I Am Louis XIV

   Chapter 50 The King's Conversation with the Potions

There was a witch by the king's side, Marie Mancini, but to speak of a male wizard, apart from the few people the king never met, only the potions they occasionally encountered while passing through another town, Of course Louis remembered the man, after all his wife was so impressive. "I don't remember knowing a wizard," said the king, "and as a priest, it's not virtuous for you to say that." Because the Church of Rome Although the Inquisition has been established and the existence of dark creatures has been recognized, the church people are still firmly claiming that there are only a few dark creatures, and under the protection of God and saints, the world is bright - which is why the existence of the world is only The reason is that only the highest level of the pyramid can know.

As recently as 1525, the secular court in Navarra burned to death thirty accused witches after interrogation. This caused such an uproar that the following year the Inquisition convened a special meeting of ten people. The documents at the meeting clearly stated. Said that most of the members agreed that these sinners were not witches, because the crime they confessed could not exist, it may be purely imaginary or used to cover up the real crime, and since then, it has been determined by various places because of the practice of witchcraft. And all cases that were sentenced to death should be submitted to the Supreme Council of the Tribunal for review, rather than privately sentenced and executed.

Regarding this issue, Louis conjectured, it is likely to be a painful run-in between the outer world and the inner world. If half of the thirty witches are real, it can be said to be a severe warning to the inner world. The Supreme Committee of the Inquisition The power they finally got guaranteed their control over the inner world and their authority over the outer world.

As far as Louis peeped, the presiding judge of the Paris Inquisition was a young man named Elarius. It is said that he could become the presiding judge and had an inseparable relationship with Cardinal Mazarin, but he had an inseparable relationship with the current one. Like most high-ranking officials and nobles, they don't care about the young king. From now on, only witches and vampires can know a thing or two about the king's irony. Perhaps in the judge's mind, Louis is still just a person. Children who can deceive at will, but come to think of it, after Louis returns to Paris this time, there should be priests of the Inquisition by his side. After all, he is an adult, and Bishop Mazarin also intends to give him some simple political affairs to try.

The accusation made the priest blush, he had to admit the king was right, but God forgive him, he really saw the man using witchcraft, and he killed people with poison, that's the problem , he was going to hand him over to the secular court, but he shouted that he had seen the king, which made the priest feel hesitant. After all, the priest also had to consider the king's reputation. It was delayed until... he means, the man had been wounded and nearly died before, so the priest waited completely until he was dead, but today he saw the king again.

"I don't really remember seeing a wizard," said the fortunate king graciously, "but I never refuse anyone's request, as long as he's French, it's possible he's seen me and I don't remember, so that's it , you bring him, and let me see him, maybe I can remember. But you have to do this quietly, don't let others know, because I don't intend to interfere with the law, if he really Killing someone, whether with poison or with a dagger, he should be hanged, but if he is wronged, I am willing to hear it."

Since the king said so, the priest had no reason to object. He brought the man to the king a few hours later. It was interesting to say that he did not rely on the night to hide people's eyes and ears, but put a monk's robe on the man. , he took him into the king's palace in a fair manner.

As soon as the king saw him, he recognized that he was the potionist who had dealt with them. He was terribly thin before, but now he was out of shape. He needed the support of two monks to stand firm. No wonder the priests would Bring him to the king without hesitation, even if he is really a wizard, it is difficult to lift a finger like this, the groggy state will only attract pity, but will not make people feel affected Threat - Mary jumped up at the sight of him, and after the priests had pulled out (they were already almost certain the king did know the man), Mary gave him a little potion and he woke up.

   As soon as he saw Mary he gave a bitter smile, and then he turned his eyes to the king: "Ah," he said, "I should have thought that only you can take me out of prison."

   "Maybe I'll take you back." Louis said, "You're accused of killing someone with poison."

  The man was silent for a while: "I can only say that I have not hurt any innocent person."

  Mary gently pulled the king's sleeve.

"Then tell me, when I saw you before, you had your wife and daughter by your side, where have they all gone? Why are you here? I thought you would find a town to live in, you have With proof of identity, we have at least two thousand livres of money."

"That's exactly what I did." The man said, "I went to a town with the money and identification you gave me, but right at the inn, a big man met my wife, and he fell in love immediately. I got her, but my wife was so loyal to me that she rejected him right away, and the next day, we left there quickly, thinking it was over, but who knows, I suddenly met a Someone I know, I once bought him a bottle of cough medicine and he grabbed me and declared that my medicine had poisoned his son - his son did, but I swear it wasn't me For the sake of the potion, I guarantee that every bottle is as effective and safe as the one you got, but people don't believe me, the officials here put me in jail and confiscated all my property."

   "Then how do they know you're a wizard?"

"I told them, Your Majesty," the man gasped for a while, and Mary handed him a bottle of potion, which he took and drank again: "Shortly after I was locked up, a jailer told me , my wife has been picked up by a luxurious carriage, along with our two daughters, I immediately thought of that big man, Your Majesty, this is the only possibility. Although my wife is loyal, she is vulnerable. Like a flower, without me, she will be at a loss. At that time, if someone tells her that they can help me clear my name, she will believe that person without thinking. Alas, this is not her No, it's just a woman's natural weakness. I don't blame her, but I also know that not only will that person not save me, but also let me die as soon as possible.

And here, I don't even have anyone who knows me, Your Majesty, I can't find anyone willing to testify for me, and I don't have anyone who's going to cut my knuckles and bribe judges, I just admit that I'm a wizard, because from a Since more than a hundred years ago, secular courts are not allowed to directly judge wizards, my name will be transferred to the Inquisition, of course, it is also possible that I will still be hanged or burned, but I at least fight for myself It's not useless for more than two weeks, haven't I waited for you? "

   "Do you have any proof that your potion didn't kill the child?"

"Of course, Your Majesty, if you are willing to investigate," said the potionist, "I sold the potion to that man six months ago, and his child died two months ago, who would treat a bottle of healing How about the cough medicine to be given to the sick child after four months? Of course, if you want, give me the body of the child, and I can find out the real cause of his death."

Having said that, Louis only really took a look at the man. Seriously, since he learned that there is only so much a potionist can do, he has lost his previous interest in the potionist, but if he can To find the cause of death from a corpse buried for two months, then the skill he has mastered is far more valuable than the so-called medicine of youth, at least the king will be willing to extend his sometimes generous and stingy 's helping hand.

What happened after that was just as the potionist assured him. He checked the child for the traces of diphtheria. His potion could only cure the cough, but it had no effect on the real disease, so it could only be said that he was really not a competent person. A doctor, or a sloppy pharmacist, but to say that he poisoned the child would be nonsense, and the man who had falsely accused him was hanged on the gallows he wished others to hang, and The potionist was brought before the king by Bontang, the king's first servant.

   "You are innocent now," said Louie.

   "Bless you," said the potionist, "I don't think I'll ever be able to repay the favor you bestowed upon me."

   "You are going to find your wife," said the king.

   "And my daughter."

   "But I don't advise you to do that."

"why?"

   "Because your wife has become the Duchess of Mottmar, sir."

"This is impossible!"

"It's entirely possible that the Duke of Mortmar was completely fascinated by your wife. He sent you to prison with one hand, and took her and your daughter with one hand. You also said that women are always weak. , she has children again, three, she must think about her own children, and now she is not only a duchess, but three children have also been recognized by the duke - yes, your youngest child has also been born, just in a few A few days ago, it was also a girl."

  The Potions stood where he was, and he stood there, upright, free and healthy now, but looking even more terrifying and weaker than when he was in prison.

   "Excuse me, I still have to find her."

"Then read this letter first," said the king. "It is not your wife's letter, but your daughter's letter, dictated by Artenais, and written by my messenger, and what she will say to you, You read this letter and decide whether to go to Bordeaux or not."

  ——

   The following is a letter dictated by a five-year-old girl and then ghostwritten by the king's emissary:

  To Mr. Varo Vesalius, my father:

At the time you read this letter, my mother, your wife, was married to the Duke of Mottmar, and my youngest sister was born two days after their marriage, but, like us, she too In other words, from this moment on, your wife has become the Duchess, and my sister and I have become the Duke's daughters.

I want to say that you are a good husband and a good father. When I am with you, my mother is very happy, and my sister and I can also feel your love for me, but you are still wrong, yours The mistake is not to be the husband of the mother.

I'm still young, father, you say so often, but even when I'm young, I know it's hard for a man to keep a treasure he doesn't have the strength to protect, like you and I told the story, even if it's a dragon , someone will **** its treasure, and you are just an ordinary potionist.

Mother loves you, there's no doubt about that, she only agreed to the Duke's proposal because she thought you were dead, and she couldn't afford to keep us, she was even pregnant and needed care, but I say, Father, It was the happiest and most stable day I have seen since I can remember her.

She won't be woken up in the middle of the night by a dripping roof, no mice will fall on her, no fear of being kicked out by the landlord...or insulted, yes she has three meals a day when you can't see her, and There are supper and snacks, a maid serving her, massaging her cramping legs and feet, her children can eat well and wear well-fitting clothes, and she no longer has to keep an eye on how many liads are in her pockets, and every day the largest The trouble is whether to put daffodils or roses in the water bottle.

  My life with Sarah is also very peaceful. We were not allowed to see our mother, but we were allowed to live on the estate, with fifty livres a month in pocket money, as well as classes—Latin, flute and singing, dancing, and some for us to grow Courses that can be started after graduation.

   So I thought, Father, if you feel like your life is better than it is now, you can come here, show up to your mother, or you can take us.

  Merlin handed us over to you, so we are now awaiting your verdict.

  Kiss you.

  François Artenais de Rochechouart de Mottemar

   (end of this chapter)