I Am Louis XIV

The king passed through the crowd and took his seat at the front. Beside him sat the queen and the Duke of Orleans, and outside were the princess and the crown prince. Behind them were hundreds of dignitaries. If one of them was chosen at random, it would be Powerful people, powerful people who can decide the fate of countless people with a single word and deed, but here, they are as dim as the stars in the same sky as the sun.

Chambord Castle is the proud work of Francois I. Unfortunately, because of successive years of war, he died before the construction of this castle with hundreds of rooms was completed. Later kings built the missing parts intermittently. ——It’s not their intention. After all, Chambord is in Blois, not in Paris or Versailles. The king usually only uses it as a hunting palace or summer palace.

The building was finally completed in the fifteenth year of Louis XIV's reign.

If there is anything special about Chambord, it is to ensure that each room has independent heating (fireplace) equipment and toilet facilities. It is the exhaust channel and drain pipe of the fireplace.

Another special feature goes back to the period of King Francois I. As it is said, Leonardo da Vinci, one of the three masters of the Renaissance, lived in France after wandering in Milan, Rome and Florence for many years. And he died here, Francois I welcomed and respected him very much, there were even rumors that Da Vinci died in the arms of Francois I.

When Francois I was building Chambord, Da Vinci, who was still alive at that time, provided him with part of the design. The most credible is a pair of spiral staircases that surround each other. People who go up and down from these two stairs can interact with each other. Seeing but not meeting, its shape - if you look at it hundreds of years later, it will probably feel like a DNA chain, which is very elegant and has a sense of fashion ahead.

Some people say that it was set up by François I to avoid direct encounters between the queen and the royal wife. Louis didn't think so. If a king can't even make arrangements for his wife and the royal wife, it is even more difficult to govern such a huge country. It's a joke, but Francois I is a very admirable king.

The Guangyao Troupe performed in front of this double spiral staircase. This is not a strictly regular play—although Molière is an excellent playwright, the troupe often performs some old plays—of course, the audience likes new ones. , the pursuit of excitement, but familiar things will also make them feel comfortable, and it can better reflect the talents and talents of the actors of a troupe.

The mythical themes of ancient Greece and Rome will not only be used by painters and sculptors, but also by actors and theater troupes. After all, the oldest plays, that is, the tragicomedies performed by the ancient Greeks in BC wearing masks, are mostly based on to those legends.

Louis XIV has always called himself the Sun King. His ministers and generals did not want to say that name outright at some sensitive times, and they also used "Apollo" to refer to this noble majesty, but Molière felt... Cupid and Psyche are better compared to Louis XIV and Mary Mancini than the sun god and the muses or other goddesses.

In such a small drama, the veil cannot be pulled up. The actors walk down the double helix staircase slowly and appear in front of people, but they cleverly fit the content of the drama.

The story of Cupid and Psyche is a bit more tortuous than other love stories in Roman myths and legends. Although people in later generations like to describe Cupid as a baby, in the story of Cupid and Psyche, Cupid has grown into a handsome man. Young gods. Psyche is the daughter of an earthly king. Because of her unparalleled beauty, she is admired even more than Venus. When Venus was angry, she asked Cupid to bring a golden arrow to make Psyche fall in love with an ugly Beasts (Cupid's golden arrow can make one fall in love with any kind of creature).

Who knew that when Cupid saw Psyche, he couldn't help being overwhelmed by Psyche's beauty. He couldn't disobey his mother, so he gave an oracle to let the king send Psyche to a high tower, and he met Psyche at night. Yes, love, to be a couple that no one knows but is extremely happy.

The only thing he asked of Psyche was that he never look in his face.

But Psyche's sisters, perhaps out of jealousy or worry, thought that Psyche's husband might be a terrible monster. Under their instigation, Psyche lit up the cupid after Cupid fell asleep. The candle saw his face, and tears of wax fell on Cupid's face, waking up the young god, and Cupid, furious and startled, returned to Olympus, never to be seen again.

Unable to repent, Psyche went to the temple of Venus to pray to the goddess of love and beauty. Of course Venus was very annoyed, but under the persuasion of the gods and the plea of ​​Cupid, she finally agreed, as long as Psyche If you pass the test she set, you can come to Mount Olympus and reunite with Cupid.

According to legend, Psyche completed the test, was recognized by the gods, and became one of the gods on Mount Olympus. But in "Cupid and Psyche" by Guangyao Theater Company, the story ends abruptly when Psyche vows to pass the test no matter how much suffering he suffers, and to get his love back.

The black-haired girl stood in front of the audience, her loud singing soared into the sky, and the echoes echoed in this splendid palace. The determination and faint despair contained in it were as exciting as digging out a heart from a dissected chest. Shocked——

Is Psyche wrong? Of course, she is wrong, but her fault comes from Cupid's fault.

Cupid fell in love with Psyche, but in his heart, this love was unequal and unreasonable. He was condescending and asked a girl in love to remain rational and calm, but this was not right from the very beginning. possible.

How can love be controlled and calculated?

Psyche made a mistake, and Mary made a mistake; Psyche accepted the test, and Mary also accepted the test; Psyche finally got his love back, and so did Mary, but this love—— She exchanged her own life for it.

The last note fell, and the huge hall was silent, even the Duke of Orleans, who was most favored by the king, did not dare to make a sound.

The king is crying.

Silent weeping is always more painful than loud wailing, and this may be the first and last time people see the Sun King weeping in public, unscrupulously, happily, without A trace of concealment, which is heartbreaking and then palpitating - the blue eyes are like lakes reflecting the sky after being washed by tears, and the transparent teardrops on the cheeks and skirts are shining like diamonds.

His waist is still straight, his hands are on the armrests of the chairs on both sides, his sight penetrates the actors in front of him, the double spiral staircase behind the actors, the band and scenery behind the stairs, the room and walls behind, and he sees the far side , the place where Mary died.

He watched for a long time. No one dared to disturb the current king. Finally, he turned his eyes back and landed on Molière who was hiding in the shadows. bowed.

"Aren't you ever worried that I'd be angry with you?" Louis asked.

"I have been worried, Your Majesty." Molière said, "But you have bestowed upon us as much as the sun bestows on mankind, and our little effort is like holding a candle to illuminate the sun, perhaps in vain. , may only add to the laughing stock, but Your Majesty, could it be that we can... watch... watch you..." He stopped talking, but in that hotel, he said a lot—whether it was He, or LeBron, or Lu Li and Beauchamp, if the king bestowed them only money and official positions, they would certainly be excited and grateful, but they would not give up everything they have now.

But the king asked them to establish four art academies, making Paris the center of the third renaissance. Even if they cannot be compared with the former three masters of the renaissance, they can also be said to be the four founders who are recorded by people, so Lully and Molière were extremely resolute in taking this risk, and the timid Beauchamp and the eldest Le Blanc finally participated in this dangerous conspiracy.

Louis raised his eyes and looked around. Molière did not use those seasoned actors. The performers of Cupid and Psyche were only fourteen or fifteen years old, the most beautiful and purest youth, as shown in the statues and paintings. , boys and girls, if the love between them is not mixed with too many impurities, how bright and moving it will be, but it is precisely because of this impurities that it is unforgettable and hard to give up.

"I think I want to thank you." Louis said, his cheeks were still stained with tears, but he could already smile from the bottom of his heart. He stood up, patted Molière's shoulder lightly, and nodded to the people behind him. Jawed his head and walked out of the hall.

When passing by Molière, many people cast admiring and amazed eyes on the playwright. It is not that no one noticed the king’s silence, but Mary Mancini has already had two royal wives, Moreover, it can be said that Mary was "hidden" under the charge of crimes-it was not uncommon in the past, if a nobleman committed an unforgivable crime, but the king or powerful people did not want him to die, It was possible to send him away or imprison him anonymously—no one thought Marie could go back to Paris, the Louvre or Versailles, but no one thought that the king's feelings for her would be so strong. profound.

Compared with the great Condé, the Prince of Conti, the Marquis of Loise, the Count of d'Artagnan, etc., although Molière is quite famous as a playwright, he has nothing to hesitate about in terms of economy after winning the favor of the king. place, but it would be a joke to say that there is any power, but this was all before today. There is no doubt that after today, the king will at least be willing to listen to him to say a few words-this will inevitably make some people His face was distorted from jealousy.

Molière remembered the faces of these people one by one in his heart. People in the Palace of Versailles may not remember their friends, but they must remember their enemies. After everyone had left, he was greatly relieved and sat down on his buttocks. on the ground.

Then Lully, LeBron and Beauchamp all ran over and sat with him on the cold floor.

"It cost me half my life," said LeBron, who has been up all night these days and has drawn a dozen backgrounds for this little play—a scroll that can be rolled up, and when the scene needs to be changed, someone will put it down from it. and take it back.

"Your Majesty is very pleased, that's all." Beauchamp said, holding his chest to prevent his heart from beating out.

Molière and Lully exchanged glances. The original intentions of Beauchamp and LeBlanc were not so pure. Fortunately, Molière won the bet—he was unknown in the Palace of Versailles, but as a playwright with outstanding observation skills, the King The emotional entanglement with Marie Mancini could not escape his eyes, "They are obviously a good couple..." He said involuntarily, and then closed his mouth.

He could secretly speculate and comfort the king, but he could say it clearly—this was absolutely not allowed.

After today, the Sun King is just the Sun King.

"I think we should congratulate Mr. Molière in advance," LeBlanc said, "How do you think His Majesty will reward Molière?" He hesitated for a moment: "It won't be a title..."

"Then we will bow to Mr. Molière from now on. Master Molière, good morning, good noon, good evening!" Beauchamp laughed haha, raised his hat and made a few exaggerated movements, Molière Seeing it in his eyes, he knew that they were also starting to be jealous, "I can't do it without you, Your Majesty knows." He said: "Your Majesty is not the kind of person who treats one favorably than another, I think we may all get a generous reward."

"That would be nice," LeBron said, wondering if he should paint a portrait of Marie Mancini...

"I think you'll have an extra income soon," Lully said. "People in Brittany are going crazy recently. They are desperately trying to find someone who can represent them in front of His Majesty."

"Do I look so stupid?" Molière said wearily.

"They've got to try," Lully said.

—————

Things that can be known to foreigners like Lu Li, of course, cannot be called secrets.

Louis XIV smiled when he saw the letter presented to him after passing countless hands. This was his second smile today. The Duke of Orleans also slowly let go of his hanging heart. , he is of course closer to the king than Molière, but Louis's calm made him not know what to do... Of course a king knows that he should cover up his weaknesses - and as a prince with a sensitive identity, he must not be the one The man who opened the wound.

"A moderate from Brittany, it is said," said the Duke of Orléans.

The king laughed a third time, a biting smile: "These fellows—these moderates always appear when there is no other way, and when they gain the upper hand, the moderates seem to be dead, Bretons And so it is with the Dutch."

"So……"

"Let the Duke of Luxembourg go on, Brittany... no, the three Maritimes from now on, tell him that he will never have to hear what those people are crying until he has combed the three provinces thoroughly," said Louis: "We may be busy for a while—Philippe, I am going to move some Orleans to Brittany."

I wish you all the best, happiness and health in the new year!

There will be a random little blessing today, adults who voted for recommendation and monthly tickets, please pay attention.