Amidst the dense sound of hooves outside Fontainebleau Palace, the Vice Speaker Bijou of the French Legislative Corps and representatives of the Corps arrived at the gate of Fontainebleau Palace.

The Vice Speaker and representatives, dressed neatly, stepped down from the carriages and, under Vice Speaker Bijou’s command, formed two columns advancing towards the horseshoe-shaped staircase.

The ceremonial court guards deployed on both sides of the horseshoe-shaped staircase drew their horseshoe-shaped sabers hanging at their waist upon seeing the delegation from Paris, holding them level with their chests.

The sabers emitted a dazzling cold sheen in the sunlight, causing discomfort on the faces of a small portion of Republican Faction and Orthodox Faction representatives forced to attend. To them, the soldiers on the horseshoe-shaped staircase were just like those who escorted them to Fontainebleau Palace, tools used by the Emperor to demonstrate his power.

Following this, an event occurred that further incited the resentment of these Republican and Orthodox Faction representatives.

Along with the saber maneuvers of the staircase guards, the band at the top of the stairs began playing under Andrei von Beichu’s guidance.

However, the first song played by the band was neither the traditional Empire song "Song of Departure" nor the prospective national anthem, "Marching Towards Syria," but the "Marseillaise," representing Republican thought.

When a tune symbolizing opposition to Kingdoms, opposition to feudalism, and opposition to privilege was played openly by an Empire that still held some Orthodox Faction landlords as its pillars, it was like consuming several pounds of distress for these Republican and Orthodox representatives.

In the eyes of the Republican Faction, the Empire wasn’t progressive enough; it didn’t deserve the "Marseillaise."

In the view of the Orthodox Faction, the "Marseillaise" being played openly at Fontainebleau Palace proved that the Bonaparte Clan hadn’t reverted to the position of a traditional dynasty. Which dynasty would dare to play a revolutionary tune at its welcome ceremony? Is it trying to overthrow its dynasty or its own rule?

Only a pseudo-royal family like Bonaparte, which rose through revolution, would dare be this brazen. It shows that the Bonaparte Clan remains the same Bonaparte Clan, even if Jerome Bonaparte promised no longer to support the revolution, that underlying red of the Second Empire can’t be erased with time.

Of course, these Republican and Orthodox representatives could only silently choose to protest in their hearts, not daring to abruptly break with the Empire in their overt behavior.

They complied with Vice Speaker Bijou’s orders to welcome the Emperor to prevent the Emperor from imposing schemes on Paris out of their view.

Especially in recent months, the Emperor has been conducting frequent military exercises around Fontainebleau Palace.

This was undoubtedly a show of power by the Emperor, using these maneuvers to prove to the opposition in Paris.

Even if the opposition in Paris controls Paris, the Emperor still has enough power to suppress Paris completely.

Therefore, during Jerome Bonaparte’s show of power towards Paris. Except for a few daredevil thinkers (Blanquists), the plotters of the Republican and Orthodox factions dared not harbor a hint of rebellion out of fear Jerome Bonaparte might march the troops directly into Paris like Louis XIV and Napoleon I.

By then, all political rights in Paris would be dictated by the military.

These Legislative Corps representatives would be stripped of all political rights, silently accepting Jerome Bonaparte’s judgment like sheep awaiting slaughter.

Thus, preventing Jerome Bonaparte from having the opportunity to mobilize the army to suppress Paris, fighting without breaking became the unified thought of every potential opposition faction.

When Bijou proposed bringing the Emperor back to Paris, these representatives agreed to accompany him.

Though Orthodox and Republican Faction representatives hated the Empire and the "Marseillaise" in their hearts, they had no choice but to proceed along the horseshoe-shaped staircase amidst the rousing strains of the "Marseillaise," advancing on the left and right.

As Bijou and the representatives reached the main gate of Fontainebleau Palace, the music of the "Marseillaise" was nearing its conclusion.

Andrei von Beichu immediately shouted his report loudly inside the palace at Fontainebleau, "Vice Speaker Bijou of the Legislative Corps has arrived with the Corps representatives for an audience!"

The voice was transmitted layer by layer, quickly reaching Jerome Bonaparte’s throne. Upon hearing the news of Bijou and the representatives’ arrival, Jerome Bonaparte smiled slightly, ordering Countess Lacroix, the Lady-in-Waiting at the bottom of the stairs, "Madam, could you please run this errand!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Countess Lacroix responded respectfully, then proceeded step by step towards the direction of Fontainebleau Palace’s main gate. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

After a while, Countess Lacroix arrived at the main entrance of the Fontainebleau Palace and conveyed Jerome’s invitation for them to enter the Throne Hall, as passed on by Bijou.

The Orthodox faction’s representatives in the crowd eyed Countess Lacroix with traces of jealousy and resentment.

In their view, the Countess Lacroix was a disgraceful traitor; her status was only earned through betraying the Orthodox faction to gain the favor of the Emperor and Empress, not to mention relying on her capable husband, MacMahon.

Of course, these Orthodox representatives would never admit that, if they had a husband or son like MacMahon, they too would choose to betray the Orthodox faction without hesitation.

In this era of rampant capitalism, adhering to loyalty and morality is certainly a commendable virtue.

But before extolling loyalty and morality, the Orthodox faction must first consider how to maintain their family businesses from falling into complete ruin.

Allying with the new Emperor may be shameful, but compared to preserving one’s status, loyalty and morality seem not so important.

Countess Lacroix was unaware of the Orthodox faction’s envy as she turned to lead the way for Bijou and the others.

The group walked down the wide corridor for about a minute before arriving in front of Jerome Bonaparte’s Throne Hall.

Vice Speaker Bijou and the representatives of the Legislative Corps first respectfully saluted Jerome Bonaparte and then, on behalf of the Legislative Corps, one of the highest authorities in the French Empire, addressed the highest-ranking civil servants of the Empire (in the imperial system, the Emperor is equivalent to the highest-ranking civil servant)—Emperor Jerome Bonaparte, Empress Augusta of the French Empire, and the Crown Prince, Grand Duke of Luxembourg (Jerome Bonaparte had already transferred the title of Grand Duke of Luxembourg to Friedrich), King of Algeria Friedrich Bonaparte.

"Your Majesties, Your Highness the Crown Prince, I am very pleased to represent 34 million citizens of the French Empire in this sacred hall that symbolizes the origins of the Empire (Emperor Napoleon was crowned at Fontainebleau Palace, which is why it is called the origin of the Empire, and there is no error here), to convey 34 million messages of sympathy from all walks of life in France, as well as the blessings of the Imperial Senate, the Legislative Corps, and the Supreme Court..."

This grand narrative as the opening of the speech was crafted by the penmen of the Imperial Office, which Bijou attracted with a heavy price for this welcoming ceremony.

To recite this lengthy script well, Bijou had not engaged in any other work for several consecutive days.

Even with Bijou’s great effort to memorize it, for a man nearing sixty, fluently and emotionally presenting such a script to the Emperor was indeed challenging, causing several brief pauses in the middle.

Jerome Bonaparte did not interrupt Bijou, instead patiently waiting for Bijou to finish reciting the entire content of the script.

Bijou’s opening lasted for about two minutes until he said to Jerome Bonaparte, "Fontainebleau Palace is where the previous Emperor was crowned, and therefore the former Emperor established it as the first Royal Palace, while Tuileries Palace is where Your Majesty was crowned... On behalf of the Legislative Corps, I sincerely invite Your Majesties and Your Highness the Crown Prince to return to loyal Paris!" Afterwards, the representatives of the Legislative Corps also called out in unison to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Your Majesty, we, the members of the Legislative Corps, representing 34 million people of France, sincerely invite Your Majesties and Your Highness to return to the Tuileries Palace!

A million people in Paris eagerly yearn for Your Majesty, and 34 million citizens of France are all watching Your Majesty!"

After the Legislative Corps members finished speaking, Jerome Bonaparte smiled and said to everyone present, "Both the Empress and I are very pleased with your visit!

As Speaker Bijou just mentioned, the Tuileries Palace is the place where I signed the sacred contract with 37 million citizens of France[1], and I ought to reside at the Tuileries Palace! However..."

Jerome Bonaparte suddenly shifted his tone, showing a concerned expression as he reminded the crowd of the turmoil in Paris a few months ago.

"The situation in Paris truly worries me, and I really don’t want to add to Paris’s burden!"

Bijou quickly reassured Jerome Bonaparte that the turmoil a few months ago was merely a conspiracy by a small clique of Blanquists, and the majority of the Parisian populace still adored the Emperor and Empress.

The residence of the Emperor and Empress in the Tuileries Palace is not a burden to Paris; on the contrary, it is the ballast for the great ship that is Paris.

Paris is a perfect city only with the Emperor!

[1]In 1851, when Jerome Bonaparte received the crown handed by Bijou, Bijou once said to Jerome Bonaparte, "The people place their hope in you and fully agree with your (Jerome Bonaparte’s) rule... Never has any King worn a more legitimate and respected crown."