Bianca. Riario and Giuliano. The Medici marriage seemed simple, but in fact it was not, in this era, marriage, especially between the magnates and nobles, like the commercial contract, only required negotiation and negotiation, the signing of the contract, and the need for more than three witnesses to prove that the marriage contract was established—if anything, the marriage contract may be more complicated and formal.

Bianca's marriage required her mother, now the ruler of Forlì and Imola, to sign and seal the marriage contract, and when Bianca got married, her mother also needed her mother to send a messenger to the scene until the newlyweds were rounded. So after Constène had made a final inquiry about Bianca and Giuliano, Ezio set out for Forlì day and night, taking the marriage contract papers, already stamped with the Medici family seals and signed by the newlyweds.

Forlì is located in the north of Italy, in the upper right corner of Florence, in the flat and rich Po River Plain, like Imola, close to the Emilia Avenue that existed in ancient Rome, facing the sparkling Adriatic Sea, both military and people's livelihood, the status is quite important. The Forlì Fortress, where Caterina is located, is almost one of the strongest castles in the whole of Italy, easy to defend and difficult to attack, and has strong barriers.

However, as Caterina's benefactor and guest on the couch, Ezio was of course treated differently from the others, he was allowed to enter the castle as soon as he entered the hall, and as soon as he entered the hall, he was greeted by Caterina. Sforza, a woman from a mercenary family, is thirty-six years old this year, and the corners of her eyes already have fine lines, but all her energy and desire are still exuberant, like a twenty-year-old man, she hugged Ezio very hard, almost strangled a not so strong man, and one of her legs, even in front of the public, was still unashamedly inserted into Ezio's knee, and lifted up, gently rubbing, the seduction in it was clear.

Ezio had to push her away a little awkwardly, "I'm here today for business. ”

Caterina raised an eyebrow on one side, "One hundred thousand urgent?" Her eyebrows were deeper, longer, and wider than those of a woman, and their tails were thin, and when she did, they were like the wings of a falcon.

"Let's talk in the room." Ezio said. Caterina would not let desire manipulate her mind, she made an inviting gesture and took the lead, Ezio followed, and when he found that their direction was actually Caterina's bedroom, he hesitated, and Caterina laughed as if she had eyes behind her: "Come on, boy," she said, "there is no safer and more private place in the whole castle than my bedroom." ”

Caterina's bedroom, which Ezio was of course very familiar with, had to find out what had changed, perhaps to a higher level of extravagance—here you would not see the stone walls or stone floors that are most common in castles, even the zenith—the floor was covered with silk carpets with the motifs of the coat of arms of the Sforza family, and the walls were made of light brown oak planks, with weapons and icons hung from them, and on the heads of the people hung misty gauze and rich brocade, The furnishings are still in Caterina's favorite Byzantine style, with beds, suitcases, large reliquaries, and chairs and stools, all delicately carved with plants, animals, flowers and birds, inlaid with tiny gold, silver, and precious stones, as well as ivory, which is most familiar.

As soon as Caterina stepped into the room, she began to unload her leather armor, belt, sword, etc., and did not hesitate to instruct Ezio to do it for her when she needed help.

Ezio helped her remove her leather armor and asked, "You're hunting again?" ”

"Otherwise, I don't like embroidery and sewing, chanting and praying, so I have to find something to do." Caterina puffed out her chest: "Hurry up, boy, you weren't so slow to undress me before, are you old, or am I old?" ”

Ezio smiled helplessly, "You'll always be like this, Katarina, and I think you'll be the same when you're seventy." ”

"You too," Caterina turned, touching Ezio's face and touching his eyes with her lips, without a hint of desire, "Ezio, you are the most worthy man I have ever met." But...... Well," she pulled away from Ezio's embrace, "now tell me what you have to tell me." ”

Ezio told her about Bianca, and Caterina took the paperwork and read each letter of it with the attitude of a lord, not a mother, her brow slowly frowning as she read: "You know, Ezio, I have already planned a marriage for Bianca, a young man in Ferrara is willing to marry her, he is a relative of the Duke of Ferrara, although a little far away, but in the Duke's army, he is very much used—on the other hand, a Medici, what good is it for me?" ”

"If you want to form an alliance with Ferrara," said Ezio, "you can choose your other daughter." ”

"Bianca is my eldest daughter."

"But we all know that Bianca is no longer able to have children, she is a stone woman, even if the marriage contract is established, the man can apply for the marriage contract to be invalid at any time for this reason, what good is it for you?"

"It's her obligation." Caterina said: "As a daughter ......"

"Just because she's your daughter!" Ezio raised his voice, "Can't you just let her go?" ”

Katerina's face suddenly turned gloomy: "If she hadn't been my daughter, she would have been dead by the time she tried to assassinate me." ”

"She's already died once." Ezio said.

Caterina pursed her lips, she lowered her head, took the thin piece of parchment in her hand and flipped it over and over several times, "then," she finally relented, "I will not give her any dowry." ”

"I don't think she ever counted on you."

"But I want 50,000 gold florins, the Medici are very rich, even if they are not as good as before, they should be able to get them." Caterina hesitated: "Give another 50,000 gold florins—to Bianca, which is considered her dowry, and she will be at her disposal." ”

Ezio sighed and lowered his shoulders, he knew that Giulio, he could and was willing to take out the 100,000 gold florins, but the 50,000 gold florins would only make Bianca hate her mother even more.

"Then it's settled." Caterina seemed to let go of something, and said in a relaxed tone, "I trust you, so I can give you permission first, but Ezio, don't let me down too much." ”

Ezio shook his head, not sure what to say, he stood up and took two steps, considering whether he should tell Caterina a second thing about her.

Before he left, Giulio talked to him about a few things, including Katarina. Sforza, and her Foley and Imola. As far as Giulio could have foreseen, Caesar. Borgia's first step to becoming king of Italy may have started with Forlì, and unless Caterina was willing to surrender and surrender to Forlì and Imola, she was afraid of doom - Caesar's hidden violence under a serene countenance, no one but the Borgias knew better than Giulio. In particular, Caterina was still a lady after all, and she had an extremely close relationship with Ezio, so even though she might be exposed to the Borgias again, Giulio warned Ezio.

Ezio also hesitated whether to remind Caterina or not, and after much consideration, he said anyway, Caterina's reaction did not surprise him, she was furious, stomping her feet and scolding Pope Alexander VI and his illegitimate son, but as a ruler, she indulged herself for a short time, and after a while, she had an idea—but she didn't tell Ezio, and Ezio didn't ask—just as Caterina didn't ask Ezio about the source of Ezio's news and question its authenticity.

"I think I have to thank you well." Caterina said, "Well, Ezio, how about a few days?" ”

"I still have something to do." Ezio said.

"But it doesn't matter that much, does it?" Caterina said: "I will find someone else to send Bianca's marriage contract to Florence, you leave it for me, I have been wanting to have another son lately, Ezio." ”

Even Ezio couldn't help but take a step back, but Caterina was quicker, and she grabbed him as soon as she could.

"None of my existing children are like mine, they are all cowards and unlucky people." She stared at Ezio with a blazing gaze, "I know Bianca calls you Daddy Ezio, dear, and let a child really call you Daddy." ”

"I think ......" Ezio raised his hand and took Caterina's arm, "There's something about the child......"

Before Caterina could realize it, a small needle embedded in his ring pierced her back, and the drug on it made her go limp, and Ezio carried her to the bed and said, "I don't think it's too late for us to discuss this in twenty years' time, don't you think?" ”

Caterina's eyes almost breathed fire.

Ezio smiled happily and rolled up the signed and stamped marriage contract and put it in his arms, "I'll take this with me, Caterina, don't forget to send messengers to Florence, and I'll tell them what you're going to have ready for your fifty thousand gold florins." ”

He looked outside, climbed the windowsill, and gave Caterina a flying kiss, "Goodbye, dear, of course, I'm looking forward to you and my baby." ”