I Am Louis XIV

   Chapter 22 The King's Marriage

   "Is that the illegitimate son of Urban VIII?"

Louis turned his head and saw his brother Philip sticking his head out of the door: "Don't be like that," he rebuked mildly. "It's not polite. Bontang, go get a chair," he added. Turning to Philip: "Did Mother go to Mass again?"

"Yes." Philip said, he walked in from the outside, before the "suspenders" ceremony, he could only wear a luxurious little skirt of silk satin, but inside the overskirt hung something that Louis gave him Dagger, he walked all the way to Louis, curtseyed to him, and then moved to the armchair that Bontang had brought in - there are only three people who can sit face-to-face with the king in this palace for the time being, Bishop Mazarin, Queen Anne and her younger brother Philip, in fact, Bishop Mazarin did not agree with Louis' tolerance to Philip. According to him, the younger brother should stand in front of the king like a courtier.

Louis did not think that these red tapes would be of any use to true careerists. Gaston, Duke of Orleans, kissed his brother's robe when Louis XIII was alive, but he was not merciful when he rebelled, and he For Philip, there is indeed a sense of guilt, which makes him always extra tolerant to this younger brother.

"Where are you going to have dinner, Your Majesty?" Bontang asked respectfully. The young king was a very emotional person. His breakfast was usually served in the bedroom alone, and his lunch depended on the time and place. Sometimes in the study, sometimes in the courtyard, sometimes in the woods (while he was out hunting); but usually he would dine with the Queen Mother, her younger brother and relatives (that is, Queen Mary of England and Princess Henrietta, Montpensy). The Duchess of Aye or the Prince of Condé) together, they would exchange some interesting rumours during the meal, and occasionally listen to music. For the dinner dishes, the king often personally inquires, trying his best to take care of everyone's taste and ensure health and deliciousness.

"Today, Philip and I are using it in the small hall." The small hall is one of the promenades on the ground floor of Richelieu's house facing the garden. It has become its advantage, and the room is small enough that only a few charcoal fires can heat it - the current royal family does not care about the cost of a little charcoal fire now, but thinking of the tens of thousands of hungry mobs outside, Louis is really Can't stand tossing fees that are useless.

He rose from his seat, and Philip jumped up quickly, and stretched his arms to the king, although the queen mother always called him "my little girl", and the attendants and servants always treated a princess with the attitude Treat him, but Philip is not too slanted about his position - he is like a knight in a state of mind, ready to let the king take his arm, both as His Majesty's pillar and His Majesty's shield.

   "Bring my beaver-skin hat," said Louis. "Bring it to Philip, we're going down a long way down the corridor."

The Tibetan-clothed chief behind Bang Tang immediately walked out the door and ordered the dressed attendants today. The dressed attendants gave orders to the servants. The king and his younger brother waited for a few minutes before finally putting on their hats and heavy cloaks. He walked towards the small hall hand in hand.

Before that, Bontang also issued an order to the chief in charge of the charcoal fire, so that the charcoal fire in the small hall could be ignited, but this was not something that the king would care about. When he and his brother arrived, the small hall was already warm. , the king sits at the main seat of the dining table, and the younger brother accompanies him on the left hand side, pouring water for the king and configuring the seasoning. Louie asked him to pour himself a glass of water, picked out some pepper sauce, and then let him go back to his place, "Thank you," he said, "Philip, thank you very much for your service, you can sit down, there are today The pigeons you like, you should eat as much as you can."

Philip bowed and thanked the king before he sat down calmly. Today's pigeons were stewed, stuffed with white mushrooms and chopped celery, with only salt and pepper. The younger brother shared a pigeon, but also a cream of beet soup.

Although there should be four soups according to the rules, but Louis banned such rules very early, gluttony is a way of showing off wealth and power for people today, but for a king who has not been able to formally contact government affairs. Not so necessary.

Then came the roast duck stuffed with apples. The king only chose some duck **** and apples baked together. Apples are probably the only fruit that can be roasted and will be sweeter after being roasted, besides pineapples and bananas. After soaking in the sweet and sour juice, the fatty duck skin will also become refreshing, and Wang's younger brother Philip ate a pair of duck legs with relish.

The third course consisted of roasted lamb, sliced ​​ham, boiled eggs and cheese. Louis chose only some slices of ham and put them on the plate. When the main dish came up, he wrapped the thinly sliced ​​lettuce with ham and cheese. It was eaten, and sometimes he carried his lunch in this way when he was out hunting, so it was called "king's bread" and quickly became popular among the nobles, even when the Bishop of Mazarin was busy with his official business. Also called a "King Bread".

   followed by three different jams, lingonberry, peach and blackberry. The king picked some lingonberry jam and rubbed it on the bread that only had a bite size. It was the end of today's meal.

Wang's brother Philip eats a lot of jams. In winter, there are not many fruits, only jams. Louis has always been very cautious about this so-called jam, which is similar to adding fruit to sugar, but from the Queen Mother to Philip, there is no one who ignores it. Like life.

At last the attendant brought the milk, and Philip frowned as soon as he saw it. He didn't like milk, but it was something his brother ordered him to eat, "because it makes you taller." The king said so Said - Louie watched Philip add several tablespoons of jam to it before drinking it reluctantly. It was funny and helpless. He also ordered the cook to add almonds to the milk to get rid of the taste that children did not like, but this method was very fast. It was objected by the Queen Mother Anne, because... most poisons have almond flavor. Once any food has almond flavor in it, it is difficult to say whether it will suddenly become deadly.

   This is not a joke, as mentioned earlier, the unfortunate eldest son of Philip III died from a sauce with grated cherry pits.

Not only did Philip drink it, but Louis also drank it. They are now in the first developmental stage, and they must lay a solid foundation. It is not a joke. At this time, the king and the duke still need to go to the battlefield, not to mention that there is another world now. The monsters and unknown people stared at him in the dark - they obviously had no reverence for the king, just like the citizens of Paris.

"Tell the cook today that the stewed pigeon is very well done, and give him a little Ecu." Louis said, "Please prepare another copy for my aunt and my cousin. The weather is so cold that the soup is too cold. More pepper."

   Bontang immediately ordered to retreat.

The younger brother, who was lazily holding a pickled olive and eating bite by bite, couldn't help pouting, and Louis gave him a stern look: "Don't be like this, Philip, they are our relatives, we should have take care of them."

   "But they all said it was because you fell in love with Henrietta," said Philip.

   "What kind of **** is this," Louis said angrily. "I should have warned the people around you that Henrietta is only six years old. What kind of person can fall in love with a six-year-old child?"

Philip was silent for a while. "That's good," he said. "Mother is very worried about this. They are not going to make Henrietta your wife." He fiddled with the silver knife and fork in front of him. This was Mary. . Medici was brought into the French court after marrying from Italy to France. At that time, people in the French court preferred to eat with their fingers. At that time, some priests accused this Medici daughter of being too extravagant. From Louis XIII onwards , the court gradually began to return to its original state, and when Louis XIV was able to decide how to eat, the knife and fork were on the table again.

   "What do you know?" Louis doesn't walk around the Queen Mother very much, so the news in this regard may not be as well-informed as Philip.

"Because of your previous insistence," said Philip, "your . . . leniency towards Charles, Duke of Cornwall, has raised suspicions among some that they may not be able to accept an English princess as queen, although Queen Mary of England and Princess Henrietta is clearly very willing to enter into this marriage."

   "They're right," said Louie, "I wouldn't choose Henrietta as my wife."

   "Why, don't you love her?" Philip asked: "Although I hate her very much, in terms of identity, appearance and cultivation, Henrietta is indeed a good choice."

Louis smiled, and since he knew he was Louis XIV, he was sure that his future marriage would not simply be about love and identity, "I won't marry Henrietta." He reiterated - England and France Just like two sharp swords, they can only be antagonistic, but not compatible. He aids the Duke of Cornwall only because as a king he must stand firmly against the traitor, and his future wife must be from a capable man. A country of mutual benefit with France, Henrietta was out from the start.

Philip obviously wanted to say something else, but suddenly there was a crisp click outside the door. The king immediately jumped up from his chair and rushed out. There was no one outside the door. Lowering his waist, he picked up a small bag. This bag was familiar to him. When he put it on his nose, he smelled a strong smell of sulfur, and immediately identified the identity of the person who came.

   "It's all right," he went in and said to Philip, who looked equally nervous. "I know who that man is," he paused. "Not the enemy."

   (end of this chapter)