This situation is common in Paris and Versailles, but it is extremely unexpected and bitter for Duke Saint Simon and his accomplices. There are many kings who are admired and even deified, such as Saint Louis. But this is the first time they have seen it when Louis XIV, who are regarded as saints, masters, as shelters, and even as respectable elders (although the king is only forty years old this year).

There are many kings who are afraid of by the people, or it is not difficult to do this. As long as there are enough gallows and beheadings, it is not easy to make the people awe. Louis XIV seems to have great confidence in himself. His guards never drive away the people chasing the emperor. If someone is trapped in the mud, the horses or mules have broken their legs, there will be soldiers who laugh and run over to help. If someone prays loudly, the king or duke will listen to their wishes, order officials to deal with them or give some rewards.

It is hard to say how the Duke of St. Simon should be described specifically - but as the king's convoy became farther and farther away from Saint-Germain Aunlei, he became more and more silent, and his "friends" rarely gathered and discussed anxiously together, and they became more and more silent. When the convoy was fifty miles away from Dunkirk, the Duke of St. Simon was not so surprised when he saw one of their counts walking to the king and bowing to him.

But he still couldn't make up his mind to hand over the last bit of power in his hand, which was originally something he wanted to exchange power and status with the king.

———————

Louis XIV saw the hesitation of Duke St. Simon. Duke St. Simon was a mistake of Louis XIII. He did not hide it from the fact that Duke St. Simon's status and identity at that time were probably similar to Vaubon, Colbert and even Fookie. Louis XIV did not insist on trusting Duke St. Simon, and did not resolutely deal with him and resolutely take back the power he gave him - just like Louis XIV did to Fookie.

But Louis XIII was Louis XIV's father. Of course, he would not blame his father. He could wield the scepter of the thunder as much as Jupiter and all of them in one go? But if it were twenty years ago? He would do this, but twenty years later? With his foundation firmly in his treasury and numerous supporters, he did not need to make a big fuss about it. So, whether it was Duke of Vendome or Duke of Orleans? He saw a calm and leisurely king, his birds kept sending news from everywhere, and he laughed at them sometimes and shook his head at them like he admired Mr. Molière's new play.

More and more "followers" were sent to the ranks of the big parade? Even a marquis who "unfortunately" broke his leg while hunting? When he met Duke St. Simon, he couldn't help but smile bitterly. They were all conservative figures who stick to their territory and never accept bribes or temptations from the king, but they really should have thought of it? Their Majesty has never been the kind of good person who follows the rules.

There are also some stubborn old men who were not "invited" by the king - although they had to do so - because their children and grandchildren have become hostages of the king. Of course? These young men were voluntarily, under the suppression of their fathers or grandfathers? They might not be able to leave the territory and go to the king's army? Or Paris? Or Versailles? But the king stayed in their castles (the vassals were obliged to provide the best place for the king) or in the palace not far from them, who could stop their cheerful feet? They did not look at the majestic and amiable His Majesty the King, the handsome Duke of Orleans, the charming and charming Madame Montespan, and the court banquets and dances that were all night long?

Whether young men or young ladies, they do not listen to the advice and lessons of their elders. Compared with stubborn old men, they do not value the unchanging territory and castles that they remember. The king did not deprive them of their titles and property. On the contrary, he also gave them many opportunities. As we all know, young people are innately impulsive, curious and arrogant, and with Jewel Barr and Joseph Bourbon, how could they think they would have been in a mediocre life with empty hands?

Of course, the effectiveness of these young people was praised and approved by the king. Their heirs had become Louis XIV's possessions, so what could the old man do? If they still held their original ideas and practices, the first thing they had to suffer losses and betrayal was their children. If the king was more shameless, even if they had no heirs, who could they hand them over to?

Louis touched his ears,

"What's wrong? Brother?" The Duke of Orleans noticed and asked sideways with the cover of his wine glass.

"A little fever," said Louis: "I heard people say that if you are always muttered, your ears will get hot." The Duke of Orleans couldn't help laughing: "I haven't heard of this," he said: "There must be many people who mutter you," he looked at the crowd: "The people who love you and those who hate you here are afraid of a draw."

"Things will always be solved." Louis twisted a berry, but did not put it in his mouth immediately: "For the King of Bourbon, now is the best time. If Little Louis is asked to do it, I cannot guarantee that he can do it well." He sighed and did not continue, and the Duke of Orleans did not make a sound. He knew that his brother was a little disappointed with Prince Louis, but he and many ministers believed that Prince Louis was not the second Sun King, which was a good thing... They could not imagine that if there were two Louis XIVs - one who was rich and powerful, with great power; the other who was young and full of ambitions...

Of course, the Duke of Orleans can guarantee that the final winner must be his own brother, but this kind of fight will not only hurt France, but also affect the entire Europa - it is like two giant dragons fighting each other.

Little Louis is not like his father. Louis XIV will be disappointed, and more people will only think that this is God's blessing to France.

"But I believe," the Duke of Orleans poured a glass of wine for his brother: "When the tournament arrives at Dunkirk, many people will change their minds."

"I hope so," said Louis XIV. "I would rather fight against real enemies than useless internal friction."

"They will understand your hard work," said the Duke of Orleans. After all, what he came forward to convince them this time would be an irresistible behemoth.

Because the place where the king was staying this time was moved to the courtyard - rather than the usual hall, the hall of the castle could not accommodate so many people, and in fact the courtyard was also very old, but at night, the trees and flowers shining with torches and candles were better than satin and gold foil, or, in other words, the insufficient place was filled with the jewels of ministers and ladies, but among the crowd, the most dazzling one was not the king or the Duke of Orleans, but Mrs. Montespan.

The Duke of Orleans once wondered how the king would choose such a royal lady. To say, Mrs. Montespan was beautiful, but when she saw her, she knew that she would not be the type the king liked. Look at the previous Mary Mancini, she was better because of her sincere feelings and got to know the king when she was young; later Mrs. Lavalier, she aroused the king's pity, but what about Mrs. Montespan? She really made a mistake-say-she only saw the king treating his royal lady like a general or minister, but failed to truly understand the essence of Louis XIV. No, it should be said that she was not the daughter of Duke Motmal after all, and her other father was not a experienced politician who was good at conspiracy, so she could not grasp the most important "boundary".

The Duke of Orleans listened to the laughter from Mrs. Montespan and said in his heart that the worst thing about this lady was that she sold herself too cheaply, not that he doubted the feelings of Mary Mancini or Lavalier - let it be, if any noble lady in the court could be treated by the king, she would never foolishly ask for any material or honorary rewards - the favor of the king is the most precious, and with the favor of the king, what would you not want?

Like Mrs. Montespan... She thought she was smarter than others, and got the position of a royal lady from the king, the power to accept bribes and enjoy the opportunity for people to pursue and cater, but the king looked at her and looked at Mary, or Lavalier, and Madame Lavalier...

The king did not prepare her for a way out.

However, there are many women who know that the Duke of Orleans have such strange and extreme thoughts that are incommunicable. His wife, Henrietta, the Duchess of Orleans, is one of them. She originally held a good hand of cards - even if she was often bullied, it is true that she and Louis and Philip grew up together; because she almost became Louis' wife, but in the end she accidentally became his sister-in-law. Because Philip the Duke of Orleans was too romantic, Louis XIV always apologized for her; later in the war against the Netherlands, Henrietta secretly returned to London, successfully promoted the alliance between Britain and France, and instigated the relationship between Charles II and the Duke of York, which was of great significance. Louis XIV also told Philip that he should treat his wife well.

But the Duke of Orleans still finds it difficult to accept some of Henrietta's ideas, and cannot understand... I don't know if it is because she has been living a wandering life since she was a baby, and she seems to be shrouded in an invisible layer of gloom and sadness. This emotion has never disappeared after she entered into a marriage contract with the Duke of Orleans, and even affected their daughter, the Grand Princess and their son, which has become even worse recently - perhaps because the Grand Princess no longer believes in her

——After all, she had planned to sacrifice the Grand Princess twice. It was also possible that the Duke of Orleans insisted on sending their son Arix to the Queen Mother for care and education... The Duchess of Orleans believed that this was a punishment and torture, but it was only because Arix was too young to participate in the Grand Parade, so she was temporarily taken care of by the Queen Mother who stayed in Versailles. As a result, the Duchess of Orleans was depressed during the parade and fell ill when he arrived here.

The Duke of Orleans also explained to her that although he and Louis were a little angry that she did not value the princess, they did not mean to blame her. She did not need to worry about it at all. The princess might have some knots, but what kind of unresolvable hatred between mother and daughter? Let time ease the princess's mood. Maybe they can make up as before when they return to Versailles.

But there was only one result - futile. The Duchess of Orleans didn't believe their words, but also held her guilt and yearning for her daughter, but her tense emotions were like the strings of a piano, and she could not let go from beginning to end. Her worries were like the bubbles rolling on the sea. It disappeared here and there appeared again. The Duke of Orleans had no choice but to hope that the change in the environment would make her condition better.

The most similar thing to Mrs. Montespan is here. They recognize that everything is nothing, and they will not listen to other people's opinions at all, or look up to see what is happening around them. The Duke of Orleans saw Mrs. Montespan walking towards the king with a wide skirt surrounded by a group of people. She was dressed like a nymph in the forest, with an aggressive beauty, "Dance with me, your majesty." She shouted eagerly, stretching out her white arms.

"I'll meet a few important people later." Louis said, handing her his golden cup: "You have fun here."

If it were Mary Mancini or Lavalier, the Duke of Orleans thought that Louis would at least dance with them and then go.

A complex expression that was hard to guess was flashed through Mrs. Montespan's eyes, "Your Majesty..."

"Go and have fun," said Louis, "You will see a gift on the dressing table tomorrow morning, you will like it." After that, he nodded to his brother, got up and left. The Duke of Orleans resisted not throwing a pity to Mrs. Montespan, but wasn't that exactly what she wanted?

"I'll go and meet Jean Barr and his uncle." Louis said while in the corridor, "Where are you?"

"I want to go see Henrietta first," said the Duke of Orleans: "I hope her illness has been cured. If she does not appear at the ceremony, people will not guarantee that the conference will be discussed..."
Chapter completed!