I Am Louis XIV

  Chapter 554 Mrs. Montespan bids us farewell (below)

   The lady squinted her eyes at first, but then suddenly widened her eyes because she saw Xiao Falcon's skirt.

  It should be mentioned here that Montreal's dressing style is completely different from Versailles - just like the cloak and boots of the Marquis de Lafayette we described earlier, one can tell where he came from at a glance.

Montreal is too far away from Paris. Not only the gentlemen, but also the ladies will change many of their habits when they arrive there, as well as their clothing. Montreal has four distinct seasons, and it is particularly cold in winter. The lowest temperature is about minus ten degrees. There are frequent snowstorms and hurricanes. The clothes that are popular in Versailles and Paris can only be used for collection there, otherwise they will be killed by the violent weather.

When the king first saw the little falcon, she was dressed like a common noble lady, with curled hair, a wide-brimmed hat, a layered skirt, and a delicate umbrella... But today, Although she wasn't wearing the cowhide skirt of an Indian woman, she lifted the wide skirt from the front of her knees, revealing the tights and boots underneath - exactly like the men, with spurs inlaid on the boots.

   No wonder the ladies are frightened. Not long ago, it was quite a crime for women to wear men's clothes.

  Louis saw it too, and the queen turned to him and said something that made him look unhappy.

   This matter still has something to do with Mrs. Montespan.

In Versailles, when the Queen Mother did not die, there was no doubt that she was the first lady in the palace, and everyone would be dispatched by her. She should be the Queen after that, but Madame Montespan has been constantly with her Fighting and wanting to usurp the power that belongs only to the queen, the queen doesn't care about it, let alone Madame Montespan, even Marie Mancini couldn't shake her position at the beginning, because for Louis XIV , she is also Bourbon, others provoking the queen is equivalent to provoking His Majesty the king and shaking his authority, how could he allow it?

Mrs. Montespan should know that in the past ten years, the king has never restricted her power and desire. Under the flattery and pursuit of others, she lost even her last vigilance. For the Governor of Montreal, jealousy and greed have further swept her head, and now, she can be said to be fighting the Queen with an open flame.

The little falcon was handed over to the queen by the king, but Mrs. Montespan showed her kindness, intending to lure this unworldly child into her own camp, but for Mrs. Montespan, the little falcon was not a worthy one. The people who spend their energy, plus the deception and fooling of those who have a heart, Mrs. Montespan used the wrong method - not only was the little falcon not attracted by her, but she was angered by her.

The Indian girl had told the king from the very beginning that she disapproved of the Marquis de Lafayette's handling. That kind of behavior of avoiding a distance was no different from fleeing in the face of the enemy. Her thoughts and plans ran counter to the Marquis—she wanted to convince everyone of the marriage.

The temperament of this child is not only unlike the French ladies, but also the Indians. The Indians maintain an open attitude towards love and marriage. To marry a man and a woman, only the consent of each other's parents and priests is required. That's it, they won't care how the tribes see it and whether they are willing to offer blessings.

Later, the Marquis of Lafayette said to His Majesty the King with a wry smile, that this may be because he let Xiao Falcon read too many books about politics and humanities-Montreal is far away from Paris, and most of the residents are businessmen or people who have a rough understanding of writing and reading. He was a soldier, and captains certainly wouldn’t let things like books occupy precious cabins, so when the marquis wanted to teach the little falcon to read and write, he used his own books.

So, when Mrs. Montespan wanted to introduce the little falcon into her lavish world, the little falcon, like a truly free bird, was frightened and thought she was threatened. Madame Montespan's maids were all driven out of the room, obsessively dressing as they liked.

The Falcon's **** appearance was quickly communicated to the Marquis de Lafayette, who was at the king's side, and he nodded disapprovingly when he heard people say this: "It's nothing," he said: "From Montreal to Jamestown, ma'am That's what they wear when they're riding."

   "But these are leggings."

"Of course it's trousers, otherwise how could she ride a saddle." The Marquis de Lafayette said even more astonishing words as usual: "She's going to hunt with us today, and I brought her favorite one. Two muskets."

These words immediately shocked the people around them. Although you will see groups of noble girls following you during hunting activities and even wars, they will not participate in any of these activities. If it is not for the little falcon, Three hundred years later, they are still riding in side saddles—that is, they place their legs on one side, and there are special side saddles, but this kind of saddle and riding style, let alone tracking prey, can even run. The rider was thrown off the horse directly and his neck was broken, so even if the ladies got on the horse, they would just be led by the servants and walk on the level for a while.

Before the men were overwhelmed, Xiao Falcon appeared. She pulled her skirt up behind her, revealing her trousers and boots, her legs spread apart, and the high saddle lifted her up like a throne. She took it from the Marquis. Gun, looking at the king.

   "The person with the most prey today will get my reward." Louie said.

Then the trombone blew, and there was no time to question the little falcon—how a lady got involved in the gentlemen's activities, she led the squire, the falcon and the hound, and the little falcon was among them, "Do you think that Can a lady catch the game?" asked the queen.

   "Of course." Louis said with a smile, "She is the princess of the Indians."

   Indian Princess! The name given by the king himself spread throughout Fontainebleau within a few hours. Before the men and the little falcon came back, the identity of the little falcon was raised again, and the ladies were envious. And jealous, besides the favor of the king, they also saw the little falcon's handmaiden (yes, she took the maid) on the horse full of rabbits and foxes, and the brilliantly feathered pheasant, her own horse There was actually a **** stag dragging on his back. Although it was said that the prey of Fontainebleau was certainly not as big as in the real wilderness, it also covered half of the horse's body.

Some noble girls are afraid, but more ladies are excited. They also learned to ride horses and use guns under the guidance of their fathers and husbands, but when it comes to hunting, it is always forbidden for men, they do not have the courage Qualified - but since there is already a forerunner, there will be more people who want to taste the forbidden fruit.

Madame Montespan thought that without her guidance and her protection, an indigenous girl would be unable to walk in Versailles, not to mention the queen, she might be considered competent, but the wind direction in the court still depends on Madame Montespan—she and her Who is talking, who is intimate with, who is dining with, who is walking, and who is even wearing a few ribbons on his sleeves, he is constantly being watched.

And today, all those who surrounded her were attracted by the little falcon, even the Duchess of Montpensier, she boldly touched the neck of the buck and asked how the little falcon could hit it, Is all the prey due to the little falcon, and the ladies asked the little falcon for the feathers of the pheasant—most of the feathers they saw were processed, and the feathers were still warm, bright in color and complete in shape. , This is the first time I have seen feathers with a natural posture.

The Queen    glanced at Madame Montespan, who was surrounded by very few people, most of whom sought her and were not well informed. Mrs. Montespan's expression was very ugly, and perhaps it was a great shame for this arrogant woman.

   "Allow me to introduce you."

Little Falcon turned around and saw the Duke of Vendome. The Duke of Vendome was easy to identify. In the court, there were not many old people with silver temples and blue eyes, and his coat was embroidered with golden lilies—though not strictly. Strict legal restrictions, but few people outside of Bourbon would go so far as to use the pattern—“This child is the daughter of a friend of mine,” he pushes those around him forward, “Lucelle Daughter of the Count, you may call her by her name, Angelique."

  People exchanged glances quickly, knowing that this was the new lady chosen by the Bourbons to dedicate to the king.

  Louis smiled as soon as he saw this girl, but this smile made people who knew this majesty sigh in their hearts.

"Is it the daughter of the Count of Lucele?" His Majesty said kindly: "I know your father, your family is quite ancient and traditional." Otherwise, he would not follow the template of a royal lady. Shaping - There are many families in Paris who want to rise up by virtue of their disreputable nepotism, but no one can compare to the Count of Lucelle, after all, no one can "think for the long-term for their children" like this, right?

The Duke of Vendôme and others hoped that the king could fall in love with this young lady at first sight, and now it seems that this lady fell in love with the king at first sight-in order to avoid a mistake in the plan, Angelique also spent her girlhood in the monastery, Lest she be aroused by officers, poets, or even worse, theatrical performers - she was deliberately left empty-headed for the sake of control, and don't expect her to be able to hide from the king then.

In Angelique's heart, the king should be a figure like her father. In fact, they are indeed the same age. Angelique's father is younger, but his hair is thin and his body is fat. Thinking that His Majesty the King is like this, she has never tasted love, so she is not very reluctant - the bright light projected by the crown of the king, especially the crown of the Sun King, is enough to cover up all deficiencies.

   "You are so beautiful, Your Majesty." Angelique said eagerly, "I thought the portraits were all fake!"

Now Louis really laughed out loud: "Thank you for your compliment, ma'am," he said: "You are also very beautiful, extraordinarily vibrant and youthful, and seeing you makes me feel that March has come early. ."

Angelique stroked the roses on her temples with joy and shame. These finger-sized roses were the products of the greenhouse of the Duke of Vendôme. Although they were not as big and gorgeous as the roses in the midsummer season, their orange-red and pink-white colors, The fragrant smell, as the king said, seems to bring the breath of the goddess of spring to people in the harsh winter.

Then the king raised his head and looked left and right, for his young and capable subordinates had either gone to America, or were still fighting for him in Holland, Dunkirk and Calais, and Milan, so he was familiar with There were not many people, but he immediately called his brother, the Duke of Orleans: "Philip," he said intimately but irresistibly: "I know you have a lot of good young people there, my dear, young people are just It's time to stay with the young people, my good brother, I hand the ladies over to you, let them get along well, and there's a dance in the evening, don't let anyone lose."

The Duke of Orleans sighed, walked over and took away the girl of unknown origin. She was still looking back at His Majesty the King in confusion along the way. Anyone who was not so hard-hearted would have to hesitate, but Louis XIV never wavered. "How lovely, Your Majesty," said the Duke of Vendôme, approaching the King and tickling His Majesty's sleeve with his little finger: "Isn't she lovely?"

   "She is a few years younger than the eldest princess." Louis said, "You old guys..."

   "You are in need of someone to distract you," said the Duke of Vendôme unabashedly. "That, or a lady like that, is no longer for you."

"But I don't need the royal lady anymore." Louis said bluntly: "Gentlemen, all wars are coming to an end, and then, I will spend the rest of the time with my wife, calm and leisurely. , without any interruption."

   "And what about your present lady?" asked the Duke of Vendôme.

   "It depends on her own wishes." Louis said: "Whatever she wants, she can stay in Versailles, or she can go to Montreal with her child."

   "I'm afraid that lady won't be so obedient."

   "I have sacrificed the one I love the most," said Louie, "and the lady, I have given her what she wants, and she should not have to make a dent."

   "Huh?" The Duke of Vendôme said suddenly, "Where's the lady?"

It was Mrs. Montespan he was talking about, and he had just seen her standing in the shadows, staring at them with a terrible look, and she should have known that she was abandoned by everyone, but in a blink of an eye, she Disappeared.

   "There's nothing scarier than a viper in the room," said the Duke of Vendôme, "that you can't find her."

   (end of this chapter)