From Corsica to the Fourth Rome

The next morning, Versailles Palace.

This magnificent palace is undoubtedly the center of France, and even culturally speaking, it can be called the center of Europe.

The court fashions that originated here continued to radiate out and influenced monarchs all over Europe. Even in remote Russia, the landowners and nobles there were proud to speak fluent French and regarded Parisian fashion as their own. the goal that is pursued.

The most admired place in the Palace of Versailles is undoubtedly the King's Suite located on the east side of the main building of the Palace of Versailles, where the French rulers live.

Although the King's Suite is just a room in name, it is actually a large palace independent of the Palace of Versailles. In addition to the King's bedroom, there are also multiple areas such as the Bull's Eye Room and the Small Conference Hall for entertaining. It serves as a private workplace for visiting princes and nobles.

And anyone who is lucky enough to see the king's bedroom can't help but be filled with emotion at the luxurious furnishings there.

In the center of the bedroom is a large gold and red brocade bed, which is large enough for the king to hold his lover and play back and forth on it. Under the bed is a light red Ottoman carpet, which will feel warm even if you step on it with bare feet in winter.

Above the bed is an embroidered canopy, and on the ceiling is a set of exquisite and beautiful giant marble reliefs called "The Guardian King of France Sleeps", which was created by the most outstanding craftsmen.

King Louis XV sat up from such a bed and stretched slowly.

Although he is nearly sixty years old, Louis XV's face is still very rosy. It can only be seen from his slightly white temples that he is indeed an old man. Of course, Louis XV wears a wig on formal occasions. It still makes people think that this energetic king can continue to rule France for twenty years.

Although historically he died of smallpox four years later.

Louis XV sat up, licked his lips, and turned to look at a girl who was still sleeping beside him, as if he was reminiscing about the snow, moon, wind and flowers last night.

The girl is really a young and charming woman. Zhuoyue's figure is even more prominent in the gauze-like pajamas. Her thick golden long curly hair hangs casually on her shoulders, and her big almond-like eyes are gently closed, like Sleeping Beauty in fairy tales usually attracts people's attention.

Apart from the late queen, the only person who could stay so peacefully in the king's palace was the king's most beloved chief mistress, the Countess Du Barry.

You must know that the title of "Chief Mistress" is not a folk nickname, but a real official title canonized by Louis XV. The last person to receive this title was the famous Madame Pompadour.

It can be said that for French women, unless her birth is noble enough to become the king's queen, the position of chief mistress is the highest status they can achieve.

Of course, if a certain woman has the ability to become the Joan of Arc of this era, it will naturally be different.

Madame Du Barry, who was lying on the bed, was rising and falling slightly with her breathing. Judging from her peaceful expression, Louis XV was probably still as powerful as before.

As Louis XV sat up from the bed, Madame Du Barry slowly opened her eyes. I don't know whether she was awakened by Louis XV or had already woken up but was waiting for Louis XV to get up first.

"Oh, lovely Jeanne."

Louis XV sat on the bedside, looking at Madame Du Barry's shy and charming big eyes, he couldn't help but kiss her on the face, and said with emotion:

"You are so charming, I wonder which angel sent you to me."

Madame Du Barry smiled, and when Louis XV finished kissing her cheek and was about to stand up, she hugged his head and kissed him, and then whispered seductively:

"Your Majesty, it's still early, why not"

"Oh oh oh, that's not okay."

Louis XV smiled and shook his head, gently pushed Madame Du Barry away, touched his sore waist and said:

"I am the king, and I still have things to do, so I can't waste my time."

Madame Du Barry smiled sweetly, and she knew in her heart that the king was indeed busy every day, but he was not busy running the country.

The two lingered on the bedside for a while, then simply changed into casual clothes and walked out of the room together.

The servants have already arranged everything in an orderly manner. The dining table is already filled with fruits and dishes, and a golden, crispy and fragrant roast suckling pig is placed in the center.

After Louis XV and Madame Du Barry sat on the chairs, a servant quickly stepped forward and respectfully placed two pamphlets in front of Louis XV.

These two volumes are one thin and one thick. The thin one is a brief summary of military and government affairs across the country yesterday, while the thick one contains various gossips and scandals around Paris and interesting things that happened in the aristocratic circle yesterday.

In the early years, the two books were still the same thickness, and the one recording national events was even thicker than the one recording gossip and scandals.

However, as France's financial problems continued to worsen and the war situation continued to worsen during the Seven Years' War, Louis XV could only read bad news in this booklet, and he gradually lost interest in reading this booklet.

In Louis XV's view, it would be better for him to read this report full of bad news than to let him read the Paris newspapers. At least the bourgeois criticism of himself and the royal family in the newspapers was only verbal. The bad news is all painful reality.

Especially after the Duke of Choiseul took care of the government affairs of most of France, Louis XV had no thoughts about running the country and became increasingly addicted to luxurious and enjoyable court activities.

After the people who compiled the two reports realized this, they also very cleverly reduced the content of the former report and thickened the content of the latter.

After all, even if he is a king, his nature is to entertain himself to death.

Sure enough, Louis XV frowned and took a look at the first booklet. The words about deficit and armaments immediately bored him. He could not stop shaking his head and sighing impatiently after reading it for less than half a minute. He threw the book aside, picked up another book and read it with interest.

Madame Du Barry, who was sitting next to Louis XV, stuffed two cherry tomatoes into her mouth, glanced at Louis XV carefully, and then coughed twice to attract his attention.

"oh?"

Louis XV raised his head, looked at Madame Du Barry with concern and said:

"What's wrong? My dear Jeanne, are you feeling unwell?"

"That's not true, Your Majesty, I just remembered something."

Madame Du Barry held her forehead, sighed, shook her head and said:

"I heard that there is a new man in Paris, the Governor of Corsica, named Bonaparte or something."

"Ah, yes, Laurence Bonaparte, a young man who knows the times."

Louis XV smiled and nodded, very satisfied with this young man, so he took the initiative to add:

"He is really a young talent. The Duke of Choiseul also praised him lavishly. I am looking forward to meeting this little guy. In fact, he will be the protagonist of the banquet in a few days. You will also be there." Saw him there."

Madame Du Barry observed Louis XV's face keenly. After seeing that Louis XV was so satisfied with Bonaparte, she couldn't help but hesitate for two seconds, but she still said:

"Sounds like a nice guy, but I've heard some rumors about him."

"Rumors? Tell me about it." Louis XV said with interest while looking at the booklet in his hand.

Madame Du Barry said stiffly, and it was obvious that she did not think of these words herself:

"I heard that he tried to apply to join the Royal Academy of Sciences, but he is still a politician at such a young age. How could he have the energy to focus on academics? I think there may be something not so clean here."

"Royal Academy of Sciences?" Louis XV frowned slightly, turned to look at Madame Du Barry, and said slowly:

"Dear Jeanne, why are you suddenly interested in the Royal Academy of Sciences?"

Madame Du Barry looked a little embarrassed. Of course, the words she said were not her own thoughts, but the instructions of Duke Richelieu.

Including Lawrence's attempt to join the Royal Academy of Sciences, Duke Richelieu, who was an academician of the French Academy, was aware of it, and then told Madame Du Barry, hoping that Madame Du Barry would reveal the matter to Louis XV and beyond. Destroy Lawrence's position in Louis XV's heart.

However, although Louis XV was not interested in governing the country, he was not easy to fool. After all, he had sat on the throne for fifty-five years, and Madame Du Barry could still see this trick.

Fortunately, Madame Du Barry was also an experienced socialite. She quickly adjusted her embarrassed expression and knew that she could not hide such a thing, so she said frankly:

"In fact, it was the Duke of Richelieu who mentioned this to me. I think that such a person, who may have some low moral character, is not worthy of your taking seriously."

Louis XV nodded slightly and admitted that Madame Du Barry was right. If Lawrence is really all academic and wants to get into the Royal Academy of Sciences, then his moral character is indeed somewhat low.

However, this kind of thing can only be said to be neither big nor small. Not to mention that the truth of this matter has not been confirmed yet. Even if it is confirmed, this kind of thing has long been common in the upper class society. It is just that Louis X Five just has some opinions about Lawrence.

Therefore, Louis XV did not take this to heart. Instead, he felt that he could personally award the young Governor of Corsica the title of Honorary Member of the Royal Academy of Sciences as a reward for his active surrender.

Madame Du Barry saw that Louis XV did not show any dissatisfaction at all, so she was not discouraged and continued to bewitch her:

"You are right, but I have also heard that Bonaparte is not a good person. It is said that when he was in Corsica, he was a mercenary villain who regarded his own interests as infinitely important. Such a person is not good at all. It’s worth your attention that if something happens, he will run away without hesitation.”

Louis XV glanced at Madame Du Barry and said:

"This is completely different from what I heard from the Duke of Choiseul."

"Oh - Your Majesty, you also know that Duke Choiseul is not trustworthy at all."

When Louis XV mentioned the Duke of Choiseul, Madame Du Barry suddenly became angry and said in one breath:

"He is simply a mean and mean person. The descriptions of others by people like him must be false, not to mention that Bonaparte is so close to him. The Duke of Choiseul will definitely tell Bonaparte Good words.”

Louis XV sighed helplessly after hearing this. The fight between Duke Choiseul and Madame Du Barry was nothing new. Almost everyone in the aristocratic circle knew about it. Louis XV personally tried to reconcile their conflicts, but it seemed to have no effect at all.

But at the same time, Louis XV also knew that there was some truth in what Madame Du Barry said. That Bonaparte and the Duke of Choiseul were so close, the Duke of Choiseul would definitely give him a nice word.

Therefore, Louis XV still said in a conciliatory manner:

"Dear Jeanne, I know that the Duke of Choiseul has been unfair to you, but you don't have to be so excited. I still hope that you can live in harmony. In addition, let's stop here about the Governor of Corsica. , I will find out later.”

However, Madame Du Barry was not satisfied with Louis XV's answer. Instead, she leaned directly into Louis XV's arms and used her beauty to say softly:

"But Your Majesty, I have really heard a lot about Bonaparte. They all say that he is a mercenary villain and a coward who runs away."

Louis XV looked at Madame Du Barry's fair face and opened his mouth, but still suppressed the words of rebuke. He just shook his head helplessly and said nothing.

Louis XV could not bear to say harsh words to this beloved lover, so he had to let her continue speaking, trying not to listen to these words.

The two continued to enjoy their breakfast at the dining table, while Madame Du Barry kept talking endlessly about the dirty information she said she had learned about Lawrence.

Louis XV was also hesitant about these words. He answered every word and read the pamphlet on the table attentively while eating breakfast.

"So, Your Majesty, you really shouldn't be so concerned about Bonaparte, let alone hold a banquet for him. You haven't even held a banquet for me. Am I better than that outsider?" Isn’t it important?”

A few minutes later, Madame Du Barry was still talking non-stop, leaning against Louis XV coquettishly, deliberately making a jealous expression.

"etc."

Louis XV, who had never responded, was suddenly startled and looked at the booklet in front of him in disbelief.

Madame Du Barry was overjoyed, thinking that her words had touched Louis XV, and she quickly asked:

"What's wrong, Your Majesty, have you finally figured it out?"

However, Louis XV ignored Madame Du Barry and just read the contents of the book twice.

Then Louis XV slowly turned his head to look at Madame Du Barry, and asked meaningfully:

"Dear Jeanne, did you just say that Bonaparte was a coward and a mercenary who ran away?"

Madame Du Barry nodded doubtfully and said: "Of course, that's true."

"Then I think you should listen to this."

Louis XV leaned back in his chair, held the pamphlet in front of his head, cleared his throat and read aloud:

"Yesterday afternoon, Crown Prince Louis was attacked by wild animals while hunting in the Royal Forest Farm, but the Crown Prince himself was not injured. According to the Crown Prince's personal statement, they were surrounded by a large group of wolves at that time, and it was Laurence Bonaparte who was accompanying them who stepped forward and saved them. He went out to fight the wolf and saved the lives of the crown prince and several other nobles; the crown prince himself also assisted Laurence Bonaparte in killing a wolf himself and bringing it back as a trophy. Governor Nabal's injuries are unknown, but judging from the blood stains on his body at the time, it is likely that he was seriously injured."

Obviously, when retelling this experience, Crown Prince Louis added a lot of details in order to show his bravery; not only did he describe several wild wolves as a group of evil wolves, but he also omitted the description of the entourage who dragged the wolves back. His behavior made people think that he and Lawrence were fighting a whole pack of evil wolves.

Madame Du Barry sat there in a daze and listened to Louis XV read this record. Her mind went blank, and she opened her mouth without saying a word for a while.

That Bonaparte? How could it be possible? How could he accidentally save the crown prince, or save the crown prince Louis in a way that was almost like the hero in a knight's novel?

But no matter what Madame Du Barry thinks, this is already an unchangeable reality.

Louis XV glanced at Madame Du Barry and ignored her. He read the record over and over again and couldn't help but admire:

"My wonderful grandson, Louis-Auguste, was so brave that he killed an entire wolf himself. Compared with his heroic deed, all the hunting trophies in my showroom pale in comparison. You are truly worthy of being the heir to the Bourbon royal family, my dear Jeanne.”

Madame Du Barry forced a smile, nodded awkwardly and said: "Yes, Your Majesty."

"Oh! And, of course, our dear Governor of Corsica, Laurence Bonaparte."

Louis XV also said in amazement, while his eyes kept glancing at Madame Du Barry aside:

"In order to protect the crown prince, he stood up to a whole pack of evil wolves, even at the risk of being seriously injured. He is really a loyal minister. He has not even officially surrendered to the Bourbon royal family. I think such a person must not be anything. The rumored 'coward who ran away and the mercenary villain', right?"

"Not at all, Your Majesty."

Madame Du Barry's face was paler than her breasts. She lowered her head deeply, answered in a low voice, and then did not dare to say anything.

"Ah, I have to think about what reward I should give this Bonaparte. I can't let people think that I am a stingy king."

Seeing that his grandson survived the crisis without any danger, and instead showed extraordinary bravery, Louis XV couldn't help being in a good mood, and even his appetite greatly increased. He excitedly took a big mouthful of suckling pig and said to himself said.

Madame Du Barry, who was sitting beside her in despair, could not say anything. There was only one thought left in her mind:

"I have to tell Duke Richelieu not to mess with this damn Corsican any time soon."