I Am Louis XIV

  Chapter 409 The Research Institute of Blazer Castle (Part 2)

Louie is not the kind of person with special hobbies. He only saw the results—that is, a series of demonstrations. He made sure that the reports sent by the doctors and wizards were true and correct, and got up and left. There is information about vampires and wizards to report.

There are only a few "untouchables" here—that is, monsters who have no parents and are abandoned as soon as they are "supported", as well as a few vampires from the Norphil tribe. Because of the loss of their ancestral land and sacred artifact, they could only survive in the underground drains and tombs, and were regarded as dragged and humiliated by other clans. In addition to the expulsion order of Louis XIV, they could not live in groups and could only walk around. It's not that there are a few less and no one knows.

The biggest threat to vampires is sunlight. Although it is impossible to obtain information on high-level vampires, just compare the damage of ordinary crossbow arrows, ordinary bullets, ordinary flames, silver bullets, magic flames and sunlight to vampires. It is clear at a glance. The damage to low-level vampires is almost irreversible and will spread. It can be said that low-level vampires encounter sunlight like frost encounters boiling water.

After all, the blood family did not dare to take the last step, and it was also for this reason. Even if Louis was killed by them, his heir, whether it was little Louis or the Duke of Orleans, would definitely be crazy enough to lift every roof and let the sun shine. In every corner - the number of human beings, after all, there are too many, for vampires, for wizards, for werewolves.

   There is also an experiment, that is, whether blood with anticoagulants can still become food for vampires.

The answer is yes, but although the name is an anticoagulant, most of them are the achievements of wizards - the poison that prevents blood from coagulating and the potion that prolongs life, when combined, can ensure that the blood in the leather bag can be kept for twelve hours. The above "freshness" seems to be a short period of time, but if it is only used by Louis to trade with the blood clan, it is enough. In any case, the most important thing is to avoid people's suspicion of blood collection - the bloodletting treatment has continued. By the eighteenth century, there was no need to worry about the source of blood. It was not easy for the common people to do a bloodletting treatment, and it cost a lot of money.

After the blood was fed to the "untouchables" and the Nophile vampires, they did not die as blushing as the vampires who drank "dead blood," but—"they complained that the blood was so unpleasant to drink, there were Some are sour, some are bitter, and some are like urine," said a doctor.

  Louis glanced at him, it was none other than Malbiqui, I didn't expect him to be so bold, "Did they drink those things before?"

   "I don't know, Your Majesty," said Malbiqui, "but I have a guess--they looked quite happy, as if they could only taste one taste when they drank the blood of a living man."

   "Have you asked them?"

"They say it tastes like blood, there's no difference, the blood of a young girl is not necessarily sweeter, and the blood of an old man is not necessarily more bitter." Malbikey said: "I also asked them what it would be if they ate some human food. What about the taste?" He asked himself and answered, "It's like eating a piece of empty air."

   "Do you still want to prepare a menu for them?"

   "What's so strange, Your Majesty, you are planning to keep these vicious dogs."

   "You're just a mortal, aren't you afraid?"

  Malbighi's eyes sparkled: "As a doctor, as a researcher," he said, "the only thing that scares me is not being able to get to the end."

At that time, he came to France from Italy only because he heard that Louis XIV was a generous king. At that time, he was punished by the church for studying anatomy and had to give up his original job to teach at the University of Pisa, but even in Pizza, he still can't let go of his hands and feet to do research, and his surroundings are always full of vigilant eyes. If there is a slight mistake, the priest will give a severe warning, and he can't find a reliable sponsor - the lens of the microscope is very thin. Dear! Not to mention the corpse was expensive, the corpses he wanted had to be the freshest, and the shriveled and rotting corpses were useless.

   But for the sake of research and answers, he didn't care if he went bankrupt, until a colleague reminded him that the corpses he accepted were getting fresher and fresher...

Malbiqui was almost brought to court as an accomplice in the murder, and he finally made up his mind to run to France. With the protection of the king, he could not only continue to do research happily and as he wanted, but also avoid the pain of conscience. - The experimental "materials" here are all heinous criminals. They should have been tortured to death, but now they are punished by dismembering their bodies - that is, they are divided more.

   "I also hope to get one or more answers." Louis XIV said, "but don't forget the ultimate goal."

Malbiqui stepped back and bowed deeply to the king, who was Italian, and Italian...every Italian longed for a strong king to rule them and end the tragic situation in which Italy was torn apart, although the king It was from France, but if it were him, his eldest son, the Duke of Colonna, might be able to get their wish.

The ultimate goal of the king is, of course, eternal constancy and tranquility. For this goal, any existence that can shake his rule should not exist. Perhaps in his lifetime, he will not be able to achieve this desire, but as long as there is a beginning, his future People can always push away these thorns and rocks, leaving a smooth path for mankind.

   The wizards who are "research subjects" are the fewest in Blazer Castle, they are all dark wizards, the spoils of the battle between Holland and Flanders - remnants. The wizards who work here have no empathy for the dark wizards, mainly because the dark wizards have no empathy when facing them, wizards are the best experimental material for the dark wizards, and vice versa, and Louis does not Need to know **** the Dark Wizard - he knows how.

  What he wants to know is—the source of magic, where does it come from, where does it go, and what kind of path does it take?

   Among his descendants, especially the Duke of Colonna, the possibility of wizards appearing is too great.

Having received the king's approval, Malbiqui was overjoyed. In fact, he was a little apprehensive at the beginning, mainly because they couldn't come up with anything for the time being. There seems to be no difference between wizards and humans, and they don't have extra internal organs in their bodies. , no heavier hearts, no bigger brains, and they themselves can't explain where the magic comes from, but it would be nice if the king could give them more time.

He didn't notice that the king's eyes were on a wizard - he was a member of the Mancini family, although he was already a side member, but his face was still somewhat similar to that of Marie Mancini. This accident made Louis His heart sank suddenly, he didn't say more, he was about to turn around and leave.

   "Your Majesty..." A voice suddenly stopped him, and Louis turned to look at him. He had an unmatched memory, and this face seemed familiar, "Are you a student of Bosch?"

"I'm not so lucky, I'm just an apprentice, Your Majesty." The dark wizard ignored the people who suddenly became vigilant next to him, stood up from the stone platform behind the iron bars, and approached them, the torches illuminated his face, It was a young face, and though it had been tortured a lot, at least there was still light in the eyes.

   "A deal." He coughed and said.

   "What deal?" Louie said, "I can get everything I want."

   "To save you a little trouble," said the dark wizard, "I'll just say it straight - I know what those guys did to Carlos II of Spain."

   "I shouldn't trust a dark wizard."

"I don't ask much, Your Majesty, I can work for you, of course, as a researcher instead of being researched." The dark wizard lowered his head and took a few deep breaths to suppress the urge to cough: "The dark wizard can do better than the wizard. Better, more." He added: "Besides, look at my age, I am not involved in any conspiracy about your father, or you, and what I use to trade with you is just me. Occasionally - I know you can get what you want, but if it's just a small favor, like you throw crumbs on a raven, I just need a crumb, Your Majesty, Merciful Master, I can even swear to the cornerstone that I will never leave here."

  Louis looked at him, and a disturbing minute passed, the king nodded, and the dark wizard's shoulders finally dropped.

   He sat down holding the iron railing, the void and pain in his body seemed to be far away from him, and he won a bet.

  ———

Because Blaze Castle is very close to Fontelay Abbey, and Saumur Castle, where the king resides, forms an equilateral triangle with the two. Only few people know about the king's secret travel for the time being, but in any case, Queen Teresa must be one of them.

Saumur Castle was set up as a military camp after Philip II, so when the king decided to stay here, the steward here took a lot of effort to finally arrange it into a small palace that matched the king. But because of the limited space, the queen's suite is next to the king's suite, with an adjoining terrace. Fortunately, Louis went to Blaze tonight, and Mrs. Montespan was not called into the room to serve, and Queen Teresa also avoided it. Embarrassed - with the help of the maid, she loosened her bun and took a deep breath. "I'll take a look on the terrace, so don't follow me." She said it was undoubtedly unethical, but with Louis X Four in front, Queen Teresa, who gave birth to a daughter and two sons for him in a row, also has her own majesty, and now they are not in Versailles or the Louvre, the maid hesitated for a while, then silently saluted and retired. .

Queen Teresa was the only one left in the room. She twisted her neck with a rare relief. The moonlight and the breeze lifted the tulle drapery and flowed into the room. She passed through the open door—the door here should be new. , inlaid with glass and lead strips, the color is crystal clear, but it is still incomparable with the river valley under the moonlight - there is a large white pebble beach here, even a little dazzling against the background of the black jungle and the dark blue sky. The cavalry was coming from the south. At first, the queen thought it was a patrol team, but later she realized that the team was holding the king's flag. She quickly walked to the terrace, held down the cold stone fence, and looked there. go.

As if noticing her gaze, one of the people in the queue looked up, he saw her, he took off his hat, and waved at her, the not-so-sharp red ostrich feathers swaying in the air for a few moments because of the dim light. Then he waved again, and Teresa knew that he was urging her to go back to her room. Although it was midsummer, the river valley was still a little chilly at night.

Queen Teresa didn't feel cold, but she never wanted to waste Louis' good intentions, she thought that the king might be staying in her room today - she pressed her chest, walked slowly back to the room, hesitated for a while , did not summon the maid, just rubbed a little rose oil and bit her lip. When she looked in the mirror, she saw a mediocre face, but even this mediocre face became glorious because of her husband's love and respect.

After all, they have been husband and wife for 20 years. Teresa's guess was right. Louis walked into her suite with gifts. The maids looked happier than the queen. Lying comfortably on the bed, holding hands. If the king was lying beside Mrs. Montespan, she would have asked for a favor, but Teresa knew the king better than she did, so she first told the king about the nursing home and the orphanage.

As I said before, the hospital in the past may have played the role of a workhouse and a shelter, but now a hospital is a hospital, and the elderly and orphans who have lost or have no labor force become a problem. Of course, Louis XIV took this problem into account, and he asked All monasteries and churches in France must have a shelter or an orphanage. Regulations, managers are also difficult to say.

The old people in the shelters, the children in the orphanages, will have some light work they can afford to do - these are all assigned by the king's factories and workshops, with a certain charitable nature, and from Charitable donations are popular here for queens and court ladies - when people in this era know nothing about charity and don't care... Or rather, they prefer to give priests a sum of money to do mass for those sinful souls Prayers, and reluctance to let them go to heaven later.

So the king and his bishops and priests told a big lie. They said that anyone who recites the Lord's Book, the Rosary, and the Apostles' Creed once recites one step closer to heaven. You can read it yourself, or you can hire others to read it—compared to the workers and servants who have to do things, the expensive priests, the elderly in the shelters, and the children in the orphanage, they naturally become the best "reciters" , Even if they are illiterate, as long as they can remember some scriptures, those who can speak can get themselves a meal and accommodation.

   In this way, even an old man who has completely lost the ability to speak, or an abandoned baby, has actually received some care, partly from the merciful good wife and good gentleman, and partly from the compatriots who share the same illness.

   In this way, the pressure on monasteries and churches is not too great.

And with the prosperity of France, there are fewer and fewer abandoned children and abandoned old people. Today, the queen goes to asylums and orphanages. Almost all the babies in the orphanages have a not-so-reputable origin. Most of their mothers are wandering girls and famous Shu." Queen Teresa said leaning against Louis.

Louis is also helpless. When most people have empty pockets and are forced to make a living, there will definitely be many women who will become workers in dishonorable occupations. The number of Shushu increased, especially after they occupied Holland and Flanders, the famous Shu who roamed in the lowlands lost their original benefactors and went to Paris or Versailles to look for opportunities.

  The bad atmosphere they brought has affected many daughters of commoner families, because as the men at the bottom have the possibility of accumulating money, they are not stingy in this regard.

  Women do not have the possibility of formal work in this era, and ignorant girls sometimes even sell themselves for a hat and a cup of coffee, and rejoice because of the generous pay of this "job".

   (end of this chapter)