The French Envoy, who received an affirmative response from Franz Joseph, immediately showed a smile on his face. He hurriedly stood up and bowed to Franz Joseph, who lightly raised his hand.

Afterward, Franz Joseph chatted leisurely with the French Envoy about the Kingdom of Britain.

Franz Joseph told the French Envoy that, just recently, the Kingdom of Britain issued an order to the Austrian Empire, demanding that the Austrian Empire promptly quell this war without gunpowder, or else the Kingdom of Britain would take necessary coercive measures (the latter sentence was added by Franz Joseph himself).

Upon hearing Franz Joseph’s words, the French Envoy solemnly assured him, "Your Majesty had already told me before I assumed the position of Envoy!

The relationship between the French Empire and the Austrian Empire is one of mutual glory and mutual loss!

If the Kingdom of Britain truly intends to act against the Austrian Empire, then the French Empire will unwaveringly stand beside the Austrian Empire to jointly resist the Kingdom of Britain."

Although these words from the French Envoy were not formal, publicly disclosed diplomatic language, they undoubtedly added a sense of comfort to Franz Joseph’s heart.

No matter how poorly Franz Joseph may handle his future domestic affairs, the mere fact that he tethered the French Empire to the Austrian Empire’s chariot—although the executor of this strategy was Jerome Bonaparte—would suffice to leave Franz Joseph with relatively decent acclaim in posterity.

"Thank you very much! Your Excellency Envoy, for your righteous words!" Franz Joseph looked gratefully at the French Envoy, "I firmly believe that the Austrian Empire and the French Empire can walk further down the road together!"

After understanding the French Empire’s consistent stance of support for the Austrian Empire, Franz Joseph tactfully issued a polite dismissal to the French Envoy.

The French Envoy, equally comprehending, stood up to bid farewell to Franz Joseph. In a reluctant farewell by Franz Joseph, the French Envoy left his study, while Franz Joseph himself quietly stayed in the study, resting his hands on his knees in contemplation.

Some time passed, and once again Franz Joseph’s room door opened.

Upon hearing the commotion at the door, Franz Joseph frowned, intending to rebuke the intruder who barged in without knocking. However, he realized the person entering the room was none other than his wife, Elizabeth (Princess Sisi).

The previously sharp look in Franz Joseph’s eyes gradually softened. He hurriedly got up and ran to Princess Sisi’s side, gently reproving, "Didn’t I tell you not to run around while you’re pregnant? Why won’t you listen?"

Princess Sisi was already six months pregnant, her previously slim waistline having expanded considerably due to the pregnancy, and her belly had visibly grown into a "beer belly."

"I won’t!" Elizabeth shook her head, speaking coyly, "Sitting there all day, talking to a group of lifeless noblewomen, is just too frustrating!

Franz, how about taking me out for a stroll!"

Saying this, Princess Sisi looked pleadingly at Franz Joseph, her hands continuously shaking Franz Joseph’s arm.

Looking at his pitiful wife, Franz Joseph couldn’t resist the urge to agree with her.

As Franz Joseph was about to consent, he instinctively thought of his mother.

Franz Joseph knew that his mother, Sophie, would definitely not agree to Princess Sisi’s request to go out during her pregnancy.

It might even stir up another conflict between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.

At that time, torn between his mother and his wife, Franz Joseph wouldn’t know how to handle the situation.

So, Franz Joseph gently stroked Princess Sisi’s head, affectionately saying to Franz Joseph, "Listen, Sisi! After you successfully give birth to a Crown Prince, you can do whatever you want!

Now, just rest peacefully at Mei Quan Palace!"

After hearing Franz Joseph’s words, Princess Sisi’s face immediately showed visible disappointment and dejection, like a wounded young beast.

"I understand! I won’t disturb you anymore!" Princess Sisi said dryly, then turned and left.

Watching Princess Sisi’s lonely figure, Franz Joseph once again felt compassion and called out to Princess Sisi, "Sisi, wait a moment!"

Princess Sisi turned to look at Franz Joseph, her eyes full of disappointment, "Your Majesty, is there anything else?"

Franz Joseph took a deep breath and responded to Princess Sisi, "Sisi, just now the Emperor of the French Empire, Jerome Bonaparte, invited me to Milan... I think as the Empress of the Empire, you also have the right and duty to accompany me!"

Princess Sisi’s expression immediately shifted from the previous disappointment to hope, "Really, can I?"

"Yes, you can!" Franz Joseph nodded in response to Princess Sisi.

"By the way, will Sister Augusta be there? I haven’t seen her for a long time!" Princess Sisi continued to inquire with Franz Joseph.

"I don’t know about this!" Franz Joseph shrugged and replied to Princess Sisi.

"I’ll ask myself!" Princess Sisi replied to Franz Joseph, then continued to ask, "By the way, can I bring Sofia along?"

Franz Joseph’s expression froze. He wasn’t sure he could convince his mother to let Princess Sisi go, let alone Sofia.

"No!" Franz Joseph shook his head and replied to Princess Sisi.

"Alright then!" Princess Sisi said with a slight disappointment. She really wanted to bring her daughter along.

After Princess Sisi left Franz Joseph’s study, Franz Joseph immediately ordered the butler to summon Minister of Internal Affairs Bach and Foreign Minister Bao’er.

"Your Majesty, what about the rest of them?" the butler cautiously asked Franz Joseph.

"What rest of them?" Franz Joseph was puzzled for a moment, then asked the butler.

"Your Majesty, those are the people you were originally going to meet!" the butler explained to Franz Joseph.

Franz Joseph replied indifferently, "If there is still time, meet them one by one; if not, schedule them for tomorrow or the day after tomorrow!"

"Understood!" the butler replied to Franz Joseph.

About half an hour later, Minister of Internal Affairs Bach and Foreign Minister Bao’er appeared in Franz Joseph’s office.

Franz Joseph first asked Bach about the Ministry’s tax collection issues (this should have been handled by the Ministry of Finance, but due to the bureaucratic reform Bach implemented in the Kingdom of Hungary, Ministry officials could collect taxes directly in Hungary, so Bach had more say in financial matters than the Minister of Finance).

Bach informed Franz Joseph that due to the recent economic crisis affecting the Austrian Empire, the money collected by the Ministry wasn’t much.

"If I want to go to war, can the Ministry meet the demands of the war?" Franz Joseph asked Bach.

"Your Majesty, it depends on who the opponent is!" Bach asked Franz Joseph, "If it’s merely a war with small and medium countries, the Austrian Empire can manage.

If we are fighting countries of our level, the Austrian Empire will struggle to sustain it.

By then, we might have to find other ways to compensate for the losses caused by the fight!"

"I understand!" Franz Joseph nodded to Bach.

Then Bach responded to Franz Joseph, "Your Majesty, may I boldly ask, when can we withdraw the troops from the border areas?"

Since the standoff between the Austrian Empire and the Sardinian Kingdom began, the daily expenses of the military were around 700,000 to 1 million Florins (currency of the Austrian Empire), and if it continues for another month, Bach has reason to suspect that this year’s finances will be in deficit again.

"Don’t worry! It won’t be long before we can withdraw!" Franz Joseph assured Bach and then turned his gaze to Count Bao’er, "Jerome Bonaparte invited me to Milan to discuss matters concerning the Apennine Peninsula; what do you think?"

Count Bao’er replied without hesitation to Franz Joseph, "Your Majesty, I believe we should promptly conclude the issues concerning the Apennine Peninsula with His Majesty Jerome Bonaparte.

We must not be dragged down by the Apennine issues!"

Franz Joseph nodded in agreement with Count Bao’er, "I think the same! When do you think we should set off?"

"Your Majesty, the sooner the better!" Count Bao’er replied to Franz Joseph.

At that moment, Count Bao’er didn’t know he was about to be assigned an almost impossible task by Franz Joseph.

"Very well! You will take my place to persuade my mother!" Franz Joseph said to Count Bao’er.

Count Bao’er was stunned for a moment, with a trace of confusion in his eyes.

Then Franz Joseph informed Bao’er that Jerome Bonaparte mentioned in the telegram that he wished to meet with Franz Joseph and Elizabeth, hence Elizabeth would also accompany Franz Joseph.

Since Count Bao’er advocated departing as soon as possible, the task of persuading Grand Duchess Sophie to let them go was given to Count Bao’er.

"Your Majesty, Her Majesty the Empress is still pregnant!"

"There is still some time before delivery; no need to worry too much!"