I Am Louis XIV

  Chapter 435 Return (middle)

I don't know if it was lucky or unfortunate. For the "death" of the king, the people in power in Spain at this time were all staying in the old palace. Although Patinho and the archbishop were anxiously waiting for an answer, Duke Don Juan did not leave. After listening to the reports from the panicked attendants and female officials, not only did Carlos II not die, but he rushed out of his room like a powerful and brutish beast and ran into the Queen Mother's room.

Duke Don Juan immediately jumped up from his bed. He was neatly dressed. After all, it is said that the medicine provided by the archbishop was quite immediate. They were about to greet the cry of "the king is dead" at any time - the wine, coffee and bacon at hand fell. On the ground, his attendant hurriedly lifted the cloak, but he waved his hand, and after thinking quickly for a while, he said, "Bring my pistol."

This short gun was distributed by Louis XIV to his musketeers and the best of the guards. Because it is the latest type of revolving flintlock musket, it has not been released in large quantities. The source of this short gun is not It is too famous, and it is definitely not an approachable price, but as later generations have said, there are many things that cannot be done because the price paid is not enough.

This musket, which can shoot seven pointed bullets at once, is the favorite of Duke Don Juan. He has tried it against wild boar skins and thin armor, and the effect is amazing, but even he rarely uses this gun. In addition, just because the bullet of this gun is not the usual round bullet, but a long conical bullet, this bullet is also issued in limited quantities to the original owner.

   But today he had a feeling - just afraid to use it.

When the squire brought the gun, the duke shook his head, "You take it." He said, "If anything happens... that we don't want, you have to shoot." He saw the squire wince visibly, stabbing The king's people would be regarded as traitors. Such criminals would burn their hands, gouge out their internal organs, and then dismember their bodies. "Don't be afraid," said Duke Don Juan, "they never dare to let outsiders know that the king is not safe and sound. on the bed."

   After he finished speaking in a hurry, he led his attendants to the Queen Mother's suite.

   He met the Archbishop, Patinho and others on the promenade, and the three of them separated as soon as they touched their eyes, and their expressions were terrible.

The same as all the royal rooms, the closer the king is, the more noble. The queen's suite is right next to the king's suite, and the queen dowager's suite is also on a corridor with them. The distance of just over a hundred feet is a mess. The window curtains were torn down, the glass was shattered, candlesticks, vases, and picture frames were turned into murderous weapons. Most of the female officials and servants had already run away, and only two or three of the strongest and most loyal servants were still waiting outside the door, tremblingly.

Patinho remembered these people as soon as he swept away. These people would not survive, and their loyalty had become their reminders-these people saw their arrival as if they saw great hope. The gleam in the eyes was sighing, "Go and save His Highness!" They shouted: "He is beating His Highness!"

   Duke Tang Huang glanced at the attendant beside him, and the attendant lowered his head tremblingly.

  ——

   It would be a big joke to say whether the Queen Mother knew that Queen Antonia lived in fear every day and could be beaten and tortured by her husband at any time.

   But so what, Carlos II's fist didn't fall on her, she lived a pampered life, the only trouble was that the men didn't allow her to meddle in the power outside the court. Not only did she turn a blind eye to the wounds and cries of Antonia and other noble girls, she did not even hear them, she even did not allow people to say those "unpleasant things" in front of her, and if there was any occasion where she had to be with the queen, she would let herself The female official went to inform the queen in advance to cover up the bruises and scars - "so as not to make people laugh at the Habsburg princess's bad manners."

She never thought that as the most prestigious woman in the Spanish court, the mother of Carlos II, the Queen Mother, she could at least extend her hand and protect the queen a little, even if Carlos II could not become a qualified husband - It won't make him a sinner who takes pleasure in killing innocent weaklings, but for the Queen Mother, she doesn't think it's any good for her.

   On the contrary, if she wants to protect the queen and the lady, she has to face Carlos II. The Queen Mother must admit that she was afraid of her son. When he was a deformed and sick child, seeing him was like seeing God-given punishment. Her marriage was purely for political needs, but for a devout believer. , is simply a sin that cannot be redeemed in any way.

  When she gave birth to Carlos II, she burst into tears on the delivery bed. When Carlos II was "resurrected" in such a diabolical way, she never looked directly at him or stayed alone with him, as if she could avoid being captured by the devil in this way.

And when she saw Antonia, she couldn't help but be jealous of her youth and dignity. On the surface, Carlos II was much better than Philip IV at the beginning, and because of Carlos II's problems, the Archbishop of Toledo The ministers headed by Patinho were full of sympathy for her, and they did not hate this foreign queen too much.

   Even the romantic Duke Tang Huang said that although this little queen has a plain appearance, she has a gentle temperament, treats people with kindness, and has a commendable and pure character, and should be respected inside and outside the court.

Not to mention how much sincerity there is. When this statement was recognized by most people, it also made the Queen Mother feel bitter and bitter. She completely forgot that the Spaniards opposed her because she was Carlos II. During her reign, she pushed hard for a policy that favored Austria rather than Spain, and was hostile to France, resulting in two bankruptcy of the Spanish government during her four-year regency, a major defeat against France, and the loss of Portugal (Portuguese independence). ).

Although Antonia is also an Austrian princess, it is very early for her to interfere in politics. Of course, people will not be stingy with kindness, but the Queen Mother is like a demon, jealous and hateful. Knowing that she was tortured, she still felt in her heart. Comfort.

   She still said in her heart, what if she was beaten a few times, she was also beaten by Philip IV at the beginning.

It's just that the Queen Mother probably didn't expect that all kinds of things were like a spring that was being pulled tightly. After it was finally pulled to the extreme, her once cowardly, jealous and escaping were now pouring down on her like a torrential rain. .

  Queen Antonia, as well as those noble ladies, attendants, and female officials all fled, and facing Carlos II, she can no longer find a suitable shield.

   Carlos II still knocked open the door, grabbed her hair, and dragged the screaming Queen Mother out.

He has lost the most basic judgment and can't identify who is in front of him. All he knows is that his headache is about to split, and every tiny sound will make him burst. He just wants to eliminate the source of this sound - for A man who is used to violence, when he loses his mind, the only thing he will and can do is undoubtedly destroy.

The queen mother never knew what it was like to be beaten by Carlos II - she was slapped by Philip IV, but Carlos II's fist made her like a boat rocking in a storm, and she was dazed. Follow him around, using her cheeks, neck and nose to meet the hammer-like fists, her head roaring, her hands and feet as soft as boiled noodles, her heart screaming to run away, but people Can't even recognize the direction.

When the Archbishop ran in, he saw that Carlos II was holding the Queen Mother's hair, smashing her head against the wall, against the table, against the bedpost, and against the ground - he let out a roar, but It was too late to stop Carlos II from throwing the Queen Mother on the ground, jumping up and stepping on her stomach.

  The Queen Mother's body jumped up in a weird and comical way - only the kind of jumping with shoulders and feet moving, and there was no sound anymore.

The archbishop heard Patinho shouting behind him, but before he could grasp what it meant, he was knocked out by a mad bull—literally, reminding him of chasing in a bull race. The large bulls of the crowd, each male over 2,000 pounds, have big horns that can't be hugged even with outstretched arms, and can knock over a thick rammed wall in one fell swoop.

   He flew out, then was swooped up by Carlos II and pressed tightly, biting his ear!

  When Carlos II began to shake his head, the archbishop screamed and screamed. His screams made Carlos II's head hurt even more. It was so painful, so painful! Why no one came to save him! Why are there so many people shouting! Damn them all! They should all be punished! He's going to burn them, tear them up... eat them alive!

Patinho was only one step behind the archbishop. He was a soldier. Of course, the king who appeared was unreasonable. Sure enough, after the queen mother, the archbishop also became a victim. He hurried forward - a little reverence for the kingship left him. Using the daggers and muskets on his waist, he stretched out his arms, grabbed Carlos II's shoulders, and pulled him back, but he felt like he was pulling a bronze bull, Carlos II He was hot all over, and the weight was so heavy that he exhausted his strength, but he was still helpless.

The scream of the archbishop had turned into a muffled whimper, and Carlos II was impatient enough not to quell the noise that caused him pain, and the blood pouring into his throat stirred up the vicious nature flowing in the veins. , After the archbishop lost an ear, he ushered in a more intimate "contact" - Carlos II swallowed the minced flesh and cartilage and began to bite the archbishop's lips and thick cheeks that spoke on behalf of God.

Patinho shouted, but to no avail, Duke Don Juan's squire gave his master a panicked look, but the duke gave no instructions - Patinho and his squires used force on Carlos II, but It was useless, Carlos II and the archbishop were sticking tightly together, like two **** of dough mixed together.

   Seeing that the archbishop was about to be unable to shout, Patinho tried again, and with a certain concentration, he drew his dagger from his side.

He was not crazy enough to stab the dagger directly into the king's back, but just used the hilt of the dagger - the Spanish dagger produced by Toledo has the alias of "Blade Breaker" and is often used to break the enemy's long sword, so With a large round gauntlet, he struck the noble shoulder with this round gauntlet, as one strikes a wild dog with a stick to release its prey in its mouth.

   "It seems to be useful..." Duke Tang Huang murmured, he wisely stood at the farthest place from the vortex, as did the attendants beside him.

Carlos II turned his attention away from the archbishop, and though he lost his sanity, his strange and strong self-esteem did not leave, and a voice told him that someone was humiliating and hurting him, humiliating and hurting a king—he His head still hurt, but he let go of the archbishop and turned to see who it was... Patinho took a step back subconsciously.

  The current Carlos II looks, not only does he not look like a king...it doesn't even look like a person.

Habsburg's big chin ruined his facial bones, and epilepsy often made the muscles on his face twist, relax or tighten. Under the double effect, the honor of Carlos II can be imagined how hideous , but this hideous face, now completely covered with blood, only a pair of very small eyes are shining, he gasped, showing yellow teeth and purple gums.

   is no different from a hound whose head has just been pulled out of a **** belly.

"What kind of medicine is that..." Patinho murmured, and after a few seconds he seemed to have suddenly thought of something - could it be the young man he trusted who felt that it was not enough to let Carlos II die in his sleep quell his hatred?

The appearance of Carlos II also shocked the two attendants of Patinho to the point of loosening their strength. As a result, Carlos II broke free from their restraints and rushed towards Patinho. With the short sword in his hand, he gave him a sword backhand!

He is not a real beast after all, he beat the queen mother with his fists and the archbishop with his teeth because he couldn't find a weapon for a while, but as soon as he saw Patinho's short sword, he immediately took it over, Then he stabbed his minister and benefactor.

   In just one click, the dagger penetrated Patinho's abdomen.

   Patinho felt only a little coolness—the kind that penetrated deep into the bone marrow, and then a rush of warm fluid that moistened his skin, followed by a sharp, excruciating pain.

More than ten years of military life and long training allowed Patinho to make the correct response before the pain took over his mind. He stepped back, and then rolled on the spot. He was dodging the second stab. By the time his squires were running over to make up for their mistakes, Carlos II may have really become the devil, and with just one hand he knocked over a squire and pierced the latter's comrade with the other - this The man was wounded in the chest, and he fell immediately, obviously not to live.

   (end of this chapter)