Because of her many worries, Xia Lu seemed a little listless, and this was keenly noticed by Princess Crystal. However, she could only try her best to comfort Xia Lu and said that everything was still on track.
In the evening, the two friends said goodbye to each other according to the usual rhythm, and Xia Lu returned to her residence.
After dinner, as usual, she practiced the violin for a while, but when her mother returned, she put down the instrument and came to the present place.
"Mom!" As soon as she saw her mother Alice, she greeted her warmly.
And Alice immediately hugged her daughter into her arms, "Xia Lu, congratulations on your success, I'm really proud of you."
In the past ten years since His Majesty and His Majesty returned to France, Lady Alice has been following their Majesties, and because of her diligence and ability, she has become an indispensable presence in the court.
She not only assists in handling various affairs of the palace, but is also able to keep abreast of secrets and organize and convey various internal and external information for His Majesty. She is highly honored.
Now, Alice, who is already in her thirties, although there are some signs of exhaustion in the corners of her eyes due to hard work, her skin is still fair and translucent because she lives in seclusion and does not hesitate to take care of herself. Coupled with her elegant words and deeds, she is still
It's that dazzling lady.
After seeing her daughter, a heartfelt smile appeared on her face. It was obvious that she felt deeply honored by her daughter's successful performance in the concert.
So, taking advantage of the fact that her mother was not too busy today, Xia Lu leaned close to her mother and told her about her performance experience with great interest. Alice also listened with great interest and did not feel bothered at all.
As Xia Lu spoke, she mentally observed her surroundings and calculated the timing. When she was sure that no one could hear her, she deliberately lowered her voice and her expression became serious. "Mom, I have something important to do.
I want to tell you."
"What's the matter? You look so nervous." Alice asked with a smile.
"I...I met Charlotte last night."
"What?" Alice's smile disappeared immediately, "How did you touch her?"
As Xia Lu's playmate since childhood, Alice has naturally watched Charlotte grow up. The disappearance of Charlotte some time ago also made Alice quite shocked and concerned. Now that she heard about her, she naturally also
Care very much.
So, under her mother's gaze, Xia Lu recounted Charlotte's performance to her mother.
As she spoke, the expression on Alice's face no longer relaxed, but became serious and sharp.
"So, she joined the royal party and is planning to carry out any subversive actions? Are you sure?"
"Although it is possible that Charlotte is hysterical and acting with me, but the high probability is that it is like this -" Xia Lu nodded with regret, "Mom, we have to prepare for this."
"If she insists on being stupid, what can we do -" Alice sighed, "Now we can only be careful not to get her involved."
"I think we can still do something for her... we can't just abandon her now." Xia Lu answered cautiously.
"If she just made a common mistake, then we would have something to do, but now that she is being stupid and wants to be rebellious, what else can we do? If we don't take the initiative to report her, we are already being merciful..." Alice disagreed.
Xia Lu was silent for a while.
After a while, she suddenly changed the topic.
I told my mother about the demonstrations and riots I encountered in Paris today, and also expressed my concerns.
"This is indeed worth worrying about. The economy is indeed not doing well right now, and there are similar commotions everywhere, so the government is also trying its best to alleviate the problem." Alice sighed again, frowning and obviously feeling troubled by this, "
His Majesty is very concerned about this now, and I believe he will solve the problem soon."
"Then, I would like to ask, what would happen if there was any turmoil in Paris during this period?" Xia Lu asked again.
Seeing her daughter's serious expression, Alice's frown deepened.
However, she did not scold her daughter not to ask so many things that children should not ask. Instead, after pondering for a moment, she answered her daughter. "The government has also made corresponding preparations for this question, which can be roughly divided into three stages.
In the first stage, the police are responsible for controlling the situation; if the police cannot handle it, the second stage will be initiated and the National Guard composed of retired soldiers, businessmen, and property owners in the city will suppress it..."
"Then what is the third stage?" Xia Lu asked directly.
This question seemed to press some switch. The air in the room suddenly solidified, and an ominous aura seemed to flash across Alice's smooth and white face.
"If all the previous steps fail and Paris loses control, or the connection between Paris and Fontainebleau is cut off, then the last and most severe measure will be taken. His Majesty's Guards will be mobilized urgently and attack Paris within a few hours.
Departure and carry out suppression." Although Alice's voice was still as calm and gentle as before, these words were inevitably laced with a chilling air, "Let me tell you, this plan has been secretly drawn up since His Majesty first took office.
It has been continuously improved over the years. Now the marching routes of all organized units and supplies along the way have been prepared. The main streets in the city have also planned marching routes and clearing sequences. Even the main artillery emplacements have been planned.
The positions have been marked on the map in advance. As long as the Guards enter the city, they can control the entire city in a short time."
"Your Majesty... you have actually been planning such a thing for a long time..." Xia Lu was stunned secretly after hearing this.
She suddenly had mixed feelings and didn't know how to evaluate this kind of thing. "This is really a precautionary measure..."
"Your Majesty told me privately that a king who dares not fire on his own capital is not a good king. After all, the late emperor also started his career in this way." Alice's eyes were a little dodgeful, and she obviously felt that these words were a bit too cynical.
"Although this is a bit excessive, but... sometimes, in the face of a crisis, we can only take resolute and ruthless measures, which is also something we can't do. After all, if we hesitate for a moment and then lose the capital,
The other provinces will wait and see, and then people's hearts will be shaken. If you delay for a few more days, there is a risk of the country overturning. Therefore, you must take action resolutely from the beginning, the sooner the better. The more ruthless you are to save the country, the more sacrifices you make.
The less, right?”
In 1830, the Bourbon dynasty was at a loss when faced with the sudden riots in Paris, and within a few days they lost the power of the dynasty that they had finally regained.
It was through that crisis that His Majesty the Emperor "picked up the slack" and returned to the country to successfully restore the empire.
Although he was the biggest beneficiary of this riot, the fate of the Bourbon family also taught him a profound lesson.
Afterwards, he secretly reviewed the situation and concluded two lessons. First, the royal family lived in the Tuileries Palace in the center of the city. Once a riot broke out, the palace was immediately surrounded from all sides, and the communication between the royal family and the outside world was cut off.
Loss of control over events;
Second, Paris quickly fell into the hands of the rioters, but the army was slow to move. The senior generals had ulterior motives and were unwilling to take risks for the royal family when the royal family was in danger. As a result, as soon as the other provinces saw that the dynasty had lost control of Paris, they immediately
They fell into chaos and finally resigned themselves to the new regime born in Paris.
In the final analysis, Paris, as the political, economic, commercial, cultural and industrial center of France, is too important. All provinces are just servants of Paris, following suit. No matter what kind of government is born in the capital, it is a monarchy.
It is still a republican government. In the end, they can only follow it and at most make a few reluctant complaints.
After learning these two lessons, His Majesty naturally responded accordingly.
First of all, he and the royal family usually live in Fontainebleau, dozens of kilometers away from Paris. This distance can not only control the government agencies in the city, but also avoid being hit by the riots immediately, and have the ability to mobilize various resources for resistance.
"Buffer time".
Secondly, he vigorously supported the Guards around him, recruited elites from the army, and used his most trusted relatives or children of meritorious officials as officers to command the Guards, and he received very generous treatment to ensure their loyalty.
According to His Majesty's plan, as long as an out-of-control riot breaks out in Paris, the Guards will be dispatched immediately to suppress it without saying anything. As for the ordinary regular troops stationed around, they will stay in place to guard against possible riots in other places - suppression
The capital does not need a lot of manpower, it just needs loyalty and reliability. Too many regular troops may block the roads due to chaotic command, and even the army may be shaken and join the side of the rioters, so we might as well just let the Guards take action.
His Majesty has been on the throne for twelve years, and the entire plan has been continuously revised and perfected for twelve years. Now all the details are extremely complete, like a blueprint for a machine, ready to be officially put into production at any time - of course, it is best to
It is better not to have this opportunity to verify.
After hearing her mother's explanation, Xia Lu couldn't help but feel a little more admiration and fear for His Majesty.
Ever since she could remember, she and her mother had been following His Majesty. She had seen His Majesty's talents and foresight one by one. However, even though they spent time together day and night, she still felt that His Majesty was still a bit elusive.
A king who is diligent and loves his people is always planning to bombard his own capital. How double-dealing is this? What kind of sense of crisis is this?
Perhaps it is true that he is diligent and caring for the people, and it is also true that he is cold-blooded and ruthless. They are all aspects of him.
"By the way, this plan is codenamed 'Bastille' plan." Alice seemed to have thought of something and added to her daughter.
At this point, she specifically warned her daughter, "You must not reveal these words tonight to anyone, otherwise it will be a disaster for us, do you understand?"
Bastille!
Upon hearing this name, Xia Lu suddenly trembled.
She is serious and studious, and of course she knows what this name means - even if she is just a naughty child, she will definitely remember this name, because on July 14, 1789, the Paris crowd launched a riot and besieged the Bastille Fortress and prison.
From this moment on, the bloody revolution of the Great Revolution officially began.
The decline and restoration of a dynasty, the rise and fall of an empire, how many cheers and how many heads fell to the ground...it all starts from here.
After the outbreak of the Great Revolution, the revolutionary masses took control of Paris, and then in order to eliminate what they regarded as the "symbol of tyranny", the revolutionary government demolished the Bastille, and now only a square remains there.
Xia Lu guessed immediately that naming the suppression plan after this name must have been His Majesty's own idea, because others would not dare to violate the "taboo" and use such an ominous name.
What a bad taste, Your Majesty... She couldn't help but complain in her heart.
"Then who is the executor of the plan?" she asked again.
"Who else could it be? Of course it would be the Count of Monte Cristo." Alice replied matter-of-factly.
"Indeed, there is no one more suitable than him." Xia Lu also nodded.
Everyone knows that the Count of Monte Cristo is His Majesty’s most trusted confidant and has outstanding abilities. After being promoted many times over the past decade, he is now the Minister of Police of the Empire. According to rumors, he will even become the cabinet minister in the short term.
The most important minister of foreign affairs or finance in the country, and then wait a few years to officially sit on the throne of prime minister, a very popular minister; moreover, he has been diligent in his work over the years, neither greedy for money nor power, and has a good reputation in the political circles and among the people.
All very good.
When it comes to suppressing the capital, military quality is not that important. The most important thing is to have someone who is absolutely loyal, resolute and decisive and has enough prestige to carry out the task and strive for a quick solution, so the Count of Monte Cristo is indeed very suitable.
"I understand." Xia Lu nodded slightly, and then thought of something, "Then Mom, why do you know so much about it? This should be top secret, right?"
Alice's face showed a trace of embarrassment, "One day when I was having a heart-to-heart talk with His Majesty, Your Majesty... His Majesty told me smoothly."
I understand, it was probably what His Majesty told my mother "afterwards" when the two of us were "alone" one day.
Of course, Xia Lu knew everything about His Majesty and her mother. In order to avoid embarrassing her mother, she stopped asking further questions.
The mother and daughter suddenly fell into silence, each thinking deeply.
"Mom, thank you for giving me some advice." After a while, Xia Lu stopped thinking, and then asked her mother carefully, "Then, can you continue to be honest with me so that I can have enough understanding of the whole situation?
What about clear judgment?”
"Why are you so polite with your mother?" Alice smiled and patted her daughter's little head, "Just ask, I will tell you everything I can tell you."
"If... if your Majesty really encounters an unbearable disaster and the empire collapses again, what choice will you make?" Xia Lu lowered her voice, and then asked her mother in a low voice, "Of course, I am just assuming this.
It's just a sexual issue. Although the order is a bit chaotic now, I don't think the empire has encountered any insurmountable crisis. I'm just assuming..."
Faced with her daughter's pointed question, Alice's blue eyes suddenly showed hesitation and confusion.
But after a moment, her eyes regained their peaceful and elegant brilliance.
"I will probably go into exile with His Majesty, and then continue to serve him dutifully. After all, even if His Majesty goes into exile, he will not be short of money and supporters, and there will still be hope for a comeback. I will work hard for this hope;
Even if there is no hope, at least he can still support those of us around him, so we can just live together."
"You...you..." Xia Lu was a little shocked by this answer.
She didn't expect that her mother, who was obsessed with power, would actually have such unusual loyalty.
"Do you love him so much?" she blurted out subconsciously.
"It's not because of any feelings...I'm already this age, wouldn't it be ridiculous to talk about love or not?" As if she was afraid that her daughter would think too much, Alice smiled sheepishly, with a little bit on her face.
Blushing, "The reason why I made this decision is because I actually have no other way to go. As a female, I am able to have such great power and influence because of His Majesty's appreciation and trust. Just as
Just like Madame de Pompadour back then... So, I should do my best to repay this kindness, right?
Moreover, because my future is tied to His Majesty, if there is a real change of dynasty, then I will not be able to survive alone. The Treville family can swing left and right, but I can't. I don't have so many choices. Besides, they and I already had a relationship back then.
Break up, and now I have to beg for mercy from them and endure their revenge and insults just to protect myself. I can't stand it and I can't do it."
Although her mother had always emphasized that "this has nothing to do with love," Xia Lu felt in her heart that although this determination to "follow to the end" was based on weighing the pros and cons, it was not without the existence of love.
After all, they have maintained a relationship in private for ten years, much longer than the time their father has been with his mother. No matter how obsessed with power they are, years of getting along will still create bonds and attachment.
The ratio between the profit calculation and personal feelings in the mother's heart is higher and the lower, and why should she distinguish it so clearly? Why should she bother to get to the bottom of it?
At this time, Xia Lu was filled with gratitude to her mother.
After all, her mother did not just treat her like a child, but instead told so many secrets from the bottom of her heart. She could fully feel this trust and this expectation.
"Mom, thank you for telling me so many things." She looked at her mother sincerely. "I love you!"
"I love you too, my daughter." Alice took her beloved daughter into her arms, and then looked at Xia Lu affectionately, "You are my pride, and only you can put an end to my regrets.
Realize my unfulfilled wish; so I spend all my efforts to train you, and I don’t want you to take any detours. I have suffered enough, and I don’t want you to do it again, so I will use what I know
Tell you, I only want you to walk on the brightest and smoothest road."
Xia Lu bathed in her mother's doting and expectant gaze and felt comfortable all over. However, at this time, another question suddenly appeared in her mind.
"What about Fran? Don't you love her?"
"Silly boy, what kind of stupid question is this? She is also my daughter, how could I not love her?" Alice pinched Xia Lu's face and taught her a lesson, "It's just that her status is special after all...
I think it will be good for her to grow up peacefully like this and live her whole life like a rich girl, and there is no need to be too demanding on her."
That's what her mother said, but Xia Lu could slightly understand her mother's innermost thoughts.
Fran was "deliberately" born because her mother begged His Majesty for mercy when she lost power. To a certain extent, she is her mother's "talisman", the guarantee of power, and a tacit contract between the two of them.
But the amulet needs to be offered, not trained as a daughter, and there is no need to deliberately pave the way for her.
Only myself, my mother had no purpose when she gave birth to myself, she was born purely for love. Although that relationship has become a past that I cannot bear to look back on, I am regarded by my mother as the sustenance of all the feelings, and she is also devoted to her.
She put all her effort into cultivating her, even her hope for the rest of her life.
Forget it, it doesn't matter what her mother thinks of Fran. Anyway, she is here and she can always take care of her.
After all, she is his closest relative, the sister he has grown up with since childhood, how could he abandon her?
As long as she is here, she will never suffer in this life.
Mother and daughter hugged each other for a while, and after a long time, Alice spoke again.
"You just have to deal with Charlotte's affairs. I have watched this child grow up, and I like her quite a lot, so if you want to help her, you can, and I won't stop you."
At this point, she changed the topic again, "However, we also have our position and our interests. Since she has made this choice, she is hostile to us, so we don't need to be too merciful. Fake
If she insists on life and death, then you don’t have to show any mercy, there are national laws to deal with her."
Although her expression was still as gentle and elegant as ever, there was already a hint of indifference in her mother's words.
Obviously her mother was very angry with what Charlotte had done, and she was even more mentally prepared to break up. Although she had watched Charlotte grow up, when it came to issues of position, Alice would not
No more talk about friendship.
Faced with her mother's warning, Xia Lu just nodded lightly.
"I understand, mom. Don't worry, I will take care of everything...Charlotte is sick now, but I can cure her."
"Do I have to risk myself for her?" Alice frowned. "She is asking for all this trouble!"
"I know, but even so, I don't want to abandon her." Xia Lu looked at her mother calmly, "She is my cousin and my playmate since childhood. I don't want to bear the loss of losing her."
"Wanting to protect everything and not wanting to lose anything is a greedy delusion, and sometimes even a sign of stupidity. In life, you have to make trade-offs and choices." Alice tried to make a last-ditch effort, "You are still old at your age.
It’s so small, why bother with this kind of trouble?”
"You're right, but in life, you have to be a little stupid. Isn't it okay?"
How do I know if it can be done? This is not just for Charlotte. If one day, you or Fran, or Kelly, or anyone I cherish is in danger, I will go all out to protect you, because of you
They are all an integral part of my life.”
Seeing her daughter still acting so stubborn, Alice suddenly became angry.
But inside, she couldn't help but be a little moved, even a little proud.
"Then you try it, but you must protect yourself! If you make any mistake, my mother's life will be over...what will be left?"
After speaking, she held her daughter in her arms again.