Max was still wearing his washed gray monk's robe today, walking slowly and leisurely, with his white beard fluttering and his sleeves swinging casually, quite a bit of an immortal spirit.

Fander greeted him and said, "Sit down and have some tea."

Max took a sip of water: "I saw Wei En when I came in. What, you met him?"

Fander nodded and said, "I talked to him for a while."

"how do you feel?"

"I feel average. Although he is still a little immature, he should be a pragmatic person." Fander said lightly.

"Hmm." Max pondered for a moment: "I am very optimistic about Wei En. I think he is a child with good character and is willing to help others."

Fan De said lightly: "If you want to help others, kindness alone is not enough, you also need wisdom and strength."

Max shook his head and smiled: "That being said, character is basic. I am talking about principles, and you are talking about ways. How can they be confused."

Vander filled up the tea for Max and said: "Let's not talk about it for now. Mary is going to award Wei En the day after tomorrow, but strangely, the place of award is not at the Castle of the Garter Knights, but at my home."

"That's why I came here, and I also heard that the Queen Mother is not going to confer the honors in person, but has entrusted Howard to come to your home the day after tomorrow to confer the honors."

The two looked at each other with a solemn look in their eyes. Fander touched the green stubble on his chin and thought: "If the medal is awarded at the Knight's Castle, a grand celebration will be held; if the medal is not awarded at the Knight's Castle,

, although it is not without precedent, it is extremely rare in the history of the kingdom. It seems that Mary does not intend to make the conferment of honors known to passers-by."

"The Queen Mother didn't want to show up, so she asked the Cardinal to teach the honor. Although it was fine with etiquette, it was not in line with the convention. In my opinion, Wei'en's contribution this time was indeed not small, but the trouble he caused was not small. The Queen Mother is not treating him right now.

Too interested."

"Mary was originally going to knight Wei En, but now she even wants to hastily confer a knighthood. The reason for this, huh, let's not talk about it." Fander said disdainfully.

Max smiled and said: "Actually, the Queen Mother is not to blame. Who made Wei En meet your Xiao family first and exposed the Watergate scandal later? If it were me, I would definitely think that he has become a Whig."

Fan De sounded a little troubled and said: "Xiao family? Don't forget, she also has the blood of the Xiao family flowing through her body. Without the Xiao family, why would she become the Queen Mother?"

"This moment is the same as that moment. After all, she is the queen of a country now and represents the royal power..." Max swallowed the second half of the sentence: She just disagreed with your Protestant reform, and she actually didn't do anything to apologize to you Xiao

It’s a family matter.”

After hearing this, Fan De was silent for a long time. Finally, he let out a long sigh and said nothing. He picked up the tea cup and drank it in one gulp. The desire to enjoy tea just now was gone.

"Oh, by the way, when I saw Wei En just now, Xiao Na was also next to him. I don't know if you noticed something. Xiao Na seemed to be particularly happy during the time she came back from Yorkshire."

Fan De smiled bitterly and said: "Speaking of this, I really want to thank Wei En. In the past, every time I came back, she spoke to me in a serious manner, as if she was reporting to a subordinate. Now she has a lot more warmth." After a pause.

He paused and sighed: "I won't hide our decades-long friendship from you. This matter is my responsibility. You know, I am only such a child, so I have raised her as a boy since she was a child. I hope

One day she will be able to become a general and become a general, and do a more brilliant career than me, so her true inner feelings will not be considered."

Max smiled: "You don't have to blame yourself. I think she quite likes her current status. She is the youngest Privy Councilor in the mainland and one of the three stars of Mysore in the kingdom. She has achieved such an achievement at such a young age. What about you?

Time can't compare. What's more, Xiao Na has inherited your strong character from the bottom of her heart. I have seen her handle things several times, decisively and swiftly. Even I feel ashamed. If she gets married early,

Taking care of her husband and raising her children is a waste of her talent."

Fan De said slowly: "Maybe. However, the world of power may be very glamorous when you are young and make people forget to leave. But as you get older, you will know that there are actually far more worries than happiness."

Max was silent for a long time after hearing this, and then said: "Everything is gained, and something is lost. God gives, but also takes away."

※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※

The carriage drove briskly on the road, and the cool autumn wind passed through the carriage and blew on the faces of Wei En and Xiao Te. The comfortable feeling made people want to sing. Xiao Te sat next to Wei En and kept introducing him

Looking at the city scenery along the way, although it has been a while since Wei En came to Fort Rio, he has been busy all day and has never visited the royal capital in detail. Today, with this free tour guide, he is happy to have half a day of leisure.

.

"Xiao Te, where is Fontainebleau Champs?" Wei En couldn't help but ask.

Xiaote smiled and did not answer, and said: "I won't tell you yet, you will know when you get there."

Wei En looked at Xiao Te and said suspiciously: "You are in a very high mood today, and you are always telling the truth. What are you doing? Don't you want information fees? Let me tell you, I am a small business, and now I am still making a profit at a loss.

.”

Xiao Te's little mouth curled up slightly: "Who cares about the money in your pocket? I think the only time you talk about money is to talk about money. You are a small citizen."

Wei En said disdainfully: "What's wrong with the small citizens? Doesn't it still depend on us, small citizens, to prosper the market economy and build feudalism with the characteristics of the new era?"

Xiao Te felt a little confused and asked, "What are you talking about?"

Wei En chuckled: "Foreign language."

Xiao Te was thoughtful when he heard the words, and suddenly asked: "Wei En, I have been awarded the title of knight, what are your plans in the future?"

Wei En shrugged and said, "Do knights have fiefdoms? Can they be fiefs?"

"No, only nobles can obtain territory."

"That's all. Although the title of knight sounds nice, it can't be exchanged for bread. From now on, we will continue to do whatever we have to do. We nephews will light lanterns as usual."

Xiaote felt slightly disappointed and said, "Do you plan to be a businessman in this life?"

Wei En was a little surprised when he heard this and said, "What's wrong with being a businessman? From your tone, it seems you don't like businessmen very much. I remember that your Xiao family was founded in business."

"Those are two different things, Wei En. For example, if a person becomes famous by virtue of military merit, he may not be averse to war, but he will not want his family to be involved in war, especially if he starts from a basic soldier." said

After finishing here, Xiao Te suddenly felt that there seemed to be some language errors in his words, his face turned slightly red, and he hurriedly turned his head and looked out the window.

Wei En didn't realize it and said to himself: "It is difficult for a general who has never been a soldier to win a war."

Xiaote said: "Weien, it's not that I don't like business, I just think you have a better choice. I believe that with your talent, whether you become a public official in the royal court or choose a priesthood in the church, you will have a brighter future."

future."

Wei En smiled slightly, patted Xiao Te's slightly thin shoulder, and said: "Xiao Te, you don't know my temper. I like a happy-go-lucky life. In the future, I hope to walk around, climb mountains, and paddle boats.

When you are tired, take a rest and then continue on your way. Although the things you mentioned sound tempting, they restrict people's freedom so much that I am not interested at all."

Xiao Te turned his head and stared at Wei En quietly, with complex expressions in his eyes, including appreciation and regret. Wei En met his gaze and smiled lightly. After a long time, Xiao Te sighed: "

Alas, what can people say about you?"

Wei En smiled: "Have you heard of the old saying? If it rains, if your mother wants to get married, let him be."

Xiaote glanced at him angrily and said, "I haven't heard of it. Who said that?"

"I said."

The two of them talked and laughed all the way, not feeling lonely. Finally, the carriage stopped. Xiaote looked out the window and said, "We're here."

Wei En got off the carriage and couldn't help but be stunned.

There are no buildings in front of us, only a lush and dense green forest. Looking at it, it looks like a huge green carpet. A winding path leads to the forest in the mountains, with countless oak trees, fir trees, white birches,

The maple trees are densely arranged on both sides of the path. Since it is autumn, the leaves are gradually changing colors, red and green, which is dazzling. Deep in the dense forest, there are light sounds of spring water flowing, accompanied by the branches in the wind.

The swaying sound made this beautiful and peaceful forest suddenly become three-dimensional and vivid.

Looking at the natural beauty of the shrinking autumn colors and red maple leaves, Wei En suddenly turned his head and asked: "Why, are you taking me to have a picnic? I didn't see you bringing anything to eat."

Xiao Te's eyes were blurred, and he was admiring the scenery in front of him. After hearing Wei En's question, he became angry and said: "You just know how to eat." He pointed to the distance.

Wei En smiled and looked up in the direction Xiao Te pointed. He saw a few white buildings on the mountainside hidden among the layers of green waves. In the afternoon sun, they shone brightly.

There is a faint light, like scattered white sails in the vast ocean.

"That's the Fontainebleau Champs." Xiao Te said calmly.

Wei En looked at the other carriages parked on the roadside and said, "Are we going to walk up there? It doesn't look close."

"Yes. The master has rules. Visitors must park the carriage at the bottom of the mountain and walk up." Xiao Te turned back to the coachman and said, "You wait here."

p.s. The Whig Party was the main opposition party of the Tory Party and the predecessor of the Western Liberal Party.

);
Chapter completed!