The young Ludwig looked helpless as he watched the two shaless monarchs flatter each other. After a while, Jero Bonaparte, using not disturbing Ludwig’s studies as an excuse, left Ludwig’s room together with Maximilian II.
Walking slowly down the palace corridor, Jero Bonaparte suddenly thought of his adopted brother and sister-in-law, whom he had never t. He hurriedly asked Maximilian II, "Maximilian, where are my adopted brother Prince Eugene and Princess Auguste buried?"
Maximilian II was initially taken aback, then told Jero Bonaparte that Prince Eugene and Princess Auguste’s tombs had been placed near Loychtenburg Palace. If Jero Bonaparte wished, he could accompany him to pay his respects.
"Let’s forget it!" Jero Bonaparte shook his head, smiling bitterly, "Our Bonaparte Clan owes Eugene too much! I don’t want to disturb their souls at this ti!"
"Jero, you’re mistaken!" Maximilian II shook his head and replied to Jero Bonaparte, "When Prince Eugene was alive, he never felt you owed them! My aunt, Princess Auguste, was the sa way. Even on her deathbed, she thanked the Bonaparte Clan for giving her an exceptional husband!"
Hearing Maximilian II’s words, Jero Bonaparte’s expression darkened slightly; he did not expect Prince Eugene and Princess Auguste to harbor no resentnt towards the Bonaparte Clan.
"If that’s the case, please lead the way!" Jero Bonaparte replied to Maximilian II with a serious expression.
Jero Bonaparte and Maximilian II rode on horseback, escorted by guards, galloping towards the outskirts of the city.
About half an hour later, Jero Bonaparte and Maximilian II arrived in the vicinity of Loychtenburg Palace.
Under Maximilian II’s guidance, Jero Bonaparte found two small mounds in a dense forest about a kiloter from Loychtenburg Palace.
The forr Governor of Italy, heir apparent to the First Empire, and the previous Eldest Princess of the Kingdom of Bavaria were buried here, truly sowhat "unworthy of their status."
"Who chose this place?" Jero Bonaparte asked, expressionless, as he looked at the small mounds.
"This was the burial place Prince Eugene requested before he died! Four years ago, my aunt Auguste also instructed to bury her alongside Prince Eugene!" Maximilian II explained to Jero Bonaparte, "If it weren’t for Prince Eugene’s request, we would never have buried him here!"
"I understand! Thank you very much!" Jero Bonaparte responded calmly to Maximilian II, then slowly walked up to the two small mounds. He didn’t say anything, just bowed to the mounds, and then turned to leave.
The two rode again, returning to the Munich Royal Palace.
By the ti they reached the Munich Royal Palace, it was already around 6:30 in the evening.
With less than half an hour until the dinner began, the two took the ti before the banquet started to enter the banquet hall to prepare.
Ti flew by quickly, and soon it was seven in the evening.
Jero Bonaparte and Maximilian II first shared a dinner with the nobles present. After the al, the dance officially began.
The two monarchs and their wives beca the undisputed leaders of the entire dance, with everyone dancing gracefully to the elegant lody.
...
The banquet continued until about 11 in the evening before it finally ended. Jero Bonaparte and Augusta, guided by the palace servants, moved into a bedroom within the palace.
Exhausted, Jero Bonaparte yawned as he lay on the soft bed and quickly fell asleep.
Augusta, lying beside Jero Bonaparte, watched him, already asleep, with a smile on her lips.
Then she blew out the candle on the bedside candlestick and drifted into sleep in the darkness.
Early the next morning, with Maximilian II’s escort, Jero Bonaparte embarked on a train heading towards the Bavarian-Austrian border. They would take this train to the border area and then switch to a train leading into Austria to reach Vienna.
Before boarding the train, Jero Bonaparte told Maximilian II that if he had ti, he must visit Paris, where Jero Bonaparte would prepare a grand welco for him.
Maximilian II replied that he would certainly visit Jero Bonaparte.
"Don’t forget to bring Ludwig!" Jero Bonaparte "reminded" once more.
"I certainly won’t forget!" Maximilian II answered.
Once Jero Bonaparte boarded, the train slowly began moving south, gradually picking up speed until it disappeared from sight.
Sitting in the private carriage, Jero Bonaparte gazed out the window and asked Mokar, "Mokar, when will this train reach the border?"
"Your Majesty, it will take about 2 to 3 hours!" Mokar imdiately replied.
"How long does it take from the Austrian border to Vienna?" Jero Bonaparte asked again.
"It also takes 2 to 3 hours!" Mokar responded once more.
"So, from Munich to Vienna is roughly 60 leagues (240 kiloters)!" Jero Bonaparte scratched his head and said to Mokar.
"Your Majesty, in fact, the distance from Munich to Vienna is only about 33 leagues! (134 kiloters)" Mokar hastily explained, "It’s just that there’s no direct train between Munich and Vienna, which is why it’s like this!"
"Ah!" Jero Bonaparte shrugged and sighed: "I didn’t expect that the Austrian Empire still hasn’t forgiven Bavaria for its actions back then! (Referring to the Napoleon era, when Bavaria relied on France to exert certain pressure on the Austrian Empire, but due to Napoleon’s defeat, Bavaria was forced to give up so of its acquired benefits.)"
"Your Majesty, although Bavaria and Austria are in-laws, they are still in a competitive relationship within Germany!" Mokar explained to Jero Bonaparte.
"I understand that!"
...
After a long journey of nearly more than 3 hours, Jero Bonaparte and Augusta finally arrived at the train station closest to Austria from Bavaria.
As they got off the train, before leaving the station, they were invited to take a carriage by the highest local official, who had received orders from Maximilian II to personally escort Jero Bonaparte to the Bavarian-Austrian border.
Thus, Jero Bonaparte and Empress Augusta wasted nearly another hour in the carriage before reaching the border area between Bavaria and the Austrian Empire.
This ti they did not switch carriages again but proceeded directly into the Austrian Empire in the carriage, accompanied by a joint escort of Austrian and Bavarian troops, and arrived at the nearest Austrian train station to the border.
Getting off the carriage, Jero Bonaparte simply stretched lazily, breathed the fresh air, and then imdiately boarded the train to Vienna without stopping.
...
Three hours later, the train slowly pulled into the Vienna Railway Station.
By this ti it was already around 4 pm, and the sky over Vienna was still sunny.
As Jero Bonaparte stepped off the train, he was imdiately welcod by Emperor Franz Joseph of the Austrian Empire and Empress Elisabeth.
"Welco to Vienna, my brother!" Franz Joseph said with a smile, embracing Jero Bonaparte.
"My brother! This journey truly left feeling physically and ntally exhausted!" Jero Bonaparte whispered a complaint in Franz Joseph’s ear.
Franz Joseph’s expression turned slightly awkward; he understood that Jero Bonaparte was complaining about the lack of a direct train between Munich and Vienna. At present, he could only respond diplomatically, "Once you arrive at the Hofburg Palace, you can rest! I believe the scenery at the Hofburg Palace will surely cure your fatigue!"
"I look forward to it!" Jero Bonaparte said as he released Franz Joseph.
Thus, Jero Bonaparte and his wife, along with Franz Joseph and his wife, took a carriage together to the Hofburg Palace.
On the way to the Hofburg Palace, Jero Bonaparte keenly noticed that Empress Elisabeth... also known as Princess Sisi, appeared sowhat sullen, quite different from the Princess Sisi he had seen before!
Has the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law conflict begun so soon? Jero Bonaparte couldn’t help but speculate in his heart.
Seeing the atmosphere inside the carriage becoming increasingly dull, Jero Bonaparte began to take the initiative to steer the conversation.
He first inquired of Franz Joseph about the current situation of the Austrian Empire.
Franz Joseph imdiately replied that the Austrian Empire, with the help of France and the planning of Prince tternich, was showing signs of revitalization.
Thus, Jero Bonaparte and Franz Joseph chatted all the way, soon reaching the area near the Hofburg Palace.
Stepping down from the entrance of the Hofburg Palace, the two monarchs ascended the steps lined with guards on both sides, entering the Hofburg Palace.
Once Jero Bonaparte and Franz Joseph had stepped side by side into the Hofburg Palace, the waiting band, upon the indication of the palace steward, struck up the "Hymn to the Emperor," symbolizing the anthem of the Austrian Empire.
At the sa ti, the gathered dignitaries and loyal subjects lined up in two rows within the hall turned their gaze towards the two monarchs at the entrance.
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