immortal person

Oh God……

With a blunt sound, the body fell at his feet.He wanted to open his mouth and shout: "God!" But reason choked his throat tightly.Someone grabbed his shoulder, and they both fell to the ground hard; Lorenzo sat up quickly, grabbed the enemy's hand holding the knife, grabbed the knife and stabbed it into the assassin's chest.Blood spurted out and splashed viscously on his hand.Before this moment, Lorenzo never thought that one day he would kill a person with his own hands.

The man quickly stopped moving.In the darkness, more and more people approached him.One tried to grab his hand, another grabbed his shoulder, and Lorenzo shook them off, fumbling for a sword.Dark shadow loomed, he plunged the sword into the assassin's body and pulled it out abruptly, and the attacks on him never stopped: a dagger cut the side of his neck, and then his arm was also torn by the sharp blade.Blood gushed out in large streams, but he had no time to cover the wound; someone kicked him to the ground, slipped out and hit the altar, he staggered up and ran forward.

How many people followed him?Probably two or three of them, and they pursued them like a stag hunt in the forest. "Dead?!" François yelled—he didn't care whether he would expose himself, it didn't matter anymore—"Follow me!"

"Where are the guards! Protect Your Highness! Where are the people!" Poliziano's roar was drowned in the noise.

Most of the Medici guards were outside the church, and Lorenzo had given up hope: in any case, they should not have been unaware by now.The situation was already obvious. A large number of knives and axes were ambushing inside and outside the church. Behind the stone of the church, another killing was also happening at the same time.Someone was groping for a fire, and the flames lit up in the transept. Lorenzo fled into the shadows, and the few remaining family servants stood behind him, stopping the pursuers for him.Someone shouted: "The Medici is at the altar!" Then there was a series of violent running sounds.Lorenzo kicked away the sneak attacking assassin, and the cost was a penetrating wound on his thigh; he almost fell to his knees, his eyes were black with pain, at this moment, someone grabbed his wrist violently, and pushed him back pull.

Lorenzo struck back without hesitation, but the man dunked him without hesitation.The man said low and fast behind him, it's me, it's me, and his ears are buzzing, and it's impossible to tell whose voice it is.He seemed to yell: "Go away!", but no matter how hard he struggled and kicked, the man was still grabbing him tightly, dragging him forward involuntarily.In front of the cross of the church was the confessional and the sacristy. The door was already open, and Lorenzo was pushed in violently.The man threw the dagger with his backhand, and the blade sank straight into the belly of the assassin who was chasing him. Then he quickly turned back into the room, closed and locked the door.The chasing soldiers slammed into the door, and soon cracks appeared on the wooden door.In a hurry, Lorenzo dragged a wooden statue behind the door, and a knife went straight through the door, stabbing into the back of the head of the statue of Christ.

A trembling white candle burned in the sacristy, filling the room with a pale yellow light.Lorenzo knelt beside the icon, panting and looking back at his rescuer.A warm hand tremblingly covered the wound around his neck, and he heard the man keep saying, "It's me, Lorenzo, Lorenzo..."——the blood red in front of his eyes finally dissipated, and he saw a pair of gray eyes.

All the strength in his body was taken away in an instant, and the blood-stained long sword fell to the ground with a "bang".He was almost in tears.

They didn't even have time to speak.He has too many doubts, and this is definitely not the time to talk.Giovanni took his hand firmly.After the icon was removed, a corner of the secret door was exposed beside the floor tiles. No one knows who built it and when.There are steps one after another under the entrance. Giovanni drilled in first, followed by Lorenzo. After pulling down the stone slab at the entrance, the ground suddenly fell into darkness.The tunnel is only two people wide, and the rainwater accumulated over the years has covered their calves, and the sound of water every step can arouse chilling echoes.Giovanni's hand was his only guide. He just dragged Lorenzo and ran quickly in the passage, as if he had already been familiar with the underground situation.Lorenzo said: "Everyone else is still inside..."

"They are in no danger for the time being," Giovanni whispered. "The assassins are targeting you and Giuliano."

The name dug into his heart so hard that for a moment Lorenzo almost stooped in pain.The wounds all over his body were burning and aching from the years of authentic sewage.They quickly ran to the end and climbed up the stairs to the ground, as if they were inside some building, and the surroundings were still dark.Giovanni fumbled to open the door, but fortunately there was no one there; only after going out did they realize that the end of the tunnel was an abandoned house off St. John's Square that had been a brothel decades earlier.It's very close to Pazzi's mansion, but fortunately all their soldiers have been sent to the church.The Medici Palace was not far away. Lorenzo looked in the direction of the palace. In the supposedly quiet night, there were constantly loud noises coming from a distance.

Lorenzo moved slightly, and Giovanni immediately stopped him: "You can't go back!" He held Lorenzo's hand tightly, "At least not now. I heard, they said, they will... attack the palace."

It is self-evident who "they" are.Lorenzo trembled, but said nothing.Pazzi must have realized that Lorenzo had fled the church, and no doubt their mercenaries would spend the night looking for the Duke of Medici.They got into the narrow alley and walked close to the base of the wall in the darkness. From time to time, the sound of soldiers running past in the distance made them hide in the corner like frightened birds.As they approached the Piazza della Signoria, several guards approached the corner where they were hiding.Giovanni blew out the candles in the alcove of the Madonna, and the darkness hid their shadows.

But at this moment, there were only a few roars piercing the sky, and several scarlet circular fireworks were imprinted in the night sky instantly—it was the call for help that Lorenzo had agreed with the reinforcements outside the city.The Medici guards finally got the chance to set them off.The soldiers' attention was immediately attracted by the fireworks, they spat loudly, and hurried to the direction where the fireworks rose.Giovanni stood up slowly, and drew back when he heard the approach of another group of soldiers; but this group of soldiers did not turn into the alley at all, but went directly to the northwest, and their goal was the Palazzo de la Ville. .The Piazza della Signoria has become the stronghold of the rebels. People smashed the Medici decorations on the palace gates and crushed the flags embroidered with the crest of the red ball under their feet.Lorenzo's face was pale, and he didn't take another look at the brightly lit square.He followed Giovanni to the back of the palace. A street away, two Pazzi soldiers were coming out of Giovanni's rented house, apparently having just finished a search.They waited behind the wall holding their breath until the figures of the soldiers disappeared, and then they got in through the back door.All the cabinets in the house that could hide people were kicked to the ground. The soldiers may come back at any time, but the city is full of mercenaries. It is impossible for them to continue to flee and wander, and there is no better shelter.

When they came to the attic, Giovanni rummaged through boxes and chests to find gauze and ointment, and bandaged Lorenzo's wound with shaking hands.When did the Duke of Medici suffer such an injury?Every wound is shocking, and the wound on the left leg is even more bone-deep.Giovanni bowed his head, tears falling drop by drop beside his wound.

Lorenzo seemed to feel no pain at all.He just stared out the window.

It's so close to the Medici Palace that everything that happens seems to be right in front of your eyes.A corner of the curtain was lifted by the night wind, and they saw that the Medici Palace was brightly lit, the torches of the occupiers hung all over the palace walls, several groups of soldiers surrounded the palace, the palace door was opened wide, and the servant was knocked to the ground and dragged out, saying Sob and sob.The sprawling palace designed by Brunelleschi 50 years ago has the protective style typical of medieval palaces. The ground floor of rough-faced masonry even resembles fortifications. It should be as impenetrable as a fortress, but now it is rebelling The door opened less than an hour after it happened.They all realized why.

Giovanni turned sharply and seized Lorenzo's hand.

"Last night I sent Petey out of town to find Niccolo, and they'll be in town in no time. We just have to hold on a little longer, just a little longer," he begged. "Don't go out! Maybe just Just wait until dawn, and the reinforcements will arrive..."

"Pazzi's men may have secured the gate. Can they enter the city?" Lorenzo looked at him.

"Most of the soldiers are looking for you," said Giovanni, "they are not many, maybe they just want to kill you. I don't know how they got them into the city..."

"—from the sea from the south, without passing through our fortress. A customs officer died before Holy Week." Lorenzo closed his eyes, "Of course, farmers are always the best disguise for soldiers. And the wine Bucket..." His voice dropped to a murmur, "I'm so stupid..."

He looked in the direction of the Medici Palace, and Giovanni blocked his view: "Don't go out!" He begged, "If they don't find you tonight, everything can be redeemed. Let me go, please stay." Here, don't leave..."

For Pazzi, success or failure rests solely on Lorenzo's survival.The reinforcements outside the city are just mercenaries. If their master mercenary dies that night, the previous agreement will not be able to continue; and if Lorenzo fails to die in their hands in time, the subsequent counterattack will be fatal.In a daze, Lorenzo seemed to nod his head.Giovanni put his arm firmly on his shoulder.He heard Giovanni lock the door, and the footsteps faded away.

Lorenzo stood up leaning on the wall and looked out the window.

"All come out!"

He finally knew where the missing priests had gone.Under the leadership of Girolamo, the monks in black are knocking on the door of the house, singing the song of song: "Destroy, tear down, tear down to the foundation!" Take to the street and be led towards the Medici Palace. "Come out!" People were waving torches everywhere, and two soldiers dragged a dead body to the palace gate, "Look carefully—the Medici is dead!"

The flames were shining brightly, reflecting the corpse's golden hair and blood-stained face.Lorenzo was shaking all over.

People in nightgowns stood blankly on the periphery, and after seeing the face of the corpse, they burst into screams. "It's the Duke! He's dead!" they whispered.The captain of the soldiers roughly grabbed the corpse and threw his gem-encrusted belt to the crowd, followed by the corpse's ring and badge: "—wealth belongs to the people! Take what you deserve!"

At first no one moved, but under the encouragement of the soldiers, soon, someone cursed and rushed to pick up the belt.The soldiers laughed and kicked the palace door vigorously, and the man ran into the palace regardless.He probably just searched around in the hall, and when he reappeared, he was already holding two huge antique bottles in his arms.The rest of the people looked at each other, and then rushed in together.Everyone came out with their hands full of possessions, their pockets overflowing with jewels, and gold and silver wares rolled all over the floor.

From a distance, Lorenzo stared at the familiar faces that flashed from time to time. They once threw bouquets to him on both sides of the street, and were fascinated by the fireworks he set off.

He closed his eyes.

Bunches of torches were thrown into the garden, and the well-pruned boxwood groves blazed, and soon spread to the hedges beside them.Fountains and statues were drowned in flames, and he could hear the cry of bronze.

The commotion continued throughout the night.Giovanni returned an hour later, the moon had gone down, and Lorenzo lay motionless on the bed.Kneeling cautiously beside him, he realized that Lorenzo's eyes were still open.

In the faint moonlight, the young Duke stared at the wooden beams above the attic, his eyes unblinking for a long time, and his face was a combination of extreme coldness, silence and sadness.Giovanni took his hand and kissed Lorenzo's palm and back.In the almost dead silence, Lorenzo slowly shifted his gaze to his face, and the moment his eyes met, those blue eyes suddenly filled with tears.At the same time, tears fell from Giovanni's eyes, as if weeping for Lorenzo.

So the Duke's tears kept accumulating in his eyes.After a long time, he finally took Giovanni's hand and closed his eyes.

Is God taking a nap?Or does God have a unique melting pot for everyone? "Sleep," Giovanni's lips fell on his closed eyes, "sleep... my heart."

Just wait until dawn.

The author has something to say:

The title of the volume, Vivehodie, means "live in the present", from Virgil's "Pastoral".

So far it seems that this volume will also be full of all kinds of illogical and extremely childish nonsense...but it won't be too long!Try to finish it this year^^