12 January, 7 p.m. In the dining room of the main hall of the Tuileries, His Majesty the King is enjoying his sumptuous private dinner to the sound of melodious orchestral music.

There were not many people who accompanied the diners, except for his mistress, Madame du Barry, and only a few attendants and secretaries who were on hand and ready to meet all the needs of Louis XV.

"To be honest, Paris is such a good place, probably because I've been in Versailles for too long." Louis XV picked up a tender steak and reveled in the performance of the royal orchestra and said with relish.

It can be seen that the king is in a good mood these days. Although the Palace of Versailles gathers the treasures and treasures of the whole of France, it is still too solemn and solemn, and Paris, a metropolis of 600,000 people, can undoubtedly bring more fun and enjoyment to Louis XV, who has lived in the palace for a long time.

In terms of theatre alone, the old theatres in Paris, which have a centuries-old heritage, are much better than the Royal Opera House in Versailles.

This led Louis XV to decide to stay at the Tuileries Palace for a while after watching the gamble between Lawrence and Madame du Barry.

"My dear Jeanne, what should I do tomorrow?" Louis XV smiled and looked at Madame du Barry beside him: "How about a boat trip on the Seine?" I haven't been on a cruise in the winter. Madame Dubarry tilted her head slightly, her eyes were like silk, and she nodded with a smile: "Excellent, Your Majesty, it is really exciting." ”

"Very good, you can also invite a few old friends to come with me." Louis XV took the silver fork and pulled the matsutake sauce on the plate, and planned seriously: "Oh yes, Lawrence must also be called, he is Auguste's first squire after all, and if else..." ”

"Huh? What's wrong with him? Louis XV frowned in confusion and turned to look at his press secretary.

Seeing this, the press secretary also hurriedly stepped forward and leaned over to answer: "His Excellency Lawrence Bonaparte recently announced that a charity auction will be held to raise funds for grants to the poor in Paris. If nothing else, the auction has now begun at the Comédie de Paris. ”

"Charity auctions? "Louis XV didn't seem interested in the news, after all, as a king, he didn't care much about the affairs of these lowly pariahs: "Not bad, Lawrence is indeed doing good." But since he has something to do, he won't have to send him an invitation tomorrow. With that, Louis XV raised his crystal glass and took a sip of white wine, and waved his hand for the press secretary to step down, feeling that there was no need to know more about this unremarkable charity auction.

But Madame du Barry apparently did not think so, for there was one of her favourite treasures at the auction, and because she had been instructed by the Duke of Agilon to do something about Lawrence on the matter.

I saw Madame Dubarry secretly give the press secretary a covert look, suggesting that he should not back down at first, and then interjected: "Your Majesty, you just said that Monsieur Bonaparte is doing a good deed?" ”

"What's wrong? Is there something wrong? Louis XV wiped his mouth with a silk handkerchief, a little puzzled: "Charity auction, donate a sum of money to my people in need, is there anything wrong with this, I think Lawrence is really a noble man." A triumphant smile flashed in the corner of Madame Dubarry's eyes, and she put on a worried face without any flaws, and said as if hesitantly: "Noble? It is very perplexing for me that you have used this word to describe Monsieur Bonaparte, and it seems to me that this auction is nothing more than a means for Mr. Bonaparte to gain fame. ”

"Selling fame?" Madame Dubari nodded heavily, and said in a sincere tone: "Yes, Your Majesty, think about it, Monsieur Bonaparte has a whole mountain of silver in his hands, and his Corsican National Silver Company does not know how much wealth he has in his account, why does he not donate directly to the poor, why should he hold a huge auction?" ”

"This—" Louis XV nodded hesitantly, also thinking that Madame du Barry had a point.

If Lawrence really wanted to help the poor in Paris, there really wasn't a need to put an auction out, and it would be held in a high-profile place like the Paris Comédie.

"Okay, Jeanne, anyone is more or less greedy for fame and fortune." Louis XV bowed his head, although he now also felt that Lawrence was gaining fame, but after all, it was a good deed, so the king did not intend to pursue the matter: "But anyway, Lawrence has done a good deed, and it is normal for him to want to gain some fame, so let him go." However, Madame du Barry did not obey the king's will to change the subject, and the secret smile on the corner of her mouth became stronger, and she suddenly said: "Your Majesty, what Monsieur Bonaparte has done may be a good thing for the people at the bottom, and it may also be a good thing for himself, but... That's not a good thing for you. Louis XV was even more puzzled, so he smiled and put down his knife and fork, and looked at Madame du Barry, wondering what she had to say.

"I have heard that the citizens of Paris are excited and delighted by this auction and praise Monsieur Bonaparte." Madame Dubari deliberately slowed down her tone and said with a sigh: "But what... Correspondingly, I have heard some bad voices, many people say that the ministers of France are simply corpses, and in the end it turns out that a Corsican foreigner cares about the French people the most, and even pointed the finger at the royal family... And that includes you. Louis XV at the table was stunned for a moment, and his face suddenly turned ugly, and even his strong hands were unconsciously clenched into fists.

The king turned his head again to look at his press secretary and asked in a deep voice, "Is there such a thing?" The press secretary seemed very embarrassed, but as a loyal press officer directly under His Majesty the King, he still reported truthfully: "There are indeed such remarks from some citizens... Say..."

"Say what?" Louis XV's tone was a little irritated.

"To say that the royal family has been knocking out their bones for thousands of years, but has not stood up even to say a word of justice when they need it, but it is a newcomer Corsican who has begun to pour his enthusiasm and kindness on the land of France." At this point, Louis XV understood exactly what Madame du Barry meant.

Originally, the government and the royal family did not plan to pay this year's winter allowance, anyway, as soon as this winter passes, the protesting and clamming of the untouchables will gradually subside.

Even if the people are dissatisfied, it is completely fine, as long as the government and the royal family pretend to be deaf and dumb and ignore the matter of subsidies, and wait until the beginning of spring, the matter will be over, after all, the small citizens are a very forgetful class.

No one will remember the winter subsidy of 1771 for long except those who died in the wind and frost.

However, at this point in time, Lawrence Bonaparte actually held a charity auction.

This is almost a clear indication that he, a Corsican, is the one who really cares about the people of Paris. In this contrast, the deaf and dumb town hall and the royal family all seem so incompetent and indifferent, as if they were completely unconcerned about the poor people who make up more than half of the population of Paris.

While it is true that they do not pay attention, no government wants their disregard for the people at the bottom to be put on the table.

And in the eyes of Louis XV, after Madame du Barry's reminder, Lawrence's behavior this time can be summed up in one word - meritorious achievement.

Lawrence's auction bought a large number of people's hearts, but correspondingly, Louis XV's status in the hearts of the people also fell a lot: the king of France did not care about his hungry people, but a Corsican took the initiative to stand up, which is really embarrassing.

Seeing Louis XV's embarrassed appearance, Madame du Barry became even more proud, but her expression was still that worried look, and she continued to add fuel to the fire: "In my opinion, if Monsieur Bonaparte really thinks about your majesty, he should transfer that wealth to you, Your Majesty, and distribute it to the people of Paris in your name. Hearing this, Louis XV's face also showed a trace of sorrow: "This Lawrence... Why is he so inconsiderate this time, it's really not like his style. ”

"Your Majesty, philosophers have said that the nature of man is gradually revealed. You've known Monsieur Bonaparte for less than a year. Madame Dubarry scolded.

"I'm going to have to bang him anyway." Louis XV commanded with a grim expression: "Secretary of the schedule! Cancelled for tomorrow's cruise, I'm going to invite Laurence Bonaparte to the Tuileries Palace! Upon hearing Louis XV's arrangement, Madame du Barry puffed up her chest proudly, like a victorious general.

"Stupid Corsican hillbilly, the Duke of Aguion must have been to the Paris Comédie Theatre too, and I really want to see for myself how depressed that kid will look after the royal family and the people are not pleased." Madame du Barry thought to herself, and drank the white wine from her glass triumphantly and in high spirits.

... Almost at the same time, the Paris Comédie. It is a theater of paintings, marble and goldwork, and the Greco-Roman colonnade is perfectly blended with Baroque and Rococo architecture.

Since the day it was inaugurated, it has been a place for high society to appreciate the art of top-notch opera.

Today, however, the packed guests were not here for the operatic arts, but were basically wealthy financiers or property owners from around Paris, who had been invited to participate in the much-anticipated charity auction.

Since it was an invitation from His Excellency Bonaparte, the bourgeoisie who received the invitation had little reason to refuse, after all, it was also a good opportunity for them to be vassal, and I heard that many of the lots in this auction were from the collections of the Choiseul family and the royal family.

Moreover, if you can deliberately buy the collection provided by a certain nobleman at a high price, you may be able to get the appreciation of the other party at this opportunity.

There were many bourgeoisie who wanted to squeeze into the aristocracy like Monsieur Montmartre, which is why they were looking forward to the auction and had their wallets and checks ready.

... And at this time, outside the doors of the theater.

"Invitations? Do I, Emmanuel Armand de Vernello do Plessi de Richelieu, need that kind of thing? I saw the Duke of Aegion condescendingly looking down at a trembling doorman, and scolded coldly: "I will not even be stopped by anyone to enter the gate of the Palace of Versailles, and you dare to stop me from the door of a theater?" The doorman couldn't say anything, so he lowered his head and repeated over and over again: "I'm very sorry, Lord Duke, there is a charity auction going to be held in the theater, if you don't have an invitation to the auction..."

"That's enough, get out of the way." The Duke of Agion didn't want to waste any more words, and directly instructed his personal guard to throw the short-eyed doorman aside.

At this time, I heard a calm and indifferent voice coming from inside the gate: "Your Excellency, you don't have to be so rude. Lawrence, dressed in a black tuxedo, slowly walked out of the door, as if he had expected the Duke of Agion to come, and had been waiting here for a long time.

The Duke of Aegion looked at Lawrence's tuxedo and sneered, "Why, Your Excellency Bonaparte seems to be ready to take the stage in person?" The prime minister of a kingdom stands on the stage and presides, and I really don't know what kind of system it is. Lawrence smiled lightly and shot back mercilessly: "I heard that one of His Majesty's great interests is to hold masquerade balls, do you also want to say what it takes for a king to be an actor?" ”

"Hmph, Flim Flam." The Duke of Agion snorted disdainfully, raised his chin and pointed at the Paris Comédie behind Lawrence: "But since your Excellency is holding a charity auction, if I want to show kindness, I should be able to enter the venue, right?" Lawrence narrowed his eyes at Duke Aegion, smiled and did not speak.

"What do you mean?" The Duke of Agilon exclaimed, displeased, loud enough for the people around the theatre to hear: "Your Excellency, are you not going to pour out kindness on the poor pauper? Is it because you and I have political differences that I am deprived of the opportunity to show my kindness? If you're really dedicated to others, why would you stop me from participating in the auction to donate to the citizens? The surrounding people also immediately cast concerned eyes, many of them were low-level poor people who came to watch the auction.

For these people, they didn't know who Duke Agilon was, they only knew that this was a rich lord.

Therefore, not only did they not exclude the Duke of Agion from joining the auction, but they welcomed and looked forward to it, after all, the higher the auction turnover, the higher the subsidy that the poor would receive.

However, in the face of this naked moral kidnapping, Lawrence nodded without changing his face, and directly stepped aside in accordance with Duke Agilon, smiling and stretching out his hand to welcome: "No, Your Excellency, I welcome your arrival, I'm really glad that you also want to do your best, then please come with me, the auction is about to start." The Duke of Agion was slightly stunned, and glanced at Lawrence suspiciously.

However, he himself came to stir up this auction, so naturally he will not let go of this opportunity.

The Duke of Egillon only allowed himself to participate in the auction if Lawrence had succumbed to the pressure of the masses, so he followed Lawrence into the theater with his head held high, complacent about his successful little trick.