The Sensory Animals of Ston Hill

After the meeting, Alan Stone took Grace's arm as the Supreme Consul and sent him and Little Chris out of the meeting hall.

He repeated a passage from Grace's speech just now: "We first gathered here with a common ideal... This is a great and difficult cause, which requires us to put aside personal grievances as much as possible and put public opinion above personal Before the ideal, replace partisan hatred with democratic friendship, so that it can be realized-Grace, your speech is too good."

Grace shook her head helplessly, "But how many people can understand? They still think that every policy you and I implement involves a power struggle. People always gather because of the same views, and because of Disagreement and disintegration. It was originally to express one's own opinion, but quickly turned into defending a certain position, and then evolved into opposing groups, forming partisan disputes. Perhaps this is an inevitable process of politics, because people have this kind of Nature... do you think I'm overly pessimistic, when things are starting to turn around."

"Maintain a pessimistic and cautious attitude, and make the most active and comprehensive response. This is a good politician."

Grace couldn't help laughing, and looked back at the officials and representatives who put their hats on their chests and bowed their heads to send them away respectfully, hid their hands under the lace of their cuffs, and secretly touched the back of Allen's hand.

The supreme ruler escorted the king and queen mother to the carriage.The wheels were high, and Allen was going to carry little Chris into the car, but Grace let little Chris climb up by himself.

This is not easy for a child who is less than two years old. His little arms are holding the door of the car, and his little feet are constantly lifted up, but he can't reach it.

Grace encouraged him: "You can do it, little Chris, you've done it before."

"Chris, are you tired?" Alan bent down and asked him in a low voice.

Little Chris stopped and looked at Grace with some grievances, "Yes...the meeting was too long."

Allen looked at Grace, seeing that he was distressed, and carried the child into the car.Little Chris sat upright on the seat, trying to put on a dignified appearance, but couldn't help sneaking glances at the two adults, especially when he looked at Grace, with a child's mischievous pride in his eyes.

"I see, you must have relaxed your demands on him when I was not in the capital." Grace said.

"It's because you are too strict with him, he is still so young." Allen replied.

Allen rode on horseback and led the cavalry escort to send them back to the palace. He took little Chris out of the car and kept holding him, explaining to Grace: "He is tired."

The guards and servants stayed downstairs, and Allen went upstairs with Chris and Grace in his arms.On the second floor, they will pass through the most beautiful corridor in the entire royal palace. Along the way are many tall and gorgeous mirrors, reflecting the corridor into an infinitely wide space.This segment was designed by Chris himself.

Grace took Allen's arm and stopped in front of a mirror, in which the shadows of three people were clearly reflected.Little Chris sat on Allen's arm, still very interested in the tassels on his military uniform.

"Alan, I'm not hard-hearted. I just hope that he will be successful. He is the heir of Chris. I hope that when people evaluate him in the future, they will also think of another Chris and how great he was."

"The problems that Chris once faced will eventually appear in front of little Chris again. In 20 or 30 years, when the country no longer needs a king to maintain balance, will he be able to step down from the throne peacefully? You Give me the power, but give the heaviest responsibility to him in the future, can this kid do it? Can he protect himself in politics?"

"must be able to."

"Why are you so sure?"

"Because the times will change for the better...and because he is the child you taught."

Grace looked at the mirror again, Little Chris was still holding on to Allen's tassel, but his attention had been attracted by the three figures in the mirror, the big blue-green eyes were very beautiful.

Grace rested her head on Allen's shoulder, as if resting, and said, "It's us."

Alan Stone made a public speech in the square in front of the palace, "Peace has come, citizens no longer need to hide swords and guns at home, the police station set up by the state will protect you."

All the citizens responded to his call and voluntarily handed over their weapons to the government, and a large number of guns, ammunition, and metal were distributed to police stations and the army.

The original reformists also set up patrol cavalry because of the poor security in the capital, but they were considered to be the king strengthening the control of the people and restricting people's freedom.They also tried to set up magistrates' courts in the provinces to replace the backward magistrates and religious courts, but it was also thought to be for the same purpose.They also encountered many other misunderstandings at that time. For example, setting up orphanages was understood to encourage women to degenerate, and allowing doctors to dissect corpses was considered a sin.But now the highest ruling power is welcome to do these things.

Grace asked Allen: "Is it because you have always been strong and people admire you?"

Allen replied: "The times have begun to change for the better."

He gradually withdrew the troops stationed abroad.He helped those countries establish systems and stabilize order, but he no longer intervened forcefully in their internal affairs.These new republics were united in a federation.

The republican alliance was originally intended to provide military resistance only to England and the feudal monarchy alliance, but this cooperation was soon expanded to other aspects.

After the revolution was declared over, the domestic order had stabilized, and Grace immediately implemented the new paper coupons and industrial and commercial system, and abolished regional tariffs at the same time.His original intention was to unify the domestic market and make trade between provinces more convenient.To his surprise, these policies quickly affected foreign countries, and under Allen's promotion, the Republican Union gradually became a unified economy that could resist the dumping of British goods.Later, even the civil codes they promulgated became the basis of the civil laws of the republican union countries.

As for those feudal monarchies, Grace continued to mediate with them in the name of the king.As the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Earl of Arundel took advantage of his sociability and multilingualism to accompany Grace to many meetings with the monarchs of various countries and sign contracts.

His character was sophisticated, and he easily gained a good reputation for generosity.But he also has tough times, that is, when some monarchs show contempt for the Queen Mother's skirt, he will suggest to these male monarchs that Colonel Ston should replace the Queen Mother to talk to them.

But apart from official business, Grace refused to have any conversations of a personal nature with him.

After two years, Grace successfully abolished poll tax, candle tax, window tax, military tax and other miscellaneous taxes.For the peasants, the tax cuts are still obvious, and their burden has been reduced to half of what it was during the revolution.But these measures did not make the country poorer, because the tax system was finally established throughout the country and implemented properly.No need to rely on tax contractors anymore, and no need to worry that farmers’ hard-earned money will go into the pockets of officials. Grace finally realized his ideal: to reduce the burden on the people, and at the same time let the country have money to build schools, hospitals and roads, and to encourage production. .

Grace spent a lot of energy promoting high-quality seeds and more scientific planting methods in the countryside, and at the same time invested a lot of money in developing industry and commerce.Although he was reluctant to admit it, he was indeed influenced by the Earl of Arundel, and he always insisted on encouraging factory owners and businessmen to expand production and trade, and develop their own advantageous industries.The deterrence of the army is no longer needed, and their products have gradually become significantly competitive in the international market.

A large number of factories were built in cities across the country, and the number of workers increased rapidly.The new national assembly elected in accordance with the new constitution proposes a labor protection law that requires adult workers to be paid at least a minimum wage to allow men and women to afford a day's worth of bread, and to ensure workers' working conditions are safe and hygienic to maintain their health,12 - The working hours of children under the age of 16 shall not exceed 12 hours, and children under the age of 13 are prohibited from doing night work.

Unlike countries that have introduced similar labor laws, they have become a dead letter because of the obstruction of big factory owners and giant businessmen.The law has the backing of the Queen Mother and the Supreme Court.Large and small factory owners and businessmen rely on the Queen Mother's industrial and commercial policies, and also rely on the supreme ruling to use the army to maintain the openness and stability of overseas markets, and the labor law can be implemented.Grace's country became the first country in Europe to actually ban child labor under the age of eight.

Children no longer need to feed their families by crawling their tiny bodies through factory machines, their parents can raise them, and children should all go to the new basic schools.

Grace finally sees people's lives getting better.No one can deny that the country is already among the most powerful in Europe.

At the same time, Alan Stone implemented system reforms in the military, and selected civilian officers and traditional aristocratic officers with the same standards.He established a number of high-level military academies that did not charge tuition fees and recruited outstanding students regardless of their origin.All poor boys know from an early age that if they develop a strong body and a brave heart, they have a chance to become a great man like the Supreme Regent.Alan Stone completely eliminated the grievances between civilian officers and noble officers.

But his personal grievances with General Verwick never came to an end.

One day, Grace personally invited General Verwick to the palace, and he also invited Alan Stone.

He persuaded Allen as he persuaded Eva: "Before the worst happens, no one can predict what will happen next... It is not the fault of General Verrick alone. William has been with Verrick since he was 16 years old." General Verrick is by his side, promoted and loved by him. I think General Verrick may be like a father to William. Maybe it's not just you who blame him, but General Verrick himself."

The three of them stayed in the room until late at night, and the sixty-year-old general wept bitterly.Before leaving, he said to Allen: "Accept the rank of general. Your army is the most disciplined. As an officer, you should lead by example. As the commander-in-chief but only a colonel, this is against the rules. You are the pride of William, you You will eventually have a higher rank than him and be older than him, and he wants to see you make a difference."

After sending General Verrick away, Allen said to Grace: "I want to go back to my hometown."

The capital is no longer impossible without them.They traveled in plain clothes, bringing only a small number of servants and attendants, as well as Sia's remains and some of William's relics.William died in battle, but his body was never recovered.

They placed the tombs of the two next to Old Ston and Mrs. Ston. The tombstone was carved by Allen himself, and he and Grace set it up together.

Grace also took Ellen to see Sophie and Orisa.Allen picked a bouquet of flowers himself and placed them in front of Orisa's grave.

While clearing the grave, Ellen asked Grace, "Do you still hate my mother?"

"Don't hate."

"...Thank you for comforting her before she died."

Grace looked back at him, "She's your and William's mother."

They walked around the estate together, and Grace took him to see the river beach that William had taken himself to.The military factory established by the earl has been converted into other factories, and the sewage still flows out continuously, but the river beach remains clean.

It is very different from the lake next to the summer palace. It is not fine sand, but large and small stones. It is very painful to step on when you take off your shoes.

A dead tree lay across the lake, and Grace wanted to stand on it and look into the distance.Allen took off his shoes and socks, raised his trouser legs, put his arms around Grace's thigh, picked him up, and put him on top.

Grace didn't look into the distance, but sat down and kissed him with her head down.

When leaving, the two chose to take a carriage, and they both chose to sit backwards, watching the villa gradually shrink and hide into the hillside, and reappeared in their field of vision when they climbed the next hillside.

The Bible advises people not to look behind and become a pillar of salt.But Grace and Allen are not afraid of becoming a pillar of salt, they are more afraid of being forgotten.

They climbed the highest slope.Grace stood up.He seemed to see a person riding a horse, standing in the distance, facing their direction.He couldn't see clearly, but he knew that the person was always watching him, watching him off.Their carriage will eventually cross the top of the highest slope, and then go down, completely blocking the figure.But Grace knew that he had been standing there, watching them leave with gentle eyes.

After another two years, the cases of the horror period were gradually counted, and Eva actually received her and Anna's personal belongings that had been confiscated before they were imprisoned.

Grace placed Anna's personal items on her grave.He did not bury Anna in the cemetery, but behind the chapel in the palace.He passes there often.Anna liked him so much, he thought, that she should wish to see him often.

There were also things that belonged to him among those items, the personal items that Eva took from him when he changed his clothes on the day he went crazy, and she knew that those two things were very important to him.It was a handsome gold pocket watch and a cartridge case made into a necklace.

Alan Stone also recovered his personal belongings before he was imprisoned. Among them was a women's shawl, which was very new and the fabric didn't feel bad.Grace unfolds it jealously and finds that the shawl is torn, and an oak tree symbolizing courage is embroidered on the corner.

He suddenly realized: "So you stole it from me."

Alan Stone suddenly turned back to the naive boy back then, his face blushed instantly: "It wasn't stolen, I found it hanging on a tree on the way back to find you..." He made a hand to grab it "It hangs very high, and I can only reach it by standing on Poleux's back."

Later they found Pollux as well.

They were driving down the street in a buggy that day when they heard someone whipping the horse furiously, and cursing viciously as he whipped.Before they saw it at that time, Allen was already angry and said that horses could not be beaten like this.

Grace knew how much he cherished his horses. He put spurs on his boots just to look good, and never used them.

Later, the horse couldn't bear the beating and let out a mournful whine. Allen froze for a moment, and rushed out like crazy.He snatched the whip from the man. If Grace hadn't followed him and hugged his waist, he might have whipped someone in the street.

People had recognized them and were amazed to see two of the most powerful men in the country hugging and weeping together on a scrawny horse whose back was bleeding.The horse, which had looked sick and weak, came to life, and happily rubbed its nose against their faces, with tears streaming from its human eyes.It raised its front hooves suddenly, raised its head and let out a loud neigh that resounded through the entire street.Only then did people know that this was not a sick horse that could not pull the cart, but a hero who had been on the battlefield.

Allen raised Pollux in the deer park behind the palace.There were no deer there for a long time. At first, there was only one horse, Poleux, but soon, Ellen brought several horses to accompany her.Gradually, some injured sheep and deer captured from illegal hunting were also brought in.

Grace thought at first that he was rebuilding a deer park, but later found out that he kept not only sheep and deer, but also domestic animals such as chickens, ducks, cats and dogs.They often take little Chris to the deer park to play, because both of them firmly believe that being close to nature is good for people.

One day, Grace suddenly reacted and asked Allen: "Is it because I told you that I always want to have an animal?"

Alan Stone smiled smugly, so Grace also laughed.

Last spring, Boreux gave birth to several ponies, and Alan chose the best of them as a present for little Chris.By this year, the foal was more than one year old, and little Chris was seven years old. Allen began to teach little Chris how to ride and train horses.

Eva's younger siblings are also often invited.Little John has grown into a reliable little man. During his time in England, he learned the sense of responsibility of his brother Luca, but he may never learn the stability of his brother Luca, riding his pony to make chaos He jumped up, causing Allen's hunting dog to chase him.

Little Chris saw that he was running fast, and wanted the horse to run too. Alan stood beside the horse and pulled the rein, and said to him seriously: "Practice the posture first, remember the essentials, and then think about running."

In the distance are deer, fenced in because they are in rut.

Grace sat under the flower porch not far away and read official documents, sometimes looked up to see Allen riding a horse with the children, and sometimes watched the stags fighting in the deer enclosure.

Grace remembered that deer were not ferocious animals, they would only run when they encountered natural enemies.But they fought fiercely among their own kind, with their heads bowed and their backs bowed, and they thrust their hard antlers into the competitors.The doe stood by and watched silently, waiting for the strongest to emerge victorious from this brutal duel.

Grace wondered, who is the winner?Is it the scarred stag who finally gets mating rights, or the unscathed does who serve as spectators?Or, the winner is the one who keeps them in enclosures and watches them as pets.But men also love to fight, and women also love to choose the winner. What is the difference between humans and animals?

Allen called him from a distance, telling him not to work so hard, and to ride with them.He is wearing pants today.

Seeing that he really wanted to play, Eva urged him too, saying, "Grace, you're not going to starve the people by giving yourself a day off."

Allen called him again, and Chris Jr. also learned to call him. The two hounds must have obeyed Allen's order, and ran over and bit his trousers and led him to the grass.

Grace put down the official document and was harassed by two hounds and walked towards the two people, one big and one small.They were all smiling at him, their blond hair and light brown hair wet with sweat, their blue and turquoise eyes looking lighter in the sun than indoors.The two hounds thought they had completed the task, and rushed to Allen to take credit and circled around his feet.Allen bent down and rubbed their heads rewardingly. The horse carrying little Chris kicked its hooves upside down to avoid the dog's tail wagging more cheerfully. Little Chris clutched the reins nervously on the horse's back.

At this moment, Grace looked back at the chair she was just sitting on. There was a cat sleeping comfortably next to it, and the sunlight gilded its fluffy body with golden edges.

Today is sunny, but the sun is not particularly strong, so the sky presents a light blue, as gentle as human eyes.