monarch

Viscount Canning's carriage drove into the palace through a corner gate of the palace, and stopped at a small gate on the side. The soldiers guarding the gate did not do any obstruction or inspection. The arrival of the British ambassador is no surprise.

"This is the passage exclusively for Her Majesty the Princess." When they walked up the stairs, Viscount Canning explained to Robert, "She doesn't want some people who come to visit her to go through the main entrance, so that everyone will be seen."

"What kind of people does she usually meet?" Robert snorted coldly, "It's so shameful."

Viscount Canning smiled mischievously, "I don't dare to ask about His Highness's affairs, she knows what she is doing."

"Does she really know?" Robert shook his head as they reached the end of the stairs.

This secret staircase leads all the way to the third floor, and at the end of the stairs is another small white door. Viscount Canning walked to the door, knocked lightly on the door, and the door opened immediately.

A dark-skinned maid made a clumsy curtsy to the two, signaling them to come in with her body movements.

"She's an African." Viscount Canning said softly to Robert, "Those Portuguese slave traders imposed terrible punishments on these poor blacks, and this girl had her tongue cut off. Her Royal Highness wants someone who is not A maid who would reveal any of her secrets, so her agent bought this slave girl for her. She could understand, but she couldn't speak or read. It was like a safe, full of secrets, but Nothing can be said without the master's permission."

The mute maid led them into a small reception room, the walls of which were paneled with brazilian wood, one of the most precious products of Portugal's overseas empire.There is no tapestry on the wall, but several brightly colored landscape paintings are used to decorate, each of which has a blue and white sky in sharp contrast with the gloomy sky outside the window.Every table and every platform in the room is filled with all kinds of vases, including Sevres painted pottery vases, Greek clay vases, and large blue and white porcelain vases produced by the Oriental Ming Empire. The gardens are filled with colorful flowers, and the petals of the white roses, orange tulips and purple hydrangeas are still covered with drops of water brought from the greenhouse.

The maid brought coffee to the two guests, bowed again, and then retreated from the room.

"She's gone to inform the princess." Viscount Canning poured himself a cup of coffee in a white porcelain cup, "Please try this drink, it's not very common in London yet, but it's very popular in Lisbon .”

Robert poured himself a glass, but he just put the glass up to his nose and sniffed it, then put it back.

The door was pushed open again, and a red-haired woman in a blue silk dress walked into the room. Her dress was made so loose that people noticed her slightly bulging belly at first glance. Contrary to the usual shift in pregnant ladies who tend to hide their curves with corsets, Princess Elizabeth tried to show her bump to everyone as if it was a symbol of her victory.His long hair hung down his back, strewn with starry gems, like the foam of a cascading waterfall.

Robert pushed the chair back, and the legs scraped against the wooden floor with a harsh scratching sound.

He stood up and looked at Princess Elizabeth who was standing by the door. Compared to the last time the two met three years ago, Princess Elizabeth seemed to have completely shed the innocence of a young girl and replaced it with that of a mature woman. Elegant and charming, she was clearly at home at the Portuguese court.The decrepit father-in-law and the born mentally handicapped husband allowed her to enjoy full freedom of movement in the Portuguese court. When this kind of life inevitably came to an end, it was understandable that she would resort to all possible means, even outside In the eyes of people, it can be called a crazy method.

Princess Elizabeth looked at Robert with a smile, as if the two were not enemies with deep blood feuds, but old friends who hadn't seen each other for many years.

"Long time no see, my lord." She walked into the room self-consciously, waved to Viscount Canning who was bowing to her, and went straight to an armchair not far from Robert and sat down.

"Yes, Your Highness." Robert replied bluntly.

After a short period of silence, Princess Elizabeth spoke again: "I am really sorry to hear the news of your encounter with the storm. Please rest assured that I will try my best to make you and your entourage feel at home."

"I just hope that you can finish repairing our ship as soon as possible, so that we can continue our journey." Robert made no secret of his indifference.

"Ah." Princess Elizabeth looked distressed, "I think this might be difficult." She sighed softly, as if she regretted what she was going to say next.

Robert didn't answer, but just looked at the other party quietly, as if he had already expected what Princess Elizabeth would say, and he didn't show any surprise.

"You must have seen the slump in the market on the way here. It has been difficult for Portugal these years." Princess Elizabeth let out a somewhat artificial sigh, "Several large shipyards have closed down, and the remaining few The family also lacks skilled workers. I have asked them to make the repair of your two warships a top priority, but I just got news that the damage to those two ships seems to be quite serious?"

Robert shrugged noncommittally.

"The director of shipbuilding told me that both ships had a lot of water, and the bottoms were badly damaged, which meant repairing the bottoms, and repairing the bottoms meant using the docks...but it's just a coincidence that it's really hard to do that right now. I can't find a free dock, but I assure you that as soon as there is a dock free, I will have your two ships repaired first..."

Robert sneered sharply, and Princess Elizabeth couldn't help but stop her defense.

"I think we should stop wasting time, Your Highness." Robert said sarcastically, "You didn't invite me here to catch up on the old days, did you? You must understand that if the two of us catch up on the old days, then we can definitely talk There are only unpleasant things left... let's not talk about the past, at least I don't want to talk to you."

The smile on Princess Elizabeth's face froze like lard that has been put for a long time.

"Okay." Princess Elizabeth nodded, "Since you don't want to talk about the past, let's talk about the present, but first..."

She turned her neck gracefully, and cast her eyes on Viscount Canning.

"Mr. Ambassador, I've bothered you for so long, so I won't take up your time anymore." Princess Elizabeth lightly issued the eviction order, not even bothering to think of a reason.

Viscount Canning stood up, and there was no trace of disappointment or embarrassment on his face.If you want to survive in the arena of power for a long time, then don't inquire about secrets that you don't need to know. He has already learned this truth by heart.

When the Viscount left the room, Elizabeth picked up an empty cup and poured herself a cup of coffee.

"You see, there's nothing in it." She took a sip of the steaming liquid in the glass.

"Seeing may not be believing." Robert still didn't intend to taste the drink in his cup, "Now there are only two of us left, if you want to say something, please say it quickly."

"Are you so impatient?" Elizabeth smiled slightly, pouted her lips slightly, showing a childish obsequiousness, "Well, I admit, when I heard the news of your unexpected arrival in Lisbon, I felt Very excited."

"The reason why I asked you to come is very simple. I need help, and I need someone who can protect my safety during this sensitive period." Princess Elizabeth extended her hand towards Robert, and Robert avoided it calmly, " As a nobleman and a knight, can you refuse a lady's request for help?"

"Please don't act like a weak woman in front of me." Robert moved his chair back in disgust, "You are the most dangerous person I have ever seen, whether it is a man or a woman."

"Then I'll take it as you are complimenting me." Princess Elizabeth folded her hands on her stomach.

"You want me to help you gain power in Portugal."

Elizabeth stretched out a finger and waved it lightly, "It is to help my child protect his birthright."

"Birthright?" Robert looked at Princess Elizabeth with a low gaze, "I don't know, what birthright do illegitimate children have?"

Elizabeth's expression collapsed all of a sudden, a pair of sharp eyebrows were erected sharply, and a gleam of red light flashed across her pupils, like lightning that briefly illuminated the night sky.

She pricked up her ears vigilantly, and did not relax her tense waist until she was sure that no one was eavesdropping outside the house.

"I warn you, sir, there must be evidence for what you say." The princess's hoarse voice came out from between her clenched teeth.

"Although it's my first day here, I've already heard some rumors." Robert said, "Many of them are quite ugly."

"You also said that those are just rumors." Princess Elizabeth raised her head proudly, almost pointing her chin at Robert, but her two hands were tightly clenched in front of her stomach, even her knuckles were tight. Some are whitish.

"Then why are you facing an enemy like this?" Robert pointed to the door.

Princess Elizabeth bit her lips, "If rumors are not eliminated in time, they will be extremely destructive. I think you should understand this better than anyone else in this world."

"It seems to me that the damage has already been done," Robert said. "Few people in all of Portugal would think that you are carrying the Dauphin's child. You are a born statesman and should understand this simple truth: What matters always Not facts, but impressions, not content, but form."

"That's why I need help from Britain." Elizabeth said hastily. "My enemies are constantly spreading these poisonous rumors. Turn us into a joke."

She took out a piece of paper from her pocket, "Look, this is what I received this morning...it's so vicious!"

Robert took the paper and found it to be a leaflet, printed in poor ink, with a satirical poem printed on it:

"Everyone is asking themselves in private / Can the Dauphin do it? Can't he / The sad Dauphine is so disappointed."

He looked up at Elizabeth, who was biting her lip so hard that it was almost bleeding.

Robert bowed his head and read on:

"Prince Joao, if you want to see/Bastards, bastards and whores/Look in the mirror first/Then look at the Dauphine and the child/Because the child/Has an Italian nose. "

"Who wrote this?" asked Robert.

"That's a secondary matter." Elizabeth took the leaflet from Robert and tore it to pieces. "The people who write this stuff are just doing it for money. My enemies pay them to discredit me. , is like hiring a killer to take the victim's life."

"Then who is your enemy?"

"Who else can it be, the Spaniards and their lackeys, and the Duke of Braganza, a hypocrite!" Princess Elizabeth spit on the ground with a disgusted expression on her face, "They dare not To destroy me physically means to damage me morally and my child's reputation!"

"What does King Joao think? If I were you, I would pay attention to the king's attitude."

"Do you think I haven't?" Elizabeth slapped the table irritably. "He doesn't want to see me! His doctor said that the king is in retreat and no one should disturb him. I think he must have heard these rumors, but he There is no evidence, so nothing can be done rashly."

"And what do you want Britannia to do for you?"

"Support me, of course! If Britain can support me, then my enemies will be wary. These cowards are terrified of the prospect of being involved in the upcoming war between Britain and Spain, let alone Portugal. , they dared not offend Philip, nor did they dare to offend Edward. As long as they realize that peace can only be maintained if my child succeeds, then they will support me. That Duke of Braganza, Edward, will also get the Brazilian colony I promised, and everyone will get what they want, and everyone will be satisfied."

Robert frowned slightly, "What kind of support are you referring to? If what you want is support at the level of an expeditionary force consisting of [-] warships and [-] soldiers, then I can tell you this right now. Impossible. Britain and Spain are about to go to war. If Britain garrisons in Portugal, the Spaniards will invade immediately, and Portugal will become a battlefield, and a battlefield that is very unfavorable to Britain. It is only a few hundred miles away from Madrid. London is thousands of miles away, and if I must go to war with Spain, I would rather fight them in the English Channel or in the Netherlands than waste my precious strength in such a minor place as Portugal."

"I don't need Edward to actually send 2 people to Lisbon, I just need to make everyone think that this will happen." Elizabeth grabbed Robert's arm, and Robert looked displeased, but her hand Like an eagle's talons, she grasped tighter and tighter, and Robert could only give up trying to shake her hand away, "You also said that politics is just a superficial phenomenon, you just need to convince them that Britain is my strong backing, then It's enough to bring some fencers to my side, and keep some less determined enemies neutral."

"I have no right to make any promises to you."

"You can write to Edward, I believe he will agree." Elizabeth spoke faster and faster, "Everyone knows your relationship with him... Please don't be surprised, but if you show your support for me, Then nobody questions anything. Everyone knows you don't like me, you hate me, and that just makes it all the more believable."

"But why would I do that?" Robert asked.

"Because it's good for Edward." Elizabeth stared closely into Robert's eyes, "Because he can get the colony he wants, you will put greater interests before your own personal grievances, right? Is this Isn't that what lovers should do for each other?"

Robert glared at Elizabeth in disgust, "Don't say that word, Your Highness, the tone of your word when you say it makes me sick... You don't know what love is at all, and even if you do, you would treat it as a kind of love." instrumental."

"So you agreed?" Elizabeth looked expectant.

"I can't promise anything, I can only say that I will not take the initiative to dismantle the illusion you created." Robert said, "As for how much real money and silver assistance you can get, it depends on your Majesty's attitude."

"That's enough for me for now, I..."

A knock on the door interrupted the excited Elizabeth.

The black maid who had just served coffee entered the room, gesturing toward Elizabeth with her hand.

"The king wants to see me." The crown princess translated the content in sign language in astonishment, "I still want to see you."

"How did he know that I invited you to the palace?" Elizabeth looked very disturbed. "I specially ordered someone to bring you in through the small door. Who gave him the letter?"

"He's still a king after all." Robert picked up the coffee cup that was still warm on the table, "Haven't you learned a lesson from what happened a few years ago? Don't think that everyone except you is a fool."

He took a sip of the coffee in his cup and watched with satisfaction that the blood had completely faded from Princess Elizabeth's face.