Perhaps because Princess Mathilde foreshadowed her in advance, Flaubert did not show his refusal at the first time in the face of Jérôme Bonaparte's invitation.

"Your Majesty, thank you for your recognition of me!" Flaubert said politely to Jérôme Bonaparte, "However, I do not think that with my present literary attainment, I am not enough to enter the halls of the French Academy of Letters!"

If you rush to do it, I'm afraid it will affect your holy name!!"

In response to Flaubert's modesty with a hint of flattery, Jérôme Bonaparte smiled knowingly, and he spoke to Flaubert again, "Monsieur Flaubert, you have been a little too modest!

I can assure you that your book Madame de Bolifa, published in the Paris Magazine in 1856, will be enough to silence a large group of academicians in the Académie Française!"

When Jérôme Bonaparte said the title of the book with unmistakable accuracy, Flaubert had a look of astonishment on his face.

In Flaubert's mind, the reason why the emperor was willing to recruit him to become an academician of the French Academy of Letters was probably just to see the face of Princess Mathilde.

For his works, the emperor probably did not even listen.

Unexpectedly, the emperor was able to accurately tell the time of publication of "Mrs. Baolifa", and I think he must have put a certain amount of effort into it.

"What! Mr. Flaubert, you are amazed that I was able to tell you exactly when your book was published!" Jérôme Bonaparte, who claimed to be a well-read reader, understood Flaubert's thoughts at this moment, and he decided to "add another fire" to the literary master, "In fact, my wife and I are loyal readers!"

Flaubert's face was even more astonished, because as soon as the book "Madame Bolifa" was released, the authorities immediately labeled it as "moral turpitude and defamation of religion" and its dissemination was strictly restricted.

If Princess Matilda had taken her cover, then Flaubert himself would have to go to prison.

"Monsieur Flaubert, Your Majesty is indeed your faithful reader!" Princess Mathilde, who was standing aside, also said to Flaubert, "The reason why Madame Bolifa has not been completely banned and can still spread in a small area depends on Your Majesty!"

"Monsieur Flaubert!" Jérôme Bonaparte said solemnly to Flaubert, "I myself am very fond of Madame de Bolifa, but as the monarch of the empire, I cannot do what I like.

Sometimes, I have to think a little bit about the face of some of the forces (the church)!

I'm very sorry for the Empire's restriction on the distribution of Lady Bolifa!"

Jérôme Bonaparte's apology left Flaubert feeling a little overwhelmed.

Although Flaubert was a pessimist at this time, he was still a man of letters at heart.

What the literati need most is not the stimulation of money, but respect.

Now the monarch who controls a country apologizes to Flaubert "in a low voice", and this does not move Flaubert.

"Your Majesty...... I...... I ......" Flaubert replied to Jérôme Bonaparte after a moment's momentary distraction, "Thank you for your recognition! It never occurred to me that a monarch like yours would be my reader, and that I would be willing to apologize to such an insignificant little person as me on behalf of the Empire...... It's hard to put into words how I feel at this moment!"

"Monsieur Flaubert, I am also human, so naturally I will have my own preferences!" Jérôme Bonaparte replied to Flaubert, "As soon as I read the book Madame de Bolifa, I felt that you would not lose to Monsieur Victor Hugo in your future achievements.

At that time, I would like to invite you to join the Faculty of Letters!

It's just that I was so busy with work at that time that I forgot to ask you for an invitation!

Now, on behalf of the Honorary Dean of the Faculty of Letters, I would like to extend an invitation to you, Mr. Gustave Flaubert!

I hope you will think carefully!"

With that, Jérôme Bonaparte stretched out his hand like Flaubert.

Flaubert hesitated for a moment before he stretched out his hand

Shake with Jérôme Bonaparte.

The proud Flaubert humbly boasted to Jérôme Bonaparte, "I am honored to be able to shake hands with a great monarch!"

Jérôme Bonaparte, Mathilde, and Flaubert then sat in three positions on the sofa and explored the book Madame de Bolifa.

Flaubert, the author of the book, was the protagonist of the chat, explaining to Jérôme Bonaparte and Mathilde why he created the book and where he got the inspiration.

Jérôme Bonaparte and Princess Mathilde listened attentively to Flaubert's speech, interspersing some of their own subjective evaluations from time to time, and the atmosphere in the room soon became hot.

As Jérôme Bonaparte and others went deeper, their topics were not limited to "Madame de Bolifa", nor were they limited to the content of their conversations.

By this time, Gustave Flaubert had become a foul-mouthed critic, and he commented sharply on every poem, even the playbook, that Jérôme Bonaparte and Princess Mathilde had written.

Some reviews are agreed by both Jérôme Bonaparte and Mathilde.

Some of the comments were opposed by both Jérôme Bonaparte and Mathilde.

In the face of differences, the three of them did not care about each other's identities and argued with each other, at this moment there was no difference between monarchs and courtiers in the room, and everyone's identities were equal.

This went on for more than an hour, and it was not until there was another knock on the door that the argument in the room stopped.

Jérôme Bonaparte smiled apologetically at Flaubert and Princess Mathilde, and then called the people outside the room in.

"Your Majesty!" The person standing outside the room was none other than Angelo von Becchu, the emperor's secretary.

"Mr. Shelly, what's wrong?" Jérôme Bonaparte asked Angelo von Bechudau.

Angelo von Becchu tactfully told Jérôme Bonaparte that there was still a batch of documents waiting for him to process.

Flaubert and Princess Mathilde immediately realized that it was time for them to leave, as soon as they heard Beccu's response.

Flaubert and Princess Mathilde then bid farewell to Jérôme Bonaparte.

Jérôme Bonaparte simply said a few polite words and did not keep Flaubert and Mathilde.

However, Jérôme Bonaparte ordered Angelo von Becchu to personally send the two out of the Château de Fontainebleau.

Under the watchful eye of Jérôme Bonaparte, Princess Mathilde and Flaubert leave the Château de Fontainebleau.

Looking at Flaubert's departing back, Jérôme Bonaparte could not help but feel a sense of relief in his heart.

For Jérôme Bonaparte, the inclusion of Flaubert, a man of letters outside the system, into the official system did help to maintain the rule of the empire.

After all, a literati who is outside the system and at the same time has great influence can easily be used by those with good intentions to become a banner of the imperial opposition.

Victor Hugo is a living example of this, and when he was exiled by Jérôme Bonaparte, he did not have the influence he has now.

Over time, the exiled Victor Hugo grew in influence and became more and more sympathetic to France, and now he has become a spiritual banner of the imperial opposition.

To tell the truth, Jérôme Bonaparte already had a faint regret for his deportation of Vidocq Hugo in the first place.

Of course, Jérôme Bonaparte did not fail to try to reconcile with Victor Hugo.

It's just that every time he sent out a reconciliation messenger, he was sternly rejected by Victor Hugo.

Even Jérôme Bonaparte's offer to make Victor Hugo a cabinet minister was also rejected by Victor Hugo.

But if you think about it, if Victor Hugo is not expelled from the country, then Jérôme Bonaparte really does not know that such a great Buddha should be placed in this way.

The influence of Victor Hugo

Destined not to be imprisoned, he even needed to protect Victor Hugo.

Because if Victor Hugo was killed in the country, then Jérôme Bonaparte would really be yellow and crotch off his pants - there is no bitterness to say.

After thinking about it, it was better for Victor Hugo to stay abroad.

It is precisely because of the experience of Victor Hugo that Jérôme Bonaparte had a low bottom line for the literati in the empire.

As long as the literati living in the French Empire do not write articles that poke the lungs of the empire and make unfavorable remarks against the empire, the empire will be able to turn a blind eye, and the money that should be given will not be less, and the title they should have will not be left behind.

For those who cooperated with the Empire, Jérôme Bonaparte would give them a super-standard treatment and status.

In short, Jérôme Bonaparte could only choose to tempt these literati with interests and fame, and the routine of adding sweet dates with a stick would only have the opposite effect on some literati.

……

When Princess Mathilde and Flaubert returned to the hotel, Flaubert suddenly felt a headache, and he realized that maybe his syphilis was about to recur!

"Your Highness, I need to rest!" Flaubert said a word to Princess Mathilde.

Princess Mathilde saw Flaubert, whose face was slightly pale, and thought that Flaubert had been caused by accompanying her on the snow, so she nodded at Flaubert.

With the permission of Princess Mathilde, Flaubert quickly returned to his room and rested on his bed while he was still conscious.

On the other hand, Princess Mathilde, who returned to her room alone, soon received a telegram from Paris.

The contents of the telegram were the outline of what Cavour had sent to Mathilde's Mansion, and that the letter would reach her in three hours.

Free to read.