In a mixture of harmony, Charles and Bismarck greeted each other and declared themselves to be part of their country's diplomatic circles that were friendly to each other.

There is no doubt that they are doing this mainly to promote themselves in the other country, and it is not a heartfelt confession, but if it is insincere, it is not necessarily the case.

Bismarck, in particular, did not say this only to fool Charles.

Contrary to what his famous iron-blooded speech suggested, Bismarck was not only iron-willed, but in fact much smarter and more flexible than the average Junker officer, and although he did not reject war and relied on three dynastic wars to unite Germany under Prussia, he was not a complete militarist, nor was he a war-loving commander-in-chief - he fought only when needed, or in other words, he really understood the phrase 'war is a continuation of politics'.

After the establishment of the German Empire, his foreign policy was in fact much more restrained.

Overall, he is a man who knows what he wants and is willing to push for it.

In his current view, the current national goal of Prussia is to further establish its superiority within Germany, and to transform this superiority into a German Confederation dominated by Prussia, so this situation determines that his greatest enemy at present is Austria, and France has correspondingly become the object of appeasement or co-optation, and to a certain extent must maintain goodwill and friendship.

Of course, when the situation developed to the point where he needed to make an enemy of France, he would not hesitate to become an anti-Frenchman.

When walking out of Charles' office. Bismarck stood tall with a stern and somewhat unruly expression. It was in the middle of a cordial conversation just now. He had already weighed Charles de Treville.

This is a very ambitious and very assertive person. Because of success, you believe in your own opinions more. He does not believe in the goodness of man, nor in malice, and measures everyone in an attitude that is almost absolutely neutral, acting according to his own judgment.

It's like himself.

Therefore, we must be very careful with such people, threatens and intimidates or induces them to take advantage. You have to be cautious when dealing with them.

"However, even then, I can take you down." He thought to himself.

……………………

A few days later. The funeral of the Duke of Treville took place as scheduled.

Because of the corresponding preparations, his children and grandchildren also held the funeral quite smoothly, and the obituary was typed in several newspapers the day after the duke's death, and by this day, most of the people who received the obituary also attended as scheduled.

The church was full of nobles, wealthy merchants and foreign envoys, and everyone looked solemn.

Such a funeral was worthy of this famous family, but for the Duke of Treville, who was lying in a coffin under the altar. How significant does that be?

“…… We are deeply saddened by the fact that death has taken away our loved one, the Duke of Philippe de Treville. But we must not despair. For Christ, our Lord, has changed the nature of death.

For the Lord's people, death is not the end or destruction of life. Opposite. It is the threshold to eternal life......"

The priest read the eulogy in a slow tone, while his children and relatives gathered around the coffin. Listen quietly.

Charlotte was dressed in a black mourning dress, looking tired and sad. But her innate arrogance allowed her to maintain her superficial dignity. No tears were shed. Charles, on the other hand, stood beside her, holding her hand, and in this way transmitted his power to her.

By the end of the ceremony, no one spoke in the seats, and the whole funeral continued in this measured sorrow and silence until it came to a final conclusion.

"May God forgive us our sins and give all the dead a place of light and peace. We sincerely believe that Christ has risen from the dead, and may we all live happily ever with Him. Brothers and sisters who are here, may Almighty God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit bless you! ”

"Amen!"

All answered at the same time.

………………

It was time for the final farewell, and the aged Marshal Treville, stretched out his hand, tremblingly rested his hand on the outer wall of the coffin, and stroked the carved texture, as if caressing the last remains of his own brother.

It was only then that his tears finally welled up and dripped onto the coffin.

"No one will ever miss you as much as I do." He whispered to himself, then picked up the velvet blanket next to him and placed it over his brother's coffin.

Everyone came to mourn and then departed, and when the funeral was over, the coffin would be transported by carriage to the duke's manor outside the city, where it would be buried in the family cemetery.

In the carriage, Charlotte remained silent, looking at the scenery outside the window, this thoughtful appearance made her husband feel a little sad.

"Charlotte, don't be too sad." Charles put his arm around her waist. "Everybody has a day when he's just one step ahead of us......"

"I know, Char......les," Charlotte replied in a low voice, "but it's just a little uncomfortable right now...... If you let myself take a break for two days, I can still accept the reality. ”

"That's good." Charles breathed a sigh of relief.

"Even if it's for the sake of our children, I should cheer up." Charlotte looked up at the window again, "Grandpa left us these, and we have to leave more for our children, so that it is not an insult to the ancestors, is it?" ”

"Couldn't be more right!" Charles nodded, "Speaking of which, how are your father and brother doing?" They...... They didn't make any more trouble, did they? ”

"Recently, they have been honest and haven't made any more trouble, and it seems that they have agreed to our conditions." Charlotte bit her lip, and then suddenly sneered, "Our conditions have been put forward so generously, if they are still not satisfied, then they have to fight to the end!" ”

"My own people, what do you say...... you can't fight," Charles smiled.

"Just because it's my own family, I have to pick out everything I say," Charlotte replied angrily, "lest they have any luck and end up making everyone look ugly!" ”

Unlike Charles, she was a little sad about her brother and father's behavior that night, and she was still indignant and could not forgive them for what they did.

Of course, she doesn't plan to reduce the treatment of her father and brother because of this, but her attitude will be tougher and stricter in the future.

"By the way, I have something to tell you." Suddenly, her expression became more serious.

"What's the matter?" From his wife's expression, Charles saw something unusual.

"Just two days ago......" Charlotte hesitated slightly, and then subconsciously looked around, "the envoy of the royal family secretly came to our house. ”

"The envoy of the Wang family?!" Charles was taken aback, then slightly displeased. "Why didn't you tell me? Also, what did they come to talk about? ”

It's no wonder that he has this attitude, in the current power of the Bonaparte family, it is very politically incorrect to have private dealings with the Bourbon family, let alone someone with his position, if Charlotte has something to do with them now, it will be really embarrassing......

"I didn't talk about anything, don't worry, I really have quit and will no longer participate in their activities, and they have forgiven me." As if guessing what her husband was thinking, Charlotte gave him a blank look, "They came over, first mourned with us about Grandpa's death, and then ...... Then I asked my dad to transfer some of the cash away......"

"Huh?" Charles was shocked again. "Your dad...... Won't agree, right? ”

Her father, the new Duke Philip, was not that talkative.

Previously, in the negotiation with the younger Duke of Treville, Charles threw the "Bourbon deposit" as a bargaining chip to his father-in-law, he must have planned to continue to withhold this money in his hands like his father to make money, where would he be willing to repay it now?

"Yes, Dad refused, he told them that now Grandpa just died, and we are still in the stage of taking inventory of the inheritance, and we may not be able to come up with the money in the near future......"

"So what do they say? Agreed? ”

"They said they understood our family's difficulties, so they were willing to wait a little longer." Charlotte's expression was very serious, even grim, "But, at most, after a few months, they asked for a large sum, and said that now the matter is urgent, and there is no more forgiveness......"

"So tough?" Charles was a little suspicious, "Why did they suddenly make such a request as soon as your grandfather died?" ”

"Her Royal Highness the eldest princess is also critically ill......" Charlotte replied in a sentimental tone, "so Bourbon needs to be readjusted." ”

Her Royal Highness the Eldest Princess, the only princess in Louis XVI's family who escaped the flames of the revolution, is the oldest living member of the Bourbon royal family.

"I see......," Charles realized.

"They had a quarrel the day before yesterday, and both sides were very tough." Charlotte was still full of sadness, "I really don't want to see Treville and Bourbon break up!" That's the end of the earth for me! ”

"I'll settle this matter, and I'll let them know what it means to agree." Charles frowned, "Now it's time for me to let the Bourbons know who is in France right now!" Louis Philippe fell because he was not ruthless enough to his opponents, and neither Bonaparte nor I would repeat the same mistakes. There is no room for them to disagree with my terms, and if they refuse, I will hang these emissaries and party members one by one, and then stuff all the gold coins owed to them into their coffins, and no one ......will be left behind."

"Charles, don't do that!" (To be continued......)