Before St. Andrew's Day on November 30th, the weather in Rome suddenly became particularly bad, cold and rainy, and a heavy cold rose from the depths of the earth every night, penetrating the thin sheets and underwear of the clergy, although their vestments were replaced with tweed, but the in-fit and tight style doomed it to be unable to resist such a terrible cold and wet cold—the two meals a day became less and less—of course, the portion was still the same, but when it was cold, People will always instinctively seek more food to make up for the calories that have passed.

The turnips were all collected before the Feast of the Assumption in mid-August, and the meeting place between Martin and Bora was replaced by the hut where the priests kept their farming tools, because there was no work left, but a warm and undisturbed haven.

Paula was particularly happy today, and as soon as she saw Martin, she pulled out a long loaf of bread from under her shawl—at least a pound in weight, and such a large loaf of bread, if not made of cow's milk and sprinkled with raisins, was already so amazing that what flashed in Martin's mind was not the wonderful feeling of fullness, but panic, and he rushed forward and grabbed Bora's hand, "Where did you get it?" Hurry up and put it back. He struggled not to look at the loaf of bread, though the rich smell of wheat still drilled into his nose: "The dean's grandmother will be very angry!" As he said this, his face turned red suddenly, for everything he usually put in his mouth, even a small bite, was a stolen product that Bora had endured with pain and shame and had taken out of the kitchen or elsewhere.

But suddenly, he didn't want to do that anymore...... Mean, he gripped Paula's arm tightly, spitting on the bastard who seemed to be possessed by the devil, "Bora, you don't have to do this—this ...... Not good," he said eagerly, "we can eat well now," although his empty stomach was grinding itself frantically as he said this, "I don't need any more, Bora, I'll come to see you, but you really don't have to steal from the kitchen anymore." I swear, I will, I will, I will come to see you, maybe I ...... What else can I bring for you? ”

What can he get?

Even Martin himself didn't believe it, and Bora believed it, her eyes shining, but; "It's all right," she cried out happily, "it's all right, Martin, I didn't steal it, I changed it for work." ”

"What?"

"Come on, let's eat it first." Bora smiled and said, first untying her shawl, and then letting Martin sit down as if she were serving the master: "Eat." She said earnestly, this time Martin hesitated, did not refuse, but broke half and returned it to Bora: "You eat too." ”

Paula's smile was like honey dripping on the coarse dark brown bread, and she took it, and took a big bite, and so did Martin, the bread certainly not as good as the ones Martin had tasted in the Vatican Palace, but in weight it far exceeded the weight of the bread he had been given at dinner these days—and his stomach was immediately soothed, and he went to work quickly and pleasantly.

"You said you changed these things for your work?" Martin didn't forget the previous topic: "Does your dean's mother allow you to go out to work?" ”

"I work in the monastery," said Bora, "and there is a little mill in the monastery, but the pony before it has been dead for a long time, so we always take out our wheat and grind it, and the abbot said that if I can grind ten sacks of wheat, give me a sack as payment, and it will be the same price anyway." ”

Martin felt the bread in his mouth grow dry again, and Bora was rare in her sharpness, and she giggled: "Don't worry, Martin, you know I'm very strong, Mama said that I'm as strong as a devil - if I can eat enough, I can grind five sacks of wheat in a day, more than any cow or horse—and really, I am grateful to be able to keep me full to work, not to be hungry to chant." ”

“…… How could your dean's mother think of letting you do a job......"

"It seems," said Bora, "that in the course of confession, I met a kind adult." She mentioned me, and then the adult said, "Why don't you go back and ask if the boy is willing to continue stealing to feed himself, or is he willing to go to work in exchange for his own food?" If it's the former, she deserves to be punished, but if it's the latter, give her a job. ”

Martin was stunned for a moment, and a name suddenly popped into his mind, if it were the adult, he would have said something like this—and the confessing priest of the abbot's mother was usually filled by the bishop or cardinal, could it be that he helped Paula?

He didn't know what to do anymore when he left Giulio. The Medici, not because he wanted to seek a higher position or a greater good, on the contrary, as an impulsive and impatient young man, Martin. Lud believed that since Cardinal Medici had such a high prestige, a venerable commander and a great authority, it was time for a purge of this filthy Holy See, for everyone who dared to forge holy relics, steal taxes, bribe officials, manipulate elections, buy and sell the priesthood, and raise assassins, lovers, and illegitimate children...... and other acts of the clergy, should be severely reprimanded, judged and punished - he should have been a saint!

But he didn't, his mildness seemed to be directed at everyone, he knew what the current papacy had become corrupt, but he didn't care at all, he, like most cardinals, didn't seem to want much change in the existing situation - Rome had fallen for five hundred years, should it continue to sten for a thousand years or more?

Martin was so disappointed that he turned his gaze to the other young cardinal, whose actions gave him hope, and Martin almost without hesitation threw himself into his command, fighting for him, shouting for him, but, just when he thought that his soul could be redeemed by it, too many doubts pulled him into the depths of the mire like the claws of the devil, making it difficult for him to breathe.

The severe punishment of those who broke the precepts, the unsupported clergy and nuns, Martin. Rod had seen it with his own eyes, and at that time he only felt that they deserved it. But now he has sinned, and Bora has sinned, and if the one whom he has turned his back has heard, nay, he has heard, and he has taught the abbot to do so—instead of throwing him into Hell altogether.

If it was another adult, Joshua. Did Lovere hear about it?

Martin shuddered, not daring to think further.

"It's time for me to go." He said, "It's almost time for vespers." ”

Bora knew about them, and although she still had some attachment to Martin, she didn't want him to suffer: "I'm going to leave too." She said Martin put a shawl over her, and she smiled again, only to notice that there were several black holes between her teeth.

"Did anyone hit you in the face?" Martin asked worriedly.

"No," said Bora, "I'll change my teeth." ”

Martin was pulling open the door to the hut when Bora's answer made him stumble.

Bora screamed and pounced on him.

Before Martin could react, he heard an angry shout!

Someone rushed up and gave Martin a kick and kicked him away from Bora, and when Bora saw it, she was furious, and she rushed up to fight with them—and Martin realized that there were already people standing outside the hut—all of them were his colleagues, and among them, even though he was dressed in his regular clothes and hunched back, Cardinal Lovere, who could not be ignored by his light hair and cold eyes, looked at him with a blank expression, and in the light of the torches, the rain on his black vestments glistened like diamonds.

Martin's heart sank.

Martin was pinned to the ground by two of his companions' arms, his cheeks pressed against the clammy mud, the sewage flowing into his mouth, and his eyes aching from the rain.

"I'm disappointed in you." Cardinal Lovere Jr. said that Martin thought he would be sad, but from his heart rose an unmistakable fear.

Bora was still struggling, her strength was so great that the young priests couldn't hold her down at all—she was like a strong boar, rampage, and everywhere she went, people couldn't help but subconsciously avoid it, and Cardinal Lovere Jr. looked disgusted: "Witch! He whispered, and the two priests who had been waiting by his side took the order - they were two assassins sent by Cardinal Grand Lovere to ensure the safety of the heir, although Bora was powerful, he could not be their opponent, Martin watched as Bora was caught by them, and he was hit several times, but also bit the hand of one of them, he screamed, and gave Paula a slap, and a few small white teeth flew out and landed in the mud not far from Martin.

Martin also heard the cry "Witch! He knew of course what would happen to those whom Cardinal Lovere Jr. called "witches" - Bora had no noble husband, no respectable father or brother, she was just the daughter of a squire who could not even pay her daughter's dowry, and no one could intercede for her, nor could anyone pay a ransom for her...... She will be the best example of Cardinal Lovere Jr.'s warning.

He wanted to scream and deny the spine-chilling charge, but as soon as he opened his mouth, rain and muddy water poured down his throat.

Instead, a priest walked over and said a few words to Cardinal Lovere, who asked the two priests to bring the abbot of the Abbey of Our Lady.

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Mama, the abbot of the Abbey of Our Lady, was a rigid and stubborn old woman, but she was not a wicked person, and as soon as she heard Paula's name, she knew that it was bad - she knew that Bora had been stealing things in the kitchen, and that she would find a place to hide them and eat them all, but she did not know that anyone would share them with her.

The cardinal Lauver Jr. once again mentioned the idea of "celibacy and chastity", and insisted on going his own way, and punished him severely, until today, a terrible figure that makes the Romans feel chills when they read this name!

Yes, he did nothing bloody, but the punishment he gave to the nuns and priests who he thought had tarnished the glory of St. Peter was much longer and more painful than the worldly punishment!

She didn't even have time to put on her cloak, but she ran here with the two clergymen, and when she saw Cardinal Lovere Jr., she knelt down and kissed his feet, despite the mud.

"Amama Arga," said Joshua mildly, "is this the nun of your seminary?" ”

The dean's mother nodded subconsciously, and immediately shook her head: "She hasn't made a wish yet." ”

"But she's tempting a priest who has made a wish to do something unacceptable."

The dean's mother was taken aback, "But that's impossible!" She exclaimed, "Even though Bora looks very big, my lord, she's only seven years old, my lord, she's still changing her teeth," she yelled, realizing that something might happen to Bora that could happen to her, and although she stammered, she tried to explain, "She, she's not even ...... yet Grow out of the rugaroom. She said as she made a clumsy gesture on her chest, she had always been religious, and she had been chaste for nearly fifty years, and making such a gesture almost made her faint with shame - but Bora was still a child, and it was because of this that although Bora had been doing sinful things, she did not directly kick Bora out.

Cardinal Lovere Jr. was silent for a moment, and when people thought he had been convinced, he shook his head: "It seems that there is more than one Martin who has been bewitched by this witch. Roed, Abbot, I think I must re-examine your seminary, and your Joan of Arc. ”

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"Excommunication?"

Pius III sat on the papal throne in the Hall of Kingship and glanced at Cardinal Lovere the Younger with a smirk, the huge canopy casting a heavy shadow over his face.

Cardinal Baglioni was the first to raise objections.

"King Philip I of France was excommunicated for marrying a married woman as a married man, Henry II of England was excommunicated for wanting to encroach on the jurisdiction of the Church and authorized the assassination of the Archbishop of Canterbury, King Alfonso II of Portugal was excommunicated for misappropriating ecclesiastical property, Charles IV, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire was excommunicated for defaming the Holy Father, and King Pedro III of Aragon was excommunicated for fighting with Charles of Anjou for Sicily......" It is rare for Baglioni to count them one by one so fluently: "And now, you are asking the Holy Father to issue an edict, to a lowly priest? Guilty of fornication with a witch? How do I think this is not only a punishment, but even an honor? ”

"He was no ordinary clergyman, if I had to say, he had served me, fought for the purity of the Church—I was deeply disappointed by his depravity, and I felt the imminence of the crisis, Holy Father, I needed a thunderbolt to wake the world—and a decree of excommunication was fitting in that case."

But more, Cardinal Baglioni said in his heart, was because he had been because of Giulio. Medici's relationship was able to enter and leave the Vatican Palace, and won the favor of the Holy Father, for which even he was deeply disdainful. Lovere's expression was unusually determined, and it was clear that he was going to crucify that innocent little Martin to the cross of shame.

"But there's a problem here." Pius III said lazily: "Martin. Rudd had a teacher, you know, the Dutch Desidwu. Erasmus. ”

"Is he related to Cardinal Boins?" Joshua's question made Pius III smile, and sure enough, this was the first thing that came to his mind.

"No," said Pius III, "it doesn't matter, but Desi Dewu. Erasmus resigned from me a few days ago - obviously, the position of private secretary did not satisfy him, do you know where he went? Joshua, he went to England, and Henry VII admired his learning and wanted him to be the teacher of his son Henry Jr. ”

"But the prince is fourteen years old!"

"Yes, but His Majesty is very insistent, and I still have his letter here, do you want to read it?"

Joshua read the letter, and Henry VII did have a great value for this Desidwu. Erasmus, whose letters were full of praise for the brotherhood who lived together, warmly invited him to England and repeatedly begged Father Pius III to let him go.

"And this monk of Desi, before leaving, has no other request, except that I will be able to take care of his disciple, that is, Martin. Rudd. Pius III sarcastically said, "So, Joshua, are you going to change someone?" Where do you still have a priest who fornicates with a nun? ”

Joshua. Lovere's expression changed several times, and finally calmed down: "If that's the case...... "He should also get used to Pius III's preference for Giulio."

"But your father has begged me to support your reforms, and you, so to speak, my disciple, have done a great deal of work for me," unexpectedly, Pius III interrupted him: "I can give you an edict, and then you go and talk to Martin. And Rod said, Thou hast also sought my forgiveness—and if he comes to my door and asks for forgiveness, I will take back the edict of excommunication. Pius III asked, "How?" ”

Joshua was at first a little dazed, for this treatment had previously only been available to Julio—but he soon came to his senses, and the corners of his mouth were lifted upwards as if he wanted to laugh, but he felt that he should be more grateful at this time—and finally his face froze in a peculiar shape.

After Cardinal Lovere the Younger left, Cardinal Baglioni could not help but glance at the Holy Father, and then again, and again.

"If you have anything to say, just say it." Pius III said impatiently.

"He looked like he was going crazy with joy." Cardinal Baglioni said bluntly.

"Questions?" Pius III said: "This is exactly what he wants. ”

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On the occasion of St. Nicholas' Day (December 6), it snowed in Rome.

The snow was not heavy, thin, but covered the Roman buildings with a translucent white, but in this way, it made the weather even colder. Dressed in rough linen robes and with chains on his feet and hands, and two priests behind him, reminding the people not to speak to or come into contact with the excommunicated sinner, the people immediately retreated to the sides of the street as if they had met a leper.

Martin was not sad at all, he even found it amused, because he was treated the same way when he was a judge in the court.

Naughty and bold children ran past him, throwing dirty snowballs at him, sometimes wrapped in stones, and Martin was smashed into a deep bloody wound from the corner of his eye, but he didn't feel any pain at all, perhaps the cold made him numb, and he walked to the Vatican Palace and knelt down under the watchful eye of the priests.

The snow fell on him, and he licked the snowflakes with his tongue, then leaned down and sucked the sewage after the snow melted on the ground.

"He ......," Martin heard a childish voice asking...... Probably a child who didn't know what excommunication was, and an unusually familiar voice that he hadn't heard for a long time answered the child's question - he couldn't help but look up and see a crimson robe that was brushing the edge of his vision. The Medici, who was entering the Vatican Palace, had left the Ministry of Jurisprudence, but he was not as depressed and depressed as the clergy had thought. He was still like that, gentle and forgiving, full of tenderness...... But he didn't look at Martin. Rudd glanced at the boy he was holding with a finger and looked back at Martin several times.

A shiny chestnut tumbled down the steps and landed in front of Martin.

Little Martin picked it up and held it in his hand, the surface of the chestnut was cold, but after holding it for a long time, you could find that it was still hot inside.

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"Well," hearing that Giulio had already taken little Cosimo back to the Vatican Palace, Pius III patted the armrest of the seat: "Let that Martin. Come on Roed, let's go through this damn process! ”

Martin. After kneeling for a whole day (much luckier than Charles IV, the emperor stood outside Canossa for three days), Roed was finally brought into the Vatican Palace.

But before Pius III, or anyone else could speak, Martin. Rudd shouted.

"Save Pola , please, save Pola !"

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During these seven days, on the orders of Cardinal Lovere Jr., every day Martin. Rud was to be whipped three times, five times each, to get the devil out of his body. With very little water and food to keep him alive every day, he should have fainted, but Bora's screams always woke him up, and for the next few nights, he couldn't even close his eyes - for some reason, Paula's cell was next to Martin's, he could hear her screams and cries in pain, and she could hear him.

The only thing Martin could do was keep yelling, "Don't admit your guilt, don't admit your guilt!" Don't confess your sin, Bola! ”

But he also knew that in Cardinal Lovere the Younger, whether the sinner confessed to his sin or not was not the most important thing – whoever he thought was guilty.

It can only be said that he still has a faint hope that Cardinal Lovere Jr. has already told him about asking for the Father's forgiveness - Martin. Rudd only thought it was ridiculous, should he be happy? Bora did not have a prominent blood relative, but he had a teacher.

Before he arrived at the Vatican Palace, his throat was already swollen and painful due to inflammation, but fortunately he could barely remember some medical knowledge, and he could barely make a sound after eating snow and drinking sewage.

Thanks also to the plump chestnut that gave him the last strength.

But after shouting that sentence, Martin. Rude couldn't hold on any longer, and he collapsed, plunged into darkness.