Flowers, Swords and France

While Charles was still celebrating Matilda's birthday, a much grander banquet was going on at the Schönbrunn Palace in Austria, thousands of miles away.

"His Majesty the Emperor has arrived!"

Following the attendant's shout, His Majesty Franz-Josef I, the current Emperor of the Austrian Empire, stepped forward on the carpet step by step with deliberately slow steps. Along his route, the palace officials and guards, large and small, They all stood on both sides to watch the monarch off.

This young emperor has a slender figure and is wearing a blue dress. His face is a little pale due to overwork, but his expression is very calm, as if it has been coated with some of the majesty that an emperor should have.

Following the emperor and his retinue were the heads of the princely families of the empire and their wives, followed closely by the ministers stationed in Austria, then the various government ministers and their wives, and then the The marshals and generals of the imperial army... they followed the emperor slowly into the hall according to the hierarchical order established for centuries. The empire's majesty was vividly displayed at this moment.

Isn't it possible that the majesty of the royal family can be reflected through these complicated etiquette and grand pomp?

Surrounded by his attendants, His Majesty the Emperor walked into the hall. Although he was the focus of everyone's attention, he suddenly didn't realize it and gently sat down. There was a sudden noise around the long dining table. After him, princes and nobles also filed in one after another. Gentlemen without titles could only be taken to other rooms by the palace etiquette officers to enjoy the buffet provided by the royal family.

The seats at the table were also arranged according to the imperial etiquette and rank, so the emperor did not need to worry too much. So, in the sight of people, he gently picked up the tableware and officially announced the start of the dinner.

"The poor Austrian Empire is now irretrievably decayed. It has become a zombie, lifeless and hopeless. No one can revive it. Its current monarch is an idiot, and high expectations are placed on it. Franz Joseph is just a new sore on this zombie..."

Despite being ridiculed by Count Dilion, from the outside, the long-established Habsburg royal family still looks impressive and glamorous. As for the emperor himself... although he was pale and thin, looked melancholy and seemed troubled, he was still a rather handsome blond boy. Well, should I say little fresh meat?

Perhaps it was because he had long been accustomed to grand occasions. Even with such a grand banquet, the emperor, who had just ascended the throne for less than a year, still looked calm and chatted with the people on both sides.

It seems that this is a common banquet in the palace.

However, the whispers around him were a bit louder than usual. People were chatting in low voices while scanning the emperor and the people around him with the corners of their eyes from time to time. Their eyes were either confused, excited, or both.

Their reaction was so violent, of course it had something to do with the people who were dining with the emperor today.

On the right side of the emperor, sits the Prime Minister of the current empire, Prince Schwarzenberg, who holds great power and status; he is the most trusted minister of His Majesty the Emperor, and is even regarded as a teacher to some extent - but here At this moment, people were paying more attention to another person, the young man sitting on the left side of the emperor.

To be honest, they basically all know this person, and some of them have known him for many years. The reason why they are surprised is simply because of this time - he is the son and heir of Prince Metternich, who has just returned from abroad. Richard von Metternich.

[Richard von Metternich (9-1895), among the children born to Metternich’s three wives, he was the eldest living at the time, and he died in Metternich in 1859 at the age of 30 Later, he inherited his title and became the second generation Prince Metternich.

Like his father, he entered the diplomatic community as an adult. In the original history, he became the secretary of the Austrian Embassy in France in 1855, and served as the Austrian Ambassador to France from 1859 to 1870. A rather pro-French politician.

In addition, it is worth mentioning that he married his niece Pauline (20 years old at the time, the daughter of his half-sister) in 1856 - in the European society at that time, this kind of Endogamy among relatives was common and was not limited to the upper classes.

The lady was also well-known in French social circles at the time and became a close friend of Queen Eugenie. 】

This 20-year-old young man has a handsome face, short brown hair, and the facial contours of his father. Wearing a formal suit, he kept smiling and responded to the emperor's inquiries appropriately.

Originally, with his distinguished status, his appearance on such an occasion would not cause such a big commotion, but things are different now - in the turbulent year of 1848, his father, Prince Metternich, was violently murdered by the citizens of Vienna. , had to choose to resign and leave Austria, went into exile abroad, and also lost the favor of the new emperor Franz Joseph.

But today, Richard von Metternich appeared next to the emperor again... Does this mean that Prince Metternich, who has lost power, has regained the king's favor? People are speculating in their hearts.

However, at this time, the emperor and the two princes ignored their gazes and continued to talk cordially.

"Your Majesty, thank you very much for taking the time to inquire about my father's health. My father is very happy..." After talking for a while, Richard bowed his head respectfully to the emperor, "He asked me to tell you that he is now in good health. He is very healthy, but because he is worried about the country and His Majesty, he sometimes has trouble sleeping. In addition, since he cannot return to China yet, he asked me to express my most sincere gratitude."

Yes, just in August this year, Prince Metternich received a letter from His Majesty the Emperor. This letter expressed the Emperor's cordial condolences to the Prince in a passionate way, and also sparked the Prince's return to the world. Austria's eternal hope.

It was in order to achieve this goal that he asked his son to return to the country to please the emperor and the prime minister.

"Oh, the prince is in good health." The emperor's slight smile gradually disappeared. He nodded and replied softly, then turned his head and looked at the Prime Minister Prince Schwarzenberg next to him.

He obviously understood the implication of Richard's words, so he wanted to ask the Prime Minister to answer.

"I am very happy that His Highness the Prince is in good health." After receiving the emperor's signal, the Prime Minister immediately answered directly, obviously prepared for this question. "As a subordinate of His Highness the Prince for many years, I have always respected and admired the Prince, and I am very sympathetic to his current situation. As an outstanding state activist who has made great contributions to the country over the years, It is indeed a huge tragedy to have to live abroad after old age. Therefore, I very much hope that His Royal Highness can return to the country as soon as possible to enjoy his life. "

Is it just "going home to take care of yourself"? The young man sighed heavily in his heart.

That's right. He only got the position of Prime Minister after his father went into exile. How could he get it back? As for His Majesty the Emperor... I'm afraid he thinks so too. Forget it, it's already good to be able to return to China to take care of life, it's better than dying in a foreign land.

Fortunately, the father and son of the Metternich family had long been aware of this, so he was not sad.

"You are right, Your Excellency. After the previous mob riots, my father is already exhausted mentally and physically. He never wants to return to politics. He just wants to live out his life in a manor in China..." He quickly told his father The rhetoric taught to him before came out, "In addition, during his exile, he has been paying attention to the changes in the country. He is convinced that the country will enter a new era of prosperity under the leadership of His Majesty and the Prime Minister... "

After hearing his answer, the emperor and the prime minister looked at each other again, and then the prime minister nodded, obviously satisfied with the answer.

"I also hope to see Prince Metternich as soon as possible," His Majesty finally spoke after a moment of silence. "Although he is old and frail, with his wisdom, he will definitely be able to teach us a lot."

Finally done... Richard suddenly breathed a sigh of relief. Now my father can finally return home.

"Thank you for your generosity, Your Majesty." He sincerely thanked Your Majesty again, but the blond boy just smiled indifferently.

Because the problem of Prince Metternich was perfectly solved, the three of them were in a much better mood. At this time, Richard von Metternich planned to make the emperor happy.

"Oh, Your Majesty, look at the face of the Prussian Minister, he is livid!" He laughed as exaggeratedly as possible within the limits of etiquette, "He kept drinking wine, as if he had been beaten up. Same."

"This is exactly the effect we need. It's a pity that we didn't make him cry." The Prime Minister next to him replied coldly, "That's what the Prussians are like. If you don't give them a few hard blows, they won't know how powerful they are at all! Only show Only with strength can you gain their respect.”

And the emperor just continued to smile.

According to traditional court etiquette, at such a banquet, the emperor needs to briefly greet the ministers of various countries after attending the banquet - even if it is just a few nonsense words, but today the emperor did so, except for the Prussian minister. This kind of explicit diplomatic humiliation will obviously make the general minister angry.

"So, what are they going to do about the Hessian issue? A showdown?" Of course Richard understood their intention, so he continued to ask questions in order to make the emperor happier.

"How dare the Prussians show their cards? Although they usually shout loudly, as long as they show their determination, they dare not act rashly." The Prime Minister replied with a sneer, while taking a sip of wine, "The Prussians always forget, just because The kindness of the major powers at the Vienna Conference made them qualified to pretend to be major powers on the European stage. They always need someone to stand up and make them understand this again. "

[During the Congress of Vienna in 1815, Russian Czar Alexander I insisted on swallowing the entire Poland. In order to compensate Prussia and at the same time enhance Prussia's strength against France, with the support of the Russian Czar, Prussia obtained the land of the Electorate of Saxony and the Rhine Provinces, which greatly increased its strength. 】

"You are right, we must limit the arrogant ambitions of the Prussians." Richard quickly agreed, "Germany must be led by the empire after all."

"So, this time I plan to let the Prussians understand this lesson and let them return to the Imperial Parliament in Frankfurt." The emperor nodded again, his pale face slightly red with excitement, "If there is a need to fight, I will We will fight. Our country needs to prove to the world that it is still a force that cannot be underestimated.”

Just as he had hoped, under the seemingly powerful shadow of Austria, the Prussians finally surrendered to the empire - for the last time.

"Richard, what are your plans for the future?" After chatting for a while, the Prime Minister asked quite relaxedly.

"Well... just as my father wished before, I also want to work in the diplomatic field." After pondering for a moment, the young man replied.

"Oh, of course. If Metternich's son does not enter the diplomatic community, wouldn't it be a big loss?" The Prime Minister nodded, indicating that he understood the idea, "Then where do you want to go?"

The future Prince Metternich glanced at the emperor secretly and found that he did not look unhappy. He replied softly, "If possible, it is best to go to France."

"Yes, that is indeed a good choice. Don't young people like Paris?" The Prime Minister smiled again. "Richard, with your family background, if you want to do this, it will not be difficult. I hope you will have a good time there."

"Personally...personally is one aspect. I think...I can go there and make some contributions to the empire, um..." After another moment of hesitation, Richard von Metternich mustered up his courage. , speaking out one's inner thoughts - this does require courage. It is not a wise move to speak one's inner thoughts in front of the emperor and prime minister.

After all, he is still a young man.

Read the original text in Liu#9@书/吧!

"Oh? Contribute to the country?" The emperor was a little curious.

"I...I think so. Although we are not afraid of the Prussians alone, it will still be a bit difficult, right? Fighting alone is not a good thing." The young man looked at the emperor and the prime minister carefully. , "As my father said, the whole of Europe is a huge system, which needs a certain balance. When Prussia destroys the balance, other countries should be as disgusted as we are - in my opinion, maybe the French will Even more disgusted because they are also bearing the brunt of it.”

After hearing his words, the Prime Minister's expression suddenly became serious, and he looked around.

"That's true, but are the French trustworthy now? Not to mention that they were seriously injured just now." At this time, His Majesty the Emperor suddenly spoke, "Besides, Louis Bonaparte is a cunning liar, and Having a grudge against our country and being friendly with them does not do much good.”

The emperor looked down upon upstarts like Louis Bonaparte.

This thought flashed through the young man's mind.

But to be honest, he himself despises it, but...is diplomacy a place where emotions can get involved? If it is beneficial to the country, what if you flatter a monkey?

However, the young people certainly did not dare to let this idea be expressed.

"Well... Your Majesty, you are right. People like Louis Bonaparte are cunning and cunning, and it is always difficult to trust them." He answered carefully, "However, they may not necessarily act emotionally in the face of national interests. In addition... Your Majesty, with all due respect, this is no longer the time for principles."

As soon as he said the last words, Richard already regretted it.

Sure enough, after hearing these slightly preachy words, His Majesty frowned slightly. Although the delicate facial features and thin eyebrows did not give people much pressure, the status of the emperor was still enough to scare anyone.

"Your Majesty, I just expressed my opinion casually, you don't need to take it seriously." Richard von Metternich quickly apologized, "These are just my own random thoughts..."

"On this occasion, let's not talk about such a serious topic." Prince Schwarzenberg smoothed things over at the right time. "So many people are staring at..."

"Maybe you have a point." After hearing the Prime Minister's words, His Majesty the Emperor's brows widened again, he said this rather coldly, and then continued to eat.

In desperation, Richard could only give up his tirade and start eating.

The biggest tragedy of the political system is that it often puts the still confused young people and the dying old people in the supreme position. As a result, they act recklessly and impulsively, or they are sluggish.

And the slightly restrained blond boy in front of him might be one of the saddest examples? This slightly rebellious idea passed through the young man's mind.

"Does His Highness the Prince still plan to continue to live in the UK?" After a while, seeing that the atmosphere had calmed down again, the Prime Minister asked Richard with a smile.

"No, he plans to return to the mainland to live," Richard quickly replied, "in Belgium."

"You have been with him during this period and have seen a lot of foreign strange things, haven't you?" The Prime Minister still smiled and covered up the little unhappiness between Richard and the Emperor just now without leaving any trace. , "Well, it's good for young people to walk outside more, and it will be a lot more convenient for them to be diplomats in the future."

"Thank you." Richard thanked him sincerely.

"Since you have been abroad these days, have you heard about the diplomatic commotion caused by France a while ago?"

"Diplomatic commotion?" Richard was startled for a moment, and then quickly responded, "Are you referring to Mr. Charles de Treville's speech? That is indeed interesting."

"Yes, that's him." The Prime Minister nodded, "Your previous words reminded me of him suddenly, they are exactly the same, both talking about the balance of power and equilibrium in Europe."

Why did the Prime Minister suddenly bring up this matter? The young man was a little confused.

After a moment, he was delighted. It turns out that the Prime Minister also supports my opinion! He is guiding the emperor quietly.

"Not only that, he also specifically talked about France helping Austria restore the balance in Europe." After thinking about this, he quickly replied, "Anyway, what that person said is very interesting. My father also saw it in the newspaper..."

"De-Treville?" The emperor lowered his head and pondered, "It's a good surname."

"Yes, the De-Treville family is a famous aristocratic family in France, but he is a Napoleonic party member, probably because his grandfather was a general of Napoleon." Richard carefully explained to the emperor, "This person is amazing. He is about the same age as me, but he is already the Secretary of State of the French government and holds great power. It is really rare to be able to achieve such achievements at such a young age."

"You know a lot?" The Prime Minister was a little surprised.

"The newspapers have already introduced him thoroughly." Richard replied with a smile, "What's more, he is trusted by Bonaparte and seems to be a big shot in the future. His ideas largely coincide with mine. I really want to meet him if I have the chance..."

"According to the current situation, you will have a chance." The Prime Minister still smiled and gave Richard an approving look.

"De-Treville..." His Majesty the Emperor was still pondering, as if he had already remembered the surname.

A moment later, the slender blond boy stood up again because the court ball began. r1152

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