Chapter 282: Expanding Paris

Chapter 283 Expanding Paris

Joseph's carriage was still three or four kilometers away from the Palace of Versailles when he found that the area was already crowded with people.

Eman looked out the window and explained, "Your Highness, the official start of the competition will take another two days. These people should be from other places to watch the competition."

Normally, there are strict dress requirements for entering the Palace of Versailles, but during the Star of France competition, people can enter and exit the Square of the Palace of Versailles at will, just like the King's birthday before.

So, a large number of ordinary people came to camp outside the square, waiting for the competition to start.

However, they did not feel bored, because of the great influence of the Star of France, all kinds of vendors had already prepared stalls here.

From snacks to fruits, from toys to shoes and hats, from painters to shoe repairers, the open space on both sides of the road was densely packed and stretched out for seven or eight kilometers. The sounds of hawking, music and chats of passers-by were endless, forming a huge open-air commercial street.

There were even business-minded people who set up hundreds of tents under the shade of the trees as temporary hotels.

Brian was worried that too many people would cause trouble, so he sent the palace guards to patrol the "commercial street" back and forth, making it feel like a busy city.

Joseph looked at the bustling scene outside the car, and his heart was moved.

Why not take advantage of the situation to build a commercial street here?

With the continuous development of France, the population of Paris is bound to increase, especially after Fashion Week and the Metrology and Standardization Conference, not only more French nobles have flocked to Paris, but also the number of foreigners settling here has continued to increase.

Today, the permanent foreign population in Paris has reached nearly one thousand, most of which are concentrated near the real estate projects supporting Fashion Week, and there are tens of thousands of people who come to live here.

What followed was a surge in demand for the expansion of Paris.

The Palace of Versailles is isolated outside Paris, which is very unfavorable for the issuance of government decrees and the image of the royal family among the people.

Joseph has long wanted to integrate Paris and the Palace of Versailles, and now he sees a good opportunity.

Especially with the completion of the wooden track from Versailles to Paris, the basic conditions for integration have been met, and this matter should be put on the agenda as soon as possible.

The carriage stopped in the marble courtyard, and Joseph found that Queen Marie was not among the crowd who came to welcome him.

Emmanuel leaned close to his ear and whispered: "Your Highness, Her Majesty the Queen is probably angry with you."

Sure enough, the Queen's maid De Berninaq pushed through the crowd and came quickly, bowing to him: "Your Highness, Her Majesty the Queen asked you to go to her as soon as you come back."

After she finished speaking, she looked around and whispered: "Your Highness, you are really too willful this time, running to North Africa privately. You may not know that His Majesty is worried about it every day and can't sleep."

"Uh..." Joseph rubbed his forehead helplessly-why does it feel like a parent is giving a child who ran out to play all night?

He had no choice but to follow Countess De Berninaq to the Petit Trianon Palace. When he entered the front hall, he saw Queen Marie standing in the room with her back to him.

Joseph hurried forward to salute, smiling earnestly: "Mother, I'm back..."

"Humph!" Queen Mary tilted her head at a 45-degree angle and didn't even look at him, "You still remember to come back?"

"Of course!" Joseph hurriedly came up and showed a brilliant smile, "Ah, the most beautiful, intelligent, and kind mother in the world, I haven't seen you for almost a month, I miss you so much!"

"Really?" The queen still tilted her head and deliberately said with a stern face, "You dare to run to such a dangerous place privately? And you coaxed me that it was domestic!"

"Isn't Tunisia considered domestic now?" Joseph turned to Queen Mary, took her hands, and rubbed them on his face, "Look, I'm back safely, aren't I?" He said, turning back and winking at Emman.

The latter immediately ordered the servants to bring in several exquisite boxes, and then opened them one by one.

Joseph introduced with a smile: "Look, this is a Tunisian-style skirt designed for you by the best tailor in Tunisia.

"This is a necklace made of pearls from North Africa, I picked it out for you..."

"This scarf is..."

Seeing that Queen Marie was still stern and unmoved, Joseph sighed and had to use his trump card.

"Mother, guess who I found for you?"

"Who?" The queen glanced at her son, "It's useless, no matter who you ask to intercede!"

"Jeanne."

"Humph, no matter who you ask to intercede..." The queen was suddenly stunned in the middle of her words, her eyes widened, and she said in surprise, "Who are you talking about? !"

"Jeanne de Valois-Saint-Remy." Joseph smiled, "That liar."

Queen Marie immediately grabbed her son's arm and widened her eyes: "Are you serious? How did you find her?"

"Well, actually, I went to Tunisia for this matter. "Joseph immediately exaggerated the story of how he had caught the British spy, but in his story, he had originally intended to exchange the spy for Jeanne.

"Oh, my sweetheart! Good boy, thank you so much!" Queen Mary heard that her son went to the dangerous place to get back the liar who humiliated her from the British. She burst into tears and hugged him, "But you really shouldn't take such a big risk! Tripoli is even at war...Joseph, your life is more important than everything I have! That damn female liar is not worth your risk! Ah, I am so touched. My son has grown up and washed away my humiliation like a brave knight. I am still blaming you. Oh, I really shouldn't have done that. ..."

Joseph blushed and broke free from the queen's arms, signaling the maid to bring some cakes, puddings, etc., and then took out the red Tunisian dress inlaid with gold pieces and decorated with a lot of curves to block the queen: "Mother, you must try this, it's very beautiful, it must be very suitable for you..."

An hour later, Joseph, who finally coaxed his mother, walked out of the Petit Trianon Palace exhausted and went straight to the office of the Minister of Commerce Bailly, ready to discuss with him about developing the area between Paris and the Palace of Versailles into a commercial center and a new scientific research area.

But he also gained something from Queen Marie just now. The queen promised him that he could go abroad at any time in the future as long as he brought the Swiss Guards and said hello to her.

After explaining to Bailly about the expansion plan of Paris, Joseph went to the office building of the General Staff without stopping.

Due to the special nature of the General Staff, the office was located in a two-story building next to the Royal Ordnance Factory.

Although the area here is not large, it is extremely busy. Dozens of civilian officers were holding various documents and constantly shuttling between offices of different functions. From time to time, there were urging shouts coming from the room, which was very different from the lazy scene in the traditional officers' office.

Berthier learned that the Crown Prince had come, and hurriedly went out with several officers to greet him.

Before they saluted, Joseph asked the question he was most concerned about: "Has the officer named Napoleon reported in?"

The Chief of Staff obviously did not expect that the Crown Prince cared so much about the young captain - who had just been promoted - and nodded after a moment of hesitation: "Yes, Your Highness, he reported in the day before yesterday. He is now affiliated with the First Artillery Regiment of the Royal First Guards Corps."