Flowers, Swords and France

"So, is anyone particularly short of money right now?" With a high-spirited attitude unique to young people, Charles raised his head and looked at everyone present. "If anyone is really in such an embarrassing situation, I I will uphold our past friendship and donate generously to support him with my own money. After all, I married a good wife and she brought me a lot of dowry..."

He added the following words deliberately, in order to explain at least on the surface that he did not take money from the national public funds for his own use. After the empire was rebuilt, Charles's net worth expanded rapidly, and he soon became one of the richest people in the empire. First, of course he cannot openly tell others that he is engaged in corruption. He claims to the outside world that he received a large dowry when he married Duke Treville's granddaughter, and then used the dowry to make money to earn what he is now. property.

Except for the mansion where the two people currently live, the properties attached to the related companies are all properties in Charlotte's name. Even the estates scattered throughout the country are nominally owned by Charlotte - as for whether others believe it or not, Then it doesn't matter to him at all, as long as there is a reasonable reason in name.

No one here was interested in tracing the source of his huge wealth, and their mood was actually much lower.

Everyone is discerning and can see clearly that what Charles means by these words is that he does not want to share the resources he has with everyone, and he is no longer in contact with His Royal Highness Prince Jérôme Bonaparte. He asked this question specifically, no doubt because he wanted to ask who wanted to stand with His Highness the Prince against him.

There is no doubt that his approach was a bit arrogant and aroused the resentment of many people, but when they thought of directly confronting this young man, others couldn't help but hesitate.

Everyone knows that Charles de Treville is now powerful and has the trust of His Majesty the Emperor. His words are now seemingly impeccable, although everyone knows that he is definitely just singing high-pitched words. But at least this high-profile cannot be directly refuted, especially since he mentioned His Majesty’s own “sincere teachings” several times.

Your Majesty is absolutely right, so pulling him out to endorse will be more convincing to this young man.

Because Ciel made such a clear statement, the room suddenly fell into silence, and everyone looked at each other in shock.

In this silence, His Royal Highness Prince Jerome's face looked slightly ugly, while Charles was smiling broadly, as if he didn't notice that the atmosphere had become a little abnormal.

Prince Jerome moved his mouth, wanting to say something, but he looked a little unhappy.

In order to prevent everyone from quarreling on such an occasion and eventually breaking up, some people decided to come out to smooth things over.

"Hey, it's rare for everyone to get together today and we are all in a good mood. Why bother to fight over such a trivial matter?" A middle-aged man wearing a bow tie and a carefully trimmed beard spoke in a rather hoarse voice. , "Actually, this is just a small matter. I think it is enough for everyone to discuss it calmly. There is no need to come to a result today."

Then, he laughed again and looked at Charles, "Also, Charles, today His Royal Highness is here to teach us as an elder. We should listen to him with an open mind. You are so impassioned suddenly, How embarrassing this is for us!”

Although his laughter did not affect Charles, it did lighten the atmosphere slightly. At least His Highness the Prince's face was not so ugly.

He was Jean-Victor Feialin, a veteran Bonapartist. He was born in Saint-Germain-Lespinasse in the Loire in 1808. He was originally from a minor aristocrat. He joined the army in his early years and became a light cavalryman, but later he became a Bonapartist and was directly dismissed from the army for participating in many conspiracies. Later, he defected to His Majesty the Emperor and followed him for many years, serving in front of and behind the scenes, and participated in almost all major operations.

Because of his qualifications and loyalty, after the empire was rebuilt, he was naturally one of the people who must be rewarded by His Majesty the Emperor. After His Majesty the Emperor rebuilt the Senate, he was placed in the Senate and became the Emperor of the Empire in the Senate. and agents of the government, assisting His Majesty the Emperor in controlling this institution, and turning the Senate into a handy tool in the hands of the Imperial Emperor.

At the same time, he also received many overt or covert positions from His Majesty. He could receive a large amount of salary every year from the government budget, and his housing and transportation were reimbursed by the public, so he changed his previous embarrassment. With his economic status, he has become a wealthy man. There are also rumors that His Majesty the Emperor intends to make him a nobleman in order to reward him for following him.

After years of experience, his character has become very cautious and restrained, and he always pays attention to being kind to others. He has always been very popular among the Bonapartists. Even though his current status is no longer what it used to be, he has no such character. Gai, like others, did not suffer from the arrogant problem because of the flattery of his subordinates.

At the same time, perhaps because he was responsible for coordinating work in the Senate, he attached great importance to the unity within the party. Therefore, when he saw a faint quarrel between Charles and Prince Jerome, he could not help but stand up and smooth things over. .

Because of the status of the two people, ordinary people are not qualified to fight in this kind of smoothing, but Jean Fialin does have such qualifications because of his seniority.

"I am not quarreling, sir. And I respect His Highness the Prince very much. He is our predecessor, and the eldest among the royal family. I fully agree with what he said." Charles nodded to him very politely. , "It's just that His Highness just said that some of us are forced by money, so I'm confused, who is still living in such embarrassment now?" Forced? I also talk about party unity and feelings like you, and I can't bear this situation, so I want to ask who among you here needs help, and then I will help him. What's wrong? Well, Mr. Earl just said that he doesn't have any financial difficulties now, so do you have any?"

Although Charles' question was no longer as aggressive as before, it was still a bit tough, at least making Jean Fialin feel a little oppressed.

After hesitating for a moment, he shook his head. "What His Highness the Prince said must be well-founded, but...I don't have any such hardships now. Thanks to His Majesty's care, I now have enough income to meet my living expenses. I just think about how to continue to provide for my family." Imperial service, you can’t ask for anything more.”

Like everyone else, he didn't want to make a clear stance between the two people. He just wanted to round things off so that the gathering wouldn't turn into a violent quarrel. It was obvious that they had reached an impasse and he had no interest in getting involved.

"I also believe that His Highness the Prince's words must be well-founded, so I am asking now who needs help."

After forcing a big man like Jean Fialin to stay out of the matter with an unyielding attitude, Charles became more and more confident. He smiled again, and then looked at His Royal Highness Prince Jérôme, "I think , if I need help, then at least I should know who I am going to help, right?"

Still no one has taken a position.

It's not that everyone is really afraid of Charles, but they know that Charles has the trust of His Majesty the Emperor, and everyone is unwilling to break with him for Prince Jerome. So they all chose to stay out of it.

In order to completely make his victory a reality, Ciel gently made a gesture to signal a good friend of his to stand up and give him the final say.

"Ciel is right."

Read the original text in Liu#9@书/吧!

As expected, after receiving his request, Morny, the current Minister of the Interior and the half-brother of His Majesty the Emperor, immediately agreed with him. "We need to maintain our previous ideals and hunger for achievements now, because there are still too many things that we need to do, and the empire has not yet reached a time when it can enjoy peace. Therefore, at this time, we are thinking of changing the previous plan. It’s really not a wise move. And based on my understanding of His Majesty, I’m afraid he wouldn’t like us to decide such an important issue through private discussion…”

Although his voice was soft and slow, these words could be said to be the final word.

The old Prince's face has become paler now.

Morny held a high position and had always had great influence among the Bonapartists. If he expressed his disapproval, it meant that others did not dare to express their support for this matter. And because he is His Majesty's brother, his relationship with Your Majesty is closer than that of the prince, so his words obviously represent His Majesty's meaning in the eyes of others.

His Royal Highness the Prince frowned slightly and glanced at Morny, as if with some reproach, as if asking him why he had to help Charles regardless of the interests of the family. However, Morny just stared blankly. Looking at the vase on the table, he seemed unaware.

At this time, Charles was completely relieved, because he knew that after several people who bore the brunt expressed their opinions, he would definitely not lose this time. All that was left was to give the old prince a step down. .

Just as he had guessed, seeing that the situation had begun to become clearer, other people began to speak one after another. Some of them spoke seriously, and like Ciel, they reflected that they were not vigilant enough and were mentally slow; some said Some people made some innocuous remarks to smooth things over, and some people simply changed the subject and started joking.

Who among the dignitaries of these empires is not proficient in using the art of language to avoid problems?

"Your Highness, in fact, I pay great attention to what you said. I have always believed that the interests of our party are the interests of the country." After pondering for a moment, Charles began to lower the steps to His Highness, "So in order to strengthen our Party, I am willing to give anything.”(~^~)