Leo X had intended for the ambitious king of France, like Henry IV before him, to stand in the ice and snow for three days and three nights, but he knew that this was unlikely, let alone Louis XII, Henry IV also had a hut to live in, hot soup and bread, and at all times, their friends, relatives and even enemies were also kings, and they watched here, and would never allow a king, their kind, to be tortured and humiliated too much.

But for Louis XII, what he had been going through these days had become too much for him to bear, and those of humble status, such as prostitutes, outcasts, or beggars, who were able to walk before him and had the right to enter Castel Sainte-Angelo, had to stand outside the castle gates, shaking his lips in the wind and snow, and singing prayers—even though he knew that the Pope would eventually allow him to enter the audience, the previous shame could not help but devastate his spirit and body.

If he could have supported it before, Louis XII was even more furious when the Pope openly declared that he did not want to see the shameful sinner, but allowed his wife and son to enter the castle, and they gladly accepted it. Are they not their wives and sons? They are reluctant to spend time with their husbands and fathers...... He fainted almost, no, indeed, but before he could fall to the ground, the monk beside him grabbed him by the arm, held him up, and carried him to the side of the hut.

He came to his senses in the hut, which also had a bed, a chair, and a writing desk, and he drank a little hot soup in the service of his servants, and despite their dissuasion, he returned to his desk, and began to write earnestly to his friends and even to his enemies, and his words in the letters were not insincere, but he was also well aware that apart from these, he had few bargaining chips at his disposal, that the treasury was empty, that it was depleted, and that there was a great deal of debt, which he estimated, The only thing he had the most valuable thing now was the glass and mirror recipe offered by the Medici family, and of course he was reluctant to sell the recipe directly, but after thinking about it for a while, he became confident.

————————

"Louise?"

The receipt of Louis XII's handwritten letter, of course, was expected by Giulio, but his promise that he would support Louise as the heiress of the Kingdom of Navarre after he was pardoned and returned to France was beyond everyone's imagination.

Here, we have to mention Navarre, Navarre is located between Spain and France, and its relationship with Borgia is not only Charlotte and Caesar's marriage - as early as a few centuries ago, the then unknown Borgia family lived in Borja, near Navarre, when the king of Aragon conquered Valencia, several knights who claimed to have been born in Borja followed, and thus obtained the fiefdom of Valencia, and the Borgia family also rose, so for the Borgia family, Borja is their homeland, Valencia is their glory, and Naples and the whole of Italy are a matter of the future.

The current King of Navarre is a cousin of King Louis XII of France, a useless man with no ambition but no talent, which is why Louis XII chose his sister (and also his cousin) to fight Caesar. Bolgia was married, but since Louis XII's two successive defeats in Italy, such a poor creature began to move, in order to warn him, but also to contain him, Louis XII had already prepared a trap and a snare, but when he heard that the daughter of Caesar and Princess Charlotte, who had only a girl with the title of Duke of Valentino, was also by the side of the hot cardinal, he immediately changed his previous plan.

In the letter, he said that, as the king of France and the master of the Duchess of Valentino, he had the right to be a prince to her—for example, he could support her inheritance to Navarre, and he could also appoint three people to be her fiancées, and these three people could be chosen by Giulio. Medici choose one.

"It's hard to say whether it's God's will," Duarte said, "but if so...... "their concerns remain, but to put it mildly, Louise . Borgia's value is far greater than the harm she can cause.

Duarte and Machiavelli and others are of course happy to see it, in addition to the benefits that little Cosimo can get from it, if Louise, who has been with him for many years, is confirmed as the heir, she will return to Navarre, no one can understand the changeable mind of young people better than them, it may be Louise, it may be little Cosimo, anyway, any of them may gradually fade the vivid colors in their memories because of the long journey and time.

At that point, no matter what arrangements are made, they will be much more relaxed.

"Let Louise come to me." Giulio said.

Louise was born in the Holy Year, that is, nominally the same age as little Cosimo, in fact little Cosimo is two years older than her, but in appearance, Louise is more mature than little Cosimo, she almost has the rudiments of a girl, and she inherited her father's face and does not quite fit the aesthetics of women at this time - although her appearance is beautiful and upright, it is too stern, and even has some dangerous implications, especially when she raises her pair of slender eyebrows like a falcon high. The eyes covered in shadow have a somewhat eerie taste.

Her lips were darker than the other children, so dark that they could barely make out the red, and some would think she was seriously ill, but Giulio knew that she was not only healthy, but also strong, and that she was educated in Florence and Rome just like her aunt Lucrethea - like men, she could ride horses, wield daggers and muskets, and slay terrible beasts with her own hands.

But if Louis XII was willing to fulfill his promise, she would face something far more terrible than a wild beast.

Will she accept it? The answer was yes, for Giulio saw that her eyes were already shining, and that Borgia's blood was surging in her young body, and that it was no more than a country in Valentino, a territory the size of a castle, and in the terror of the Duke of Savoy to fight for his place, even if it was a small country sandwiched between France and Spain.

"Do you know what's going on in Navarre?" Giulio asked.

Louise nodded, of course it was impossible for this powerful cardinal not to pay attention to such a small but sensitive place, he was just checking whether Louise was ready.

She's always ready, of course.

At a very young age, Louise was sent from France to Italy by her mother, Princess Charlotte, because she was going to marry another man, become his wife, have new children with him, and she was unable and unable to continue to care for the young Louise.

Louise doesn't blame her, she knew her identity was embarrassing from a very young age, her mother came from a prominent background, and her father was an illegitimate child, even if he came out from under the white robe of the Holy Father, there were still people who secretly ridiculed Louise for being just the illegitimate daughter of an illegitimate son, the situation was better when Alexander VI was alive, unfortunately, not long after Louise was born, Alexander VI died, as soon as he died, Caesar. Borgia became a lost dog, threatened with expulsion, and his wife and daughter had to endure the cynicism of others in the court of Blois.

When Caesar also dies, Princess Charlotte's marriage becomes another available bargaining chip, and Louise's presence becomes an eyesore. Of course, the title of Duchess of Valentino on her body protected her, but it also became a new crisis. The king of Navarre had an unorthodox illegitimate son, and he wanted him to be betrothed to Louise - that illegitimate son, who was older than the king's legitimate son, Enrique, who had nothing to do, and who had a filthy Italian disease, and whose lover had bore all sick with disgusting abscesses, how could Princess Charlotte endure her daughter being defiled by such a person, and would do everything she could to send Louise to her uncle in Le Pi, Italy.

These things have been described before, so I will not repeat them. It's just that what the king of Navarre didn't expect was that his legitimate son, Enrique, unfortunately died in a hunting accident, and he lost his only heir.

It is difficult to say whether or not it was Louis XII's handiwork, but there is no doubt that it was good for him, and Navarre suddenly went from being his ally and relative to his capital, and it was because of his bold claim that he could support Louise to get Navarre.

But Louise's agitation lasted only a few seconds, "Navarra is the one who executes the Salifa. "Salefa only allows male heirs, and neither Navarra nor France has ever had a queen before," she said. ”

Julio bowed his head slightly: "Louis XII either has the intention of changing the law of inheritance, or ...... Allow an Italian to become the lord of Navarre. ”

Hearing this, Louise had completely calmed down, and she thought for a while: "It is impossible for Louis XII to change the law of succession, he already has a male heir, but when it comes to making an Italian, to be precise, a Medici the king of Navarre, it is even more impossible." ”

There was a fierce look in her eyes: "He is deceiving you, my lord, I don't know what he is asking of you, but he will definitely use the excuse of amending the inheritance law, delaying the fulfillment of his promise, and when he gets a respite, it will be too easy to delay this matter indefinitely—I have lived in Blois, and I know how stubborn the people there are, and it is even more impossible for him to make an Italian the king of Navarre, and that man will be his shield, The hatred of the Navarres and the French will go to him. ”

"So," Giulio looked at her, "what about your decision, do you want me to reject him?" ”’

Julio's question seemed to wake Louise up, and from a sweet dream or a nightmare, her lips twitched slightly dazedly, and she ...... Reminds of little Cosimo. The Medici, who was the head of the Medici family, was the Duke of Nuoro of Spain, and those people would not allow him to return to Navarre with her, and, as she said, an Italian was destined to be the target of public criticism in Navarre...... She may not even be able to guarantee her own life.

Giulio looked at her, he had never intended to hinder her and little Cosimo, but for these two children, who were only eleven or twelve years old, their love was still only a young seedling, a hazy mist, not an inch fell on reality, and Louis XII's proposal was only the first small gully on the dark long road they had to pass, and as for what they were going to do, it could not have had terrible consequences, or rather, only for Louise. But will she give up?

No, she won't, Louise raised her head, she was in Florence, the days with little Cosimo in Rome, she was the most lively, faster than by her mother's side, no one discriminated against them here, there was plenty of material and a happy spirit, but with the deepening of education, Louise would occasionally think silently about her future in the dead of night, if she continued to stay here, stay with little Cosimo, her future would be visible at a glance - a vain baroness, a lucky illegitimate daughter, A neglected and questioned wife and mother, even if little Cosimo and her love will not waver, he will not be able to give her more, a woman who will only wag his tail and beg for mercy (even if he is her lover, her husband) will never be respected, and if little Cosimo changes his mind, look at the wives of kings, a woman is never worth mentioning in front of the national interest.

"If I ...... If I wish to go back to Navarre. Louise said with difficulty, "If I accept Louis's ...... Arrangement, my lord, am I still your student? ”

"As long as you remain loyal to me, of course." Giulio said mildly: "The reason why Louis XII proposed this deal to me, like the Medici, is precisely because you are my student. ”

He held out a hand to Louise and kindly pressed her shoulder: "I want you to come here and talk to me to know if you are ready to do so - your life will be very difficult and dangerous after that, and you will find that the frustrations and torments you have suffered before are no more than a spring breeze, and a Valentino castle has a completely different meaning than a Navarrere - you may have enemies everywhere, even if someone is willing to take care of you and care for you, it may not be a good heart, People who don't know the truth will believe those nonsense rumors, think that you are a prostitute, a thief, a poor person who is shallow and ignorant, whatever you do, you may not be able to get praise, and may even be distorted, no matter how ridiculous things can happen to you, you know your ...... How did cousin Enrique die? ”

"Dropped a horse while hunting."

"He was dragged by a horse for a full 300 feet, his bones were broken, his face was bloody and fleshy, and the doctors treated him with feces and a soldering iron, and he died the next day."

There was finally a slight waver in Louise's eyes, but it quickly passed, "There is no successful business that does not need capital." She said that Giulio smiled at the proverb that clearly came from the Medici family, and he raised his hand and stroked the top of her head instead, for Louise's hair was as dark as Caesar's, stiff and straight, and much softer than that of little Cosimo, otherwise it would not always be restless and curly.

"Well," he whispered, "but don't be afraid, dear, I'll keep an eye on you." ”

Louis XII's bribes did disrupt their plans, but getting Navarre was something that no ambitious person could refuse, especially since Navarre was between France and Spain, which meant that it could be a nail in the coffin between France and Spain when the process of unification of Italy began. If they can't shake their rule, at least they can't take care of Italy, the land they are forbidden to.

——————

"But Louis XII's appetite was a little too big." When Louise had left the room, Duarte said, "He wants the papal pardon, and the Medici family's support—and the cashmere and lanolin business, and he wants to recoup almost all his losses in this deal." ”

"It's a country, after all." Julio closed his eyes, still smiling at the corners of his mouth: "Of course, for him, this is just a castle in the sky that is painted for us, but since there is a promise from a king...... Duarte, we can surprise them, right? ”

"Undoubtedly, Your Highness."

The power of the Monks of Mercy has long since extended to the most remote frontiers of the whole of Europa, and the king of Navarre was originally dull enough, and he was not as wary of the Monks as an elector of the Holy Roman Empire, and he did not notice the encroachment of the Monks, and because the taxes and trade brought by the Monks were open to them, it was Prince Enrique, who had suspected the real intentions of the Monks, but he died, died in a ridiculous conspiracy.

Julio. The Medici also had in their hands allegiance from Borgia, and from Picomini, all the forces of the Medici family, and all the city-states of Tuscany, and those exiles who had been sheltered with him would also begin to spread the legend of the saints when they arrived in Romena, and if the Medici army arrived, even if the lords forced the people to join the army, their weapons might not be aimed at which side.

In the shadows behind him lay the Assassins of Assasin and the last remaining Templars, who might be difficult to rule over a city or a country, but they would be the sharpest daggers against enemies accustomed to stealth and darkness.

——————————————

Although Louise has made her own decision, it can only be said that things are just a beginning, not even an outline, there is nothing but the beauty depicted by Louis XII, but the king of France has indeed reached the point of desperation, it is said that there is an undercurrent in Burgundy, and some restless guys are gathering frequently, not knowing what they are planning, but this is also a matter of course, compared to Roussillon, Cerdan or Anjou, Provence and Mann, Burgundy was the region that suffered the most from the unification of France, and even one of them, their lord, Charles the Bold Duke of Burgundy, had captured Louis XI in the first battle with Louis XI, the father of Charles VIII, and forced the king to sign a so-called pact of the Union of Justice with the lords who opposed him, but Louis XI repented immediately after his release, declared the contract null and void, provoked relations between Lorraine, Switzerland and Burgundy, and captured and executed Charles the Bold in the ensuing battle, Charles the Bold's daughter was none other than the wife of Maximilian I of the Holy Roman Empire, which is why the Holy Roman Empire did not have a good relationship with France.

Burgundy was also the harshest and most elaborate of all the annexed territories, and the rebellion was the highest, and during Louis XII's two wars against Italy, Burgundy's blood was almost drained, and the people even made unleavened bread into men wearing crowns to vent their anger.

People in other regions may still be waiting, but if Louis XII is not pardoned, or if it drags on for too long, the situation will only get worse.

It is no wonder that Louis XII would make such an absurd move, he was already desperate, Giulio had already decided that he would plead his case to Leo X early tomorrow morning, at least to allow Louis XII to meet him, and then whether to pardon his rebellion against the Church and re-recognize him as king of France could be reconsidered.

"One more thing." Duarte said: "General Gonzalo's letter, Juana I has finally agreed to our 'proposal', Your Highness, you may have three students with crowns on their heads in the future." ”

Although he was very sure, Giulio could not help but feel lightened when he got this result, when he asked Juana for her second son for the sake of today, Ferdinand, the second son of the Queen of Spain, who is only eight years old this year, and his initiation teacher is Giulio. Medici, there is nothing better to describe than a blank sheet of paper, and what Ferdinand learned from Giulio was not only knowledge, but also his thoughts and ideas, which was the most important thing.

There is also the brotherly affection that he and little Cosimo have accumulated day and night, even if they may one day fight against each other, but at least when this vein and warmth have not been torn apart by reality, a person who tends to them, the heir of a powerful country, will make little Cosimo. The Medici did not have a difficult start to their careers.

"But the canonization ceremony must take place in Toledo," Duarte said, "what do you think?" ”

"Ferdinand is my student, not a prisoner." Giulio spun the quill in his hand, "It's time for him to go back to his mother, too, but his teacher ...... Cardinal Cisneros may not be able to return to his Toledo, and I think he will do his best to get his resignation done, and we must find a more reliable mentor for Ferdinand Jr. ”

"Got it." Duarte said that if he had been a little embarrassed ten years ago, now that they had enough manpower, it would not be difficult to choose a teacher from among those who could be trusted to be Prince Ferdinand's teacher, and that the position of Archbishop of Toledo had been virtually vacant for many years.

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