Prince Albert’s response made Palmerston realize that a change might be occurring within the German Confederation. He tactfully asked Prince Albert if he had heard any rumors.

Prince Albert did not directly answer Palmerston’s question. Instead, he smiled and changed the subject to ask Palmerston his opinion on the current French Empire.

Although Palmerston disliked Jerome Bonaparte, the monarch making headlines worldwide, he had to begrudgingly admit that, given the current situation, Britain indeed could not do without France.

The reports from Crimea were enough to indicate the issue. From the start of the Crimean War to the present, aside from the glory at the Battle of Alma, the Kingdom of Britain was either reinforcing its troops or in the process of doing so.

As for the report from Britain yesterday (the Kingdom of Britain’s frontline reporter also relayed the message to Britain as quickly as possible), the French Army had annihilated 100,000 Russian troops in one battle (as reported by The Times, Palmerston was skeptical), while their Kingdom of Britain was nearly overrun by 40,000 Russian troops (self-depreciation from The Times, Palmerston did not believe it). Were it not for the French Empire’s desperate help, the British-maintained Sevastopol might have turned into Russian territory.

With ceaseless self-criticism from the press, the entire Kingdom of Britain, from the Cabinet to the public, fell into a state of complete lack of confidence.

[PS: Regarding this, at that time, although The Times had been somewhat restricted by Jerome Bonaparte, its telegrams returning from Sevastopol to Britain were still faster and more reliable than the official newspapers.

Even the Cabinet Ministers had to compare The Times’ statements before checking the battle reports.

The political jokes of the Prime Minister learning about politics through television in ’Yes, Prime Minister’ were not out of place in this era of Britain. ]

The less confidence Britain had, the more it relied on the French Empire to carry it.

Therefore, Palmerston’s assessment of the French Empire was: Our dubious ally.

Subsequently, Albert once again asked Palmerston whether he believed the French Empire could continue indefinitely!

"Your Highness, ever since that turmoil (the Great Revolution), the Parisians have lost patience. In just fifty years, they have witnessed the downfall of three dynasties!" Palmerston tactfully expressed that he did not believe the French Empire could avoid such a fate.

"In fact, Augusta thinks the same way!" Prince Albert responded to Palmerston.

"Are you referring to the Empress of France?" Palmerston paused for a few seconds and then said to Albert.

"That’s correct!" Albert nodded to Palmerston, "Some time ago, she mentioned this in a letter to Victoria! She hopes to secure a place for her unborn child to settle! You should understand what I mean!"

"Your Highness, you mean Luxembourg is Empress Augusta’s fallback plan!" Palmerston immediately understood Prince Albert’s meaning.

"That’s one way to put it!" Prince Albert shrugged and said, "Paris is like a powder keg ready to explode at any moment. Anyone sitting atop it could be blown to pieces with a simple misstep!"

"If Luxembourg were annexed by France, wouldn’t Empress Augusta end up with nothing?" Palmerston asked with a furrowed brow.

"Why annex?" Albert replied with a rhetorical question, "Why not make Luxembourg a private domain?"

"You mean union?" Palmerston quickly inquired.

"That’s up to your interpretation!" Albert responded to Palmerston, "Augusta told Victoria she is willing to pay any price to acquire this land!"

"I understand!" Palmerston replied with a bitter smile, aware that De Luy saw the Suez Canal as a tacit deal with Britain.

Although inwardly displeased with Empress Augusta’s calculations, the transformation of Luxembourg into a private domain did not threaten the fundamental interests of the Kingdom of Britain.

As long as no one stands out in opposition, Palmerston was not inclined to pursue the matter.

After all, the most crucial goal for Britain right now was the Russian Empire.

Nevertheless, Palmerston was curious about the role Prince Albert played in this affair.

Having understood De Luy’s true intentions, Palmerston took his leave from Albert.

Prince Albert ordered the servants to escort Palmerston out of Buckingham Palace.

Over the next two weeks, as the Anglo-French Army in Crimea successively thwarted the Russian Empire’s schemes to use feints to seize Yevpatoria, the allied forces and the Russian Empire entered a cold war due to the sudden drop in Crimean temperatures, resulting in a standoff.

During this period, Palmerston and De Louis engaged in two additional exploratory negotiations, with both showing progress compared to the first meeting.

In late September, after probing each other’s bottom lines, Palmerston and De Luy began their final negotiations.

This time, Palmerston and De Luyis had a discussion in the Prime Minister’s office at 10 Downing Street.

As soon as the meeting started, Palmerston was straightforward: "The Kingdom of Britain is willing to support all the recent actions of the French Empire!"

De Luyis showed a hint of surprise on his face, he did not expect Palmerston to agree so quickly, and he hurriedly thanked Palmerston: "Thank the Kingdom of Britain for understanding and support!"

Subsequently, Palmerston also expressed hope that the French Empire would continue to support the actions of the Kingdom of Britain in certain areas.

Although Palmerston did not specify which areas, De Luyis understood that Palmerston wanted the French Empire’s support for his plan to dismember the Russian Empire.

De Luyis also expressed that the French Empire and the Kingdom of Britain are steadfast allies, and France will unwaveringly support the Kingdom of Britain’s plans.

Then De Luyis told Palmerston that, in the spirit of mutual assistance, the French Empire is willing to sell a portion of the Suez Canal shares (registered capital of the Suez Canal Company is 200 million francs, with 70% French stock (140 million francs) and the remaining 30% temporarily held by Said (60 million francs), France transfers 30% of the shares to the Kingdom of Britain.) to the Kingdom of Britain, and is also willing to exchange and learn from the Kingdom of Britain in the field of ironclads.

Palmerston, who had long coveted the ironclad technology held by the French Empire, certainly would not miss this opportunity, and he immediately agreed to De Luyis’ proposal.

After the negotiations ended, De Luyis and Palmerston shook hands with each other, and De Luyis smiled and said: "I hope that France and Britain can continue to cooperate and help each other on the path ahead! I sincerely wish the Prime Minister can lead Britain to greatness!"

"I also sincerely wish that your France can walk further and further on the road to peace!" Palmerston’s face also carried a smile.

After De Luyis left, Palmerston’s expression turned grim once again.

He quickly called his secretary and ordered him to summon the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Earl of Clarion, to 10 Downing Street.

After the Earl of Clarion arrived at 10 Downing Street, Palmerston immediately said to him: "Around mid-October, you should convey a message to the Kingdom of Prussia (Palmerston expects France to take action in mid-October), saying that the French Empire intends to annex Luxembourg!"

The Earl of Clarion cautiously reminded Palmerston that the French Empire is still their ally; making such a rash betrayal might lead to enmity between both sides.

"As long as we don’t directly intervene, it should be fine!" Palmerston replied confidently.

He was ready to repeat the old trick from the Thiers period, where Palmerston had agreed outwardly but reneged later, putting France in a difficult position.

Even if the Austrian Empire tacitly allowed the French Empire to annex the Luxembourg Duchy due to its resistance against the Russian Empire, the opposition from the Kingdom of Prussia would also keep the French Empire busy for a while.

Of course, Palmerston didn’t expect the German Confederation to actually stop the French Empire’s actions; he just wanted to create some trouble for France.

Finally, under Palmerston’s strong insistence, the Earl of Clarion had no choice but to agree with Palmerston’s request.

On the other hand, after leaving Britain, De Luyis did not return directly to France, but instead, followed a telegraph from Crimea and took a ship to Prussia.

When De Luyis arrived within the Kingdom of Prussia, he was immediately warmly welcomed by them.

The son of the Regent King, Friedrich Wilhelm Nikolaus Karl, appeared at the port pier and shook hands with De Luyis.

The two took a carriage together and arrived in Berlin. The Regent King’s nephew told De Luyis that his father, William I, needed some time to prepare for the meeting with De Luyis and hoped De Luyis would patiently wait.

De Luyis nodded and returned to reside at the French Embassy in the German Confederation.

After spending a day at the embassy, De Luyis received an invitation from William I to go to Charlotten Palace.

In full dress, De Luyis formally met with William I in the hall of Charlotten Palace.

William I first inquired warmly about De Luyis, and then expressed condemnation towards the Russian Empire.

De Luyis feigned inquisition to see if the Kingdom of Prussia was preparing to go to war with the Russian Empire.

William I was hesitant and could only express that the Kingdom of Prussia was not yet ready to go to war with the Russian Empire.

However, William I still expressed willingness to stand with Britain and France to jointly resist the Russian Empire, with their conditions being quite "simple," as long as France does not take action against the Rhine Region or take any measures regarding the Polish issue.

"Your Highness the Regent King, please forgive my dullness! I do not understand which side you and your kingdom are truly on!"