These princes and princesses encountered nothing difficult, but none of them expected that the little tricks they played with to complete the work assigned by the king as soon as possible, and they actually obtained nearly 10,000 livres in a week. Although this income cannot be compared with the benefits obtained by taxes or banks and fleets, it is also very amazing. It is nothing strange to think about it. First of all, those who can come to Paris will not be poor people, and some people can even be said to have a small fortune, although they

I don’t know that the so-called “appreciation fee” is the idea of ​​the prince, but I am willing to use the money from a meal or a bottle of wine to boast about the wealth they have. As for most people, they may think it is a stupid thing to throw money away casually, but in their hearts, those who perform or display paintings for them have served the kings and the great nobles. When they cast their “rewards”, it seems that they have a few seconds to be related to those arrogant figures, so they are less heartbroken and hesitant.

There is another type of person, that is, truly prominent figures, who can lose hundreds of livres at the gambling table. Since we already know that these four art academies are all instructed by the king, and the princess, we certainly don’t care about this expense. However, some people are really satisfied with a character in the drama, or are stalemate in the view of a sculpture or painting, and impulsively cast a box of Jin Louis to compete with them.

After getting the approval of the king and the duke, Prince Louis was a little relieved. He walked around in front of the box of money, clenched his fists excitedly. Although as the prince, he had long had titles and fiefs, this was different. This was the first time he realized why his father would reuse Colbert like this, and why Colbert was so fond of business. The income of land was stable, but it was far from enough to make money quickly and rely on territory alone.

"By the way," the prince suddenly said: "Father, there is one more thing," he said.

"What?"

"I have prepared a gift for you," said the prince, and then he asked the servant to bring a painting, and after lifting the veil, a group portrait was revealed.

"This painting was sent to Paris by a Dutch painter," said the prince. "This painting has attracted many people's discussions, some people think the painting is extremely bad, others think the painting is extremely outstanding."

"Are you the latter?"

"Yes, father, I'm the latter, and I think you'll like this painting too, so I bought it from that painter."

"This dress," the king turned his head and asked, "Duke, you are a soldier from Amsterdam."

"Probably," said the Duke of Orleans: "It should be the shooters, look, they hold muskets."

The king smiled. Only the prince would do this. Other ministers or nobles did not have the courage to send this portrait to him, but he could understand the idea of ​​Louis. The prince's appreciation of art and capturing beauty are much stronger than his father. He sent this painting to him entirely out of his love for his father and trust in the king.

In addition to the subject matter, this painting caused such a big debate because the painter boldly adopted too strong contrasts - light and dark, big and small, front and back. Such a picture is presented to people, like a suspended stage scene. This novel expression method will of course make people accustomed to the uniform and soft brightness of the picture, and everyone is almost the same size. However, some people with outstanding taste think this is a rare masterpiece.

"You said that was a Dutch painter?" said the king, "I will summon him if I have time." He waved his hand and asked the servants to put away the paintings. "Since you have come, let's have dinner together, and Colbert, and I happen to have something to tell you."

What the king was about to say was related to the Great Princess. The Great Princess was uneasy a few months ago because she was worried that the king would marry her to the king of Spain for France. What kind of person Carlos II was? We have described it before and will not repeat it here. However, compared to Louis XIV, there are monarchs who do not care about their children. For example, Leopold I, after several considerations, he finally married his eldest daughter Antonia to Carlos II, even though he knew that Carlos II could not let women have children.

The Duke of Orleans and the King discussed whether to let the Grand Princess know about this matter, but in the end they decided that instead of letting the Grand Princess hear a twisted or wrong version from others, it would be better for them to say this matter.

As soon as this incident was told, the princess suddenly lost all her appetite. Fortunately, the dinner was over, and it was not a hypocritical act. Just when she thought that a girl encountered such a terrible thing, the princess felt chill all over, especially her father was betrayed her.

"It seems that Leopold I has made up his mind to stand opposite us," Colbert said.

"Unless it was Ottoman Turkey's Suleiman I who was reborn and led his 800,000 troops to embark on a large-scale expedition, otherwise I would not want to see me sit with him." The king said: "But in addition to finding allies, there is another reason."

"The throne of Spain." said the Duke of Orleans in a gloomy manner.

"He already had two sons. Although the eldest son Ferdinand died, his youngest son John was still there," said the king. "They were all born to the daughters of Philip IV. The princess did not give up the right to inherit the right of inheritance. Her son had the right to inherit the Spanish throne."

"But the elder brother's inheritance should be the first," said the eldest princess: "My mother is the eldest daughter of Philip IV."

"Then it seems that Carlos II's attitude would be very important," said the Duke of Orleans. "No wonder Leopold I was willing to pay such a big price."

The eldest princess was a little uneasy, but the eldest princess immediately patted the back of her hand: "Believe in our father," she said, "Believe in their love for us."

"I have to tell you first because of this reason." The king said, "I am most worried about you, my niece, you must trust me, and your father." Although the princes and princesses must face a political marriage, Louis XIV and the Duke of Orleans will do their best to prevent this marriage from becoming an irreparable tragedy, such as the Grand Princess and the Grand Princess.

The eldest princess smiled at the eldest princess, not so reluctant: "I just thought of the Princess Antonia... she should have been born in 1969." The Duke of Young Angian was one year younger than her, and was still a doll who could only scream... and the physical condition of Carlos II... I don't know that this king is a yan person now, and there are very few people in the courts of various countries.

She was almost destined to be subjected to endless ridicule and contempt.

"For that princess, the best thing is that Carlos II will die within ten years, so that she can at least avoid marrying a crazy madman." said the Duke of Orleans sarcastically.

"Eight years." said the king: "The engagement states that the eldest princess of Leopold I will marry into Spain when she is twelve."

"Oh my God..."

The eldest princess shouted softly, drawing a cross on her chest.

"Talk about this," the king also found himself saying something that was not pleasant after a moment of silence. In order to eliminate the strange atmosphere on the dining table, he coughed lightly, "You may have a new friend."

"who?"

"Anna Maria Louisa de Medici, the future wife of the Duke of Colonna." said the king: "She was born in 67."
Chapter completed!