monarch

Let us leave for a moment the First Minister leaving the capital like a bereaved dog and the shivering women in the basement of Westminster Abbey, and turn the clock back a few days ago to the [-]th of July.While all these dramatic events were taking place near the capital, it was a different scene at Pembroke Castle, where King Edward now resides.

Nearly a week has passed since His Majesty was poisoned, and these days, one of the most magnificent castles in the kingdom has been as bleak as a checkpoint where the plague has been discovered.Most of the rooms in the castle were closed and sealed. Under Robert's order, the accompanying nobles who originally lived in the castle as His Majesty's guests all moved into the dungeon below the castle. With mice and lice for company.The few windows in the castle are guarded, and from the outside it looks like tombs covered with bluestone slabs.

The Imperial Guards were patrolling around the castle. The cannons on the high towers had already been loaded with ammunition, and the muzzles were facing Pembroke City not far away.Seeing this, the citizens of the city fled their homes in panic-now all kinds of rumors are circulating, and one of the most plausible ones is that King Edward VI has died, and the forbidden The Guards, along with their chief, Robert Dudley, have gone mad and are planning to burn the city and the castle to the king's funeral.

On the evening of July 16, two travelers on horseback appeared near the castle, and one of them carried a child on his horse.This seemingly strange combination was Cecil and Ponsonby who had driven back from France, and Pierre, the groom's son who survived the unfortunate murder.Due to the direction of the wind, ships off the coast of France have been unable to leave port in recent days, and when they can finally leave the port, the coast of England has been closed due to the imminent Spanish invasion. They can only bribe the captain of a fishing boat to take them Sent to a less populated fishing port in Cornwall, and from there overland to Wales.

The two revealed their identities to the cavalry patrolling near the castle, and led them through three sentry posts and entered this bleak and huge castle.Instead of throngs of courtiers, armed soldiers filled the vast courtyard, and when the new visitors entered they stared with undisguised wariness at Cecil and Ponsonby on horseback, even though they had been on horseback before. Saw these two no less than twenty times—the lines between friend and foe have blurred to the point of non-existence these days.Friends of the past are enemies of today, and enemies of today may not be friends of tomorrow.

An officer of the Praetorian Guards was waiting on the entrance steps, standing silent like a statue until Cecil and Ponsonby had dismounted before coming forward.

"Gentlemen." He nodded towards the two people he knew, "Master Robert has heard the news of your arrival, and he agreed to meet you."

He pointed to the boy who was hiding in Cecil's arms like a frightened quail, "What's the matter with this child?"

"It's a witness." Cecil shrugged and replied.

"Then I'll have the steward of the castle look after him, and ask the kitchen if he can get him something to eat."

"I have no objection to that." Cecil nodded, "However, what I want to see is not Sir Robert, but His Majesty the King."

The expression on the officer's face was a little stiff, "Unfortunately, His Majesty is unable to receive guests now."

"Then who is in charge here now?"

"Master Robert is now responsible for everything here."

"So, the rumors outside are all true?" Cecil looked into the officer's eyes, "What exactly is Lord Robert's intention? What happened to His Majesty?"

"I'm just a messenger." The officer replied impatiently, "I don't know what kind of rumors you have heard. If you want to see Lord Robert, you can ask him these questions yourself; if If you don't want to see him, then I will go back and report. Now please give me an answer: are you willing to see Lord Robert?"

Cecil was a little annoyed by this unseemly reception, but he finally swallowed the complaint that had reached his lips: "You know, sir, if I didn't want to see him, then I would have gotten on my horse and left a long time ago. .”

"Very good." The officer nodded, "If that's the case, please follow me. As for this child, please let him wait here, someone will take him to rest."

Hearing this, the boy named Pierre quickly grabbed Cecil's sleeve, his eyes were full of fear, and his head kept shaking like a rattle.

"Don't worry, I'll be back soon." Cecil bent down and touched the boy's head, "Didn't you say you were hungry? These gentlemen will take you to eat something, after you finish eating I'll be back to pick you up, okay?"

Pierre hesitated for a few seconds, finally nodded, and let go of Cecil's cuff.

"Good boy, I'll be back soon." He squeezed the boy's hand lightly again, turned and walked up the stairs, with Ponsonby following behind him.

A few days ago, there had been an all-night feast in the castle, but now the corridors that had been filled with guests in bright clothes and angry horses were empty.A desolate atmosphere spread throughout the building, from the basement to the towering tower, everyone inside was affected by this atmosphere, and Cecil and Ponsonby couldn't help shivering as soon as they entered the room.

A group of people walked through the silent waiting hall. The hall that should have been full of people was deserted, and even the voices of the patrolling guards in the corridor could be heard clearly.The high ceiling and gorgeous decorations on the walls of this hall are undoubtedly used to show the majesty of the kingship, but now, the glorious kingship no longer exists, and what wanders in the hall is just the shadow of the past.

The officer went to the door leading to the King's study, and knocked lightly.

There was a sound of "Come in" from inside the room, and the officer opened the door, signaling Cecil and Ponsonby to enter.

Robert Dudley was seated at a gilt-cornered desk with some papers and letters on it.He rested his chin with both hands, as if thinking about something.Hearing someone come in, Robert put one arm on the table while keeping the other hand under his chin.He turned his head to look at Cecil and Ponsonby.

Cecil looked at the young nobleman in surprise. Robert looked several years older than a month ago. His cheeks were deeply sunken, and there were obvious spots under his eyes due to lack of sleep. Cyan black shade.He looked at Cecil and Ponsonby with gloomy eyes, like a cold current rushing through their veins, making them feel cold from the soles of their feet.

Cecil looked at Robert with probing eyes, thinking about how credible the rumor that the man had gone mad was.

"Are you coming back from France?" Robert first broke the silence with a hoarse voice.

"Yes, Mr. Earl." Cecil took off the hat in his hand and bowed, "We are going to France to conduct a secret investigation on the order of His Majesty the King. Now we come back to meet with you with the important information we have collected. Your Majesty, please arrange for us to have an audience."

"Your Majesty is ill." Robert bowed slightly and replied coldly, "Your Majesty is temporarily unable to see anyone. If you have anything to say, just tell me."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Earl." Cecil had a troubled expression on his face, "Please don't take offense, I don't doubt His Majesty's trust in you, but I have to report this matter to His Majesty face to face."

"I said that His Majesty cannot receive anyone." Robert said, "If you really don't doubt His Majesty's trust in me, then it's the same if you tell me about it."

"Unfortunately, Mr. Earl, I can't do it." Cecil shook his head, "I can't tell anyone about this except Your Majesty, especially you."

"Why is that?" Robert raised his voice slightly, "Why especially me?"

"Please calm down, Mr. Earl." Cecil quickly explained, "Because what I want to report to His Majesty... is related to you, to be precise, it involves a member of your family..."

"You mean my father." Robert interrupted the other person coldly, "Do you mean the death of His Majesty the King, or the matter of the Queen?"

Cecil's mouth opened wide in astonishment, "You...how could..."

"How do I know?" Robert sneered, "What you brought back from France is outdated news. Your Excellency the chief minister has already admitted everything... We don't need your evidence, we already know the truth. You Half a month late, my wise friend."

"Then I suppose His Excellency the First Secretary has been arrested?" It was Ponsonby who spoke this time, his hand already on the hilt of his sword.

"Arrest?" Robert smiled contemptuously. "On the contrary, he left here a few days ago and went back to London. Now, he has either become the master of the kingdom, or he has been defeated. Maybe his head has been stuck in London." There are crows on the bridge to peck at, and I honestly don't care."

"I... I don't understand..." Cecil looked at Robert, who seemed to have lost his mind, with gaping eyes, "What happened here? Could it be that the rumors outside are true, His Majesty has passed away ?”

Robert slammed his fist on the table, and the four poor table legs trembled under the huge impact, "Please be careful, who told you that His Majesty is dead?"

"I...just repeating the rumors outside..." Cecil replied dully, taking a few steps behind Ponsonby, as if seeking protection.

"A group of ridiculous fools!" Robert roared. "If I were them, I would pray that their king is safe and sound, because they don't know what fate they will face once Edward leaves!"

Robert walked around the table and came up to Cecil and Ponsonby.

"You think this is just an ordinary change of regime in history, don't you?" He burst into hysterical laughter, "everyone thinks so... even those who are deeply favored by him think so... A bunch of shameless leeches, bloody vampires..."

He staggered and looked like he was about to fall at any moment. Cecil reached out to support him, but he pushed him away.

"This kingdom is not worthy of its king, this contemporary Sodom...they abandoned their king at the slightest sign of trouble, shameless...a bunch of shameless..."

"Now, my father, Mary, and Elizabeth must all be vying for the throne like a pack of wild dogs vying for a piece of carrion. Every one of them has His Majesty's blood on their hands! If there is anything wrong with Your Majesty, then I will take The Guards are going to London, do you understand?" Robert stared closely at Cecil's face, "I want all these people to be buried with him, I want to execute every nobleman who participated in this matter, and I want Build a huge monument for His Majesty in front of the hall, and use the bones of these people as the foundation!"

"It all started with those rebels locked in the dungeon." Robert had a ferocious smile on his face, "I have told them to pray for His Majesty from morning to night, because once His Majesty dies, after an hour , their heads will be stuck on the wall stacks of the tower... We have enough wall stacks for every adult in the dungeon. You can hear how hard they are praying as long as you go to the dungeon door now! "

"So, did something happen to your Majesty?" Cecil asked cautiously, avoiding irritating Robert, whose eyes were red like an enraged lion.

"Yes, Your Majesty was poisoned, and it was my father who did it." Panting heavily, Robert raised his two hands and stared at them with disgust, "This disgusting blood... The blood of the regicide..."

He slammed the table with his hand again, and bright red blood came out from the tiger's mouth.

"When that monument is finished, I'll slit my throat with the dagger he gave me..." Robert said to himself in a low voice, "I should have done that long ago... I'll do it that day It should be done..."

"My lord, please allow me to ask you a question." Ponsonby looked at his officer worriedly, "How long have you not slept?"

"I don't need to sleep," replied Robert grimly.

Ponsonby wanted to persuade him again, but the clock placed in the corner of the study struck seven o'clock.

"It's time for dinner. You two must be hungry after a long day's driving." Robert walked back to the desk and rang the bell, "Please go and have dinner."

"Don't you eat your supper?" asked Ponsonby. "You look like you haven't eaten for a long time."

"I'm going to see His Majesty." Robert pointed to the small door leading to the king's bedroom on the side of the study, "Please go easy on yourselves."

Ponsonby sighed softly, he knew that there was no need to persuade him anymore.

Watching Cecil and Ponsonby leave the room, Robert immediately walked towards the small door. He walked through the corridor connecting the study and the bedroom, and entered Edward's bedroom.

The bloodless king lay motionless on the bed, his handsome face seemed to be covered with a thin layer of wax, looking lifeless.His Majesty's lips moved slightly, which seemed to be the only part of him that was still alive.

As Robert walked to the bed, Edward's hand slipped out from under the covers and rested lightly on the mahogany side of the bed.He held up the wrist of the pale hand reverently, bent down, kissed it lightly, put that hand next to his body, and covered it with the quilt.

After doing all this, he stood up straight and looked at Dr. Paganini who was sitting on the head of the bed.

"Doctor." He nodded towards the doctor, "How is Your Majesty doing today?"

Dr. Paganini stood up slowly, "Your Majesty is still alive today."

Robert glanced at the doctor with dissatisfaction, "I hope you can do more than this."

"I have done everything I can." Dr. Paganini sighed slightly, and said in a soothing tone, "Now, as long as His Majesty is still breathing, it is the best news."

"You said before that if His Majesty can survive for a week, he will be safe and sound... It has been six days now."

"Yes, my lord." Doctor Paganini nodded, "However, the last night will be a very dangerous one... I have used all the treatments I can think of for Your Majesty, and now I have nothing to do for you." He did."

"What do you mean by that?" There was a hint of threat in Robert's tone.

"I mean, for this last night, His Majesty can only rely on himself." Doctor Paganini stopped Robert, who was about to get angry, with a sad look, "If Your Majesty survives tonight, he will wake up tomorrow morning , which means he will recover as before."

"What if His Majesty didn't wake up?" Robert's teeth collided lightly in his mouth, and he felt as if his tongue was tied.

Dr. Paganini did not answer, but the silent answer was clearer than any spoken answer.

Big tears flowed from Robert's eyes like springs. He bit his lip desperately and wiped the tears from his face.

"Go and rest, my lord." Doctor Paganini stepped forward and patted Robert's shoulder lightly. "Your Majesty's fate is in the hands of God. All we can do is pray for him."

"Go and rest, doctor." Robert wiped away the tears on his face, "I am here to watch the night for His Majesty."

Dr. Paganini sighed again, and stopped persuading him.

"I will pray for His Majesty." Before walking out of the room, he whispered.

Robert didn't answer, and didn't know if he heard the other person's words.

The doctor walked out of the room and closed the door gently.

Robert stood up, walked to the bed again, lowered his head, and kissed Edward's forehead lightly.The white forehead was covered with cold sweat, as cold as a piece of marble.Then he drew a chair to the bed, sat on it, and gazed for a long time at the unconscious king.