monarch

The little misunderstanding between the king and queen fades away with the summer heat.With the arrival of autumn, it seems that the king and queen are back to that romantic state.Expensive gifts from His Majesty the King flooded into the Queen's suite, and the Queen showed just the right amount of flattery at His Majesty's bounty, without appearing too obsequious or making Her Majesty feel slighted.

The war with France lasted half a year, and after a few naval battles at sea, the British landed at the mouth of the Seine, took several cities, and then everything came to a deadlock.Diplomats from both sides had met in Calais, and the French were willing to pay an indemnity to end the war.When the two sides reached a consensus on the price tag, this sudden war ended in a sudden way.

As autumn approached, the king became more and more obsessed with his public appearances, trying to give the impression that he was in good health.Under the king's order, knightly tournaments, dinners, and hunting activities resumed, and the scale was even larger than in previous years when His Majesty was physically able to support it, even though His Majesty only went to serve as a half-hour spectator each time.In addition, everything seems to be back to the state of a few years ago, but anyone can see that this is just the calm before the storm, and the reshuffle of power is imminent.

In the blink of an eye, the Christmas season has arrived, and according to His Majesty's order, this year's celebration will be held at Greenwich Palace.Although His Majesty is still in poor health, and developed a low-grade fever after entering December, the King still insisted on following the original plan.So, on December [-], the entire court set off again to this palace on the outskirts of London.

In the early hours of December 22, heavy snow fell across southern England, and a cold current from Norway swept across the British Isles.When Edward got up, the entire Greenwich Palace had been covered by a thick blanket of snow.There is a thick layer of fog on the glass windows, and the garden outside the window is already covered in silver. The towering trees on both sides of the road are covered with snow, the branches have been bent and bent, and the pool is covered with snow. A thick layer of ice was formed, and some unlucky goldfish were frozen in the ice.

As usual, Robert Dudley came to the Prince's suite to join Edward for breakfast.As soon as he entered the room, he took a deep breath. The pine wood in the fireplace was burning vigorously, filling the whole room with a faint aroma.Although the water is dripping and freezing outside, the house is still warm as spring.The geraniums just delivered from the greenhouse are in full bloom in the half-person-high Chinese vase.

"Hello, Your Highness." He bowed slightly to the prince.

"Sit down." Edward said with a smile.He gestured, and the servants began bringing breakfast to the table.

"My father just came back from His Majesty." Robert sat opposite the prince. "He doesn't seem to be in a good spirit."

Edward sighed slightly, "But father insisted on holding a celebration."

"I don't think there will be any problem. Your Majesty just needs to show up for a while." Robert glanced around, and the servants exited the room knowingly after serving the dishes, leaving only the two of them in the room.

"Has there been any movement from those people these two days?" the prince asked.

"The queen is busy taking care of His Majesty now. Now she handles the king's food, clothing, housing and transportation. She seems to have completely accepted her role as the king's nanny, and she seems to have no time to meddle in politics or religious issues." Robert smiled slightly, " As for Bishop Gardiner, he also seems to be very quiet. After all, the Queen taught him a lesson a few months ago, and now he is even a little too cautious. As for the Earl of Hertford...he seems to have grown up now. The winning ticket is in his hands, after all, it seems that he is the best candidate for regent, and he is naturally unwilling to make troubles at the last moment."

"Everyone is very quiet." The prince whispered, he looked at the flames dancing in the fireplace, "It's so quiet that it's scary."

"How has he been treating you lately?" Robert asked.

"It's still the same." Edward sighed, "It seems that everything has changed since the incident in Scotland."

"Your Majesty is not just targeting you. Since that incident, he has been like a wounded lion, roaring at every animal that approaches." Robert looked at the prince reassuringly, "Suspicion is an occupational disease of the monarch. "

"I hope I won't contract this nasty disease one day." Edward smiled.

"I'm sure you won't." Robert laughed too. "I think..."

There was a knock on the door outside, interrupting Robert's words.

Edward and Robert exchanged surprised glances, "Come in," said the prince.

An attendant pushed open the door, "Your Highness, Your Excellency the Viscount." He saluted the two separately, "Your Highness, please go to the king's bedroom now."

"What happened?" Edward asked.

"Your Majesty suddenly developed a high fever and seems to be in serious condition."

Edward's face turned pale slightly, he bit his lip, "Thank you, I'll go right away."

The servant bowed and left the room.

"Do you think..." Edward looked at Robert, his voice trembling slightly.

Robert got up, walked around the table, and came up to the prince.He squatted down and took the prince's hand. "I think the same as you."

"He is a good father." Edward's eye circles were slightly red, "Maybe he is not a good husband, he is mean to his daughter and cruel to his subjects, but he is indeed a good father to me, even now he treats me Not so trusting anymore."

Robert didn't answer, just looked at Edward quietly.

"Do you think I'm ready?" The prince looked into the black-haired boy's eyes.

"I think you're going to be the greatest king this island has ever seen." Robert lowered his head and kissed the prince's hand lightly, his eyes flickering with frenzy.

……

When Edward arrived, the dignitaries at the door of the king's chamber immediately moved to both sides of the corridor to make way for the prince.They bowed deeply, their waists bent almost ninety degrees, and they tried their best to show their deference to the future King Edward VI.

Nearest to the door stood Bishop Gardiner and the Earl of Hertford.The bishop's hair looked much grayer than before, and his eyes still looked sharp, but there was a trace of exhaustion mixed in them.

The Earl of Hertford, who was standing opposite him, looked proud, and he saluted the prince gracefully, "Good morning, Your Highness." He greeted with a wide smile.

"Count." The prince stopped in his tracks and replied slightly, "Long time no see."

"I am also looking forward to seeing Your Highness. It is my great honor to serve you." The count bowed again, "I hope I will have more opportunities to see Your Highness in the future."

"I hope so too." Edward nodded, "I got along very well with you before, and I hope I can do the same in the future."

Earl of Hertford's smile seemed much more sincere than before, "I will follow your wishes."

Edward smiled noncommittally, and continued to walk forward.The guards at the gate of the king's chamber raised their halberds and saluted the crown prince.The door was pushed open, and Edward walked in.

The room was filled with a strong smell of medicine, all the curtains were pulled down, and only candles were used for lighting.On one side of the room, Princess Mary leads Princess Elizabeth in two armchairs.Princess Mary looked as indifferent as usual, she sat there quietly, fiddling with the rosary in her hand.Princess Elizabeth, who was beside her, looked pale and was clearly taken aback by the sight.She looked at her sister in a panic, until she got her attention and a comforting look before she calmed down a little.

The king's bed was surrounded by many doctors.Led by the king's chief physician, Dr. Paganini, they were scurrying around the king's body, looking like a group of medical students attending an anatomy class.And Queen Catherine Parr was huddled among them, tending His Majesty's fever with tender hands.

The king lay on his sickbed, his ashen face a mixture of gray and red from the fever.He was panting violently, and his white shirt was drenched with sweat.

Edward stepped forward and saluted the king. "Your Majesty, how do you feel now?"

The king looked at his son, as if he had been awakened from a dream, his eyes were a little dull.After a few seconds, he seemed to finally come to his senses, "Ah, my son." He smiled weakly, "I just caught a cold, I think what they said was right, I shouldn't Leaving Whitehall Palace, the damned weather is disgusting."

The prince looked at Dr. Paganini, and the other person's eyes told him that His Majesty's physical condition was obviously not as optimistic as he said.But this is also very normal, after all, no one dared to tell the king that his time was numbered.

"I think His Majesty needs to rest." Dr. Paganini said tremblingly. He glanced at the king's face, but His Majesty's expression didn't change much. "I don't think His Majesty is suitable to participate in Christmas festivals anymore."

The king's face suddenly darkened, "It's just a cold." He glanced at Dr. Paganini with some dissatisfaction, "My health is very good, and I know it best."

Dr. Paganini felt a little sweat on his forehead, "Yes, Your Majesty, you are right... However, even a cold can cause pneumonia if it is not treated properly, especially in this climate... I think you'd better rest in peace."

The king looked at the poor doctor coldly, "Even if I just show up? It's only half an hour at most."

"This kind of occasion will inevitably take a lot of trouble. I think it's better for you not to go."

The king seemed to be losing patience with the persistent doctor, "My dear doctor, you are not a politician, I am well aware of that, but I think you have been here so long that you can understand me showing up at Christmas The political significance of this matter."

"Yes, Your Majesty, but..."

"Nothing but!" The king was a little angry. "All the nobles and diplomatic envoys will come to participate in the celebration... especially the French. The peace treaty has now been signed, and the new French ambassador will also come and present his credentials. If I If you don't show up... what do you think they'll think?" He had a nasty smile on his face, "Besides, I heard that the King of France is dying...I'm going to show these Frenchmen that I'm in every way Better than that wretched King François!"

Dr. Paganini looked pale, but the loyal doctor still insisted on his opinion, "I think you should reconsider. Or you can let other members of the royal family receive the French ambassador instead of you, such as His Royal Highness the Crown Prince? Or the Queen ?”

The flushing on the king's face became more and more obvious. He turned around and looked at Edward, "What do you think? My son." There was an unconcealable indifference in his voice, "You are willing to preside over the celebration instead of me and receive French ambassador?"

Edward looked at his father, the king's eyes looked very sharp, it was the eyes of a predator facing its prey.Edward had seen the king show such eyes to other people before, watching those people tremble with fear under such sword-like eyes, and now he realized the power of this eyes for the first time, as if the king used the sword to kill him. It was stabbed right through.

Edward took a step back, bowed respectfully to the king, and said solemnly, "Everything is done according to His Majesty's wishes." His hands were slightly clenched.

The king's menacing eyes turned to the queen beside him, "How about you, dear Kate? I want to know what you think?"

The queen's face suddenly turned pale, and she tried to force a smile on her face, "I think it's better for His Majesty to attend in person."

The king's eyes became a lot calmer, and he seemed very satisfied with everyone's respect. "Very well, the ceremony will continue as usual." Dr. Paganini seemed about to say something, but the king's stern eyes stopped him. "There are still two days until the celebration, and I believe that the nasty cold will be gone by then, don't you think so, dear doctor?"

"I hope so." Dr. Paganini sighed.

The king looked at his daughters in the distance, and Princess Mary still looked indifferent.The King looked at her mother's resemblance with a sudden boredom.He waved his hand, "Okay, you all go back." He leaned on the pillow tiredly and closed his eyes.

The prince and the two princesses bowed and bid farewell to the king. Princess Mary seemed visibly relieved, and even Princess Elizabeth seemed a little relieved, as if every second around the king was a torture for the two ladies.

"And you, Kate." The king opened his eyes and looked at the queen who was still by his side.

The queen looked a little surprised. She opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, but finally closed it knowingly.She saluted the king and walked backwards out of the room.

The doctors around the king started to get busy again, but their heads were lowered lower to avoid looking directly into the king's eyes inadvertently, as if the king's head was Medusa's head, as long as they looked at him, they would be killed. Become a lifeless stone statue.