In the slightly crowded office of the Pope in the Vatican, Alexander VI stood in front of a marble globe and looked at the inscribed map on the sphere, including a straight line that runs through the globe and is inlaid with striking gold wire, which is also the embodiment of Alexander VI's authority as pope.

The Papal Meridian, the famous dividing line that led to the final decision on the dispute between the Kingdom of Portugal and the co-kingdoms of Castile and Aragon, not only served as a powerful testament to Europe's expansion into the East and had a profound impact for more than two centuries, but also allowed Alexander VI to demonstrate his diplomatic skill and the afterglow of the Vatican's papal influence on the world.

Indeed, this is no longer the time when the pope was able to determine and influence the world as it was centuries ago, small feudal lords are on the rise, and none of the great monarchs are willing to look up to the Vatican.

This is a time of depravity, and a time when the secular is rapidly replacing the holy papacy with increasing power.

Alexander VI sighed secretly, and he felt that sometimes he was actually envious of that Savonarola, because that man had no scruples at all, but only controlled the minds of the people of his city by rough and forceful means.

See someone in gorgeous clothes and grab it!

See someone collecting depraved paintings, grab them!

I saw someone having a dance party, eating a big meal, and having a promiscuous party, so get caught!

Savonarola maintains the simplicity and beauty of Christendom by simple and brutal means, a dream full of fascination for heaven, a holy dream that a devout and noble Christian should swear to fulfill, a dream that may never be realized by Savonarola, but in this name it can be pursued forever and without waking up.

But the world could not be dreamed of, and Alexander VI felt that he was facing his most difficult moment as a pope.

The kings were stirring, and the people were no longer as pious as they once were.

They even ridiculed the conservative popes and bishops of the past for being so pedantic that they could not integrate themselves into them if no one wanted to join them in a life of depravity and enjoyment.

Alexander VI felt that he was an unlucky ghost spreading in the swamp, and every step seemed to threaten to sink into an abyss from which he could not extricate himself, especially when some news that made him unhappy appeared one after another, and he even felt that it was God punishing him for the sins committed in the years before him.

The door behind him opened softly, and the Pope did not look back, knowing that there were only two people who could enter without knocking, one was his private secretary Nomello, and the other was his son Caesar.

"Your Majesty, the Duke's messenger is leaving." Nomelo tactfully said that he was actually reminding the Pope.

"Oh, it seems that they are in a hurry," Alexander VI smiled a little sarcastically, and he looked at a letter still in his hand, which was sent by a French Duke of Orleans, "but I didn't expect Giovanni to do so much, and he actually had a private relationship with the Duke of Orleans?" ”

Nomelo was silent, he knew that for the Pope, the death of Duke Gandino was one of the darkest periods of his life, and in those days Nomelo even suspected that the Pope might collapse completely because of it.

There is no doubt that Alexander VI had great expectations for Giovanni, but because of this, the blow he suffered from Giovanni's death was unimaginable.

The mystery of who killed Giovanni is no longer of great concern, and perhaps it would be better as a mystery that will never be solved, but externally, people have agreed that Duke Gandino died at the hands of the Jews.

Alexander VI asked: "Do the French want me to give them an answer?" ”

"No, Your Majesty," Nomelo shook his head, "they just want you to allow their messenger to continue to bring you some news. ”

"The French are really good at talking," the Pope smiled, "and told the messenger that I would be willing to meet the more important of them, and that they should be assured that I would guarantee their safety in my capacity." ”

Nomelo nodded, he knew that the Pope had obviously made up his mind to change relations with the French, and the reason why he made this decision should have something to do with the Gonzalo from Aragon.

Gonzalo's arrogance and imperiousness had clearly made the Pope unbearable, and more importantly, the news from Aragorn seemed to indicate that the situation was changing.

The news that King Ferdinand of Aragon was plotting to annex Naples may sound unlikely, but it is hard not to think about what Gonzalo had done in Naples before.

Just think about what it would be like for a kingdom of Aragon that owned not only Sicily, but also Naples, and what impact it would have on other countries on the peninsula, including the Vatican, and Nomelo knew why the Pope was so preoccupied.

Although he was from Valencia, Castile, Alexander VI did not like Ferdinand, the ambitious husband of the Queen of Castile.

Especially after the last blatant humiliation suffered by Gonzalo, he resented even the queen herself.

After all, Gonzalo was the queen's favorite general, and if Gonzalo's presumptuous actions did not have the queen's acquiescence, who would believe it.

Although he did not dare to express his dissatisfaction with the queen because many family businesses were still in Castile, this did not prevent the pope from shaking hands with his former rivals and dealing with his former allies.

"But Your Majesty, do you think Charlie will succeed this time?" Nomelo was a little worried: "After all, he just failed to return home a year ago, and even if he is well prepared, his opponent is the same Gonzalo. ”

"We don't need to worry about this," Alexander VI waved his hand, "we just need to make some people understand the importance of the Vatican, and I certainly don't want to see a greedy Aragonese take the crown of Naples, but I don't want to see the French run rampant on our land." ”

Nomelo nodded silently, he knew that he had roughly grasped the Pope's ideas, and as the Pope's personal secretary and counselor, the next thing he had to do was to help the Pope conceive the specifics of how to implement his ideas.

It's just that there are some things that make Nomelo a little difficult.

"Your Majesty, there is a letter from Pisa, but the letter is from Caesar." Seeing the Pope's slightly inquiring look, Nomelo tried his best to make his tone seem casual, "The letter said that Lucrezia seems to be pregnant. ”

Alexander VI's hand that had just picked up the glass paused slightly, the red wine in the glass rippled, and then he slowly put the glass to his lips and took a sip.

"How long?" The Pope asked softly.

"It seems to have been more than a month," Nomelo replied in a low voice, "where do you see the Duke of Billy Shelly?" ”

"I'm going to be a grandfather, am I, I'm going to be a grandfather?" Alexander VI asked in a tone of wonder whether it was joy or curiosity, and seeing the secretary's stunned look, he raised his glass and tilted his head slightly mischievously, "Come and toast Nomerlo, this is my first time as a grandfather." ”

"Yes, Your Majesty," the private secretary poured himself a glass of wine, and then raised it to congratulate the Pope, but he couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed because he didn't know what to say for a while, "I wish you ......"

"Forget Nomelo drink," Alexander VI waved his hand, and then the two of them clinked their glasses and took a sip each, "Now tell me who sent the letter, Lucrezia or Caesar's?" ”

Nomelo knew what the Pope was asking for, and if it was the man Caesar had sent to spy on him to send back the news, then that damned Gombray still wouldn't bow to him.

If it's Lucrezia, that means that Gombray has finally relented.

"It was a letter from the head maid you sent to serve Lucrecia, but Caesar seems to have known about it in advance, so he just took the letter away."

"Caesar must be furious, he has been trying to send troops to Pisa to get Lucrezia back." The Pope said a little helplessly, "But he is a little stubborn in this matter, you must know that family honor is sometimes not the most important thing, everything depends on whether it is worth it." ”

Nomelo opened his mouth slightly but didn't speak, he wanted to tell Pope Caesar that it wasn't just for the sake of family honor that Caesar wanted to snatch Lucrezia back.

With almost distorted feelings for his sister and jealousy of Cambrai, it is estimated that Caesar, who got the news, was furious and furious at this time.

"As for the Duke of Billy Shelly of which you speak," Alexander VI continued, "tell him about Lucrezia's pregnancy. ”

"But Your Majesty is ......"

"Let's just say that this child is the widow of Giovanni Sforza."

Alexander VI said a reason that made Nomelo stunned.

Giovanni Sforza died more than a year ago in the spring of 1496, and you actually say that this child, who was only more than a month pregnant, was the widow of Giovanni Sforza?

However, Nomelo only bowed and nodded in understanding, and he believed that the Duke of Billy Shelly would gladly accept this reason.

"Tell Caesar to hurry up the recruitment of his army," said Alexander VI slowly, "and Charlie may soon invade again, and by then I hope that Giovanni's previous efforts will not be in vain." ”

"Yes, Your Majesty." Nomelo nodded and left.

"Grandpa," Alexander VI said, taking another sip of his cup and whispering to himself, "...... Gombray"

Alfonso, Duke of Billysey, walked around a little anxiously, and in a chair across from him, his sister Charsan looked at him helplessly.

Alfonso was a beautiful young man, only 25 years old, with a well-defined face, a pair of amber eyes like his sister's, which made him look gentle, and a slightly manicured beard that distinguished him from most people's rugged appearance.

Charsan had always believed that Lucrezia would like Alfonso whenever she saw him, so she went to great lengths to try to broker the marriage, but now it seems that things have turned out to be too unexpected.

Especially when the news of Lucrezia's pregnancy came from nowhere, Xia San felt that his brother and sister's situation had become extremely embarrassing.

Although this is an era where the number of illegitimate children a man has, or how many lovers a woman has used to show off, it is too unacceptable for the man to rush to marry with enthusiasm, and the woman just comes with the news of pregnancy.

Xia San, who had no good impression of Alexander, really hoped that Caesar would immediately send troops to Pisa to teach the daring little lord a good lesson.

And what made Charsan even angrier was that after Alexander had kidnapped Lucrezia, she had written a letter to Modillo, Count of Naples, as a member of the royal family of Naples, hoping that he would persuade his nephew to return Lucrezia.

However, the reply letter from the Count of Mordiglo not only completely rejected her request, but even unceremoniously pointed out in the letter that neither she nor her brother Alfonso were members of the royal family of Naples, so he hoped that they would pay attention to the correct expression of their status in future correspondence, "in case there is a misunderstanding between the royal family and the people".

Charsan was completely discouraged by this hateful letter, and when her brother Alfonso finally arrived in Rome, she immediately consulted with him about what to do with the embarrassment that had disgraced them.

Indeed, it was only Cambrai, because they knew that with the position and influence of the Count of Mordillo in Naples, even their uncle, King Frederick, had to be a little scrupulous.

But to the surprise of the Chasan siblings, although Caesar was hostile to the Gombray, the Pope was rather ambiguous to prevent Caesar from trying to send troops.

The Pope had good reason, Caesar's army had just been formed, and Gombray had proved to be not so easy to deal with in the recent Romagna Wars.

It's just that Xia San always felt that the Pope's decision was a little strange, and thinking about the rumors and actions of his father-in-law before, Xia San had to suspect that Alexander VI might have other ideas about this marriage.

"I'll go to Caesar again," looking at his brother's angry but unspeakably aggrieved look, Shasan stood up and said, "I'm sure Caesar will help us, he's disgusted with that Gombray." ”

"But didn't you say he might be the culprit in Giovanni's murder?" Alfonso looked at his sister, "Do you think he'll help you?" ”

"At least in this matter our interests are aligned," Chasan said firmly, "I know that Caesar wants to be the Duke of Romagna, and then Cambrai is the biggest stumbling block in front of him, and I believe Caesar understands this, so don't worry, I think he is more anxious than we are to get rid of that man." ”

Xia San's words made Alfonso hesitate a little, everything that happened in Rome was too strange to him, and he still needed his sister's guidance on many things.

"But why is the Pope so strange in this matter?" Alfonso felt that this was what worried him the most: "He forbade Caesar to send troops to Pisa, and I don't think it had anything to do with his reasons." ”

Xia San also frowned, although she was Geoffrey's wife, she knew that she had never really integrated into that family, even if she and Giovanni had an ambiguous relationship at the beginning, but the Borgia family never seemed to really accept her.

Because of this, she can't really know what the Pope thinks.

"Let's go to Caesar first," said Shasan, somewhat helplessly, "I don't think it's difficult, maybe he can convince the Pope." ”

While the Charsan siblings were angry and helpless about their embarrassing situation, Caesar Borgia was frantically swinging his sword at a wooden puppet.

The training sword he used slashed at the puppet wrapped in sturdy cowhide again and again, making a muffled thudding sound, and because of the force, his hair stuck to his sweaty forehead, splashing beads of sweat as he kept shaking.

A shout jumped out of Caesar's mouth, and his sword slammed into the puppet's shoulder, and because of the force, the pillar that had been inserted in the ground suddenly broke, and the puppet was slashed and rolled far away.

Caesar gasped with his sword in both hands, his throat felt like a fever, and he exhaled vigorously as he looked at the figure lying on the ground in the distance.

A servant came up to him and reported to him that Madame Shasan had asked to see him, and upon hearing the news, Caesar rubbed his thick hair vigorously and chuckled.

Caesar knew very well why Chasan had come to him, and the brother and sister had now become almost the laughing stock of Rome.

Especially after the news of Lucrechia's pregnancy came, the Duke of Billy Shelly was said to have not been out of the house all day.

Caesar's schadenfreude didn't last long, and he remembered the man who had caused it all.

Because Lucrezia and Caesar can arrange a lot of eyes and ears in Pisa, so he is also very clear about what is happening in Pisa.

With an army that is small but not to be underestimated, and a financial income that many people will be jealous of, Alexander, who has money and an army, has already made Caesar feel threatened.

Just thinking of his father's advice, Caesar hesitated a little and decided not to see his brother and daughter-in-law.

"Tell Madame that I'm too busy to see her," Caesar said, walking over to the other doll, "but I already know what she's coming from." ”

After speaking, he raised his sword and slashed at the puppet's head, making a muffled sound of "bang".

On the first Sunday of October, after the morning prayers, the cardinals stationed at the Vatican gathered in the corridors of the Sistine Chapel.

Most of the white-haired bishops were gathered in groups, talking to each other in a low voice, and sometimes anyone who moved a little louder would attract the attention of the others.

The Bishop of Palermo in Sicily, Alfonso, seems to be a little young among these people, perhaps aware of this "shortcoming", so Bishop Alfonso has been growing beards since more than a year ago, and now he seems to caress the thick dark short beard under his chin inadvertently, but his heart is not quiet.

Today is too important for Alfonso, and whether the efforts he has worked for so long will be rewarded, or even whether it will be worth the cost of risking involvement in the murder of Giovanni Borgia, will depend on the outcome of today.

The Vatican will once again appoint a cardinal to replace Cardinal Monteiro, who was assassinated, and this matter has been delayed long enough, if it were not for the many accidents that have occurred in a row, this matter would have been settled long ago.

Even though the Vatican's practice for many years that the choice of a new cardinal should have been known for a long time, this time no one was sure who would emerge victorious until it was about to be announced.

The reason for this is that there are two people who are menacing and inevitable for this cardinal position.

No one expected that the Bishop of Alfonso in Sicily would be so brave to compete with Dra Rovere the Elder for this position, and that the bishop was so generous and generous that even the Ottomans from the Sultan's court admired the bishop's generosity.

"I'm going to make it." Alfonso secretly told himself that he had visited too many people and had given up enough money to give him confidence that he would be able to defeat the strong enemies of the Rovere family.

Unlike Alfonso, who seems to be calm but still shows a little distraction from time to time, old Rovere looks relaxed, and even sometimes whispers and laughs with the people around him.

When he saw Alfonso's gaze from afar, old Rovere would smile and nod his head.

A black-clad deacon hurried through the hallway toward the hall, which caught the attention of the bishops, but the deacon, apparently not caring to strike up a conversation with the dignitaries, quickened his pace while nodding to the bishops, and then whispered something to the guards guarding the door, and then dodged into the door.

Strange as it may feel, people quickly seem to forget about it.

, but his eyes are staring at him. The two doors at the end of the corridor H.

It was almost noon, and just as someone was about to tell the servants to prepare lunch for themselves, the door at the end of the corridor creaked open, and the cardinals came out of it.

The cardinals' hearts couldn't help but lift slightly, although many people knew that their chances of getting that only chance were really slim, but the psychology of luck still pushed them to surround them with hope.

Then the cardinal from Brittany was seen smiling and first walking up to old Rovere, who first exchanged hugs with him and then softly congratulated him.

Then the other cardinals came up to congratulate the elder Rovere.

Alfonso's heart suddenly froze, and he noticed the strange eyes of the people around him looking at him.

For a while, the unbearable loss made his body under the red robe tremble slightly.

At this time, the cardinal, who first congratulated old Rovere, suddenly turned back and smiled inexplicably at Alfonso.

"Bishop Alfonso," the cardinal slowly walked up to him, "I have a question, and I would like you to explain it for me. ”

"Your Excellency, please command." Alfonso tried to suppress the faint uneasiness in his heart and responded.

"I wonder where the money you used to bribe a lot of people to become a cardinal came from?"

The cardinal's calm tone was like a muffled thunder in Alfonso's ears, and he stared in amazement at the cardinal, who had been short in stature, but now made him feel extremely afraid.

"Or someone can help you make it clear," the cardinal took a piece of paper from the deacon who followed him and shook it towards Alfonso, "there are people here who accuse you of selling stolen triple crowns to the Jews in the city of Rome, and then you use that money to bribe and try to buy the cardinal's office." ”

The cardinal's words surprised everyone, and Alfonso was completely stunned by this time.

He didn't know how this matter was exposed, but he knew that he should have been betrayed!

Who betrayed me?

And why did you betray me?!

Alfonso went mad and rushed to the cardinal, he wanted to see the whistleblower letter!

But his arm was suddenly grabbed, and then the cold blade pressed against his neck.

"I don't have ......"

Alfonso tried to argue, but his mouth was tightly bound by a strip of cloth that suddenly came from behind, and as he struggled and whimpered, the cardinal leaned forward and whispered in his ear: "Leave yourself some dignity and don't embarrass us all." In addition to the desecration of the sacred triple crown, you are also charged with conspiracy to murder the Duke of Gandino. Bishop, you still pray for yourself, you need this now. ”

Alfonso stared blankly at the cardinal, so frightened by the terrible accusation that he forgot for a moment that he had forgotten about his struggle.

But when he tried his best to distinguish himself, he was dragged out of the corridor by the guards in a struggle.

Everyone looked at Alfonso's back in silence, and people had different expressions on their faces, who would have thought that the bishop of Palermo, who was considered the new upstart of the Vatican not long ago, would suddenly fall to the ground from the halfway point close to the peak of power, this huge contrast made the bishops look at each other in amazement.

Until the cardinal of Brittany exclaimed: "Today is a very unfortunate day, there is a blasphemy among us, he will be judged and punished, but ......" Speaking of this, the cardinal looked at old Rovere "We should also rejoice, because we have chosen a man who is not only pious, but also trustworthy and respectable, who will serve God until he is called." ”

The cardinal's words made the bishops' hearts tremble slightly, and they looked at old Rovere with a little awe.

The bishops know that from today Giuliano della Rovere will truly step into the pinnacle of power in the Vatican.

And it is quite possible that he will become the second person in the Roverley family to take the papal crown after his uncle Sistines IV.

The tumultuous dispute over the cardinals, which ended with the fulfillment of the old Rovere's wish and Alfonso's imprisonment, and while everyone was still lamenting the rather unexpected result, in the hilltop villa, Matthews Tiego, who had just returned to Rome, met Barente.

Barendi was a little indifferent to the businessman under the Alexander siblings, who was said to be quite a good mix.

This made Tiego wonder if it had something to do with his arrival in Pisa.

"I will recommend you to enter the Carolingian Palace," Barondi said to Tiego with a calm expression, and then took out a letter, "Also, according to the agreement, I hope that your count will be able to settle the dividends belonging to the Rovere family as soon as possible." ”

Matthews Tiego bowed slightly nervously.

Although this young lady of the Luo Weilei family has an ordinary appearance, she has many eye-catching identities.

The new cardinal's favorite daughter, the steward of all the wealth of the Rovere family, and the fiancée of the Count of Montina.

And the last of these identities is talked about by the Romans today.

This is because her rival in love is Lucrechia, who is known as the princess of Rome.

"Mademoiselle, I would be glad to convey it to you, but allow me to report to you that the Earl had instructed me to convey to you before I came, that he would come to Rome himself to negotiate with you in due course regarding the dividends of the Roverley family."

Barondi's ordinary face, which had always looked cold, finally showed a little strangeness, she seemed to be a little puzzled as if she didn't understand, and then a touch of surprise crossed her face that couldn't be concealed.

"He said he was coming to Rome?" Barondi asked politely, "In this case?" ”

"Yes, the Count said he would come to Rome to meet you, and he asked you to be patient."

Listening to Tiego's words, Barundi couldn't help but be silent for a while.

On the very day that Matthews Tiego entered the Carolingian Palace on the recommendation of the Rovere family, on an island in the middle of the Tiber River, a man who had been waiting for a long time and had become a little impatient finally waited for the man he was waiting for.

"Why should we give up that Alfonso, you must know that we have invested a lot of money in him," asked disgruntled under a mask, "Is there a better chance that we will be connected with a cardinal, or that you are more optimistic about old Rovere?" ”

"Give up Alfonso because we already have a better candidate, at least the current Alfonso can be sacrificed compared to that person, and don't you want to ask me what I have gained from this trip to Sicily?" Looking at the masked man, who seemed to be expressing his displeasure with silence, Kryan smiled slightly, "You know, I heard something very interesting about that place called Calibo. ”