Paris, Tuileries Palace.

In the long, lavishly decorated corridor, the Countess de Neve, dressed in court attire, walked forward step by step, the sound of footsteps on the marble floor was very soft but rhythmic.

The palace was the royal palace of Napoleon III and the former "home" of the Countess de Neve, but at the end of last month, Napoleon III married Empress Eugénie from Spain, so the mistress became a guest at the Tuileries Palace.

As she was about to reach the end of the corridor, the Countess stopped, for in front of her stood a richly dressed lady of admirable beauty, Princess Mathilde, the cousin of Napoleon III. Her Royal Highness was once engaged to her cousin Napoleon III, but was betrothed by her money-hungry father, Jérôme. Bonaparte broke up, thus missing the throne of the Empress of France (in other words, Napoleon III's experience is a bit of a wealthy family abandoning the less and retiring from the marriage stream and the meaning of the counterattack). But now, the princess has divorced her husband as a Russian financier and is living in Paris under the Napoleonic family.

"Your Majesty, Isabel, is waiting for us right now...... It's a person. Her voice was soft and feminine, just like her figure.

"Wait...... We? Deneuve was stunned for a moment. Princess Mathilde smiled, but there was a hint of helplessness in her tone, "His Majesty the Emperor summoned us because of the needs of the state, and this is our position in the Tuileries Palace. ”

"But......" Countess de Nev hesitated.

"Please come with me, don't let Your Majesty wait." Princess Mathilde waved her hand, motioning for Deneuve to follow her. Then he turned and pushed open the door and walked in.

"Well......" muttered the Countess de Neve. Walked in too.

"Mathilde. Isabel, sit down. The French Emperor, who was sitting in a daze, beckoned to the two guests and invited them to sit across from him.

"I'm so happy to meet you." Mathilde flattered Napoleon III, who had been divorced and imprisoned, and now emperor of France, smiled and said, "Is there anything I can do for you?" ”

"There's an important matter, and I want you to be an envoy." The French emperor twisted his beard and smiled, "Go to a distant eastern country, to meet Jason, my friend and Isabel." ”

Jason ...... Is that Jason? Mathilde frowned.

"It's the Jason I want you to divorce and remarry Dmidov, whom you don't love. Cinnabar. The current Emperor of China. The French emperor smiled wryly, "Well, if this marriage is successful, you will now be the Empress of China!" ”

As soon as she heard this, Princess Mathilde's pretty face turned blue at once: "Louie, did you bring me here to be sarcastic?" Well, I'm the dumbest woman in the world, and I once had two crowns in front of me, but I didn't catch any of them! ”

The French Emperor smiled and shook his head, and asked the Countess de Neve, "Isabel." Do you think Mathilde still has a chance? ”

Before the countess could reply, Princess Mathilde exclaimed, "Oh God." Louie, are you going to ask me to seduce the Emperor of China? ”

The French emperor looked at his cousin: "If only in 1844...... He's going to fall madly in love with you. But right now, you have a lot of competitors. ”

The countess was also stunned by the French emperor's proposal, and it took a long time to come back to her senses: "Your Majesty, I think Her Royal Highness the princess can try it......"

"It's just a joke," the French Emperor smiled at his cousin, and then regained his seriousness, "Matter, Mathilde I intend to ask the Pope of Rome to approve Henri (originally named Louis, in Charles. Bonaparte changed his name to Louis. Bonaparte later became Henry) became my legitimate child, and then used him to marry the daughter of His Majesty in China. ”

Henri was the illegitimate son of Napoleon III and the Countess de Neve, and in Europe illegitimate children were not recognized, with exceptions, and the Pope had the right to recognize an illegitimate child on behalf of God as legitimate children – a privilege that several popes in history have used to turn their illegitimate children into legitimate children.

The countess exclaimed excitedly: "Oh God, will Henry be Prince Napoleon?" If ......"

Now, the term Prince Napoleon alludes to the heir to the French throne. Thanks to Louis. Bonaparte did not have legal children, so Napoleon III had to appoint his cousin Joseph. Bonaparte (also Mathilde's younger brother) was Prince Napoleon. The heir to the Second French Empire, however, was a republican who strongly opposed Napoleon III's claim to the throne. The heir to the throne was therefore so distressed by the Bonapartists in France that it was proposed that one of the illegitimate sons of Napoleon III be made legitimate and heir to the throne.

"Well, I'm afraid this won't work, at least not for now, Eugenie won't agree, although Henry is really smart and very likable......" Napoleon III sighed slightly, "but the Empress is still young, I believe she will give birth to an heir for me." Henry's mission was to maintain the friendship between the Bonaparte dynasty and the Ming dynasty. ”

There was a verbal marriage contract between Henry and Zhu Jishi's daughter, but it was not official, and it was not even said who the marriage would be, and now it was time to finalize all the key issues, because ...... Children grow really fast.

Napoleon III looked at his cousin, "Mathilde, this is also the first task I have given you. I guess you won't let me down, right? ”

"Definitely not." Mathilde replied with a smile. In Europe, not just anyone can act as a big matchmaker for royal marriages. In general, princes and princesses are the most suitable matchmakers. She thought for a while and asked again: "Your Majesty, if Henry becomes your legitimate legitimate child, then he will be the heir to the French throne, I think he can find a good marriage partner in Europe, is it necessary to marry a Chinese princess?" ”

"Of course it's necessary!" The French Emperor nodded, "In a few years, China will be as powerful as Britain, France, and Russia, and it is very likely to become the master of the Eastern world." Moreover, China is still standing behind Russia. If the situation in Europe were to repeat the situation of our uncle's year, France would be in great need of the support of China, and as long as China and France were on their side, Russia would not dare to join any alliance against France. Without the help of Russia, it would have been difficult for Britain to find a power on the continent that could stand against France.

Of course, things may not go so smoothly...... Perhaps a great power will rise on German soil. If Austria were defeated in this war, Britain would certainly support Prussia as the hegemon of Central Europe. Then France and Russia will form an alliance. In such a situation, France would need to avoid an alliance between Prussia and China.

Moreover, China and Russia will become enemies after the end of this war, and France must assume the responsibility of mediating the contradictions between China and Russia, and considering the plight of Russia being attacked on both sides, France will be in an advantageous position in Russian-French diplomacy. This is particularly important for French authority in Europe. ”

"Looks like I've got a lot of weight on me......," Princess Mathilde shook her head slightly.

Napoleon III smiled: "I believe in your ability, by the way, there is also a very important mission, bring a secret agreement and agree with Zhu Jishi to start a war, and then stay in China until the end of the war, and then you will need to contribute to the restoration of peace in the world." ”

The emperor's face suddenly became solemn, Princess Mathilde's trip to China was indeed of great significance, in addition to engaging in bed politics with Emperor Zhu (including Dinghua and her own dedication), she was also a special envoy. Since there was no telegraph communication between China and France, a date for the war could only be agreed in advance. In addition, she was responsible for acting as a "dove of peace" after the war had ended, and although the war had not yet begun, Napoleon III had already prepared several peace proposals, the focus of which was to bring about a rapprochement between China and Russia, and to put France in the position of mediator between China and Russia. (To be continued......)