Early the next morning, Victor Emmanuel II and Empress Augusta left Milan under the escort of the Guard Cavalry dispatched personally by Franz Joseph. After several hours of journey, they finally arrived at the border between the Austrian Empire and the Sardinian Kingdom.
"Your Majesty, please allow us not to accompany you and Her Majesty the Empress any further!" Joseph Jellach responded to Jero Bonaparte.
"Thank you for your efforts!" Jero Bonaparte smiled slightly and said to Joseph Jellach.
Afterwards, Joseph Jellach turned around and headed back towards Milan, while Jero Bonaparte and Augusta continued forward.
Soon, Jero Bonaparte and Augusta encountered the Sardinian General who had previously escorted them to the border.
Upon seeing Jero Bonaparte and Augusta, the Sardinian General swiftly dismounted and approached Jero Bonaparte and Empress Augusta, saying, "Your Majesty, Empress, you have returned!"
"Mm!" Mounted on his horse, Jero Bonaparte nodded in response to the Sardinian General.
Then, under the escort of the Sardinian General, Jero Bonaparte and Empress Augusta proceeded towards the nearby train station.
During this ti, the Sardinian General subtly inquired of Jero Bonaparte whether the Austrian Empire would withdraw its troops soon.
Jero Bonaparte did not directly answer the Sardinian General’s question but chose to tactfully avoid it by changing the subject.
Seeing he could not get an answer from Jero Bonaparte, the Sardinian General naturally understood his aning.
Thus, after several fruitless inquiries, the Sardinian General sensibly refrained from asking further about the matter and instead conversed with Jero Bonaparte on other topics.
The two parties chatted as they walked, quickly arriving at the train station closest to the border region.
Upon entering the train station, the Sardinian General personally ran to purchase train tickets for Jero Bonaparte and his wife, then dispatched his deputy and several soldiers to follow closely beside Jero Bonaparte and his wife, protecting their safety until they successfully arrived at the Turin Royal Palace.
Once everything was arranged, the Sardinian General then said to Jero Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, Empress, I need to return to the border to continue my duty!
If you need anything next, you can directly instruct my deputy officer; he will do his utmost to fulfill all your requests!"
"I appreciate it!" Jero Bonaparte nodded to the Sardinian General, then responded, "When I return to Turin, I will definitely inform Victor of your rits along this journey!"
Upon hearing this, the Sardinian General’s eyes showed a touch of excitent; he had been so diligently attentive in the hope that His Majesty Jero Bonaparte would speak well of him before Victor Emmanuel II so that his position might be promoted faster.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" The Sardinian General replied to Jero Bonaparte with an excited tone.
Under the protection of the deputy officer and several soldiers, Jero Bonaparte and Augusta boarded the train, and the whistle sounded ten minutes after Jero Bonaparte boarded the train.
Sitting in the private compartnt, Jero Bonaparte gazed at the scenery retreating backwards, his eyes revealing an indescribable joy.
After nearly several months, Jero Bonaparte had finally managed to achieve "light work at the latrine" regarding the Sardinian Kingdom issue.
Now he only needed to inform Victor Emmanuel II of Franz Joseph’s troop withdrawal, and then hold a referendum in Savoy and Nice, and Jero Bonaparte’s journey in the Sardinian Kingdom would be completely over.
As for the reaction of the Kingdom of Britain after annexing Savoy and Nice, that would be an issue for the next stage.
While Jero Bonaparte was contemplating, the deputy officer’s voice reached his ears, "Your Majesty, would you like so fruit?"
"No! It’s not necessary!" Jero Bonaparte shook his head and answered the deputy officer.
"Her Majesty the Empress, what about you?" the deputy officer turned his gaze towards the Empress.
"I don’t need any either! Thank you!" Empress Augusta also replied politely.
"If you wish to eat, feel free to take it!" Jero Bonaparte remarked, pointing to the fruits on the train platter that were complintary.
The deputy officer and soldiers likewise shook their heads, refusing Bonaparte’s suggestion.
Thus, the train raced forward for several hours, finally arriving in Turin that evening.
As the steam train slowly approached Turin Railway Station, Jero Bonaparte and Augusta simultaneously stood up, ready to depart the train at any mont.
When the train completely settled onto the platform, Jero Bonaparte once again noticed a group of people approaching the compartnt where Jero Bonaparte was seated.
Upon closer inspection, Jero Bonaparte discovered it was Victor Emmanuel II and Lamamor along with others who were nearing the train.
Jero Bonaparte imdiately understood that they had likely received a telegram from the border general, which inford them of the train’s arrival ti at the station, so they specifically ca to the train platform to welco him.
Jero Bonaparte and Empress Augusta slowly stepped off the train, followed by Jero Bonaparte exchanging a handshake with Victor Emmanuel II.
"Welco back to Turin!" Victor Emmanuel II said sincerely to Jero Bonaparte.
Jero Bonaparte smiled slightly, nodded, and then introduced Victor Emmanuel II to the adjutant and soldiers guarding them.
Upon seeing Victor Emmanuel II, the adjutant and soldiers all showed a hint of enthusiasm on their faces.
"You’ve done well!" Victor Emmanuel II complinted them.
"Your Majesty, this is what we should do!" the adjutant replied modestly.
The soldiers also modestly replied, saying it was their duty.
Victor Emmanuel II and others then escorted Jero Bonaparte and Augusta by carriage to the Turin Royal Palace.
Here, Victor Emmanuel II hosted a relatively small yet impressively composed banquet for Jero Bonaparte and his wife.
At the banquet, servants orderly presented trays of exquisite dishes on the table, and the guests exchanged toasts with joy.
The entire banquet lasted for more than two hours before ending. After most of the Sardinian Kingdom ministers and nobles had left, Victor Emmanuel II, slightly flushed, said to Jero Bonaparte, "Jero, could you co with for a mont?"
"Of course!" Jero Bonaparte nodded and followed Victor Emmanuel II to one of the palace’s reception rooms.
In the reception room, seated on a sofa, Victor Emmanuel II asked Jero Bonaparte, "Tea or coffee?"
"I’ll have a cup of tea, please!" Jero Bonaparte replied to Victor Emmanuel II.
"Then I’ll take a cup of coffee!" Victor Emmanuel II said casually.
The servant in the room promptly prepared tea and coffee for Jero Bonaparte and Victor Emmanuel II.
After a short while, the tea and coffee were brought to Jero Bonaparte and Victor Emmanuel II.
Jero Bonaparte took a sip of the tea and asked Victor Emmanuel II, "Victor, what do you want to do by asking here?"
"Jero, what was Franz Joseph’s reply?" Victor Emmanuel II asked Jero Bonaparte seriously.
Jero Bonaparte took another sip of tea and responded to Victor Emmanuel II’s slightly tense gaze, "Franz Joseph has listened to my advice and has canceled the investigation!"
Victor Emmanuel II relaxed instantly upon hearing Jero Bonaparte’s response, "Good, it’s canceled! Good, it’s canceled!"
Before Victor Emmanuel II could savor his relief for long, Jero Bonaparte’s next sentence swiftly destroyed the uplifting mood.
"Victor, when are you planning to start the referendum for Savoy and Nice?" Jero Bonaparte said casually to Victor Emmanuel II.
Victor Emmanuel II’s smile visibly vanished, and his expression beca serious once again.
"Well... it should be held soon!" Victor Emmanuel II stamred in response to Jero Bonaparte.
"Don’t hold it soon!" Jero Bonaparte responded firmly to Victor Emmanuel II. "I think holding the public referendum tomorrow would be just right! What do you think!"
Victor Emmanuel II diplomatically replied to Jero Bonaparte, "Holding the public referendum in Savoy and Nice tomorrow... isn’t that a bit too rushed?"
"Rushed? I don’t think it’s rushed!" Jero Bonaparte shook his head to Victor Emmanuel II.
"Then... let’s go with your suggestion!" Victor Emmanuel II had no choice but to agree to Jero Bonaparte’s proposal.
After Jero Bonaparte departed, Victor Emmanuel II secretly summoned Lamamor and Cavour. Under Cavour’s strong persuasion, Victor Emmanuel II eventually relinquished Savoy and Nice.
The next morning, accompanied by a telegram sent from Turin, the referendum in Savoy and Nice proceeded enthusiastically.
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