"Your Excellency the Bishop!"
Charles Bonaparte raised his voice by a few decibels and said seriously, "I don’t know if you truly don’t understand or if you’re just pretending to be ignorant! As your friend, I feel obliged to remind you that the flock of lost sheep outside can overturn the entire Rome!"
Charles Bonaparte’s words caused Bishop Muzarelli to put away the courteous smile on his face, replacing it with religious austerity and authority. His eyes involuntarily revealed a hint of displeasure and annoyance as he pointed with his index finger at the door behind Charles Bonaparte and said, "Charles, my friend! If you are here to act as a spokesman for certain people, then please leave my office! His Majesty has already relaxed the censorship on books and newspapers as much as possible, what more do those people behind you want?"
Ever since the Revolution of February, Bishop Muzarelli, who was responsible for reviewing newspapers and inspecting books, had not had a good night’s sleep. Every day, in addition to reviewing publications, he had to discuss public education issues with seminaries near Rome and the Cardinal in charge of prisons, not to mention reconciling the conflicts between certain "democratic personnel" and "religious figures" in Rome.
Having reached the age of 51, he truly felt increasingly overwhelmed.
Especially at this moment of "crisis," his "good friend" Charles Bonaparte was still causing trouble for him.
If it weren’t for Bishop Fish (the Cardinal, Charles Bonaparte’s grand-uncle) having recognized his potential, Muzarelli would have definitely had the guards throw him out directly.
Upon hearing Bishop Muzarelli’s words, Charles Bonaparte initially showed a look of astonishment, but then quickly regained his composure. He nodded and explained, "Your Excellency the Bishop, I do indeed come representing the interests of certain people, but not those within the city of Rome! I represent the interests of the Bonaparte Clan!"
"The Bonaparte Clan?" Bishop Muzarelli was puzzled, not understanding what interests the Bonaparte Clan had in Rome.
Charles Bonaparte noticed Bishop Muzarelli’s confusion and quickly said, "My cousin hopes to have a dialogue with Pope Pius IX, so he has commissioned me as a pioneer to make contact! I believe the Holy See cannot refuse the Bonaparte Clan; the Holy See also needs the support of a strong nation to ensure their position on the Apennine Peninsula! Clearly, the Austrian Empire is already inadequate to the task!"
"Oh?" Bishop Muzarelli looked at Charles Bonaparte with interest and lightly teased, "Weren’t you out of contact with the other members of the Bonaparte Clan? How come you’re now acting as their spokesperson?"
"The bloodline of the Bonaparte Clan cannot be severed!" Charles Bonaparte replied.
In truth, he was reluctant to wade into these troubled waters; the authority of the Holy See was already on the verge of collapse, and it was possible that the Pope might be forced into exile any day.
What would he do then?
If it weren’t for his second son being involved, he definitely wouldn’t intervene so readily.
"What do you need us to do for you?" Bishop Muzarelli asked straightforwardly.
"We hope the Pope can send out the gospel to France, so the lost sheep have something to rely on!" Charles Bonaparte ambiguously responded, then added, "Of course, it would be better if we could meet with the Pope in person to explain!"
Being a smart man, Muzarelli naturally understood Charles Bonaparte’s implications.
To use the Pope’s prestige to speak out to the Catholic forces within France, so they would support the Bonaparte Faction in the elections.
After speaking, Charles Bonaparte pulled a ruby the size of a pebble from his pocket, the gemstone crystal-clear without a trace of blemish—something that could hardly be found throughout the entire Apennine Peninsula.
"This is a gift from the Bonaparte Clan to His Holiness the Pope!" Charles Bonaparte placed the gem in front of Bishop Muzarelli, then took out a note: "This is a gift to you, Bishop Muzarelli!"
Bishop Muzarelli cast a glance at the ruby on the table, his eyes momentarily flashing with greedy desire, but it quickly disappeared without a trace; he knew some things were not for him to covet.
He glanced at his own share; the note was from the Rome Bank, and the amount was ten thousand...a whole hundred thousand francs!
Even as a bishop, he was somewhat shocked!
"After the matter is accomplished, the Bonaparte Clan will have an equivalent amount as reward!" Charles Bonaparte delivered another bombshell to Muzarelli.
After a long while, Bishop Muzarelli exhaled to calm himself and said, "With compensation like yours, even a Cardinal might be overqualified!"
Charles Bonaparte smiled and said nothing.
Cardinals also had different ranks, and even though Muzarelli hadn’t been elevated to a Cardinal, his standing in the Pope’s eyes was higher than some Cardinals.
Not to mention, Charles Bonaparte and he had been "old friends" ever since his grand-uncle was alive and they were well acquainted.
Failing to use this relationship to reach out, opting for a route with an unfamiliar Cardinal, unless Charles Bonaparte’s mind was rusted.
"I can inform His Holiness about the Bonaparte Clan’s situation, but I can’t guarantee whether His Holiness will agree to meet with you!" Bishop Muzarelli said candidly but cautiously.
"Of course, your assistance is already immensely appreciated!" Charles Bonaparte knew Muzarelli was just being polite.
"Indeed, I believe His Holiness will meet with you!" Muzarelli lowered his voice, adding, "After all, His Holiness was also once under that man!"
Charles Bonaparte displayed a look of astonishment; this was the first time he had learned of such a history of Pope Pius IX.
He hadn’t expected there to be such an old grievance between Pope Pius IX and the Bonaparte Clan.
"In that case, it’s in your hands!" Charles Bonaparte quickly changed the subject.
The two continued their conversation for a little while longer, during which Bishop Muzarelli subtly probed Charles Bonaparte for information regarding the Bonaparte Clan, all of which Charles Bonaparte deftly deflected.
Realizing he couldn’t extract any useful information, Muzarelli subtly issued a dismissal, and Charles Bonaparte, under the escort of a secretary in black robes, once again left through the side door and took a carriage back to Bonaparte Palace.
After seeing off Charles Bonaparte, Bishop Muzarelli picked up the ruby "tribute" from Charles Bonaparte and headed towards the Vatican Palace located at St. Petersburg Church, intending to quickly inform Pope Pius IX of this matter?
Lucien Louis, who had been waiting for some time at Bonaparte Palace, hurriedly greeted Charles Bonaparte as he arrived: "Father, have you succeeded?"
"Let’s just wait and see! I believe it won’t be long before the papal envoy comes over! When that happens, just take them to your uncle’s lodging." Charles Bonaparte replied to Lucien Louis and then went directly into the main hall of Bonaparte Palace.