Chapter 283: Expanding Paris
Joseph's carriage was still three or four kilometers away from Versailles Palace when he noticed that the area was already packed with people.
Eymond glanced outside and explained, "Your Highness, the official competition won't start for another two days. These people must have come from other regions to watch the event."
Usually, entering Versailles Palace required strict attire, but during the La France Étoile competition, anyone could freely enter the palace square, just like on the King's birthday. As a result, a massive crowd of ordinary people had gathered outside the square, camping out as they awaited the start of the competition.
However, they didn't seem bored at all. Due to the immense popularity of La France Étoile, all sorts of vendors had set up stalls here long in advance. From snacks to fruits, toys to hats, from painters to shoemakers, the roadside was lined with stalls stretching seven to eight kilometers, filling the air with the sounds of sales pitches, music, and lively conversation, forming a massive open-air commercial street.
Some enterprising individuals had even set up hundreds of tents under the trees, turning them into makeshift hotels. Concerned that the large crowds might cause trouble, Briand had deployed the Royal Guards to patrol the "commercial street," further adding to its bustling marketplace atmosphere.
Seeing the lively scene outside, Joseph had an idea. Why not turn this area into a permanent commercial district?
As France continued to develop, Paris's population would inevitably grow, especially after the fashion week and the establishment of the standardization of measurements conference. Not only had more minor French nobles flocked to Paris, but the number of foreigners settling here was also steadily increasing.
Currently, the permanent foreign population in Paris was approaching a thousand, mostly concentrated around the real estate projects associated with fashion week, and several thousand more were visiting the city at any given time.
Consequently, there was a growing need to expand Paris. However, the fact that Versailles Palace was somewhat isolated from Paris was detrimental to the effective dissemination of royal decrees and to the royal family's public image.
Joseph had long wanted to integrate Paris and Versailles, and now he saw a perfect opportunity. With the wooden railway connecting Versailles to Paris now complete, the foundational conditions for integration were in place, making it high time to put this plan on the agenda.
When the carriage arrived at the Marble Courtyard, Joseph noticed that among those who had come to greet him, Queen Marie was absent.
Eymond leaned in and whispered, "Your Highness, the Queen is likely upset with you."
Sure enough, the Queen's maid, De Bonninac, hurried over and curtsied before him. "Your Highness, the Queen has asked that you go to her immediately upon your return."
She then glanced around and lowered her voice to advise him, "Your Highness, you were quite reckless this time, running off to North Africa without permission. You may not realize it, but the Queen has been so worried she hasn't been able to sleep."
"Uh…" Joseph rubbed his forehead, feeling a bit helpless. This was starting to feel like a parent scolding a child who had snuck out for the night. He had no choice but to follow the Countess de Bonninac to the Petit Trianon.
When he entered the foyer, he saw Queen Marie standing with her back to him in the room.
Joseph quickly stepped forward and bowed, smiling warmly. "Mother, I'm back…"
"Hmph!" Queen Marie turned her head slightly but didn't look at him. "You still know how to come back?"
"Of course!" Joseph quickly moved closer, flashing a bright smile. "Ah, the most beautiful, the most intelligent, the kindest mother in the world. I haven't seen you in almost a month. I've missed you so much!"
"Is that so?" The Queen continued to look away, her expression stern. "You dared to run off to such a dangerous place? And you tried to fool me by saying it was within the country!"
"Well, technically, Tunisia is part of the country now," Joseph said, moving around to face her and taking her hands, brushing them against his cheek. "Look, I'm back safe and sound, aren't I?" As he spoke, he shot a glance at Eymond.
Eymond immediately directed the servants to bring in several beautifully crafted chests, which were then opened one by one.
Joseph cheerfully began to introduce the items. "Look, this is a Tunisian-style dress designed by the best tailor in Tunisia, just for you.
"This is a necklace made from North African pearls, which I personally selected for you…"
"This scarf is…"
Seeing that Queen Marie still kept her stern expression, unmoved by the gifts, Joseph sighed softly and decided to use his trump card.
"Mother, can you guess who I managed to bring back for you?"
"Who?" The Queen glanced at her son, her tone still cold. "It doesn't matter who speaks for you; it won't work!"
"Jeanne."
"Hmph, I said it doesn't matter who—" The Queen started to repeat but suddenly froze, her eyes widening. "Who did you say?!"
"Jeanne de Valois-Saint-Rémy," Joseph repeated with a smile. "That con artist."
The Queen immediately grabbed his arm, her eyes wide with shock. "Are you serious? How did you find her?"
"Ahem, actually, I went to Tunisia for this very reason," Joseph said, embellishing the story as he recounted how he had caught the British spies. Of course, in his version, he had gone to Tunisia with the express purpose of negotiating Jeanne's return in exchange for the spies.
"Oh, my darling! My sweet child, thank you so much!" Queen Marie's eyes filled with tears as she hugged him tightly, overwhelmed by the thought that her son had risked his life to retrieve the woman who had humiliated her from the British. "But you really shouldn't have taken such a risk! There's even fighting in Tripoli… Joseph, your life means more to me than anything! That wretched woman wasn't worth the danger! Oh, I'm so touched—my son has grown up to be a brave knight, defending my honor. I can't believe I was scolding you… Oh, I was so wrong…"
Joseph felt a bit embarrassed by the overwhelming affection. He gently freed himself from the Queen's embrace and signaled for the maid to bring some cakes and pudding. Then, he held up the red Tunisian dress adorned with gold trim and intricate curves. "Mother, you must try this on. It's beautiful and will look perfect on you…"
An hour later, Joseph finally emerged from the Petit Trianon, exhausted but relieved that he had managed to calm his mother down. He immediately headed to Finance Minister Bailly's office to discuss the idea of turning the area between Paris and Versailles into a commercial and scientific center.
His visit to the Queen had one positive outcome—she agreed that in the future, as long as he took the Swiss Guard and informed her, he could travel abroad anytime.
After instructing Bailly to begin planning the expansion of Paris, Joseph hurried to the General Staff's office. Due to the special nature of the General Staff, their office was located next to the Royal Armory in a small two-story building.
Though the space was small, it was bustling with activity. Dozens of administrative officers carried various documents, constantly moving between different offices. Occasionally, there were shouts of urgency from within the rooms, a stark contrast to the leisurely atmosphere typically found in military offices.
Berthier, having heard that the Crown Prince had arrived, quickly came out with several officers to greet him.
Before they could salute, Joseph asked the question that was foremost on his mind: "Has that officer named Napoleon reported in yet?"
The General Staff Chief was momentarily surprised by how much importance the Crown Prince placed on that young captain—recently promoted at that—but he nodded. "Yes, Your Highness, he reported in two days ago. He's now assigned to the First Regiment of Artillery in the Royal Guard."
(End of Chapter)
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