"Someone sent by Her Majesty?" Charles was slightly surprised. Pen? Interesting? Pavilion wWw. ｂiquge。 ｉｎfo

Although he knew that Charlotte was a favored lady by Her Majesty's side, and the two of them had a good personal relationship, but suddenly sending a female official from her side to look for her on such a night obviously indicated something unusual.

Charlotte gave her husband a look of embarrassment, then put the spoon back on her plate and left the dining room.

As a last resort, Charles had to feed his son by himself, and the naughty child made him feel a little anxious, but he had no choice but to endure it, scolding the child and feeding him at the same time.

Soon, however, Charlotte returned, with a strange face and a short letter in her hand.

Apparently, the female officer left immediately after seeing Charlotte with her own eyes and handing her the note she had brought with her.

"What's wrong?" Charles asked in a low voice. "Why did Her Majesty write to you suddenly?"

"See for yourself." Charlotte replied in the same whisper, and then gave her husband the shorts in her hand.

Charles took the letter.

This is a special letter paper for the royal court, the pink letter paper is fragrant, and the emblem of the crown is also printed on it, and in the letterhead, Juanxiu's handwriting is also clearly visible, obviously this is a letter from Her Majesty the Queen.

However, Charles did not pay attention to the paper itself, but looked at it carefully.

"Dear Charlotte, Your Majesty has been feeling unwell lately, and although he has recovered quickly, he is very afraid that he will not be able to run the political center of the empire smoothly due to some unforeseen circumstances, so he intends to announce in the near future that Prince Joseph-Napoleon Bonaparte will be his heir, and if anything happens to him, His Royal Highness will take care of the affairs of the country.

At the same time, in order to increase the prestige of His Royal Highness the Prince, and at the same time to assist the already aged Marshal Trevier, he intends to send His Royal Highness the Prince to the front of the war as well after announcing this decision. That's all I know now. Because these matters are of great importance and concern to you, I have decided to inform you as soon as possible.

Your friend. ”

There was no seal on the inscription, no exaggerated signature, only the plain letters C-B, which was the abbreviation of Carona Bonaparte, and Her Majesty said such a important matter in a tone as if she were chatting with a friend.

No wonder she personally sent someone to deliver it to her at night.

Charles frowned, returning to his thoughts.

This is indeed big news that came out of nowhere.

He didn't expect that such news would come at such a time.

According to the order of succession of the family, because His Majesty the Emperor has no heirs, his cousin Joseph should have been the priority successor to the Bonaparte family and the imperial throne, but His Majesty the Emperor announced this decision now, which is really a huge blow.

The prince did not have a very good relationship with him, and after obtaining the status of the heir, his fame and authority would surely grow stronger and more troublesome for himself.

What is even more worrying is that he will have to go to the front line.

In his original history, the prince had also been to the front, served as a division commander, and behaved in a decent way - because there were enough good officers to help him lead his troops into battle.

And in the current world, he has been left in the rear and has not gone to the front line, but he did not expect that he was still sent to the battlefield at this time.

Her Majesty was vague in the letter, wondering what position the prince would hold, and whether he would interfere with his grandfather's command. Or even if he is only a division commander, will it make his grandfather feel embarrassed?

Charles would rather be hit himself than see any trouble on his grandfather's side, and even less would have the honor of the Tréville family easily snatched away by others.

Heavy thoughts mixed in his mind, so that the original joy in Charles's heart was swept away.

Charlotte, of course, knew her husband's mood at this time, and she did not say much, but asked the servant to take the two children away, leaving the whole dining room only the two of them, silent to each other.

"Charles, don't be in a hurry." After a long while, Charlotte finally spoke, "Your Majesty's decision has not yet been announced, and we still have time. ”

Charles nodded slowly, but still didn't speak.

"Your Majesty is doing this, I'm afraid you are also worried about the empire, after all, the empire has just been established for a few years, and everyone still remembers what it was like when France did not have an emperor." Charlotte leaned over to Charles, and then whispered to her husband, "Considering Your Majesty's age, he should also determine a successor as soon as possible to stabilize people's hearts." Frankly...... This is not surprising, we have heard similar rumors for a long time. ”

"Your Majesty is not old now, he still has time." Charles replied with a frown, "It's too early to determine the successor. ”

"Come on, it's all this time, what's the point of saying such things?" Charlotte couldn't help but snatch him away, "Can we force His Majesty to change his mind?" No...... It's not going to work, so we should find a way to face it. ”

After a pause, she continued, "We can reconcile with His Royal Highness, after all, he is a man who likes to show off and be vain, and if we are willing to cheer for him, he will accept us." ”

"We can put down our bodies and talk to him and say nice things to him, but that won't solve the fundamental problem." Charles shook his head slightly, "No matter how much he is, he can't trust me as much as His Majesty does." ”

Charles, however, spoke the truth from his heart.

With his character, if he had to bow his head, he naturally wouldn't care about any dignity, but it wasn't a matter of dignity.

Prince Joseph-Bonaparte had already accumulated his popularity among the Bonapartists over the years, gathering many supporters and pawns, and Charles would not be able to squeeze into such a core circle of cronies no matter how much he curried favor with him.

If he can't, then even if he bows his head, he can't avoid the consequences of being a son of heaven and a courtier. Even if the prince continues to reuse himself after ascending the throne as emperor, his favored retainers will definitely be reused, and at that time, the huge foundation he has established and his own power will definitely be hit hard.

There are so many similar examples of similar things in history that the new favorites replace the old magnates, and then divide the wealth of the old magnates to satisfy their own greed, that Charles simply does not want to pin his hopes on such a slim luck.

More importantly, he wants to do great things in this new world, how can he allow others to interfere with his own path?

"In any case, even if it is useful to repair relations, there is no need for us to go toe-to-toe with a prince." Charlotte still insisted on her opinion, "Besides, I think Her Majesty is more anxious than we are, isn't it?" After all, if the prince really inherited the throne of the empire, she would have no way to deal with herself. ”

"In the end, it's all her fault, she has never fulfilled her obligations!" Charles couldn't help but complain, "When Princess Louisa came to France, she gave birth to the king of Rome in two years, but what about her? It's been almost two years, and there hasn't been any movement at all! If she can give birth to a crown prince, what is the matter of a prince! ”

Obviously, His Majesty the Emperor is now just a helpless move to determine the prince as the heir, and he doesn't like the prince very much, if the queen can give birth to a crown prince, then this decision will definitely be nullified, and everyone will want to pass on their own country to their bloodline.

"What's the point of you just blaming a woman for such a thing? Is Her Majesty not willing to give birth to an heir for the Empire? She's in a hurry! Charlotte was a little unhappy, "It's not a hurry to have a baby, you have to be lucky, I believe God will take care of her after all, what a good person she is......"

Charles himself knew that his words were excessive, so he shrugged his shoulders and said no more.

Indeed, the most important thing for Her Majesty the Queen now is the birth of an heir. In a sense, she abandoned so many things and married someone about the same age as her father, with the purpose of becoming the queen of this empire and the ancestor of this royal family?

If she has been unable to conceive and the throne has been passed to collateral blood relatives, won't her life become a joke?

Some time before, Charlotte had offered some prescriptions that were rumored to be able to promote fertility, and the queen used them as usual, but the heir had not yet arrived, and it was because of this that she was anxious and frightened.

What's even more terrifying is that His Majesty the Emperor is getting older and older, and he is about to turn fifty years old, if he doesn't hurry up now, even if he wants to work hard in the future, he may not be able to succeed, and there is indeed not much time left for them.

Perhaps His Majesty the Emperor made this decision precisely because he no longer had confidence in His Majesty the Empress to give birth to an heir in the short term?

It's hard to imagine Her Majesty's mood when she wrote this letter, but it's very uncomfortable to think about it.

As soon as Charles thought of this, he picked up the letter in his hand again and looked at the handwriting on it. The handwriting was neat and smooth, and it was very stable, with no signs of upset, and the tone was very calm.

She has practiced it, and she does have some concentration, and Charles can't help but admire it in her heart.

It's a pity that fate didn't favor her.

However, the charr is not a man who likes to accept his fate.

"The most important thing for us now is to reassure Her Majesty and let her know that there is still hope for everything, after all, Your Majesty, this is only a temporary measure." After thinking for a moment, Charles spoke again, "Tomorrow I will enter the palace to meet Her Majesty the Empress, and find out what she has to say." The most important question is to find out exactly how His Majesty intends to arrange His Royal Highness......"

"Yes, he must not be allowed to interfere with grandpa's work." Charlotte and Charles have been together for so long, so naturally they quickly understood what her husband meant. "It's best to ask what kind of work His Majesty intends him to be in charge of at the front."

"Hmm." Charles nodded, and then stuffed the snacks on the plate directly into his mouth, "Okay, I'm going to go to the study for a while, write a telegram and give it to him tomorrow, so that he can be a little mentally prepared." ”

After saying that, he stood up directly, intending to leave.

"Charles, don't worry, I'll always help you, as long as we are united, no difficulty will bother us." Charlotte also stood up, walked over to her husband, and kissed him on the cheek.

Then, she raised her hand and pointed to her two sons, "And their ......."

"Yes, thank you, I love you." Charles kissed his wife as well, then turned away.

At noon the next day, Charles rushed directly to the palace to meet His Majesty the Emperor and report to him on the recent work of the headquarters. However, this was only a pretense for him, and immediately after meeting His Majesty, he went to the queen's bedchamber to meet him.

As one of His Majesty's most relied on ministers, His Excellency Chancellor Treville naturally has the privilege of visiting the palace from time to time, but after all, Her Majesty has a special status, and Charles rarely visits her, so as not to arouse suspicion.

However, today the situation is different, and he can't care so much.

Under the guidance of the female officer, he soon came to the presence of Her Majesty the Queen.

"Mr. Treville, it's a pleasure to meet you." Her Majesty Queen Carona didn't seem surprised by his arrival, she sat upright in her seat and looked at him calmly, "How is Charlotte doing lately?" I miss her. ”

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty." Charles replied very respectfully, "Charlotte is fine now, but she can't come to the palace often because she is busy taking care of the children, and she has received your greetings and is very grateful to you." I came here today to convey her thanks by the way. ”

At this time, several female officials of the palace were watching from the side, and of course Charles would not be stupid enough to directly tell the news she passed on last night, so he had to hint at the other party.

"As long as she's okay, we should all take care of ourselves now that the times are changing." Her Majesty was still calm, but there was something unusual in her tone. "By the way, you've been pretty busy lately, right? I heard Your Majesty say that you have been grieving for the supply ahead......"

"I'm really working on that." Charles bowed again, "Although it will be a bit of labor, compared to the soldiers on the front line, I am already very relaxed, I am afraid that I will not fulfill my responsibilities, so that they will suffer undue sacrifices......"

"Yes, in this era, we should share weal and woe with the country, and now that the country is at war with a strong enemy, we should also set an example." Her Majesty nodded, as if deeply moved by Charles's words, "Your Majesty originally wanted to go to the front line to boost morale, but unfortunately his health has been poor recently, so he had to give up. ”

"I am deeply admired by Your Majesty's determination and enthusiasm, and I am sure that our soldiers will be grateful for it......" Charles said this polite sentence slowly, and his mind was spinning rapidly, pondering the meaning of Her Majesty's words, "Even if he does not take the expedition himself, the soldiers will summon the greatest courage to fight to the end for the Empire." ”

"Having said that, in the midst of a battle of this unprecedented scale, if the Bonaparte family is absent, it may be too sorry for the Napoleonic Emperor's spirit in heaven......" Her Majesty's expression became a little strange, "Your Majesty has decided to let the Guards participate in the expedition, and the Guards need a leader of honorable status, I think Your Majesty will carefully consider the choice of leader." ”

I see.

Charles finally knew in his heart.

Since his accession to the throne, His Majesty the Emperor has rebuilt the Guards by drawing elite troops from the entire army to follow his uncle's example, and giving them very good treatment, intending to turn them into the most relied on by his Imperial Guards.

And when the war between France and Russia had come to a critical juncture, it was time for this Imperial Army to go to the front.

Although he himself was unable to go into battle in person due to physical reasons, it was a matter of course for a prince to take command of the guards.

"The Guards are the most elite armed forces in our country, and they are responsible for the garrison of the palace and the capital, so it is better not to draw too many troops." Charles replied to Her Majesty the Empress in a fairly formal manner, "In addition, it is best to determine the command relationship between the generals of the Guards and the front command in advance, so as not to unclear the powers and responsibilities and affect the war at that time." ”

"These things are matters that Your Majesty needs to pay attention to, and I don't dare to interfere too much." Her Majesty shook her head, indicating that she didn't want to care about this, "I just hope that Your Majesty's health can get better as soon as possible, and the empire needs his health." ”

"I also very much hope that Your Majesty is in good health, this is the most valuable asset of the Empire." Charles smiled slightly, "Please take care of yourself, too." ”

His words did not make Her Majesty happy, but made her frown and sigh softly.

"Hey......"

Charles, of course, understood what she was sad about.

Her body still has no signs, how can she not be worried.

"Your Majesty, at this critical juncture, you should be strong and help His Majesty the Emperor to tide over the difficulties, if even you are discouraged, then how can your subjects be motivated?" Charles deliberately lowered his voice, trying not to let his words sound revealing, "We sincerely hope that you will overcome all difficulties, and we are willing to pay any price to defend you!" ”

"What?" Queen Kalona was a little surprised.

"If Your Majesty is temporarily unable to see things due to physical reasons, then the whole country will need a person at the helm, and I beg you to summon up the courage to assume your responsibilities and take care of the affairs of the country for the time being, after all, this is not without precedent in the Empire......" Charles said eloquently, as if discussing a historical question, "In those days, when the Emperor Napoleon went on an expedition, he also let Empress Louisa regent, and she did a very good job, I think that your wisdom, courage and shrewdness will definitely not be under her......"

"Yes......" Her Majesty's eyes widened slightly.

The minister had received his own notice, which meant that he had to support himself, even though he knew that His Majesty had decided to make the Prince his regent when he was not in good health.

At this juncture, Charles's statement is tantamount to saying that he absolutely supports Her Majesty the Queen and does not make other plans.

Of course, Her Majesty was very pleased with this, and it meant that her expectations were not disappointed.

"Sir, don't you know that you have said something very indecent? Now His Majesty is in good health, and we don't need to discuss similar issues! After a moment of euphoria, Her Majesty regained her composure and extended her hand to the Charles. Okay, I'll have afternoon tea with a few ladies later......"

"I beg your pardon for my sins, Your Majesty. I am only assuming, after all, it is my duty to think about the country, and I must do my best to preserve the rule of the Bonaparte family and the long-term stability of the empire. Charles apologized insincerely, then stepped forward, took Her Majesty's hand, and kissed her silk-gloved right hand gently.

"Goodbye, Your Majesty."

Her Majesty's slight smile had a charming charm in it.

She was not dressed very formally, just in a pink dress, but this dress flattered her figure, and the diamond brooch with the Bonaparte family crest pinned to her chest aptly told the world that she stood at the top of the wealth and glory of the empire.

This is a smart and sensible woman, not only in her blood, worthy of the title of queen.

She was brought to France by Charles, but even at that time, Charles did not expect that she had adapted so much to her role and was as handy as her husband was to exert her power.

Maybe it's a talent.

Charles gave her one last look.

He then walked back respectfully and left Her Majesty's reception room.

His steps were still steady and his attitude was serious, but the thoughts in his head were still flooding back.

Her Majesty did not seem to have been struck down by the calamity, on the contrary she was very calm, and more importantly - she knew how to use her power, and she relied on herself very much.

The only flaw is that she did not bring an heir to the empire, and was therefore excluded from the most central circle of the empire by His Majesty the Emperor.

Charles brought her to France in the first place to find himself an ally in the royal family, and he did so. Therefore, he absolutely did not want this ally to be devalued, at least not when he needed to.

Therefore, he should find a way to solve the queen's problems.

But the question is back to square one - Her Majesty has made so many efforts and still achieved nothing, so even if you continue to work hard, will you be able to succeed?

In the original history, Empress Eugenie brought an heir to the empire, but the current Empress Karona is not so lucky.

What if fate really abandoned her?

He is not a man who is willing to accept his fate, although he is usually polite and aristocratic, but in his bones he is still the ambitious and energetic barbarian, and he will never sit still when the threat comes, even if it is desperate.

If all other attempts prove futile, then, perhaps, I can do it for Your Majesty?

A crazy thought suddenly occurred in his head.