I Am Louis XIV

  Chapter 8 Accompanying Merchant Colbert

Queen Mother Anne frowned. She couldn't understand what Bishop Mazarin meant. This Spanish princess was not a person sensitive enough to politics, but she was more tolerant and patient. For example, Bishop Mazarin was in front of her. , who was once the disciple and political heir of Bishop Richelieu, and in the early days of Louis XIII, the Austrian Anne was not less hit by the then Queen Mother Marie de' Medici and her ally Richelieu. When Louis XIII died, people thought that she would use her status as the mother of the king to suppress Mazarin severely, and even put him in prison.

But Anne didn't do that. Not only did she not, she didn't even follow Louis XIII's order to set up a parliament to take charge of the state. The operation of the huge empire, so there have been rumors that the Queen Mother Anne has an ambiguous relationship with the Prime Minister Bishop Mazarin - they all say that Mazarin is the "ruler" of France and Queen Anne.

  Only the Queen Mother and the Bishop knew that this was nonsense. There was absolutely no harmony between the two of them, and it was only for the sake of France and the king that they were able to get along.

Although Bishop Mazarin was troubled by all kinds of things, he had to settle down so that the Queen Mother Anne would know that the young king had nothing to worry about. In fact, it was precisely because there was nothing to worry about. It is strange, after all, he is only a ten-year-old child - a child, especially a boy, whether it is a king or a beggar, will always do some bizarre things to make adults laugh and laugh - but Louis's sensitivity to power still can't help but let him. Mr. Bishop was surprised.

But after understanding the details, he changed his original thoughts. This is not a child's willfulness. Louis's thoughts are obviously more complicated and profound than he thought, and he is also more ruthless than his peers. The bishop blamed these on the Foliage. The insecurities brought by the rebellion of people and the atrocities of dark creatures to the king - but then he couldn't help but pay more attention to his king in his busy schedule. Unexpectedly, the people who came into contact with the king It is said that he is a good majesty who is elegant and kind, humble, fair, and virtuous.

Saint-Germain-en-Laye once lived in many French kings. It was originally a monastery built by Robert II in the 11th century. After the monastery was gradually expanded into a city, Louis IX built a palace here, and Charles V built a palace here. A new residence has been erected on the ruins of this palace. François I, Henry IV and Louis XIII have also renovated this castle-like palace and city, so the people here are not those in the backcountry. Hillbilly, to get their approval is not something that can be done with a little favor.

And they can't even show small favors now, although Bishop Mazarin has no advantage at the negotiating table (he signed the "Peace of Westphalia" in 1648, winning Verdun, Metz and Alsace for France Sri Lanka), but finances are not his specialty.

In the case of resigning many court servants helplessly, and even selling the queen mother's jewelry and costumes, the young king can still maintain the dignity of a ruler and win the love of the people of Saint-Germain-en-Laye. It is something worthy of admiration and praise, that's why Bishop Mazarin made such a sigh involuntarily today.

"But it's a good thing, isn't it?" The Queen Mother Anne was very calm. "It's Louis, not my little princess Philippe, or the duke of Gaston, or the first prince (referring to the Prince of Condé). , collateral line of the Bourbon dynasty), what have we to worry about?"

   "That's what you said," said Bishop Mazarin, but he couldn't relax.

But soon, he was no longer entangled in this matter, because there were more and more important matters waiting for him to deal with, but in the evening, the teacher of His Royal Highness Philip was reprimanded because he praised Philip The little Highness is intelligent and diligent, and this is not what the Queen Mother wants to see.

Little Highness Philip's teacher was quickly replaced, and the Queen Mother and her maids were more keen to dress up their "little girls". Even the ministers would compliment her natural beauty, elegance and amiability. Louis wanted to bring her When the younger brother went hunting, he was scolded by the Queen Mother for a rare occasion—perhaps he mentioned to the Queen Mother the relationship between when to hold the "sling pants" ceremony for the younger brother Philip.

Louis had to go hunting with Marie Mancini. Of course, he had many loyal followers around him, and the leader was the supervisor Nicholas Fouquet. Together with the Queen Mother and the Bishop of Mazarin, he had to abandon Paris and live in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, which he regarded as a great opportunity. He not only brought some reliable officials, but also recruited one from accompanying merchants A considerable sum of money for the daily expenses of the Queen Mother and the King.

Of course, such a person must be rewarded, but now both the bishop and the queen dowager are in a pinch, so the king gave the Mr. Fouquet the honor of hunting with him, and allowed him to hunt for himself throughout the hunting process. Keep the gunpowder bag.

M. Fouquet was flattered by such an honor, especially when he heard that he was the first minister to receive such an honor, and for this he specially presented the king with a red velvet coat worth five hundred livres, decorated with Rows of silver buttons, lined in dark brown ferret.

  When leaving the castle of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Marie, who was traveling with him, saw the king on a horse specially gesture to a gatekeeper, but the face was very unfamiliar, "Who is that?" She asked curiously.

"It was Jean-Baptiste Colbert," said Louis. "My horse broke its leg and neck when I met the werewolf, and they found a suitable replacement from Colbert. Mr. Erbel was very willing to dedicate his horse to his king, so Mr. Bishop made him a merchant merchant, and now he is guarding the gate for me with my guard."

When Fouquet heard it, he was very surprised by the king's approachability. Mr. Colbert didn't seem to be very comfortable with his clothes and sword. It seemed that he might have been a gentleman or a businessman. He immediately forgot about this guy— Just a lucky one, he thought to himself, refocusing on the king.

They met many people along the way, farmers, soldiers, or priests, and they saluted the king, and the king humbly took off his hat and pressed it on his chest in return. Lai's situation was not as bad as he thought.

   (end of this chapter)