"The people of Paris eagerly anticipate your presence; they yearn to see you in Paris and hear your voice in the Bourbon Palace!"

Speaker Bi Yao spoke to Jerome Bonaparte with extraordinary sincerity and humility, resembling a politician who pleads for the people’s welfare.

Meanwhile, the representatives of the Legislative Corps standing behind Speaker Bi Yao, whether genuinely or pretentiously, unanimously expressed their hope for Jerome Bonaparte to heed the request of all of Paris, and indeed all of France, to return to the Tuileries Palace.

Seeing that the atmosphere had reached this point, Jerome Bonaparte responded with restraint, "I am the Emperor of the French people, not just the Emperor of France; the Empire’s sovereignty comes from the citizens, not from God. My authority likewise comes from the mandate of the entire French nation... If the decision to return to the Tuileries Palace is the will of the entire French people, I am naturally willing to abide by this great decision!"

Although Jerome Bonaparte did not definitively respond whether he would return to the Tuileries Palace, his words had fully established the tone for returning to the palace.

The Orthodox and Republican factions in the crowd felt a sense of relief upon hearing Jerome Bonaparte’s remarks.

An Emperor far away from Paris is like a Sword of Damocles hanging in the air; no one knows his next move, and no one dares to guarantee that he won’t, like Emperor Napoleon of years past, use cannons to bombard the opposition.

Even though an Emperor residing in Paris can still mobilize troops to suppress the city, the fact that the Emperor himself lives there means his every move is under everyone’s eye, making suppression more difficult.

As long as the cost of suppression far exceeds the cost of compromise, they are convinced the Emperor will choose compromise.

After all, the Empire’s bottom line is to maintain control in France.

As long as they don’t choose rebellion like the Blanquists, but rather choose to struggle within the Empire’s framework, the Emperor’s determination to suppress will not be too resolute.

This is the conclusion they reached after experiencing the political crisis months ago.

Only by allowing the Emperor to return to Paris, back under their watchful eyes, will they be qualified to spar with him.

If the Emperor chooses to overturn the table directly, then they can only play the role of the defeated party.

"Your Majesty, behind me are the representatives of the Bourbon Palace Legislative Corps!

They come from various provinces of the Empire, selected through a fair vote by the Empire’s citizens from various statuses!

They are sufficient to represent the will of France’s thirty-four million citizens!"

Speaker Bi Yao pointed to the representatives of the Legislative Corps behind him and said with fervor.

"Since you represent thirty-four million French people, I am willing to heed the will of the entire French nation and return to Paris with you!" Jerome Bonaparte replied to Speaker Bi Yao.

"Your Majesty, I express my sincerest gratitude on behalf of France!" Speaker Bi Yao bowed deeply to Jerome Bonaparte.

Subsequently, Speaker Bi Yao asked Jerome Bonaparte about the timing of the Emperor and Empress’s return to Paris.

Jerome Bonaparte pondered for a moment before responding to Speaker Bi Yao, "How about in two days? I need some time to handle some affairs at the Fontainebleau Palace!"

"That’s wonderful!" Speaker Bi Yao replied respectfully to Jerome Bonaparte, "I and the representatives of the Legislative Corps will await your arrival at the Bourbon Palace in two days!"

With that, Speaker Bi Yao and the representatives of the Legislative Corps bowed in unison to Jerome Bonaparte. Seeing this, Jerome Bonaparte also rose from his throne and shook hands with each representative in turn.

Even though these representatives’ powers had been stripped by Jerome Bonaparte until only the voting right remained, they outwardly represented the nation’s highest authority.

Having taken their substance (administrative power), Jerome Bonaparte could not fail to maintain their form (respect).

If Jerome Bonaparte was unwilling to even give them face, then the bayonet cloaked under the national flag would be presented openly before all.

At that point, what Jerome Bonaparte would need to be wary of is not the Legislative Corps, but the ambitious individuals hidden within the army.

For emotional and rational reasons, Jerome Bonaparte must maintain the image of the Legislative Corps in the eyes of the French people.

When Jerome Bonaparte had finished shaking hands with all the representatives, he sat back on the throne, glanced at Speaker Bi Yao with a smile, cleared his throat, and with considerable appreciation, addressed the crowd, "Speaker Bi Yao, and esteemed representatives,

to be honest, I don’t like your actions today at the Fontainebleau Palace; you were far too aggressive, but I must express my due respect to you because the duty of the Bourbon Palace is to represent the thirty-four million French people and present their concerns to their Monarch, enabling the Monarch to learn about the lives of the French people through you! (The Orthodox and Republican representatives displayed expressions of disdain, aware that Jerome Bonaparte’s purpose was merely to use the Bourbon Palace to highlight his legitimacy as a universal Emperor.)

If you remain silent, then who in France would dare to stand up and speak for it!

If our nation’s citizens are reluctant to express their thoughts to their Monarch, then the Empire may utterly collapse in silence!

Thus I am pleased that you could stand here representing the will of the entire French nation in dialogue with me!

I am also willing to act according to your will!"

After Jerome Bonaparte’s speech, he rose and bowed to Speaker Bi Yao and the representatives at the bottom of the steps.

Whether it was the attendants and ladies-in-waiting of the Fontainebleau Palace or Bijou and the representatives of the Legislative Corps at the steps below, all showed expressions of shock.

"I have said, I am the Emperor of the French people, my authority comes from all the French people!

Therefore, I am not bowing to you present here, but to the millions of French people behind you!

Without them, there would be no Empire today," Jerome Bonaparte said emotionally to the people present.

Following which, under the leadership of Speaker Bijou, everyone in the hall loudly shouted "Long live the Emperor, long live the Empire!"

Amidst the waves of chants, Jerome Bonaparte, Augusta, and Friedrich left the hall.

Once they were alone, Jerome Bonaparte said to Friedrich Bonaparte with particular seriousness, "Friedrich, you must remember that the French people are the foundation of the Empire, and the Legislative Corps is the bridge connecting the people and the government, as well as the shield of the Imperial Family against external threats.

They may not always align with our interests on certain issues, but largely there is no major conflict between us and the Legislative Corps.

Do not disband the Legislative Corps unless absolutely necessary.

Disbanding it rashly would expose us directly to everyone’s scrutiny.

The people would scrutinize our every move under a magnifying glass, thus we would fall into endless hostility.

Do you understand?"

Friedrich Bonaparte listened to the advice of his old father with a bewildered expression; though he did not understand the operational principles of the Legislative Corps for now, he could faintly feel that the body was indispensable to the Empire.

"I understand!" Friedrich responded to Jerome Bonaparte with a childish voice.

Augusta quietly complained to Jerome Bonaparte, "Friedrich is only 5 years old, why are you telling him these things?"

"Political education must start from childhood!" Jerome Bonaparte replied to Augusta with utmost seriousness, "The future will develop much faster than the present, and Friedrich will inherit an Empire even more complex than now!

If we don’t cultivate Friedrich’s political instincts now, it will be difficult for him to adapt to the situation in France in the future!

We will eventually age, and cannot escort Friedrich for a lifetime!"

Looking at the stern expression on Jerome Bonaparte’s face, Augusta also nervously grabbed Jerome Bonaparte’s arm.

"Is the future really that daunting?" Augusta asked again.

After thinking for a moment, Jerome Bonaparte answered Augusta, "The future will be more exciting than now, but the more exciting the world, the more complex the domestic and international situation.

A monarch who cannot master France is destined to be abandoned by France."

"Father, I will definitely become a great monarch like you!" Friedrich Bonaparte responded to Jerome Bonaparte with his head held high, full of confidence.

"I believe in you!" Jerome Bonaparte lovingly touched Friedrich’s forehead, then raised two fingers and continued, "Alright! You have two days to pack your belongings!

In two days, we will return to Paris!

Remember to pack by yourself, don’t always rely on others, do you understand!"

"I understand!" Friedrich Bonaparte nodded fervently in response to Jerome Bonaparte.

...

The time quickly came to two days later.

Jerome Bonaparte, Augusta, and Friedrich left simultaneously in a carriage, attended by palace servants beside the Emperor and ladies-in-waiting beside the Empress, they left in other carriages of Fontainebleau Palace.

During the Emperor’s departure from Fontainebleau Palace, all matters were handed over to Secretary André von Beichu, with some personnel from the Secretariat and General Staff remaining at Fontainebleau Palace.

When Jerome Bonaparte’s carriage passed through the town of Fontainebleau, all the residents of Fontainebleau town spontaneously stood along the only road leading to the train station, obstructing Jerome Bonaparte’s way forward.

An elderly man with white hair, wearing the uniform of the Imperial Old Guard and decorated with medals, stood at the forefront, making it difficult for the Guard Army escorting Jerome Bonaparte to make any movement.

Thus, the Guard Army reported the situation to the Emperor’s Aide Bulbaski.

Bulbaski, upon hearing that the Old Guard was blocking the road, dared not neglect it and hurriedly reported the situation to Jerome Bonaparte.