[Henry VIII] Tudor Crown

For Catherine de Medici, who lived in the deep palace for a long time, the order to move to Chenonceau Castle was nothing more than being moved from one cage to another.Even because the castle of Chenonceau had been awarded to Diane de Poitiers, Catherine de Medici could clearly feel that the servants who came and went looked at him with a reserved and contemptuous look. she.

It seems to be saying, why do you, the queen who is a display, stay here.

In this regard, Diane de Poitiers was still able to put on a gentle and considerate appearance, and even took the initiative to take care of the pregnant Catherine de Medici, helping her give birth to her fourth son, which is the historical Charlie IX.

"Your Majesty, I just heard from the Prince of Condé that the English have occupied the map of Upper Normandy and are now marching towards Rouen and Artois." Catherine de Medici's maid Isabel de Medici With great difficulty, Limoy evaded Diane de Poitiers' eyeliner, and took advantage of the gap between the mistress's prayers to report the information he had found.

Catherine de' Medici was praying for her second son, Louis de Valois, who died last year. After listening to Isabel de Limoy's report, she only slightly raised her eyelids, Then he sneered and said, "So, not only Normandy, but also the counties of Rouen and Artois are almost lost?"

Isabelle de Limoil nodded gleefully.She was originally one of the dowry maids arranged by Clement VII for Catherine de Medici, so she was happy to see the king's mistress make a fool of herself.

In particular, Diane de Poitiers' ex-husband was the Governor of Normandy.

Because of Henry II's preference, Diane de Poitiers retained the title of Mrs. Governor of Normandy after she became a widow, and even Henry II gave Diane de Poitiers the salary belonging to the Governor of Normandy. swift.This undoubtedly shows that if the mistress is allowed to participate in the country's political affairs, it will also make some nobles who are greedy for the position of Governor of Normandy feel extremely dissatisfied, and even gradually convert to Catherine de' Medici's faction under the instigation of caring people.

The nobles never mind who is sleeping on the king's bed, they only care about who gets a piece of the small power cake.

If Diane de Poitiers can keep her own place like the royal mistress of François I, or have enough political chips like Anne of France and Louise of Savoy, then the great nobles of France Don't mind being on an equal footing either.

And now, without enough political capital, Diane de Poitiers has caused France to lose the coastal defense line to the west.

Even though everyone knows that the Duke of Vendome, Antoine de Bourbon, played a dominant role in this, but this does not prevent some old antiques who believe in the theory of "beautiful beauty and troublesome water" from holding the blame on Dai On the head of Anne de Poitiers.

This is what Catherine de' Medici would have liked to see happen.

"Is there any news from Lorraine?" Although Catherine de' Medici was happy to see the jokes between her husband and the royal mistress, it did not mean that she wanted to give up most of the land in France.

After all, one day in the future, her son will also sit on the throne of France, so what is lost now is also her son's territory.

Isabelle de Limoil showed a rather embarrassed look, and even the original gloating look disappeared without a trace at this moment: "You also know that the Duke of Lorraine has always been indifferent, so the big decisions in the Principality are all Dominated by Mary of England."

"This is really an advantage of the French people." Catherine de' Medici said nonchalantly: "So what is the Duchess of Lorraine going to do?"

"Mary of England intensified her defense projects against the Duchy of Luxembourg, and allowed the troops of Flanders and Belgium to pass through in the northwest." Isabel de Limoil said slowly: "Although the Duke of Guise has repeatedly provoked the Duchy of Lorraine The nobles went against their English mistress, but the Duke of Lorraine did not question the decision of the Duchess, and Queen Juana also paid the tolls of the Flemish and Belgian armies, and there was no important area near Lorraine .”

"Queen Juana?" Catherine de' Medici, who had captured the important information, asked in surprise, "Has Enrique II of Belgium passed away?"

"No, just like Charles V of Spain, he abdicated early." Isabel de Limoy did not understand why Enrique II did this, but this was not within his concern: "England Mary has always been her brother's supporter, so the Principality of Lorraine can at most be neutral, and it is impossible to stand with us."

"This is also expected." Catherine de' Medici never believed that these politicians could stick to the so-called bottom line, but the blood ties between families always make the fragile alliance more stable.

After all, as it was with the Medicis, so it was with the Habsburgs.

"Then what should we do now?" Isabelle de Limoy believed that France had reached a situation where it was besieged on all sides, so no matter who it was, it was impossible to reverse the situation that was already hopelessly bad.

"Stay still, I don't think those Englishmen will do anything to me even if they break into the castle of Chenonceau." The distant cousin of Mo I, so at the moment when France falls, whether it is Mary of England or Juana of Belgium, they will become Catherine de Medici's asylum, but Diane de Poitiers Think about your situation.

Even though this is an era that emphasizes chivalry, those French nobles will definitely use improper means to tear Diane de Poitiers to pieces.

"The current power is a mess, and whoever sticks to it will be unlucky." Even if Catherine de Medici was unwilling, she had to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages to prevent French nobles from counting her into the purger list.

From this point of view, it is also a good thing to let Diane de Poitiers take over the government affairs. After all, Catherine de Medici does not think that she can compete with William III.

"The only thing I'm grateful for now is that in this terrible situation, I can watch my mortal enemy sink into the mud." Catherine de' Medici asked the maid to pour her a glass of wine, and then pointed at the foggy sky far away, Quite casually said: "To William III of England."

"He gave me a little bit of joy in this maddening environment."