Make France Great Again-Chapter 957 - 948: Unlucky Sardinia

Hearing Jerome Bonaparte’s powerful voice from inside the room, Percy finally breathed a sigh of relief.

No matter what happens! As long as the Emperor is unharmed, their wealth and status are guaranteed.

To convey his concern for His Majesty the Emperor, Percy spoke with a slightly anxious tone to Jerome Bonaparte inside the room, "Your Majesty, it’s Percy! Are you alright?"

"I’m fine!" Jerome Bonaparte replied with a calm tone.

"God bless you, and you’ve been safe for a few days!" Percy quickly changed to a joyful tone.

"However, Augusta was quite startled just now!" Jerome Bonaparte added.

"Your Majesty, I’m fine now too!" Augusta said to Jerome Bonaparte, her cheeks slightly flushed from alcohol.

Then, standing outside the room, Percy asked Jerome Bonaparte if he could allow him and Pierrette to enter the box, as Pierrette needed to report information about the assassin.

Pierrette, standing behind Percy, looked at his superior with a bewildered expression, not understanding why his superior was putting him in such a difficult position.

Heaven pity him; he didn’t know even the slightest bit of information about the assassin.

After Chief Pierre informed him of the assassination attempt on the Emperor, he rushed over in a hurry.

Now, aside from knowing that four assassins tried to attack the Emperor, he knew absolutely nothing else.

"You may enter!" Jerome Bonaparte said, his tone as usual.

Immediately afterward, Percy and Pierrette entered the box.

They were greeted by Jerome Bonaparte’s smiling face and Empress Augusta’s angry expression.

Seeing this, Percy couldn’t help but think: This isn’t good!

Judging from Empress Augusta’s expression, he and Pierrette were destined to be scolded by the Empress. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

After all, the security of Paris had always been managed by their Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Now that such a major incident happened, how could they possibly avoid responsibility?

Facing Empress Augusta’s hostile expression, Percy could only lower his head and display a humble demeanor, hoping that when the Empress scolds him later, she might be a bit more restrained.

The only way to avoid being scolded would be to reveal the truth about the assassination to Empress Augusta.

But if he did that, he’d likely face dismissal and marginalization.

A subordinate who can’t take the blame for the leadership is simply not a good subordinate.

Between the choices of dismissal and being scolded, Percy decisively chose to be scolded.

Sure enough, once Pierrette closed the box door again, Augusta began to reprimand them: "Percy, Pierrette, what is going on with your Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Police Headquarters?

Why did the assassins appear in Paris, and near the Opera House at that!

What exactly are the police under your command doing..."

Augusta’s words were filled with anger. This was the first time she had ever been so furious, "Mr. Percy, you’ve been with the Bonaparte Clan for over ten years at least!

Why is there such a significant error under your management of the Ministry of Internal Affairs? Now, please give me a reasonable explanation!"

"Augusta!" Jerome Bonaparte quickly interjected to defend Percy: "The matter has already occurred, and what we should focus on now is not pursuing who is responsible, but preventing the assassin’s motive.

Preventing this matter from happening again!"

"Jerome!" Augusta turned her gaze to Jerome Bonaparte upon hearing this: "It’s because of your excessive indulgence that they became reckless!"

"Me? Indulgent?" Jerome Bonaparte muttered to himself, touching his nose.

"That’s right!" Augusta replied to Jerome Bonaparte with conviction, then pointed at Percy and Pierrette, "Percy, starting tomorrow you don’t need to go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs anymore!"

Upon hearing the dismissal order, Percy’s mind was momentarily bewildered.

He had originally prepared to sit back and enjoy Marcel Yale’s scandal.

Unexpectedly, Marcel Yale’s scandal hadn’t even surfaced when he himself was dismissed by the Empress.

This was simply the greatest absurdity!

For a moment, Percy wanted to tell Augusta that everything was orchestrated by your husband Jerome Bonaparte.

However, reason told Percy he couldn’t do that!

If so, he would be utterly doomed.

At this point, Percy had no choice but to take the blame for Jerome Bonaparte, believing that Emperor Jerome Bonaparte would not treat him unfairly: "As you command!"

"And you!" Empress Augusta redirected her anger towards Pierrette, "Didn’t you just say you already knew the assassin’s information and motives? Speak!"

"Your... Your Majesty the Empress, I... I..." Pierrette wanted to say he knew nothing, but now he dared not speak at all.

"Speak quickly!" Augusta frowned and urged Pierrette.

"Your Majesty, Pierrette is a bit nervous, let me report to you on his behalf!" Percy hurried to bail Pierrette out of trouble.

"Augusta, let Percy speak," Jerome Bonaparte also said to Augusta.

"Percy, speak quickly!" Augusta ordered Percy bluntly.

Percy told Empress Augusta about the identities of Orsini and the other three, and the reasons for their assassination attempt.

Upon hearing this, Empress Augusta frowned at Percy and said, "You’re saying those regicides aim to destroy this Empire and establish a unified Italy!"

"That’s correct," Percy nodded and then added with emphasis, "Among these four assassins, except Orsini, who is from the Papal States, the other three are Piedmontese."

"Piedmont? Are you saying the Papal States and Sardinia conspired to assassinate us?" Empress Augusta questioned Percy.

"Your Majesty, that’s not the case!" Percy, seeing Augusta’s misunderstanding, shook his head and said, "Though Orsini is from the Papal States, he was once a member of the Constitutional Committee of the Roman Republic.

And the other three Piedmontese, while also Republican in stance, lean towards unification under Sardinia in the Apennines!"

Now Empress Augusta finally understood Percy’s meaning, "Are you saying the Kingdom of Sardinia has ties with these assassins?"

"Although there is no conclusive evidence to prove it yet, I believe there must be some connection between them; otherwise, Orsini’s team couldn’t possibly have three people from the Kingdom of Sardinia," Percy said resolutely, though in truth, he didn’t know if there was any connection.

After all, he just needed to slightly alter what Jerome Bonaparte had said earlier and convey it to Empress Augusta.

"Both the Kingdom of Sardinia and the Republicans should be punished!" Empress Augusta said indignantly.

"Empress, the Kingdom of Sardinia is our ally!" Jerome Bonaparte gently reminded.

"Ally! Your Majesty, I have never seen a nation that raises arms against its friends!" Augusta retorted to Jerome Bonaparte.

"The matter is not yet conclusive; we should avoid making premature judgments!" Jerome Bonaparte persuaded again.

"The facts are quite clear, yet you still hold illusions about Sardinia!" Empress Augusta slightly agitated, said to Jerome Bonaparte, "Now, what I should do is issue a query to Sardinia!"

Jerome Bonaparte shrugged and said to Empress Augusta, "I think we should wait until everything is thoroughly investigated before drawing a conclusion!"

"Fine! We’ll do it your way!" Empress Augusta nodded, then turned to Pierrette, "However, I don’t want to see this guy involved in the investigation again! He knows nothing!"

"As you say," Jerome Bonaparte nodded, then opportunistically told Percy, "Percy, I offer you a chance to redeem yourself; investigate this matter thoroughly!

If you succeed, I will reinstate you to your former position! Do you understand?"

"Your Majesty, I will conduct a thorough investigation!" Percy responded firmly to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Alright! Go find a box and enjoy the performance!" Jerome Bonaparte waved to Percy and Pierrette.

Percy and Pierrette left the box. Pierrette showed a helpless expression on his face and said, "Mr. Percy, I..."

Percy looked at the unlucky fellow before him, sighed, patted Pierrette on the shoulder, and said, "Pierrette, take care!"

After speaking, Percy went away, leaving Pierrette standing there in tears and grief.

As time passed, the news of Jerome Bonaparte’s assassination attempt slowly fermented.

Minister of Justice Rue, Minister of Public Transport Barroso, Minister of Foreign Affairs De Luy, Minister of Finance Fuld, Minister of War Vayang, and President of the Legislative Council Bijou, all arrived at the Paris Opera House.

Although they understood that the assassination did not harm the Emperor Jerome Bonaparte, they were eager to know Jerome Bonaparte’s condition.

Under the guidance of the Paris Opera House owner, this group of Empire officials was led to the lounge adjacent to Jerome Bonaparte’s box.

Then, President of the Legislative Council Bijou walked to Jerome Bonaparte’s box door and knocked.

"Come in!" Jerome Bonaparte’s voice came out again.

President of the Legislative Council Bijou couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. He opened the door and looked at Emperor Jerome Bonaparte and Empress Augusta inside the box.

"Your Majesty, the assassin did not harm you, did they?" Bijou asked with concern.

"No, not at all!" Jerome Bonaparte replied, "However, three of my loyal soldiers unfortunately died in this assassination attempt!"