monarch

Knights in black cloaks lit torches and scattered like meteors all over the city and all over the country.Countless arrest warrants were issued, and the wailing in the prison's torture chamber grew louder every day.When the king finally woke up three days later, the complete report and piles of unsigned death sentences had been placed in front of him.

The king leaned on the cushion at the head of the bed, struggling to read the report in front of him, and an attendant held the lengthy document in front of His Majesty's eyes.The king looked pale, almost completely numb to the left side of his body, and his left hand was shaking meaninglessly, which he had to control with his other healthy hand.

For His Majesty, who has just recovered from a stroke, the contents of this document obviously have no positive effect-the neglected nobles under him have colluded with the rebellion of the French and Scotland, and want the entire Tudor family together with Their favorites and servants will blow up to the sky together, and then they will attract French aggression.As the king's gaze moved down line by line, his originally pale face became redder and redder, which made the doctors beside the king feel like they were facing a formidable enemy.

When the king finally read the document, he was obviously furious, white foam flowed from the corner of the king's mouth, and there was a strange whooping sound from his throat, like an apprentice in a blacksmith's shop pulling a bellows.Dr. Paganini, the imperial physician, hurried forward, took out a bottle of smelling salts decorated with precious stones, and brought it to the king.

The king sneezed violently, and finally seemed calmer.Henry VIII waved his hand irritably, signaling the doctor to go away.He raised his head, and looked around at the silent courtiers in the room with his eyes, which were squeezed by the surrounding fat, which made them look particularly small.

The closest one is Crown Prince Edward. The king's eyes are a bit complicated. In all fairness, the prince has done a good job. In fact, this rebellion was completely crushed by him.However, the problem is that he is really doing too well, so good that he can replace his father at any time... The king narrowed his eyes slightly, the child's grandmother is the younger sister of the Duke of Norfolk, maybe he didn't think so Know nothing?Maybe... who can tell?

The king suddenly felt a headache. He turned his head and looked at his daughters on the other side. Lady Mary stood there proudly. She was more and more like her mother. The great crucifix she was wearing, she had never feared that her own Catholic status would cause trouble, the king thought.So is it about her?Maybe she wants to avenge her own mother?Make the king pay for his ruthlessness?Maybe this conspiracy was planned by Rome, Spain and France to let a Catholic princess rule the country, and then let her marry a Catholic, probably a Spanish Habsburg prince, which is certainly possible , isn't it?Wasn't Norfolk one of those stereotypes inclined to the old Catholic beliefs?He was indeed one of the driving forces behind the destruction of Lady Mary's mother, but who said that enemies in the past can't be friends now?At least the king himself does not lack such experience.

Beside Ms. Mary, the king's youngest daughter, Princess Elizabeth, looked very timid. The red-haired girl seemed to be frightened by what had happened in the past few days.The son and daughter of Anne Boleyn, the son inherited his mother's black hair, and the daughter had the same ginger hair as her kingly father, though she was actually darker and reddish.So is it about her?Maybe it doesn't matter.But she's not nearly as cowardly as she makes out, is she?Her mother was Anne Boleyn, and never was another woman so bold, wise, and ambitious in the King's life.Maybe she smelled a little of the Boleyns too?

Behind them are the cabinet ministers, who bowed their heads respectfully and said nothing.It was as if the king had opened the door to a new world, and he realized for the first time that these people would do so to anyone who sat on this throne.Don't they obey their sons in the same way, like a pack of dogs with broken backs?They all rushed to flatter the crown prince one by one, presumably they had already thought of a way out.Yes, he was going to die, and the idea that the king had been avoiding had finally come out irresistibly from the depths of his mind and faced him.Maybe they've hated the days of King Henry VIII and can't wait for a change?The Earl of Hertford, the conqueror of Scotland, has always regarded himself as the crown prince's uncle. Although he is only the brother of the king's successor and has no blood relationship with the crown prince, he must hope that the little king will ascend the throne quickly so that he can become regent.Bishop Gardner, although he never dared to say anything, was undoubtedly a Catholic in his heart. Maybe he would support Ms. Mary more, so would he have the guts to collude with the French?There are also Dudley and his son, these two people who have their own sons, they naturally look forward to being servants of the dragon. Robert Dudley and his son remind him of his friendship with the Duke of Suffolk when he was young... Maybe there is something else between them.The king thought again that it was Robert Dudley who discovered the conspiracy and saved the royal family. Is everything really such a coincidence?

The king turned his head again and looked at the queen beside him. She was standing beside the king's bed, her eyes were full of concern, as if she was really worried about the king.There was a mocking smile on the king's mouth, but it was so fleeting that no one saw it.He had already heard what the queen did after he was in a coma, so eager to seize power... What if he really died.Catherine Parr, a widow known for her meekness and virtuousness, who knew she had such a side?The [-]th Queen is just a babysitter that the king brought in for someone to take care of him, she has no foundation in the court, she takes good care of the king and his children, and her merits of knowledge make her king A good chat partner, the king was happy to give her some political clout in return.It looks like maybe he's giving a little too much?These women are always like this, always this greedy, but it's really easy to get rid of them, isn't it?After all, this is already the sixth queen.Perhaps it was time to remind her of her place, the King thought.

The king finally broke the sweating silence of the room, "Well done." He said, stretching out his normal right hand, pointing to the pile of verdicts, "Has the court convicted these traitors yet?"

"Yes, Your Majesty." The Earl of Hertford replied hastily. In fact, the judges of the Edinburgh court have hardly closed their eyes these days. After completing all legal procedures before waking up, "the titles of these traitors will be abolished, and the property will be returned to the treasury."

The king was noncommittal. "Norfolk ran away with his son?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," replied the Earl of Hertford, "we are pursuing, I believe..."

The king interrupted him with a wave of his hand, "Abolish their titles and confiscate their property."

"These are already listed in the judgment." The Earl of Hertford raised his head to look at the king's expression, and it seemed that His Majesty's expression was normal, "But there is one more question..."

"What is it?" said the king coldly.

"Daughter of the Duke of Norfolk, the Duchess of Richmond, and your daughter-in-law, Your Majesty..."

"I know who he is, the widow of my illegitimate son." The king was a little impatient. "What happened to her?"

"You should still remember...she has expressed her loyalty to you before this, and she is willing to report the illegal behavior of the Duke of Norfolk..." Beads of sweat appeared on the earl's forehead, "so she seems thinks she should inherit the title of Duchess of Norfolk . . . "

"Oh, really? I thought she should be glad I spared her life, but she wanted more than that."

"You also know, Your Majesty, after all, this is the title of duke with the longest history in the country, and it has always been extremely honorable. I think there may be no need to abolish it rashly..."

"Then do you want this title?" The king looked at the count mockingly.

"Me, Your Majesty?" The Earl of Hertford was a little startled.

"Yes, you conquered Scotland, didn't you? And it was your command that kept the castle. I think we are all in your debt, don't we?"

Now even an idiot can hear the sarcasm in the king's tone. The Earl of Hertford turned pale with fright, and quickly knelt down on one knee, "Your Majesty, I am not qualified to be a duke at all...... Undoubtedly guilty of negligence, I confess my sins to Your Majesty."

"Ah, is that so? That's a pity." The king smiled and looked at his son, "In this case, Edward, this is your uncle's title and property, so naturally you should inherit it, right?"

Edward felt that everyone's eyes were on him, and he felt very uncomfortable with this situation.He felt that he seemed to be in a dangerous situation. There was no doubt that the king was testing him, but why?Could it be that he caused the king's displeasure because he was so grown that the king felt threatened?The king has always been a loving father, so that the crown prince forgot his identity as a king, so he dared to monopolize the power when the king was in a coma. Maybe he did a little too much?

But in any case, this poisonous bait must be pushed away immediately.

"You are too generous, father." Edward said, "But I am not the only one who has the right to inherit." He looked at his sister, "Elizabeth also has the right to inherit."

The king looked noncommittal.

"I have enough titles and property, Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Argyll... I think this title and property should belong to Elizabeth, and it is time for her to prepare her dowry."

The king looked at his daughter, she looked a little stunned, and the cloud on His Majesty's face dissipated a little, "Very well, let's do this, Princess Elizabeth becomes the Duchess of Suffolk." He looked at his own Another daughter, "In addition, from today onwards, Ms. Mary will receive the title of the eldest princess."

Princess Mary's eyes widened suddenly. In fact, everyone in the room was stunned. The Eldest Princess, as the title bestowed on the oldest living royal princess, is the only woman in the court who is lower than the Queen.The king watched his daughter's performance with satisfaction, and at the same time looked at Bishop Gardner from the corner of his eye. He looked as if he had just been elected Pope by the College of Cardinals.

"Mr. Viscount Rosyth." The king looked at Robert Dudley again, "England thanks you for your contribution. It was you who discovered this conspiracy. Without you, the consequences would have been disastrous."

"Your Majesty is serious." Robert bowed to the king.

"How did you discover this conspiracy?" asked the king, as if casually.

Robert described to the king what he had seen in the cathedral, the earl of Lennox's horror, the absence of many Scottish nobles, "and there is no doubt that they are plotting something."

"Yes, God bless you." The king smiled, "Thank you for your care and insight." He looked at the young man's expression, but the other's expression remained unchanged.

"I award you the Order of the Garter," said the King, "for your courage and tact."

Everyone was stunned again. The Order of the Garter is England's highest honor, and now the king has awarded it to a teenager.

Robert was about to decline, "Your Majesty, I must..."

"Well, here is my order." The king interrupted him, "If there is nothing else, please stand down."

Everyone exchanged glances, bowed to the king, and filed out of the room.

When the king was alone in the room, he smiled grimly.

"Now I throw these stones into the pond, and now I will see how the fish will swim." He said to himself.