Philip's eagerness and the fact that he was in control of everything made Charles suspicious. Pen × fun × Pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ

Could it be that Philip was close to the Miss Blue Stockings? If that were the case, it would be a big problem, because the young lady was not just a lover of literature, but a person with a special identity and mission.

"I've heard a little bit about that young lady, do you know her well?" Charles pretended to be casual and asked, "Did you have a relationship before?" How did she get here? ”

"I'm with her...... I don't know each other very well......" Philip laughed a little awkwardly, "but I know one of her friends well." Her friend had some old acquaintances with me, and she had come to Fontainebleau through that friend's connections—so I had met her two days ago when I was with my friend. ”

As if thinking of something, Philip suddenly changed his appearance of "sudden realization" and hurriedly explained to Charles.

"Charles, don't worry, she didn't have anything to do with me before, and I'm definitely going to introduce it to you when I'm tired of playing, don't worry, that girl looks like a vassal and elegant, and she won't be the type of wandering skeleton......"

"Okay, I got it." Seeing that Philip was getting more and more unbearable, Charles finally couldn't bear it anymore and quickly reached out to stop the other party. "Then you go find them and find a way to arrange them for me as soon as possible."

"Charles, wrap it up with me!" After getting Charles' consent, Philip was apparently overjoyed and made another concession with Charles. "I've told them that as long as you nod, she'll be ready to greet you, if you don't mind, even today, you see, this young lady admires you enough, right? Not even the most basic reserves, and honestly Charles I don't think you can afford to waste such an opportunity......"

Philip cheered Charles with great interest, describing the young lady's appearance and demeanor in a vivid manner, not taking his sister's position to heart at all.

It seemed that he really didn't know who the Miss Blue Stockings really was, and he didn't have any friendship with her, and he was only promised a lot of benefits, Charles made a judgment quietly.

Okay, since she's so positive, then I won't put up a fight anymore, after all, everyone has old feelings. Charles thought to himself.

"Well, you can help me talk about it, and I'll go for a walk outside the garden this evening, and we can meet somewhere there."

"Yours is the case. What a vigour! Philip made a gesture of admiration, and then immediately took his leave and left Charles' room, "Wait for my good news, Charles!" ”

……………………

As the sunset begins to glow in the sky with golden and orange colours, Charles wanders through the garden paths of the Château de Fontainebleau, as is customary these days, admiring the beautiful evening views.

The Jockey Club has been held for several days, so the enthusiasm of the visitors has slowly faded, so the original noisy hustle and bustle has begun to return to its original tranquility and tranquility, especially in the depths of the garden, which is extremely quiet, becoming a simple corner of this glitzy world.

Charles strolled through the emerald greenery at a pace that looked the same as usual. Today, however, there is a clear direction in his footsteps.

There is a large number of forests near the Château de Fontainebleau, and these birches and beeches isolate the hustle and bustle of the outside world and become a natural barrier, isolating small open spaces. In the past royal era, kings have come here for recreation, and they and their courtiers have hunted in these verdant forests or had trysts with their lovers.

Even today, centuries later, the situation is not much different, as Charles walked through it, several times he met men and women walking together with Gu Ying, and some even he even gave each other inappropriate glances and staggered them directly, as if no one had seen anyone.

When Charles came to a clearing in the woods, it was already very dark, the sun had already set, and there was only a thin gray light in the sky, trying to resist the arrival of the night, and the evening wind echoed in the woods, making a soft sound, and the branches and leaves were shadowy, like the elves of the night.

The air was fresh, but it was also a little cold, and Charles stopped, looked up at the landscape, and then buttoned up his coat while secretly wondering when the other party would come.

He didn't wait long, and soon the rustling of footsteps sounded from the forest ahead. The voice grew closer and closer to him, until at last, a vague figure appeared between the trees in front of him.

Then, the blurred figure grew clearer and clearer, until Charles could see the other side clearly.

It was indeed Miss Caterina de Perriette, whom he was well aware—though he knew it was certainly not her real name.

She wore a dark gray woolen skirt with a flower-shaped silk knot at the neck, perhaps because she was walking at night, and she carried a Chinese-style silk lantern in her hand.

Her chestnut hair stood out from the yellow-white light of the lantern, and the jeweled pins behind the bun shone brightly, making her complexion even paler and her face delicately contoured.

She still has a familiar smile on her face, as if she is always smiling, making people feel like a spring breeze, and people can only see a little bit of sternness and firmness that belong to the real one in the depths of this smile.

"Long time no see, Charles." She walked up to Charles with an almost constant pace, without nervousness, "Or should I call your Excellency?" ”

Charles tried to be serious at first, but soon he decided that the posturing was pointless, and shrugged his shoulders.

"Call me Charles, you deserve to call me that."

"Thank you for being so humble, Charles." When she walked in front of Charles, she stopped, then slightly bent her knees and saluted him, "Charles, I thought you would deliberately dry me before I meet me......"

"It doesn't mean much to me, I don't need to show authority in this way." Although Charles's tone was humble, he couldn't hide that little bit of self-satisfaction, "Besides, our old friendship makes me can't bear to treat you like this. ”

"Oh, old friends! It's hard to remember that! Miss Blue Stockings smiled and shook her head, "But from what you've been doing all these days, I can't believe you remember, after all, you don't communicate with us anymore—"

"I am a minister of the empire, I am full of official duties, and my identity is sensitive, so it is naturally difficult to have too close contacts with the outside world." Charles shook his head regretfully, "So I ask you to be considerate of me. ”

Of course, he could not say directly, "Because you are a man of the British government, I cannot have too much contact with you, so as not to arouse the suspicion of others", but he believed that with the other party's intelligence she could understand this reason.

"Oh, what a magnificent answer!" Katerina's smile deepened, and she couldn't tell whether she was admiring or mocking. "Of course, I can understand you. Admittedly, this is a great regret for me...... Because I can't see your pretty face and hear your witty words as often as I used to. ”

This was a bit frivolous, but Charles was not carried away, but was on guard.

"I'm sure you'll have a lot of young talent around you to save you from regrets." He replied prudently.

"But there is no substitute for a young talent like you, after all, not everyone can be a minister." Caterina still didn't give up.

"So what do you need such a minister to do for you?" Charles decided to go straight in.

"It's up to you to do what you're willing to do for me, because I don't have any way to force you." Caterina looked at Charles with a smile, "Only admiration and appreciation for this gentleman." ”

"You helped me when I was embarrassed and down, and I will always remember this help, so I am willing to repay your help in any way I can." "Of course," said Charles, unhurriedly, "there are some things that I must make clear - this kind of reward can only be limited to the power of the minister, and I cannot help you at the expense of France." ”

"Tut-tut, what a decent answer!" Miss Perriette seemed to admire, and sighed, then raised the lantern in her hand and looked at Charles, "Look, what a suitable minister our Charles has become!" It's really true that I was so optimistic about him back then! ”

"Don't be like this......" Charles was a little embarrassed to be ridiculed by the other party. I just think I need to make my position clear. ”

"You're still treating me as an enemy." Miss Perriette's eyes narrowed slightly, "True, this is also normal, but you forget, I'm not a fool, I won't let you do something you are not destined to do, that will only make me look like a fool, will it?" Besides, now that Britain and France are sisters, we don't need such tensions, but we should enjoy the old friendship, right? ”

"Okay, I'm sorry, then let's enjoy the old friendship." Charles shrugged, "I can more or less guess why you're in such a hurry to see me. I can assure you that the present foreign policy decisions of France are the unshakable will of His Majesty the Emperor, and that the Russian ambassador cannot change anything, nor do we intend to let him know anything - we will remain steadfast in our side with Britain. ”

Miss Bluestocking's expression became a little more serious as Charles said this, and it was clear that this was indeed what she wanted to know.

"That is, now that the Count is in the Château de Fontainebleau, acting only as a poor guest, destined to be deceived and fooled?" After a moment, she asked again.

"Yes, that's the case." Charles nodded very dryly.

Because they had intended to explain the matter to the British, Charles did not need to keep it a secret from the other party, but was happy to use it to show his sincerity and respect for the other party.

"That's good." At such a clear answer, Miss Perriette was visibly more relaxed, "London should be able to sleep now." ”

"Don't the old men of London believe us like that?" Charles couldn't help but grumble. "We've promised the British a few times."

"Would Nabas and his accomplices be so moral?" Miss Perriette sneered and asked, "Charles, do you care about morality?" ”

Charles wanted to retort, but finally shook his head, "At least you should believe in our sincerity now. ”

"Of course I do, but I believe that this is just a stopgap measure for you in the current situation, and you will change your course when the situation changes." Miss Perriette was not going to hide her opinion, "So isn't it normal for the gentlemen of London to be reassured?" ”

"At such a critical juncture, nervousness is not good for everyone." Charles couldn't help but say, "Besides, don't the British look at France with the same attitude?" It's a mutual choice, and you can't be harsh on our morals. ”

"Well, we don't have to think about morality, at least the current reality is comforting." Miss Perriette immediately changed the subject, and stopped arguing with Charles. "Now that this question can be answered, can I ask you to take the time to clear up another mystery for me?"

"Excuse me?" Charles looked inquiringly.

"Many people say that your Imperial Majesty is old enough, I'm afraid you won't be able to have children, and I came to Fontainebleau today and found that the two Majesties don't seem to be on good terms......" Miss Perriette had a smile on her face, but looked at Charles with a falcon-like gaze, "So, Charles, assuming that in the future, poor His Majesty the Emperor Napoleon III has no direct heir, one day, if there is a crisis of succession to the throne one day, who will you support to ascend to the throne?" ”

"The Bonaparte family has its own succession sequence, and this is not a question that one of my ministers can question." Of course, Charles didn't intend to tell her the truth, "Besides, I am convinced that our Imperial Majesty still has energy, and he can bring an imperial heir to the empire, so that the empire can continue forever......"

"That is, if there is such an inheritance crisis, you will stand idly by?" Mademoiselle Perriette looked at Charles calmly, apparently not surprised by his reply, "But I seem to have heard that you are not on good terms with several princes of the Bonaparte family?" ”

Charles didn't answer her question, he knew it was a temptation.

"Well, do you mind that under certain circumstances, the House of Orleans is restored in France?" Miss Perriette asked again suddenly. "Of course, what I'm talking about is a hypothetical question and doesn't represent any actual results."

Charles's eyes widened suddenly, staring at the other man. Is this your personal problem? Or who does it represent? ”

This is no joke, after the February Revolution of 1848, His Majesty King Louis-Philippe I went into exile in England, while Louis Bonaparte landed in France from England.

Now that Louis-Philippe I is dead and his family continues to take refuge in the British, the fates of the two families have been reversed, and the constant is that Britain always has a card in his hand to influence French politics - a card that in most moments is meaningless, but in some moments it is fatal.

In this case, the question is a bit creepy.

"You can take it as my personal problem." Miss Perriette replied with a smile.

"Britons, what a ...... Unpleasant. After a long silence, he hissed.

"The world is unpredictable, and Britain has to always make multiple preparations. You have to understand the amount of effort it takes to sustain an empire. Miss Perriette did not mean to be displeased, "Well, tell me what you think." ”

"I will, absolutely not want to watch this happening in silence!" "If anyone wants to make this happen," said Charles, with a rare severity, "I will use all the means at my disposal to prevent this from happening, even if I lose everything I have." ”

"Even if the Orleans family is actually willing to reconcile with you and confirm your status?" Miss Perriette asked calmly.

"Even so!" Charles replied categorically.

This was indeed his intention, because he had already formed a blood feud with the Orleanists in the previous revolutions and coups, coupled with mass murder and exile, which could not be ended in a single sentence.

Even if the Orleans family is willing to "reconcile" after the restoration, it is impossible for him to maintain his position, and he may be settled by the Autumn Queen at any time, so he cannot have any ambiguity on this issue anyway, and he must resist in the end.

Miss Perriette kept an eye on Charles, making sure that his will was in good shape, and at last she nodded. "Well, I see what you mean."

Charles didn't say anything more, but it was conceivable that she would definitely report his resolute attitude to London, but she didn't know what the other party would think of herself like this.

The night was already deep, and everywhere entered the bottomless darkness, and this silence made people feel a little chilled.

"Then I think about it, I can only wish you good luck and see the birth of His Majesty the Emperor's heir, and only in this way is it in your best interest." After a long silence, Miss Perriette said.

"It's not something I need to think about, I just need to serve the country." Charles calmly replied, "And I believe that God will bless the Bonapartes, and that our Emperor is a pious man, and he deserves to be favored." ”

"Oh, Bonaparte the Pious!" Miss Perriette burst out laughing, "Well, may God favor him!" ”

Then, she glanced at Charles again, "Charles, in fact, I don't think you need to be so nervous, the situation is not particularly bad, we are just taking precautions, this does not mean that it will definitely become a reality." ”

Then, suddenly, she turned her head, raised the lantern and looked at the forest in the distance, and said in a casual tone, "There is no essential difference between the surname Nababas and the surname Capet for Britain, and this is the main reason why we can view Napoleon's nephew's ascension to the throne in France with pragmatism...... Maybe the last name Treville doesn't matter? ”

Charles was stunned, this obvious agitation did not look like the style of the British, perhaps Miss Perriette muttered in private?

"I am loyal to Your Majesty, loyal to the Empire, and in any case, I am a supporter of the friendship between France and England for generations." In the end, he could only give a balanced answer.

Then in order to grasp the initiative, he asked the other party rhetorically, "What about you?" Who are you loyal to? ”

"I am loyal not to a monarch, or a prime minister, or to a government, but to eternal Britain." The slightly flirtatious smile on Mademoiselle Caterina de Perriette suddenly disappeared, and she said with an almost solemn look, "Kings and queens come and go, but Britain stands there forever, and it deserves everything I have to give." ”

"It's admirable." Charles shrugged.

"No, it is not to be admired, it is just a passion," said Miss Perriette, shaking her head, "one has to live for passion, does it?" Otherwise, life is just a desert. ”

Then, she smiled again, breaking up the solemn atmosphere, "Okay, let's not talk about these overly serious topics...... Shall I ask you something else? How's that young lady you brought to my house? You weren't beaten to death by your wife, were you? ”

"No ......," Charles was embarrassed.

"Alright, Charles, what's there to be embarrassed about?" Miss Perriette seemed to see what Charles was thinking. "There's nothing wrong with having fun in life."

"Thank you......" Charles was still embarrassed. Well, she's doing well, and I'm still in touch with her. ”

Miss Perriette looked back at Charles, her gray pupils reflecting the flames of the lantern.

"Well, then, it seems like we're going to finish talking about tonight......," she said intentionally, dragging her voice, "shouldn't we do more to keep your cousin from being suspicious?" ”

"......" Charles looked at her, not knowing what to say.

"For the friendship of Britain and France, we pay passion and tears, isn't it?" Miss Perriette's eyes narrowed with laughter.

"You...... Do you think that's good? Charles asked rhetorically.

"What's the difference?"

"France pressed England head-on...... Maybe it's a big deal for a lot of French people, but would you like to see the consequences? Charles asked rhetorically.

In the face of this slightly lewd rhetorical question, Miss Perriette was stunned for a moment, and then suddenly burst out laughing.

"Hahahaha! Charles, that's what I like most about you, you always have a humorous punchline in every situation, hahahaha! Interesting! Then, she looked at Charles with a smile on her face, "Then can't we try to suppress France in England?" Although it was a challenge for me, I was willing to put in the hard work and sweat for Britain. ”

“…… That's not very good, right? Charles hesitated.

"It's not really good...... The distinction between public and private affairs is clear. Miss Perriette suddenly fell on Charles's body as if she had lost all her strength, and thrust the lantern directly into his right hand.

Then, she kissed the side of Charles' cheek. "Then at least you can help the frail lady back, right?"

"My pleasure." Charles lifted the lantern. (To be continued.) )