Sodrini's parents are already starting to panic, he is not a strong man in the first place, and he can become the first standard-bearer of Florence, and it is entirely because of the relationship of a cardinal brother. When the Medici did not return, relying on his status as the first standard-bearer, Sodrini could bully him and laugh at him, but when he really stood in front of Sodrini, he could not even ask a question.

Cardinal Sodrini, however, was much bolder than his brother, and in addition to the promises of the Lovere family, he believed that Giulio was a member of the Lorde family. The return of the Medici may have swayed some people, but the rumors of the so-called Three Crimes against the Medici are not new to Florence today. The Medici had rarely appeared in Florence since 1494, and it was only Carboni and Neri who spoke on his behalf, and the people did not know him – Cardinal Sodrini roamed the members of the Council of 3,000 who had not yet cast a single vote, trying to find among them those who were willing to stand firmly on the side of the Sodrini.

To his disappointment, however, most of them deliberately avoided his eyes, their hands clenched tightly, and sometimes turned their backs to Cardinal Sodrini.

When the 3,000 people had finished voting, the official in charge of the matter came forward to ask if it was possible to count the votes in public, and Sodrini's parents almost subconsciously refused, he was not as confident as his brother, but Cardinal Sodrini glared at him viciously, and he deserved to agree with a shudder.

The huge box was toppled into a square shallow bottom tray that could only be carried by four people, which was specially prepared by the Sodrini family, so that the Medici and their allies could see the final result as soon as possible, and the result came out quickly, but unfortunately, contrary to what they expected, the number of small red wooden balls was obviously more numerous than the small black wooden balls, and it had a great advantage, given that hundreds of people had voted first, that is, from Giulio. As soon as the Medici entered the town square, they threw themselves on the Medici without hesitation.

Yes, as Cardinal Sodrini said, Giulio. It is true that the Medici had not been back to Florence for a long time, but again, because he had been in Rome for a long time, the news was not as accurate as he thought it would be - Giulio. The name of the Medici has not completely disappeared from the memory of the Florentines, who do not know that Charles VIII was forced to introduce Florence as the first contribution of the Medici, but they know that the Medici brought them lanolin and cashmere, and revived Florence; also knew that it was him in Caesar. When Borgia wanted to show his fangs against Florence, he generously sent three hundred arquebusiers, as well as small artillery and gunners, so that Carboni and the Neri family could fight a beautiful sniper battle outside Florence and preserve their joy and peace; And wait until Leonardo. Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo returned from Brest, France, and they knew even more – about Julio. The Medici, these two venerable masters, always did not hesitate to praise their words.

They weren't ungrateful, but the Florentine populace was always a little more ungrateful than the rest of Italy, having supported Cosimo, Savonarola, and even Caesar. Borgia, but they ultimately supported themselves - in Giulio. When the Medici were far away in Rome, they threw his favor behind them and betrayed his benefactor for the sake of Sodrini's Golden Florin; And Giulio. When the Medici suddenly returned to Florence, the sound of Sodrini's golden florin beating each other was not so crisp, of course, not only because of shame, but more because of the edict from Pius III - he did not fall out of favor with the Pope, and it can even be said that this incident highlighted the love of His Excellency the Pope for him.

To be sure, if their apprentice or disciple suddenly says they want to leave while they are making an important deal, they will be angry, if not to drive him away. Instead of being angry, Pius III gave him more freedom and power, and indulged him, God, doesn't that show how much he loves him? Even some fathers may not be so good to their own sons.

When the vote was over, some people, especially those who had dropped the black balls and supported the expulsion of the Medici, were already panicking, and they were anxious to leave, only to find that the road outside the town square was guarded by soldiers, and they wanted to shout or draw their weapons, but they were forced back into the square by the pointed crossbows and the black arquebuses.

"Who's there!" Sodrini's parents shouted.

Giulio raised a hand, and for a few breaths, around the town square, the alleys shrouded in darkness, countless torches and candles lit up without warning, and the already somewhat dim square was once again brightly lit up—the people crowded in the middle of the square, looking at them in alarm—the leaders were luxuriously draped in knightly busts, and the others were dressed in neat leather armor, but they were all wearing short white cloaks, and the cloaks had the small ball coat of arms of the Medici family, Carrying the arquebus, which was already familiar to the Florentines, or holding crossbows with crossbows already loaded, and behind them, more soldiers stood, and although they could not see the spears that lined up, they could always catch a glimpse of the spear tips that occasionally refracted the light of the fire, glittering in the darkness like stars.

Cardinal Sodrini turned abruptly and asked in a low voice of annoyance: "Didn't you say that the arquebusiers had been disarmed and locked up by you?" He looked anxiously at the soldiers who had suddenly appeared: "And those soldiers, where did they come from?" Julio. The Medici and his nephew forget it, here...... There are at least a thousand of them, how did they get here? And you were telling me yesterday that there is nothing unusual in Florence, which is called no abnormality? Did they all grow out of the crotch of the Medici? ”

This swear word is quite rare for Cardinal Sodrini, who has always been self-conscious, but Sodrini's parents, his brother can't have the heart to laugh at him at this time, he looked at the mercenary captain of the family, and found that he frowned, and shook his head helplessly in his sight, there are still some of them stranded in the inner family, there are only two or three hundred people here, it can only be said that it is no problem to control a dozen or so civilians who don't know what to do, or to maintain order, but ...... He knew arquebuses, especially the Florentine modified heavy arquebuses, which could be loaded with one-fifth of a pound of gunpowder and two iron pellets of one-tenth of their weight, stretched to within a hundred feet, and could penetrate two layers of planks or a layer of plate armor, while his soldiers only had leather armor or chain mail, and he was the only one who wore half-body armor, how could they fight the enemy?

And at this moment, Giulio spoke calmly: "So. He said gently: "Since the results of the last issue have been reached, let's move on to the next issue." ”

The official in charge of auditing and distributing the balls looked at him nervously, "My lord," he asked in a tone that almost cried, "and there is only this topic for today......

"Oh," Giulio politely replied, "I added one, what, can't you?" ”

Of course not! The people of Sodrini roared in their hearts, but no one dared to speak at the beheaval of hundreds of arquebuses, so the unfortunate official could only continue to ask: "May I ask you what kind of agenda you need our vote on?" ”

"There is an issue about whether the Sodrini family should be expelled from Florence because of their sins."

Someone screamed, and the official who knew a little bit about it was already sweating: "You are talking about ......"

"The Sodrini family."

Julio pronounced the name clearly.

"Ridiculous!" Cardinal Sodrini roared.

"We don't agree!" Sodrini's parents also shouted: "You are a dictator! ”

"Hmm." Julio. The Medici replied in a deep, clear voice, "Yes." ”

This answer was heard by every Florentine present, but they ...... Not even the slightest voice of discontent and rebellion was made.

——————————————

A diminutive man was sent to the square by the Medici soldiers.

"Tell them who you are?" Giulio said.

"I'm ......" The man took off his soft hat and pressed it to his chest as if he were putting on armor, and turned his head away from the fearsome gaze of the Sodrini family before he reluctantly spoke: "I ...... I'm from the Rinse Guild," he swallowed timidly, "I...... I was hired, hired by Mr. Carboni to do the urinal bottle recycling work at the city hall, yes, a very important job, and I did a good job and never let those urinal bottles stay overnight......"

The...... The members of the Rinse Guild, who should have been witnesses, spoke upside down, procrastinating, and failed to get to the point for a few minutes, but the most important people in the square did not speak, and no one dared to interrupt him, but fortunately, after hesitating for a while, he finally gave the most important testimony: "On that day, the night of the assassination of the kind Mr. Carboni and Mr. Neri, I went to collect the urine bottle...... When it happened...... I hid in the corner...... I, I saw the murderer. ”

"It's Juliano. Medici? The officer asked.

"It's not."

"And who is it?"

"Yes...... Be...... It's Larry. Sodrini! ”

Countless loud exclamations suddenly rang out in the crowd, and even some of the words after the witness were drowned out in a huge wave. Seriously, to say Giuliano. The Medici assassinated Carboni and Neri, not many people want to believe it, everyone knows that Carboni is an ally of Medici, and Neri is Medici's in-law, unless Giuliano is crazy, otherwise this matter will not do him any good, but most of them never thought that this incident may have been planned by the Sodrini family. You know, Pierrot. Carboni is the successor to Cosimo. After the Medici, the Florentines were the most beloved first standard-bearers – and the Carboni family was also the in-laws of the Sodrini family.

They couldn't help but look at Cardinal Sodrini, who did not show the slightest hint of fear, but laughed out loud.

"Is this what you call a witness?" He said contemptuously: "Just bought a despicable villain, do you want to use this to slander my family?" ”

"Of course, it's not all." Giulio said.

The crowd parted to the sides again, and this time several of the people who were escorted up were embarrassed and wounded.

As soon as they saw them, Sodrini's parents couldn't help but blurt out: "My son! ”

The captives of the Medici were none other than those who were accused of being murderers. Sodrini, to his martial arts teacher, and his friend and side branch of Sodrini.

Cardinal Sodrini glared at Larry. Sodrini, he had clearly instructed him, to hire Assassins from outside. How could his stupid brother let his son do this!

"Well, you confess to assassinating our first standard-bearer, Pierrot. Carboni, head of the Neri family, Tana. Inside? The official asked routinely.

Naturally, Larry didn't admit it, but to everyone's surprise, his martial arts teacher did, but he didn't admit that he did it, only admitting that he was in charge of guarding and killing those who might have seen the plot, and pretending to salute the first standard-bearer, but he pulled out his dagger and dagger and stabbed them at the person who was Larry. Sodrini with his friends. Compared to the previous rinse workers, his description is much clearer, such as how Carboni and Neri resisted, what kind of scars were left on the murderer's body, and what scars the murderer left on them.

The Medici soldiers forced them to take off their clothes, and sure enough, in the bright light of the fire, the location and size of the scars were just as the martial arts teacher of the Sodrini family had said.

"Another devil bought by the Medici!" Cardinal Sodrini shouted in a hissing voice.

"Then you may wish to meet my third witness." Giulio said.

The third witness did not come in from outside the square, she actually came out of the crowd of the Sodrini family.

"Pauline. Pienzi! Sodrini's parents shouted.

Pauline. Pienzi is Larry's wife, but there is almost no affection between them, to be right, only hatred, because Larry is a rough and feminine bastard, he not only contracted the French disease himself, but also passed this dirty disease to his wife, as a result of which she gave birth to five children in a row all died, Larry not only did not repent, but also insulted Pauline, thinking that she was not healthy enough to give birth to a strong son, but this kind of thing is common in Florence and even in the whole of Italy, Pauline stood up and accused her husband, apparently also at the behest of the Pienzi family.

Thinking of this, Sodrini's parents suddenly realized that tonight's city defense was the responsibility of the Pienzi family! No wonder the Medici soldiers were able to quietly enter Florence, but they had nothing to do with each other before, when did they collude?

Pauline. Pienzi not only made it clear that Pierrot. On the night of Carbony's assassination, not only Larry. Sodrini didn't return all night, as did his cousins, and she took out a blood-splattered coat for people to see, because Larry had told her to burn it that night.

"Her accusations are not credible." Larry. Sodrini said in a hoarse voice, "She hates me. She has other men out there. ”

And Pauline. Pienzi only smiled mockingly, and returned to the ranks of the Pienza family, and as soon as she returned home, she was tightly protected.

"Aside from a rinse worker and a swinger," Cardinal Sodrini struggled, "do you have anything else?" Julio. Medici! "In the end, the Medici surname literally burst out from between his teeth.

"Yes." "But it's a piece of evidence," Giulio said. ”

He made a gesture and walked out of the crowd again, but her presence confused many people - because they didn't remember that there was such a stunner by their side, yes, it was a stunner, she was simply a symbol of lust, the devil's wife, even if she smiled at the corners of her eyes and mouth, but when people looked at it, these interesting little wrinkles were also extremely cute, especially with her respectable chest and plump buttocks.

She was wearing leather armor, and her waist was even more slender, and as she writhed through the crowd, countless men pulled open their necklines as if they were suffocating.

Under the unbridled gaze of the people, she walked to Julio. In front of the Medici, he pulled out a reliquary from his cloak: "Fortunately, I am not dishonored." She said in a voice that only Giulio could hear.

"Thanks, Paula."

Giulio tilted the reliquary in his hand towards the brightest part of the fire, so that everyone could see the coat of arms of the Sodrini family, which was made of crimson gems and pearls set in the gold box, and they could see it clearly even if the light was not as good as the daylight, and one of them shouted, "This is Sodrini's family!" My friend did the job for him and got thirty gold florins, and I've seen it unfinished and finished! ”

Cardinal Sodrini looked at his brother with a gloomy expression, but before Sodrini's parents could say anything, Giulio. The Medici opened it, and at least a dozen or so parchments were exposed, and Cardinal Sodrini saw at a glance the familiar handwriting—wasn't it his letter to his brother? He twisted his neck sharply and looked at Sodrini's parents!

"I hid it." Sodrini's parents whispered timidly, "I didn't tell anyone. He hurriedly added.

But now, no matter what was said, it was too late, and one of the members of the Council of Seventy, the head of the Piruzzi family, had taken the lead in drawing one and read it aloud in public.

The people immediately calmed down and listened attentively, much more seriously than when they had listened to the accusations made against the Medici by the Soruzzi parents, and when the Pirouzzi parents read the first letter, the slander of the Medici by the Sordrini family had become an indisputable fact, and Cardinal Sodrini, who had always behaved unusually upright and innocent, could not help but change his face when he saw the Pirouzzi parents pick up the second letter - who does not know his brother's habits? The Sodrini family always liked to put the latest at the top, and his penultimate letter made it clear that he asked his brother to send an assassin to assassinate Carboni, because the stubborn old man was both an ally of the Medici and an enemy who hindered their great cause.

"I'm curious." Piruzi's parents exclaimed, "What great thing are you going to accomplish?!" ”

He said this, and then quickly read the letters that followed, and at last his eyes widened, and after a few double-checks, he held the parchment alof: "Look! Look! He cried out in horror and rage: "The people of Florence, we have an archduke or a king here!" ”

Several members of the Council of Seventy flocked up, and nothing could touch the Florentines more than the Grand Duke or the King, who allowed the Sodrini family to frame Giuliano. The Medici, isn't it because the Medici family is becoming more and more influential in Florence and has built the new city of Gatiz, they are worried about another Cosimo. Did the Medici become tyrants of Florence and want to expel them?

But in this letter, Cardinal Sodrini made it clear that he hoped that his brother would become Grand Duke of Florence, even if it was necessary to submit to the French or the Spaniards temporarily.

At this moment, the Florentine people were thoroughly enraged, although many more of them changed their minds and practices because of the great power of the Medici - what could be more worthy of sympathy and forgiveness than being deceived and played by the wicked? They were the first to shout "Expelling Sodrini!" Although it seems like a black joke, because these people were the first to shout "expulsion of the Medici".

Now it was the turn of the Medici soldiers, who forcibly drove away Sodrini's mercenaries, and arrested every Sodrini who was there, who had been respected and loved by the Florentine people, but now they could not find a place to hide, and as soon as they hid in the crowd, they were rudely pushed out and kicked out, and some Sodrini tried to resist, but the result was that they suffered in vain.

"Honorable Cardinal, let us take you to Sodrini Street!" Some of the more radical, or well-intentioned, shouted.

Julio just shook his head slightly.

"Not a single Sodrini will escape, my lord!" The leader of the arquebusiers shouted, "Their mansion is under our control. ”

The Florentine burghers immediately shut their mouths, and when they retreated, their hearts beat so fast that they almost tore their chests, alas, they thought that this was a trap set by the Sodrini family for the Medici family, but they did not expect that it was the opposite.

When the people had finally calmed down (not without regret, because apparently they couldn't have stormed the Sodrini Palace and plundered it), Giulio asked in a low voice, "Can we start voting on the second issue?" ”

"Of course." The officer said in awe: "Of course. ”

So the people took the ball again and lined up, this time voting faster than the last time, and almost without thinking, Cardinal Sodrini was pale, his hands clenched into fists - he was the only one who had not been humiliated by the restriction of his personal freedom, and Joe . . . The Medici watched with a smile and beckoned to him, swaying and dancing — pouting, lifting the buttocks, shaking their almost non-existent waists, grimacing and making lewd gestures.

Julio went with him, thinking that in the previous house arrest, Joe. The Medici also suffered a lot - although Sodrini's people would not kill him directly, intimidation and abuse were inevitable.

Before Joe could finish his self-created "Dance of Contempt", the vote was over, and the red balls were piled up, with only a few small black balls scattered around.

Cardinal Sodrini closed his eyes in despair.

——————————————————————

In the past, the blow of one family to another, like the revenge of the Medici family against the Pache family, would be a carnival for the whole of Florence, and those people who usually seemed to be as docile as lambs, when this time came, would tear off the mask of hypocrisy and turn into the devil - theft and robbery were only trivial things, castration, killing and rape were the things they were most willing to do, and the victorious family, in order to prevent future troubles, proposed a bounty would also make them a lot of money.

But this time, they didn't get anything but the previous bribes of the Sodrini family, but they didn't dare to complain too much, because the Medici soldiers were not a few hundred, or at most a thousand, as they thought, but a full three, including a hundred cavalrymen, and three hundred arquebusiers, "like dukes!" The people of Florence said.

These soldiers walked around the city of Florence, according to their words, they were on guard and patrol, not to mention looting by fire, and even doing some ordinary illegal petty business was frightened, not that no one protested, but then things quieted them down.

As the main messenger of the assassination of the first standard-bearer, the head of the Sodrini family and his son Larry. Sodrini and several of his accomplices were hanged from the bell tower - the rest of the Sodrini members were allowed to leave Florence on the same day with their personal belongings - in Florence, they were watched and protected by Medici soldiers, and some ill-intentioned people could only follow them and look for an opportunity, so that when they reached the outside of the city, they had to wait for their hired soldiers to gather before they dared to continue their journey.

What even Cardinal Sodrini could not have imagined was that he did not die at the hands of the Medici or by the Florentine populace, but at the hands of another of his nephews.

It's also very simple to say - the Sodrini family has a dispute with Cardinal Sodrini over the number of mercenaries - there are more than 30 direct and collateral members of the Sodrini family, 16 cardinals and accompanying clergy, and only 50 mercenaries have gathered, but both the family and the cardinals think they need to take more soldiers to ensure their own safety - the Sodrini family is worried about the bandits and mobs in the wilderness, and the cardinal is afraid of the Medici retribution - of course, The execution of a cardinal in private would have aroused the displeasure of the pope, such as the former Sixtus IV, who took away the entire Florence because of the death of the Archbishop of Pisa, or the then Cardinal Picromini mediated the appointment of Lorenzo. The Medici introduced the King of Naples to avoid this catastrophe, and Cardinal Sodrini did not immediately execute Joe. The Medici were also on his way back to Rome for this reason, but what about him? The Medici and Florence were not necessarily responsible for the outcasts or wild beasts on the way.

Larry is the second son of Sodrini's parents, his eldest son has replaced his father and become the new parent, although Sodrini's previous parents are a little stupid and a little dull, but he is still very good to his children, his eldest son is already in the pain of losing his father and brother, Cardinal Sodrini has always been immersed in his distress and resentment, and has not been aware of his nephew's displeasure - his nephew thinks, if it were not for Cardinal Sodrini's repeated provocation, His somewhat cowardly father would not have done such a terrible thing!

As a result of repeated conflicts, Cardinal Sodrini's nephew drew his dagger and plunged him into the cardinal's chest.

When I heard the news, Giulio. The Medici couldn't help but be a little surprised, but it was Tana. Inside, he looked happy, "Looks like we're in trouble again." “

Although he did not think about letting Cardinal Sodrini return to Rome in peace.

Giulio examined the ghastly wounds one last time, and with his medicine and medical skills, these wounds were no longer a threat to Nerri's life, and Nerri came to his senses the day after he returned to Florence.

"My good wife," Tana. Neri softly called to Constena, "Bring us some wine to celebrate." ”

"I'll give Julio some wine, but don't think about it." Konsterna said ruthlessly: "You can only drink milk and fish soup now, what do you want?" Fish soup, milk? ”

Neri deliberately made a distressed look, "Milk, but can you add some white wine and a lot of sugar to it?" ”

"Look at my mood." Konstena said, leaving the room.

Neri watched her leave, her eyes full of tenderness: "I think she must be in a good mood now," he said, "the people she loves are safe and sound." ”

"Except for you."

"But I'm alive and well." Neri protested, "Besides, I'm definitely not comparable to you. ”

"We belong to the same palace." At the same time, he looked at Neiri with a slight reproach, said Giulio: "Moreover, if you speak like this, if Constena hears her, she will be sad, she has already given birth to three children, and you are in her heart, if not heavier than me, no lighter than me." ”

"I know," Neri was silent for a moment, "I knew she didn't leave." ”

"Did you originally arrange for my sister to go somewhere else?"

"Yes, but she's back."

"You've done something very dangerous."

"If I hadn't done that, we wouldn't have known how many enemies the Medici had in Florence." "I love Constina, I love the sons and daughters she bore to me, and if the Medici are destroyed, Constena and his children will be condemned for their blood," said Neri. ”

"Pierrot. What about Carboni? ”

"For the same reason, why do you think the Medici have not been able to enter the Council of the Seventy after nearly ten years? He's a good guy and never shy away from your exploits, but he's also a man who remembers the time of tyrants, and he's jealous of you and the Medici, and with him, the Medici will always be able to wander outside the town hall. Neri shook his head: "I can only watch him die." ”

"I'm sorry."

"Nothing to be sorry about," Tana. "I'm not an innocent person anymore, I just hope that my sins will make my children happy," said Neri. ”

At this time, Constena returned, and they changed the subject.

Their wine, or rather, hot milk with wine, and a lot of sugar, but this glass of milk wine, whether Giulio or Tana. Inside, I feel a little bitter.

"One more thing," said Tana as Giulio got up to say goodbye. Neri said, "You know Giuliano. Who hid the Medici? ”

"Who is it?"

"Avery . Borgia, of course, we all call him Brother Avery now. ”

"Does he know something?"

"Maybe you know, maybe you don't."

Julio thought for a moment, "I'll go see him." He said, "Ask him what he wants." ”

However, compared to Avery , Giulio. The Medici had to go to see another, more important person first.

————————

"It's been a while, my lord," said the hoarse voice of the man who was still wearing a mask and pulling down his hood even in the room. "God willing, except for the occasional thought of Rodrigo. Outside of Borgia, the only person I've been missing is you. ”

"Shall I say very honored?" Giulio said: "Duarte. ”

Duarte laughed through the cracks in his throat: "No, my lord, you have proven that you are still a devil to be reckoned with, even without family and blood. ”

"It's not a compliment," said Giulio, "it's a secret here, Duarte, and you can take off your mask and hood." ”

"My face is horrible now," Duarte said, "and you'll be disgusted when you see it." ”

"I didn't like you originally," said Giulio, "and I've seen hundreds of lepers." He added: "I must see your face, or I will not be kind to a stranger." ”

"In that case," Duarte said, "I had no choice but to obey." ”

He first pulled down the hood, then removed the mask, and under the neat white hair was a half-ruined face, covered with terrible scars from the forehead to the cheeks.

"It's made of coals." Giulio said, "Are you afraid that people will recognize you?" ”

"Half and half." Duarte said: "It is both to beware of Borgia's friends and foes, and also to avoid some unnecessary embarrassment......

"Can you tell me?"

"I told you that I was from the Piruzzi family, but I didn't tell you that I was still their eldest son." "I was very young when I was plundered by the infidels, but I already had a wife, but when I was ransomed by Borgia and returned to Florence, I found that my parents had died, and my brother had taken my place and had taken my wife, and they had forgotten me, very affectionate, and had two children," Duarte said. ”

"I ...... Got it. Giulio asked, showing no mercy, which was only humiliating for someone like Duarte: "And what about you now?" ”

"Doing the work of a consultant as a side branch." Duarte said.

"No," said Giulio, "you put the Piruzzi family on my side, and it's not something an advisor can do. ”

"Maybe it's apologies," Duarte said, "that my brother is still quite generous to me, and I have something of my own." ”

"Who else knows your identity but your brother?"

"His eldest son." "Even his wife doesn't know," Duarte said. ”

Julio was silent for a while: "Do you want Piruzzi?" ”

"What's the difference," said Duarte, "I have Pirouzzi now, and if you mean glory and status, my lord, I haven't counted on those things since I stood by Borgia's side. ”

He stood up and bowed to Julio, "I only hope that you, my lord, will keep your promises, forever." ”

。 m.