Chapter 767 Masquerade Ball

Compared with the small building of the Spanish merchants in Pomona and the others, the Rezzonico Palace has an obvious Western European style, which looks a bit like a French style, not a Mediterranean style. After all, this palace reflects the last glory of Venice in the 18th century. .

This place is not big, only three floors, and only three rooms horizontally, but it is extremely luxurious, especially the restaurant, which is full of the luxury of "upstarts".

The Chinese say that wealth does not last for three generations, and this is proof that the Rezzonico family were not born nobles, they were wealthy businessmen who donated a large sum of money to buy a noble title when the treasury of the Republic of Venice was exhausted. The name was thus added to the Golden Book.

However, it took more than 60 years for this family from its peak to its decline. This house was originally for the family. However, neither the original architect nor the owner could see the completion of the palace. Due to financial problems, it was once unfinished. Later, The Rezzonico family bought it from the Bang family and hired new designers to complete the unfinished palace.

In the 17th century, Venice and the Ottoman Empire competed for hegemony in the Mediterranean Sea. At that time, there was no favorite concubine Cecilia Venere slandering in the ears of the Sultan. In addition to the Black Death and the westward migration of the trade center, the old nobles had declined, but instead The purely wealthy were able to donate large sums of money to the Republic of Venice, thereby purchasing the rights of nobility.

The Golden Book records people who have made special contributions to the Republic. Donating money when you are short of money is also a kind of credit. Hundreds of years ago, Steno, who kissed Marino Faleri's wife in public, was also a nobleman. The 63rd Governor Michele Steno and he belonged to the same family.

Venice’s sea salt business is mainly due to monopoly. They produce fine salt, but countries along the Mediterranean Sea can dry their own salt. This is not a complicated thing. It is easy to learn how to ensure the monopoly of Venice’s salt industry. Woolen cloth?

Ancient China also used the monopoly of salt and iron. Selling private salt was punishable by death, which was enforced by means of violence. The method of Venice’s monopoly was to take advantage of its geographical advantages. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, just like the tonsils in the throat. Going deep into the center of the Mediterranean Sea, neither Eastern nor Western trade can avoid him. The only one that can compete with Venice is Genoa.

By the end of the 14th century, Genoa was no longer able to compete with the Venice-Cyprus coalition forces. They turned to France. Whoever can fight naval battles during this period will be credited to the Republic. Steno, who kissed the governor’s bride, is an excellent navy. , but he lost his mind for love.

This was a scandal that Venice wanted to cover up. The little wife Marino married was originally married to the Steno family. Because of greater interests, the girl's father betrothed her to the old governor who was old enough to be her grandfather. Later, Venice Council Marino charged treason, as if doing so would save some face.

Treason is even more dignified than the Governor and the young people being jealous, intending to overthrow the Great Council and the Council of Ten, change the original sentence, and execute the boy from the Steno family.

Back then, there was no shortage of assassins that could be bought with money. Pirates, refugees, heretics, and Steno were all imprisoned. Isn't it easy to die by accident? But Marino was confused. Perhaps he also had plans to become emperor. After making a series of wrong judgments, he made the wrong choice and was eventually beheaded.

In 1758, Ludovico Rezzonico married Miss Savognan. One of the two noble Venetian families was rich and the other was of high status. It was a match made in heaven. However, it was less than 40 years before Napoleon Panama captured Venice in 1797. up.

The happy couple lived in the top and most beautiful palace in Venice, and lived a carefree life contentedly. Ludovico later served as the accountant of the Basilica of San Marco. However, this could not prevent his family from declining.

In this palace, Pomona only sees the luxury like a flashback. It is said that the handrails and dance floor in this house were originally designed by the family. Fortunately, the French and Austrians did not see it, otherwise they would have been dismantled and decorated in French and Austrian manors or castles.

Theoretically, the palace opens at 10 o'clock, but as long as you know the way and arrange it in advance, the administrator doesn't mind opening the door earlier to let a small number of people in.

The privileged are repulsive to ordinary people who yearn for equality, but enjoy those privileges surreptitiously as long as they don't know it.

However, this kind of sneaky life is too boring. Once the desire to show off exceeds reason and let ordinary people know how the privileged class play, then they will not be envious of it, but jealousy will arise. When the jealousy exceeds a certain Degrees are turned into violence, first with words and then with hands, as has been the case for thousands of years.

The nobles of the Republic of Venice enjoy privileges because they have contributed to the country, not just money, but even their lives. The common people cannot enjoy their rich life, but they can enjoy joy, especially when other Catholic countries are still practicing asceticism. They can live the same life as the Greeks and Romans, enjoy food, banquets, and dance to music that makes people dance. The hymns in the church don't sound like people want to dance at all.

The portraits of those naked women cannot be seen, but there are some wandering troupes performing. Their performances are not as elegant as operas, even very vulgar, but the common people feel happy, and they will not be interested in watching Jason.

The Weasley family has almost no ambitions except Patsy, but the "ambition" of children is insignificant in front of real ambitious people.

For tickets to Palazzo Rezzonico, anyone under the age of 25 only needs to buy a "children's ticket". After all, the world seen by young people is different from that seen by adults.

Pomona and Severus bought adult tickets, and they didn't need to buy tickets, but then they couldn't dance so slowly in the luxurious ballroom.

There is a café next to the palace, where Italian music is played, and they dance in masks in one of the most flashy palaces in the water city.

The layout of the Blake house is actually very similar to Palazzo Rezzonico, only it is narrower and the chandelier is covered with cobwebs.

The chandeliers above their heads were gilded and there were lots of crystals, and they looked more sparkly than the party they had thrown at Malfoy's house 11 years ago to celebrate his nomination for the Prince Award.

Monica was having a temper tantrum with Gianluca, and their situation was similar to when James was chasing Lily back then. Perhaps it was because of this that Severus was in a particularly good mood, and the shot was also very hard, and the other tourists were busy. I took a photo, but the two of them were dancing. It was only when I saw them playing like this that I realized that this dance floor was originally used for dancing, and of course they could dance together.

Whether it's a waltz or a tango, anyone who can dance can dance, although they don't wear fancy evening dresses, but who cares?

Nietzsche once said: Every day without dancing is a disappointment to life.

Venice is a hedonist's paradise, and can make the spy lover write the sentence "I didn't live in vain in this life".

Wear a mask and no one will know who you are, you don't have to hide yourself, do what you want, your family will give you that freedom.

They will accompany you to have fun together, deal with the bad guys outside, play pranks together, and lose face together.

"If one day you go to hell, I will be with you." She said foolishly, "I will not let you die alone on an island like Napoleon."

"Josephine was dead when he was imprisoned on the island." Although he was wearing a mask, Pomona could still hear his smug smile, "I will keep you healthy, even at the age of 80." It will make you feel lonely."

"Is that why you quit smoking?"

"It's not about quitting smoking, it's about smoking as little as possible." He sighed, "I don't want to die early, it's cheaper for other bastards."

In order to prevent his wife from taking his inheritance and fooling around with other men, what a bastard and selfish idea.

"You spent my money!" Pomona charged.

"Lucius returned my shares to me, and what you use now is mine." He said viciously, "If I can't even support you, then my life will be in vain."

"You think I'm easy to raise?" Pomona said angrily, and at the same time her mind was racing, how to lose money quickly.

"Otherwise, show me how you squander it." He said provocatively.

Just when she was about to get angry, she accidentally saw an old man with white beard and hair standing by the dance floor. He was wearing a gray wizard robe and had half-moon glasses on his face.

When she turned around and looked over again, he was no longer there.

"Do you know how the Gaunt family is run-down?" Pomona said. "The family just likes to put on a show, and the generations have spent all the money of the descendants."

He gritted his teeth in frustration.

"Control your desires, you said it yourself, Jankuka is not easy to deal with, don't spend too much money in pursuit of enjoyment, if you don't make friends, you will have an enemy instead."

"He's just a kid."

"I don't underestimate children, you forgot, it was a group of children who protected Hogwarts and defeated the Dark Lord." She stared into his black eyes behind the mask and said, "Don't let people laugh at you, take your Examples serve as examples, Severus Snape."

He didn't make a sound for a long time, and after a moment he said seriously, "Yes, Professor."

She leaned against his arms softly and bonelessly, listening to his pounding heartbeat, which should have been beating fast before, but now it has gradually slowed down.

"Do you want to see what a nobleman's bedroom looks like?" She said softly, "I bought a Venetian gold silk pillow. Do you want to add something else?"

"After dancing this song." He said softly, "We can buy a run-down nobleman's house when we return to England."

"I think you should spend the money where it is more needed. We will leave after Draco's problem is solved." She leaned into his ear and whispered, "Do you want to disappear with me?"

"Now?" he asked.

"There are a lot of people who disappear in the middle of the dance, guess what they do?" she asked.

"I think it should be interesting," he whispered.

Pomona stopped dancing.

She took his hand and left the ballroom.

The night is a charming slut, unfortunately it is daytime, but this does not affect the "naughty" troublemakers.

Anyway, he also fulfilled her wish to attend the masquerade ball, she should give him some reward, he deserves it.