NOVEL NEXT Chapter 520: Exposed
(The chapter is not yet complete, and the young author deeply apologizes. Please refresh and read again in half an hour.)
Half an hour later, Joseph left the residence of the Count of Artuwa.
The latter had already agreed that he would speak with Queen Mary, admitting that his previous considerations had been inadequate and that the case involving the Tax Farmers Association was very serious and should not be tolerated.
Joseph was not at all worried that this influential member of the Royal Family would harbor resentment.
He now controlled military and police forces, held the economic lifeline of the Count of Artuwa, and was not afraid of him rallying the nobles to create trouble—the new nobility were mostly obedient to him, and the Old Nobility had been weakened after repeated blow, now incapable of causing any significant disturbances. Moreover, the Old Nobility Group still hoped to revive their family's glory through warfare, and to rise in the army required his approval.
Joseph boarded his carriage and looked back at the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Count of Artuwa's residence, feeling somewhat sentimental that he had been in this world for almost three years. Compared to the initial days when he feared for his safety every day, he could now completely subdue even the most influential grand nobles of the Royal Family.
In the future, he was certain he would lead France to the pinnacle of the European Continent and create a glory that would be remembered throughout history!
...
Saint-Germain District in Paris.
In Mr. Fould's private tennis club, several leaders of the Tax Farmers Association comfortably sat on the chairs beside the court, watching two people fiercely competing and occasionally commenting.
Fankevich smiled at the people next to him, saying confidently, "Brian, that old fool, actually dared to threaten me to buy millions in government bonds? Hmph, what a dream!"
Borelay nodded, "I heard that the Count of Artuwa has already delivered the gift to the Queen, and she has agreed not to pursue the matter of forged documents."
Everyone revealed looks of joy, "Mr. Hope's method really worked, saving us from a huge loss."
"Those greedy fellows in the Palace of Versailles, as long as they see money, they are willing to do anything."
"Once the lawsuit at the High Court is withdrawn, I am heading to England. There are plenty of investment opportunities there recently."
"I am preparing to go to the Far East..."
Previously, following Mr. Hope's advice, each of them had contributed 400,000 francs, amassing over five million in total, a portion of which was used to bribe Count Artuwa and Countess Debeninac, with the majority spent on purchasing the diamond crown for the Queen.
And just as Mr. Hope had predicted, the matter of the forged documents seemed to have been suppressed. They no longer hoped to continue their tax farming, each only wishing to extricate themselves as soon as possible and had begun discussing new investment directions.
Borelay remembered the incident of the tax documents being discovered by the police and asked angrily, "Mr. Fould, have you not yet found out who leaked the information?"
Mr. Fould furrowed his brow and shook his head, "None of my subordinates knew that the hidden documents were tax files; even if someone were to inform, it would likely not attract the police's attention.
"Therefore, I suspect there's a traitor among us."
Godemid immediately looked ferocious, bellowing, "Who is it? I'll kill the bastard!"
"It's still unclear. Perhaps it's Charles, but he shouldn't know the location where we stored the documents."
Everyone immediately looked suspiciously at each other, feeling that everyone could be the suspect.
Just then, a clamor arose from outside the tennis court, seeming like hundreds of people running past the nearby streets, shouting something as they swiftly disappeared.
"What happened?"
Mr. Fould looked towards the butler standing not far away, who promptly bowed slightly and turned to go check.
After a short while, the butler hurried back.
*****
In November 1773, Charles married Princess Maria Theresa of Savoy. Their marriage, unlike that of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, immediately resulted in offspring. In 1775, Maria Theresa gave birth to a boy, Louis Antoine, who was bestowed the title of Duke of Angouleme by Louis XVI. Louis Antoine was the first child of the next generation of the Bourbon family, at a time when neither the King nor the Count of Provence had fathered any children, leading Parisian libellists to satirically claim Louis XVI was impotent. [6] Three years later, in 1778, Charles's second son, Charles Ferdinand, was born and was granted the title of Duke of Berry. [5] That same year, Queen Marie Antoinette gave birth to her first child, Marie Therese, quelling all rumors about her inability to conceive. Charles was considered to be the most attractive family member, with manners reminiscent of his grandfather Louis XV. [5] His wife was considered quite ugly by most of his contemporaries, and he began seeking companionship and indulged in numerous extramarital affairs. Count Ezecque commented, "There are but few beauties cruel to him." Subsequently, he began a lifelong affair with the beautiful Duchess of Polignac, Louise de Polastron, a close friend of his sister-in-law Marie Antoinette. Charles also forged a strong friendship with Marie Antoinette, meeting her for the first time in April 1770 when she arrived in France at the age of twelve. [5] It was such a close relationship that led to Parisian rumormongers falsely accusing him of seducing Marie Antoinette. As part of Marie Antoinette's social circle, Charles often rehearsed plays with her in the private theater at her favorite royal residence, the Palace of Yenon. Both were talented amateur actors. Marie Antoinette would play a dairymaid, a shepherdess, and country women, while Charles would play lovers, waiters, and peasants. Charles's political awakening began in 1786 during the first major crisis encountered by the monarchy. When it became evident that the kingdom was bankrupt due to early military expenses (especially the Seven Years' War and the American War of Independence) and that financial reforms were essential for improvement. Charles supported the abolition of the nobility's financial privileges, but the Church and the nobility opposed any reduction of their privileges. He believed that the French fiscal system must be reformed unless the monarchy was to be overthrown. King Louis XVI finally convened the Estates-General, which had not been summoned for over 150 years, and in May 1789, he approved financial reforms. But his sister Elizabeth and Charles, the most conservative members of the family, opposed the demands for increasing the voting rights of the Third Estate (representing the commoners). This led to criticism from his brother, accusing him of being 'more royalist than the king.' [5] In June 1789, the representatives of the Third Estate declared the formation of the National Assembly. On July 9, 1789, the National Assembly proclaimed itself the Constituent Assembly, demanding a constitution and the limitation of royal powers. [5] Charles and Baron Breti formed a political alliance intending to dismiss the liberal Finance Minister Jacques Necker. On July 11, when Charles attempted to dismiss Necker before their original plan could be implemented without Baron Breti's knowledge, the plan went awry. However, this caused the political alliance with Baron Breti to shatter, eventually turning them into mutual detestors.