Flowers, Swords and France

[This is a special chapter written at the request of a book friend. The whole chapter is about another very distant world line, which has no interference with other world lines in the book. Please note]

November 30, 1851

In the scattered valleys and peaks near Verdun, there have always been many ancient buildings hidden. In that distant and pious era, many people chose to abandon the world for various reasons and became ascetic monks or nuns, dedicating themselves to God and using hard life to sharpen their faith.

In a hidden mountain, along the winding mountain road, after reaching the top of the mountain, the majestic and magnificent church and other buildings of the monastery will appear abruptly and peacefully in front of everyone. This is a typical Gothic building complex, square and pointed. From bottom to top, every building, every arch line, and every pattern has a peak. All the peaks are staggered and orderly, making people feel that there is a force to soar upward, as if they want to use this method to embody the ambition of piercing the sky and looking directly at the heaven.

The Gothic spire of the church is soaring into the clouds, and on the top, the golden statue of St. Michael is holding a sword and pointing directly to the sky. When the sun falls on the top of the church, the shining statue, the colored glass, and the refracted light make people feel like entering a fairyland on earth.

People have been busy for centuries. Countless priests and laborers have transported heavy granite pieces through the quicksand and pulled them to the top of the mountain step by step, and finally created this magnificent monastery. For hundreds of years, I don’t know how many monks and nuns have lived in it, using asceticism to spend their pious lives, hoping to be brought into the boundless happiness of heaven by God’s messenger with a pure soul.

However, times will eventually change. Today, this monastery no longer has the bustling voices of the past. Although the appearance can still make people respect, there are cobwebs and signs of decay everywhere inside. It is so deserted that people suspect that it may have been abandoned by the whole world.

Between the dilapidated walls, several people strolled in these empty buildings. The footsteps echoing between the seats and the altar of the church made this place look more desolate than the original silence.

Because they were in the mountains and wanted to hide their identities, these people were wearing heavy clothes. The leader was tall and strong, wearing a cloak, and there were three women in the middle, all of whom looked very young.

The one in the middle was about 23 or 24 years old. She was very tall and wore a thick brown fur coat. Under the gray hat, her curly golden hair poured down her back like a waterfall.

Her face was very delicate, but because of her serious expression, she always looked a little arrogant. She was holding a delicate pink lady's cane in her hand, which she tapped on the ground rhythmically. The thumping sound made the echo around her seem a little more intimidating.

Next to her were two younger women, who were also beautiful and well-dressed. They seemed to be very close, and they occasionally talked to each other even in such a solemn environment.

When the group of people walked to the abandoned altar, the rhythmic tapping of the cane finally ended.

"Mary, how is the excavation going?" The woman in the middle suddenly turned her head and looked at the person next to her.

"We have turned this place upside down and found almost everything we can find." The young woman named Mary immediately bowed slightly and replied, "And the harvest is quite rich."

"Now, it's not upside down yet." The woman looked around and frowned slightly, "According to historical records, this monastery was once the owner of a large area of ​​land around it. These fertile lands can accumulate a lot of wealth every year... After hundreds of years, the absolute amount is astonishing. We must explore it well."

This monastery is the largest and most magnificent monastery in the Verdon area. In the pious era of the Middle Ages, many nobles and wealthy landowners decided to donate their wealth and land to the monastery before their death. As a result, it has accumulated huge wealth for centuries, and its real estate has continued to provide it with income.

However, the good times will eventually end. In 1792, the Great Revolution began to enter the most intense and turbulent era. The revolution ended the monarchy and made France a republic. However, the republic does not naturally bring prosperity and wealth. On the contrary, due to the intense turmoil, the country's economy fell into a state of paralysis.

At this time, foreign troops also began to interfere with these "lawless" rebels under the instigation of French exiled nobles, and Prussia even directly fought to the French border.

At this most critical moment, the National Assembly began to organize the army with all its strength to prepare for foreign intervention. At the same time, in order to alleviate the financial difficulties, they set their sights on the church, which had accumulated huge wealth over the centuries.

Driven by revolutionary enthusiasm, the initial moderate measures eventually turned into a feast of slaughtering priests and confiscating church property. This monastery located in the deep mountains of Verdun did not escape the disaster. The dean and most of the senior academicians were killed, and the property was confiscated and sold to the peasants at a low price.

Originally, after the Great Revolution, this monastery would be lost in the dust of history like other similar places, and eventually become a ruin in the mountains due to the effect of time. However, before it completely decayed and collapsed, a caring person found records about it from the old papers of history, and finally brought people here to secretly excavate, intending to dig out all the hidden financial reports here.

In theory, even if these financial reports are dug out, they are the property of the country, or at least the property of the church, but this group of people certainly don’t have such a sense of law. They excavate just to satisfy their own desires and pockets. The treasure will only be transferred from one cellar that never sees the sun to another place that never sees the sun.

"Okay, miss." After hearing her order, Mary immediately bowed and accepted the order, "We will speed up the excavation later, and we will never let any corner here escape our sight! However... we don't have enough manpower after all... If you are not satisfied with our progress, can you assign some more manpower to us?"

"We can't do this kind of thing in a big way. The manpower must be absolutely reliable. How can we just add more people? It's better to be slow and safe!" However, she frowned slightly and rejected Mary's proposal.

"Okay, I understand!" Seeing the other party's stern look, Mary hurriedly bowed again and accepted the order, and no longer dared to say anything more.

This lady has always been domineering. Mary has been afraid of her since she met her. In addition, France has changed its face now, and the Bonapartists have come to power. As a member of a prestigious family among the Bonapartists, her current power is definitely not something Mary can disobey.

Charlotte de Treville is the granddaughter of the famous Marshal Victor de Treville, who is a close confidant of President Louis Bonaparte and one of the people he relies on most in the army. She herself is not an easy person. Although she is a woman, she is very wise and many people even think that she is one of the think tanks of the Bonapartists.

In this position, she naturally has the power of life and death over Mary or many other people.

"This monastery is located in a remote area, which is quite convenient for us, but even so, you must be completely careful and never leak the news." Seeing Mary bowing her head, she still had no intention of stopping, and still coldly reminded these men, "Remember, you must move these valuables late at night and send them all out secretly!"

"Yes!" Mary's waist has not been straightened up, and she agreed again and again.

"Sister, come on, don't be so harsh..." Seeing that Mary was scolded so hard that she dared not even breathe, her friend, another person standing next to her, immediately stood up to smooth things over for her, "Mary is very meticulous in her work, she will never make any mistakes..."

"Yeah." After Fran's persuasion, the woman's stern expression finally eased and she nodded slightly.

And Mary was also as if she had been pardoned, and even her breathing became much smoother.

However, the pressure she suffered was not yet completely relieved. The person she feared gently tapped the mottled bricks on the ground with a slender cane.

"Take me to see that person." She gave the order again.

"Yeah..." Mary hesitated for a moment, then looked at Fran.

"I'll go too. After all, I'm one of the parties involved, so I should be there, right?" Fran smiled slightly, as if she knew nothing.

"Okay... okay, please follow me." Mary nodded slightly with a palpitation, then immediately turned around and led them into the depths of the monastery.

There used to be some storage rooms for winter food in the monastery, but after the Great Revolution, no one existed in the monastery anymore. Half a century had passed, and the things in the storage rooms had decayed and were full of decay. Rats and insects were everywhere.

As soon as they arrived at this place, the two sisters couldn't help but cover their noses with handkerchiefs, but their footsteps did not stop until they reached a room deep underground, and the sound of footsteps stopped.

Marie made a gesture, and the person next to her immediately took out the key and opened the door. Then, a cold wind rushed out from inside, almost making everyone shiver. The dark basement seemed like a prison - no, it was now serving as a prison, and even because of its remote location, it was more useful than a prison.

However, Charlotte de Treville was unmoved. She took her steps and walked directly in.

It was not empty inside, but there was a young man.

This was a thin young man with short blond hair, lying on the dark ground, which was already stained with dirt.

His clothes were torn and revealed multiple wounds on his body. His bruised appearance also explained why he did not wake up even after hearing such a sound.

Charlotte de Treville slowly walked to the middle of the room and looked down at the young man.

Then, she slowly raised her foot and kicked the young man directly.

Although she did not use much strength, the bruised young man woke up again after suffering new injuries.

Then he gasped violently and opened his eyes slightly. At first, his eyes were a little confused, but when he saw clearly who it was, the pain, fear, and hatred made him forget about the pain in his body and opened his eyes wide. Looking at each other with open eyes.

"You...you...!" He struggled violently and tried to get up.

This kind of struggle did not scare her. The other party's uncontrollable anger actually made her feel an indescribable joy.

"I remember……"

As she whispered to herself, she slowly raised her feet again, and then, the reddish-brown suede shoes with rich decorations ruthlessly stepped on the young man's head. Because of the force, So the sharp pain felt again on the other party's scarred body, and the young man couldn't help but let out a groan.

"I told you, never show up in front of me again..."

However, this miserable moan did not make her feel any pity. On the contrary, it seemed to make her more interested. She stepped harder and harder, and deliberately rubbed the wound on her forehead heavily.

"In the end... you still have to run back without knowing whether to live or die, run back..." She said, while trampling on this person, as if this person was some kind of enemy of hers, "Tell me, if you are like this... do you want to live and die? Yes? It’s not that I don’t know whether to live or die!”

Her trampling caused the already tortured young man to fall into extreme pain again. He kept moaning but did not receive any help.

It wasn't until a long time later that Charlotte de Treville's anger came to an end and he took back his feet.

"You asked for it, Mr. Walter."

"I...I...I really want to...let you go to hell!" Ezreal Walter kept coughing, and terrible blood foam appeared at the corner of his mouth, "You devil!"

"Devil? You say I'm a devil?" She smiled coldly and looked down at the young man, "Then what are you? A shady bastard?"

Read the original text in Liu#9@书/吧!

"I...even if I can't see the light, I'm still better than a devil like you who does all kinds of evil!" Ezreal Walter glared at her, "Look...how many evil deeds you have done!"

"Do I need you to take care of what I do?" Charlotte de Treville picked up the thin cane and poked the other person's chest directly, eliciting another painful groan from him, "I didn't originally You brought it upon yourself to do whatever you wanted to do to you, and you brought it upon yourself, and yet you even cursed me?"

"If you...you didn't do so many bad things, I...I wouldn't look at you...but...but, you devil, what have you done!" Ezreal Walter has recovered. With a little energy, he glared at his half-sister and almost yelled, "You kill people." , you rob, you have countless more evil plans than this one, you only care about your own selfish desires, and you have done so many evil deeds, and you... you also take your sister to do these evil deeds, there are still other people in the world Who is worse than you? Such a pure child, can you bear to let her become the same person as you? "

"You don't need to judge what I do!" Charlotte de Treville was furious, then picked up the cane and hit it hard again, "You should worry about yourself!"

"With you... with your talent, if you pursue what you want properly, is there anything you can't get?" Ezreal had no intention of holding back, "But you just want to get it?" These talents are used for evil deeds... This can only show that you are a naturally evil person, with the vicious blood passed down from your grandfather and father, and you are proud of evil deeds!"

"Just right? I have already tried, but there is no way out! This world is stupid and ridiculous. Just because I have lost a thing, I will not be allowed to go up. It is ridiculous! With my contribution to them, should I be allowed to go up? Have you insulted them again by becoming a minister? These idiots will regret their stupid actions sooner or later, just like you! "As if being brought back some bad memories, Charlotte de Treville put a little more force on his cane, "Okay, they did a great job. Since I can't climb up, then I will blast them with cannonballs, and I will shoot down whoever is on top of me, until no one dares to stand in front of me anymore..."

As one of the think tanks of the Bonapartists, Charles de Treville played a great role in the usurpation of national power by the President. Now Louis Bonaparte has controlled the entire country and is on the verge of restoring the empire. .

However, in terms of reward, the president made Charles de Treville very dissatisfied. Although he rewarded the lady with a lot of money, he believed that there was no precedent for a woman to be a minister in French or even European history, so It was difficult to make an exception and give her the position of minister, and in the end she was only given the title of Inspector General. She took the position of inspector of the church's property and used money to soothe her sense of loss. Now, in order to restore the empire, the president has planned to reconcile with the church. He is also preparing to return the confiscated property of the church to the church. As a preparation, Naturally, we must first examine the church property lost in various places.

Charlotte de Treville was naturally very aggrieved by being treated in this way, but she hid this resentment in her heart on the surface, and then started her new job, auditing church assets across the country-this mortal The monastery in the Erden Mountains was naturally one of the goals she determined after checking various information.

During this period of time, she has done similar things in various places, and has added a huge amount of wealth to her private pockets. Of course, she has also committed too many crimes in secret.

As her father's illegitimate son, Ezreal Walter accidentally discovered the evil deeds of this half-sister in his journalistic experience, so he wanted to stop her and take his own sister away from her.

However, his efforts ended in failure, and now the end is the price he paid.

In the arrogant declaration of Charlotte de Treville, Ezreal felt the double pain of body and mind.

"You...you will pay for your evil deeds!" He could only curse again.

"No, I won't pay the price, but France will, and the whole of Europe will!" Charlotte de Treville said to him in a freezing tone, "Let me tell you, I didn't save so much money just for my own food, drink and fun. I will invest it all over Europe to support anti-government forces, exiles, and revolutions, so that France, Austria, Prussia, the Balkans... Let all other countries fall into the same flames! By the way, have you heard of Marx?"

This sudden question made Ezreal Walter fall into confusion. Of course, he had never heard of it.

"You haven't heard of it? That's normal, it doesn't matter, but you will hear of it eventually. I will pay him money, I will let his doctrine spread all over the world, I will fund all subversive organizations, and at that time, all of Europe will be in turmoil, countless lives and blood will be paid, no one can stop me, no one can! If Europe can only be turned into a ruin so that I can show my fists, then please let it become a ruin! By then, I'm afraid no one will care who the master above is, right?"

"Madman... You are a madman..." Looking at such a crazy declaration, Ezreal Walter couldn't help trembling.

"I am very sober, I know what I want to do, and I know how to do it..." Charlotte de Treville looked at her brother mockingly, "And you, I will not kill you, I want you to see my achievements, you will be imprisoned in dark places until you die of terrible diseases."

"Don't even think about it! You will never succeed!" Ezreal Walter cursed loudly.

However, all his hopes were shattered, because he found that there was another person standing behind Charlotte de Treville, a person he had thought was an angel incarnate.

"You did a great job, sister!" Fran immediately echoed her sister's words, and then looked at the young man lying on the ground with bruises all over his body with disgust, "This man has my father's blood flowing in his body, but he doesn't serve you... He deserves such a fate! God will let him die in wailing!"

"Yes, look, what a sensible child!" Charlotte couldn't help but smile slightly when she heard it, and looked at Ezreal sarcastically, "As my sister, she knows what to do better than you. Look, who in this world needs your salvation? You are just a useless person. Only death can benefit others. I ask you to slowly welcome your own fate."

…………………………

In the middle of the night, several carriages passed quickly from the top of the mountain where the cold wind was howling, and rushed out of the mountain.

Fran sat by the window of the carriage, then looked back at the towering monastery building looming in the distance under the moonlight.

"Mary has suffered a lot recently. This is really a remote place," she seemed to be moved after a moment, looking at her sister sitting next to her. "But it should be soon... She will be able to empty this place in a few days."

As they left, a large amount of excavated treasures would be moved away with the carriage, and then become the fuel for the de Treville sisters' luxurious life, and the capital for them to incite riots and killings all over Europe. Whether they can get what they want, blood will be spilled all over Europe.

"I hope so." Xia Lu replied in a low voice.

At this time, her expression was serious but calm, and she no longer had the almost bloodthirsty tyranny just now.

"You were too harsh on Mary just now. I think she was scared..." After a moment of silence, Fran finally couldn't help but plead for her friend, "Actually, I think she has done a good job."

"She did a good job, but I have to be like that in front of others," Xia Lu smiled bitterly, "I have to do this. I want others to know that I am not easy to mess with. I want them not to have a little bit of fluke, otherwise no one will obey me."

As she sighed, Fran leaned against her sister and looked at her sister with infatuation and admiration.

"No matter what, I... I will always obey you... Even if you want to make the earth bleed, I will follow you without hesitation... So, please... please don't be so cruel to me, okay? Without your care, I... I really don't know how to live."

Xia Lu turned her head slightly and looked at the most loyal person around her. With mixed feelings, she gently reached out and stroked her sister's hair.

"No matter how precious the treasure is, it can't repay such loyalty." She sighed softly

"I don't want treasures..." Fran pressed herself against her sister's side, "I just want to stay by your side, serve you... serve you, and fulfill all your wishes..."

Then, before her sister could answer, her lips suddenly pressed against hers, and her hot breath entered her sister's lips along with her sex.

As if infected by this passion, Xia Lu's breathing became heavy, and she responded to her sister with the same passion. They hugged each other and pressed tightly together, as if they were about to melt together.

The narrow carriage was slightly bumpy, but it gave the two sisters a different kind of stimulation. In a trance, their wet lips had slid onto each other's skin, making the red glow of passion densely spread all over their bodies, and their bright golden hair had also been scattered and almost entangled together.

The mountains were very cold in the middle of the night, but in the whistling mountain wind, the intermittent moans of the two people in the carriage were like a ballad accompanied by the moonlight, which seemed to never stop, and made the inside as warm as spring. And they will continue to walk together on their future journey. (~^~)