In the dark prison, there are dots of firelight on both sides of the passage. Many prisoners are imprisoned here, including thieves, robbers, murderers, heretics, troubled drunkards... all kinds of people, to name but a few, with different basic crimes.
, some are only detained for a few days, while others may be detained until death, or even executed.
However, there is only one cell that is particularly special because there is only one person in this cell.
Moreover, even if there are dozens of people in other cells, they are only patrolled by a few guards. However, there are several heavily armed soldiers guarding the door of this cell. Obviously, the prison is very afraid of letting this person escape, so it is strict.
Add supervision.
But inside the cell, there was not a muscular man, nor a scheming fallen nobleman, but a young girl.
In the dark cell, the floor had been carefully swept, and there was only a crucifix on the table in the corner and tall candles on both sides. This was the only request made by the girl.
Facing the cross in front of her, the young girl knelt in front of the cross, clasping her hands and muttering a prayer, with a certain unshakable determination in her calm eyes.
To be fair, she is not the very beautiful type, but the youthful vigor on her face and the unusual composure she has developed through many hardships make her look inexplicably solemn and solemn, even though she is behind bars,
It didn't shake her determination.
"He is really like a saint..."
A soldier next to the cell glanced secretly at the young girl in the candlelight. He couldn't help but admire in his heart. Even as an enemy, the woman in front of him still made people awe, not only
Because she became the commander-in-chief of the French army at the age of seventeen, and even more because she was regarded as a saint.
Who doesn’t respect the Saint of Orleans?
…
Six months ago, no one thought that the Saint of Orleans, who had become a French icon, would be captured by the Burgundians.
When leading the army to fight against the Burgundians in southeastern France, for some unknown reason, the whereabouts of the army led by Jeanne were exposed, and they were surrounded by the Burgundians who came after hearing the news. Although Jeanne took the lead and waved her hand.
The flag boosted the morale of the soldiers, and they even repelled the Burgundian army twice. However, after all, the number was small, only a few hundred people, so they had to choose to retreat.
When retreating to the city of Compiègne, Jeanne insisted on covering the retreat for the soldiers, and she finally evacuated. However, just as she was cutting off the rear for the soldiers, the terrified Compiègne residents rushed to raise the drawbridge, and were captured by Burgundy.
Surrounded by people, Jeanne was captured like this.
The Burgundians did not harm Jeanne, but kept her under strict guard and treated her well. The French generals tried to redeem Jeanne, but the Burgundians refused because the angry British king learned about Jeanne.
After being captured, Jeanne was bought from the Burgundians for a high price of 60,000 francs.
Among them, King Charles of France, who was single-handedly supported by Jeanne to the throne, made no attempt to rescue him, because his finances were already in extreme embarrassment and he was really unable to redeem himself.
So after being imprisoned by the Burgundians for four months, Jeanne was sold to the English. The English imprisoned Jeanne in Rouen, next to Paris, and prepared to try her here.
The girl who saved France's life and death was like a piece of goods being resold between several countries. However, the girl did not complain. Instead, she silently endured her fate and prayed to God. Occasionally, she prayed to God.
Ask the guard about the current situation in France.
When she knew about the battles of her comrades, those French generals, she would always listen carefully. When she won, she would smile and bless her comrades for their victory; when they failed, she would look worried and worry about their safety.
Worry.
But from beginning to end, she never thought about her own safety, but always cared about her motherland.
"Don't you ever think about yourself?"
Once, the Duke of Burgundy couldn't help but say, and facing the monarch of Burgundy, Jeanne opened her eyes wide and said seriously.
"I would die for France."
…
"Roll..."
Suddenly, with a heavy creaking sound, it seemed as if a door was opened.
Jeanne was locked in the cell and could not see what was happening outside, but she could guess from the noisy footsteps that someone big seemed to be coming, so there were so many footsteps shouting and swarming.
But what does this have to do with her?
Looking at the cross in front of her, Jeanne still murmured her prayers.
"Ahem...it smells really bad here."
In the distance, the owner of the shrill voice was coughing and complaining. His voice was very thin, and he sounded young, like a little boy. Then there seemed to be someone else echoing the voice beside him.
"Blessed by God...the King of England and France comes..."
Before the person arrived, the arrogant voice had already sounded, loudly announcing the noble status of the person arriving.
"Wow..."
With the sound of the chain, the firmly locked iron door opened.
And immediately, it was as if light was shining in. Even though she was facing the wall, Jeanne could still feel the strong light behind her, which was the light illuminated by many torches.
"You are that Jenny."
An arrogant, high-pitched child's voice sounded, as if the voice was talking to a slave.
Jeanne is French, but if she says it in English, she is Jenny. Obviously, the person behind her came specifically to find her. But Jeanne did not get up immediately, but continued to murmur her prayers. After finishing the prayer,
Then he stood up slowly and looked behind himself.
Surrounded by numerous firelights and luxuriously dressed people, there was a little boy who was not even as tall as Jeanne's waist. He looked to be no more than ten years old. He was wearing a relatively oversized royal robe. He was looking up at Jeanne in front of him.
Although he held his head high, his arrogant and arrogant attitude made people feel that he was not looking at Jeanne at all, because Jeanne was not worthy of his gaze at all.
"If you mean the woman named Jeanne in French, then yes, I'm Jeanne."
Jeanne nodded and said, she already knew who the person standing in front of her was.
King Henry of England is nine years old this year, but as one of the most powerful monarchs on the entire European continent, no one dares to look down upon him because of his age.
"Then you should kneel down to me."
The unmistakable childish voice said proudly, and the tone of matter-of-factness was as natural as the sun rising.
"Why."
Jeanne asked rhetorically.
"Because I am the King of France and your King, you should kneel to me!"
As if he was a little angry, the little boy said loudly, the voice was high-pitched and thin, which made people laugh, but no one dared to laugh, because although the King of England was young, those who dared to disobey him could not help but laugh.
There is no good end to the decision.
But Jeanne shook her head, not dissatisfied at all with the arrogance and tyranny of the little boy in front of her, but said stubbornly.
"There is only one king of France, and that is King Charles of France who was crowned in Reims."
When he heard that name, the little boy in front of him clenched his fists tightly and couldn't help but said loudly.
"Charlie... that deposed prince is not qualified to be king at all! France has been defeated. His father has long ago transferred the French King's throne inheritance rights to my father. Those shameless French nobles betrayed the agreement! I am the only France
king!"
What Henry said was exactly what happened after the Battle of Agincourt. The defeated France was forced to sign an agreement with Britain. After the death of King Charles VI of France, the throne of France would be inherited by Henry's father Henry V. Therefore, the Hundred Years War
It should have been over long ago.
But the strange thing is that the two kings died at almost the same time, within a few days of each other, so that the French nobles found an excuse to refuse to recognize Henry's right to the throne.
In the eyes of King Henry of England, the French were all treacherous liars.
However, in the face of his doubts, Jeanne said calmly.
"The French do not need an Englishman as their king. The king of the French can only be French and must be French."
She is not a very strong girl. On the contrary, her character has always been very docile, and she has always been the pious and simple shepherdess. However, she has an unexpected stubbornness in her bones. She is particularly stubborn in important places and never
Willing to make no concessions.
Henry in front of him was angry and flushed, but he surprisingly suppressed his anger, took a deep breath, and then said in an unexpectedly good voice.
"Kneel down to me... Be loyal to me, loyal to the King of France, and I will promise you freedom. I can give you whatever Charles can give you, whether it is wealth or land, anything."
"I am a Frenchman, and I am only loyal to King Charles of France, not to King Henry of England."
But without any tact, Jeanne directly said it back.
Henry's face suddenly turned gloomy, and he spoke word by word.
"Then you will die here, I swear."
Jeanne didn't answer him anymore, but turned around, closed her eyes, and silently prayed to the cross in front of her again.
There was silence behind him, and then there were the sounds of footsteps turning away and curses. After a long time, you could still vaguely hear the angry voice of that young child in the distance.
"I want that woman dead!"
There were many noises, and the crowd gathered around the young King of England to leave. Only Jeanne remained in the cell.
Opening his eyes, there was silence in his bright eyes.