A group of cavalrymen who were ready to go stood in the shade of the trees and chatted boredly, the sun in the sky was hot, and even in the shade they were drenched in sweat.

This made the soldiers admire those people who stood in the scorching sun from the bottom of their hearts.

The cardinals, led by old Rovere, stood on the side of the road and looked at Alexander VI in front of them.

The Pope wore a white traveling monk's robe, which was designed for monks who went to the Holy Land to do ascetic asceticism when pilgrimages were popular, and this robe was strong and warm, and if the hood was worn, it could even be used as a sleeping bag in the wilderness.

Alexander VI wore such a robe in front of a group of big men in bishop or priestly robes, looking more like an exiled loser.

Although the time is very short, he seems to be much older than before, and the figure with his hunched back and the old Rovere who seems to be quite high-spirited on the other side have become a stark contrast, so that even if the old Rovere bends down to kiss the back of his hand, it can still make people clearly feel a sad and complacent obvious difference between the two.

According to the results of negotiations with the College of Cardinals, Alexander VI would leave Rome under the pretext of "touring the dioceses and spreading the Gospel of Christ", and everyone knew that his departure would probably be a farewell, a trip that would make it difficult for a 70-year-old man to return to the capital, which he had ruled for almost 10 years.

Caesar's coffin was buried in the same church as he was buried in the church of Viana in history, this time under the auspices of Alexander VI, Caesar was buried under the altar of the Vatican Norlière's prayer hall.

On his tombstone is the famous proverb: "Unless for Caesar, it is nothing." ”

Caesar's funeral was not solemn, it can even be said to be a little shabby, and no one came to the funeral.

None of his family showed up except for the Pope himself, Lucrezia was now in Pisa, and Geoffrey, his youngest brother, had not been seen since he had fled from Elba and returned to Rome.

No one knows how Alexander VI got over the night of his burial, and then the next morning, Alexander VI put on a full guard of honour and then presided over his last public mass in Rome in the cathedral.

The next day, the Vatican broke the news that the Pope was going to "inspect all Christian districts."

Hearing this news, everyone knows that although the Pope is still alive and well, with the Pope leaving the Holy See, leaving the Vatican and Rome, the empty papal throne is already shining brightly, attracting many people who are qualified to covet this throne, among which the old Rovere is naturally the most vocal and the most powerful.

Now, the Pope's departure is imminent, and all the cardinals have come to see him off, but everyone knows that this will probably be the last time they will see the Pope, who once made them almost crazy.

So when he kissed the back of Alexander VI's thin hand according to etiquette, old Rovere immediately straightened his back, and his already tall stature now allowed him to look down on the opponent in front of him who had fought with him for many years with condescending eyes, but now old Rovere was already looking at this enemy who was destined to withdraw from the competition because of defeat with the eyes of a victor.

"Your Majesty, Rome is putting on a good show, but it's a pity that you're in a hurry to leave," said old Rovere to Alexander's in a slightly more intentional tone, "It's a bit of a pity." ”

"Cardinal, and you, on the contrary, the play is over but you still refuse to leave," Alexander VI did not look annoyed by old Rovere's sarcasm, he shook his head and looked at old Rovere with some amusement, as if he was amusing himself and as if he was amused by old Roverley's ignorance of current affairs, "But this has nothing to do with me, I want to go back to my hometown Valencia to see, after all, I have been gone for too long." ”

Old Rovere smiled and nodded with a smile of understanding, stepped aside, and then watched coldly as the cardinals walked over one by one to kiss the back of the Pope's hand and offer him his blessings.

Massimo stood at the back of the cardinals, and when it was his turn, he was about to take the Pope's hand, but was stopped by Alexander VI.

In full view of the public, Alexander VI took Massimo by the face with his hands, kissed him on the forehead, and then whispered in pure Latin: "I say that the heir, though he is the master of the inheritance, is no different from a slave when he is a child, but at the hand of the master and the steward until the time appointed by his father." ”

Alexander VI's voice was low, but it was quite powerful, and everyone who heard this could not help but look different, some were surprised, some were dazed, some were surprised by the amusement in their eyes, and some were only angry.

There is no one here who does not know the origin of Alexander VI's words, but it is precisely because they know it too well that people look so different.

This passage is from the New Testament book of Galatians.

This passage may be unfamiliar to most Christians, after all, the book of Galatians is not only very short in all the scriptures, but for various reasons, Galatians and Corinthians are controversial because they contain too many personal doctrines, so many pastors will involuntarily avoid this passage when preaching.

But it is such a passage, but because it has some special meaning, it must not be ignored.

When the Saint Paul heard that the people of Galatia had been seduced and deceived by the false teachers of the Jewish school of Judaism, he wrote to the people there and admonished them not to turn away from the truth because of false doctrines, which became a doctrine often used by the church to identify the true guides of the future.

The fact that Alexander VI is now openly using this passage against Massimo in so many presences naturally caused an uproar in the minds of the more sophisticated and calculating cardinals, who were intimately familiar with the doctrine.

Old Rovere's gaze fell on Mahimo's back, and the youngest of all the cardinals suddenly formed a new impression in his mind.

Massimo looked at the Pope in the same amazement, and he noticed that Alexander VI looked at him like a naughty child, which fell into his eyes, but made Massimo feel a pang of unease.

"It's time to go, it's time to go," said Alexander VI, waving to the priests and auxiliary bishops who were not qualified to bid him farewell alone, and then staggered into the carriage with the support of the servants beside him.

The carriage moved slowly, and the Pope leaned out slightly, waved his hand, and then disappeared behind the window.

Old Rovere stood motionless as he watched the carriage slowly departing under the protection of the guards, and then he turned back and smiled at the cardinals who were also looking at the back of the procession.

"A new era for Rome has come, isn't it, guys?"

"Of course, noble cardinal." A cardinal wasted no time in speaking first: "Maybe all we have to wait for is news, and when that time comes, I will definitely do my part for you in the smoke column of the lonely room." ”

The solitary room, which was used to elect the pope, was locked up in the room where the smoke rose from the chimney on the roof of the cardinals to tell the world whether a new pope had been born.

Although some of the other cardinals were quite disdainful of such a naked defection, no one condemned the cardinal, on the contrary, some even showed a knowing smile.

As the elder Rovelle said, a new era has come, so who cares about the old era that has passed, or the person who represents that era?

Old Rovere's gaze fell on Massimo's face, he had thought that this young cardinal might one day become pope, but he did not believe that this man would become a threat to him, even if Alexander VI quoted such a controversial passage in public, but he was only a little moved at the first time, and then immediately thought that this should be a ruse provoked by Alexander VI.

"Cardinal, if I may, may I invite you to dinner?" Old Rovere smiled casually at Massimo and said, seeing the appearance of a group of people next to him immediately pricking up their ears, he leaned forward and whispered in Mashimo's ear and said, "At this time, even if we just say casually, today is really hot, it is estimated that many people will wonder if we are plotting some conspiracy." ”

"And then I'll look incredulous," Massimo said with a look of surprise on his face, whispering to the unconcealed gasps around him, "I'd love to accept your invitation, even if it's for the pleasure of having another rumor in the city of Rome tomorrow." ”

Old Rovere smiled and tapped Mahimo's arm in relief, then he turned and waved at Konstantin, who was waiting in the distance, and motioned for him to let his carriage come.

Mahimo said goodbye to the others with a smile on his face, and then turned into the mount that the servant had pulled, but the smile on his face faded as he pulled the reins and turned around.

Alexander VI's quote from Galatians really scared Mahimo, and although he didn't know what old Rovere thought, he knew that from now on many people would be eyeing him.

"The days are numbered." Massimo muttered helplessly.

The wheels rolled, and the procession made its way along the boulevard towards the seaside port of Fiumicino, from where they could board the ship and enter the Tyrenian Sea, and then into the Mediterranean, to any part of the known world.

The heat blowing into the car from outside made Alexander VI feel a little stuffy, he fanned the wind with his sleeve, then looked at Nomerlo, who had been sitting across from him without saying a word, and smiled.

As the Pope's private secretary, Nomelo did not leave with Alexander VI this time, and he remained in Rome as tribune.

"I know you've always wanted this position," the Pope said, looking at the secretary who had followed him for many years, and arguably trusted even his own children on many occasions, "I remember when you first came to me, when you were 14 years old. ”

"Your Majesty......"

Nomelo wanted to say something, but as soon as he opened his mouth, he was stopped by Alexander, and the pope held a jeweled cane in both hands, staring at Nomelo with blazing eyes: "Tell me, you didn't participate in the betrayal of Caesar, right?" I don't want to hear that, I don't want to know that you've betrayed your family. ”

"I didn't, at least I didn't betray him directly," Nomelo shook his head, then said with some helplessness, "but you know I do need that position, I've been with you for almost 30 years. ”

"I know," Alexander VI leaned his head against the planks of the carriage and let the carriage rock his body, "I know that each of you desires what you want from me, and betrays me when you don't." I don't care if you betray me personally, but I can't tolerate anyone hurting your own loved ones, so that Alexander ......"

The Pope's face, which had already calmed down, instantly turned hideous.

"Caesar is fighting against the Queen of Naples," Nomelo reminded in a whisper, "and he's your granddaughter's father." ”

The Pope gasped hard, and after a while he calmed down again, he stared at Nomelo for a while with a pair of expressionless eyes, and then said slowly: "Tell me that there are still people involved in your plan, I know that if it were you, you don't have the guts, you can tell me as well as my own son, I know you Nomerlo." ”

Nomerlo paused, then looked at the scenery outside where you could already faintly smell the salty seafood, and opened his mouth slightly.

But before he could speak, there was a clapping sound on the roof of the carriage, and then the voice of Pelotto Cadron, who was sitting in the groom's deputy seat outside the carriage, said: "Your Majesty, Master Skop is on the side of the road." ”

Alexander VI's slightly drooping eyelids suddenly lifted, and a pair of eyes fixed on Nomelo's face.

Seeing that Nomelo seemed relieved to hear Skop's name, the Pope let out a muffled "grunt" in his throat.

The procession stopped, but the Pope did not move, his cane staring at the carriage wall opposite, and the Pope's head did not even tilt when Skop appeared by the door and gently opened it and bowed.

There was an awkward silence in front of everyone, and Caderon had to wave his hand to get the group away from the carriage first, and then he licked his lips himself, and after hesitating for a moment, he finally hid in the shade of a tree on the far side of the road.

The sun was shining directly overhead, and Skop's head was already dripping with sweat, the back of his robe was wet, and the sweat even ran down his drooping arms to his fingertips, and then dripped to the ground.

Finally, Alexander VI spoke: "Tell me, what benefit have you received in this matter?" ”

Skop was silent for a moment, then said in a slightly hoarse tone, "Duke of Parma." ”

"Ha~"

The Pope let out a mocking sneer or an unexpected sneer, and he slowly turned his head to look at Skop, who was standing in front of the car door: "The Farne family will become the Duke of Parma, this is what I promised to Julia, but you want to get this title in this way, tell me what are you thinking?" ”

Skop slowly raised his head, his eyes met the hateful look of Alexander VI as if he was about to eat him, and said calmly: "Yes, Your Majesty, you promised, but as you said it was the Farne family, and I said that the descendants of the Skop family would become the Duke of Parma." ”

Alexander VI looked at Skop in amazement, and after a while his waist that had been as straight as possible slowly collapsed, and there was a trace of exhaustion in his eyes, and then he stretched out a hand and moved, watching Skop and Nomelo sit side by side opposite him, and the Pope looked at the two people with a complicated expression.

"Can you tell me when it all started?"

Although the Pope did not explain, the two people on the other side obviously knew what he was asking, but they obviously did not want to answer, but responded to the Pope with silence.

"Again, it doesn't make sense," Alexander VI said self-deprecatingly, then glanced at the two people opposite, "but I still want to know one more thing, what is the matter with that Radia gold coin?" ”

Seeing that the two people on the other side seemed to be a little dazed, Alexander VI chuckled: "It seems that you don't know either, but I have probably guessed some possibilities at these times," said the Pope, fumbling through his robe, took out a Ladia gold coin and gently stroked it in the palm of his hand, "That Fugol family should be the key to all this, but everyone didn't expect that Alexander would be able to persuade them to cooperate with him after hitting the family so badly." ”

"Your Majesty, you say that all this was done by the Duke of Thessia of Rome?" Nomelo asked in disbelief, although he vaguely guessed that there seemed to be Alexander's shadow in the depreciation of Ladia's gold coins, but he never dared to believe that Alexander had such courage and courage, "But doing so will hurt him, and even make him lose all his money for this." ”

"All the money, so how much money do you think he has?" The Pope asked rhetorically with a hint of pride, "Just to buy that chair in the Vatican, he was willing to pay 1.3 million florins, but I believe that it is not so difficult for him at all, and do you think that he has suffered a great loss because of this depreciation of Ladia, I can assure you that he may have made more money in this matter than you think, no, you dare not think about it so much, you must know that he is the father of my granddaughter, and he will also leave a rich enough dowry for his daughter's sake, There may also be a kingdom that is mighty enough. ”

Alexander VI said and glanced at the two men in front of him with contempt.

"You get what you want, and Alexandre Juliant Cambrai gets what he wants, but you are different, you get a title or a domain, and he gets a kingdom," the Pope poked the plank under his feet with his cane, "You will see that he rules all the lands south of Lombardy, and your Parma will be a buffer between him and Lombardy, and your city of Rome will tremble under the siege of his kingdom, and as for Lombardy he will leave to others, Let it be a terrible bait to suck the blood of those who are trying to swallow this piece of fat, and my granddaughter's father, he will be the final beneficiary of it all. ”

Listening to the Pope's words, the two people in the carriage looked at Alexander VI dumbfounded, listening to the Pope's analysis of the current situation, and then thinking about their own situation, they had to admit that the old man in front of them had a vision far beyond them.

At this moment, they actually had the illusion that the Pope in front of them who was forced to self-exile was the Supreme One who stood in front of the altar of the cathedral and was worshiped by countless believers.

But then, Alexander VI bent slightly.

His eyes flashed with exhaustion, and his hands on crutches trembled weakly.

"I figured it all out in front of Caesar's coffin, and it was then that I realized how wrong I had been."

"Are you saying that you had previously underestimated the ambitions of the Duke of Thesia?" Nomelo asked cautiously.

"No, I mean it was only then that I realized that Caesar should not be Alexander's enemy," the Pope looked up at Nomerlo, "You are a smart boy, you always know who to choose to be attached to, you were right to choose Giovanni in the first place, because he is more suitable to be a monarch than Caesar, and he has a good relationship with Alexander, so maybe the Borgia family is completely different now, and then you chose Alexander, and now it turns out that you are not wrong, but you never chose Caesar, In fact, I should have known from that time that Caesar was not fit for this mission, but unfortunately I found out too late, too late......"

Listening to the Pope gradually lower and deeper in his self-reproach and grievances, the two people on the other side looked at each other, not knowing what to say for a while.

Until a moment later Alexander VI raised his head and looked at them again.

"I'm going back to Valencia, and this is probably the last time we'll see each other."

"Your Majesty, are you not going to Pisa? Or ......"

Seeing Nomelo wanting to speak and stopping, Alexander VI smiled slightly mockingly: "You want to ask, am I going to France?" ”

Nomelo looked embarrassed, he knew that asking this question might be suspected by the Pope of finding out his whereabouts on Alexander's behalf, but he did want to know where Alexander VI was going next.

"I will not go to France," said Alexander VI, with a proud look on his face again, "I will not allow myself to be a prisoner of Avignon in this era, knowing that the Borgia will not bow their heads to anyone and beg." ”

With that, Alexander VI waved his hand to the two.

"Okay, you can leave." The Pope said in a low voice, his gaze falling again on the corner of the carriage siding, and for a moment he seemed to be in some kind of contemplation.

The two men got out of the carriage almost as if they were fleeing, and looked at Cadron who was walking towards them, Nomelo waved his hand and ignored him, and walked to the side with Skop.

The team set off again, and looking at the group as they walked towards the docks, Nomelo turned to look at Skop.

"Are we doing it right?"

"I don't know," Skop said sullenly, and then slapped the saber on his waist hard, "but we have no way out, do we?" ”

"Yes," Skop's words made Nomelo's somewhat low mood rise again, "either rise with the Duke of Rome Thesia, or sink together, we have no way back." ”