Chapter 55: The Law of Lords

I sat down on a stool against the wall and sat down on the seat for the lord

I was so nervous, I thought it was the same as riding a horse, nervous before riding, and relaxed after the start, but I didn't expect that in front of everyone, the more nervous the people in the living room were divided into several piles, and there was a stubble of speech, drinking drinks from time to time, and glancing at me

The idea that "these people are relatives" made me feel lonely, and even gave birth to some complaints against the earl, and I didn't have much experience in dealing with such occasions at all

A woman whispered something to her companion, and a crowd laughed and the children of the Corwins and Lucacino fought, and a crowd yelled in the hall; A few shì casually teased the child from the table with drinks and snacks; The men talked in a low voice as if they were talking about something big, with a deep face on their faces

I am like a tree in the flood, and now everything around me is strange to me, even contempt and hostility I sit here and am nothing, just not the master

But this is my banquet

Whether or not it was appropriate for the Count to arrange for me to preside over the banquet was another matter, but these people were too disrespectful to me, and I flattened my hands on the two armrests of the high-backed chair, and I cleared my throat a little, trying to lead or rather join them in the conversation

"Hello," I whispered

The men looked at me a little, how I expected them to talk, but they just smiled softly, as if they heard the wind by the window, and then returned to their own topic The women reached out and compared the ring in their hands, and one woman clearly came out on top, this is the daughter-in-law of the Lucasinos, and her jewel-filled hands led to a voice of envy

A girl came up to me with her ass twisted, she looked like she was only four or five years old, she looked up at me: "I heard you" and she said in a weird Valankov accent "I'm here to say hello"

When I saw this girl, I immediately thought that this was the daughter of the Corwin family

She looked at me pitifully, then put her creamy hands on my arms, and with my sleeves oily, she showed me her fingers: "Stupid Dick broke my fingers, look, look" She waved her chubby hand

I frowned, not knowing how to get rid of her behind me, standing solemnly with the butler and a servant I don't know why the two of them didn't come to help, but stood there and watched me fall into embarrassment I looked back at the two of them, the two of them were like ice cubes, staring straight ahead

"This," I said, brushing the girl's hand away, and cast a plea look at the butler for help

Fortunately, at this time, a young nanny came over and took the girl away, and the girl kicked and beat in the nanny's arms

I was fidgeting like a louse

I even had the feeling that every word these people said was laughing at me, every glance of surprise, every chuckle was laughing at me

The thought made me angry

I swallowed, not knowing what to do next My thin voice didn't seem to be answered, I didn't know if I should say it again, it would be humiliating, but I didn't know how to start the conversation

At this time, the priest of the Corwin family came over, and from the moment he entered the door, he looked unsociable, the man's robe was tattered and stained with oil, and the wooden cross on his chest had a corner knocked off, and he was wrapped around his neck with a thick rope, he was still relatively young, not older than Yuri, but he had begun to be bald, and the top of his head was so oily and slippery that even mosquitoes could not stand

He walked up to me, pulled out a chair, and sat diagonally across from me, across the corner from me

"Hello," he said with a smile, "I'm like Lily, and she seems to like you when I hear your greeting."

The girl crumpled a loaf of bread into a ball and threw it in the face of one of the ** in the Mel family, which made the woman almost angry, but made the women around her very happy

"Uh," I shook my head, "it seems like my voice is too much?" ”

"No, I can hear it clearly when I sit in the corner," said the priest with a laugh, "I have heard the confessions of many people in the town, and some of them are as thin as mosquitoes when they tell me about their crimes."

"You're the priest of the Corwin family?" I had heard him introduced to Ivangelod when I was there, and the servant had spoken of him

The three families occupy all the famous and powerful positions in the town, even the clergy positions that are not important to the Valans, they have to hold them in their hands, but generally only the most unpromising person in the family will be arranged there, and the one in front of me will obviously not be valued by the family, just like my position at this banquet

He showed a happy expression, "You know my family, and you know me."

"In Varykov," I lifted my shoulder, "do you wonder how difficult it is for your families?" ”

"Well, yes, I'm surprised you know about me, 'The Priest of the Corwins'"

"Oh," I told him, "when I was in Ivangorod, there were some brothers of monks in the street collecting donations, and they said they were going to Valankov to rebuild the church, and they were going to hire a qualified priest, two priests, and a grandmother, and they said that the church here was not taken care of, and that the priests were suspected of blasphemy, but your Excellency? ”

"Whew," the priest exhaled, "it seems that I am more famous in the field than in the local area, but you see, if those people dare to come, it is estimated that they will run back in a few days, the priest here is not an easy position, hey, what a faux pas, I haven't introduced myself until now, my name is Misha Corvin, you can call me Misha Priest, can I know your name?" ”

"Don't you have your father's last name?"

"I'm sorry, but the Valans don't have such rules, sons are not born to commemorate their fathers, and fathers have sons and don't have an extra mule, so why should they put their mark on them? Of course, if you want to know, I can tell you that my father's name is Roland Corwin, and he is the patriarch of the Corwyn family, who is humble and decent."

I don't know if he was sarcastic or if he really thought so, but his words filled my appetite anyway

"'Be meek and decent,'" I interrupted, "but did not come to the lord's banquet"

Misha smiled a little awkwardly, "Indeed, you noticed so, when does this banquet start?" I mean, when will the lord come out? ”

My heart was stuck in my throat

"The banquet will start soon, and the lord will not come out I am the grandson of the lord, I will entertain you, preside over this banquet Also, Mr. Misha, my name is Victor"

The conversation with Misha somehow gave me confidence, I sat up straight, turned to the butler and said, "I want to start the party"

My words were not ignored again, and the butler, like a chiming bell in a church, immediately responded to him by leaning down, "Of course, if you wish, we can start at any time"

At the same time, with a wave of his hand, several servants behind the door began to come out, bringing in airy wine, buttered grilled fish, and pigeon soup with green beans, and their food was being delivered in a steady stream

When the people in the hall saw the feast begin, they all stood up and walked to the table, and after a few minutes of finding their place, the long table was filled with guests, and I sat at the end of the table, feeling the burning gaze

Everyone's expressions were one word: surprise, they were all curious why I hadn't left yet, why the lord hadn't come out yet

When I announced that Count Kalinin was out on business, and that Young Master Alexei and Master Vladimir were too busy with official business to come, so that I would preside over the banquet, the expressions of these men were as if they had listened to the myth of Salander

"It's a joke," said one of Lucasino's fat men

"It's a madman, this guy who doesn't know how to lift" A stern woman from the Mel family looked back at a servant of the Lucasino family, who had just come out to tell everyone that Lord Kalinin would come out soon, "What did you just say?" You idiot."

The servant was embarrassed, "But that's what the old Romanoff thing says, ma'am, I swear."

"I can't stay here," Lily had just slapped her face with bread, "it's all rude, it's ridiculous I want to go back, who's with me"

"I want to go too, Mom"

"Shut up, Dick"

The scene became a heap, everyone was talking to each other, I felt extremely indignant at the faux pas of Count Kalinin, I was again an insignificant stableman, no one cared, no one respected

But why?

I am Alexei's son, I am the young master of the Lepnin family, I am Viktor, my name is Romanov

"Are you enough?" I sat up straight, my hands folded around my waist, and I leaned forward in a forward position where I tried to look domineering

The men stopped talking and turned to look at me

"I heard the word polite," I said, "but everything I see has nothing to do with it, and you are the nobles of this city?" What kind of aristocrat is this? What does it mean that you have come to visit your lord, but none of the patriarchs of the three families have come forward? Is this the courtesy of the Valans? Well, we respect the customs and politeness of the Valans, you use your juniors to visit your elders, and we can only learn from your methods, as a junior, I welcome everyone."

"What else do you have to complain about? It's okay if the patriarch doesn't come, they may be the masters of this city, there is no need to hide this, I have heard about it, saying how powerful your family is, but what does this have to do with you? This is the glory of your fathers, not yours."

"You have left the patriarch behind, and you have come to point fingers like your master, and now you are still opening your mouth and closing your mouth to say anything polite, you are so ashamed" I repeated in a Swadian word, "Shame on you"

Only a few people understood the word now, and after they understood it, they still had a faint sense of pride, and turned to explain it to people with confused faces

"If you want to go, you will go, remember that you have humiliated the Romanovs, just walk, in the city we have three hundred soldiers, and in Ivangelrod we have a thousand more ready to come; Our clan controls the Ryazan River, and if anything is not satisfied, we will cut it off, and you will be ready to drink the water from the ditches of the common people; Do you know about Peach Blossom Fish? Now that Ivangelod has legislated, the rebel lords, everyone has to drink peach blossom fish powder, the family will not get members within ten years, and those who will be born in the future will also be deformed, you better know that after you leave, we will do the above things one by one, you can do things one by one, and it is best to start worrying about my family's revenge now"

The phrase 'do things perfectly' is something that Jack used to brag about, and the first time I said it, it felt weird

As I went on and on, some of the guests were already angry, screaming at the eggs and the cubs; Some people persuade everyone to be less restless; Many people looked at me and were silent

The housekeeper and servant behind me remained silent and watched the situation unfold

It was very quiet

Until a childish cry came, Lily arched her face into the arms of the stunned nanny, "I'm afraid"

The servant of the Lucasino family, who had been in the inner hall with a strong presence, stepped out

"Who are you?" He was very angry, as if I was some dirty thing, which ruined the mood of the masters of his family, "The lord of your family, the old man, doesn't dare to talk like this, what is your family, it is our three families who came here to eat and drink, and now I am scared and crying, sister, you will get out tomorrow"

This servant has become accustomed to the absolute authority of his master in the city, and only wants to please his master, and will not hesitate to offend anyone

I snorted, the people of the three families did not dare to mess with, but their servants were not untouchable

I remember the law of lords, which stated that if a lord was confronted at a banquet, the commoner was to be fined, and the slave was to be whipped fifty lashes

"Who are you?" I put down my hook and waited for the idiot to bite

Sure enough, the servant proudly boasted that he was a servant of the Lucasino family

"I see," I said, "is a servant."

My heart was beating extremely hard, and the fear and nervousness at the beginning all turned into the current jī movement and anger, this group of people, must be taught a lesson

"Obey," I shouted

The servant next to the butler straightened his chest and stomped his foot sharply, "Yes, my lord," he replied

"On the banquet, if the subordinates contradict the nobles, according to the "Lord's Law", what punishment should there be?"

"This person is a domestic slave, and the Law of the Lords stipulates that 'if a slave of a free house has no intention of contradicting a nobleman, he may be whipped fifty lashes to make his master pay for a penalty, and if he intends to contradict a nobleman, he may be whipped to death, and unless pardoned by the lord, the sentence shall not be commuted, and all decent people are obliged to supervise the execution of this punishment.'"

Pretty, much better than I could have said it myself

The servant's eyes widened, his mouth widened, and he listened to me and Hu Congyi sing and those women were no longer sound, and this "Lord Law" still sounded quite scary

"In the inner hall, this servant insulted the elders of my family," I continued, "and here he insulted me again, and I believe that the servant of the Lucasino family would not have intentionally contradicted the nobles, and he must have unintentionally offended my family by dragging this servant out twice, and whipping him with a hundred leather lashes, and then tying him up and waiting for his master to ransom him."

One of Lucasino's sons said: "What the Law of Lords in Valankov is the final word of my lord"

His eager words made the Mel family and the Corwin family look at him thoughtfully

I was almost frightened by this man, but I knew that I couldn't show a weak expression at this time, or I would definitely be attacked by the group

"Don't distract yourself, just look at one fight" I felt like I was in the middle of a fight again

This servant must be punished

"Why is your master respected by the Valans? Because the ancient law is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and the law lets people know that it is right to respect the nobles, the "Lord's Law", that is, the will of the king, that is, the will of the council, that is, the will of God, if you prevent me from punishing him, it is to tell everyone that you do not have to respect the nobles in the future, you can insult at will, then you yourself will be despised" I looked back at the servant, and almost saw a trace of approval in his eyes, "What are you waiting for, the glory of the three major families cannot be tarnished, go quickly"

No matter how arrogant that servant was, he was like a jī rabbit in front of the iron-blooded soldiers, and he was powerless to fight back

Whipping and screaming soon came from outside the door

The servants who came out of the back room were all carrying plates, and I didn't know what to do, my mouth trembled a little, and my fingers trembled, I swallowed a mouthful of saliva and asked the people of the three families who were stunned, "Does anyone want to leave?" ”

These people blushed; Several young women looked at their men with pale faces; Two young men were furious and tried to get up and walk away several times, but were stopped by the elders of the family

In the end, they honestly sat in their seats

I turned my head and nodded to the butler, who immediately understood, and instructed the servants to continue serving

"The banquet begins," I announced