With great ingenuity and sincerity, and relying on the loyalty and dedication of two generations of his ancestors and grandchildren, Charles finally obtained from Louis Bonaparte the promise of the other party to appoint him as minister as soon as the empire was restored.

He did not waste any time, and two days later came to the house of his old boss, Count de Dulièon, now Minister of Railways.

The Earl, because he had been informed by him a long time ago, also postponed all the itinerary that day and stayed at home.

As soon as he came to the door, the counts received him with a smile on their faces, and they talked happily as if everything was going on as usual. However, each of them actually knew in their hearts that Charles was coming. After all, the Charles had already passed through their daughter Matilda and presented their ideas to them.

The Count rejected Charles' offer, but this time Charles would not allow him to refuse again.

"Charles, since you went to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, you haven't come to see us again, and to be honest, it's a bit of a pity for us." As the Count led him to his drawing-room, he said with a smile, "We can always find some good topics to talk about when we stay with you, and there is no other young man who can give us this kind of pleasure, and young people nowadays just want to eat, drink, and be merry......"

"Actually, I've wanted to visit you for a long time, but it's only managed to get out of the busy foreign affairs with great difficulty." Charles also smiled slightly, not showing any rift between the two of them, "I just went to Austria, and I have to attend various meetings and ceremonies when I come back, and I have to attend some obviously meaningless occasions, which is really unreasonable!" I'm so glad I can finally find a free time now. Let's learn from you again. ”

"This is a proof of status, don't be annoyed!" The Count walked into the drawing-room. Then he found a desk and sat down, "You were attending the state funeral of the Generalissimo two days ago, right?" I really envy that you can show your face in front of the whole army with the president. ”

And then. He suddenly restrained his smile, and then sighed embarrassedly, "However, speaking of which, the generalissimo's death like this really reminds me of those past events...... What a majestic man he was at that time, where did he think that he would leave us like this. ”

Until a few years, he had been a courtier in the court of King Louis-Philippe, although he had little contact with Soulte. But it is still possible to catch a glimpse of the generalissimo's demeanor, and now the thought that he has passed away, and that France has completely changed its appearance, is indeed a little emotional. In just a few years, France has changed its form of government, and it will soon change again as a monarchy.

"The death of the Generalissimo is indeed a great loss for us and it is sad." Charles said calmly, "The president expressed his condolences to the whole army. He also hopes to be able to comfort his heroic soul with more glorious martial arts in the future. ”

"Of course the president is in mourning." The Earl smiled slightly, unconsciously with a slight sneer, "I can be buried in Les Invalides." It was already an incomparable honor for him to be by the side of His Majesty the Emperor......"

"That's a great honor, of course." Charles seemed to be seriously agreeing with the other.

Then both of them tacitly laughed at the same time.

Then, the attendant brought coffee to the two men. So they interrupted the conversation for a while.

Charles was unhurried and remained silent. I sipped my coffee and looked very focused. It's as if that's what I'm here for.

The Count was much more uneasy than him, and while he looked down, he glanced at the young man in front of him from time to time, as if he was preoccupied.

"When you left Paris for Austria, Matilda told me something...... "After waiting for a while, I didn't see Charti, so the count couldn't help it," something very absurd. ”

"Oh? What is the matter? As if awakened, Charles looked at the other man curiously, and then lowered the cup.

She said that as France regained its status as a monarchy, His Majesty would certainly reorganize the Cabinet as he pleased. At that time, there will definitely be major adjustments in the various ministers, and I ...... And I......" he paused, and finally continued, "I am not a close confidant of His Majesty, and I have always occupied such a prominent position, I am afraid that I will be hated." Therefore, she advised me that it would be better for me to resign when the time comes, and then ...... Then I recommend you to succeed me in my position. ”

"Sounds shocking." Charles said this verbally, but in reality he was not surprised. "And what do you think?"

"I don't think her words make any sense, it's absurd." The Count re-emphasized his opinion, and then his expression became a little nervous, "Charles, I'm not against letting Xian give it to you. But...... Now that you are proud of yourself in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, you have made such a reputation, and the whole of Europe is talking about you, and this is a good time for you to be in the limelight, how can you be happy to return to the obscurity of the Ministry? My daughter seems to be overthinking. ”

Under the Count's nervous gaze, Charles took another sip of his coffee, then placed the cup on the plate, and then looked at the other with a smile on his face.

"No, Your Excellency, I don't think it's ridiculous, because the idea is what I told Matilda, and your daughter just paraphrased."

Such a ruthless answer made the middle-aged man's face a little pale. Unexpectedly, this young man expressed his covetousness for his position in person, and he refused to even be tactful.

"Charles...... It's not a good idea......" After a moment, he said with a slight tremor in his tone, "You see, we have been working together for the past few years, and how pleasant we were then...... Even if you leave, I will reuse the people you left behind, and I have no objections to your plans, whether they are past or present, so ...... Why do you have to abandon your good future and come to compete with your friends for this position? ”

"I need to get the rank of minister for myself as soon as possible, and I need to save up for myself and my friends - you can get anything for diplomacy, but it's hard to get money. This is admittedly a pity. Ignoring the other party's eager expression, Charles replied calmly. Also, I have to do my best to share my grandfather's worries. ”

"What does that mean?" The Count did not comprehend it.

"Oh. It's just a gossip, you don't have to worry about it, but what I want to tell you is that I need to be a minister, a minister, and the sooner the better. Charles smiled slightly, "Finally, I would like to correct you that state office is not a private thing, everything is for the benefit of the country and the people. It's not about robbing or not grabbing. ”

"The people will be very touched by your high wind and bright festival." Because Charles's last sentence was really a bit ironic, the Earl couldn't help but laugh angrily, "Charles, I really didn't expect you to treat us like this, our family has always regarded you as a best friend......"

"I've always considered your family to be my best friend." Charles replied blandly.

"Friend...... Oh, friend, you don't have friends who treat people like this, do you? The Count exclaimed dissatisfied, "We treat you so sincerely. But you're going under the knife with us! ”

"If I had really gone under the knife, I wouldn't have come here today and talked to you like this, Your Excellency." Charles was unmoved by the other's angry face. "I just want the friendship between our two families to continue, so I deliberately passed the word through your daughter, and I came here today to discuss it with you."

"Are you talking to me?" The Earl asked aloud. "You don't leave room for anyone!"

At the beak of his glare, Charles suddenly laughed again. He watched dumbfounded as the young man smiled to himself. There was mockery and pity in this laughter.

"But now that you think you have some room to speak of? Excellency? After laughing for a while, Charles finally spoke again, "Our future majesty has made up his mind, he will will, this is irreversible, I think you should be able to understand the actual situation." I told you that this is a position of the state, and only the master of the state can decide to whom it is granted. All you can choose is to resign in dignity or be kicked out. ”

When Charles said this, the count's face became even more ugly, white and red. Even though he was extremely dissatisfied, he knew that if Bonaparte really made up his mind, he would not be able to resist this decision, and this young man's relationship with the Bonaparte family, he was indeed able to do this.

"Do you have to treat us as enemies?" He shuddered and glared at the other, "We...... We don't need to get to this point, Charr. As long as I stay in office, your interests will be fully protected, right? Why add enemies to yourself? ”

"How can you be my enemy now?" Charles asked rhetorically. "What are you going to use against me?"

This merciless rhetorical question made the middle-aged man feel as if he was choked, and he couldn't say anything, so he could only wait for Charles.

"So, you can see it now, right? You can't treat me like that. So speak calmly, Your Excellency, and it is not good for anyone to be angry. Charles continued to look at the other party calmly, with a look on his face, "Your mistake is that you can't see the situation clearly, you always live ten years ago." Ten years ago, your father was alive, and over the years he made many friends, threatened many people, and all had a lot of influence...... But now everything is different, he is dead, and you have not been able to inherit his prestige, let alone his power. Although you are now a minister, you are only a minister, not a party leader or a spokesman for a group, and you have no strong backing, let me make it clear - you are now a political outcast, and the only thing you can use to maintain your position of power is the good intentions of others, and good intentions are never long and unreliable. Even if I don't persecute you now, won't anyone else persecute you in the future? Wouldn't you have been in the same predicament then? Oh no, it's going to be even more embarrassing than it is now, because others won't necessarily be happy to compensate you. ”

The son of this family was born in a wealthy family, his father has always been a high-ranking official and eunuch, and he became a courtier as soon as he debuted, and later became a cabinet minister. In such a welcome, it is inevitable that we will not be able to see the reality clearly, or we will not be willing to see the reality clearly.

Originally, it was his business that he was willing to escape from reality, but now that the interests are at stake, Charles has to wake up the other party himself.

"You...... Do you really feel like you're now indestructible and can do whatever you want? ”

The Count was already so angry that he couldn't speak clearly, and it was even more infuriating because Charles was telling the truth.

"Am I saying something wrong?" Charles had no intention of getting angry with the other party, "Your Excellency, I just ask you to recognize the reality today, although this reality is very unacceptable, but reality is reality. Your family is no longer a chess player, but now in the middle of a chessboard, to be at the mercy of others. But even if you are a pawn, there is a difference, some people will treat you as a pawn that can be discarded, but I am willing to treat you as an elephant and a horse, and I will never let you suffer the disaster of being discarded. ”

"So I owe you a thank you, Mr. Treville?" The Count's anger slowly vanished, but his face was already gloomy, and it was obvious that his anger had reached its extreme.

"You don't need to thank me, everyone just takes what they need, and I also need to be in the same party." As if he didn't see the other man's feelings, Charles replied with a smile, "If I have to thank you, thank Matilda, she made me feel like your father's legacy." ”

"It's a shame that you still have the face to mention my daughter!" The Count finally broke out, "Matilda has been dealing with you, and I have always pretended not to see it, and you have come to repay us like this...... Sir, although our family is weak now, it is also dignified, and if you refuse to give in, then I will never give in. In the spirit of parental duty, I will never put up with her and you again, never! ”

"I don't understand what you're angry about. I've been in and out of her many times, and each time it's been very satisfying for both sides, but what do you mean is the one that makes you unbearable? ”

After saying this, the living room suddenly fell into a dead silence, and not only the Count's eyes widened, but even Charles stopped.

Although it was reasonable on the surface, when he blurted out this sentence, Charles himself was a little embarrassed. He himself felt that it was too shameless to say such things in front of a father, but he couldn't help but sneer at the fact that the other party was too stubborn and threatened himself with Matilda.

The Count was annoyed, Charles was embarrassed, and suddenly the living room fell into an embarrassing silence.

"I think it's better to call Matilda here, she should be able to help us get a satisfactory pick-up, Your Excellency." After a long silence, Charles proposed. (To be continued.) )