Upon meeting his "family" in Rome, Jerome Bonaparte chose not to continue by carriage, but walked into the city with Lucius Louis.
"Lucien, when did you join the Church? How come I didn’t know anything about it!" Jerome Bonaparte curiously asked while carefully examining Lucien Louis’s outfit.
"Uncle Jerome, we haven’t seen each other for nearly four years!" Lucien Louis reminded Jerome Bonaparte, then explained, "I was baptized and entered the Church in 1844, and now I am pursuing a doctorate in theology!"
In the 19th century, universities didn’t differentiate between bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees, meaning that gifted individuals could skip grades and pursue advanced studies directly.
"A 20-year-old with a doctorate in theology! Looks like you will become the most learned member of the Bonaparte Clan!" Jerome Bonaparte praised Lucien Louis with a thumbs up.
Although the abilities and academic achievements of the entire Bonaparte Clan have never been linked, educational qualifications are always a stepping stone.
Just like his late cousin Louis Napoleon, who self-taught and always lamented that if he weren’t in prison, he would undoubtedly pursue a doctorate.
Jerome Bonaparte also never attended a day of school; most of his knowledge came from private tutoring.
"Not yet!" Lucius Louis waved his hand shyly and said, "I still have a year before graduation!"
"That’s still excellent!" Jerome Bonaparte wasn’t stingy with his praise.
"By the way, Uncle Jerome! Aren’t you supposed to be in London with Uncle Louis (Louis Napoleon)? Why did you come to Rome?" Lucien Louis asked, looking at Jerome Bonaparte with confusion.
"Hmm?" Jerome Bonaparte was taken aback and said, "Didn’t Uncle Pierre recently write back to you?"
[Pierre Napoleon Bonaparte: 1815 — 1881, the third son of Lucien Bonaparte, member of the National Assembly of the Second Republic, and a senator of the Second Empire.]
"Uncle Pierre and father haven’t corresponded in a long time! Has something happened?" Lucien Louis asked again.
"Alas!" Jerome Bonaparte sighed. His cousin Charles Lucien Bonaparte really wasn’t a sociable person, not just estranged from his (the late Napoleon III) cousin, but also out of touch with his own brothers: "My cousin, your uncle Louis Napoleon died in London!"
Lucien Bonaparte showed a sad expression, made a standard prayer gesture on his chest, and piously said, "May God bless Uncle Louis in the Celestial Kingdom!"
"As for why I’m here..." Jerome Bonaparte glanced at Lucius Louis, hesitated for a moment, and said, "Lucian, can I trust you?"
Lucius Louis solemnly said, "I swear by my noble Bonaparte surname and in the name of God!"
"Alright then!" Jerome Bonaparte revealed his purpose of the journey to Lucius Louis: "I’m here to seek an audience with His Holiness the Pope!"
"An audience with His Holiness the Pope?" Lucius Louis repeated.
"That’s right!" Jerome Bonaparte pointed north and said to Lucius Louis: "Isn’t the French Republic’s election approaching? I need His Holiness’s influence!"
"Uncle Jerome, have you not given up yet?" Lucius Louis immediately understood Jerome Bonaparte’s intention; Uncle Jerome and others were still fighting for France.
"How could we give up! We’re only one step away from our goal!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded, clenched his fist, and said, "If we seize the opportunity and capture the throne of France! The entire Bonaparte Clan will benefit, your uncles will receive handsome rewards, and you..."
Jerome Bonaparte tempted Lucius Louis by saying, "You will become a Cardinal of Rome at the fastest speed, and even could become God’s earthly representative (the Pope)."
"Cardinal!" Lucius Louis’s breath deepened slightly. For everyone in the Church system, money isn’t the most important thing; that red Cardinal’s Robe is their eternal pursuit. Of course, after seeking power, an appropriate pursuit of wealth can also be understood.
Of course, Lucius Louis had no desire for money; he only wanted to benefit more people after becoming a Cardinal.
"What can I do?" Lucius Louis naturally understood that everything in this world has its price; to become a Cardinal, he naturally had to pay a corresponding cost.
"Does your theology teacher have any connections with the Pope?" Jerome Bonaparte asked, hoping to hit a stroke of luck.
If it didn’t work out, Jerome Bonaparte would have to consider directly applying to the Roman Church.
Pope Pius IX should meet him.
"My teacher is a teacher at the diocesan seminary... I will ask him!" Lucien Bonaparte wasn’t sure if his teacher could approach His Holiness the Pope.
After all, according to the hierarchy of clergy, his teacher needed to advance further to become a Bishop of the Milan district before being promoted by the Pope to Cardinal.
"Hmm! Thank you!" Jerome Bonaparte responded.
Jerome Bonaparte and Lucius Louis walked and talked as they soon approached the vicinity of Piazza Venezia.
"Let’s stop here!" Seeing they were getting closer to the Bonaparte Palace, Jerome Bonaparte said to Lucius Louis.
[Bonaparte Palace: Purchased by Lucien Bonaparte for Letizia’s retirement residence; Jerome Napoleon also briefly stayed there in 1823.]
"Uncle Jerome, won’t you come in and sit for a while?" Lucius Louis pointed to the southwest direction of Piazza Venezia and said to Jerome Bonaparte.
Jerome Bonaparte shook his head and refused, saying, "Better not! Your father doesn’t like mingling with our lot! Also, don’t tell your father that I’m in Rome!"
Since Lucien Bonaparte (Napoleon’s brother, Speaker of the "Five Hundred People’s Hall") died, Charles Bonaparte diverged from Louis Napoleon’s conspiracy group.
If my cousin knows I’m instigating his second son to pave the way for the Bonaparte’s ambitions, my cousin might not be able to resist shooting me directly.
If I hadn’t happened to run into Lucius Louis, Jerome Bonaparte would never disturb Charles and his family.