As if being electrocuted, everyone in the audience turned their attention to the door, where already stood a tall visitor. He was dressed like a fashionable young man from Europe, wearing a brocade vest and luxurious sash, and a
He is wearing a dark gray velvet pleated coat. He does not wear a stiff ruffle collar. The outline of the dark coat is set off by a glittering golden ribbon, which extends from the neck to both sides, past the ruffles of the shirt, and reaches the top of the stockings.
So far, a small piece of pure white silk gloves was exposed from the side of his pocket. He held a feather hat nonchalantly in his right hand, and his left hand with a shining ring pressed on the hilt of a sword inlaid with gold and jade. The guests were whispering to each other about the new arrival.
The identity, resume, clothing and various related legends of the person, even the medal decorated with ribbons on his chest were even rumored to be the Pattani Gemstone Medal awarded by Queen Luo Jia Ong Gu. In fact, that medal was
It's just an ordinary cross issued by the Society of Jesus.
As if being electrocuted, everyone in the audience turned their attention to the door. There was already a tall visitor standing there. He was dressed like a fashionable young man from Europe. He wore a t-shirt over a brocade vest and luxurious sash.
Dark gray velvet pleated coat. He did not wear a stiff ruffle collar. The outline of the dark coat was set off by glittering golden ribbons, which extended from the neck to both sides, past the ruffles of the shirt, and ended at the top of the stockings.
A small piece of pure white silk gloves was exposed from the side of his pocket. He held a feather hat nonchalantly in his right hand, and his left hand with a shining ring rested on the hilt of a sword inlaid with gold and jade. The guests were whispering to each other about the new arrival.
His identity, resume, clothing and various related legends, even the medal decorated with ribbons on his chest were even rumored to be the Pattani Gemstone Medal awarded by Queen Raja Onggu. In fact, it was just a medal.
It's just an ordinary cross issued by the Society of Jesus.
Weiss Lando squinted his eyes and walked into the hall. Hundreds of thick blubber candles bloomed like flowers, and the light reflected from the white-gray walls made it dazzling for a while. Manila was like most cities of this era.
Likewise, the night was completely dominated by darkness. Even if he stayed in the best hotel in the area, the light provided in the room was only a dim coconut oil lamp that flickered on and off. The torch cage on the fortress and the main road were both
The torches on the side can only be regarded as a few stars in the night.
Only at this moment, this brightly lit living room made him feel as if he had returned to Lingao, to the civilized world, and even to the stage of the metropolis. The show was about to begin, the lights had been turned on, and the curtain was about to be opened.
Count Vincenzo Lando di Vananova is about to make his official debut.
"The count had the air of a conqueror. He was in military uniform and stood in front of the door, looking down at the guests like Emperor Trajan standing on the pillar of merit. And when he entered the mayor's living room, he seemed to
Just like Hernan Cortez stepping into the palace of Montezuma II. The pretty boy is insulated from the count. But he must be a lover who can make people obsessed. His body is as strong as a steel frame. The entire outline has no
There was a soft spot. When he stood in the hall and nodded slightly, the proudest bull in the bullring would feel ashamed. Looking at the profile of his head, it reminded people of the portrait of Augustus on ancient Roman coins.
Every line is so clear and distinct. His forehead is round, his chin is very charming, and his Adam's apple is huge, which especially enhances my impression of his bravery and strength. The count walked to the middle of the hall and saluted the mayor.
He kissed his wife with grace. The gentle gesture of his lips and smiling eyes when giving the kiss added an elegant demeanor to the count's heroic spirit, which made him a great person in the eyes of men.
A legendary hero, a perfect gentleman in women's hearts."
This colonial upper-class lady wrote down the first appearance of Count Vananova in her diary in beautiful calligraphy, and then hid the diary in a secret compartment of a dresser drawer until she became a member of the imperial army that captured Manila.
Trophy - when a member of the Special Search Team of the Planning Institute carefully opened the drawer, hoping to find something valuable in it.
Just as all eyes blinded by emotion tend to distort the truth, former mercenary Weiss Lando had no regard for how a loving lady would describe her gentlemanly demeanor in her diary. When he broke away ungentlemanly
When Mrs. Isabella, the mayor's wife, kissed her too passionately, he was almost suffocated by the strong smell of the greasy sweat on her body and the incense on her clothes. It was just that he had just escaped from a hot woman.
I hugged him and found myself surrounded by a large group of enthusiastic people and curious eyes.
"Sir, Mr. Count," Basilio, the port tax official, squeezed through the crowd to say hello first, "it's really a lively event. You like the bullfighting show here. Those brave knights are all wonderful. You
What do you think?"
The count glanced disdainfully at Don Basilio, the first colonial official he met in Manila. The flattering smile on his sinister and cunning face always reminded him of Rossini's opera.
That abominable eponymous character.
"Mr. Basilio is absolutely right," he said in a semi-joking tone: "The weather in your place is unusual. As for bullfighting, unfortunately all my experience as a soldier is in
Learned from fighting against Christian enemies. If the Archbishop had the insight to discover that the cattle here have pagan or heretical beliefs, I think it might be better to ask the knights for their experience in fighting wild bulls.
It’s not too late.”
There was a burst of chuckles among the guests. The port tax collector had never been a popular guy, and everyone was happy to see him get in trouble in front of the new distinguished guests.
"Hey, sir, don't worry about him, Your Highness," the hostess said to Weiss, "Mr. Basilio is very smart, especially when dealing with Chinese guys. But it is precisely because he deals with Chinese guys all day long,
He no longer knows how to speak like a well-educated person." Lady Isabella took the count's arm with envy in her eyes and complained naggingly: "Find twelve soldiers to ride in the field.
Running around on horseback, stabbing a poor buffalo with a spear, and watching it slowly bleed to death. It looks so terrible. I can't stand it." She took out her handkerchief and covered her eyes.
To express condolences for the unfortunate cow.
“The local buffaloes are not suitable for bullfighting,” said a handsome gentleman. “It’s a pity that there are no Castilian bulls here!”
"In terms of size and agility, the buffalo here are not inferior to any kind of cattle in the peninsula!" Another gentleman immediately retorted.
Just when a small dispute broke out between the two over which bull was the best for bullfighting, Lady Isabella had already left the argument holding the guest's hand. She persuaded her guest to take the first place, but
The Earl refused and chose a seat with his back to the window. The blinds had all been opened, and the night breeze blew into the stuffy hall through the windows with frangipani and catalpa hanging down. Weiss sighed deeply in his heart.
In this sweaty heat, dressing up in aristocratic style is really a chore. The temperature at night is nearly 30 degrees Celsius, and I am actually wearing a full set of woolen clothes! But as far as I can see, the guests at the dinner are all risking their lives to keep their style.
, the male guests were all dressed in straight woolen gowns with starched ruff collars. The female guests hid themselves under hats filled with peacock feathers, or hid their hair behind scarves of various colors.
face.
"Would you like some oxtail stew, dear Count?" The person who greeted Weiss was the mayor himself. He looked completely opposite to his wife. He had white hair and a lean body. It seemed that the hot weather in Manila had dried him out.
, "This is the good cow that was defeated this afternoon."
"Thank you, Your Excellency. But I must venture to tell you that although I have received your kind hospitality, I must leave here before the city gate closes. Otherwise, when the big clock strikes twenty-two, I will not be able to return to my residence.
"My application for a special pass has never been approved. As far as I know, His Majesty's decree does not allow unauthorized foreigners to stay overnight in Manila."
"Both the special pass and the residence permit need to be issued by the Governor in person. Of course, leaving the city will never be a problem," the mayor said, looking a little embarrassed. "As long as you have a warrant from the Commander of the Santiago Fortress, you can enter and leave the city at any time." The Commander of the Fortress.
He was an old colonel with a gray beard. He just nodded to Weiss in response, then buried his head in the plate and chewed with concentration. His gray beard was soaked in the plate, causing the soup to splash everywhere.
"If you don't mind it, we can arrange a place for you here. My wife and I can do our best to serve you as long as His Highness the Earl is willing to show your respect and give us instructions."
"Sir, I'm so grateful for your kindness," Weiss motioned to the Tagalog servant to take away the pot of stewed oxtail that had never been touched once, and he picked up a glass of sherry: "But bothering you will make me
I feel uneasy. I have found a place to live in Parian and my luggage is stored there."
"Oh my God, you actually live with dirty and rough pagan Chinese guys. They are all evil idol worshipers, smugglers, thieves, gamblers and sodomites! They are best at sneaking around and harboring criminals. I'm afraid you will never see them again.
I can’t see your luggage.” A gentleman who had probably had his anus fucked by a Chinese man exclaimed exaggeratedly. (To be continued...)
ps: (Note) Parian was the then Chinese settlement in Jiannei, now Chinatown.