After leaving Turin, the two endured hours of exhausting travel before finally arriving at the border area between the Sardinian Kingdom and the Austrian Empire.

The Sardinian General stationed at the border rushed over as soon as he heard of Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta’s arrival.

Under his escort, Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta were able to reach the borderline.

"Your Majesty, beyond here lies the border of the Austrian Empire! Please forgive me for not being able to accompany you across," the Sardinian General pointed to the few Austrian soldiers behind the barricade and apologized to Jerome Bonaparte.

"It’s alright!" Jerome Bonaparte, seated on his horse, smiled and replied to the Sardinian General, "You may retreat now!"

"Yes!" Following Jerome Bonaparte’s order, the Sardinian General retreated. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta, each on horseback, advanced towards the Austrian Empire’s barricade. The distant Austrian soldiers, unaware that it was the Emperor of the French Empire on horseback, quickly raised their rifles and warned Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta in German, "Halt!"

Jerome Bonaparte raised his head and stopped Augusta from proceeding, and the two horses halted precisely at the boundary line between the Sardinian Kingdom and the Austrian Empire.

The stationary Jerome Bonaparte also introduced himself in a loud German voice, "I am Jerome Bonaparte, Emperor of the French Empire, and next to me is my wife Augusta! We have been invited by your Emperor Franz Joseph to go to Milan!"

Upon hearing Jerome Bonaparte’s response, the Austrian soldiers behind the barricade displayed expressions of astonishment and skepticism. In their impression, an emperor should be surrounded by a retinue, yet there was no one accompanying Jerome Bonaparte and Empress Augusta.

No, there was indeed a group of Sardinians by their side just now, and one of them was even a Sardinian General.

Realizing this, the Austrian soldiers believed Jerome Bonaparte’s identity to a great extent.

However, one soldier, out of caution, still asked Jerome Bonaparte, "How can you prove it?"

"I need no proof!" Jerome Bonaparte replied to the soldier with a calm and confident tone, "If you are unwilling to believe, you can report to your superior!

If your superior does not wish to believe either, he can go to Milan to report!

I will stay here, not moving a step! How do you find my proposal?"

This time, all the Austrian soldiers were convinced that the person in front of them was indeed the Emperor of the French Empire.

If he were not the Emperor of the French Empire, he would not be so composed and unhurried.

As Emperor Franz Joseph is currently in Milan, they could easily send someone to verify Jerome Bonaparte’s identity if they so wished.

Therefore, the possibility of this individual being an impostor was minuscule.

The Austrian soldiers hurriedly slung their rifles back over their shoulders, removed the barricade, and approached Jerome Bonaparte. The leading junior officer even spoke with a humble tone, "Your Majesties, we truly apologize for earlier!"

"It’s nothing!" Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta dismounted and shook hands with the junior officer.

Led by the junior officer, Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta entered the territory of the Austrian Empire.

Subsequently, Jerome Bonaparte curiously inquired of the junior officer why there were so few soldiers in the border area.

The junior officer informed Jerome Bonaparte that when Emperor Franz Joseph arrived in Milan, he ordered their border troops to retreat. They complied with Emperor Franz Joseph’s order and retreated a few kilometers, leaving only those who monitored the Sardinian Kingdom’s border movements daily.

"I see!" Jerome Bonaparte showed a knowing expression.

"Your Majesty, 3 kilometers ahead lies the location of our army encampment!" The junior officer pointed northeast and responded to Jerome Bonaparte, "General Benedek is at the camp!"

"I understand!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded, then mounted his horse together with Empress Augusta.

The Austrian soldiers below hurriedly saluted Jerome Bonaparte, and Jerome Bonaparte, in return, saluted the soldiers before galloping northeast.

After about 15 more minutes, Jerome Bonaparte and Empress Augusta finally arrived near the Austrian Empire’s encampment. Another group of Austrian soldiers blocked Jerome Bonaparte’s path and inquired about his purpose.

Jerome Bonaparte truthfully explained, and the soldiers quickly saluted Jerome Bonaparte, loudly calling out "Your Majesty!"

"Take me to your General Benedek!" Jerome Bonaparte ordered the soldiers.

The soldiers promptly guided Jerome Bonaparte to Benedek’s tent.

Before the soldiers could enter the tent to report, Jerome Bonaparte intervened, dismounted, handed the reins to a soldier, and entered the tent with Empress Augusta.

At this moment, General Benedek was still resting. He was unaware that Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta were about to enter the tent. When they stepped in, the adjutant next to him quickly awakened Benedek from the rocking chair.

Benedek unwillingly awoke and then inquired of the adjutant beside him what was happening.

"General Benedek, long time no see!" Jerome Bonaparte, not far away, immediately spoke to Benedek.

Only then did Benedek realize someone had entered the tent. He followed the voice, and the owner of the voice was indeed Jerome Bonaparte. Benedek’s face immediately showed a hint of surprise as he said, "Your Maj... Your Majesty Jerome!"

"Hmm!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded in response.

Subsequently, Benedek swiftly approached Jerome Bonaparte and saluted him with a straight military posture.

Jerome Bonaparte solemnly returned the salute and then teasingly said to Benedek, "Were you taking a nap just now?"

Benedek nodded slightly, embarrassed, and then changed the subject by asking, "Your Majesties, why are you here?"

"We were invited by Franz Joseph to come over! Happened to see your troops stationed here along the way, so I specially came to take a look!" Jerome Bonaparte replied to Benedek, "I hope we did not disturb you!"

"No! Not at all!" Benedek shook his head repeatedly, "It’s our honor for Your Majesties to come over! We’re more than happy!"

"Glad we didn’t disturb you!" Jerome Bonaparte replied to Benedek and then added, "Alright! We’ll let you get back to work. Augusta and I will continue our journey to Milan!"

"Your Majesty, let me see you off!" Benedek said to Jerome Bonaparte.

"That would be inappropriate!" Jerome Bonaparte hesitated slightly and said to Benedek.

"It’s nothing, Your Majesty!" Benedek shook his head in response to Jerome Bonaparte, "We must ensure the safety of you and Her Majesty the Empress!"

"Then I’ll trouble you!" Jerome Bonaparte said gracefully.

Under Benedek’s arrangement, a troop of Austrian Cuirassiers escorted Jerome Bonaparte and Empress Augusta on their journey.

After another half-hour of riding, Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta finally saw Milan.

"Your Majesty, look, over there is Milan!" The officer in charge of the Cuirassiers pointed to the distant cluster of buildings and said to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Hmm!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded and continued to move forward.

Soon, Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta entered the city of Milan.

On the roadsides, the Milanese (or Italians) looked at Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta on horseback with eyes full of curiosity and hatred.

For them, the soldiers of the Austrian Empire were their greatest enemies, and Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta, protected by these soldiers, were also their enemies.

Thus, under the hostile gazes of the Milanese, Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta entered the courtyard of the Governor’s Mansion.

At that moment, in the rooms of the Governor’s Mansion, Franz Joseph and Old Metternich were discussing when Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta would arrive when suddenly there was a knock on the door.

"Come in!" Franz Joseph said casually.

The door opened, and a servant from the Governor’s Mansion reported to Franz Joseph, "Your Majesty, His Majesty Jerome Bonaparte and Her Majesty Empress Augusta have arrived!"

"What!" Both Franz Joseph and Prince Old Metternich had looks of surprise in their eyes. Franz Joseph continued to ask, "When did they arrive?"

"Just a moment ago!" The servant quickly replied.

"Your Majesty, we must go and greet them!" Prince Old Metternich reminded.

Franz Joseph finally reacted and quickly left the room.

When Franz Joseph arrived at the living room, Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta were already standing there, along with Albrecht and Franz Joseph’s wife, Empress Elizabeth.

Empress Elizabeth was warmly holding Empress Augusta’s hand, and upon seeing Franz Joseph’s arrival, she even led Augusta away first.

Franz Joseph could only apologetically say to Jerome Bonaparte, "Jerome, Qianqian she..."

Before Franz Joseph could finish, Jerome Bonaparte said to him, "Men discuss business, women exchange emotions, isn’t this allocation perfect!"