monarch

It was raining heavily outside, and the raindrops were pattering on the glass windows.Edward lay on the four-poster bed in his room, somewhat unable to sleep.The tall trees outside rustled in the wind, leaving trembling shadows in the house.

The prince turned his head and looked at Robert Dudley who was sleeping next to him, and couldn't help but want to laugh.This person had been trying to sleep with him for a long time, saying that he wanted to have a good chat with him, but he fell asleep almost as soon as he touched the pillow, but he himself was tossing and turning here, and it was difficult to fall asleep.

Edward moved slightly, and to his surprise Robert woke up, obviously he was also a light sleeper.Robert rubbed his sleepy eyes, and looked at his friend with some concern: "What's the matter, Edward, can't you sleep?"

"A little bit," Edward admitted.

"Mr. Cromwell, or the Duke of Norfolk?"

"Maybe a little bit." Edward smiled.

"Mr Cromwell is screwed, you know."

"Maybe." Edward said noncommittally, "but after Cromwell fell, the Duke of Norfolk appeared again. I think this is what I will face in the rest of my life, careerists popping up one after another , surround me, and I will use all my energy to deal with them, just as countless kings have done before."

Robert supported his head with one hand, and gently stroked the hair of the boy beside him with the other: "You know, I will help you."

"I know." Edward smiled. He enjoyed the other person's touch and rolled comfortably on the bed. In Robert's eyes, he was like a lazy cat. He felt numb in his heart.After a while, the prince turned his head to the other side gently: "What about you? Robert. What do you want to do in the future?"

"Me? I said, I want to help you." Robert said, "I want to be your most loyal friend, your most important assistant, your minister and general. I will help you secure your throne and help you solve everything threats, both at home and abroad. The age of King Edward VI will be told for millennia as the age of Caesar or Charlemagne, and you will be Alexander, and I will be your Hephaestion." His heart was beating so fast, I couldn't believe I said it.He looked at the opposite prince anxiously, waiting eagerly for his reaction.

Alexander and Hephaestion?Edward found this analogy a bit strange.Alexander the Great and Hephaestion were childhood friends just like them. The latter was Alexander's best friend and most trusted confidant, and he served as Alexander's commander of the Imperial Guard all the year round.However, what they talk about more is the relationship between them. After Hephaistion passed away, Alexander never got rid of his sorrow, and he passed away soon after.

Does he have any other feelings for me?Edward was a little stunned. He recalled the details of the relationship between the two of them. It seems that this is indeed the case?Edward didn't mind the sentiment, although he knew the subject was somewhat taboo in this day and age.Does Robert really know what this means?

"Do you know the story of Edward II?" Edward's tone was a little cold.

Robert's heart ached a little. Several homosexual lovers of Edward II were murdered by angry nobles, and the king was first imprisoned and then murdered. There are legends that he was killed alive by a red-hot iron rod stabbed to death.He smiled wryly: "You're right, I don't mind being Piers Gaveston, but I don't want you to suffer the fate of Edward II."

Edward glanced at his friend who was a little lost.Would he be Gaveston?The favorite of Edward II was deeply loved by the king, so he was disgusted by the other nobles, and they eventually killed him together.Edward didn't know how to answer for a moment, did he really have the determination to lose everything?

"I was wrong." Robert's voice could not restrain the loss, "We should be Octavian and Agrippa." This pair of monarchs and ministers is a model of the relationship between monarchs and ministers in history. The emperor and his most trusted aides worked closely together, yet there was no ambiguity between them.

It might be best this way, Edward thought, but he couldn't say it.He looked at his friend across from him, imagining that the distance between him and him was gradually growing.Maybe his father and the Duke of Suffolk were as close as he and Robert are now?But with the passage of time, they gradually turned into a pair of monarchs and ministers who calculated each other. The friendship between teenagers in the past is now full of political intrigue and calculation.He imagined himself and Robert becoming like this, but he found that he couldn't imagine it. In the past four years, this was his only real friend, and he couldn't imagine the days when he was alone.

Edward pondered for a long time, and when Robert's heart sank to the bottom, the prince finally raised his head, looked at him seriously, and said, "Robert, if you still want to be Hephaestion when we grow up, then I will too." Willing to be Alexander."

Robert was ecstatic for a while, but he quickly forced himself to calm down: "But you are the king, I don't want..." He really didn't want the other party to make any sacrifices for himself.

"I also have Alexander in my name, don't I?" Edward Alexander Henry Tudor smiled, "I am not Edward II, he can't protect the one he loves, because he is too weak and stupid. Alexander It can be done, Hadrian can do it, and I can do it," he said firmly.

Robert looked at his friend quietly. In the history of England, the king named after Edward was either a British lord or a tragedy: "Long-legged" Edward I defeated the violent rebels under his father's rule and conquered Wales and Scotland; His son Edward II was a fatuous and weak man who had almost lost everything his father had gained; while his son Edward III regained power from his power-hungry mother at an early age. Under the rule of England, England achieved great victories in France; Edward IV was the founder of the York family and a famous military genius; his son Edward V was the famous "Prince in the Tower", who was usurped by his uncle , and finally disappeared mysteriously in the Tower of London.What kind of king will the future Edward VI be?He is looking forward to it.Robert leaned down gently, leaned into the little boy's ear, and said softly: "Good night, my Alexander the Great." He made up his mind, he will work hard to become stronger, and he will also help Edward, when they have become incomparable When they are strong, no gossip can threaten them, and all enemies can only stay away.

……

Downstairs, Sir John was not asleep either.At this moment, he was locking himself in the study, not allowing anyone to disturb him.He was sitting in an armchair in his nightgown, quietly drinking Madeira from a glass.The fire was burning brightly in the grate, and the fresh wood was crackling inside.

Sir John Dudley's desk was full of papers, about naval affairs, about religion, about finances... When he first entered politics, his father had just been executed by King Henry for treason, and he wanted to do It's just to revive the family.However, decades later, this goal has already been achieved, but the pursuit of power has penetrated into his bones.Sir John is like an insatiable beast, greedily trying to grab all the power he can lay his hands on.The king's close advisors can't satisfy him, the upcoming Earl of Essex and Privy Council status can't even satisfy him, maybe he won't stop until he becomes the master of England...he is willing to follow everything The person who can give him more power is first the Duke of Suffolk, now King Henry, and will be the Prince of Wales in the future.

Sir John recalled the intimate behavior of the prince and his son during the day, and couldn't help showing a satisfied smile.His son is now so closely related to the prince that he will undoubtedly become the Duke of Suffolk in Edward VI's new dynasty, the new king's childhood friend and most trusted minister.The future of the Dudley family looks bright, but there is still a little regret in Sir's heart: If only Edward was a girl, so that Robert can pursue her, then the future King of England will be named Dudley Profit.He suddenly came to his senses and laughed at himself. He was really stupid. If Edward was a girl, how could she have the status she has today?The probability of the third girl becoming the heir is extremely slim.But maybe there are other ways to get involved with the royal family?Sir John smiled, there will be opportunities in the future, the Dudley family will never be inferior forever.

……

Whitehall Palace.

The Duke of Norfolk stood in front of the glass window, looking at the traces of the raindrops running across the glass.

"So the king still hasn't gone to the queen today?" His old rival, the Duke of Suffolk, was sitting on a chair at this moment, playing with an ivory-handled dagger.

The Duke of Norfolk turned to face each other. For more than [-] years, the two of them have been fighting each other all the time, and now they can sit together peacefully. This scene may surprise outsiders. "Lady Rocheford said so," he said, looking into the Duke of Suffolk's eyes, trying to detect a slight change in emotion, but he found nothing.

"It appears that our plans are nearing completion, and I think Mr. Cromwell will soon cease to be a factor affecting us," said the Duke of Suffolk casually.

"Then now is the time for us to look to the future." There was no emotion in the Duke of Norfolk's voice.

The Duke of Suffolk gave his old opponent a meaningful look, and finally he couldn't wait. "You're quite right, sir." Sharing the spoils was the theme of their evening. "As I said before, the title of Earl of Essex is given to Dudley, and I take Cromwell's position as Speaker of the Privy Council, and you become Lord Chancellor. As for property and other things, except the king's share Besides, we share the bill with the Earl of Hertford as agreed."

"I have no opinion, but this is not the point of my discussion with you today."

"Oh?" The Duke of Suffolk looked surprised. The Duke of Norfolk wanted to laugh a little. They were already old acquaintances, so why put on anything else? "Then what do you want to say?"

"I think there is no doubt that when the Queen's seat is vacated, the king should immediately start looking for a new partner. Your Majesty currently has only one male heir, which is obviously not enough. We need more Tudor princes to consolidate the line of succession. England needs a Duke of York," said the Duke of Norfolk.

"Then do you have any suggestions?" The Duke of Suffolk said sarcastically, "You, a loyal minister who always thinks about His Majesty, have already found suitable candidates efficiently, right?"

The expression of the Duke of Norfolk did not change at all. He had encountered this level of sarcasm many times: "Thank you for your compliment, Your Excellency, I do have a suitable candidate, my niece, Miss Catherine Howard."

"What is your reason for recommending Miss Howard?" said the Duke of Suffolk.

"As you saw on the safari that day, Miss Catherine is quite popular with the King. She is only 17 years old and is in good health. She is very suitable to give birth to a child for Your Majesty." The Duke of Norfolk said.

"Then what price are you willing to pay, Your Excellency?" The Duke of Suffolk was too lazy to go around in circles, it was already late.

"A great price, my lord," said the Duke of Norfolk. "If there is anything I can do for you, please do so."

Looks like he meant it, thought the Duke of Suffolk. "I suppose you must have had the Earl of Hertford's consent before you came to me? What did you give him in exchange? Let me guess, Lord Seal, eh?"

"Indeed." The Duke of Norfolk did not intend to hide it.

"Since that's the case, I don't intend to make any excessive demands. After all, not every family has a girl as outstanding as Miss Catherine who can win His Majesty's favor." The Duke of Suffolk smiled, "I just ask The Prince of Wales will receive an equal share of Mr Renwell's vast fortune."

The Duke of Norfolk was a little surprised. When did he get in touch with the crown prince?He tried his best to restrain his emotions. This was considered a very generous condition, and he had no reason to refuse.The primary goal now is to make Catherine queen, and the rest can be left for a later date. "As you wish, sir," said the duke.

The Duke of Suffolk caught the subtle emotional changes that flashed across the opponent's face, and this old opponent was a bit mediocre this time.When Sir Dudley made this suggestion to him, he didn't think about it at all. After all, to a nobleman like him, money and land were nothing, and power was the foundation of their livelihood.Besides, the crown prince is the crown prince after all, and their descendants will have to live under him, so why not do it now that he sells a good one?As for Sir Dudley, he has undoubtedly connected with the prince. After all, his son is the prince's closest friend. I don't mind either. "Then, I wish you good health, Your Excellency." He raised his glass and drank the last sip of wine in it.

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In this chapter, many readers mentioned the issue of age, and I hope you can look at it in light of the background of the times.For example, in 1721, the 11-year-old French King Louis XV was engaged to the three-year-old Spanish princess Marie Victoria. In order to cultivate their feelings, the princess was sent to France.The engagement fell through for political reasons four years later, when the two were 15 and seven years old, respectively.In addition, in the second part of the D'Artagnan trilogy "Twenty Years Later" in the 17th century, Dumas also described the relationship between the ten-year-old Viscount Blagerona and the four-year-old Miss Lavalierre. love between.Therefore, the setting of this age is not completely unreasonable.