Due to Jero Bonaparte’s behavior of greeting people along his route, a journey originally requiring just ten minutes took nearly half an hour.
At the gates of the Bourbon Palace, four generals in military uniforms quietly observed Jero Bonaparte.
They were respectively General Reniao de Saint Jean d’Angely, General Oppel, General Shang Jia’nie, and General Victor Castellane (the Count).
Among them, General Castellane cast a complex look towards the distant Jero Bonaparte, whispering to Shang Jia’nie beside him, "General Shang Jia’nie, our President is eager to establish contact with the military even before taking office, much like the forr Emperor!"
After listening to General Castellane’s provocative remarks, General Shang Jia’nie remained composed and calmly said, "The President’s fondness for the military is exactly what you all wanted to see, isn’t it?"
"Who knows?" Castellane shrugged with an odd tone, turning his gaze back to Jero Bonaparte.
Shang Jia’nie furrowed his brows slightly, then resud his indifferent expression.
Jero Bonaparte approached the four generals with a smile, shaking hands with General Reniao, General Oppel, and General Castellane. When extending his hand to General Shang Jia’nie, the old man did not offer his hand but instead remarked dryly, "Mr. President, your inaugural address is about to begin; we should go in!"
Saying that, Shang Jia’nie turned and entered the venue, leaving Jero Bonaparte in an awkward position.
"Hahaha... Our General Shang Jia’nie truly is a decisive general!" thought Jero Bonaparte, irritated by Shang Jia’nie’s arrogance, but he jested out loud.
"Indeed! General Shang Jia’nie has always been decisive!" General Oppel agreed to alleviate the awkwardness.
Castellane glanced at General Oppel, then at Jero Bonaparte, once again revealing a smile.
"Let’s go! We shouldn’t keep our fellow mbers of the Republic waiting!" Jero Bonaparte said to the three generals present.
The three generals walked ahead, with Jero Bonaparte trailing behind.
Inside the Bourbon Palace, the three passed through a narrow hallway lined with a red carpet, arriving before the main hall’s doors, beyond which lay the National Assembly that could accommodate nearly a thousand people.
Standing at the door, Shang Jia’nie rejoined the group, pushing open the National Assembly’s doors.
Jero Bonaparte and the others entered the National Assembly one by one, staying in the corridor on the right side waiting for the signal to proceed.
Seeing Shang Jia’nie enter, Marast, on the podium, determined that Jero Bonaparte had arrived, striking the wooden hamr loudly and commanding, "Silence!"
The previously slightly noisy National Assembly instantly quieted, with mbers seated in the box seats and hall seats solemnly awaiting Marast’s speech, knowing their President had arrived.
With a grave expression, Marast rose to read, "In the na of the French people,
Given that Citizen Joseph Jero Bonaparte, born in Paris, ets the eligibility requirents for election under Article 44 of the Constitution;
Given that he received an overwhelming majority in the public presidential election across the entire Republic;
According to Articles 47 and 48 of the Constitution, the National Assembly hereby declares this citizen as President of the Republic, with his term starting today and ending on the second Sunday of May 1852."
At the end of Marast’s solemn announcent, applause erupted among the assembly mbers; so applauded sincerely, others perfunctorily for the Republic.
Following this, Marast added, "According to the law, the Speaker must invite the President Citizen of the French Republic to take the podium for the swearing-in ceremony!"
Quietly, the ti had reached 4 o’clock, the evening was gradually descending, and much of the spacious National Assembly hall was dark. A glass chandelier with candles was lowered from the ceiling, with court officers placing candles before the podium, while Speaker Marast gestured towards the left corridor.
Shang Jia’nie and the four generals stepped beneath the podium, representing the military protecting the President, while Jero Bonaparte stood on the podium.
"Dear compatriots, as God is my witness, before the National Assembly representing the French people..." Jero Bonaparte looked straight ahead, attempting to swear an oath in a standard Parisian accent.
Despite his effort to adjust, Jero Bonaparte couldn’t help but carry a trace of the Tuscan accent.
While ordinary people might not notice this, for Thiers and others, a Parisian accent with a Tuscan flavor was nothing less than a fine joke.
Thiers leaned over to Barrow, whispering, "His accent is deadly!"
Barrow and the accompanying mbers of the Order Party couldn’t help but chuckle.
On the podium, Jero Bonaparte placed his right hand on his chest, trying to appear more convincing: "I solemnly swear allegiance to the Republic, allegiance to the Constitution!"
Sparse applause arose, and after a few seconds, more people began clapping.
Bowling to all the mbers present, Jero Bonaparte temporarily left the podium.
And then Cafenak took the stage, now lacking the aura of a dictator previously displayed.
Holding his speech, he stamred blessings to Jero Bonaparte and expressed happiness for the future of the French Republic.
Jero Bonaparte returned to the podium, extending his hand to Cafenak, saying, "At this transition between old and new, should we shake hands, Mr. Governor?"
With a forced smile, Cafenak shook hands with Jero Bonaparte and then turned to step down from the podium.
Perhaps unable to bear the blow of losing power, Cafenak fell directly from the second step down the podium, marking the first ti anyone had fallen from a re three-step podium.
"Looks like our Mr. Dictator couldn’t handle the blow!" Thiers joked to Barrow.
Audion Barrot remained silent, his gaze fixed firmly on the podium, seemingly waiting for sothing.
"Here, I announce the establishnt of a cabinet serving the National Assembly and all citizens of France! I will nominate Mr. Audion Barrot as Cabinet Pri Minister!" Jero Bonaparte unleashed a bombshell in the National Assembly on his day of office.
The Republican Faction and Mountain Party simultaneously turned their gaze towards Audion Barrot on the Order Party side, with colleagues from the Order Party also congratulating him.
A pleased expression appeared on Audion Barrot’s face, as after more than a decade of struggle under the July Monarchy, he finally beca Pri Minister in the Second Republic.
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