monarch

When the sun rose the next day, the two warships had arrived under the iconic white rock of Dover, and by the time it was bright, they had already sailed into the berthing area of ​​Dover Port, and the heavy Anchor thrown into the icy water.

The king's carriage was already waiting at the pier, and the avenue from Dover to the north was clear all the way. Just after noon, the king's carriage drove into the large square in front of Hampton Palace.

A round of white sun, rarely seen in winter, hangs in mid-air, illuminating this majestic building like a stage lantern. The wheels of the carriage rolled over the remaining snow on the square, making dull rolling sounds.

Robert looked out the front of the building from the car window. Although he had participated in the design process of the building with the king, when it was actually completed, it looked much grander than the drawing board.

"The most majestic symbol of a monarch's power is just like what you said." Robert looked at the king sitting opposite him, "Everyone who sees it for the first time will be overwhelmed by its magnificence."

"This is only the first phase of the project," said the king. "The expansion of the gardens and courtyards is still in progress. Many outbuildings have been designed and can be started at any time...but I want to wait until the war is over before starting."

The carriage circled the square and drove towards the direction of the main entrance. The king pointed to the huge statues of Alexander the Great and Hephaistion above the entrance.

"Mr. Michelangelo's finished product is even more perfect than we expected." The king looked at the lines of the statue that are indistinguishable from real people. "This is probably the most shrewd investment I have ever made."

The door of the carriage was opened, and the footstools had already been placed by the servants in gorgeous livery. The king and Robert stepped on the footstools and got out of the carriage one after the other.

When they passed through the gate and entered the hall, the nobles and officials who had already filled the hall and corridors gave thunderous applause.The ladies threw the rose petals in the flower baskets in their hands towards Robert, and they looked like athletes throwing discus in the Olympic Games in ancient Greece.

"I have a triumph for you, or something like that," the king whispered, "but it seems Mr. Cecil has gone too far."

"I'm afraid it is indeed a little too much." Robert looked at the flattering faces. When Robert and the king passed in front of them, they bent their waists as low as reeds blown off by a strong wind.But under those flattering masks, what is hidden is a flushed soul tortured by jealousy and the ambition to replace it.

Everyone hates the popular people around the king, but everyone wants to be the popular people around the king. It is more accurate to say that what they hate is that the popular people around the king are not themselves.If His Majesty is the sun, then the courtiers are restless planets. Every day, they expect that the planet whose orbit is closest to the sun will be swallowed by the flames of the sun, and he can make up for it by one. Location.

In history, there are almost no examples of a good death for a favorite in Robert's position.Although he has a special relationship with the king, everyone sees him as the next Icarus, and the closer he flies to the sun, the sooner the end will come.The lower they bend down now, the higher they are in order to be able to flourish.Countless cheerers who were smiling on the surface were expecting Robert Dudley to repeat the mistakes of his father as soon as possible.

When the king and Robert climbed up the stairs of Minerva and left these evil-minded guys behind, Robert still felt countless scorching eyes staring at his back, those eyes were like the sharp stings of bees, stinging He was in pain.

"It seems that although Mr. Cecil always looks like a philosopher, he is still a mortal in the final analysis." When they climbed to the top of the stairs, the king, who had become a little strange from the beginning, finally said, "As long as Everyone would be jealous."

"I'm afraid it's not jealousy." Robert shook his head, "It's more about worrying...worrying that I will take away the power in his hands, so he wants to make me a target of public criticism first. But I don't think he dares to Doing excessive things, at most, is to engage in some dispensable small actions, such as today."

"A capable person always has a little temper." The king laughed. "Fortunately, his temper is still within the range of tolerability...I will talk to him."

"I have no intention of arguing with him. Government affairs are his specialty. After Bishop Gardiner retires, the position of prime minister will naturally be his." Robert said, "You should let him understand this."

The king shrugged noncommittally.

The two walked into Robert's suite. Compared with when he left, the furnishings here have not changed at all, and even time has not left any mark on this room, as if the patron saint of this house is Hebe, the goddess of youth. , so that her protectors are also youthful forever.

"The same style of furniture, hangings and decorations." The king explained, "but everything is brand new. Things have been kept for a long time. Even if they are well preserved, they will always have a musty smell."

He walked to a corner of the room and lightly pressed the mechanism on a statue of Hercules placed there with his hand. The statue immediately moved away to the left, revealing a small white door behind it.

"Let's go to my room." He pushed the small door lightly, and the small door opened obediently. It was obvious that someone often maintained it.

"Do you still keep this door?" Robert asked curiously when they walked into the secret passage together.

"Otherwise?" the king glared at him. "Do you think anyone else will live in that house besides you?"

In the center of the king's room was an exquisite sand table model. When Robert entered the room, he recognized it at a glance. It was a model of Hampton Court Palace and the surrounding gardens and forests.

He looked out of the window, and the garden outside had already begun to take shape, and there were still a few open spaces on the edge of the garden, obviously prepared for the several outbuildings displayed on the sand table.

"When Mr. Palladio came to report to me, someone moved this sand table." The king said, "Obviously, they haven't had time to remove it yet."

"Mr. Palladio is your new architect?"

"Yes, a brilliant Paduan who even took his surname after the name of the goddess of wisdom... but it seems that it was changed for him by a satisfied patron," said the king, "he gave it to Vicenza in Italy. The nobles built a lot of mansions and villas, last year I asked him to design some ancillary buildings, which are the ones at the end of the sand table."

"It looks like an Italian-style villa." Robert looked at the model on the sand table. It was a rather classical villa located on the middle of a small hill in the garden, just like the nobles in ancient Rome. The summer villas built in the suburbs are average.

"Don't you think this place is a little boring?" The king looked at the open space where the villa will be built, "Hampton Court Palace is like a theater with 24-hour non-stop performances, and we are the actors on the stage. There is no privacy or solitude here, the mirrors and windows in the corridors are like prying eyes, and the air in the rooms is always filled with whispers of intrigue and gossip. Everything here belongs to the King, and everything belongs to the King I belong here. Everything I do is state affairs, even eating or drinking. I have nothing to complain about. After all, being a king is like this. I also built this stage with my own hands, but at least we should have a paradise. A sanctuary where we need not be kings and ministers."

"There is a mountain behind, a lake in front, and dense forests all around. We are not bound by any etiquette or status, because there will only be the two of us... Maybe some guests will be entertained occasionally, but only we will be there. Spend the night there. At least there, we can temporarily forget everything, forget about the country, politics and times...even our own existence."

"I may be able to forget my existence, but I will never forget you." Robert wrapped his arms around Edward's waist lightly. "It's a pity that this project was postponed due to the war. I can't wait to explore this paradise with you."

The knock on the door sounded untimely again, and the king pushed Robert's hand away, "Please come in."

"Lord Cecil came to see His Majesty." The head officer reported to the king while bowing.

"Go and hide in the secret passage first." The king said to Robert.

"As you wish." Robert kissed the king's face as he approached him lightly.

The king watched with satisfaction as Robert disappeared into the secret passage leading to the next room. When he turned his head again, his face had already put on the mask he usually used when facing courtiers, switching from mortal Edward Tudor to King Edward VI, it was but a blink of an eye.

When Cecil walked into the room, the king keenly sensed the uneasiness on his body. The minister's steps were much lighter than before, and when he bowed to the king, he kept trying to use the corners of his eyes. From the corner of the eye, he observed the king's expression.

The king looked at Cecil quietly, allowing an awkward silence to envelope the entire reception room.He'd learned long ago that if someone had something on their minds, all they had to do was give them time to think, and they would be overwhelmed by the speculations in their head.

He must be wondering now if I've seen his trick, thought the King, as he watched Cecil's temples brighten and the skin glisten with fine beads of new sweat.

"I hope His Majesty is satisfied with this little welcome ceremony." After about a minute, Cecil finally couldn't help breaking the silence.

"I'm afraid our definition of 'small' is quite different." The king walked to his desk calmly, jumped up, and sat on the desk.

"Many people came today uninvited." Cecil wiped the sweat from his forehead, "You must understand that many people are a little curious about Lord Robert..."

"And you just turned a blind eye to them." The king sneered, "Instead of using them to test something, why don't you just ask me?"

Cecil took a step back awkwardly, "Your Majesty, I..."

"The Church of Gardiner retired after the naval battle with Spain," said the king. "These gloves are dirty after wearing them for so many years. It's time to take them off."

Cecil felt his heart stop beating, "So, have you decided on a successor?"

The king picked up a quill on the desk and played with it lightly, "What do you think is the standard for a good prime minister?"

"I..." Cecil stammered, "Maybe I have enough ability..."

"Then let me change the question. What do you think the Prime Minister is?"

Cecil looked at the king in bewilderment.

"For me, it doesn't make any difference who is the prime minister. It's just a tool. Bishop Gardner is a useful tool. I just need to make sure that the next person who replaces him can use it equally well."

"I don't think I can do worse than His Excellency the Bishop," Cecil said.

"That's not likely." The king sneered. "Although the bishop is a priest, he doesn't mind getting mud spots on his cassock. You are going to be the prime minister, not the icon in the church. That being the case, be prepared to be surrounded by jealousy and hostility, and not always try to use someone else to attract public attention, because you are the one who should be used to attract attention... As for making icons, well It's my job."

"I assure you, today's incident will not happen again." Cecil assured the king.

"Excellent, then I can also tell you that you will be the most powerful contender for the position of prime minister." The king jumped down from the desk, "I will not let my personal prejudice affect my judgment, you are better than Lord Robert Government affairs, then this seat is yours... Of course, the premise is that you understand what this position means."

Cecil nodded hastily, his collar was already wet with sweat and stuck firmly to his neck, when he walked out of the room, he felt that he was almost out of breath.

"You scared him." Robert walked out of the secret passage with a smile. "He is really looking for trouble. I have no intention of competing with him for the prime minister."

"I didn't intend to let you do it at all." Edward returned to the desk again, "Gloves need to be replaced after wearing them for a long time. My father once compared ministers to oranges. When their juice is squeezed out, it's time to throw them away." Time to drop them."

"Oh? Then it seems that His Majesty doesn't intend to replace me?" Robert grabbed the king's shoulders and pushed him down on the writing desk, his voice was dangerously hoarse.

"It depends on your performance." The king smiled and pulled off the opponent's collar.