When Xia Lu opened her eyes, she immediately saw her little sister Fran hugging her tightly.
At this time, this child with long blond hair was still sleeping happily, seeming to be having a sweet dream. It could be seen that her sister was by her side, giving this timid and introverted child a sufficient sense of security.
I also cherish the time the two sisters spend alone.
So cute...
Seeing her sister sleeping soundly, Xia Lu also showed a maternal smile that was inconsistent with her age.
After all, this is her blood relative and the child she has taken care of since she was a child.
Although my sister usually seems a bit clingy, considering that she is the most clingy at her current age, it will be better when she grows up.
On the other hand, when they grow up, the two sisters are destined to have their own families. Now, the time they can depend on each other is even more worth cherishing.
While Xia Lu was thinking this, she carefully broke away from her sister's arms without waking her up. Then she got out of bed, took off her pajamas, and changed into her daily clothes.
The beautiful day belonging to Miss Charlotte de Treville has begun again.
Xia Lu has always been a person with a strong "subjective initiative". Before going to bed one day, she usually plans in her mind what she should do tomorrow, and if nothing unexpected happens, she will finish it resolutely. It is precisely because of her high altitude.
With her self-discipline and initiative, she was able to give full play to her talents and talents, winning the admiration of everyone, especially His Majesty the Emperor.
If you want to become the darling of the palace, how can you just rely on pure coquettishness and cuteness?
As usual, she put on an expensive but not too decorative woolen skirt and a recently popular lady's hat on her head, then took her private carriage (a gift from her mother not long ago) and left quietly
After leaving the Palace of Fontainebleau, we headed to Paris, dozens of kilometers away.
Originally, there was a specially built small train station close to the palace. There was a special line in the station leading to Paris. However, this was specially used by the royal family when they went to Paris. Xia Lu did not want to cause any trouble when she acted in private.
With all the fanfare, the carriage is just a little slower anyway.
Not long after, she arrived in Paris.
Paris at this time has completely changed compared to when His Majesty just ascended the throne twelve years ago. The streets have been renovated and some well-planned blocks with wide roads have been formed. Most of the streets have also been installed with
Kerosene street lamps, every night, these street lamps will shine brightly, embellishing the city's glitzy night life.
The bigger change is that there are two huge train stations, one in the south and one in the north. Countless people pass through them every day. With the help of several newly opened railway lines, countless people pass through them every day. Their behavior
In a hurry, running for all kinds of ambitions.
Of course, because the time is still short, there are not many railway lines open to traffic now, but as time goes by, the first round, second round and even more construction plans of the imperial government are implemented, and there will be more railway lines based on Paris
The center extends to various cities in the country, just like blood vessels feeding the heart, pumping resources and goods from various places to the capital of the empire. It won't be long before each of the once isolated small economic circles will be broken, changing the country's
The appearance will also be completely changed.
For the needs of railway construction, the ancient city walls and the city-circling fences erected to facilitate the collection of city taxes have been demolished and replaced by some solid bastions surrounding the city, and further away
A number of new factories have been built in suburban towns, and those towering chimneys can be faintly seen even from high places in the city.
Perhaps it was because of these blast furnaces that Xia Lu always felt that there was a smell of coking coal in the air. It couldn't be said to be unpleasant, but it always had a strange feeling.
However, these were not her concerns for the time being. After the carriage stopped, she walked along the familiar path and walked into a high-end apartment building. Then she walked up the stairs to the tallest apartment building.
layer.
She knocked gently on the door, and the resident nurse quickly opened the door. She was not surprised to see the elegant and luxurious blond lady in front of her - obviously she had been here more than once or twice.
Already.
"Good morning, miss." she greeted.
"Good morning, madam." Xia Lu also greeted the other party gently, and then asked, "How is the teacher now?"
"My recent state has been a bit inconsistent, but at least I'm getting along." the nurse replied.
"That's great." Xia Lu nodded and walked directly in.
Although the temperature was a bit low now, all the windows in the living room and balcony were open, and the ventilation was so good that Xia Lu shivered.
Next to a kerosene heater, she saw the familiar figure of her teacher.
The talented musician and performer Chopin was sitting by the stove, looking lazily at his visitors while warming himself.
More than ten years ago, this musician was forced to go into exile due to the turmoil in his motherland, and finally came to France. Because of his talent, he was cordially received by the emperor and his wife, and he became an instant celebrity and became a celebrity in Paris social circles.
Beloved, everyone is proud to listen to his playing.
At that time, he also served as a consultant to the palace at the request of Her Majesty the Queen. When Xia Lu was still young, he would occasionally come to the palace to teach the "second generation of the empire". It was at that time that Xia Lu
He started his own vocal enlightenment, so Xia Lu had no problem calling him "teacher".
However, a few years later, due to the onset of tuberculosis, he voluntarily stayed away from the court. However, even so, his title of consultant was still not revoked, and Xia Lu would visit his apartment from time to time to listen to guidance.
Precisely because of tuberculosis, the once handsome musician now looks emaciated due to being too thin. But even so, the light of genius in his eyes has not disappeared, nor has his surging passion for creation and desire to play.
Even if it fades, he is still the same genius.
Following His Majesty's instructions, a group of medical experts are treating him carefully and trying to use him as a template to formulate an effective tuberculosis drug and treatment process. Judging from the current situation, he seems to be in good condition, although he is said to be in good condition.
Not "cured", but still under control for the time being.
"Good morning, teacher." Xia Lu greeted him immediately as soon as she saw him.
"Good morning, Miss Xia Lu -" Chopin, who was already in his thirties, faced his students and juniors with a generous smile, "I had already guessed that you would come to visit me. Congratulations on your first appearance on the stage.
be successful."
As he spoke, he picked up the newspaper on the table next to him and waved it gently.
Last night's performance was a great success, and coupled with her family's fame and status, she knew that she would definitely become the headline of newspapers and be the envy of her peers as usual.
But most of these compliments were like passing clouds, and Xia Lu didn't care. Only compliments that truly came from "geniuses" would make her feel satisfied.
"Compared to you, this is nothing..." She pretended to be modest, but still showed a proud smile.
"You have this effect on your first stage. You can be proud of it, because you deserve it." Chopin continued to praise her, "From the beginning of teaching you, I knew that you would definitely achieve something. This is not only because
You have talent - there are too many people with talent, but very few people can realize their talent - and it is because you are willing to practice hard and immerse yourself in the craft of music, and those young ladies
You don’t have this perseverance, so you can succeed... Now, you have entered the palace, keep going, I dare say, if you persist for another ten years, you will become a famous person recognized by everyone."
"Thank you for the compliment..." Xia Lu smiled even more cheerfully, "But after all, music is just a means of self-entertainment for me. I never thought about dedicating my whole life to it.
So, I am satisfied enough to be able to reach this point, at least it proves that my efforts so far have not been in vain."
Although he was not surprised by Xia Lu's answer, Chopin still felt a little regretful. "Are you really not going to think about it? Don't you want to be remembered by history?"
"Of course I want to be remembered by history, but there is a better way to achieve this goal..." Xia Lu replied with a smile, "I am still young and can still be distracted, but when I grow up a little bit
, I can embark on the path of my true dream, and I won’t be allowed to be distracted in other places at that time..."
Chopin was immediately speechless.
His student was young, pretty and cute, but he seemed to have a scheming mind that was unmatched by his peers, and he was also very keen on power and politics. Although he knew that this was the norm among court people, he still couldn't help but feel a little regretful.
However, everyone has their own ambitions, and there is nothing we can do about it.
Thinking of this, Chopin reluctantly cheered up, and then asked Xia Lu to review last night's performance, such as which passages of the concerto he felt unfamiliar with, and gave her suggestions for improvement.
The patient guidance consumed his insufficient energy. At the end of the conversation, he suddenly felt a pain in his throat. He quickly covered his mouth with a handkerchief, then coughed violently, and the white handkerchief quickly appeared.
Some bright red blood foam.
After hearing the noise, the nurse wearing a cotton gauze mask hurriedly came over to take care of the patient, but Xia Lu could only say goodbye to her teacher with regret.
"Thank you for your guidance today, teacher, please take care of yourself." As she said this, she saluted the musician and said goodbye.
"I'm fine, Xia Lu, goodbye." Chopin, who barely stopped coughing, raised his head and said goodbye to Xia Lu with a pale and weak smile, "I really envy you for being so young and so energetic... don't waste your talents.
Come on, kid."
"You are still very young. Compared with my insignificant talent, you are a dazzling star. So, please live well and give us a more brilliant light, teacher." Xia Lu said before leaving.
blessing, and then turned to say goodbye.
After leaving Chopin's apartment, Xia Lu simply decided to go shopping in Paris because she still had some time. However, before she could go far, she was stopped by the noisy and chaotic sounds on the streets.
She looked up and saw a group of people holding slogans marching in neat lines, blocking the way for pedestrians.
These people were all wearing simple and worn-out coats and crooked hats on their heads. They were marching in line in the cold winter wind, shouting various slogans.
Through the slogans they shouted, Xia Lu roughly understood their origins and demands - it turned out that they were workers in a nearby factory. Because the boss had recently lowered wages and arbitrarily fired several employees who had joined the union, so under the leadership of the union
Organize a strike and then march in the streets in protest.
As they shouted, workers or unemployed people dressed similarly would gather in the team from time to time.
The crowd became larger and larger, and the slogans naturally became more vibrating. Driven by the winter wind, they were forced into her ears, causing her ears to sting.
As the crowd gathered, the police who heard the sound quickly gathered over.
Uniformed police first pulled up a cordon to prevent others from joining the march, and then confronted the group of demonstrators.
Amidst several angry curses, a few stones floated out from the crowd of demonstrators and hit the police. Like a starting gun, the police quickly picked up their batons and rushed towards the demonstrators.
After a brief confrontation, this group of demonstrators was eventually dispersed in the face of organized violence. The crowd fled in all directions, and then disappeared into the crowd of people on the streets of Paris like water droplets merging into a stream.
In the blink of an eye, the short demonstration and fierce "battle" just disappeared invisible, as if it had never happened. Everything returned to calm, and the people around them seemed not to be surprised, and started to watch again without blinking an eye.
Do your own thing.
But Xia Lu knew that she had witnessed a strike and demonstration that had just been suppressed.
According to the previously passed Imperial Constitution Act, workers have the freedom to organize trade unions and the right to march, so the police cannot directly suppress them.
However, at the same time, the law imposes many restrictions on strikes, which must be reported, and disorderly strikes that disrupt production are not allowed, and machines are not allowed to be destroyed or private property destroyed.
Every time there is a strike demonstration, the police will use various means to deliberately intensify conflicts with the demonstrators, and then get a "legal" excuse to use force to disperse the crowd and control order.
In this era, Paris is not only a beautiful cultural heritage, a city for tourists to appreciate, it is also a huge industrial city, the industrial heart of France, with hundreds of thousands or even thousands of workers in its small city.
Millions of workers.
Naturally, labor conflicts occur from time to time and turn violent.
This is by no means the first violent clash between police and strikers on the streets of Paris, and it certainly won't be the last.
Xia Lian watched all this expressionlessly, then quietly took a carriage and returned to the Palace of Fontainebleau.
And not long after she returned home, her good friend Princess Crystal came to see her again.
"Xia Lu...where did you go today? I haven't seen you all this time." After seeing her, the princess asked with joy on her face.
The silver-haired princess has an exquisite face, wears a luxurious palace dress, and is surrounded by a magnificent palace; compare it to the busy and noisy city a few hours ago, the loud slogans, the short but fierce conflict...it seems like two people
The world is the same.
But after all, this is a world.
If the world over there collapses, then the paradise-like world on your side will also collapse...and this will be a disaster for you and your friends.
So, no matter what, we can't let this happen...
"I just went to Paris, Kelly." Xia Lu answered her friend briefly.
Seeing Xia Lu's dignified and thoughtful look, Princess Kelistel, who had been a friend for many years, was keenly aware of what was on her mind. "Did something bad happen to you? You don't seem to be well.
So happy."
"Yes, I encountered something unhappy." Xia Lu nodded, and then briefly told Keli what she had just seen.
Keli listened quietly, her eyes gradually showed sympathy, but there was also a complete sense of alienation. After all, this was something from another world to her.
She was hidden in the deep woods before, and then came to France to become a princess. How could she have a practical concept of "unemployment", "demonstrations" and "violent conflicts"?
"These people are really pitiful... How about we raise some donations for them? This will make them feel better," she suggested in a low voice.
"Keli, you are already very good at realizing that you should help others. You are better than many people. However, there are so many people in the world who are not living well, and we can't help them." Xia Lu told her friend
Explain, "I'm not pitying them, I'm thinking about something else."
"What's up?"
"As far as I can see, strikes in Paris are now more frequent than a year or two ago, which shows that the current economic environment is not very prosperous...Perhaps, the industrial expansion and excess caused by the previous round of great development, although the government strives to use various
We have all the means to digest it, but now it’s probably unsustainable.”
Although the empire is indeed trying to maintain economic prosperity, objective laws are objective laws after all. No matter how successful it is, the depression cycle will inevitably come. In the depression cycle, the unemployment rate will increase, financial instability will occur, and things will happen.
More violence and even scarier things will happen until everything gets over and the next boom cycle begins.
But it was precisely because she was afraid that "something more terrible" would happen that Xia Lu was worried about it.
Facing her friend's explanation, Crystal was confused and could not understand it.
"So, so what?" she asked quietly.
"I'm afraid that someone will take advantage of the current situation to cause trouble, intensify conflicts, or even... incite riots," Xia Lu said in a low voice.
Kristel blinked her eyes, and then continued to look at Xia Lu, without much worry on her face.
"This is your family's empire, don't you even care?" Xia Lu asked in a joking tone.
"Anyway, this is something adults have to take care of... We can't take care of that much." Keli replied in a soft voice, "Besides, for me, it doesn't matter anywhere, as long as we can continue
Just be together."
Xia Lu understood now that she really didn't care.
Hey, although you are indeed just a wild princess who has become a monk on the way, can you at least show some self-consciousness of a royal member? If you are not afraid of me, you are still afraid of me! She complained in her heart.
Of course Xia Lu didn't want this to happen.
On the one hand, as one of the most trusted noble families of the royal family, the Treville family is now very popular. From the perspective of family interests, the rule of the empire must not be allowed to waver in the slightest.
Of course, she is not particularly worried about this aspect. After all, the empire has indeed achieved "remarkable political achievements" in the past ten years, and the results of economic development can be seen by almost everyone. Even if it is temporarily depressed, most citizens will still maintain their trust in His Majesty.
With a supportive attitude.
Especially in the vast rural areas, the Bonaparte family is regarded as the patron saint of the land. This spiritual worship makes the villagers support the candidates of the imperial government in almost every parliamentary election. This also makes the imperial supporters
Maintain a majority in parliament for a long time.
To put it bluntly, even if there was any unrest in Paris, the empire would be able to suppress it.
On the other hand, Charlotte's performance last night gave Xia Lu an extremely bad premonition.
Charlotte, are you really going to play with fire?
Don't let yourself get involved!
The cousin she had grown up with was like a real sister to her, and she was unwilling to see Charlotte go to the gallows under any circumstances.
Therefore, she is destined not to be a bystander like the princess.