Just as Viscount Tirenne was anxious to hear this, the king glanced at Bonton, and the king's first attendant poured him a glass of low wine from Eperne, which the monks had added peaches and spices, and more sugar, and the king chose it only because it was less alcoholic than ordinary wine, after all, he knew that alcohol was not good for the human body— He took only a small sip and handed the cup to Viscount Tyrenne, who quickly got up from his stool and took it with both hands, perhaps because he had sensed many things that he had not noticed before, and he drank it away in a absent-minded sip, which was a slight rudeness, and he quickly stood up again and saluted in embarrassment, but the king only waved his hand.

"You know, I've always loved to read. Louis said, "Books enlighten men, enlighten minds, illuminate us like mirrors – you know Richard III." "He looked at Viscount Tyrenne, the second son of the Duke of Sedan, who had received a complete education, and although he left home at the age of twelve to join the army, he did not let go of anything he should have learned, and of course he knew Richard III," He was the king's second son, the king's younger brother, and the king's uncle, who fought against rebellious ministers three times, and consistently sided with his brother Edward IV in the struggle for the throne...... Mr. Viscount, a person like this, even if he was not a saint in his lifetime, will be canonized after death, so please tell me what his final fate will be?"

Of course, the Viscount of Tirrenne had read about this king, and if Louis directly accused Richard III of being a despicable thief, he could justify the king's previous exploits, but Louis enumerated Richard III's good deeds, and only asked him about his end, and the reason for this end, which could not but make him feel embarrassed, because as Louis said, Richard III was indeed like a saint before he deposed his nephew Edward V, his virtue was beyond reproach, his honor was unshakable, and there were indeed many overlaps with the present Prince of Condé。

But to make Viscount Tirrene tell the truth why Richard III suffered such a fate, it is as if he had personally blamed the Prince of Condé - because when Richard III's brother Edward IV died, he made him the protector of the country with regency, and he was already under one man, above ten thousand, and had a large land in northern England as a territory, whether in power, There was no one to compare in status or money, but Richard, who was still the Duke of Gloucester at the time, still had a wicked greed, and he managed to bribe a bishop to claim that Edward IV's marriage to the current queen was not legitimate, so as to deprive his two nephews of the inheritance, depose Edward V, and make Richard III himself.

However, the throne was not secure, and his two former supporters, Henry Stafford and Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond, rose up against him, and in the first rebellion, the Duke of Buckingham was defeated by Richard III and beheaded, but Henry Tudor fled and started a second rebellion with his uncle.

In the battle against Henry Tudor, three of Richard III's closest courtiers, Thomas Stanley (the first Earl of Derby), Sir William Stanley, and Henry Percy (the fourth Earl of Northumberland), turned against Henry Tudor, even though the latter's succession was not as high as that of Richard III, but they did so that Richard III, who had an advantage in numbers and on the battlefield, was defeated and even died on the battlefield.

Although he was still fighting at the last moment, and he was extremely brave, people always only sarcastically mentioned his last shout, that is, "treason, treason, treason......"

Richard III thought that Henry Tudor was the traitor, but in fact everyone knew that he was the real traitor, his body was shown naked in public, when he was brought back on horseback, he was smashed on a stone until it blossomed, he was buried in St. Francis's church in Leicester, all his exploits were erased, his past was not mentioned, he was called the most wicked and ugly king, even the slightest flaw was repeatedly commented on and expanded, even if these people wanted to see him during the lifetime of Richard III.

"They are different, Your Majesty. In the end, Viscount Tirrenne could only say that.

"What's the difference?"

"His Royal Highness is not such a cruel person. ”

"Neither is Richard III," said Louis, "you are not a fool, so I do not say anything to you, but I can only say that you despise me only because I am a child, but Mr. Viscount, it is not only children who can be manipulated—do you think that Richard III did not want to be a good man, was he born a wicked man, or was it the devil who crawled out of hell to seduce him? No, never, he may have taken over the authority given by his brother with sorrow and joy, and wanted to raise his nephew wholeheartedly, but what changed him?

I could not have imagined it, but when I saw the Prince of Condé, I understood, sir, that it was you, and many people around him, who were vigorously provoking him and instigating him to go down that dishonorable path, and you saw only the prominence of him when he became king, but not the danger he was bound to face, and I can assure you that as soon as he sat down in that position, all who saw him would not cry 'Your Majesty,' but 'Look at that traitor!' Every careerist will be overjoyed, for he is not the son of a king, and his inheritance is not before me, and when my father Louis XIII departed, he gave me my hand to assist me, and not to take his place for me......"

"Alas, your majesty, alas, your majesty......" cried Viscount Tirrenne tossing and turning, clutching the silver cup tightly, but not knowing what to say, for there was nothing worth refuting the king's words.

"This is what I have to say to you, Monsieur Viscount, as a general, as a prince, there is nothing wrong with Condé, nothing to blame, but as a king, Condé's weakness is as conspicuous as a target hanging in front of a fortification, and his enemies will be the first to attack this position, and will crush him along with his honour and his merits, and he will not even be able to fight back, for he will not be able to come up with any rebuttal that will stand on his feet.

As for me, and my brother Philip, I can be his new sin at any moment, Mr. Viscount, not because he is not noble enough, but because the intrigues in the darkness are always pervasive, just as we are still not sure whether Edward V and his brother died at the will of Richard III, but when people mention Edward V, they will say, Ah, the child king who was killed by his own uncle!

If it were you, and your master and friend, Condé would still go your own way," said Louis, "and I swear that one day someone will call Condé that!"

He shook his head, and continued: "So I don't understand what you think, for what? for power? obviously not, for honor? no, for money? is ridiculous—if it is out of honor and loyalty, then you ought to admonish, and not push, to bring your friends to the right path—if it is for the sake of France, God, Monsieur Viscount, as you said to me, turn your head, look out the window, and look at the people who are struggling in the famine. ”

Viscount Tirene looked out of his window uncontrollably, and although there were only empty squares and high walls, he remembered the hungry people and gallows he had encountered along the way.

"Mr. Viscount," Louis said in a questioning tone for the first time, "how many times do you think they will be able to hold out in the war, once, twice, or three, or more?"

"Well, Your Majesty, please say no more......" begged Viscount Tyrenne.

"I have watched my people die senselessly," said Louis, "but even if your wishes are granted, the war will not end, and my uncle, Gaston, Duke of Orleans, has already asked the High Court in Paris to declare him acting king, and England, Spain, and the Holy Roman Empire are our enemies and our allies," he said and laughed a little: "If we do, do you think they will come back to help us, or will they come to bully us?"

Viscount Tyrrenne was in a real quandary, and he had to admit that the king was right, but the promise of his friends and benefactors prevented him from making a decision at once.

"So be it," said the king, "do you gamble?"

The question bewildered Monsieur Viscount, and to say that the King's words were like a punch that made him dizzy, and that the question was like pouring him a glass of spirit, and he felt a little pitiful, "occasionally, Your Majesty," he replied, "gambling is a good exercise for the body and mind, provided that it is done properly." ”

"Would you like to make a bet with me?"

"Tell me, Your Majesty, but I'm afraid I have nothing to offer you now. ”

"You're wrong, you have a lot of chips. Louis said: "I would like to say to you, Monsieur Viscount, that you have been worried that I have been manipulated by Bishop Mazarin, but in fact it is not always so, although it is thought that he looks after me like a father, but this is not the case, and if I must say it, I can only say that I believe him, because he is the one whom my father has entrusted to me." ”

"So?"

"I want to prove to you that I am not a puppet in his hands, so be it, Viscount Tyrrenne, that you will be a guest here for a while, and I will send a letter to Mr. Bishop, asking him to retire to Liège for my sake. ”

"How is this possible?"

"Why is it impossible," said Louis, "that he is not Gaston or Condé, and he will be willing to comply with my request." He stretched out his hand: "Will you fight this game with me, and if Mr. Bishop is willing to obey my command and retire to Liège, you will come to me and fight for me, even if you have to face your friends." ”

"What if you can't?"

"Then I will give you a horse, a servant, a bag full of money, and your weapon and cloak, and let you go like a merciful and generous king. ”

"I can't believe it!"

"This is the king's promise. Louie said.

Viscount Tirene stood up, and it was evident from his changing face that he was engaged in a fierce battle of ideas, but the words of the king, and the things he had seen on the road, made him decide, and he folded his hands on the king's hand, knelt down, and said, "I am willing to play this bet with you." ”

Louis immediately smiled happily, and he asked Bontang to send Viscount Tyrrenne out, given his trust in Viscount Tyrenne, he could move freely around the castle as if he were a guest and not a criminal, but Bontang came back with a worried look. Louis knew what he was thinking, but he couldn't tell Bontang - didn't Queen Mother Anne say that she had received a secret letter from Monsieur Bishop before the battle began, because she had even forgotten to tell Louis about what had happened afterwards - Bishop Mazarin said in the secret letter that since the rebels had always claimed that he was the culprit of their decision to rebel, he was willing to make concessions for the sake of the King, the Queen Mother and France.

So, Bishop Mazarin had decided to retire to Liège, but now, no one knew the news except Queen Mother Anne and King Louis.