monarch

The dark blue sky covered with golden stars, like a mirror, clearly presents the light and shadow of the lights in the Whitehall Palace and gardens.Every room in the palace was brightly lit, and from the wide open windows came the sound of dance music.On the lawn of the garden, the servants set up a pergola, under which a sumptuous banquet was placed, and the dining table was filled with candles and flowers.

In social circles, an invitation to Your Majesty's coronation ball is the clearest status symbol: if you're not sure whether you're a dignitary or a celebrity, just look to see if a servant in royal livery will be at a certain Knock on your door one cold morning and hand the gilded invitation to the flattered porter.

Gentlemen and ladies in splendid dresses are surrounded in those magnificent drawing rooms which are connected together.Aristocrats and bishops were chatting and drinking, diplomats from different countries were playing their game cautiously, bankers and businessmen raised their heads high and had beer bellies, trying to hide their arrogance from being with these big men. There was panic in the room, and the adventurers who filled the various courts looked around like foxes walking through the mountains and forests, trying to find opportunities to make themselves famous.

When the clock struck nine o'clock in the evening, His Majesty the newly enthroned King entered the hall.Under the fawning or curious eyes of everyone, His Majesty walked through the bowing crowd, nodded to them, and walked to the throne to sit down.

The horn sounded again, and everyone stood around, vacating the dance floor in the center of the hall.

The first dance was performed by His Majesty and the late King's widow, Catherine Parr, the sixth Queen.This elegant woman who still has a charm, has already taken off the black veil on her body, and changed back to her favorite elegant but not overly gorgeous dress. At this moment, she stood up from her seat and was ready to accept His Majesty's favor. invitation.

His Majesty walked up to her and nodded slightly to his stepmother, while the former queen raised her skirt and curtsied to the new king.

"Madam, may I have the honor of inviting you to the first dance of the evening?" The King held out his hand to Catherine Parr.

"I'm very honored." The first queen reached out her hand and took the new king's hand.

The band started to play music, and His Majesty and the First Queen began to dance to the music.

Edward looked closely at Catherine Parr's face.She hasn't changed much from when she first entered the court, but if you look closely, you can still notice that the fine lines around her eyes are growing like creepers on a high wall, and the cheekbones on her face are also more beautiful than before. It was even more obvious a few years ago.

"Madam, I heard that you plan to move to Hatfield Palace in the near future?" Edward asked.

He felt the queen's hand stiffen for a moment.

"Ah, yes, Your Majesty." A somewhat desolate smile appeared on the queen's face, like a bleak moon rising from the ruins. "When the late king passed away, he left this palace to me. Now that I am a widow, I shouldn't always show my face in the social world. Besides," the corners of her eyes were slightly red, "the death of the late king really gave me a great deal. Every second in the court reminds me of the happy time I spent with him... I think I'd better go to the country and live in seclusion." At the end, the queen's eyes were full of tears.She smiled embarrassedly, "I'm really sorry, Your Majesty, I lost my composure."

Edward nodded gently, "If this is what you want, then of course I agree. I also wish you all the best in the future."

"You are so generous." The first queen looked very grateful, "Besides... I have an unkind request." She glanced at Edward, as if hesitant.

"Please speak."

"It's about Princess Elizabeth... You see, there is no mistress in the palace now. And if there is no mistress to educate, the princess may be at a disadvantage when it comes to marriage in the future..."

Edward frowned slightly.

"Of course, I'm not saying that the princess's marriage will be hindered." The first queen quickly added, "But after all, there will always be people who talk too much..."

"I understand what you mean." Edward nodded.

"So I've spoken to Princess Elizabeth about it before, and she's willing to move to Hatfield Palace to live with me. We've always been on good terms, you know. The poor child was devastated by her father's death. Not lightly, I think the two of us can also relieve the sadness when we are together, and it is also very good for her future."

Edward stared at the face of the first queen, as if trying to see what she was planning, but the sad and expectant expression on her face was impeccable.

"If she will too, of course," said the King.

At the end of the song, His Majesty bowed to the first queen, and the first queen returned a salute, and returned to her seat contentedly.

The second dance started, and the guests began to freely choose their partners, and the dance floor was suddenly filled with joyous crowds.

When the king returned to his throne, a servant hurriedly brought iced drinks to His Majesty.

"Princess Mary would like to talk to you alone." The servant said in the king's ear as the king reached for a drink.

The king frowned slightly, "Where is she?"

"The Princess is waiting for Her Majesty in the conservatory in the garden."

Edward took a sip of the drink in the cup, "Please wait a moment."

After about a quarter of an hour, when the king's departure no longer attracted everyone's attention, His Majesty stood up, looked around the room, and then quickly disappeared through a small door behind the throne.

Outside the small door is a secret corridor, and at the end of the corridor is a Sevres tapestry, which seems to be a deliberate disguise, making it easy to imagine that there is something hidden behind the tapestry.Edward lifted the tapestry, revealing a small door hidden behind. He pushed the door open, and there was a hidden staircase outside, leading directly to the garden.

The King descended a secret staircase, and below him was a path sheltered by the branches and leaves of a linden tree.The dense branches hang above the head, like a natural arcade, with new spring buds hanging on it, exuding a refreshing fragrance under the moonlight.

The cool evening wind outside made the king sigh with satisfaction.Even with all the doors and shutters open in the palace, it was still hot as hell.The breeze carried the laughter of young men and women in the distance to the king's ears, and there was no other sound except this and the rustling of his own feet on the gravel path.

At the end of the path, bushes of rhododendrons and roses embrace a novel glass house.The house has no walls or colonnades, replaced by large panes of glass.Even if the Venetians no longer have a monopoly on glass production, building such a greenhouse is still a huge expense.

The fruit trees in the greenhouse are full of fresh fruits. Even though it is only the beginning of spring, the fuzzy peaches on the peach trees have bent the branches heavily, and the vines are full of grapes that should have ripened in autumn.

Princess Mary stood under the pomegranate tree. She stretched out a jade hand and plucked a pomegranate hanging from the branch.The skin of the pomegranate has been cracked, and the sweet smell of the fruit is coming out of the cracks.

"My mother likes pomegranates very much." Princess Mary put the rosy fruit in front of her eyes and looked at it carefully. "She lived in the Alhambra when she was a child, and the Moorish princes of Granada planted innumerable pomegranate trees in their gardens, and when they matured, the exotic courtyards were enveloped in the aroma of the fruit."

"The pomegranate is the symbol of Granada," said the king.

"Yes, the Spanish royal family also liked pomegranates." Princess Mary sighed. "Pomegranates have many seeds, which symbolizes the royal family's luxuriant branches. My mother also liked pomegranates, but she failed to give birth to a son after all."

The pomegranate fell from her powerless hands and hit the sand on the ground dully, rolled slowly a few times, and then remained motionless.

She looked intently at the place where the fruit had hung on the pomegranate tree, and a drop or two of green leaves flowed from the broken branch.

"Of course it's not your fault." Princess Mary turned her head and looked at her younger brother. "Our father wanted a son, and I understand that. There has never been a queen in England's history. Those women who tried to claim the throne The heirs will only bring civil war and chaos to this country... He was upset that my mother had no son and your mother jumped at the chance."

Edward frowned slightly, "I understand your feelings, but just like you, I don't like others to judge my mother."

"Ah, please forgive me, I'm a little stuck in the past and can't extricate myself." Princess Mary smiled, but that smile didn't have any warmth. "I'm not here today to unravel the scars of the past, I'm here to heal past divisions. The past few decades of religious strife have torn this country apart and turned neighbors and loved ones against each other. It's time to end this."

Edward looked at him quietly without saying a word.

"Parliament will open the day after tomorrow." Princess Mary continued, "The Bishop Gardner will propose a bill in Parliament the day after tomorrow."

She paused slightly and looked at the king's face, but the king remained expressionless.

"The name of the bill is called the Clarendon Act."

Edward's eyes widened slightly, "Why is it called this name?" 400 years ago, the "Clarendon Act" proposed by Henry II set off a fierce church reform, and triggered the king and the then Archbishop Thomas of Canterbury. Beckett's break. "That's not an auspicious name."

"But it clearly shows the status of this bill." Princess Mary raised her head and said proudly.

"What is the specific content of the bill?"

"Disobedience to the Church of England is no longer illegal," said Princess Mary, utterly unabashed in her contemptuous tone when she said the word 'Anglican'. "Catholics have the same rights as Anglicans." She reached out and took the king's arm. "Isn't that what you always wanted? Religious equality, a plural Britain, Catholics and Protestants love each other... ...Now is your time to act. Please support this bill!"

Edward frowned, "This is indeed what I hope, but introducing such a bill at this time is completely fueling the flames." He stretched out his hand and plucked a leaf from the pomegranate tree, "Not to mention this bill It was proposed by you and Bishop Gardiner...everyone will take it as a clarion call for the restoration of Catholicism in England." He turned his head, his blue eyes fixed on Princess Mary's face, "You want to restore it one day Catholic, isn't it? My dear sister."

The expression on Princess Mary's face froze for a moment. She was silent for a few seconds, bit her lips, and seemed to have finally made up her mind.

"The Reformation was a mistake, and I hope that one day you can correct it. I really hope this is only the first step." Princess Mary looked at her brother pleadingly, "My dear Edward, I believe that if you are like me If you understand the teachings of Catholicism, you will understand that this is the only correct path, for your eternal soul, for the happiness of your kingdom and people, let us work together."

Edward's face changed slightly, and he gently pulled his arm out of Princess Mary's hand.

"It seems that you are going to refuse." Princess Mary's voice returned to the usual coldness, as if the previous emotional outburst had never happened.

"It's really hard for me to do what you're asking for."

"I think our father has proved that the king can do anything. Those nobles," Princess Mary smiled mockingly, "for them, as long as they can please the king, they are willing to believe in the devil." As long as you let the word out that you are going to restore Catholicism, they will swarm to dig up the statue of the Virgin and the rosary hidden in the basement!"

Edward sighed, "My dear sister, contrary to what you said, the nobles follow their king because it is profitable, and if my policy hurts their interests, they will throw you Abandon me before the pomegranate on the ground rots." He bent down to pick up the pomegranate that fell on the ground, "It is not the order of the father that strengthened the religious reform, but the support of the nobles. Why did the nobles support it? Because the lands and properties of the church were taken into the hands of the crown, and the crown gave them a large part of these properties and lands. We are like a gang of robbers who robbed a caravan and divided the spoils together, So our interests are firmly bound together."

"Hampton Court Palace, formerly the residence of the cardinal, is now the residence of the royal family; those ecclesiastical estates are now the manors of the great nobles; An Italian-style garden turned into a decent mansion. But if you take off the family coat of arms inlaid on the wall, you can see the crucifix below. Restoring Catholicism is tantamount to threatening these nobles to take Taking this huge amount of property is asking for death! In order to keep their property, they will not hesitate for a minute, and they will raise the banner of rebellion."

"Shouldn't the stolen goods be returned to their original owners?" Princess Mary was also a little angry, "What did the Catholic Church do wrong? The church does have money, but it's accumulated legally over the centuries!"

"Unfortunately, they have money but cannot protect themselves. That's why they are beaten by their enemies."

"I see it now," Princess Mary sneered, "You men only think about politics... everything else is insignificant to you. I used to think that you are not like your father, but now I see you Come on, you are really his good son." She broke off a branch as if venting her anger, "Maybe I have been mistaken all along, as long as anyone sitting in that seat will be assimilated and become the same power animal. Then What a cursed seat!"

"I hope you will give me some more time." Edward said, "I promise that one day there will be religious equality in this land." He stretched out his hand and handed the pomegranate to Princess Mary.

Princess Mary shook her head, "It's been 12 years since my mother passed away, and I've been waiting for 12 years. I can't wait any longer, and many people in this country can't wait any longer." She reached out and took the pomegranate, Let go of his hand and let it roll down, "Whether you support it or not, I will propose that bill."

"This is your freedom," said the king stiffly.

"One more thing," continued Princess Mary, "concerning Elizabeth's education. A princess needs a female guardian, and I think I am well suited for the role. I will educate her to be a pious, A moral lady."

Edward shook his head, "Catherine Parr will take on this responsibility."

"Catherine Parr?" Princess Mary seemed to be talking about some kind of disgusting bug. "You want her to be Elizabeth's guardian, this..." She tried her best not to say the last insulting word.

"Elizabeth wants to live with her." Edward said coldly.

"She doesn't know what she wants."

"You don't know, neither do we."

Princess Mary lifted her skirt and curtseyed. "It's late, Your Majesty. Now that you've made up your mind, I'll take my leave." Her skirt rubbed against the sand, leaving a few messy marks behind her.

Edward watched as her figure disappeared through the greenhouse door.He sighed, picked up the pomegranate on the ground, and broke it apart with light force.The king reached out and grabbed a few pomegranate seeds and put them in his mouth.

"It's really sweet." He said softly.