monarch

On the Riverside Promenade in the Strand area of ​​central London, a large group of construction workers are busy on a huge construction site.Although everything is far from taking shape, the huge scale of this project can already be seen from the view of the Thames.This huge building named after the title of the Lord Protector - "Somerset House", will become the residence of this powerful minister after completion, and its scale can even be compared with the royal palace. Gossip.In the past few months, the rumors that the Protector of the country wanted to usurp the throne were like a spark falling on dry straw, and it suddenly became a prairie fire.Although there must be someone behind this, but his behavior also makes these rumors seem to have some basis.

Next to this unfinished palace, the Lord Protector's London mansion in use today looks like the porter of the new palace, even if the old mansion is still magnificent, even to a point of tackiness.This three-storey mansion used to belong to Cardinal Wolsey, a favorite of the late king. The mansion was taken out by the former king and rewarded to his new favorite minister.

At one o'clock in the afternoon three days after the conversation in the former Queen's mansion, a four-wheeled carriage decorated with the Seymour family crest and the admiral's flag drove into the mansion under the gracious guidance of the porter. the gate.The carriage stopped before the porch, and the valet in rich livery sprang out, and the door was hardly opened before Sir Thomas Seymour leaned out, sprang from the carriage, and walked briskly into the hall of the house, as if A 20-year-old young man.

The hall of the Lord Protector was full of waiting crowds, petitioners held long letters of love in their hands, messengers from various government departments held official documents waiting for the Lord Protector to review, nobles in velvet and linen Businessmen huddled together, they sat nervously and stiffly on the edge of their chairs, waiting expectantly for the expressionless bailiff to call their names, just like waiting in line at the gate of heaven for the angels to call their names, some even Said more eagerly than that.

Sir Thomas walked across the hall with his head held high, ignoring any envious, fawning or jealous looks from the people in the hall, but went straight to the corridor leading to the Lord Protector's study who was guarding like a watchdog from hell The bailiff, the most gracious smile has been put on the expressionless face of this gentleman, which looks like a carnival clown mask.

Sir Thomas nodded slightly to the bailiff. As the protector's younger brother, he is naturally entitled to the privilege.He followed the bailiff through the long corridor and went straight into the office of His Excellency the Lord Protector at the end of the corridor.

Contrary to most people's impression, the office of the powerful Lord Protector is not gorgeous.A boxy study with oak wainscoting and a portrait of the occupant hung on the wall.The Lord Protector in the portrait appears to have just turned 40, wearing a Privy Council black robe embroidered with gold thread and wearing the Order of the Garter.In the background behind the portrait's protagonist, clouds of smoke are rising from his conquered Edinburgh Castle.

Lord Protector, Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, was sitting in an armchair by the window, with his head bowed and writing on his desk.The desk and chair are all mahogany and look like they have aged.He did not raise his head at the sound of his brother entering the room, but with his left hand, which was not holding a pen, he gestured to Sir Thomas to sit on the chair opposite him.

A sneer appeared on the corner of Sir Thomas's mouth, and it was as fleeting as a shooting star across the dark sky.He didn't say anything, just sat quietly on the chair, turned his head, and looked at the furnishings in the room.

For a moment, the only sound left in the study was the rustle of the tip of the quill pen rubbing against the paper.

After about half an hour, Duke Hu finally put down the quill in his hand.He first blotted up the remaining ink with blotting paper, then took out an envelope from the drawer, folded the paper a few times, and stuffed it in.He sealed the seal of the envelope, poured wax over the seal, and made a distinct imprint of it with his coat of arms ring.

He rang the bell, a servant came into the room, and he handed the letter to the servant.

After the servant left the room, Lord Protector finally seemed to remember that his younger brother was still in the room, so he turned his head.

"What's your business?" the protector said in a businesslike tone.

"I have one thing to ask for your approval." Sir Thomas smiled slightly, as if he didn't understand, or didn't care about his brother's indifference.

"Is it a business matter or a private matter?" Duke Protector frowned, looking a little impatient, "I'm dealing with state affairs now, if it's a private matter, please come back later."

"What I'm about to say is both a public and a private matter."

The Lord Protector looked a little surprised. He said nothing, but signaled Sir Thomas with his eyes to continue.

"I'm getting married." Sir Thomas sounded like "I'm going to the Three Crowns for supper tonight".

"This is nothing official." The Duke Protector's impatient tone became more and more obvious.

"But if I'm going to marry the widow of the late king, it's official business." Sir Thomas tried to smile a kindly smile, but it came across as self-satisfied in others' eyes.

The Duke Protector looked as if he had been stabbed with a sword, and he looked at his younger brother coldly.

"What on earth are you planning?" Duke Protector said every single word.

Sir Thomas shrugged. "I want to marry the woman I love, who just happens to be a king's widow."

The Lord Protector smiled disdainfully, "The woman you love? I thought you loved my wife, your sister-in-law. After all, you have been to her bedroom more frequently than me in the past six months." He stood up , "You don't know what love is at all, Thomas, you are only controlled by desire."

"So what? As you say, Catherine Parr satisfies my desire, and I want to marry her. Is that all right?" Sir Thomas gave a vulgar smile.

The Duke Protector laughed angrily at this brazen and straightforward expression. "I'm afraid it's more than that. I think when you are with her, it's not just your instinctive desire that dominates you, but more the desire to climb up."

"Owen Tudor, the king's ancestor today, was but a Welsh squire who climbed into the bed of Henry V's widow, so that his son became earl and half-brother to the king, and his grandson I think you will not forget this when you pursue the first queen. Maybe you want to be like him? Do you think your grandson has a chance to be king?"

The corners of Sir Thomas's mouth trembled violently, and the beard around his lips also began to tremble.His face was red and white, obviously a little out of breath.

Suddenly he slapped the table and stood up abruptly.

"Even if I married her just to climb up, so what?" Sir Thomas glared at his brother, "Isn't this what I deserve? You owe it to me!" Both sides of the nose bulged.

"Haven't I rewarded you enough? You have never commanded a ship, but you have the rank of admiral; you have never made any contribution, but you have the Order of the Garter... You have all these Because of me, you, a bastard who doesn't know how to be grateful, committed adultery with my wife!" The Duke Protector seemed to be angered.

"What you gave me is nothing more than scraps!" Sir Thomas's face was already distorted. "With my qualifications, am I not eligible to enter the Regency Council? I will deal with those Edward Seymours for you. Dirty things that adults can't touch... You also promised me to let me enter the Regency Council! You broke your promise, and you have an obligation to make it up to me!"

A creepy smile appeared on the face of the Lord Protector, which made the menacing Sir Thomas tremble slightly, "Do you think I am in a good position? Regent Council, hahahahaha..." He suddenly A burst of hysterical laughter broke out, "I'm just a target set up by the previous king for his son! Just like this damn Catholic stupidity, whether it's Catholics or Protestants, their dissatisfaction will fall on me ! As long as there is a slight mistake, our whole family will disappear without a trace like the remaining snow in spring!"

"That's the most hypocritical declaration I've ever heard. If you'd like, I'd be more than happy to exchange places with you at once." Sir Thomas shrugged his shoulders flirtatiously.

"You? It won't take them an afternoon to eat you alive, even the bones are gone! It's like a rabbit meeting a pack of hungry wolves!" Duke Hu looked at his younger brother with disdain.

"I didn't come here to insult you. There is no need to continue this conversation. Please give me your answer quickly, and then I will leave." Sir Thomas frowned impatiently.

"Our family is now on the cusp of the storm, and we don't need to pay more attention." The Duke Protector shook his head.

"It's not some harmful scandal, it's good news." Sir Thomas clenched his fists. "I don't think the attention is doing us any harm."

"I don't know if the Privy Council will agree."

"What reason do they have to disagree? In the final analysis, although Catherine Parr was once a queen, but now that the previous king has passed away, she has full freedom to marry whoever she wants."

The Duke Protector's face was flushed, "Sir, do you have to fight against me?" His emotions were so agitated that his voice was a bit shrill, "Do you have to make our family a target? We You already have so much, and you still want to covet the widow of the former king, and you want more! Others will join hands to deal with us!"

"I don't know when my younger brother's marriage has become an act of being right with my elder brother!" Sir Thomas' voice was also an octave higher, "You just said that we have so many, I think the accurate statement should be you There is so much already! The rest of us have nothing, and you get everything based on our sacrifices! Since I was born, the center of the whole family has been you! Because you are the firstborn and the heir, we Everyone else is your pawn! You sent our sister Jane to the king's bed, and exchanged her life for the king's favor. I've been on your side, if I didn't help you with those dirty things, you How did you get where you are today? I helped you connect with Catherine Parr, otherwise how would you have the chance to..."

The Lord Protector sprang forward suddenly, and took Sir Thomas by the neck.He looked down, watching the arrogance on his brother's face gradually give way to terror, watching Sir Thomas try in vain to free the hands that clamped around his neck like iron clamps.

"If I were you, I would never mention that thing again in my life, understand?"

His grip tightened, and Sir Thomas struggled desperately like a fish out of water. He nodded desperately, and a small "ho ho" came from his throat.He looked into his brother's red eyes, and realized that the other party really wanted to kill him.

When Sir Thomas' eyes had begun to roll white, the Lord Protector finally let go of his sword hands.Sir Thomas collapsed on the ground, coughing violently.

The Duke Protector stood there quietly, watching his younger brother until he gradually recovered and looked at him with hatred.

"If you insist, you can marry her." The Lord Protector's voice sounded a mixture of anger, contempt and disgust, "but I will never owe you anything again, and you are never allowed to mention... that thing."

When he mentioned "that thing", there was a trace of fear in his tone that he hadn't noticed.

Sir Thomas stood up and straightened his clothes, "I will send you an invitation, my dear brother." He bowed and left the study like a wounded beast.

As Sir Thomas left the room he slammed the door with a loud bang.

The Duke Protector sat back on his chair with a blank expression on his face. He looked at the portrait of himself on the opposite side thoughtfully, picked up a silver paper knife with an ivory handle, and played with it over and over in his hand.

Suddenly, he stabbed the knife sharply at the mahogany table.

The tip of the knife pierced the lacquered tabletop, and there was a sound of cracking the wood surface, but the silver blade was bent.

The Lord Protector smiled disdainfully, and threw the knife aside.

He picked up the quill that had been put down before, and began to work at his desk.