able to become king because his grandfather, his father, and himself were the ministers of the Merovingian dynasty, England. There have also been rebellions caused by such powerful ministers and nobles, and the kings were not vigilant, and the ministers were not puzzled.

The Marquis of Loise was of course well aware of this issue, and so he has been more attentive lately, and Louis suspects that if he felt that the sun was square, the Marquis of Loise would immediately try to pass a law—anytime, anywhere, anyone with any The way the sun is round is a blasphemy and a crime against the king and France...

  Louis can only hope that the current state of stress in the Marquis of Lois is only temporary, lest he really want to find a new war minister.

  Louis didn't intend to change his original thoughts. It wasn't because he was too arrogant. He really didn't think that a second dwarf Pepin could appear in his court.

   "You came to see me today," Louis asked as he sat back in his seat, "Isn't he here to discuss Mr. Rembrandt with me?"

The Marquis of Lois hesitated for a moment. He could see that the king was in a good mood today. Since his glorious victory in Holland and Flanders, their king has begun to concentrate on internal affairs and people's livelihood, and perhaps art. ...everyone can feel that His Majesty's tense heartstrings are slowly loosening. This is a good thing, and it is also the expectation of many people that the king should accept the service of thousands of subjects and enjoy himself, like a What happened to the Puritans?

   But if he puts that matter in front of the king, at least today's good mood, the king will not want to keep it.

   "Go ahead," Louis sensed the other's indecision, and let him sit down, "If it's something I have to know, I'll always know."

   "Yes, Your Majesty," said the Marquis of Lois, and then he saw the Duke of Orleans stretch out his hand, "Wait, brother, do you need me to avoid it?"

  Louis glanced at the Marquis of Lois. The Duke of Orleans said this, he was able to make an important minister like the Marquis of Lois hesitate again and again. He must be a key person. He can discuss the evening menu with the king, but sometimes he must know how to avoid it.

   "Who is it?" Louis asked simply.

   "The Duchess of Bouillon," the Marquis of Lois took a deep breath, "and the Duke of Luxembourg."

  Louis leaned back slightly: "You can stay, Philip." He called the Duke of Orleans by name: "Now you can tell us in detail."

  If Bishop Ballas had arrived in Versailles, he would have felt that the scene before him was somewhat familiar.

The matter also starts with a small character, a greedy woman who murdered several people in a row in order to obtain the inheritance of her father and husband. This kind of thing is not uncommon, even if the dead father and husband both have one. A title, but a baron and a knight (knight), can attract a little attention in a small town such as Pliwa, but in Paris - they are afraid that they are not even qualified to meet the king.

This matter was finally sent to the High Court because the priest who provided the woman with the "succession potion" took out the carte blanche of the Duchess of Bron and the Duke of Luxembourg respectively, that is to say, they were for The two big men worked for, and they also said that most of the bribes and illegal gains they received from others were taken by the Duchess of Bouillon and the Duke of Luxembourg, and they were only agents at best.

Since Louis was in power, the High Court of Paris had become his second court, and the judges did not dare to go further into the case—the Duke of Bouillon had sided with the king in the first and second Frond rebellions. Said that even after Prince Condé fled to Spain, his wife and son were warmly welcomed by the group in Bordeaux, although Louis XIV said he would let it go - even Prince Condé was sent by him to be the king of Poland. , but the Duchess of Bouillon has never been able to qualify to return to Versailles or Paris.

No one knows what His Majesty the King of France is thinking. This case is undoubtedly a handle in the hands of Louis XIV. With just a slight push, the Duchess of Bouillon can be plunged into an abyss of hopelessness. , and even take back the fief of the Duke of Bouillon - because the charges in this case are blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and the practice of witchcraft... Given that the potion is really a wizard's masterpiece.

   But the problem is that this case refers to another person, the Duke of Luxembourg, François Henri de Montmorency-Boutville.

   This man, although he can be said to have great military exploits in the army of Louis XIV, is mediocre in the court, for no other reason, just because he is the bloodless brother of Prince Kong Dai, and also the closest friend.

   In the second riot, he not only always sided with Prince Condé, but also fled with him to Spain after Prince Condé’s defeat, and identified himself as an enemy of Louis XIV.

  Louis has always been tolerant to those who are talented, and the Duke of Luxembourg is of course no exception, but he always seems to be a little unable to accept the return of Prince Condé to Paris, to return to the young Louis XIV, and swear allegiance to him. Even Prince Condé said that he was able to become the Duke of Luxembourg thanks to His Majesty's great help, and he always maintained a relationship with Louis that could not be said to be estranged, nor could it be said to be close - at least not called, he was absolutely not Will take the initiative to come to see the king, which is a stark contrast to the general Vauban who recently returned to Versailles.

Of course, this kind of situation is also seen by people who have a heart. Neither the Duke of Luxembourg nor Louis XIV think this is an unacceptable bad thing. The former is because they don't know how to face the king, and the latter is because they are willing to tolerate - even if Luxembourg The duke had no military talent. When Prince Condé left France and went to Poland, he was handed over to the king by the Duke of Enghien and the Duke of Luxembourg. Louis would also treat him well.

But the estrangement between the Duke of Luxembourg and the king has given some people an opportunity to provoke. They did not intend to start with the Viscount Turenne, the General Vauban or the Duchess of Montpensier. The Duchess of Ron, and the Duke of Luxembourg, replaced by a small-minded king, may not wait to accept the evidence presented by the Marquis of Lois, and send the former enemy to **** in one fell swoop.

"Forget the Duchess of Bouillon," Louis shook his head: "As far as my mother told me, that's a fool, but how did they get the carte blanche from the Duke of Luxembourg?" As a general, a duke, like this How can important documents be obtained by people with ulterior motives?

  Marquis of Lois immediately pressed his forehead after hearing the words, "Your Majesty, you probably never expected such a ridiculous thing to happen..."

   "My royal lady, one is a witch and the other is a werewolf," Louis said without looking up, "what do you think I can't accept?"

The head of the Marquis of Lois suddenly became more painful. He didn't know until Madame Lavariel went to Halebur with her son that this shy and gentle royal lady turned out to be a werewolf, or the leader of a werewolf tribe. , Harebul was the king's reward for her - not because she served the king for so many years, no, wait, he means, not just between the beds... well, he shouldn't care too much about a royal family Madam, but when she thought that Queen Teresa had told him these two incredible things with a smile... The Marquis of Lois felt that maybe the position of the Minister of War was not so important.

"You are right, Your Majesty." The Marquis of Lois said in a compliment or sarcasm. "Compared to you, this is really not a big deal." There's a secretary named Bonnard."

   "Oh, I really don't know that," said Louis, and then he saw that the Marquis of Lois finally couldn't help but glared at him.

   "Look at your majesty," said the Duke of Orleans without losing time, "how lively you are, you should be delighted."

   He was stunned next. Fortunately, the brothers of the royal family just wanted to let the Marquis of Lois not be so nervous - at the same time, it was also a hint that His Majesty the King had no intention of taking the opportunity to eliminate the remaining forces of Prince Condé.

"This Monsieur Bonnard," said the Marquis of Lois, "he was ordered to send an important commission to Bordeaux, so he carried it from Luxembourg to Bordeaux, and he was unlucky, that Losing it, he was helpless and went to the priest for help..."

   Now Louis was a little surprised: "You mean, he lost his papers, he didn't look for the police, he didn't look for the judge, but he went to a priest."

"That's what he did, a devout believer." The Marquis of Lois said with a subtle expression: "He went to a priest, and the priest told him that if he wanted to get the documents back, he would have to do it within nine days. Over time, reciting three hymns in three different churches, so he did just that."

   "The file is found?" asked the Duke of Orleans enthusiastically.

   "How is that possible," said the Marquis of Lois: "He went and begged the Duchess of Bouillon, whose captain of guard helped him find it from a young girl, but she was unwilling to return the document."

   (end of this chapter)