After the conversation between Jero Bonaparte and Conrobel ended, other generals at Jero Bonaparte’s banquet were called forward in turn, and he kindly talked with them, giving them so "encouragent."
Every general, upon receiving the "encouragent" from Jero Bonaparte, displayed a joyful expression, since this "encouragent" represented the Emperor’s recognition of them.
After Jero Bonaparte finished receiving all the generals, it was unknowingly already dusk, and the sunlight that originally filled most of the room had gradually faded away, creating a scene of half light and half shadow.
Standing on the dim side of the room, Jero Bonaparte stretched a bit before slowly strolling to the window.
Gazing through the glass at the sunset that painted half the sky red in the distance, he unconsciously recited a famous line from the past life.
"The sunset is infinitely beautiful, yet so close to dusk!"
Imdiately, there ca another knock on the door, and Jero Bonaparte turned his body towards the door and said casually, "Co in!"
The door opened slowly, and the Emperor’s aide, Bulbaski, appeared in front of Jero Bonaparte.
"Has everyone left?" Jero Bonaparte asked in a calm tone.
"All the guests have already departed!" Bulbaski responded promptly to Jero Bonaparte.
"That’s good!" Jero Bonaparte yawned, stretched his body once more, looked again at the sunset and the pocket watch, and continued to instruct, "We should leave as well!"
Subsequently, Jero Bonaparte ordered Bulbaski to prepare a carriage for his return journey.
Bulbaski inford Jero Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, the carriage for the return journey is already waiting at the villa and can depart at any ti."
"Let’s go!"
Jero Bonaparte and Bulbaski walked out of the villa, one after the other. Sure enough, two carriages were prepared outside the villa.
One of the carriages, adorned lavishly, was Jero Bonaparte’s vehicle, while the other, completely black and particularly simple, belonged to Bulbaski.
Bulbaski first settled Jero Bonaparte into the carriage and then boarded his own carriage.
Soon, under the skillful handling of the coachman, the carriage set off. Thanks to the coachman’s proficient skills and the carriage’s shock-absorbing system, Jero Bonaparte felt no jolts throughout the journey. Additionally, with soft velvet cushions in the carriage, Jero Bonaparte traveled most comfortably to Fontainebleau Palace.
When the carriage arrived at Fontainebleau Palace, the sun had completely set, and the whole world was shrouded under a sky full of stars.
At this mont, Jero Bonaparte, who was in the carriage, had accumulated too much fatigue from a morning of parades and an afternoon of continuous etings, unknowingly dozed off on the cushion.
It wasn’t until Bulbaski opened the carriage door and called Jero Bonaparte that he groggily awoke from his sleep.
The awakened Jero Bonaparte looked at the dark night sky outside the carriage and lazily asked Bulbaski, "Have we arrived?"
"Your Majesty, we have arrived at Fontainebleau Palace!" Bulbaski respectfully replied to Jero Bonaparte, "Allow to assist you out of the carriage!"
Having said that, Bulbaski extended his hand to Jero Bonaparte.
Upon learning they had arrived at Fontainebleau Palace, Jero Bonaparte rubbed his sleepy eyes, then supported himself to rise from the cushion.
"No need!"
Jero Bonaparte declined Bulbaski’s assistance, then exited the carriage on his own, heading straight into the study of Fontainebleau Palace.
Soon, André von Beichu, who was in the Fontainebleau Palace office, appeared in Jero Bonaparte’s study.
Sitting in the study, Jero Bonaparte casually asked André von Beichu, "During my absence from Fontainebleau Palace, has there been any news from Paris?"
"Your Majesty, this morning, Minister of the Seal Mornay sent a ssage saying that they are preparing a grand welcoming ceremony for you!
They expect it will take about a week to prepare, so please patiently wait a week at Fontainebleau Palace!" André von Beichu reported to Jero Bonaparte in an orderly manner.
"Ah, considerate of them!" Jero Bonaparte nodded and responded to André von Beichu, before asking, "Is there any other news?"
"Your Majesty, there isn’t." André von Beichu shook his head and answered Jero Bonaparte.
"That’s good! Yawn!" Jero Bonaparte let out another long yawn and waved his hand to order André von Beichu to leave.
André von Beichu obeyed and left Jero Bonaparte’s study. Just as he was about to push the door to leave, André von Beichu suddenly rembered sothing and paused.
Sitting on the chair, Jero Bonaparte looked at André von Beich, who suddenly stopped in his tracks, and curiously asked, "What’s the matter? Is there anything else?"
André von Beich imdiately responded to Jero Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, there is indeed one more thing!"
Jero Bonaparte was montarily stunned and gestured André von Beich to co over and respond.
André von Beich inford Jero Bonaparte that Ismail, the nephew of the Governor of Egypt, Said Pasha, and son of the forr governor Ibrahim Pasha, was still waiting at the Fontainebleau Palace for Jero Bonaparte’s summons.
"Didn’t I tell him not to wait for ? Why is he still at Fontainebleau?" Jero Bonaparte responded with surprise.
To this day, he had never encountered a guest as persistent as Ismail.
Ordinarily, guests would choose to leave upon hearing Jero Bonaparte’s polite refusal.
Unexpectedly, Ismail seed to take his refusal at face value.
"Your Majesty, should I ask him to leave?" André von Beich naturally noticed that the Emperor did not wish to et Ismail and volunteered to take on the role of the "evil person."
Jero Bonaparte thought for a mont and then shook his head at André von Beich, "We better not do that!
After all, he ca all this way to et us and has waited for so long!
Silently driving him away wouldn’t be very appropriate!
Moreover, France’s interests in Egypt are also inseparable from his assistance!
It’s better to et him!
So, you go bring Ismail here! I will speak to him personally!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!" André von Beich bowed once again to Jero Bonaparte and then turned and left Jero Bonaparte’s study.
While Ismail had not yet arrived, Jero Bonaparte pondered why Ismail was so eager to et with him.
First, Jero Bonaparte ruled out the possibility that Ismail was eting him out of re admiration, as simple admiration wouldn’t warrant such persistent waiting. Ismail, after all, was a mber of the Egyptian elite and had studied in France for a period; he wouldn’t be ignorant of basic etiquette.
Afterward, Jero Bonaparte considered the possibility that Ismail might want to remove his uncle Said.
Previously, Abbas Pasha, the forr Governor of Egypt, the son of Muhammad’s second son, Tusun, and cousin to Ismail, was assassinated by Said with the help of French peripheral forces, allowing Said to assu the position of Governor of Egypt.
During his term as Governor of Egypt, Said rewarded France by granting the Suez Canal operations rights to France and promising that Egypt’s infrastructure would be handed entirely over to French rchants, enjoying privileged status in Egypt.
Now, whether Ismail discovered the truth about the assassination and wanted to imitate Said’s actions against Abbas, gain French approval to assassinate Said, and replace him as Governor of Egypt, remains uncertain.
Of course, this was rely Jero Bonaparte’s conjecture at the mont. What Ismail truly wanted to do could only be gleaned after Jero Bonaparte and Ismail t face-to-face.
After waiting for a while in the study, Bourbas entered, followed closely by Ismail.
Ismail entered the room, curiously examining Jero Bonaparte, while Jero Bonaparte also scrutinized Ismail closely.
From his appearance alone, Ismail indeed possessed a good physique. Jero Bonaparte could not see the aura of a nouveau riche traditionally associated with Arabia; instead, there was an elite presence.
If not for Ismail’s traditional beard and so Turkic and Arabian features on his face, Jero Bonaparte would suspect he was eting a Parisian nobleman.
As Ismail respectfully called out "Your Majesty," Jero Bonaparte finally retracted his scrutinizing gaze, smiling slightly as he extended his hand to invite Ismail, "Mr. Ismail, please have a seat!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Ismail first expressed his gratitude to Jero Bonaparte and then sat down before him.
"Bourbas, you can leave now! I can speak with Mr. Ismail myself!" Jero Bonaparte dismissed Bourbas.
Bourbas quickly bowed to Jero Bonaparte and then left the study.
Now the study was left with only Jero Bonaparte and Ismail.
Jero Bonaparte clasped his hands together on the table, a faint smile on his lips, and inquired earnestly, "Mr. Ismail, could you truthfully tell why you are so eager to et with ?"
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