On another bright spring morning, Baron de Beauvain, a banker who had recently become a nobleman, walked out of His Majesty the Emperor's study with his head held high.
At the moment, he can be said to be very proud of himself.
Because he was deeply involved in His Majesty's new construction plan and played an important role in it, as a newly promoted nobleman, he was given the opportunity to meet the Holy Spirit from time to time. This "honor" also made those colleagues secretly admire him.
Because of jealousy, he himself was secretly pleased with himself.
However, even so, the caution in his character has not dissipated. In front of His Majesty, he adheres to understanding and never assumes the posture of an expert who teaches tirelessly. Most of the time, he only says what is right; he does not look sideways when entering and leaving the palace.
I'm afraid I've offended someone.
Today, after bidding farewell to His Majesty, he walked through the square and corridors as before, preparing to walk to the palace stables and then leave in a carriage.
But when he came to a corner, a small accident happened.
"Monsieur Baron de Beauvin, could you please speak to me?"
This sudden voice startled Bowang, and then he subconsciously realized that the person calling him was a woman, and the voice was soft and arrogant, which made him sound like a noble lady.
What made him even more confused was that the voice seemed a bit familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere.
What's going on?
So, he stopped with full of doubts, and then slowly looked in the direction where the sound came from.
Then, behind the sculpture, a woman wearing a skirt gradually appeared.
Bowang was stunned for a moment.
Because he recognized the other person.
"Maria...Her Royal Highness Princess Maria?"
Yes, the person who stopped him was Her Royal Highness Princess Maria of Bavaria who "just" visited France.
When the palace held a grand welcome ceremony for Princess Theodelande and her entourage that day, Bovan was also among the guests. Then he was shocked to discover during the ceremony that Princess Maria, the aunt who accompanied Princess Theodelande, was actually
The mysterious lady who had previously come to her office anonymously with a note from His Majesty and demanded a large amount of money.
At that time, the "mysterious lady" left the sentence "We will meet again soon" when she left. He did not expect that this sentence would come true so quickly, and also on this occasion.
Bowang was shocked that the other party was actually a foreign princess, but what shocked him even more was another doubt that came from it:
According to the official announcement, Princess Maria came to France with her niece to serve as a guardian, but why, before they arrived at Fontainebleau, she had quietly appeared in front of him, and she was still able to hold the
A note from His Majesty the Emperor asking for a large sum of money from himself?
Is this some great diplomatic conspiracy, or is there another more shocking secret?
He no longer dared to think about it, because he knew that the less he knew about such things, the better.
So, after recognizing Maria, although he was shocked in his heart, he pretended to be completely innocent on the surface, and did not tell anyone that they had met before.
He never expected that at this inadvertent moment, Princess Maria would actually come to him again.
What does this mean? Is it a new opportunity? Or a new danger? He asked himself, but he couldn't find the answer.
However, since Her Royal Highness the Princess had already sent out the invitation, he naturally had to accept it due to circumstances, so he bowed and saluted Maria, and then walked in front of Her Royal Highness the Princess.
"Your Highness, what do you want me to do?" Bowang asked in a low voice.
"I don't dare to order a big shot like you." Maria replied with a smile, "I just saw a familiar friend here, so I just wanted to say hello."
While laughing, she unfolded the folding fan in her hand, shook it gently and covered half of her face.
Although this elegant style makes most people's hearts flutter, in the eyes of Bowang, who puts all his life in the ledger, it is just a breeze blowing in his face, and he is not moved at all.
Familiar friends? We have only met once, how can we be considered familiar friends? He sneered in his heart.
However, being able to gain such a friend would naturally be of great benefit to him, so he did not refute.
So, the two people moved together and came to a corner of the garden. After making sure that the people around them could not hear the content of their conversation, Bowang spoke first.
"Indeed... you gave me a huge surprise, Your Highness." Bowang replied with a wry smile, "If you had revealed your identity as soon as you saw me, I wouldn't have neglected you."
"But if I reveal my identity as soon as we meet, what's the point?" Maria asked with a smile, "surprises are the fun, aren't they?"
I want to make money, who wants to have fun... Bo Wang couldn't help but sigh in his heart.
After these two meetings, he had already felt that Maria was a clever and cunning person, and she was definitely a difficult person to deal with.
However, he has dealt with this kind of people a lot, so it doesn't give him too much of a headache.
"Your Highness, I am honored to be able to greet you. So besides saying hello, do you have any other instructions for me?" Bowang asked again.
Although he was facing a princess, he also had his confidence. It was appropriate to be polite on the surface, but there was no reason to be groveling, so he didn't want to let the other party lead him away.
Seeing Bowang becoming serious, Maria gradually stopped smiling and became serious as well, "You are right, this is indeed not a good occasion to reminisce about the past - so, I ask you to recall, when we were last
What I said when we first met."
"Are you talking about cooperation?" Bowang's eyes lit up.
"That's right, I'm talking about cooperation -" Maria replied without hesitation, "Now you won't doubt the information I revealed to you, right?"
"I have no doubt at all, Your Highness." Bowang nodded immediately.
The last time they met, Maria first asked for one million francs from him, and then revealed to him a very important piece of information - His Majesty's amusement park plan, and this information, in Beauvain's view, was of extraordinary value and far away.
Far more than what I paid for.
"So, do you hope that I will continue to give you similar business opportunities or gossip in the future?" Maria no longer concealed it, but asked straight to the point.
This question suddenly made Bo Wang's heart move again.
How could he not hope?
After so many years of ups and downs, he has long understood the truth: to engage in finance to the extreme is to engage in politics, and only the ups and downs of politics can maximize the interests of financial capital, so when he encountered the opportunity
At that time, he did not hesitate to take a gamble and sided with the Bonaparte family, and now he has received unimaginable rich rewards.
And now, another opportunity was placed in front of him.
As long as he nods, he seems to have a chance to get close to the Princess, who is close to His Majesty the Emperor (perhaps at a negative distance), and then get a stable political information channel, or a backer.
Wouldn't that be great?
When he thought of this, Bowang's heart suddenly skipped a beat.
However, the banker's instinct told him that no matter what transaction he wanted to make, he should not rush to show that he was tempted, so he remained calm on the surface.
"This looks really good, but Your Highness, what do you need me to do?" He asked calmly, "If you want me to underwrite bonds for your motherland, of course I can, and I will be happy to give you the best deal.
discount; but if you ask me to sell out my national interests to Bavaria, then I can’t obey, it’s really not worth it.”
"Hahahaha... I have to say, your imagination is really rich." Maria couldn't help covering her mouth with a fan and snickering, "But please don't worry, I don't mean to make you a traitor, I just want to
I just want to do this for my own personal benefit, so just make it clear, do you want my friendship? Mr. Baron?"
Before Bowang could answer, she further explained her thoughts. "You know, in my position, and because of my friendship with His Majesty, I think I should be able to get a lot of information... What I lack
It's just a channel to monetize this kind of information, and you, in my opinion, are a very suitable channel. You have a tight tongue and are rich, so you can satisfy my appetite."
Such straightforward words not only did not make Bowang uncomfortable, but actually made him energetic. He likes to bargain straightforwardly.
In his opinion, if he can get insider information from Maria stably in the long term and get Maria's help, it will definitely be a worthwhile "investment".
He is not afraid of giving money. After all, he has spent a lot of money on Miss Agnes and her family before. However, Miss Agnes has no "appetite" and insists on refusing to ask for other people's gifts. She has never asked for gifts from others.
He did not comment on national affairs, so this investment did not bring him any return.
Since Agnes's connections didn't play a big role, changing the connections seems to be a good choice.
Princess Maria, after all, is of a higher level than Miss Agnes, and her status is more solid... If you maintain this network of relationships in the palace, your status will definitely become more stable.
When he thought of this, Baron Bowen, who was good at weighing things up, gradually made a decision.
And the change in his expression also fell into Maria's eyes.
This is exactly what Maria wanted.
Although she had agreed to Aigron's plan of "Li Dai Tao Zhan", she had never planned to simply be an obedient tool. She also had her own plans.
In her heart, she has never thought about being a shady underground lover, or living a low-key life all her life. She wants to get a "territory under the sun" in this empire. Even if she cannot compete with the Queen, at least she has the confidence to be with Teresa.
Fight in separate courts.
If it were Sophie who came here, she would definitely not be willing to do it.
To achieve this goal, it is impossible to rely on the two sisters Sophie and herself. They are "outsiders" after all, so they must rely on the help of others - that is to say, she must be in the politics and economy of the empire.
Occupy a place in the system and build your own network and power.
To put it harshly, this means "forming parties for personal gain."
After having her own power, she could just sit back and watch. It would be best if Teresa was "fucked to death" and took over directly. Even if she couldn't realize this wish, at least she could enjoy her own life in this prosperous and beautiful country.
A life of wealth and luxury, wouldn't that kind of life be ten times more glorious than being an idle princess with no one in Bavaria?
Because of this, once she made up her mind to participate in the plan, she immediately began to observe in secret and look for opportunities.
The great banker Baron Beauvain was her carefully chosen target.
She had already heard about this banker's shrewd skills and rich financial background. She also knew that such a person was ambitious and only interested in profit, and would do anything to make a lot of money.
And if such a person can form a solid interest alliance with himself, then he will be of endless benefit.
Therefore, after getting Aiglon's note, she immediately went to find Bowang. "Asking for money" was only the second priority. The most important thing was to impress the other party and leave room for further development of the relationship.
And now, it's time to go a step further.
All she had to pay was the casual information she got from Aigron, but what she got in exchange was countless money and a solid alliance. Why not?
In this way, in the hidden corner of the palace, two people with different agendas hit it off, quietly reached a deal, and became a tacit alliance.
"Your Highness, I am very lucky to be favored by you. Please rest assured that I will set up a secret anonymous account for you. If you want to spend money, you can use it at any time." After the negotiation was completed,
, Bowang smiled and flattered Maria, "You just need to tell me secretly in advance when you have any good news——"
"Well, then I wish us happy cooperation in the future, Mr. Baron." Maria put away the fan, then raised her skirt and bowed slightly to bow to Bowang. "Don't worry, as long as I am here, your majesty's holy family will be absolute."
It can’t be poured down, right…”
As if she thought of something, Maria's eyes lit up again, "You just said that you can underwrite bonds for my motherland, Bavaria, at a preferential price? Very good, well, if you can make some contribution to my motherland, then why wouldn't I do it?
I will discuss this matter with our embassy, but... the commission should not be less, I will not work for free."
Tsk tsk, you really didn’t miss any opportunity to pluck your hair! Bowang marveled at the princess’ skill in his heart. It was obviously a last-minute idea, but she immediately came up with the idea of becoming a broker.
However, he likes this kind of person.
Since there is mutual benefit, why not do it?
"Don't worry, Your Highness, I have been in this business for decades and have a good reputation. As long as you bring me orders, I will never be without your share..."
"Then, I wish you all the best, I will come to you later -" Maria said with a smile.
Then she waved her fan slightly again, turned around gracefully, and walked away from Bowang.