Flowers, Swords and France

"So I am willing to give anything to strengthen our party."

When Charles said this, he certainly was not serious, but this attitude was undoubtedly much gentler than the aggressive look just now, almost equivalent to declaring victory.

Prince Jerome would not be happy about this step. He still frowned slightly and looked at the people next to him again, as if seeking help. However, he still did not get anyone's response. Everyone wanted to stay out of it and did not want to participate in this struggle, which made the prince's accusation that "Charles, you don't take care of your party members and let them be in a difficult situation" become unfounded.

Even his son, Prince Joseph Bonaparte, just shook his body with an ugly face, but he didn't say anything in the end.

The alliance of de Treville and Morny seemed too powerful and daunting. He did not dare to challenge this alliance alone when others stayed out of it, so even if his father looked embarrassed now, he was unwilling to stand up and support him.

Under such circumstances, Prince Jerome finally wisely chose to admit the reality.

"Ah, young people nowadays are really amazing!" He sighed, "Charles, it's great that you have such enthusiasm. I am very touched. Our empire lacks talents with ideals and ambitions like you. Please continue to work hard in the future."

When he chose to step down the step he gave, although he was a little sour, Charles secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Although he showed full momentum in order to maintain his territory, he did not want to really fall out with Prince Jerome. After all, this is also the oldest in the royal family. Even if he has no specific position, his influence is great enough - especially now that His Majesty the Emperor has no heirs, he is still the most prioritized heir to the throne.

After Charles blocked Prince Jerome's proposal with a tough attitude, although the party continued, everyone was drinking and chatting about all sorts of things, but it was obvious that everyone had reservations and everyone was performing politely. The banquet came to an end happily in the midst of drinking and excitement.

When it was time to leave according to etiquette, many people tacitly said goodbye to His Royal Highness. They knew that nothing could be discussed here today, so they might as well go home and do their own things - or continue to "immerse themselves in their own little kingdom" as Prince Jerome rebuked.

However, Charles did not say goodbye. He stayed here and chatted with His Royal Highness Prince Jerome until the others were almost there. He still had no intention of leaving.

Although everyone looked at Charles with strange eyes when they left, and didn't understand why he didn't leave, he remained unmoved and stayed with His Royal Highness.

The two of them said insignificant polite words. Although His Royal Highness Prince Jerome knew that the young man didn't care about what he said, he still had to waste time with him and performed a show of close relationship between the two.

After everyone else left, His Royal Highness also stopped chatting with Charles, looked around blankly, and then sighed.

"Hey...Charles, if you leave now, no one will think you are disrespectful to me. I am old and a little tired. I really don't like to be polite all the time. I have been with you for so long. You should be satisfied, right?"

"Your Highness, it makes me sad to say that. I really have nothing but respect for you." Charles looked at the other party very sincerely, "I stayed because I wanted to discuss your proposal with you enthusiastically."

Although he just relied on his allies and power to win the secret struggle and forced a prince to give in to him, this did not make him feel very excited-because the struggle itself meant that the situation was beyond his rhythm and control.

So he wanted to find out what happened.

He didn't understand why Prince Jerome specially called a large group of people over and made such a request. Was it just a whim of his own, or did he hear the instigation of his son Prince Joseph-Bonaparte and want to make things difficult for him?

The difference is of course very important, because he wants to see how many opponents there are in the royal family and how united they are.

"Come on! I don't like to play this game with you." The prince smiled bitterly, "Don't I know what image I have? You all look down on me, but you only respect me on the surface because of my age and seniority. Wasn't it obvious just now? But no one is willing to support me."

"You guessed wrong, everyone respects you very much - it's just that such a serious issue just now, of course, everyone can't make judgments based on emotions." Charles' expression was very calm, and he didn't seem arrogant. "Don't forget, you said you want to open the barriers of our respective fields, and I'm not the only one who is harmed... If they support you to attack me, then what should they do when it's their turn? Everyone will hesitate."

"You all only think about your own little selfish interests, and are afraid that others will get involved! Where are your ideals and enthusiasm?" The prince shook his head gently, obviously disagreeing with the ideas of Charles and others.

He sighed again, "Well, I have seen this kind of thing a lot, so it's not surprising. At that time, the ideals of Gironde and the Jacobins were much purer than yours, and in the end they didn't end up in trouble. To the point of killing each other? After having power, how many people are willing to give in even half a step..."

"Actually, I don't think you are necessarily an idealist." In order to prevent the old man from continuing to talk about the past, Charles had to interrupt him, "could it be that... apart from concerns about the interests of our party, You have no intention of instigating us for personal gain?"

Prince Jérôme made no answer.

"If...if you really have personal interests to consider, I...I said that I can do everything in my power to meet your request." After the initial test failed to yield results, Charles decided to step up The big bait is to get clear meaning out of the other party's mouth.

"Of course, but what's wrong with that?" After a moment of silence, Prince Jérôme answered without hesitation. "Like my brothers, you are all keen on power and dominating others, so you can just be busy with your business. I will enjoy the blessings they and you have brought to me, and enjoy my life."

It turns out that a person wants money. Ciel breathed a sigh of relief.

This did not surprise him. Prince Jérôme had been a flashy and dissolute boy since his youth. He was not keen on power. In addition, he was also spendthrift. It was strange that he was not short of money.

"Then why do you come with such a proposal?" Charles decided to ask the question. "If you really need funds, I think His Majesty will give them to you."

"Your Majesty has given me an annuity, but how is that enough? I am not begging for my nephew." Perhaps because there are only two of us now, His Highness Prince Jérôme has become very casual when speaking, with a hint of An indescribable feeling of boredom, "Joseph just happened to tell me about you. He said that you have too much money in your hands, which has aroused the dissatisfaction of your colleagues and destroyed the unity within our party. He said You want me to come forward Talk about interceding, let everyone get in touch with each other, and by the way, let everyone come up with a reasonable distribution method. I can't watch you holding all the money in your hands - originally I just wanted you to renegotiate, but I I didn’t expect you to be so tough. As soon as I opened my mouth, you hit me hard and blocked all my words! Are you satisfied now? No one dares to mess with you now. Do you want to do whatever you want with your money? Just do whatever you want."

Although the prince's tone contained a lot of ridicule and teasing, Charles actually breathed a sigh of relief.

Because he finally figured out that although Prince Jerome did come forward after listening to his son's words, he was only doing it for his own selfish interests. He was not specifically targeting himself, nor did he form an opposition within the royal family. Tight group.

In this case, he can find a way to separate the father and son.

In the final analysis, Prince Jerome does not have much desire for power. He just wants to spend a lot of money and enjoy his life like before.

"Actually, I really don't want to contradict you face to face. You are the only living brother of the late emperor. I respect you extremely. No matter what you ask for, I will try my best to cooperate..." Charles said with a smile in a calm tone. , "But if you make such a big show of it, I can't give in. If I give in to you, How could I carry out my work when others would look down upon me? If you made some request to me in private, as now, out of respect for you, out of loyalty to the Bonaparte family, out of Our personal friendship, I think... I can spare no effort to help you in some way. "

Although he said it in a fancy way, Prince Jerome only heard a subtext - as long as you oppose me without knowing it, I can secretly distribute benefits to you.

"What are you going to do if I really make a request?" He suppressed the distracting thoughts in his heart and answered with a calm attitude.

"Then I will soon be able to arrange a subsidy for you, which is guaranteed to be more than what His Majesty gives you." Charles straightened up immediately, and then answered in a determined tone, "Of course, the premise of all this must be that we provide This is kept confidential and..."

"And we maintain our friendship afterwards?" the prince asked rhetorically.

Ciel smiled.

Read the original text in Liu#9@书/吧!

"Okay, I think this is pretty good." The prince thought for a while and finally agreed.

Although he didn't know what Charles had planned, getting this was enough for him, and he didn't want to worry about other things.

"But I have to ask your forgiveness. I can't use the ministry's funds to give you a subsidy. It would be too eye-catching." Charles immediately entered the substantive discussion stage. "In addition, you also know that I have done something to develop the railway industry. A railway federation, they can figure out the movement of funds in many ways, I want to keep everything confidential, so I will release it to you privately.”

"Are you really giving out personal money?" His Highness the Prince was stunned for a moment, and then couldn't help but laugh, "Charles, you really do what you say."

"I must keep my word to you." Charles bowed slightly.

The reason why he did this was not only for the consideration of the flow of funds. If he listed the expenses in the name of the ministry and gave others allowances, they would only think that it was brought by his own power and would not be too grateful to him. However, if he gave it in his personal name, people would also be grateful to him, knowing that if he was unhappy, the thing would definitely be gone.

"If that's the case, it would be great." This time, without any hesitation, Prince Jerome finally chose to compromise with Charles.

The oldest prince of the Bonaparte family was hit back by Charles just for putting forward his own opinions. He had no intention of continuing to argue with Charles. As long as Charles was willing to give him what he wanted, there was no need for him to argue about anything.

"Can you let me be a supervisor of your Railway Union?" Suddenly, His Royal Highness thought of something, "If I come to take charge of you, it should be helpful to you, and it will be more comfortable for me to receive your allowance."

"Some companies in the Railway Union are now managed by people around your Majesty. Even I don't know the details, and I don't want to know the details." Charles immediately rejected his request. "So it's better for us not to change the existing structure easily."

For him, the Railway Union is an organization he carefully designed. It's not enough for him to try his best to strengthen his control. How could he be willing to let the prince get in? So he immediately rejected the prince's request.

"Your Majesty..." Prince Jerome really backed down.

"Your Majesty also wants to find a way to save money for himself, this is normal." Charles shrugged.

"Okay, then let's do it." Prince Jerome thought about it again, and finally decided to compromise with reality temporarily.

Charles de Treville has proved with his actual actions that he is definitely not someone to be trifled with, and it is obvious that he is deeply involved with His Majesty. If he really confronts him, at least he will not get any benefits now, and if he compromises with him, at least he can get some compensation.

Although this result is not the best, it is good enough.

"Thank you very much for your magnanimity." Charles bowed again and thanked the old man.

However, although the prince felt that the deal was done, he still had no intention of leaving.

"Why is there anything else?" The prince asked curiously.

"Just one thing, Your Highness." Charles raised his head calmly, then looked at him with a smile, "Do you remember the lady named Patterson? I met her last time I went to England..."

"What?" His Royal Highness's face suddenly turned extremely gray.

Then, it turned into anger. "Damn it!" (~^~)