I Am Louis XIV

   Chapter 322 Before the Great War (4)

It was the best for Louis XIV that Balas could take the initiative to ask Ying. The former was also a straightforward man. As soon as he got the permission of the king, he left immediately. He and his monks set off early the next morning. Hood was at the window. Watching him go away, his mood is complicated. This grand judge is like a devil to the wizards, especially those French wizards, but even the wizards of Gayola have heard of him-everyone who comes to France The exotic wizard, also beware of his scythe, he is never unreasonable.

"Sometimes it's an important and difficult thing to make a choice," Hood said, and then he saw a group of young people, or rather older children, running from the castle stables to the inner square , he just glanced, and then opened his mouth in surprise: "Vesari," he shouted, "is that His Royal Highness the Prince of Vienova?"

Vesalius, who was preparing the potion by the side, heard what he said, and went to the window to look down. Sure enough, he recognized the crown prince at a glance, that is, our little Louis. As I said before, little Louis just finished His own coming-of-age ceremony, the coming-of-age ceremony of the Duke of Colonna was brought to the battlefield in Holland by Louis XIV, and the little Louis was brought here by his father. According to the scale, the ostentation of the little Louis may be much larger than that of the Duke of Colonna, but This kind of pomp undoubtedly attracted the unanimous opposition of the ladies of Versailles. It is a pity that very few people can change what the Sun King decides.

Just like now, it's no surprise that His Royal Highness the Prince is here. What surprised Hood and Vesalius was that the group of people around him were not their usual French attendants and servants, but a group of people wearing felt hats. , Tatar children in robes and belts.

"Does your majesty know?" Vesalius blurted out, and then he realized that he was stupid. Louis XIV had a strong desire to control. He even wished that the entire Europa could rotate according to his command stick, not to mention in this castle. inside.

  ——

  Louis XIV did know that the Dauphin had many new playmates.

When he took the tea and took a sip, he couldn't help frowning, because there was sugar in the tea, he squeezed a piece of dessert, and it turned out to be sweet. He looked at Bontang, who was standing beside him, "Oh, my dear friend," The king asked ironically, "Am I letting you down?"

   Bontang gave him a reproachful look, but said, "You are always perfect and impeccable."

   "I don't think so. For example, I never like sweet tea, nor sweet snacks." Louie said.

"I just think you've been too tired recently and need a little sweet tea to refresh yourself." Bontang said solemnly, from his face and tone, you wouldn't notice what he was thinking, "Ah, I You're blaming me for keeping little Louis with those Tatars, you know," said Louis.

   "If the Queen Mother had known that the descendants of Saint-Louis would allow the children of a group of barbarians to be their attendants, she would have fainted immediately," Bontang said.

Louis casually placed the cup on the windowsill. Like Vesalius, they were looking at the inner square of the castle from the window. Although the castle was old but large enough, it also adopted a double square structure, that is to say, there were two walls. , the main tower and the inner square, the church is on the inside, the soldiers and servants, the blacksmith shop and the stables are located on the outside. Just now, little Louis ran from the stables into the courtyard with people noisily.

Such behavior attracted the attention of many people, especially Louis' musketeers, who seemed to be thinking, talking, or resting, but their eyes never left the Dauphin, and their hands never left their muskets and thorns Sword-Louis saw that the Marquis of Lois was frowning, and he was talking to the general Vauban beside him. Presumably they would soon ask to see the king, and ask the king not to let the prince and the Tatars hang out together, this is really true. It is too detrimental to the majesty of the crown prince.

   "If they knock on the door, Bontang," said Louis hastily, "say I am resting."

Bontang glared at the Sun King, and now there are not many people who can and dare to do so. Bontang's position seems humble but it is important, and he is so loyal to Louis XIV - he even maintains it to this day. Single, not unmarried, but not courted by any lady, because he said - he really doesn't have more energy to deal with another master... This joke has been circulating in Versailles for a long time, and people can't help laughing after laughing. move.

Louis XIV also intended to give him a title, but Bontang said that he would not accept this award until he could no longer serve the king, and he would have to leave the court to take care of his life, otherwise his status would become embarrassing - after all, Louis Almost all the people around are dignitaries. But even if there is no title, the Duke of Orleans, and his younger brother Philip, will call him Mr., and everyone knows that he is the king's closest friend.

As I said before, Bontang may know more than his brother Philip, but he has very little. It should be said that he has almost never intervened in any affairs. This is the first time he has revealed his attitude. Louis knows his concerns. "Help me get rid of those people, and I'll explain to you."

"You don't need to explain to me." Bontang said helplessly, turning to deal with General Vauban and the Marquis of Lois. When he came back, he brought a large pot of unsweetened tea and some savory pastries. Louis was happy. He picked up the teapot and poured a cup of tea for himself and him. "It's all right," said the king, "you are my friend, Bontang, watching little Louis grow up, and I know that you have no less heart for him than me and Philip."

"Then I am going to overstep once," Bontang bowed to the king, thanking him for the tea, and said: "I think the Marquis de Lois and General Vauban, and even Marshal Schumberg, will certainly come. I'll knock on your door, and I won't stop until I see you."

   "Because there are Tatars with the dauphin?" Louis said: "It's not just the Tatars, his attendants are still with him."

   "They are criminals and heretics," Bontang said. "Everyone who sees this sight will be very worried."

   "I know, but little Louis has always had a big problem." Louis said: "I hope to take this opportunity to solve it."

  Bondon paused. Obviously, he didn't quite understand what was wrong with the dauphin. The dauphin was not as smart as the Sun King, there was no doubt about that, but Louis XIV was very human. The dauphin was of good character, humble and pious, affectionate and simple, if not compared with his father, he was the heir to the throne that Europa, even the monarchs and ministers of the whole world wanted, in private conversation, the people of Versailles I even thought that it might be a good thing if such a crown prince came to the throne in the future. Really, a king like the Sun King only needs one.

   After all, there is only one bright tomorrow in the world.

   So what else could the Dauphin of Viennoy have to displease Louis XIV? Thinking of this, Bontang couldn't help but feel a little worried. He decided not to marry, nor to accept anyone's love, nor to have no descendants. He was determined to dedicate this short life to the French royal family.

  Louis XIV and Queen Teresa to this day have only the eldest princess and the dauphin, but Bontang also knows that a dauphin who is not favored by the king will suffer and suffer like an unfavorable courtier.

"You remember that it was not long before you came to me," Louis had no idea that Bontang was already acting in the prologue of "Hamlet". The reason why he wanted to talk to Bontang was because in Versailles, Bontang As the first attendant, it can also be said to be half of the palace minister. He has the right to speak about the crown prince, so he must know what he thinks: "A few months later, it will be the first stone throwing party. riot."

"I remember, Your Majesty," said Bontang, the youngest son of the Baron. His father had sent him to the Bishop of Mazarin, hoping that he would become a priest. He also tried to serve the Bishop of Mazarin, who knew Mazarin The bishop felt that he had a talent beyond ordinary people in this regard... so he sent him to the king, because after the "slinging ceremony", the boy should have his own personal servants, not female officials and maids: " That night, I was stuffed into the servants' motorcade, full of anxiety, thinking I would be sent somewhere else and never see you again."

   "Fortunately we met soon at Saint-Germain-en-Laye," said Louis, "and then we hardly ever parted again. I trust you, Bontang, you are like another brother of mine."

  Bontang's heart was up and down, and he bowed slightly again, thanking the king for his praise, which was more precious than all diamond pins.

   "Then do you remember how long it took until we returned to Paris, until I took power, from the bishop, from the queen mother, from the duke of Gaston, from the ministers and generals?"

   "Ten years, Your Majesty, a full ten years."

   "This decade has not been a good one," Louis sighed: "And for the next ten years, I still have to fight many enemies, some of whom were even my friends and my relatives."

   "They are self-inflicted, Your Majesty, your kindness is like the sun shining on the earth."

   "The sun also hides its light at night, Bontang, I have had evil thoughts too."

   "People need both light and darkness. Eternal peace is also a rare gift."

   "But little Louis," said Louis, "did you notice?"

   Bontang was silent for a while, obviously, with the king's reminder, he had also realized the biggest problem encountered by the prince, the little Louis.

  Everyone praises the gentleness and politeness of the prince, the little Louis, so what kind of person can be like this all the time? And this is not a trick played by some people who are good at disguising. The prince's generosity and compassion come from the heart, which makes him liked by many people. If he was the son of a lord, or the son of a merchant, of course it wouldn't be a big problem.

   But he is not, not only is he not, he has a high status, second only to his father and uncle...

   All of France, as well as the French colonies and vassals, will be his.

Little Louis was undoubtedly lucky. His mother was a Spanish princess, and his father was a French king. When he was born, the country had been initially settled, and there was not much disturbance. Although his mother and father were in a political marriage, reason was always better than that. The emotional Louis XIV will never embarrass the queen because of ministers or royal ladies. He grew up in the love of his father and mother. The king's favorite woman, Madame Marie Mancini, and their firstborn son, His older brother Luciano, who already had the title of Duke of Colonna, and strict succession laws, could never threaten him—nor would Louis XIV allow it.

The two younger brothers after that, one is far away in Flanders, and the other is bound to be banned from the mainland. They cannot shake his throne like the Duke of Gaston or the Prince of Condé did to Louis XIV. will be one of his assistants. His wife has also been identified as the eldest princess of Portugal, and she will be his biggest and most powerful ally, as will his sister-cousin marriage.

According to the present situation, Louis XIV will also hand over to him a rich and prosperous France - French wool has surpassed England, glass and mirror has surpassed Venetian, dye has surpassed Italian, and from the Dutch Seized trade routes, financial systems, etc. - he can sit back and enjoy.

   He can be said to be a child who grew up surrounded by flowers, gentleness and tolerance are inevitable, because he has almost nothing to fight for.

   "Well, it seems that you realize it too." Louis XIV said, and this was only discovered after he came to Camnico.

  Little Louis is not bad, but too good, think about it, will he be respected and loved by such a good man? No, no, not just an enemy outside France, not just an enemy, once people find out that he is a really good man, then even his most trusted relatives and closest friends will definitely betray him without hesitation , Who let him have such a large fortune?

   Get him, you get half a Europa.

   "But, Your Majesty, what will these Tartars teach him?" Bontang asked suspiciously: "They will not betray him because of you."

"Of course they wouldn't betray little Louis," said Louis. "I am what I am because I know what a terrible end I will face if I continue to be ignorant and incompetent—perhaps not as good as in the Tower of London. The two princes of Bontang, on that night, on my way out of Paris, had it not been for Marie, thirty years ago, I would have been a werewolf dung, and even after that, if only I took the slightest wrong step , what awaits me is death and an even worse outcome."

   "Because I've seen the mob and the refugees," Louie said, "so I can always be vigilant and cautious."

   "But little Louis has never seen it. The lowest-level people he has come into contact with before are just servants in the palace or construction workers in the college. He doesn't know how bad humans can do."

   (end of this chapter)