Due to Jerome Bonaparte’s behavior of greeting people along his route, a journey originally requiring just ten minutes took nearly half an hour.
At the gates of the Bourbon Palace, four generals in military uniforms quietly observed Jerome Bonaparte.
They were respectively General Reniao de Saint Jean d’Angely, General Oppel, General Shang Jia’nie, and General Victor Castellane (the Count).
Among them, General Castellane cast a complex look towards the distant Jerome Bonaparte, whispering to Shang Jia’nie beside him, "General Shang Jia’nie, our President is eager to establish contact with the military even before taking office, much like the former Emperor!"
After listening to General Castellane’s provocative remarks, General Shang Jia’nie remained composed and calmly said, "The President’s fondness for the military is exactly what you all wanted to see, isn’t it?"
"Who knows?" Castellane shrugged with an odd tone, turning his gaze back to Jerome Bonaparte.
Shang Jia’nie furrowed his brows slightly, then resumed his indifferent expression.
Jerome Bonaparte approached the four generals with a smile, shaking hands with General Reniao, General Oppel, and General Castellane. When extending his hand to General Shang Jia’nie, the old man did not offer his hand but instead remarked dryly, "Mr. President, your inaugural address is about to begin; we should go in!"
Saying that, Shang Jia’nie turned and entered the venue, leaving Jerome Bonaparte in an awkward position.
"Hahaha... Our General Shang Jia’nie truly is a decisive general!" thought Jerome Bonaparte, irritated by Shang Jia’nie’s arrogance, but he jested out loud.
"Indeed! General Shang Jia’nie has always been decisive!" General Oppel agreed to alleviate the awkwardness.
Castellane glanced at General Oppel, then at Jerome Bonaparte, once again revealing a smile.
"Let’s go! We shouldn’t keep our fellow members of the Republic waiting!" Jerome Bonaparte said to the three generals present.
The three generals walked ahead, with Jerome Bonaparte trailing behind.
Inside the Bourbon Palace, the three passed through a narrow hallway lined with a red carpet, arriving before the main hall’s doors, beyond which lay the National Assembly that could accommodate nearly a thousand people.
Standing at the door, Shang Jia’nie rejoined the group, pushing open the National Assembly’s doors.
Jerome Bonaparte and the others entered the National Assembly one by one, staying in the corridor on the right side waiting for the signal to proceed.
Seeing Shang Jia’nie enter, Marast, on the podium, determined that Jerome Bonaparte had arrived, striking the wooden hammer loudly and commanding, "Silence!"
The previously slightly noisy National Assembly instantly quieted, with members seated in the box seats and hall seats solemnly awaiting Marast’s speech, knowing their President had arrived.
With a grave expression, Marast rose to read, "In the name of the French people,
Given that Citizen Joseph Jerome Bonaparte, born in Paris, meets the eligibility requirements for election under Article 44 of the Constitution;
Given that he received an overwhelming majority in the public presidential election across the entire Republic;
According to Articles 47 and 48 of the Constitution, the National Assembly hereby declares this citizen as President of the Republic, with his term starting today and ending on the second Sunday of May 1852."
At the end of Marast’s solemn announcement, applause erupted among the assembly members; some applauded sincerely, others perfunctorily for the Republic.
Following this, Marast added, "According to the law, the Speaker must invite the President Citizen of the French Republic to take the podium for the swearing-in ceremony!"
Quietly, the time had reached 4 o’clock, the evening was gradually descending, and much of the spacious National Assembly hall was dark. A glass chandelier with candles was lowered from the ceiling, with court officers placing candles before the podium, while Speaker Marast gestured towards the left corridor.
Shang Jia’nie and the four generals stepped beneath the podium, representing the military protecting the President, while Jerome Bonaparte stood on the podium.
"Dear compatriots, as God is my witness, before the National Assembly representing the French people..." Jerome Bonaparte looked straight ahead, attempting to swear an oath in a standard Parisian accent.
Despite his effort to adjust, Jerome Bonaparte couldn’t help but carry a trace of the Tuscan accent.
While ordinary people might not notice this, for Thiers and others, a Parisian accent with a Tuscan flavor was nothing less than a fine joke.
Thiers leaned over to Barrow, whispering, "His accent is deadly!"
Barrow and the accompanying members of the Order Party couldn’t help but chuckle.
On the podium, Jerome Bonaparte placed his right hand on his chest, trying to appear more convincing: "I solemnly swear allegiance to the Republic, allegiance to the Constitution!"
Sparse applause arose, and after a few seconds, more people began clapping.
Bowling to all the members present, Jerome Bonaparte temporarily left the podium.
And then Cafenak took the stage, now lacking the aura of a dictator previously displayed.
Holding his speech, he stammered blessings to Jerome Bonaparte and expressed happiness for the future of the French Republic.
Jerome Bonaparte returned to the podium, extending his hand to Cafenak, saying, "At this transition between old and new, should we shake hands, Mr. Governor?"
With a forced smile, Cafenak shook hands with Jerome Bonaparte and then turned to step down from the podium.
Perhaps unable to bear the blow of losing power, Cafenak fell directly from the second step down the podium, marking the first time anyone had fallen from a mere three-step podium.
"Looks like our Mr. Dictator couldn’t handle the blow!" Thiers joked to Barrow.
Audion Barrot remained silent, his gaze fixed firmly on the podium, seemingly waiting for something.
"Here, I announce the establishment of a cabinet serving the National Assembly and all citizens of France! I will nominate Mr. Audion Barrot as Cabinet Prime Minister!" Jerome Bonaparte unleashed a bombshell in the National Assembly on his day of office.
The Republican Faction and Mountain Party simultaneously turned their gaze towards Audion Barrot on the Order Party side, with colleagues from the Order Party also congratulating him.
A pleased expression appeared on Audion Barrot’s face, as after more than a decade of struggle under the July Monarchy, he finally became Prime Minister in the Second Republic.