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On a stage covered with rose petals, an actor whose face was painted with lead powder and dressed in exaggerated and elegant costumes faced the packed theater audience and recited with great emotion:

"Juliet, this is our new house. Your beauty turns a cave into a palace full of light. Oh, my love! My wife! Although death has taken away your life, it has not yet taken away your

Beauty, you are my most beautiful bride..."

The audience in the audience all stared at Romeo on the stage attentively, as if they had broken the fourth wall and entered the world of the play. Some sentimental ladies could not help but take out their handkerchiefs and start wiping the tears from the corners of their eyes.

This is the Paris Comedy, the earliest national theater in France. It was funded and built by the Sun King Louis XIV in 1680. It is definitely the theater with the highest artistic level in Paris.

Those who can sit in such a theater are all members of Paris's upper class. After all, the average ticket price of fifty livres can already exclude ordinary people.

Even though it is hard to get a ticket here most of the time, businessmen who still have some money are still willing to spend five times the price to buy tickets for a play in order to try to build a relationship with a certain big boss in the same venue.

.

Of course, the gap between people is unimaginable. For some powerful people, a few days before each play starts, someone from the theater will respectfully deliver a stack of tickets to their house. Although

They may never go to the theater.

The Duke of Richelieu undoubtedly belongs to this category, and is at the top of this category. He has an exclusive box on the upper floor of the theater, and can overlook the entire stage.

"Oh... young love, tragic and beautiful. It's a pity that Du Barry didn't see this."

The seventy-four-year-old Duke of Richelieu calmly held up the gold theater mirror and watched the performance of "Romeo and Juliet" on the stage with all his attention. He couldn't help but sigh with regret.

For the Duke of Richelieu, who once had a romantic life, this poignant love story naturally brought back many memories for him, even though it was an old British work.

Taking advantage of the gap between the end of the scene on the stage, the entourage in the box dared to step forward. For fear of disturbing the Duke's interest in watching the show, he said carefully:

"Your Majesty, Mr. Du Barry has returned, but..."

"But what? Why does it take him so long to deliver a message?" Duke Richelieu asked with some dissatisfaction after flexing his sore wrists a little.

Although Jean Du Barry is a wealthy industrial owner who owns more than a dozen casinos and brothels in the hearts of Parisian citizens, in front of the Duke of Richelieu, he can only rely on his relationship with Madame Du Barry.

Only a few words can be said.

Even today, it was a rare opportunity for Jean Dubarry to watch a play in the same box as Duke Richelieu, but Duke Richelieu impatiently kicked him out to give Lawrence a message.

The attendant quickly explained:

"Because the Governor of Corsica also volunteered to go back to the theater with him."

"oh?"

After hearing this, Duke Richelieu had a look of surprise on his brows. He thought that Lawrence would choose to stay away from this political storm without hesitation after receiving the reminder, but he did not expect that Lawrence would choose a rather radical approach instead.

After all, the outside world currently generally believes that Lawrence is from the Duke of Choiseul's faction. He chose to meet with the Duke of Richelieu at this time. After the news spreads, it will undoubtedly cause a discussion in the political circle.

Seeing that Duke Richelieu was deep in thought, the attendant cautiously suggested:

"Maybe he came to seek refuge with you. Anyway, they have been waiting outside for a while. Do you want to meet them?"

"Come to me..."

Duke Richelieu muttered to himself slowly, then shook his head and said:

"I don't think that's the case. Forget it, let's bring in the young Governor of Corsica."

After that, Duke Richelieu glanced at the only two chairs in the box and added:

"As for Mr. Du Barry, please come back. I don't think he is interested in today's performance."

...

In the rest area outside the theater, Jean Dubarry was sitting on a bench with Lawrence very depressed, waiting for the entourage to inform the Duke of Richelieu. He thought he could take this opportunity to get closer to the Duke of Richelieu, but he did not expect

Before they could chat for a few words, they were told something else and were kicked out.

"Your Excellency Bonaparte, don't blame me for not reminding you."

Jean Du Barry looked at Lawrence aside and said unhappily:

"The Duke of Richelieu is not accessible to everyone. Although you are the Governor of Corsica, in fact you are just... Do you understand what I mean?"

Lawrence smiled nonchalantly and stuffed a piece of smoked salmon sandwich brought by the waiter into his mouth. He had a clear understanding of his actual status.

If it were normal times, Duke Richelieu would definitely look down on himself as the Governor of Corsica. After all, in the eyes of people like Duke Richelieu, Governor Lawrence was actually no different from a great chief in Africa.

But at this moment, Louis XV had just learned that Corsica had surrendered recently, and was feeling quite happy and satisfied. Lawrence's status had also been magnified.

After all, if the Duke Richelieu's group wanted to completely defeat the Duke of Choiseul politically, they still had to let Louis XV deal the final blow to the Duke of Choiseul, and that's exactly what they did in history.

.

In the incident of Corsica's surrender, Duke Choiseul also played an indelible role. In the view of Duke Richelieu, Louis XV was very likely to restore his favor to Duke Choiseul because of the Corsica incident.

Trust or alleviate dissatisfaction.

In this way, Duke Richelieu will have to work harder to overthrow Duke Choiseul. Even Duke Richelieu, who is over seventy years old, may not be able to see Shuiseul when he closes his eyes.

The Downfall of the Duke of Vasseur.

This chapter is not over, please click on the next page to continue reading! "In other words, I am now the key to the Duke of Choiseul's favor in obtaining the favor of Louis XV, and Madame Du Barry and others naturally know this."

Lawrence silently analyzed in his mind that this was why the Duke of Richelieu showed extraordinary importance to him and immediately sent Jean Dubarry to deliver the message after learning that he had appeared in the casino.

"Hmph...don't blame me if you don't see Duke Richelieu for a while."

Naturally, the businessman Jean Du Barry didn't know where Lawrence got his confidence, so he just thought he was talking nonsense, so he groaned in dissatisfaction.

The two of them waited outside for a while, and then saw Duke Richelieu's entourage tiptoeing out of the theater.

The attendant first bowed slightly to Jean Du Barry and said tactfully:

"Mr. Du Barry, the Duke said... that you are also very tired from managing the property, so you don't need to spend time with him to watch the show. You can leave first."

"What?! Lord Duke, how could he...!"

Jean Dubarry said in disbelief, almost shouting out loud. He had spent a lot of effort and money to get this opportunity to be alone with the Duke of Richelieu, and he never expected to be kicked out like this.

The entourage ignored Jean Du Barry, who was stunned on the spot, and then bowed deeper to Lawrence and said respectfully:

"Your Excellency Bonaparte, the Duke of Richelieu wants to see you, please come with me."

Lawrence nodded, wiped the crumbs off his hands, shrugged at Mr. Du Barry, who was still in a daze beside him, then stood up, straightened his clothes a little, and followed the entourage into the theater.

...

When Lawrence pushed open the door and walked into the box, what appeared in front of him was an old man with white temples and gorgeous clothes. He was holding up a glittering theater mirror, looking at the stage with interest, and murmuring in a low voice from time to time.

Author:

"Oh, fair Juliet, how brave you are."

Lawrence stood at the door and silently observed the old man without interrupting him. At the same time, he searched for memories of Duke Richelieu in his mind.

The old man in front of him was known in history as Duke Richelieu III. He was an outstanding diplomat and soldier. He also participated in major wars such as the War of Austrian Succession, the War of Polish Succession, and the Seven Years' War.

With his merits and family power, he was promoted to Marshal of France in 1748.

Of course, a large part of his status comes from his great-uncle, the first Duke of Richelieu, Cardinal Richelieu. As the French Prime Minister during the Louis XIII period, Cardinal Richelieu was the leader of the entire French history.

Shangdu is famous.

Including during World War II, the largest battleship in French naval history, the Richelieu-class battleship, was named after him.

Therefore, under the blessing of his great-uncle, the Duke of Richelieu in front of him enjoyed a very high status in the court since he was born. The Sun King Louis XIV was his godfather, and the current King Louis XV was the closest friend to him in his early years.

Good friend.

Although he was alienated by Louis XV and dismissed from his post by the High Court because of his disagreement with Louis XV's mistress, Madame de Pompadour; but after Madame Pompadour's death, he was not only reinstated by the High Court, but also reconciled with

Louis XV's new mistress, Madame du Barry, had a very close relationship.

With the blessing of these statuses and relationships, the old man in front of Lawrence could definitely be said to be one of those people who stood at the top of the court of Versailles and even France as a whole.

As long as he overthrows the Duke of Choiseul, he will have a chance to stand out among that group of people, and may even reach the status of his great-uncle, the first Duke of Richelieu.

For such an old man whose status was not inferior to that of the Duke of Choiseul, Lawrence also showed due etiquette. He waited for a break in the performance on the stage before bowing and saying:

"Your Excellency, it is an honor to meet you. I am Laurence Bonaparte."

Duke Richelieu slowly put the theater glass back into his pocket, turned to look at Lawrence with interest, then patted the empty seat next to him to signal Lawrence to sit down, and waved to his entourage to let them go out first.

After Lawrence sat firmly, Duke Richelieu turned his head and looked behind him again, making sure that they were the only two people in the box before speaking casually:

"I heard that you want to see me, Governor Bonaparte."

"Yes."

Lawrence nodded and said, lying very relaxed on the soft sofa chair, squinting at the play that had reached the end on the stage, and continued:

"You sent someone to bring me a very confusing reminder. Of course I have to ask you for clarification."

"Oh? It's very confusing, isn't it?"

Duke Richelieu's eyes almost narrowed to a slit, and he looked at Lawrence with a faint smile. He did not believe that a young man who was born in a minor aristocracy and became the head of a country at the age of twenty would not understand such a thing.

Hint, so he crossed his legs and asked:

"Then what exactly don't you understand?"
To be continued...