Jérôme Bonaparte had already anticipated Countess Lacroix's hesitation.
Today's Paris is different from the Paris that was developing rapidly a few years ago. The contradictions hidden under the wave of rapid development have gradually surfaced, and various demonstrations have also appeared one after another.
Against this background, anyone with a little political insight knows that the Guards stationed near Paris bear the heavy responsibility of suppressing the entire Paris.
The generals responsible for commanding the entire Guard system must bear the main responsibility of assisting the emperor in suppressing Paris.
Once the suppression of Paris failed, the generals responsible for the suppression would inevitably be severely criticized.
Considering this, Countess Lacroix did not choose to respond to Jerome Bonaparte immediately.
Of course, another point is that before the establishment of the Second Empire, McMahon's allegiance was to Prince Joinville of the Orleans Dynasty, which meant that he was imprinted with the Orleans faction from the beginning.
Although McMahon has now washed away the mark of the Bourbon faction and become a member of the Imperial faction, no one can guarantee that no general will attack McMahon based on McMahon's past history.
The Countess Lacroix was also afraid that her husband would be attacked by some generals in the army after serving as commander of the Guards.
After all, serving as commander of the Guards is equivalent to standing at the highest level in Paris.
Even Niel, as the Chief of General Staff, had to pay attention to the advice of the Guards command.
"Madam, you don't have to respond to me right away!" Jérôme Bonaparte responded to Countess Lacroix pleasantly, "The reason why I want to use you to let General MacMahon take over this task is
Your position is exactly the respect I have for you!
You are my wife’s most trusted female official, and you are also McMahon’s most trusted wife!
Therefore, I am willing to respect your wishes!"
Although Jérôme Bonaparte's words were full of respect, if you think about it carefully, you can understand that the emperor did not give Countess Lacroix a chance to choose.
Countess Lacroix also understood that the reason why she became Queen Augusta's most trusted female officer was not only due to her own hard work and loyalty, but also because of her inseparable relationship with her husband.
After all, there are so many people in this world who are both hardworking and loyal, so why must it be her.
This does not rely on McMahon being trusted in front of the emperor, so that the queen will be willing to accept her.
If she (Countess Lacroix) rejects the emperor's request, the emperor may say something, but in his heart he will definitely compromise the trust between her and McMahon.
By then, it will become unknown whether she can retain her position as a female official.
Without the position of the Queen's personal maid, it would be difficult for her and McMahon's son to continue to stay in the palace, and the McMahon family's career in the empire would most likely come to an abrupt end.
Thinking of this, Countess Lacroix hurriedly saluted Jérôme Bonaparte and said, "Your Majesty, on behalf of my husband, I would like to promise you to take over the position of Marshal Canrobert!"
"Don't you need to discuss it with General MacMahon?" Jérôme Bonaparte continued to ask Countess Lacroix in a kind tone, as if he was thinking about the MacMahons.
"I think my husband will be happy to agree after knowing this!" Countess Lacroix immediately replied to Jerome Bonaparte.
"That's right!" Jerome Bonaparte showed a look of understanding, and then praised, "I can see the loyalty of you and General McMahon to the empire!"
Later, Countess Lacroix left the military camp, took the carriage parked at the gate of the military camp, and returned to the Palace of Fontainebleau.
After Countess Lacroix met with Queen Augusta, Queen Augusta immediately asked the emperor for his response.
The Countess Lacroix conveyed to Queen Augusta exactly what Jérôme Bonaparte had said in the villa.
"I know! Thank you for your hard work!" Queen Augusta said to Countess Lacroix with a smile.
Looking at the virtuous queen in front of her, Countess Lacroix was determined to convince her husband to take over the task of defending the empire.
"By the way, Lacroix, can you please convey the emperor's words to Mr. Ismael!" Augusta once again opened his mouth and gave an order to Countess Lacroix.
"As you command, Your Majesty!" Countess Lacroix bowed to Queen Augusta and left.
Under the guidance of the attendant at Fontainebleau Palace, Countess Lacroix quickly arrived at a gate.
After Countess Lacroix opened the door, a young man wearing a black suit, with a thick black beard surrounding his chin, and a mixture of Araba and Turkic characteristics appeared in front of Countess Lacroix.
He was Ismail, the nephew of Said Pasha, the governor of Egypt.
At this moment, after Ismail saw Countess Lacroix, he thought it was the emperor who wanted to meet him, and a bright smile immediately appeared on his face.
So, Ismail quickly arrived in front of Countess Lacroix, learned the traditional European etiquette, bowed respectfully to Countess Lacroix, and then asked.
"Dear Madam, is Your Majesty the Emperor willing to meet with me?"
Countess Lacroix responded to Ismael with a serious face and a solemn tone, "Mr. Ismael, His Majesty the Emperor is currently sharing the glory with French soldiers in the military camp, so he cannot spare time to meet with you!
If you don’t have enough time, you can leave first!”
Faced with Countess Lacroix's disguised expulsion order, Ismail felt a sense of humiliation in his heart. No one in Egypt had dared to refuse to meet him so nakedly.
However, this feeling of humiliation only lasted for a few seconds before Ismail was driven out of his mind.
Because Ismail knew that the emperor of the French Empire had this right. His army was the undisputed overlord of the entire Europe, and his navy was also second only to the Kingdom of Britain.
Not to mention him, even his uncle Said had to look at the face of the French Emperor to act.
Even in Egypt, his uncle would not dare to offend any guest with a French official background.
Thinking of this, Ismail felt a twisted sense of excitement in his heart.
At any rate, he was rejected by the emperor himself, but his uncle didn't even have a chance to meet with the emperor, and was already frightened by French officials.
Just as Ismail was thinking, Countess Lacroix's voice reached Ismail's ears, "Mr. Ismail, would you like to stay here and wait for His Majesty to return to the palace, or leave directly?"
!”
After coming back to his senses, Ismael hurriedly responded to Countess Lacroix, "Dear Madam, can you please tell your Majesty!
I am willing to wait here for His Majesty’s return!”
"I understand!" Count Lacroix responded lightly, then turned and returned to the Queen's palace.
"What did Ismail say?" Queen Augusta asked Countess Lacroix.
"Your Majesty, Ismael is so ignorant!" Countess Lacroix accused Ismael to Queen Augusta, "His Majesty has obviously issued an order to expel him, but he said shamelessly that he was willing to wait for Your Majesty.
return!"
Hearing Countess Lacroix's response, Augusta also frowned. She had also never met a guest like Ismael.
Generally speaking, after the emperor said these words, it was equivalent to issuing an order to expel guests, and guests with a little more sense would choose to leave.
Ismael had no intention of doing so and wanted to wait for Jerome Bonaparte's return.
"Alas! They are barbaric Arabs after all. Even if they learn our culture, they still can't change the barbarism in their hearts!" Augusta said in a disgusted tone.
Europe in the 19th century was proud of its advanced culture and industry, which inevitably made them treat people in non-European areas with a condescending attitude.
Especially when the other party does something that is not in line with their wishes, this kind of blatant racial discrimination is even more obvious.
Even someone like Queen Augusta is no exception.
"Your Majesty, the Arabs are indeed a group of barbarians!" Countess Lacroix also responded to Queen Augusta in a low voice, "Just now when I was close to Ismael, I could smell something from his body.
There was a strong smell of mutton. God knows, he hadn't taken a shower in how many days!
These Arabs have only learned our superficial ways, but deep down they still cannot change their tribal habits!"
Queen Augusta nodded subconsciously, and then warned Countess Lacroix,
These emotions must not be shown in front of Ismail. They represent civilized Europeans and cannot act disrespectfully like the barbaric Arabs.
"Yes! Your Majesty!" Countess Lacroix replied respectfully to Queen Augusta.
Immediately afterwards, Queen Augusta chatted with Countess Lacroix about some parenting experiences.
After hearing that Countess Lacroix's four-year-old son mastered English and French proficiently, Queen Augusta couldn't help but praise, "Your son still loves to study, unlike the eldest son in our family who is five years old."
He had not yet put all his attention into studying. (Empress Augusta was already convinced that it was not that Frederick was not good at studying, but that he simply did not like studying.
In non-study areas, Friedrich showed superb talents.)"
"Your Majesty, just wait until your Highness grows up a little!" Countess Lacroix hurriedly comforted Queen Augusta.
"Oh! He is already 5 years old, why doesn't he know how to study?"
Augusta, like all mothers in the world, sighed for Friedrich's studies.
