I Am Louis XIV

  Chapter 590 Fanwai IV - Grand Celebration of the Sun King's 80th Birthday (Continued)

   The fireworks on that day continued until the next morning.

Neither the residents of Paris nor the foreign guests went to sleep that night. They sat or stood, holding bread and beer, enjoying a feast in the air, even if it was heaven. Crystal genius has a vision! When it was three or four o'clock, those who couldn't hold on simply lay down on the stairs, roads and squares. They didn't know when they fell asleep, only that they were awakened by the sun.

Barre was from Avery, a town only half a mile from Versailles, which is now very rich. Barre was also a skilled baker, and his business was booming. Many people who came to Versailles to work would be in his shop. Three meals a day, hey, that's a luxury, isn't it? Barre's old father often said that when he was a child, only the nobles had three meals, and the common people had two meals. In the morning, they worked on an empty stomach. At noon, they had enough to eat. At night, they would drink some wheat porridge when they came home. The thing - today's young people have to eat three meals a day, with butter, cheese, sausage or ham in the bread? What a sin!

Barre, who is guilty or not, doesn't care. His bakery business is getting better and better. With savings on hand, he can't help but think of something else, which is to meet the king in Paris or Versailles, but travel in this era. - Even if the two places are only half a mile apart, it is still a considerable expense. If you go to Paris, it will be a lot of money, and the business in the store also makes him unable to escape.

The king's 80th birthday was a good opportunity, mainly because more than half of the customers in the shop had gone to Paris to celebrate the king. He was also old, and he would have no chance if he didn't leave. He was about to leave. I also baked a lot of bread when I was on the road, let my little son carry it on his back, sold most of it on the road, and almost made it back this time, no, wait, there is also accommodation and later food and drink.

Oops, he asked his son to pull him up, stretched out his hands and rubbed his waist and back. Seeing that others seemed to be doing the same, he couldn't help laughing secretly, and also dismissed those who were sleeping on the street if they couldn't do it. Intend. The streets of Paris are clean and flat, but they should not be paved with hard slate. It looks comfortable to walk, but not very good to sleep.

But when he and his son asked, let alone the price, all the innkeepers shook their heads, and someone simply put up a sign outside the door saying "The room, cellar, attic, stable, and kitchen are all full." I went to the alleys of the deserted alleys to find the wandering girls I had heard of—they also have rooms for business, but they still got nothing. The only good thing is that they didn’t spend money on food and drink. Many Parisians are giving alms, as long as You go up and say "Long live the Sun King!" "Bless our king!" and you'll get bread and water.

Barre still has to drag his young son, nothing, but the streets of Paris are now full of jugglers, shows and games, and unlike those who handed out bread and water, these people obviously hired from elsewhere at the beginning of each performance. They have to shout out who paid their commission so people know who is doing the favor - but they're such a good show, not to mention the kids, the adults can't help but stare, but Barre is watching the sky. It was about to get dark, and worried that he couldn't find a place to stay, he took his son away after only a few glances, but he didn't expect his son to leave after walking for a while. The dancer lifted the skirt very high. When did the young man in the small town see this, and Barre quarreled with his son.

  They got carried away arguing, Barley pushed his son at will, and his son staggered and rammed into an unlucky pedestrian.

This pedestrian is about 30 or 40 years old, when men are at their most dignified and strong, and he is different from most tourists. From hat to coat, from coat to shoes, they are all pure black, only inlaid with gold borders and pearls. Bao's shell is used as a button, and the neckline is turned out to cover the shoulders with a white lace collar. Under the collar, a royal blue silk scarf is exposed. A large golden cross hangs from the end of the silk scarf, and a bright red shoulder strap runs from the right shoulder. He was pulled straight to his waist, and at a glance he knew that he was a nobleman. Although many businessmen and officials are using the most extravagant fabrics and accessories to decorate themselves, the royal family has also relaxed the authority to use royal blue, but due to inertia, If a person wears a royal blue coat, he should be an officer, but if it is not a coat, but a scarf, vest, or cloak that uses royal blue, and shoulder straps, that person is likely to be an aristocrat.

Of course, if a commoner insists on wearing royal blue clothes, it is not impossible, but it will always lead to some unnecessary misunderstandings. For example, a comedy recently rehearsed by the Molière troupe describes a peasant who occasionally picks up a The aristocrat lost his cloak, and when he entered the city, he was misunderstood as a certain big man who went on a tour in small clothes. There was a series of events where he was invited to the mayor's house as a guest, and was entertained by the bishop. Bankers rushed to lend him money. Shu" is even more scrambling to get close to him and other hilarious accident stories.

   "Oh, my lord," said Barley hastily apologizing, "I'm sorry! I'm disrespectful! My little son is always so reckless, bastard, come and bow to my lord!"

  Barre's younger son hurried over, took off his hat and bowed to the man.

   "It's nothing," a voice came from behind the man: "There are too many people here, there are always surprises, but if there is any conflict, you should go to a quiet place to discuss."

Barre looked over and saw that a person was walking away from the person who was hit by his son. He suddenly realized that if this person hadn't been in front of him just now, this little idiot would have hit this person. He saw the other person first. The hair on the temples under the hat was as white as snow, and he subconsciously slapped his son again—he almost hit an old man. Barre was also in his fifties. He knew that the bones of the old man were very fragile, but after a while. Can't afford to bump it so hard.

   But when he looked up again, he was a little unsure of the other party's age. The other party was wearing a mask, yes, that kind of carnival mask. There are many people wearing masks today, because many of the tourists are Italians and Spaniards.

   "Father," said the man in black.

   should be sixty years old, Barre thought, and he wished he was like this when he was sixty.

   "Excuse me," said the older gentleman, "I heard you talking about accommodation just now..."

   "Yes," said Barre crampedly, "we didn't expect so many people in Paris." He thought that Paris, like his small town, could always find a hotel or a place to sleep.

"Millions of people poured into Paris," the gentleman continued: "But the king ordered churches, convents, chapels, and other public buildings to be open to tourists, except for nursing homes, orphanages, and hospitals, don't you know? ?"

"We only got into Paris late last night," said Barre, "and then watched the fireworks all night. Maybe the master said it, but we didn't hear it." He cheered up, "but if you say Really, I really want to thank you very well."

   "Well, really," said the gentleman, "I just don't have anything important to do. I'll take you there. There is a chapel only three hundred feet away."

   He pointed to the lane on the left, and sure enough, in the sky at the end of the lane, there was a little bit of the spire of the clock tower looming.

"It's just a big thank you," said Barre. "My lord," he said embarrassedly, "just won't it bother you too much?" If it was a commoner like him, he would guess whether the other party was A thief's accomplice or a liar, but this gentleman's button is more than all the money he carries with him, of course he doesn't think so.

   "We are going there too." The gentleman said, "I am Louis, and he is my young son Charles." He pointed to the man in black.

   "Um...Louis...Sir?"

Louis smiled helplessly, "Come with me," he said, and then walked forward first. According to the king's request, every street and alley has gas lamps and sewers, so even such a remote alley is a dry place. It was clean, with only some petals falling from somewhere that dotted the road. There were towering walls on both sides of the road. The part below three feet was a bit mossy, but the red masonry was very cute.

Barre followed at a distance of ten paces from the master. His son was puzzled and pulled his father's arm, but was pulled by his father: "I think that is a kind master." The younger son said in confusion: "You What are you afraid of?"

"Because he's a good-hearted man, we should respect him." Barre said that his youngest son was born late, and he didn't know what the original nobles were like - compared to daring to throw dead cats and dogs at nobles The citizens of Paris, the people of Evry are the most docile lambs of God. They accept the rule of the lord, and the lord is a small king. He has various powers such as coinage, administration, taxation, legislation and judgment. The squires, officials, and knights are the rulers of the commoners—they can raise taxes as they please, hang the peasants who can’t pay the taxes until they turn to bones; they can also pick and choose among the wives and daughters of the commoners and wantonly insult them; They would rather vomit the food they had to swallow than distribute some bread to the dying orphans and widows...

   Not to mention the unlucky ones who offended the nobles for trivial matters, were hanged, had their hands chopped off, or drowned in the river.

Barre's talent came from his father, who worked as a cook in the lord's castle, was always cautious, and wisely resigned from the lord before he was too old to make mistakes, but you have to think that Barre's bakery came from him. The salary was a big mistake. He couldn't bring anything out of the castle. The bakery in Barre was completely ruled by Louis XIV. The "invitation" went to Bastille in Paris, and the people of Avry gradually recovered from the endless darkness, and then slowly stood up.

But this kind of thing can't be said to the younger son, but Avry is very close to Versailles, and Barre has a bakery, and he can't help but deal with some noble servants and squires. He said that in recent years, the gentlemen have indeed More and more friendly - at least out of nothing, being picky, and even taking the bread and not paying it has never happened again, at most the servant will take an extra piece of bread, which is nothing to the baker - there is a saying called "" The baker's dozen" means that in order to avoid being told that you are short of two, you will be given thirteen if you buy a dozen.

   Or else he wouldn't have the courage to come to Paris - just wondered if he could see the king.

Just thinking about it, they walked to the end of the alley. A priest opened the door of the black iron. Barre and his young son suddenly lit up. There was actually a square square hidden in the mansion. Large, with a small bell tower standing, this chapel is completely built in Romanesque style, that is, the building surrounds the square, the chapel in the middle, and the other three weeks are the rooms for priests and pilgrims, and now there are some people here , there are devout believers and lucky outsiders.

   The priest took Barre and his young son into a room with four bunk beds covered with crisp white linen sheets.

   "How much does it cost to sleep here?" Barley asked cautiously. "Or is it going to buy indulgences? Or other offerings?"

"The offering is optional," the priest said. "The only thing you have to do is wash the sheets, pillowcases, and blankets before you leave. If there is any damage, you will have to pay for it." With that, he left to host the others, and Barre thought about it. I asked the old man to thank him, but after a moment of hesitation, the priest disappeared. He turned around and saw his youngest son rubbing the bed excitedly: "Dad," he said, "it's cotton! "

   "Really?" Barre's attention was distracted: "These priests are so generous!" Cotton is not a rarity these days, but hay is still used to fill mattresses in the average hotel. "It must have been repaired or newly built here," he added, smelling wet chalk.

Just as Barrett and his young son were curiously exploring their new residence, the Monsieur Louis and his son Charles, led by the priest, entered the chapel, which was nominally private and not private. Others are allowed to enter and pray - in fact, if a believer walks in, he will be surprised and confused, because there are no crosses and icons, only rows of black chairs, white walls and an empty altar.

Only the high stained glass windows indicate the meaning of this hall - each window depicts a lifelike golden lion, in various shapes, but with wheat in its mouth, if anyone sees it, they can probably guess So this is telling the story of Saint Ignatius, who is said to have been martyred after being thrown into the mouth of a lion, who said before his execution, "I am the wheat of God, ground to a fine powder by the teeth of a lion, that I may become Christ. Pure bread."

   "Come here, you step back." Louis said.

   "Let me accompany you," said Ciel.

   "Then just a moment," said Louis, "just tell me about Antonia."

"Antonia..." Ciel couldn't help showing a hint of guilt: "The wizard also said that they can no longer make any beneficial changes to Antonia's hip bone. She regrets that she was not able to attend this grand ceremony. She hopes very much. Once again I can say my compliments and thanks to you.”

   "It's me who needs to be thankful," Louis said. "She was hurt so badly under Carlos II that she shouldn't have given birth so often."

   "She's very happy," Ciel recalled the Queen's expression when she said this, and couldn't help but smile: "Father, you don't know how happy she was when she gave birth to Alfonso."

"Daughter of the Habsburgs." Louis sighed, thinking of the queen mother and the queen. Habsburg men only regarded them as gifts and chips, but who knows what kind of fire burns in their hearts? ?

   "Do you still love her?" Louis asked. "I was asked if I should find a French lady to be your 'Lady Royale', but I refused."

   "Thank you," said Charles, "I don't need it." Speaking of love, he didn't know if he and the queen were in love—it must be said that they were more like a pair of comrades than a husband and wife. The Habsburgs have been operating in Spain for two hundred years. How can the remaining power be easily erased by a contract? When he ascended the throne in the Cathedral of Toledo, he was only a young adult, but he was faced with numb people, ministers who were full of doubts and thoughts, as well as the ghosts in the court. He not only had to handle political affairs, inspect military affairs, but also To balance the power of the French and Spanish in the court - before he could sort out a clue, another important matter was placed before him, and that was his marriage.

As we all know, a king's marriage can sell for an unbelievable good price, but at that time Charles-Carlos III encountered more than one problem, a princess of his age or the daughter of a duke - none; the French wanted him to marry A French noblewoman, the Spaniards wanted him to marry a Spanish noblewoman; he deliberately postponed the marriage, and there were rumors that he might be incompetent...Even Queen Teresa wrote euphemistically, asking whether she would like to marry her. He recommends several credible female officials...

   "I was surprised when you wrote to me and said if you could choose Antonia, the eldest daughter of Leopold I, as my wife," Louis said.

Louis admired and appreciated Antonia's courage, but when it came to marriage, he did not include her in Carlos III's marriage candidate at the beginning. Age was nothing, in political marriage, nephew, uncle Close relatives such as nephews, or both of them are underage, or even toddlers, or there is a huge difference in age, but Antonia is not a qualified wife candidate in the eyes of men of this era.

   When she defected to Rome, she betrayed her husband and her in-laws, as well as her father and her family. If it were not for the protection of Louis XIV, any women’s convent in Rome would not accept her. People thought that although she survived, it was equivalent to death, until her brother Philip the younger came to the throne and sent an envoy to ask her to return to Vienna, but she refused, and now even her mother thought she was a She was mad, but when Elarius visited her, she calmly said that once she returned to Vienna, little Philip, as her male family member, had the right to arrange a marriage for her. Busburg was at a weak time. As soon as she returned, she would be sold at an estimated price. At that time, her situation would probably not be much better than when she was in Toledo.

It's really awesome to be such a woman, especially because she doesn't look like a princess and a princess, and has no systematic education. Her father, Leopold I, was always dissatisfied that she was not a boy and was in a hurry. Before deciding to marry her to Spain, the princess, like all noble girls, received the most superficial and useless education.

When Carlos III decided to make her his wife, the French and the Spaniards miraculously stood together. The Spaniards disapproved of the Habsburg daughter's return to Toledo, fearing that she would stand in the Habsburgs. The French believed that she was too old and had too little time to give birth, and there were rumors in Toledo that the princess might not be able to conceive. The marriage contract and the succession to the Spanish throne are all on the table.

However, Carlos III revealed the stubbornness and enlightenment inherited from the Sun King in this matter. He personally went to Rome to ask Princess Antonia's opinion. Antonia considered it for several days and asked the French doctor to see it. Agreed to the marriage proposal of Carlos III.

If Louis XIV did not speak on this matter, almost no one could speak, and Philip IV, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, subtly remained silent, and if Antonia was indeed infertile, he could The possibility of getting Spain, if Antonia is pregnant, then the future king of Spain still has the blood of Habsburg.

   Antonia did not have children until the fifth year, when everyone was almost desperate, but fortunately she did not pass the Queen Mother of France, Anne. The first child was a boy, and then she announced her pregnancy again when her eldest son was seven months old. The royal family must wait until about three months before the official announcement. That is to say, she was pregnant again when her eldest son was four months old. , After giving birth to the eldest daughter, she had a second son, then a third son, and a fourth son.

How important an heir is, just look at the madness of Leopold I and the ten-year war for the Spanish throne. After the birth of the eldest son, Carlos III could even feel that the old ministers of Toledo were questioning and guarding. The dreadful attitude suddenly eased—his Spanish squire, Jose Patinho, told him that this was what they felt was the right way to inherit the throne, like the red and white roses of England (Lancaster). With York), the victor and the loser make a marriage contract, and the two noble bloodlines fuse together and finally bear the fruit of peace. Isn't it a joy for both?

It can't be said that this child plays a key role, but he is indeed a breakthrough, like a rush of water to wash away the mud, the old chronic diseases accumulated by Spain under the Habsburg rule finally got a chance to heal, until today, Carlos III Finally became the king of Spain recognized by everyone...

   is not a puppet, nor is it a rebellion, but a vigorous branch.

It's just that Antonia's continuous childbirth at all costs finally made the bones in her body become loose and fast, and even the wizard's medicine was helpless. Two years ago, she suffered a broken hip after a fall, and she still has to rely on a wheelchair to move around. She was ten years older than Carlos III, and doctors said she probably had no chance of getting back on her feet.

   "She said she had nothing to regret," Charles said, and then he paused, wondering if he should have said that.

"She will be happy with anything that can make Leopold I and his allies unhappy." Louis said on his behalf. He understood Antonia's heart. With the mentally deformed Carlos II, and allowing her to be tortured and humiliated, she can still hold a little hope for her father and his ministers - then, after she escaped to Rome, not only did she fail to get The asylum that the country and her father should grant (even if it is just to question Spain on her behalf), was instead regarded as a criminal of treason, either asking her to return to Spain immediately or asking her to die. Completely blown away.

   "So never underestimate the lady beside you." Louis said with emotion.

"So I think it's enough for me to have Antonia." Charles said, in addition to his fiery revenge, Antonia is no worse than his two sisters, both of whom have no royal wife, he thinks He doesn't need either.

   "Okay, as you like." Louis said, and then suddenly felt the light shaking, he raised his head and made sure that the light and dark changes at this time were not his own illusion.

  Ciel also found out, "It seems that I should leave, father, I will wait for you in the dean's room."

  Louis nodded.

Before Charles left, the candlelight suddenly changed from heavy gold to light cobalt blue. The chapel seemed to lose its color in an instant. The lion on the colored window was covered with thick frost, and the small thorns stretched out in all directions, silent. There were countless tiny flapping sounds in the air.

   A warm sable cloak fell over Louis' shoulders. Then, almost instantly, a figure appeared beside the king.

  Louis stretched out his hand, palm up, and the other hand immediately came up.

The hand is the best indicator of age. Even if Louis, who seems to be favored by God, the skin on his hand has become thin and loose, and can almost slide on the bones, but his palm is still hot, and the other hand, It's cold, smooth, like ceramics.

   The two hands were tightly clasped together.

Well, tomorrow's update of "Saint" is about the original Alex (the one who was replaced by the lich in "Undead Reign") after he came to the plane of the lich and inherited The story of the elf girl with the name Ilda.

   This side story is because an old reader of mine asked me that the lich replaced Alex, isn't it a bit pitiful for the uninformed queen and the original Alex?

   I thought about it, it might take a lot of words to explain, so I simply wrote an extra post to answer it, and I also thanked her for her selfless help before.

In addition, I can't find the q that started with 248. Please pay attention to the readers who joined this q group, do not have any economic dealings, I am a high social fear, and readers will feel embarrassed for giving rewards and will not want to borrow money. What.

   The new article is in the archive, tentatively named "King of the Holy Land".

   Louis also has the Duke of Orleans and Hyundai's extras, but it will take a few days.

   (end of this chapter)