monarch

In 1556, the Plaza Mayor, located at the junction of Toledo Street and Mayor Street, was nothing more than an open space without floor tiles and slates. Every morning, farmers in the nearby countryside would pull their Cars, selling their own fresh produce on the square to the cooks of noble families who came to purchase.This untouched space, dusty during the dry season, invites passers-by to sneeze loudly.And when the rain falls, it will turn into a muddy swamp again, making passing pedestrians and vehicles all complain.It was not until more than 60 years later that King Philip III renovated this open space, turning it into a square square with a unique style and the most prosperous neighborhood in the city of Madrid.

When Emperor Charles V left, the crowd who came to attend the farewell ceremony also left.

Contrary to the others, when the crowd left the Royal Castle, Robert Dudley did not leave in a hurry, but returned to the castle garden and sat for a while again until the moon slowly rose from the eastern horizon At that time, he came out of the garden and left the castle on the horse that had been waiting at the gate.

In autumn, the moonlight in the southern country is like the twilight in the western sky, gently blowing across the earth, and the mysterious brilliance makes everything around seem a little poetic.It was a windless early autumn night, and the air seemed to be stagnant and not moving at all. Although it was already September, the whole city was still as hot as the marble bathrooms of the Romans filled with steam.The streets are not paved with paving stones or marble. The silt and loess have absorbed human and animal feces and swill garbage during the day, and now they are exuding a suffocating stench, and the stuffy air is like A pot lid is placed on the head of the whole city, so that all these disgusting smells can only gather in the streets and alleys to slowly ferment.

As we mentioned before, Madrid now has only [-] residents, and most of them are nobles in the court and servants who serve them, so although it was just dark, the streets There are not many people left.The gatekeepers sat alone in the doorways of the mansions on the street. They sat boredly on the steps without shirts on, and the smoke of burning American tobacco slowly drifted from the pipes they held in their mouths to the ceiling.The few sparse passers-by on the street were all bald, holding their hats in their hands, dragging their legs weakly to move on the ground.

Robert followed the Count de Epignan's instructions and walked verbatim along the route the Count had said before.While most diplomats traveled in the embassy's carriage, Robert Dudley preferred to ride by himself, sometimes with his servants and more often alone.The roses of England are embroidered on his saddle, and the ribbon of the Order of the Garter is tied on his calf. In addition, his appearance with British characteristics not only feasts the eyes of ordinary people who love to watch the excitement, but also makes enthusiastic Spanish girls full of enthusiasm. Feel the exotic atmosphere.

Robert walked safely along Burr Street to the Church of St. Antilles, turned left to Toledo Street, and arrived at the Palace of Santa Croce without incident.When he rode his horse into the Plaza Mayor, the usually noisy square had quieted down, and the horse's hooves made a harsh "dee" sound when they stepped on the parched ground.The moon had risen high, and its light shone on him, making the white feathers on the black cap he wore glisten with silver.

As soon as he entered the square, the keen eyes of the young ambassador noticed a few looming figures under the low wall leaning on the Mayor Avenue. Sensing the danger approaching, he subconsciously grasped the reins.At the time when the story takes place, there are no night patrols in most European cities, and the streets of the cities have naturally become places for murder and robbery.Anything is possible on the streets after nightfall.

Robert continued to ride his horse forward as if nothing had happened, but his left hand had already unbuttoned his cloak, and the black cloak covered his right hand that was already on the hilt of his sword.

When Robert came to the center of the square, where the later King Philip III would erect his equestrian statue, the figures sprang from their hiding places like hungry hounds.

In a blink of an eye, those figures had passed through half of the square like lightning, and rushed towards Robert.

"Kill him, kill him! For my brother, and for the honor of His Royal Highness!" Robert recognized the frantic cry as the voice of the Count de Epernan.

With the bright moonlight, Robert finally saw clearly the group of people who ambushed him. There were five of them in total. It was obvious that the Count de Epernan had learned the previous lesson and found more helpers for himself.Each of them put on red shorts and stockings, lest their enemies should be encouraged to see them bleeding, and their companions should not be distraught.This group of people wore simple tight jackets on their upper bodies to ensure that the folds of the clothes would not affect the speed of their swords, and they also wore flat shoes on their feet to prevent them from falling on the uneven ground.

Obviously, Count de Epignan and his party came prepared.

"Well, Comte d'Epignan, so this is what you call hunting." Robert drew his sword. If it was daylight, the onlookers would clearly notice that his face was bright with excitement. The glowing red light, the challenge in the words of the Count de Epernian in the afternoon was clear to him, and the fearless courage made him dare to fight alone, even in the face of a long-planned plan. The ambush showed no sign of retreating, "Okay! Like I said, this wild boar will stab you and your friends with its fangs!"

At this time, the man in the lead had already rushed to Robert's horse. Robert thought he was going to stab his leg with a dagger, so he turned the horse's head quickly and stabbed the horse's belly with spurs at the same time, but it made him Unexpectedly, the poor animal suddenly foamed blood from its mouth, and fell to the ground as soon as its two front legs gave way. It turned out that the enemy had stabbed a dagger into the horse's neck.

"It's despicable!" Robert was irritated. "You dare to kill one of my favorite horses, and I will make you pay for it!"

He jumped up from his horse, landed on the ground, and took three consecutive steps forward. Before the man who stabbed his horse could react, Robert thrust his sword forward sharply and pierced him. thigh.

The man wailed and fell to the ground. He stretched out his hand to find the dagger that had just pierced the neck of Robert's mount and fell to the ground when he fell to the ground. However, before he found it, Robert's sword Feng had already pierced his throat.

"One has been solved, and there are four left." Robert had a sneer on his face, watching the enemy lying on the ground twitching as he was vainly covering his bloody throat with his hands.

He looked at Count de Epenian, the cold light in his eyes made the count feel a chill rising from the soles of his feet in this sultry night.

Robert rushed forward with a stride, and stabbed Count de Epernian with his sword. The count quickly raised his arm and resisted with his sword. The swords collided with each other, making a crisp sound, which could be heard clearly in this quiet night. It's frightening.

Count de Epignan blocked Robert's sword. He took a step back and wanted to raise his arm again, but Robert's sword tip was as fast as lightning, and before Count de Epenian could react When he came over, a stream of blood spurted out from his shoulder, and a few drops even fell on Robert's face.

The arm holding the sword of the count d'Epenan suddenly fell down because of the pain. Robert did not give him the slightest chance to breathe, and stabbed forward again. Earl Ang's rib.

The Comte d'Epignan held his sword with his right hand, and with his left he pressed the wound in his ribs, and stepped back.

In an instant, two of the five fell down, and the remaining three were startled by the dramatic change. One of them turned around and ran, while the other two rushed towards Robert with their swords in hand. Attempts to cover the wounded Count de Epernian.Robert jumped back and dodged the thrust of the first man, and at the same time he swung his right arm and blocked the other sword that was thrusting at him with his own sword, and he used such strength It was so big that the sword flew out of the sharp attacker's hand, and flew ten steps away before falling to the ground.

The man tried to pick up his sword, but it was too late, and Robert's blade pierced his chest.

The third man was mortally wounded, and he covered his own wound with his hands and exposed himself, so Robert took his opportunity again and stabbed him in the stomach with a sword, and the fellow fell to the ground groaning.

Now there was only one person who could still resist. Seeing his accomplices fell to the ground one by one, the fourth person couldn't help but tremble all over, and the wrist holding the sword hilt unconsciously twitched.

Before he was ready, Robert had already rushed up, so he had to gather his energy to deal with it, but he was obviously at a disadvantage. The place where his feet stood was very slippery, it was not easy to stabilize his body, and his posture was also difficult. It's not right.

Robert received no meaningful resistance, and his sword split the head of the fourth man at once. The other man let go of his hand, and the sword fell powerlessly to the ground. When he fell backwards, Robert swung his right hand, The blade pierced his heart, and the sword sank deep into the fourth man's chest, down to the gauntlet.

A stream of black blood gushed out from the corner of the fourth person's mouth. He lay on the ground and twitched a few times, then remained motionless again.

Robert walked towards the solitary Count de Epenian, who was covered with the blood of the enemy. In the eyes of the Count de Epernian, he looked as if he had just killed a lion with his bare hands and killed the lion's body. Hercules whose head was used as a helmet.

Count de Epernian barely stood up, but his eyes were already blackened due to excessive blood loss, and his strong arms became weak.

He tried to slash Robert with the sword in his hand, but Robert easily avoided that clumsy movement. With a light pick from Robert, the sword in the earl's hand fell off with a sound, and Robert's sword edge had already pierced de Count Epernion's wrist.

The Comte d'Epénian clutched his right wrist, and Robert took the opportunity to leap forward and hit the comte on the temple with the brass ball on his sword hilt, causing him to collapse in agony on the ground.

"I won, Monsieur the Earl." Robert put the point of his sword on the Earl de Epernian's throat.

"Please send a letter to my family and let them come to collect my body before dawn." Count de Epenian lay on the ground in pain, panting loudly.

"Please tell them that I died in a fair duel," his eyes were full of pleading, "I died in a manner worthy of the honor of a noble..."

"I didn't want your life." Robert shook his head and retracted the tip of the sword, "I have already taken one of your mother's sons, and if I want to take the life of another son of hers, it would be too much Too cruel."

A look of desperation gradually climbed up the blue-gray cheeks of Count de Epernan, "No, I am going to die no matter what... Even if I don't die in your hands, the prince will not let me go, because I will embarrass him I'd rather die by the sword of a nobleman with a sense of honor than by that monster's hand."

"Okay, I promise you." Robert nodded, and then cut Count de Epenion's throat with his sword, letting hot blood spurt to his face.

The Comte d'Epignan spasmed and twitched like a fish out of water, leaving traces on the ground that would horrify any passerby who got up early the next day, until the convulsions grew weaker and weaker until the body It gradually became cold and no longer moved.

With a melancholy expression on his face, Robert sheathed his sword.

He walked back to his steed, the poor beast dying.

"Now I can only go back on foot," he said to himself.

At this time, as if in response to his words, there were several loud neighings of horses from the other side of the square.

"Ah!" Robert laughed, "It seems that's not the case."

He walked towards the place where the sound came from, and sure enough, there was a lantern on the wall stack at the end of the low wall. By the light of the lantern, he noticed several fine horses tied to a hitching post nearby. , obviously belonged to Count de Epernian and his party.

Robert eyed his prize with satisfaction, and he selected one of the brightest bay Arabians, leaving the others where they were.

He got on the horse sideways, clamped the horse's belly with his legs, and galloped towards the direction of the British embassy.

The British embassy is located not far from the Plaza Mayor. It is a very beautiful Italian-style mansion. The Arabian horse under Robert's crotch ran so fast that it took less than 5 minutes to bring its new owner. back home.

A porter in the uniform of the embassy has been waiting at the door. Seeing his master returning on horseback, he quickly grabbed the lantern beside him and went forward.

"Why did your lord come back so late?" The servant stepped forward and grabbed the rein of the horse. Seeing that this horse was not the one Robert was riding when he went out, he couldn't help but feel a little puzzled, and when he looked up When he saw the steaming spots of blood on Robert's body, this doubt turned into panic.

"Oh, my lord, why are you covered with so much blood?" exclaimed the servant in an exaggerated tone.

Robert reached out and wiped it, "It's not my blood."

He got off his horse, walked towards the door, and suddenly turned around as if thinking of something again.

"Please send a letter to the Count de Epernan's house, telling them to go to the Plaza Mayor to collect the remains of the count and his men. There are still five horses there, and I rode one. As compensation for killing my horse, please take the remaining four horses back to the mansion." Robert said to the porter, "Also, please make sure to let the mother of Count de Epernan know that his son Died in an honorable duel, worthy of his sigil."

The servant's mouth was opened wide in surprise, and he nodded mechanically.

Robert let out a "hmm" and walked quickly into the gate of the embassy.

He climbed the stairs and returned to his room on the second floor, threw the cloak covered with dust, blood and mud on the ground, went to the desk, picked up a silk handkerchief on it, and wiped the cloak on his hands. bloody.

Robert's personal servant pushed open the door, "Does your lord want dinner?"

"Please inform the kitchen, let's have dinner in half an hour, and bring me a bottle of Bordeaux wine."

"I would like to follow your instructions, Lord Marquis, so in the half hour between now, do you need me to find a doctor to check on you?"

"I'm not injured at all, and there's nothing to check." Robert waved his hand, and the servant bowed, closed the door and went out.

Robert sat on the easy chair in front of the desk, opened the drawer of the desk, and carefully took out a piece of letter paper from it.

He dipped a quill into the inkwell and wrote in cursive on the upper left corner of the letter: "Dear Your Majesty."

Robert looked at the words with satisfaction, put down the quill again, and held up the letter paper with both hands, imagining it crossing the ocean of raging volumes and finally being sent to Edward's writing desk in Hampton Court Palace .He imagined Edward cutting the wax on the envelope with a paper knife, pulling the paper out of the envelope, unfolding it gently, and holding it in those white hands.

He looked at the clock on the mantelpiece. There were twenty-five minutes until dinner.

The piece of paper was respectfully placed on the desk again, and Robert then bent down and began to write vigorously.