I Am Louis XIV

This kind of situation can be said to be commonplace for people in Paris and Versailles, but it is extremely unexpected and bitter for Duke Saint-Simon and his colleagues. There are many kings who are supported and even deified, such as the former Saint Louis. But for someone like Louis XIV, who is regarded by the people as a saint, a master, a protector, and even an amiable and respectable elder (although the king is only forty years old this year), they still First time seeing it.

There are many kings who are feared by the people. In other words, it is not difficult to do this, as long as there are enough gallows and beheading stands, but it is not easy to make the people fear them - Louis XIV seems Having great confidence in himself, his Guards never drove away the people who were chasing the royal chariot. If someone's carriage got stuck in the mud, or a horse or mule broke its leg, there would still be soldiers running away laughing. Go over and help. If someone prays loudly, the king or duke will listen to their wishes and order the officials to deal with it or give them some rewards.

It is difficult to say exactly how the Duke of Saint-Simon should be described - but as the king's motorcade moved farther and farther away from Saint-Germain-en-Laye, he became more and more silent, and his "friends" rarely gathered and eagerly talked together. They became more and more silent during the discussion. When the convoy was still fifty miles away from Dunkirk, the Duke of Saint-Simon was not so surprised when he saw one of their countes walking up to the king and bowing to him.

But he still couldn't make up his mind to hand over the last bit of power in his hand, which was what he originally wanted to exchange power and status with the king.

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Louis XIV saw all the hesitation of the Duke of Saint-Simon in his eyes. The Duke of Saint-Simon was a mistake made by Louis XIII. , Colbert and even Fouquet, the bad thing about Louis XIII was that he neither maintained his trust in the Duke of Saint-Simon, nor resolutely dealt with him and regained the power he had given him - just like Louis XIV Like Fouquet.

However, Louis XIII was the father of Louis XIV. Of course he would not blame his father. For the Duke of Saint-Simon and those who were as lucky as him, he could wave his thunder scepter like Jupiter and wipe them all out. But twenty years ago, he would have done this. But twenty years later, when his foundation was solid, his treasury was full, and he had many supporters, he did not need to make a big fuss about it. Therefore, whether it is the Duke of Vendôme or the Duke of Orleans, what they see is a calm and leisurely king. His little birds continue to send news from everywhere, and he seems to be admiring Mr. Molière's new Sometimes he laughs at them, sometimes he shakes his head at them.

More and more "followed people" were sent to the Grand Parade, even a Mr. Marquis who "unfortunately" broke his leg while hunting. When he met the Duke of Saint-Simon's eyes, he couldn't help but smile bitterly. Again and again, they are all conservative figures who stick to their territory and will never accept bribes or inducements from the king, but they should really think that their majesty has never been a good person who follows the rules.

There are also some stubborn old people who were not "invited" by the king - although they had to be so - because their children and grandchildren have become the king's hostages. Of course, these young people are all voluntary. Under the suppression of their father or grandfather, they may not be able to leave the territory and go to the king's army, or Paris, or Versailles, but the king is stationed in their castle (confederation). Who can restrain their cheerful feet when the ministers are obliged to provide the best accommodation for the king), or in the palace not far from them? How could they be willing not to take a look at the majestic and amiable King, the handsome Duke of Orleans, the charming Madame de Montespan, and not attend an all-night palace banquet and dance?

Whether they are young men or young women, they cannot listen to the advice and lessons of their elders. Compared with the stubborn old people, they do not value the territories and castles that have been unchanged since they can remember. The king has not deprived them of them. Their titles and property, on the contrary, he also gave them many opportunities - as we all know, the nature of young people is impulsive, curious and arrogant, and with contemporaries like Jean Bart and Joseph Bourbon in front of them, they also How could you think that you would just live a busy life with empty hands?

Of course, the surrender of these young people has been approved and approved by the king. Their heirs have become Louis XIV's bag, so what can the old people do? If they still hold on to their original ideas and practices, their children will be the first to suffer. If the king is more shameless and without an heir, even if they retain their territory and power, who can they hand it over to?

Louis touched his ears,

"What's the matter? Brother?" The Duke of Orleans noticed it and asked sideways under the cover of the wine glass.

"It's a little hot." Louis said: "I heard people say that if you are always being talked about, your ears will get hot." The Duke of Orleans couldn't help laughing after hearing this: "I have never heard of such a saying," he said: "There must be a lot of people talking about you," he looked at the crowd: "The people here who love you and the people who hate you are probably evenly matched."

"Things will eventually be solved." Louis picked up a berry but did not put it in his mouth immediately: "For the King of Bourbon, now is the best time. If you let little Louis do it, I'm not sure he can do a good job." He sighed and did not continue, and the Duke of Orleans did not make a sound. He knew that his brother was a little disappointed with the crown prince Louis, but he and many ministers believed that the king It's a good thing that the Prince Louis is not the second Sun King... They simply can't imagine if there are two Louis XIV - one is young and powerful, with great power; the other is young and ambitious...

Of course, the Duke of Orleans can guarantee that the final winner will definitely be his brother, but this kind of fight will not only hurt France, but even affect the entire Europe - it is like two giant dragons fighting each other.

Little Louis is not like his father, Louis XIV will be disappointed, and more people will only think that this is God's blessing to France.

"But I believe," the Duke of Orleans poured a glass of wine for his brother: "When the grand parade arrives in Dunkirk, many people will change their minds."

"I hope so." Louis XIV said: "I would rather fight a real enemy than a useless internal conflict."

"They will understand your painstaking efforts," said the Duke of Orleans. After all, the one who came forward to convince them this time would be an irresistible behemoth.

Because this time he was stationed in a small city, the place where the king held his banquet was moved to the courtyard instead of the usual hall. The hall of this castle could not accommodate so many people. In fact, the courtyard was also very dilapidated, but in At night, the trees and flowers illuminated by torches and candles outshine the silks and gold foils. In other words, what is lacking is filled with the jewels of ministers and ladies. But among the crowd, the most dazzling thing is not the king or the king. It was the Duke of Orleans, but Madame de Montespan.

The Duke of Orleans once wondered how the king could choose such a royal lady. Although Madame Montespan was beautiful, the Duke knew as soon as he saw her that she would not be the king's type. Look at Marie Manchee earlier. Ni, she was better because of her sincere feelings, and she got to know the king when she was young; later Madame Lavallière, she aroused more of the king's pity, but what about Madame Montespan? She really made a mistake - she only saw that the king treated his royal wife like a general or minister, but failed to truly understand the nature of Louis XIV. No, it should be said that she is not the daughter of Duke Mortemar after all, and her other father is not a sophisticated politician who is good at conspiracy, so that she cannot grasp the most important "line".

The Duke of Orleans listened to Madame Montespan's loud laughter and said in his heart that the worst thing about this lady was that she sold herself too cheap. It was not that he doubted Marie Mancini or Lavallière. The lady's feelings - let's put it this way, for any noble lady in the court, if she can get the king's favor, she will never ask for any material or honorary rewards - it is the king's favor that It is the most precious thing. With the king's favor, what do you want?

Like Madame Montespan... She thought she was smarter than others. She got the position of royal wife from the king, the power to accept bribes and the opportunity to enjoy people's pursuit of flattery, but the king looked at her the same way he looked at Mary, or... Madame de Lavallière is quite different...

The king had not prepared a way out for her.

However, the Duke of Orleans knew many ladies who had such eccentric and extreme ideas that they could not communicate with him. His wife Henrietta, Duchess of Orleans, was also one of them. She originally held a good hand - even though she was often bullied, it was true that she, Louis and Philippe grew up together; because she almost became Louis' wife, but in the end she became his by accident. Henrietta's sister-in-law, and because Philippe, Duke of Orleans, was too romantic, Louis XIV always felt a little sorry for her; later during the war with the Netherlands, Henrietta secretly returned to London, successfully promoted the alliance between Britain and France, and instigated This was indispensable for the relationship between Charles II and the Duke of York. Louis XIV also said to Philip that he should treat his wife well.

But the Duke of Orleans still finds it difficult to accept some of Henrietta's ideas and cannot understand... I wonder if it is because she has been living a wandering and dependent life since she was a baby. She always seems to be shrouded in an invisible layer. Amidst the gloom and sadness, this mood never disappeared after she entered into a marriage contract with the Duke of Orleans. It even affected their daughter, the Princess, and their son. Recently, it has become even worse - perhaps because of the Princess. The Lord no longer believed in her - after all, she had planned to sacrifice the princess twice. It may also be because the Duke of Orleans insisted on sending their son Alex to the Queen Mother for care and education... The Duchess of Orleans thought this was a kind of punishment and torture, but this was only because Alex was too old. He was too young to participate in the grand parade, so he was temporarily taken care of by the Queen Mother who stayed in Versailles. The result was that the Duchess of Orleans remained depressed during the tour and even fell ill upon arrival.

The Duke of Orleans also explained to her that although he and Louis were a little angry that she didn't think highly of the eldest princess, they didn't mean to blame her. She didn't need to worry about it at all. The eldest princess might have some knots in her heart, but her mother What kind of irresolvable hatred is there between women? Let time ease the princess's mood, maybe they can reconcile as before when they return to Versailles.

But there is only one result - futility. It’s not that the Duchess of Orleans didn’t believe what they said, and she also harbored guilt and longing for her daughter, but her tense emotions were like the strings of a piano that could not be loosened from beginning to end, and her worries were like foam rolling on the sea. , disappearing here and reappearing there, the Duke of Orleans has no choice but to hope that changes in the environment will make her condition better.

The most similar thing between her and Madame Montespan is here. They believe that what they think is what they are, and they will not listen to other people's opinions at all, or raise their heads to see the real situation around them - the Duke of Orleans saw Madame Montespan Holding up her wide skirt, surrounded by a group of people, she walked towards the king in high spirits. She was dressed like a nymph (banshee) in the forest, with an aggressive beauty, "and I Dance, Your Majesty," she cried fervently, stretching out her white arms.

"I'm going to meet a few important people later." Louis said, casually handing her his gold cup: "You have a good time here."

If it were Marie Mancini or Madame Lavallière, the Duke of Orleans thought, Louis would at least dance with them before leaving.

There was a complex expression in Mrs. Montespan's eyes that was difficult for others to fathom, "Your Majesty..."

"Go and play," said Louis, "tomorrow morning you will see a gift on the dressing table, you will like it." After that, he nodded to his brother, stood up and left. The Duke of Orleans refrained from asking Madame Montespan A look of pity, but isn't that what she wants?

"I'm going to meet Jean Bart and his uncle." When they were in the corridor, Louis said, "What about you?"

"I want to see Henrietta first." The Duke of Orleans said: "I hope her illness has recovered. If she does not show up at the ceremony, people will inevitably talk about it..."

"Don't force her." Louis said: "Although..." He shook his head: "We will find another way when we return to Versailles."