In the face of Audion Barrot’s almost command-like posture towards Jerome Bonaparte, there wasn’t a trace of anger in Jerome Bonaparte’s heart; instead, there was a slight sense of delight.
The struggle between Audion Barrot and the National Assembly was originally part of Jerome Bonaparte’s plan. The current situation clearly placed Audion Barrot at a disadvantage; otherwise, he would not be desperately seeking his help.
Moreover, even if Jerome Bonaparte did not express any attitude, the old soldier standing by his side obviously couldn’t endure Barrot’s "insult" to the Emperor’s nephew. The trembling old soldier glared at Audion Barrot with a fierce gaze, and the blue flat-topped hat that should have been on his head was thrown at Barrot’s feet. He shouted loudly, "Mr. Barrot, standing before you is the Emperor’s nephew!"
Immediately, the old soldier straightened his hunchbacked body slightly and solemnly requested from Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, please allow me to duel with Mr. Barrot. I absolutely do not allow him to treat you with such an attitude!"
Audion Barrot, who had been aggressive just moments before, was suddenly terrified by the old soldier’s unexpected challenge to a duel, leaving him unsure of how to respond. He had no choice but to turn his gaze to Jerome Bonaparte, hoping he could extricate him from the situation.
Seeing the distinguished Cabinet Prime Minister being forced into such an awkward situation by an old soldier, Jerome Bonaparte could hardly refrain from cheering for the old soldier.
Joking aside, Jerome Bonaparte still helped Audion Barrot out of the situation. He bent down to pick up the flat-topped hat that the soldier had discarded on the ground, dusted off the hat, and handed it back to the soldier, saying, "Soldier, I am pleased with your loyalty, but the military hat is a symbol of a soldier and should not be casually discarded on the ground!"
"The hat of the Bourbon Dynasty is only worthy of being thrown on the ground!" the old soldier said with disdain, then switched to a pleading tone, "Prince, since the Empire left us, this unfortunate country has gone through two unfortunate dynasties! They are trampling on the honor of this country! Only by reestablishing an Empire can we emerge from our present predicament and reclaim our honor!"
The old soldier’s heartfelt plea made Jerome Bonaparte wonder if this guy was a stooge hired by Percy. Looking at the soldier’s sincere eyes, Jerome Bonaparte dismissed this possibility.
Since the time had not yet arrived, Jerome Bonaparte could only vaguely reply, "The times are changing; we shouldn’t stick to the old ways! As long as I can serve France, I am contented!"
A trace of desolation flashed in the old soldier’s eyes. He recalled the days he followed the Emperor in battle, and his once-straight posture seemed drained of all essence, once again hunching over.
"Indeed! If the citizens of France could as they once did, the Empire’s reconstruction wouldn’t be impossible!" Jerome Bonaparte tried to comfort the old soldier.
"I believe the Empire will certainly be rebuilt!" The old soldier straightened his body again and responded in a loud voice.
Standing by, Audion Barrot listened attentively to the conversation between Jerome Bonaparte and the old soldier. He didn’t know whether the President genuinely intended to restore the Empire or was merely comforting the old soldier.
However, it had nothing to do with him.
Audion Barrot, with more than a decade of political experience in the July Monarchy, neither supported nor opposed the establishment of an Empire.
As long as the President could persuade others, it would be fine.
However, Barrot was convinced that the likelihood of the President persuading others to agree to establish an Empire was almost zero.
"Your Highness, let me introduce you to His Majesty the Emperor’s office!" The old soldier said enthusiastically to Jerome Bonaparte.
"Prime Minister, why don’t we discuss it after the visit? We have plenty of time anyway," Jerome Bonaparte suggested to Audion Barrot.
Able to resist Jerome Bonaparte’s insistence, Audion Barrot followed him to the office of the Chief Governor.
A glass chandelier hung from the ceiling of the office. Directly below it was a walnut desk, upon which sat a penholder made of nanmu and a book with a yellowed cover, containing several quill dip pens.
Opposite the desk stood a wheel-patterned mahogany bookshelf, which was tightly affixed to the wall, also piled with books,
making the entire office look spotless, as if brand new.
"It seems like you regularly clean this place," Jerome Bonaparte remarked to the old soldier.
"Yes! The Emperor’s office is personally cleaned regularly by me!" The old soldier gazed at the desk with reverent eyes and spoke with a hint of fanaticism in his tone.
"Ah! Thank you for your hard work!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded and quickly walked over to the desk.
The book placed on the desk was none other than "The Gallic Wars," Emperor Napoleon’s favorite book back then.
"Everything was arranged according to Her Majesty Empress Josephine’s instructions! Her Majesty once said, as..." The old soldier’s voice choked with emotion, "As when His Majesty the Emperor was here, His Majesty promised that he would come back sooner or later!"
Jerome Bonaparte remained silent for a long time, then smiled and said, "The Emperor is not here, but the Emperor’s nephew is here!"
With that, Jerome Bonaparte sat on the chair his uncle Napoleon once used.
"It’s good to have you here! It’s good to have you here!" The old soldier muttered, his face filled with contentment.
"Ahem... ahem," sitting in the chair, Jerome Bonaparte cleared his throat and signaled Percy with his eyes.
Receiving Jerome Bonaparte’s signal, Percy took the elderly man out of the office, thoughtfully closing the door behind him.
"Go ahead, Prime Minister!" Jerome Bonaparte gestured for Audion Barrot to sit down.
Perhaps due to psychological suggestion, Audion Barrot seemed to "see" the Emperor again. He, who should have posed as a competitor in discussions with Jerome Bonaparte, unexpectedly felt "inferior."
Sitting across from Jerome Bonaparte, Audion Barrot clenched his fists, resting them on his thighs, adopting a posture of awaiting Jerome Bonaparte’s instructions.
"Alright! Mr. Barrow, let’s discuss your demands," Jerome Bonaparte leaned back into the chair, slightly raised his head, and clasped his hands over his right leg.
"Mr. President, I think we need to take action! We need to teach those guys a lesson! They have severely interfered with the Cabinet’s future plans!" Audion Barrot’s tone, no longer aggressive as before, turned into a pleading demeanor.
"We? You mean you and me, or the Order Party and me!" Jerome Bonaparte replied lazily.
"Of course it is..." Barrot paused.