Flowers, Swords and France

April 1857

As the snow begins to thaw, the weather in early spring is always very cold, especially after night, when the cold wind howls through the streets, giving people a bone-chilling chill.

Because the weather was so cold, there were no pedestrians on the streets. There were only a few horse-drawn carriages traveling at extremely fast speeds against the cold wind.

In this dark and quiet night, the carriage passed through the maze-like streets of Paris, making no other noise except the sound of horse hooves along the way, and finally entered a luxurious mansion silently.

When the carriage stopped in front of the front steps, a thirty-year-old young man wearing a black coat and a black high wool hat walked down with a proud attitude, and then stood beside the silent servant. Under the guidance, he walked down the dark corridor step by step.

There was a sense of indifference in his polite manner, and he was also vaguely heavy, and he was obviously very worried.

"How is the count's health?" After walking for a while, he couldn't help but ask in a low voice.

"It's barely okay, sir." The servant replied respectfully, "It's just that I had a bad cold recently, so I couldn't work normally for many days in a row."

"This is really worrying." Charles frowned, "The Earl shoulders an important mission for the country and is one of the country's most important dignitaries. Please help him stay healthy."

"Of course we know this, sir. But he never listens to us and always stays up late to work." The servant's face darkened and he defended himself, "Since the young master...and the young lady...hey..."

Speaking of this, he sighed repeatedly as if there was something unspeakable.

The young man suddenly felt that he had nothing to say, and finally just shrugged.

This young man is none other than Charles de Treville, Duke of Curzon, and he is here to visit the owner today.

In the tumultuous summer of 1855. In order to clean up the financial mess since the end of the Crimean War and eliminate the risks caused by the government's high debt, he was transferred from the position of Minister of Transport to Minister of Finance by His Majesty the Emperor, continuing his hot political path.

There is no doubt that he is still one of the richest and most powerful people in the empire. And the impact is greater than in previous years.

He does not hesitate to use his current power to cultivate cronies and seek personal gain in order to consolidate his position. The owner of this mansion, Count de Beauvin, is one of the allies and helpers he currently relies on.

Mr. de Beauvin is a well-known banker. Now the president of the Bank of France, he can be said to be a hot figure in the French economic circle. He can make the financial world tremble with just one sentence.

Because of his fame and strength, he was granted the title of baron in the era of King Louis-Philippe. After the establishment of the empire, and after several gracious invitations from His Majesty the Emperor, he finally accepted the title of earl and became a baron in the Charles. With help, he became president of the Bank of France more than three years ago.

It is precisely because of the other party's help that Charles can be so comfortable when implementing his own financial policy. The Bank of France has cooperated with his actions in most cases, and it seems that the previously very turbulent financial policy has slowly returned to stability in more than a year.

But now, he still needs the help of this big man.

The servant took him all the way to the corridor of the mansion, and then to the door of the study at the deepest part of the mansion. This is where the count handles his daily affairs, and no one will disturb him easily.

The servant knocked on the door and received a reply of permission from inside. The servant opened the door and let Charles in. Then he bowed and pushed it away from a distance. The earl and the duke never allowed anyone around them when they were talking secretly.

After Charles entered, he closed the door. Then he walked in and reached the deepest part of the study.

The count himself was indeed waiting there.

Most of his hair is gray, his face is covered with wrinkles, and he no longer looks as energetic as he used to be. Only his eyes were still active, and his face did not look very healthy, perhaps because he was still ill. His hands were trembling slightly, and he could see that he lacked vitality.

However, it is the opposite of the weak expression in illness. There was a very happy smile on his face.

After casually glancing at the door, he didn't pay much attention to Ciel. He just looked at his chest, because there was a child nestled on his chest.

This is a very beautiful girl, about three or four years old, with very slender chestnut hair, milky white skin and delicate facial features, like a doll. The count smiled and kept touching her with his hands, making her laugh all the time. The count seemed to get a lot of fun from this, and he kept laughing.

"Your Excellency, I sincerely hope you can stay healthy." Ciel walked up to them calmly.

When she saw him, the little girl on the count's chest also made a sound and seemed very happy. She stood up from the chair and opened her hands to Charles. Ciel quickly reached out to hug her and put her into his arms.

"Oh, thank you, I'm healthy." The count looked at the little girl reluctantly, "I think it's rare that I can rest after catching a cold. I really hope I can rest for a few more days... However, Liana is getting more and more naughty now. Now, I can’t control her anymore!”

Then, he rolled up his sleeves and showed Charles the teeth marks on his arm. "She was running around on the ground today, and I picked her up. She actually bit me. It's really outrageous!"

He laughed as he spoke, obviously not angry about it.

"Oh, that's a bad kid!" Charles pinched the little girl's face exaggeratedly, making her giggle. "Let me punish her for you."

"Okay, don't pinch so hard! Young people just don't know the severity of the situation." The count looked at his granddaughter with some distress, "Sit down, sit down!"

Charles followed suit and sat down with Lianna in his arms.

"What's the matter today that you actually ran to my door?" The count restrained his smile a little and began to become serious.

"Count, I need your help now, so I have to disturb your rare vacation." Charles was not polite, "Once you rest, many things can't be carried out. Many people oppose me, especially on the issue of increasing the foreign investment transaction tax..."

Since becoming the Minister of Finance. In order to save the government's precarious financial situation, Charles adopted a variety of measures, among which increasing the transaction tax on foreign investment and the capital gains tax on banks was one of these measures. France's capital and banking industry are very developed, and there are many foreign investments. The collection of these taxes is conducive to expanding the government's fiscal revenue.

Moreover, after increasing the cost of foreign investment, banks will be more enthusiastic about domestic investment, which actually expands domestic demand.

But there is no doubt that his measures will naturally arouse strong opposition from the domestic financial community. Some of them are also prestigious within the Bank of France, so Charles needs Count de Bovan, the president of the Bank of France, to speak up to calm the situation.

"You are too impatient." The Earl did not express his opinion directly, but frowned. "You have been in office for less than two years, and you have not figured out everything. You want to make such a drastic move. What good will it do for you?"

"Time is running out, there is no need to hesitate." Charles answered very straightforwardly, "Today's government finances are like castles on the beach. If you are not careful, there will be a risk of overturning. We need to take some drastic measures. In addition - I am a little impatient with the current situation. Now every time I make a decision, I have to face the outside world's clamor. How can people do things? I need to create a precedent so that the government can interfere with the financial industry as needed, rather than letting it override the government."

"You may be right in a sense, but even if it is the right thing, it must be done in the right way, otherwise it will become a mistake." The Earl curled his lips, "What good is it for you to let everyone oppose you so fiercely now?"

He did agree with Charles's reasons. But from the standpoint of a banker, he also opposed the government's heavy taxation on their capital investment, so when many colleagues gave him advice, he did not directly refute their arguments.

"Don't tell me any unnecessary nonsense at the moment - you are so worried. What's the point of making everyone so dissatisfied with you? To put it bluntly, you have done so much for our Emperor. If he takes away the glory and fame and you are left with only hatred, what benefit will you get?" The Earl's tone was very cold. But it made Charles feel cold in his heart, "Charles, you have to make His Majesty the Emperor maintain a sense of crisis, so that he needs you. If you have done everything, he will think you are dispensable. Don't forget that ungratefulness is the nature of monarchs."

"You mean, we waste the power and influence we currently have in vain, but do nothing?" Charles disagreed with his opinion, "Sir, think about it, as long as the two of us join forces, there will be no resistance in the financial world. The more we hit them, the stronger your power will be, until the end, the Bank of France led by you will become the undisputed master of everyone. We should not tolerate a network that can connect the whole of Europe and do its own thing."

When he said this, the count had been looking at him. He watched this young man grow up. Under his gaze, he went from a down-and-out nobleman to a duke and the empire's finance minister, and he is still so energetic and ambitious.

It can't be said that his thinking is wrong. Maybe this is the difference between young people and old people.

Am I really old? He lowered his eyes slightly and saw the little granddaughter in the duke's arms.

Although she was still confused and only knew how to giggle, the future would only belong to them.

"Okay, after I have recovered, I will convene a meeting of the directors in two days and tell them the current situation and my decision." After a moment of silence, he nodded gently, "But your drastic measures must be moderated and not so hasty. We must take into account the perception of the entire financial community. Show me all the measures you have prepared. I want to review and modify them one by one."

"If I don't do this, will you object to me?" Charles asked.

"I'm sorry, I will object." The count shrugged, "or unless His Majesty the Emperor grants you full power and guarantees that our positions will always be as stable as a rock. Can he guarantee it?"

Obviously it can't be guaranteed. Although Charles feels that His Majesty the Emperor's reliance on him will not change, he is a realist after all and will not make such a naive judgment.

Charles fell into thought again.

"Okay, I agree with you. I will make my measures as gradual as possible so that the voice of opposition will not rise so high." After a moment, he made a decision. Because the count's support is crucial to him, he must take care of the other person's ideas, "Four or five years later, I will get everything done. By then no one can oppose us."

"The premise is of course that you can still be the finance minister for another four years and continue to gain the emperor's trust." The count added with a hint of sarcasm, "otherwise you will not be able to do this."

After saying this, Charles was silent for a moment. He lowered his head and kept teasing his daughter.

"Actually, I know. You are so anxious because you are afraid that I will die suddenly one day, right?" After a long silence, the count suddenly asked. "You're afraid that I'm dead. You don't have enough supporters anymore, so you want to get everything done now."

"I didn't mean that!" Charles quickly denied.

"Come on, Your Majesty the Duke!" the Count laughed, "We are all rational realists, and we don't need to use these polite words to cover up. In fact, I would be surprised if you weren't so worried! Yes, I am now I am getting old and my body is not as good as before..."

certainly. His physical weakness was also due to the terrible accidents of his children.

After sighing, the count fell silent again, and the study was speechless again.

After hesitating for a long time, Charles finally couldn't bear it any longer. He looked over to observe the other person's expression, and finally spoke slowly, "If you don't think this concern is groundless, then... just let Laura go." Forget it.”

After hearing these words, Count de Beauvain quickly opened his eyes. His face also twitched slightly, but since he had already begun, Charles continued boldly, "She is your only living child. And she has a good mind and is reliable in her work..."

"But she killed her brother," the Count replied coldly. "She killed her brother with her own hands without mercy."

"But you didn't kill her. You were reluctant to kill her, which means you still love her." Charles continued his advice, "The past has passed after all. Maurice can no longer be resurrected, so you might as well face it Let’s be realistic…”

"You bastard, you just want to intercede with your lover! She killed my son, my only son!" The Earl's face turned red and he roared loudly at Charles, "Don't think that if we cooperate now, you can I'm telling you! She must pay for her sins!"

On the day when Laura gave birth to Lianna, Count de Beauvin, who had already guessed the truth but remained calm, imprisoned his daughter directly. As early as when Laura was pregnant, he randomly found a duke from Italy as a nominal husband for his daughter, so Liana obtained the legal heir status as soon as she was born, while Laura could only be under house arrest at home. , I can only accompany my daughter occasionally, and I can't get involved in family affairs at all.

After Charles learned of the Earl's decision, although he felt a little aggrieved for Liana, he still acquiesced in the Earl's decision. After all, he was the one who suffered and had the right to retaliate in any way.

However, in the past two years, seeing that the count was getting more and more old, Charles also tried to persuade him to let Laura return. However, he tried to persuade him several times, but the earl became furious and refused to agree to his proposal.

On other issues, he was shrewd, capable and far-sighted, but on this issue, he could not get around it. He understood what Charles said, but he could not forgive Laura no matter what.

"I understand your feelings, and I don't intend for you to make any decision that goes against your original intention, but I still have to remind you out of obligation. If you are unwilling to release Laura, then what are you going to do with her? She will come out sooner or later... You can't wait until Liana grows up, right?" Charles tried to persuade the other party in a calm manner, "Since she is going to come out anyway, it might as well be..."

"I'm in good health, why can't I wait! I can take care of Lianna when she grows up! I can leave everything to my granddaughter!" The Earl was still angry, "You'd better pray that I live longer, otherwise the day I die , on the day she dies, I will take her to be buried with her! Then you can take your daughter and live a good life with my wealth! Isn’t this just right for you, bastard?”

Charles was speechless.

When talking about this issue, the count obviously lost his mind and should not continue talking now.

"Okay, okay, you can handle these issues yourself, I won't say more." He wiped the sweat from his head. He waved his hands repeatedly and said, "Let's discuss the arrangements in a few days."

After he changed the topic, the originally very excited Earl gradually calmed down and his face became pale again.

"Did you bring all those documents over today? I'll take a look at them later."

Read the original text in Liu#9@书/吧!

"I've brought it over. It's a few minutes. Please respond as soon as possible and send it to me. We can unify our position before the meeting as soon as possible." Charles answered while taking out a few pages from his pocket and stacking them. of paper.

After handing over the documents. Charles stroked Lianna's back. When her grandfather roared angrily just now, Lianna was a little frightened, so she buried her head in Charles's arms. Charles could only gently comfort his daughter.

Just when he thought he had achieved his goal and was about to leave, a strange noise suddenly came from the door.

Charles and the Count looked at each other and confirmed that it was not an illusion.

How could someone come here? They were both very surprised.

However, before they could ask, the door was opened.

A woman in a black skirt appeared in their sight.

She was not tall, but her face was very pale. It seemed that she often did not see the sun. Her facial features were very delicate and she looked much younger than her actual age. However, at this time, her eyes seemed to be filled with mist, as if she was possessed by some evil spirit.

The two men in the study were shocked at the same time.

Although Laura was only under house arrest by the Count and had a certain degree of freedom of movement, she was never allowed to go upstairs, let alone approach the study. However, she did not know how she appeared here now.

What was even more shocking was that she was holding a gun in her hand.

This... what on earth was going on!

Charles looked back at the Count in horror. But he didn't say a word, just staring at his daughter, without a word of begging for mercy.

"Lola, don't do this!" He turned his head again in panic. He shouted at Lola.

However, Lola ignored him, she closed the door again with her hands behind her back, and then walked towards the two people step by step.

Perhaps because of her high concentration, her pace was a little strange, as if a doll was staggering forward.

"I really should kill you directly!" The count, who had been glaring at her, suddenly cursed. "Damn it, I actually showed mercy to someone like you!"

Then, he suddenly stood up, as if he wanted to fight with his daughter.

"Bang!" A gunshot rang out, and then the count seemed to be hit hard by some evil spirit and fell backwards.

However, even when shooting, Lola's expression was still calm, as if nothing had happened.

What a cold expression! Was she like this when she killed her brother? Charles suddenly had this strange thought.

In the previous moment, Charles held Lianna in his arms even tighter. He didn't want his daughter to witness this sudden and terrible scene, and secretly prayed that this incident would not leave a shadow in his daughter's heart.

Then, he turned his eyes and looked at the count lying on the ground in a pool of blood. The old man's face was distorted due to the severe pain, and he kept gasping for breath. Like a carp that was pulled ashore, he was obviously weakening.

He looked at his daughter with hatred, and then slowly stopped struggling.

Finally, he looked at Charles, but he could only blink his eyes. Although his lips were moving, he couldn't speak.

Until he stopped twitching and lay on the ground with his eyes wide open, Charles still didn't accept the reality clearly.

A big man who had influenced the entire French and even European financial world for decades was suddenly killed by his own daughter?

However, this is the reality.

The almost innate calmness overwhelmed the panic and fear, allowing him to miraculously maintain his sanity. Liana had fainted because of the sudden gunshot and the suffocation he forced into her arms - maybe this was the best way for her.

You have killed so many people in your life, and now you get such a result, it is fair. Looking at the count's body, which was obviously cooling down slowly, Charles thought silently in his heart.

However, he had no time to sigh for others. His danger was not over yet. The woman with a gun was standing in front of him, and perhaps he would soon become a victim.

"Lola...Lola, everything is over." Charles looked up and looked at the expressionless woman. "Don't go on, think about you, think about our daughter! Now you still have a chance to save it all. I know your father is not good to you. But he is dead now, and your wish has come true, right? You can inherit your father's family business, and I can help you do it, as long as you continue to cooperate with me like him, Lola. While there is still a chance now, don't let everyone perish together!"

Charles was not just begging for mercy, he really planned to do so.

The death of the Count will make him lose his most powerful helper, and at this time, he needs help more than ever before. It is better for the Count de Bovan's wealth to be transferred to someone normally, rather than becoming an unsolved case because of a murder. As long as Laura is willing to continue to cooperate with him, his best approach is to let her inherit her father's property safely-no matter how much effort it takes.

Of course, Laura is not as good as her father, so many of his envisioned careers can only slow down. Slow down, this is really heartbreaking!

Although the death of the Count made him sad, he had to consider more things than justice.

Laura still did not answer, but walked towards Charles step by step, and then stopped two or three steps away.

"Laura, do you understand? Only I can help you now, otherwise you will lose everything, and even living will be worse than death! Since you were detained, I am the only one who cares about you. I have been speaking for you. , Even if I was persuading him to release you just now, if he had listened to my advice before, then all this disaster would not have happened." Charles continued his persuasion. "Okay, Laura, what happened before is history. Let's not talk about it anymore. Think about our daughter!"

As he spoke, he pushed his daughter away. To prevent Laura from suddenly going crazy and accidentally injuring her daughter.

Laura narrowed her eyes slightly, as if mocking his begging for mercy when he was about to die.

"...You bastard, despicable beast, ruthless bastard, you are telling me this at this time!" Suddenly, Laura cursed loudly, her face was filled with an intimidating black energy, " When you raped me in such a despicable way , were you worried about me? You were not, but you felt that you were able to trample on my dignity, which was a sense of accomplishment! Later, when you deceived me, did you care about the child? How dare you say these things to me?"

Charles felt something was wrong. He opened his mouth and wanted to say something more, but the other party never gave him a chance.

"Bang!"

"The insane Mademoiselle de Beauvin committed a murder, and the Count de Beauvin and the Duke of Curzon were killed"

The next day, major newspapers in Paris reported this huge news with the same title, and followed up the report with unprecedented intensity.

People watched the relevant news with interest, and then discussed the inside story of the case in the streets and alleys. The murder of a wealthy family is the most able to attract people's attention, not to mention that two big shots died at once this time? After this murderous case, the ownership of the De-Bowang family's huge wealth has become the focus of everyone's attention.

Many stories, true or false, spread throughout the streets, but no one expressed sorrow for the death of these two important people.

Those who are truly sad have been crying all day long and will never appear in front of others again.

…………………………

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Laura narrowed her eyes slightly, as if mocking his begging for mercy when he was about to die.

"...You bastard, despicable beast, heartless bastard, you are telling me this now!"

She walked up to Ciel, then suddenly threw away the gun. Then she reached out, slid down from her chest, and grabbed Ciel's gun.

She was so relieved that she needed a carnival to vent. She had been waiting for such an opportunity for too long. As she expected, the bastard chose to forget her crime.

As expected...as expected of being the father of my daughter.

In front of the touches that came from time to time, Charles's heart slowly sank. He opened his eyes wide and looked at Laura in front of him, and his peripheral vision fell on the Earl's body lying on the ground.

Unexpectedly, he suddenly felt a strange excitement.

How can I get hard in this situation? he asked himself in disbelief. (~^~)