I Am Louis XIV

  Chapter 540 The Duke of York of the Bastille (Part 1)

Madame Montespan immediately flushed with anger, but as long as anyone who has a place in Versailles knows that the most trusted person around the king may not be the Queen Mother, the Queen, the Dauphin, or even the Duke of Orleans - it's not that they don't love the King, Or the king didn't love them, but their identity was destined that Louis XIV would have reservations about them, but Bontang was different. He accompanied the king when he was a teenager, and he had seen this eminent king in the most embarrassing manner. , in the weakest form, and had seen the most dangerous and filthy darkness under the fiery light of the Sun King. In front of him, Louis was completely unscrupulous and relaxed.

It is also for this reason that Bontang decided not to marry, because he did not know whether his loyalty to the king would be shaken if he had a beloved wife and children connected by blood, and even if not, Louis XIV might. Will still choose to remove him from their side - lest their sincere friendship still end up in a bad way.

   Bontang made such a sacrifice, as the Duke of Orleans sometimes complained with jealousy about his brother being closer to his valet rather than himself. Nowadays, as long as people are close to Louis XIV, they can get plenty of heat and light just like bathing in the sun. Bontang, who is almost inseparable from the king, has a huge power. In order to meet the king, the price given by those people will even be Surprise His Majesty the King too.

Madame Montespan did not have enough courage to refute Bontang’s words, because Bontang was not wrong. In Louis XIV’s heart, Madame Montespan’s status was far inferior to the previous two royal ladies. The reason why she was chosen by the king The election was just because such a person was needed at the time. The king treated her the same way he would treat officials who are talented but ambitious and moral. To a certain extent, he will tolerate them, but once the bottom line is reached, they will There is no sympathy with His Majesty.

What made Madame Montespan even more annoyed was that none of the people around her dared to do it. Bontang showed a kind smile. Perhaps this is what His Majesty often said that people gather together in groups. How about Madame Montespan, Her friends, the flattering little people, the sleazy idiots, or the savage speculators, certainly wouldn't risk offending the king's valet to speak for her.

In the end, it was for Louis XIV's sake that Bontang bowed slightly to Madame Montespan, asking her to leave His Majesty some time for contemplation and mourning. If His Majesty really wanted to see her, his attendants would bring went to see her with a present, almost suggesting that soon Louis would appease her with a present—Madame Montespan didn’t care about the present, but it was also a veiled sign—that she had not yet lost the king’s favor,

   She should immediately walk down the steps given by Bontang, but she didn't know if the devil was at work, so she blurted out: "If it's Marie here..."

   Bontang straightened up and looked at her blankly.

   Mrs. Montespan stopped talking, she turned around and left, followed by a large group of people hurriedly following.

   "It's annoying," said Bontang.

When he returned to the room, he saw that His Majesty the King was sitting by the fireplace, laughing at him, gloating at his misfortune—a plume of smoke was rising from the clay cup he was holding, and the smell of heated mead filled every room in the bedroom. In one corner, a soft and thick blanket was placed on his knees, and the chair was shaking gently, making the person above feel at ease.

   "I should have sent Madame Montespan in to serve you," said Bontang sullenly.

"I'm listening," said Louis, "you really don't like her." Bontang, as his closest courtier, was always very tactful, and Madame Montespan should be honored to be able to make this squire's stern voice , there are not many people who are ruthless.

   "It's not all personal," Bontang said.

  The king put away his smile, "I know." He said that Bontang was angry just now. To appease Your Majesty, can't the Duke of Orleans? Can't the queen? Can't the prince? Even the Duke of Vendôme is more justifiable than Madame Montespin - Madame Montespin tried to enter the house without the king's call, but to take advantage of her Majesty's weakness to gain an advantage and show the people her love for Louis XIV. Uniqueness, or left a deep imprint on the king's heart.

   "...I think people in Versailles should know who is the first person in my heart in the future." He said nonsense in a serious manner: "What's your weird expression? Bontang."

   "I'm hesitating, not knowing whether to laugh or be angry." Bontang said: "But I'm glad you finally got some energy."

"Mother's departure is sudden," said Louis, rubbing his glass, "but she is eighty years old after all, and I am not unacceptable—it's just..." He looked up at Bontang, "just suddenly felt a sudden Tired, Bontang, do you understand what I mean?"

"I understand, you should have a good rest. You are not Alexander I, nor King Arthur, nor Caesar. You are just a little king." Bontang walked over, took the king's glass, and pulled him onto the bed. Sit down, wait for him to lie down, and pull a blanket for him: "You have so many generals, ministers, your treasury is as full as a granary after autumn, and your people love you as their father, and you don't have to do that at all. Tired."

  Louis sighed deeply.

   "Well, I'll get a good night's sleep, and then, Bontang, I'm going to the Bastille tomorrow."

  Bontang was leaning over to blow out the last candle and rolled his eyes when he heard this.

  ————

  The Duke of York rolled his eyes: "I want some oysters and veal for lunch today," he said bluntly.

  Compared with the Tower of London, the Duke of York obviously lived more comfortably in Bastille, not because the treatment and conditions of the Tower of London were not as good as Bastille, but because he knew that the King of France would never lose his good card easily.

   Not to mention that Charles II already had a son, the child who was not born with the blessing of God, anyone in the know can't help but feel a little embarrassed - are wizards easy to use? Very useful! Especially in places that mortals never seem to reach.

   But even the wizards themselves have to admit that when they go against the arrangement of fate and do something, the consequences are often extremely terrifying and unpredictable. Especially when it comes to life - whether it's new life or death.

For example, Carlos II, who was born paralyzed, fool and deformed, had a short lifespan, but he was not really a bad character until the Queen Mother of Spain and the ministers put all their chips on the dark wizard - Among the people who serve him are the relatives of Juan Patinho and the disciples of the Archbishop of Toledo. If Carlos II was a devil from the beginning, they would not let their relatives and friends suffer this hardship. , Let Jose and Alberoni, the original Carlos II is also a very ordinary person, even a good person, because he is seriously ill, many people suffering from illness will become eccentric, Grumpy.

Then - the dark wizard made Carlos II healed. He looked as strong as a calf. Although he was not handsome enough, coupled with the glory of the king, he could also attract the love of many women. At that time, everyone, from Don Juan The duke, the queen mother, the ministers and the archbishops all thought their wishes had come true.

   But this health and integrity was exchanged with his soul.

   Carlos II who returned to Toledo from Paris was a devil.

Then, no one can be sure, whether Charles II borrowed the power of wizards and some sons, their future king, will also be a **** visitor in a human skin, thinking of what Carlos II did, Congress and the court The people here were frightened to death. Therefore, although Charles II disliked the Duke of York in every possible way after he had an heir, he could not execute the Duke of York under the obstruction of the ministers. He could only vent the Duke of York again and again. Sent to the Tower of London, hoping that he will die from fever and illness due to ghosts or mental oppression.

   Compared with the Tower of London, where assassins or the king's executioner may sneak into the tower at any time, the Bastille is much more reassuring to the Duke of York. What kind of person Louis XIV is, you have come to me so many times, and the Duke of York can see one or two - the Sun King is obviously not the kind of emotional person, and he is not Charles II who declared war on him.

   "That's why I became your captive." When he saw Louis XIV, he said with a smile. It could almost be seen as a provocation.

   But Louis XIV was really not angry: "Ah, Villar said the same."

"Villars, is that the young general? Louis, my brother, you are a lucky man to have so many outstanding people under your command - before he was even unknown, and this time, he Even if I can't keep me, I can keep half of the ships in the fleet."

"You say that," Louis froze for a moment when he heard him say so - hell, the Duke of York and Charles II's mother was the daughter of Henry IV and Marie Medici, and Mary was Louis XIII's sister , Louis XIV's aunt, speaking - he is indeed cousins ​​with Charles II and the Duke of York, but this kind of kinship probably has nothing to do with warmth: "Monsieur Duke," he said to York anyway. The duke, who cannot say the word "brother", "do you want to tell me that you have intentionally betrayed your country and surrendered to my general?"

This sentence immediately made the Duke of York jump up. He ignored the nervous look of the attendant beside the king, stretched out his arms, turned to the sky, and shouted dramatically: "God, Your Majesty! How can you say that? I am exactly that. For the sake of my country, I am willing to endure the temporary pain and defect to you to seek justice and orthodox help!"

"Justice and orthodoxy, well, sir, you've got two points," said Louis. "This name will last a thousand years, but what I know is that Charles is the king of England, and you My brother, he may be unjust, but he is definitely orthodox."

   "Trust me, Your Majesty, no matter if it is orthodoxy or justice, you have nothing to do with that guy!"

   "My dear, you are blaspheming and disobeying your king. This is not an act of loyalty."

"If you knew what happened at Hampton Court Palace, you would have believed me." The Duke of York returned to Louis and bowed exaggeratedly, "I would say, Your Majesty, I am extremely unwilling to be with you. Your enemy, I was deceived and persecuted to come to the sea, even so, when I found that I could get rid of the devil's control, I raised your flag at the first time!"

   "Isn't it because you found that your fleet was about to face inevitable defeat, and even if you escaped back to London, you would inevitably be executed as a scapegoat by Charles II?"

"That's why I have to say that my poor brother, the King of England, has been manipulated by the devil's servant—" The Duke of York said with a strange expression of disgust, gritted his teeth: "You are also an older brother, and you also have younger brothers, But Your Majesty, would you treat your blood relatives like this?"

   "Ah, I won't." Louis looked him up and down: "But my brother won't be like you... that's all."

"How can a man who has not been oppressed and tortured compare with a man who is always worried about being guillotined by his brother." The Duke of York said confidently: "How much you love your brother, if Charlie had your brother One-tenth, I will be grateful to him, even if I go to **** to fetch water, I will be willing to do so."

  If you were my brother, I might have done it more thoroughly than Charles II. Louis said in his heart, but in words, "Then you have come to seek my asylum?"

"You are such a generous and devout man," said the Duke of York, "Henrietta told me how you love her, as you love everyone around you, and you have helped my brother, You gave him a lot of money while the whole of Europa was expelling him."

   "You said this," Louis leaned back and said leisurely, "Charlie has already repaid this kindness."

This time it was the Duke of York's turn to get stuck. Of course he knew that Charles II sold Dunkirk to Louis XIV for a low price, which was also the heavy artillery shell he always used to attack Charles II. One of them, but he also knew in his heart that at that time, Charles II was only a half puppet of the Congress. He had to rely on the help of Louis XIV to regain the kingship, so he had to give up the last British stronghold in France.

Of course, what is more important is that at that time, Charles II had no soldiers and no ships, and all those who stayed in Dunkirk were the soldiers of Cromwell, the protector of the country, that is, the conspirators. How could they be from Charles II? command? For the Duke of York to choose, the Duke of York will also exchange this seemingly impossible asset for a small but usable chip.

  The problem is that Louis XIV said so, it seems that he did not want to rely on empty promises and oaths to seek the support of the Sun King

   (end of this chapter)