May 11, 1848.
A black carriage with gilded edges and windows covered by dark blue serge curtains was being drawn by two tall bay horses, leaving the city of London, heading towards Windsor Castle located in Berkshire County, southeastern England.
Just outside London, the carriage sped along a rural road paved with a mix of gravel and cent, slightly bumpy, flanked by green lawns. On the lawns, herds of cattle and sheep wandered leisurely, while short shepherds reclined on the grass, gazing up at the still-industrialized blue sky.
Further away lay rows of houses, so with smoke rising from their chimneys. Listening intently through the wind, one could hear the distant church bells, contrasting with the industrialized atmosphere of London, rural tis seed to be stuck in the dieval era.
The binary society of city and countryside vividly portrays the 19th-century United Kingdom. Here, one cannot feel the presence of industrialization, sense the stinking thoughts in the air, nor see the white "dust" of PM2.5.
The environntally-friendly countryside also beca the private preserves of many aristocrats.
The owner of the carriage was Lord Russell, who was gazing through the dark blue curtains at the scenery outside. The pastoral landscape did not bring comfort to Lord Russell’s heart; instead, his deep blue eyes revealed endless worry.
The vigorous "petition" movent of the Chartist movent had left Lord Russell physically and ntally exhausted. Recently, he had to face inquiries from property owners in Parliant on one hand and find ways to mitigate the effects of the "petition" movent on the other.
Russell knew that there were ministers and mbers in the Cabinet and Parliant secretly criticizing his weakness towards the mob, claiming that Lord Russell should not have agreed to that bill (referring to the ten-hour workday).
To such phenona, Lord Russell could only choose to remain silent because he understood, even if he lost his temper in the Upper House, it wouldn’t solve the current problems.
Furthermore, a patched-up Cabinet and Parliant can’t endure too much turmoil; mishandling could lead to a temporary collapse of the Cabinet, just like last ti, giving the mob a chance to force the governnt into signing unwanted conditions.
The lesson from the last Cabinet’s collapse left Lord Russell with an "unforgettable" mory.
This ti he was to face inquiries from Windsor Castle, more precisely from Prince Albert.
Since the "petition" movent began, Queen Victoria, initially residing in Buckingham Palace, learned from the ill-fated Louis XVI’s sweeping lesson during the Great Revolution and moved the family urgently from Buckingham Palace to Windsor Castle.
The carriage carrying the political leader of the world’s most powerful country slowed down after approximately four hours.
"My Lord, we’ve arrived!"
The coachman’s reminder prompted the sleepy Lord Russell to open his eyes. Through the curtains, Lord Russell saw a castle, surrounded by a 6 to 7 ters high wall. This elevated terrain strategically controlled the London riverways. The eastern and northern parts of the castle are open high plains, with broad views, a strategic location in the Middle Ages.
Nowadays, with Britain dominating the world, this strategic location has beco rely a display.
The carriage, led by royal guards, passed through the Norman Gate into the core area and stopped in front of a castle.
Under John Brown’s notice, Lord Russell entered a study inside the castle.
"The Prince and Her Majesty will be here shortly. The Pri Minister may wait for a mont!" John Brown bowed to Lord Russell and left.
Only Lord Russell remained in the study alone, knowing it was a sche from Albert, the guy from Germany, who was never easy to deal with.
Ti passed by the second, and even the calm heart of Lord Russell stirred slightly.
The study door slowly opened, and Prince Albert, dressed in a bright red military uniform, and Queen Victoria appeared.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness!" Lord Russell stood and bowed to Albert with a hint of ingratiation.
"Pri Minister!" Prince Albert nodded slightly to the Lord.
Victoria and Albert seated themselves on one side of the sofa, with Lord Russell sitting opposite Prince Albert.
"Pri Minister, we called you here today just to inquire about the recent situation in London!" Albert "casually" asked Lord Russell.
"Under the joint suppression of police and vigilantes, the rioters in London have disappeared! London hasn’t suffered much impact; City Hall and the Cabinet are operating well?" Lord Russell hurriedly reported to Albert.
"So! We can return to London?" Prince Albert asked again.
"I’m afraid not yet!" Lord Russell shook his head in response.
"Pri Minister, didn’t you say the rioters have disappeared?" Prince Albert feigned ignorance and asked.
"Currently, newspapers led by the ’Polar Star’ are still attacking the governnt; the royal family’s sudden appearance in London might spark unnecessary disputes!" Lord Russell said tactfully.
At this ti, London residents didn’t know the royal family had rushed away from Buckingham Palace to Windsor Castle overnight.
If they knew, the mob might directly target the royal family.
"Then just ban them all!" Queen Victoria spoke candidly.
"Your Majesty, that doesn’t comply with the Kingdom’s regulations!" Lord Russell patiently explained, "If we rashly ban them, it could escalate the situation!"
"And..." Lord Russell glanced at Albert, hesitatingly said, "Many newspapers are attacking the governnt in the na of ’Bonaparte’... and the royal family with Bonaparte..."
"Mr. Russell, are you implying the royal family harbors Bonaparte in attacking the governnt?" Albert asked with so displeasure, "I can assure you, no matter what happens, the royal family has no reason to oppose the governnt’s policies!"
"Could it be Bonaparte acting on his own accord..." Lord Russell asked again.
"That I don’t know!" Albert replied, "The royal family isn’t Mr. Bonaparte’s nanny; we aren’t obliged to watch over him continuously."
"Then... what’s to be done with Mr. Bonaparte, detained in detention?" Lord Russell inquired again.
"Hmm? Mr. Bonaparte is detained?" Albert asked, puzzled, "Didn’t he reveal his identity?"
London’s detention only held paupers, not gentlen.
Let alone an upper-class noble like Bonaparte.
"No!" Lord Russell said helplessly.
"That sly fox!" Prince Albert cursed in German, feeling Jero Bonaparte was using this thod to keep himself outside the public eye.
"Then should we release him?" Lord Russell asked once more.
"Then let’s handle everything according to the Kingdom’s laws!" Albert said flawlessly, "I believe the detention period is one week, right? Let him stay there like a good boy!"
The conclusion of Jero Bonaparte’s release was set by a few words between Pri Minister Russell and Albert.
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