Medici… Augustus thought of a few familiar names, wondering if they would attend this family banquet. If they did, then Ferdinand would be helping him greatly.
So Augustus put on a curious expression and subtly inquired, "Uncle, our family's dignitaries and talented youths are spread across the European continent. Which family members will be attending this banquet? I've been looking forward to meeting them for a long time!"
Ferdinand slowly circled around the topic, saying, "Don't be impatient. Who do you want to see? They're probably more eager than you. You won't even have to wait for the family banquet; they'll probably be too impatient and come to visit you first. Some of them are coming to this family banquet specifically for you; if you weren't willing to come, they wouldn't either."
"Of course, I want to see all of them," Augustus replied.
"You want to see all of them? Well, that's a lot. I'm old, and I can't remember all the names at once. When I go back, I'll have them compile a list and send it to you.
These fellows, with a talented youth emerging in the family, they've almost forgotten about this old man. But that's understandable; you are the youngest Pope in history, and the pride of our family!" Ferdinand's tone, though slightly reproachful, was filled with immense pride.
Family honor? As he met Ferdinand's approving gaze, Augustus thought of that phrase, but then immediately dismissed it.
For a shrewd ruler, so-called family honor is merely a tool to express joy over the immense benefits family members can bring, and to unite the family.
Augustus wasn't swayed by the flattery; on the contrary, he felt as if his throat was being clutched. To this day, Augustus still hadn't fully understood how he became Pope.
However, one thing was certain: there must have been some shady dealings involved. This was beyond doubt; it would be strange if any Pope's election didn't involve some hidden machinations. Investigating his own shady dealings was not only inconvenient but also extremely suicidal.
Another certainty was that Florence must have played a significant role in his successful election. In his memory, Pope Leo XI of the Medici Family, who was originally supposed to be elected and only reigned for 27 days.
Augustus knew a little about how he was elected. Italian bishops allied with French bishops, and Henry IV spent a fortune to help "persuade" enough cardinals to support him.
How the alliance was formed, what promises were made, and what interests were exchanged, Augustus had no idea.
From his own election, it seemed the forces behind this alliance had a clear objective: not just to demand an Italian Pope to curb Spain, but to have a Medici Family Pope, even if he was inexperienced and unprecedentedly young.
Who else besides the man in front of him would expend so much effort to do this?
So, was Ferdinand I celebrating him on the surface, but actually threatening and warning him? Did he have a handle on Augustus?
Augustus then secretly shook his head. This was hardly a good handle, as it was almost unusable. To use it would be a suicidal attack. And once a hint of it was revealed, those who wanted him silenced forever would surely far outnumber those who wished him dead.
Ferdinand was a clever man; he wouldn't use this to threaten him. It seemed Augustus was overthinking it. But if he could completely control Augustus, Ferdinand probably had no reason to refuse.
Through Ferdinand's murky yet resolute gaze, Augustus saw nothing, but he himself couldn't control it and his eyes flickered away slightly.
"I wouldn't dare take credit. Although you haven't said it, I know very well that for me to become Pope, everyone in the family, especially you, played an immense role!" Since Ferdinand brought it up, Augustus didn't shy away, hoping he might uncover some inside information.
"What are you saying! Your becoming Pope is God's will; how dare I claim credit for Heaven's work! You must not speak such baseless conjectures in the future; they will bring disaster upon yourself and the family," Ferdinand sternly corrected him.
Old fox! Augustus cursed fiercely in his heart.
"I only say this in front of my own family. Of course, I wouldn't mention a single word of it in front of outsiders. You're still hiding things from me; what can't you tell me?" Augustus persisted, continuing to probe.
Ferdinand flatly denied it without hesitation, saying, "If you ask me, my answer is that it has nothing to do with me or the family. You only need to know that you are the Lord's choice, and that's good for you and good for the family. Don't let your imagination run wild, and certainly don't do anything foolish."
Augustus nodded. Augustus knew that Ferdinand was actually right; in the eyes of the populace, a Pope chosen by the Lord was far superior to one bought with money. To make others believe, it was best to believe it oneself first.
Ferdinand's stance was already very clear: even if Jesus came, he would still say it had nothing to do with him.
To dig into this matter would be to dig his own grave. But being kept in the dark made Augustus very uncomfortable; the French and many cardinals probably knew the specifics, while he, the person involved, was completely clueless.
As for the other informed parties, Augustus had no idea if Ferdinand had already arranged things properly or if he had buried a pile of landmines that could explode at any time.
There was no other way to deal with this matter now. Never mind, he wouldn't worry about it for now; he couldn't control it anyway.
"Uncle, I have some ideas. If possible, I hope the Grand Duchy of Tuscany can provide some support within its capabilities," Augustus said sincerely.
"Good! Whatever you want to do, go ahead and do it with confidence! The entire Medici Family will be your strong backing," Ferdinand agreed readily, but also vaguely.
Just as Augustus was about to speak more specifically, Ferdinand interjected, "For specific matters, you can communicate with Cosimo; it will also be good training for him. Don't underestimate Cosimo just because he's young; he can already handle things on his own. He might make some mistakes occasionally, but with my guidance, he corrects them quickly. You two should also communicate more and help each other, after all, the future of the Medici Family belongs to you young people."
Augustus felt a surge of speechlessness. Ferdinand wanted him to discuss important matters with his son. If things went well, they would proceed; if he wanted to go back on his word, he could always scold his son and be done with it. What a shrewd calculation.
It seemed that unless he showed some initiative, Ferdinand wouldn't say anything meaningful.
"So, what can I do for the family?" Augustus asked eagerly.
"There's no rush for that either. Just doing your own job well is the greatest contribution to the family. As for other things within your capabilities, you can decide as you see fit. Now that our older generation is still here, we can still shield you from the wind and rain; we can't expect you to help with everything."
Alright, Ferdinand clearly had no intention of discussing serious matters, so Augustus wouldn't either.
Was he too impatient? Augustus asked himself. Not really, it had been a year already.
After a few more casual exchanges, Ferdinand returned contentedly, leaving Augustus to feel utterly disoriented in the wind.