Count Cavour, who left the Turin Royal Palace, naturally did not hear King Victor Emmanuel II cursing at him, as Count Cavour was currently riding back to his residence.

As Count Cavour entered the mansion, a beautiful woman was quietly waiting at the door; she was Countess Cavour.

"You’re back!" Countess Cavour first glanced at the collection in Count Cavour’s hands, then gently said to Count Cavour in a sweet tone.

"Yes!" Count Cavour nodded in response to his wife.

Immediately after, Countess Cavour curiously asked Count Cavour why His Majesty King Victor Emmanuel II had summoned him so late at night.

"His Majesty really doesn’t know how to be considerate!" Countess Cavour grumbled softly.

After hearing his wife’s complaint, Count Cavour immediately chastised Countess Cavour with a stern face, "What do you know as a woman!

When His Majesty calls me over, it must be for something important that needs to be discussed with me!

Otherwise, he wouldn’t call me over so late!!

..."

Cavour started to extol King Victor Emmanuel II endlessly, and his wife looked at him expressionlessly until Cavour’s voice gradually became smaller and eventually disappeared.

Then, Countess Cavour asked Count Cavour again, "So where did all those gifts in your hands come from?"

"Of course, they are from the Turin Royal Palace!" Cavour took out a pigeon egg-sized gem and said to his wife with a hint of pride, "These are treasures from the Turin Royal Palace, each one is priceless!"

Upon hearing this, Countess Cavour’s face showed a look of surprise, "When did our Majesty become so generous!"

Cavour put away his smile, a wry smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, "These things are not for me; it is a gift entrusted by His Majesty to be given to France!

If this crisis wasn’t so thorny, His Majesty would probably never allow me to take this gem away!"

Count Cavour’s words shocked Countess Cavour, and she hurriedly asked Count Cavour, "What kind of crisis is it exactly!

Is it that the French Army is going to attack us!"

Cavour gave a slight smile and shook his head, answering his wife, "That’s not quite the case!

It’s just that France now requires us to restrict domestic liberal newspapers and ban domestic nationalist organizations!"

Countess Cavour, who only knew something about salons and makeup, relaxed immediately when she heard that France would not attack, "So it’s not an invasion then!"

Then, Countess Cavour’s eyes lit up, and she said to Cavour again, "Cavour, I remember you were bullied by those godless members of parliament in the parliament before, and you said you would let those liberals know your power sooner or later!!

Now is a rare opportunity!"

Cavour expressed coldly, "Foolish!"

Countess Cavour’s expression stiffened, and with a stubborn look, she said, "Where am I foolish!

Camillo Benso di Cavour, have you forgotten who helped you treat your wounds when you were beaten black and blue by those parliamentarians!"

Count Cavour’s originally cold eyes instantly softened after hearing this sentence.

This woman in front of him indeed lacks political acumen, but she does care for me, and I can’t be too harsh on her.

So, Cavour patiently told his wife that what he said before was just angry words, and liberalism is closely tied to the Sardinian Kingdom.

For the sake of Sardinia, he must protect these liberals.

"How do you plan to protect them?" Countess Cavour asked Cavour again, "The one who wants to ban them is the Emperor of the French Empire!

Are you planning to make the Sardinian Kingdom strike France with a warm stone?"

"The Sardinian Kingdom indeed cannot collide with the French Empire!!" Count Cavour first affirmed his wife’s partial view "But the Sardinian Kingdom doesn’t need to clash directly with the French Empire!"

"Not clash directly? What are you going to do? Run to Paris and convince Emperor Jerome Bonaparte yourself?" Countess Cavour said to Count Cavour.

"Indeed!" Cavour nodded in response to his wife, "I will carry the gifts and set off for Paris tomorrow morning!"

"Why so soon!" Countess Cavour asked Count Cavour.

"To avoid prolonged delays leading to unforeseen changes!" Cavour cautiously said, and then a wry smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, "Who knows if the French Empire will suddenly cut off communication with the Sardinian Kingdom!

At that time, our situation will indeed be truly dangerous!

According to our military’s observations in the Austria-Sardinia border areas, the Austrian Empire has been frequently moving troops in the past week.

Although the Austrian Empire claims it’s just routine military exercises to guard against extreme nationalist forces, I feel something is off.

Moreover, the Governor of the Lombardy-Venice Region has been replaced by Albrecht, a formidable figure!

So I must act quickly!

[PS: Radetzky’s death in this timeline is on March 5, 1858, which means Albrecht took over as the Lombardy-Venice Region’s Governor after March 5.]

Count Cavour’s words exuded an impending sense of doom, causing Countess Cavour to instinctively shrink her neck.

"Alright! I’ll pack your things, you can go to bed first!

It’s less than four hours until dawn!" Knowing she couldn’t help Count Cavour much, his wife could only do what she could.

After hearing this, Count Cavour felt a warmth in his heart, he did not act coy but directly nodded and replied to his wife, "Thank you for your hard work!"

After speaking, Count Cavour went upstairs to sleep, while his wife prepared his belongings for departure.

...

The next morning at 7 o’clock, Count Cavour awoke from his sleep, then dressed and went downstairs.

When he arrived at the lounge on the first floor, he saw his wife.

At this time, Countess Cavour was curled up on the sofa resting, and beside the sofa was a full suitcase.

Count Cavour glanced at his wife sleeping on the sofa, then looked at the suitcase, and softly said, "Thank you!"

Then took the thoughts his wife prepared for him and embarked on the road to Paris. After Cavour left, his wife on the sofa immediately opened her eyes,

and at the same time, two tears involuntarily slid from the corners of her eyes.

...

After leaving the residence, Count Cavour didn’t immediately head to the train station to take the train to the France and Sardinia border, but instead went to the Prime Minister’s Office. There were some matters he needed to clarify before departing.

Upon arriving at the Prime Minister’s Building with his suitcase, he was surprised to find King Victor Emmanuel II and ministers from various departments were all there.

"Your Majesty!" Count Cavour quickly put down his suitcase and greeted the esteemed presence of the Sardinian Kingdom.

"Mr. Cavour!" King Victor Emmanuel II walked steadily to Count Cavour, then gently patted his shoulder and said, "The important task of persuading Jerome Bonaparte is entrusted to you!"

"Your Majesty, I will do my utmost!" Count Cavour replied resolutely to King Victor Emmanuel II.

"Very good!" King Victor Emmanuel II nodded and smiled.

Subsequently, Count Cavour quietly said to King Victor Emmanuel II, "Your Majesty, I hope during my absence from Turin!

The Sardinian Kingdom must always pay attention to military movements at the border!"

After hearing Count Cavour’s suggestion, King Victor Emmanuel II’s eyes became particularly sharp, he also lowered his voice and said to Count Cavour, "Cavour, do you think the Austrian Empire might strike against us?"

"Your Majesty, I can’t guarantee it!" Count Cavour shook his head and said to King Victor Emmanuel II, "But I know being a little cautious is never a major mistake!

If we sever exchanges due to negotiations failing with the French Empire!

The Austrian Empire will certainly not miss this rare opportunity to attack us!

If the Austrian Empire truly wants to strike us, I hope Your Majesty can stabilize the battlefield as much as possible,

only then can the Great Powers have a chance to intervene!

At that time, only France can save us!"

King Victor Emmanuel II also showed a ready-for-battle expression, "I understand! If the Austrian Empire does attack, I will spare no effort to hold them back!

If the Sardinian Kingdom really reaches the end of the rope, I allow you to use any means necessary to save Sardinia."

"Yes!" Count Cavour responded firmly, "Your Majesty, during my absence, I entrust the Cabinet’s affairs to your care!"

"It’s nothing!" King Victor Emmanuel II nodded and responded to Count Cavour.

Following this, Count Cavour bowed again to King Victor Emmanuel II and then departed.

Count Cavour, arriving at the train station by carriage, quickly waited for the train heading to the France and Sardinia scenes.

Sitting on the train and gazing at the scenery in the distance, Count Cavour suddenly remembered he hadn’t reminded His Majesty King Victor Emmanuel II not to appoint military personnel to temporarily replace his duties, even temporarily.

Because having the military serve as Prime Minister will inevitably cause the government to slide towards the extreme right, enlarging the conflict between Parliament and the government.

"Your Majesty, shouldn’t let the military temporarily replace me, should you! Shouldn’t!"