I Am Louis XIV

   Chapter 497 The King's Third Royal Expedition (7)

When the Duke of Orleans appeared in the Palace of Versailles again in high spirits, not many people knew that the king had left Versailles and went to Fontainebleau to meet his younger brother.

Neither the elder brother nor the younger brother had the melancholy and worry about facing a war that could last for more than ten years, affecting the entire Europa and England. The Duke of Orleans was as personable and enthusiastic as ever. The Sun King Louis XIV, who was keen on **** and gambling, not only danced with several noble ladies, but also won and lost in the play time until midnight. When he said goodbye to everyone, the king might still have thousands of livres in his hand. He threw them into the air and let people pick them up.

The next day people watched Mass, and the third day was the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary—for ease of memory, people at this time often chose religious festivals to hold weddings or sign contracts, and sometimes the dates of birth and death would be as close to the former as possible— The Prince's wedding was held in the Royal Chapel, followed by a grand procession, banquet and dance. From the halls to the streets, there were smiling people everywhere, and officials, merchants, and priests were constantly throwing boxes at the parade. Bronze coins, everyone shouting "Long live the king! Long live France!", the pavement is sprinkled with perfume and flower petals, the gas lampposts are wrapped with ribbons, the flags of Bourbon and the Sun King are draped on the terrace, and the gas lamps are day and night. .

The king rode in a golden carriage, the queen mother and the king’s brother rode in a silver-plated carriage, and the prince and his petite bride rode in an open carriage at the front of the procession, second only to the archbishops and priests. People’s faces flushed with excitement. , hoarse, their gazes frightened even Isabella, but the Dauphin took her hand at once, and silently strengthened her—he had not lived through such a catastrophe as the Frond rebellion, but in Louis XIV's Teach you not to be foolish enough to be as ignorant of the minds and powers of the people as some kings are.

  The proud French respect the strong and despise the weak, even if you are a child, even if you are a lady.

As an outsider, she wants to be their crown princess, the future queen Isabella, if she puts on an arrogant and fearless posture, people will not feel disgusted even if they criticize a little, but if she Showing a cowardly look, or being too humble, will make some people go ahead and do whatever they want.

  When Louis XIV was about to go on an expedition, the younger brother, the Duke of Orleans, who had already fulfilled his mission, was bound to be left as the regent. While the king was still there, what about the crown prince, who could never point fingers at the government? Although he does not need to deal with state affairs, it does not mean that he will have nothing to do. On the contrary, he will stick to Paris or Versailles as the flag and sight of the Bourbon royal family. When the people do something, the crown prince will be more useful than the Duke of Orleans. After all, his gentle character, which some generals and ministers criticize, is the best way to appease the people.

At this time, a crown princess is very important. Looking at the queen mother, the queen will know, even if she can't have a smart and strong partner like Aquitaine's Eleanor, a queen like the queen mother who doesn't love power, and Terri Queen Sha's obedient wife is also a good thing, but for Isabella - this is a critical moment, if she can be a good wife and princess in these few years, the conflicts she will face in the future will also be It is much more gentle, unless she is infertile; similarly, if something goes wrong with her, let alone the future, the unfortunate crown princess who failed to ascend to the throne of the queen... not without it.

Although Isabella was not quite sure of the rough road she was about to take, the support of the Dauphin really gave her the courage to say to herself that although she was the princess of Portugal, for a long time she had Don't feel like Portugal is your own country - it's hard to call it home when everyone treats them with suspicion and contempt. Well, as Louis XIV, and the Dauphin-Louis, promised, if she could, if she wanted to, be a French... then France would be her home.

   She will spend the second half of her life here, no, if you count her age, it may be most of her life.

  This is my people, my country, my…home.

   she said in her heart, and then gave a smile to the people on both sides of the street.

  ———

After the parade, the crown prince and his wife - not completing the whole ceremony, they lie down on a bed symbolically, and then return to their rooms; Princess Isabella thought she would toss and turn for a long time, but She fell asleep immediately after drinking just a glass of hot milk, and even jumped up in fright when she woke up the next day.

Her Spanish maids have not yet been allowed to enter Versailles, and are surrounded by French maids. These maids are the people who went to greet her. Although they have their own ideas... But under the guidance of the Queen Mother, the Queen, and their male elders, No one dared to make trouble until the king had triumphed.

They quickly put the little princess on her bedclothes and led her to the bathroom next door, where the mist was steaming from the bathtub, and several hands served Isabella at the same time. The mistress, a marquise sent by the Queen Mother, reminded her softly in her ear that if it was normal, she could spend a little longer to enjoy the hot bath water, but today is her official visit to Versailles. On the first day, the king would have breakfast with her.

After the hurried mass, Isabella was taken to the king's suite. As she passed through the long corridor and the spacious waiting room, the sight that fell on her was like arrows, and between her hurried glances, Even if he was almost under house arrest outside the Sintra Palace before, he knew that everyone here is a powerful person who can change the fate of countless people with a single move.

   They can only be like the most humble servants here, eagerly waiting for a call from the king's valet.

Dauphin, no, it should be said that the entire Bourbon royal family waited in the king's small suite for the arrival of the king, from the Duke of Vendôme to the Duke of Orleans, from the Queen Mother to the Duchess of Montpensier, a sheet covered with snow white. The linen rectangular dining table unfolds in the sun, and the table is full of crystal clear glassware, white porcelain plates with gold trim, silver cutlery and fork, seasoning boxes and fragrant flowers.

The sound of   's stick hitting the ground came from far to near, and His Majesty the King walked in.

Unlike the outfits in the previous banquets, Louis always left it to his family in the morning, and he dressed very lightly and plainly. He didn't even wear a big coat, but just a shirt and a velvet vest, with a long belt hanging from one side to his knees. , I don't know if it's because he doesn't have a beard, he doesn't look like someone in his late forties - because Isabella's father, Pedro II, was born in 1948, nearly ten years younger than Louis XIV. years old, but looks older than him.

The king pressed his hand before he sat down, so everyone sat down one after another, and the attendants and servants began to orderly deliver various kinds of bread, jams, butter and other meals. Every meal of his is the same, hot and cold, the ingredients are fresh, and the taste is excellent.

  Isabella was allowed to sit next to the crown prince, "You can be more casual." The crown prince whispered: "Everyone is very relaxed at this time."

Isabella nodded immediately, watching carefully what everyone else was doing, and indeed, everyone was relaxed, from the dress to the gestures, the Duchess of Montpensier even boldly asked the king to pass her the pepper, and the king also complied. The Duke of Orleans rightfully occupied the position to the left of the king, and it was surprising that between him and the Duke of Vendôme there was a high-legged armchair apparently intended for children.

On this chair sits the son of the Duke of Orleans. After his mother died of depression, he was handed over to the queen to raise him, but as Louis reminded Philip, it is impossible to have no father. Fortunately, now Princess Henrietta Having returned to God, the grand princess has also married, and the Duke of Orleans can finally put his son by his side for education.

Like all Bourbons, the duke's son had curly pale blond hair, cheeks like pink rose petals, but his eyes, his mother's, were dark, and he was no more than a child now, but he had an unusual appearance. A melancholy temperament, he was so attached to his father that even Princess Isabella, who had just met him, could see it.

   The king announced near the end of breakfast that he would leave Versailles on the first Monday after the Assumption.

"May God bless you and bless us," said the Queen Mother, and everyone at the table, including the son of the Duke of Orleans, drew a cross and said, "May God bless the king." Isabella slowed down One step, but the king just smiled at her and said he didn't mind.

Speaking of which, many people will not believe it. In the hearts of the Portuguese princess and the crown princess, she does maintain a strong concern for the king of France. In addition to the tolerance and compassion of the French king to her, France will also be her husband and her husband. The son's country, Portugal, is now an ally of France. If France loses in this war, no matter where she was born or where she is buried, she will suffer a lot.

Especially Portugal, if France fails, then relying on the power and achievements before Louis XIV, it is not difficult to maintain the original territorial integrity, but Portugal may not be, even if it is to embarrass Louis XIV, Habu. Leopold I of Fort would also have to reinstate Portugal to Spain, so that Isabella's identity would be questioned - how could a princess without a state be recognized? There may be no place for her in the world.

   She likes it here, maybe in the future, and she doesn't want to leave here.

What the little princess thinks is not in the scope of Louis XIV's concern. He has taught the queen, the dauphin, and even the Madame de Montespan and the Duchess of Montpensier. He is not at all worried about them. Takes Isabella in the wrong direction. He is more willing to care about whether Pedro II has thoroughly implemented the terms of the marriage contract-according to the agreement, Pedro II should be an ally of France and jointly attack the anti-French forces in Spain.

To be honest, if Pedro II had enough strength to fight against the Habsburgs, he would not have done such a crazy and despicable thing. After all, he is healthy and powerful, and can wait for his paralyzed brother to see God. Afterwards, he ascended to the throne with brilliance, but the position of the princess of France is too hot, even Leopold I, if the latter did not have no daughters, the self-proclaimed enemy of Louis XIV would definitely compete. A fight.

But no, and not wanting are two different things. The Sun King of France condescended to marry Pedro II, and Pedro II had to show his due attitude. Louis XIV was even more aware of human nature. The Talonians, who were obviously begging the king of France for help in breaking away from the cruel Spanish rule, were hampered everywhere, contrary to their initial attitude - if Louis XIV because of Without the Portuguese indulging Pedro II's careful thinking, the Portuguese would have laughed at the French for being too naive.

After all, the situation of Pedro II was different from that of William I of Prussia. The princes of the Holy Roman Empire were separated between Prussia and France. He was also a servant of the emperor. From morality to law, as well as the actual situation, he was not allowed to Immediately stand on the French side, if he can contain the two major religious princes, it can be said to be a help.

When he knew that the Portuguese fleet had left the port and sailed to the predetermined sea area, Louis XIV had already arrived at Saint-Germain-en-Laye. According to the time, Pedro II had already begun to mobilize the army before the ceremony was over. Louis was satisfied He personally wrote a letter to Pedro II, in which he reassuringly described various matters about the wedding. Don't underestimate this letter. If the French refuse to recognize this marriage in the future, Pedro II can take this letter to the Pope and pray for the Holy Trial.

   "Your Majesty..."

   "What's the matter, Bontang."

"There is a priest...a very young priest. From Toledo, he was discovered by our spies on his way to Paris, and they suspected him of being a spy because he carried a signed letter from the Archbishop of Toledo and some papers. "

   (end of this chapter)