Make France Great Again-Chapter 959 - 950: The End of the First Phase!
Amidst the crowd, the Royalist and Republican members ’lurking’ within let out a sigh of relief after hearing Jerome Bonaparte’s assurance that there would be no retribution.
Both the Royalists (the Orthodox Faction and the Orleans Faction) and the Republicans were terribly afraid that the assassin might be a misguided ally from their own side.
If the assassination succeeded, they could ride the wave of the emperor’s death and use the situation to bargain, "inviting" the Bonaparte Faction out of power and then declaring the establishment of a Kingdom/Republic.
An empire that lost its Emperor and Empress could hardly continue under the rule of a four-year-old child emperor and a group of scheming Bonaparte supporters.
However, the crux of the matter was that both Emperor Jerome Bonaparte and Empress Augusta survived, and they even captured the assassin.
If it turned out that the assassin belonged to either of the factions, they would inevitably be targeted by the imperial authorities.
The influence of both factions in France would certainly enter a new period of decline.
Now that Jerome Bonaparte publicly promised not to implicate others, the anxious hearts of the Royalists and Republicans were finally somewhat at ease.
Then, Jerome Bonaparte addressed everyone present again: "Alright, everyone, it’s time for me to go back and rest!
You all should get some rest early too!"
After speaking, Jerome Bonaparte and Empress Augusta continued forward until they reached an intersection, where a brand-new carriage surrounded by the Guard Cavalry appeared before Jerome Bonaparte.
Looking at the carriage in front of him, Jerome Bonaparte turned to the empire officials following him and said lightly, "You too! Go back and rest early!
You have to continue working in the morning!"
Subsequently, under the gaze of the empire officials, Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta got into the carriage arm in arm.
The carriage started slowly, the swaying lanterns at the rear making a "clatter" as it headed into the distance until it disappeared into the darkness.
The empire officials standing on the spot did not disperse immediately; instead, they turned their gazes towards Percy, eager to glean some information about the assassin from him.
So, these empire officials gathered around Percy, looking at him with great anticipation.
Percy smiled slightly and said to everyone present, "If you don’t mind, please accompany me to the Ministry of Internal Affairs so we can discuss this in detail!"
Led by Percy, the empire officials went to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
...
Meanwhile, seated in the carriage, Jerome Bonaparte gazed at the scenery receding past the window, a satisfied smile playing at the corners of his lips.
In any case, he had made his first move successfully.
Next, he had to stir up public outrage in the whole Parisian society over this assassination attempt; only with the unanimous opposition of the Parisians would the Republicans and Royalists have to tread carefully.
As long as the Republicans and Royalists didn’t cause trouble, the only thing left to do was wait and see Britain’s and Austria’s response.
If neither Britain nor Austria opposed or supported, then Jerome Bonaparte had reasons to act against the Sardinian Kingdom.
If necessary, Jerome Bonaparte could also use his cousin, stationed far away in Tuscany as an ambassador, as a pretext to send troops to Sardinia... or rather, to send them to the Apennine as a stepping stone.
Jerome Bonaparte’s elaborate ploy was not just for Sardinia alone, but for the whole of Italy.
His goal was to use the pretext of purging all radical factions on the Apennine Peninsula to lead the French Army onto Italian soil, as once France was established in the Sardinian Kingdom, expelling France again would be a formidable task.
Ultimately, the fate of the Apennine Peninsula lay in the hands of two major powers, France and Austria, rather than a medium power like Sardinia.
As Jerome Bonaparte contemplated, the voice of Empress Augusta reached his ears, "Jerome, we’re home!"
"Mm!" Jerome Bonaparte, coming back to his senses, nodded before alighting from the carriage.
Augusta followed suit and got off the carriage.
The two walked through the hallway into the hall of Tuileries Palace, where Vilnius and Bashirio stood respectfully on either side and said, "Your Majesty the Emperor, Your Majesty the Empress, welcome back!"
"Mm!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded in acknowledgment to Vilnius and Bashirio.
Standing to one side, Augusta suddenly remembered something Percy had said earlier at the Paris Opera House: there were four people involved in the attempt on her and Jerome Bonaparte’s lives, and three of them were Piedmontese!
Percy’s clue led Augusta to naturally think about whether Vilnius might have inadvertently leaked this information to her cousin far away in Turin.
This would have prompted the Sardinian assassin’s attempt on their lives.
Thus, after dismissing the other members of the Tuileries Palace, Empress Augusta specifically summoned Vilnius to accompany her to the bedroom.
The three of them walked forward in silence until they reached a staircase, where they continued to ascend. Finally, they arrived at Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta’s bedroom.
The last to enter the bedroom, Vilnius closed the door and then heard Empress Augusta’s voice, "Vilnius, you tell me honestly! Was it you who tipped them off?"
"Who did I tip off?" Vilnius asked Augusta with a puzzled expression.
"Those who want to assassinate us!" Empress Augusta said seriously.
"Your Majesty, I don’t even know how many want to assassinate you! How could I tip them off!" Vilnius replied to Empress Augusta with a slightly aggrieved tone.
"You just need to report our route to your cousin, and then your cousin can plan it out..." Augusta provided a reason that was somewhat coherent.
"Your Majesty, what would be the purpose of my doing such a thing? You’ve treated me so well, I would rather die than betray you," Vilnius asked hoarsely.
"I..." Augusta was stunned for a few seconds, realizing Vilnius had no reason to betray them.
Jerome Bonaparte frowned and spoke sternly, "Augusta, without evidence, don’t make random guesses; Vilnius isn’t such a person!
If she wanted to, both of us would likely already be dead."
"But how did those people know about our movements?" Empress Augusta continued to ask Jerome Bonaparte.
"I think it’s largely based on their intelligence network in Paris!
Didn’t Percy also mention this? People like them all know each other!
It’s perfectly normal to obtain intelligence!" Jerome Bonaparte remarked to Empress Augusta, and then continued, "Augusta, without absolute evidence, we cannot be so presumptuous!"
"Vilnius, I’m really sorry just now!" Empress Augusta apologized to Vilnius.
"It’s nothing, Your Majesty!" Vilnius replied understandingly, "Anyone encountering such a situation would think that way!"
Later, Vilnius suggested to Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta that she be detained until the truth is revealed.
"No!" Jerome Bonaparte shook his head and said to Vilnius, "I disagree with your request!"
"Me too!" Empress Augusta also said, then grabbed Vilnius’s hand, "Vilnius, I believe you!"
Faced with Empress Augusta’s sincere gaze, the trace of resentment in Vilnius’s heart vanished without a trace.
"Thank you both, Your Majesties, for your trust!" Vilnius said to Empress Augusta.
Immediately, Vilnius and Augusta sat chatting on the sofa like a pair of close sisters, ignoring the yawning Jerome Bonaparte nearby.
Jerome Bonaparte smiled and sat on the sofa, quietly waiting for Vilnius and Augusta’s conversation to end.
However, Jerome Bonaparte underestimated the speed of women.
Vilnius and Augusta chatted from 11 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.; regarding Jerome Bonaparte, they yawn and said, "Alright! Ladies, it’s getting late! We should rest now! Otherwise, we’ll be unable to get up tomorrow!"
Upon hearing Jerome Bonaparte’s comment, Empress Augusta picked up the pocket watch from the table and looked at the time, displaying a surprised expression, "Time passed so quickly?"
"Who says otherwise?" Jerome Bonaparte shrugged.
Vilnius bade farewell to Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta, Jerome Bonaparte personally escorted Vilnius back to her bedroom. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢
It took nearly an hour, and when Jerome Bonaparte returned to the room, he wore an exhausted expression.
Lying in bed, Augusta glanced at the seemingly drained Jerome Bonaparte and jokingly said, "Back!"
"Why aren’t you sleeping yet!" Jerome Bonaparte showed a slightly embarrassed expression.
"I saw you had been gone for a long time, fearing another assassination attempt, so I stayed awake! It seems, except for a little fatigue, you’re fine!" Empress Augusta quipped strangely.
"Alright! Don’t sulk! Sleep!" Jerome Bonaparte undressed and blew out the candle.
The room plunged into darkness, and after about 40 minutes, light snores emanated from the room.
...
The next morning at 9 a.m., Jerome Bonaparte rose from bed.
Bashirio promptly informed Jerome Bonaparte that the British Envoy Kaoz and the Austrian Ambassador Richard Metternich sought an audience.
