immortal person

Chapter 24 4

"Wake up, wash, eat, carve, dine, carve... and go on and on until midnight, my lord," Pitty said. "He's as accurate as clockwork. He's as energetic as Samson."

He sat on a soft stool next to the closet, deliberately keeping a distance from the huge Persian tapestry beside him.Look at the precious stones and gold threads on that, how many florins did it take to weave such a gorgeous blanket?Even if ten of them worked hard for 100 years, they would not be able to save this amount.In order to meet the Duke, he had already put on his cleanest clothes, but he remembered that there was still a carbon dust stain on the back of the shirt, but he must not rub it on the Duke's belongings.

As he entered, the duke ordered him to be served a glass of sweet milk, as if he were a noble boy.But that was far from alleviating his nervousness.Please, this is the Duke, Your Highness the Medici!He had already figured it out, and after he went out, he showed off to his companions like this. The only ones who could enter the Medici Palace were knighted lords, bishops and princesses wearing red caps. I was luckier than them, and I sat in the Duke’s bedroom. inside!

But he didn't understand why the duke asked him to meet him at this time.His Highness was in poor health, and the door was closed to see no visitors. This was what he heard from Mr. Steward before entering the door. At that time, he was rejecting a tall man in a Milanese military uniform.The next moment, however, he nodded politely to Petey and said, "Follow me, sir."—strange, it was the first time anyone had called him sir.

In Florence in April, it was a rare good weather. Starlings and chickadees stopped on the beech branches again to enjoy the rare warm spring.The fireplace is still burning in the room, and the "crack" sound of the peach wood cracking can be heard from time to time.Pitty's palms were sweating profusely, whether it was from heat or restlessness.The rumored big man leaned back in the armchair, looking a little tired, but still very handsome. No wonder the little girl Julia, who was baking bread in the back kitchen, still didn't give up her dream of becoming a duchess one day.The Duke was wearing a crisp velvet coat embroidered with gold, with a thin blanket on his knees, which made people feel breathless.He seldom opened his mouth, just quietly listening to the young man report these trivial matters, and occasionally let out a suppressed cough, as if a little force would cause pain.Pitty felt that there was not much he could say, but he showed no sign of impatience, and even, a few times, Pitty felt a smile on the Duke's lips.

"He is a queer man. I have never seen such an artist," continued the little apprentice, after a moment's hesitation. "He taught me Latin—forget it, and Greek. What a queer script! Is there anyone else who can speak in it?"

He lowered his voice: "Your Highness, please forgive me, I think there must be a conspiracy."

Lorenzo looked at him.

"I heard that the spies have their own method of encrypting letters. Some of them will write the letter in reverse on purpose, so that the receiver can only understand the meaning of the secret letter with the help of a mirror," Pitty said, "I guess, Is he also trying to use me to send secret letters? This kind of text that no one can understand is very safe, and he is training me to send messages to his employer! He may have regarded me as one of his own, but you know, My allegiance is yours."

He was surprised to see Lorenzo laugh, even out loud.So the prince's face is very soft when he smiles, he thought, and said puzzledly: "Isn't it? Then why did he teach me this? I don't need it."

"It will be useful, child." The Duke laughed enough, and resumed his low and light voice, "It's just that you are too young, maybe you will understand in the future."

He shook his head, with a smile still on his lips: "You have judged him unfairly. He is not a villain."

"Then why do you want me to stare at him?"

The duke fell silent.

He stared at Petey with those dark blue eyes, and the teenager didn't dare to meet his gaze, and quickly lowered his head, realizing that he had made a mistake.It's really hard to guess the big man's mind, he thought to himself, I'd better keep my mouth shut.

"You've done a good job," the Duke said softly after a long time, "Go and see Mr. Steward."

Petey cheered softly: he knew he was going to get pocket money.Lorenzo watched his little spy leave the room, and coughed softly again.The maid came in and put a cold wet towel on his forehead.Lorenzo closed his eyes and thanked her, she sighed softly, and at the same time was surprised to find that the Duke's spirit seemed to be much better than before.

After sitting in front of the attic window for two days, Giovanni came to the gate of the Medici Palace.It is not easy for him to stay where he is and come here, the former is even more difficult.His speculation sent him into a panic, almost to the point of fidgeting.Pitty noticed that his teacher's mind wandered frequently these days, which had never happened to him in the past.Giovanni spent a lot of time observing the people who entered the palace gate, many of them were carrying wooden boxes back and forth with tense expressions, and the decorations on the long-distance running showed that they were from the Society of Pharmacists.Rumors began to spread in the city that the Duke was seriously ill, saying that his health was deteriorating day by day; but soon, the so-called "Duke attendants" clarified that His Highness was just resting and would meet the public at the next public celebration soon.Giovanni did not trust their rhetoric. Lorenzo's health was related to the political situation of the entire city. Of course, they would not easily disturb the hearts of the people.

And he couldn't bear it any longer.

The aged butler received him.Seeing Giovanni's face, he was startled, then shook his head.The butler has served in the Medici Palace for nearly 40 years. He still remembers this young man who was very important at that time. The reason why he shook his head was because the Duke had long since stopped summoning anyone.Giovanni begged him to at least communicate his request to the Duke, and he turned with a sigh and went upstairs, returning with a look of conspicuous surprise on his face.He said: "Duke please go up."

"However, at the same time, he asks for your understanding," said the steward, "His Highness's condition...is not very good. I'm afraid he can only meet you lying down."

His heart sank: "Is it a disease?"

"Plague, fever, or pneumonia, doctors can't be sure." The steward shook his head, "We all pray that His Highness is just overworked, he hasn't rested for too long...here we are."

Two doctors were coming out of the door and gestured to the housekeeper.Passing them, Giovanni saw in the bowl in their hands a blood-sucked leech, almost crimson.It sent a chill down his spine.

In front of the door, a young child was holding the maid's arm and begging: "Can't even me?" He looked like he was about to cry, "Can't I go in and see him?"

No, the maid refused him gently but firmly.The child seemed to be only three or four years old, but he was already very obedient. He stopped making noise and just nodded his head sobbing.Giovanni stared at him with a sudden pain in his heart.Everyone knows that there is only one young child in the Medici Palace, Giulio de' Medici Jr., the future Duke, Lorenzo's heir.

He didn't find much resemblance to Lorenzo in this small face, except for the sapphire-like eyes that are unique to the descendants of the Medici.And the very smooth short hair is flaxen, this hair color neither belongs to Lorenzo nor to his mother from the Orsini family, which is probably why the tavern clerk questioned his blood.As if feeling his gaze, Giulio cast his gaze on him timidly, but soon, a young man rushed over and hugged him.Giovanni recognized Giuliano, Lorenzo's brother.He greeted Giovanni with a nod of his head, not looking very surprised by his presence.

"He's just woken up, a little weak," Giuliano said. "Come in—he's waiting for you."

He pushed open the door.

The curtains in the bedroom were closed, and the light was dim, except for a small lamp burning by the duke's bed curtain.Under the dim light of the orange candle, Lorenzo leaned on the cushion at the head of the bed, tried his best to prop up his body, and nodded to him.

He looks happy.

The author has something to say:

Samson: A warrior in the Old Testament Judges.

People in the Renaissance considered bloodletting with leeches a very common form of healing.