By the time Jerome Bonaparte had dealt with the potential "opposition" within the Empire, it was already the beginning of 1859.

The annual Imperial Fiscal Council Meeting was about to be held at the Tuileries Palace, organized by the French Empire’s "Chief Grand Steward" Achille Fuld, his close ally the Minister of Public Transport Barroso, and the Governor of the Bank of France, Jules Leberge de Bemini.

Just as everything was ready, a telegram from the Austrian Empire interrupted the impending Imperial Council.

"Your Majesty, Marshal Count John Joseph Wenzel Radetzky von Radetz of the Austrian Empire passed away in Venice on January 5th, 1859, at 5 p.m., aged 93!"

As the Minister of Foreign Affairs, De Luy, entered the Imperial Conference Hall holding the telegram and announced the death of Radetzky to Jerome Bonaparte, a look of melancholy appeared on Jerome Bonaparte’s face.

At the same time, a wave of sorrow brought about by Radetzky’s death also surged to Jerome Bonaparte’s heart, causing him to fall into deep thought.

Radetzky, a star active in the era of Napoleon, ultimately could not withstand the erosion of time and unfortunately died in the early stages of a time of change.

But he was very fortunate because he didn’t have to witness the decline and fall of Austria with his own eyes.

Someday, I too, will grow old like Marshal Radetzky. Will I, like that Emperor (Bonaparte) in history, witness the destruction of the Empire?

With this thought, Jerome Bonaparte lost interest in continuing the Imperial Council and looked towards Achille Fuld, saying with a slight tone of apology, "Fuld, the Imperial Council can be postponed!"

Achille Fuld noticed that Jerome Bonaparte was not in a proper state at the moment. He stood up and bowed to Jerome Bonaparte, saying, "Your Majesty, of course!"

Barroso and Count Bemini, seeing that the Imperial Council was about to be adjourned, also stood up, and the three of them simultaneously bid farewell to Jerome Bonaparte.

After Bemini, Barroso, and Fuld had all left, Jerome Bonaparte extended an invitation to De Luy to go to a smaller adjacent room for a talk.

As De Luy and Jerome Bonaparte entered the room, a warm sensation immediately permeated through every inch of their skin.

Compared to the fireplace in the Imperial Conference Hall, the fireplace here was obviously much more effective.

Of course, this was also related to the size of the room.

Then, Jerome Bonaparte and De Luy sat on the sofa beside the oak-burning fireplace.

The orange-yellow glow of the flames reflected on Jerome Bonaparte’s stern face, making him more intimidating than usual.

After a while, Jerome Bonaparte finally inquired, "Luy, should we send a representative to pay respects to Radetzky?"

"Your Majesty, that is exactly why I came here this time!" De Luy replied to Jerome Bonaparte, "Given that the Austrian Empire and the Imperial Government have always maintained a friendly cooperative partnership,

I believe the Empire should not only express condolences for Radetzky’s death in the telegram but also send a relatively prominent person to attend Radetzky’s funeral!"

"Who do you think we should send to attend the funeral?" Jerome Bonaparte inquired of De Luy calmly.

"Your Majesty, I think it would be best if the person attending the funeral is not too official.

If it could be someone from the same era as Marshal Radetzky, that would be ideal.

Of course, the rank of the person attending the mourning cannot be too low!" De Luy suggested to Jerome Bonaparte tactfully.

Jerome Bonaparte immediately understood the person De Luy had in mind.

"If I’m not mistaken, you’re suggesting sending Prince Monfort (Old Jerome) to the funeral," Jerome Bonaparte said, blinking to De Luy.

"If it’s Prince Monfort, that would be even better!" De Luy continued to suggest to Jerome Bonaparte tactfully.

Subsequently, De Luy pleaded with Jerome Bonaparte not to betray him to Prince Monfort.

"Rest assured! I will not betray you!" Jerome Bonaparte chuckled and then reminded him, "However, during the period of Radetzky’s funeral, you must closely monitor developments on the Apennine Peninsula."

"Your Majesty, are you planning to take action in the Italian Region again?" De Luy asked with a tone of helplessness.

"It’s not me!" Jerome Bonaparte whispered to De Luy, "I suspect that the Sardinian Kingdom might take advantage of this interim period to stir up significant news again!"

"Sardinia? No way! How would they dare!" De Luy responded incredulously.

It is known that Sardinia had just been disciplined by France and Austria not long ago, and now they want to act out again.

"If Sardinia has a major power backing them..." Jerome Bonaparte hinted.

De Luy immediately understood which major power Jerome Bonaparte was referring to.

"If Sardinia truly collaborates with Britain, should we alert Austria?" De Luy asked Jerome Bonaparte again.

"No need to alert them! We’ve already helped the Austrian Empire enough!" Jerome Bonaparte shook his head and said to De Luy.

"Understood! I will always keep an eye on developments in the Apennine!"

After the conversation, De Luy bid farewell to Jerome Bonaparte.

Once De Luy left, Jerome Bonaparte summoned Chief Steward Bashirio.

"Prepare a carriage for me, I want to go to Prince Monfort’s residence!"

Bashirio quickly arranged a carriage and a Guard battalion for Jerome Bonaparte.

At this time, the snow in Paris had not completely melted. The horse’s iron-capped hooves left prints on the compacted snow, while the bitterly cold wind battered the carriage window, creating snapping sounds.

Seated in the carriage, Jerome Bonaparte looked at the scenery slowly retreating outside, quietly waiting for the carriage’s arrival.

After about 20 minutes of travel, the carriage finally arrived at the Bois de Boulogne located on the outskirts of Paris, where Prince Monfort’s residence sat at the top of a slope in this forest.

The carriage slowly passed the garden outside the residence (the garden was on the slope) and stopped in an open space outside the residence.

The steward of Monfort’s residence had seen all this early and promptly reported the situation to Prince Monfort.

Therefore, by the time Jerome Bonaparte descended from the carriage, Prince Monfort and everyone at the residence were already waiting at the door.

"Welcome His Majesty the Emperor to the residence!" Prince Monfort said playfully to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Father!" Jerome Bonaparte responded, half helpless, half deferential.

Afterward, under Prince Monfort’s guidance, Jerome Bonaparte entered the residence.

Sitting on the sofa, Jerome Bonaparte informed Prince Monfort of Radetzky’s passing.

"There aren’t many of our generation left!" Prince Monfort showed a complex expression upon hearing Radetzky’s passing. "I fear it won’t be long before I go to meet your mother!"

"Wait until Friedrich grows up!" Jerome Bonaparte replied to Prince Monfort. "Radetzky was 93 years old, and you are only 76!"

"So, do I have more than ten years left?" Prince Monfort said with a slightly teasing tone.

"Of course!"

Following that, Jerome Bonaparte shared De Luy’s suggestion with Prince Monfort.

Prince Monfort neither explicitly agreed nor opposed but instead discussed the issue of Jerome Patterson with Jerome Bonaparte.

"Patterson, that child, has had a hard time! His mother since childhood has..." Prince Monfort recounted Jerome Patterson’s past to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Father, you want me to do something for Patterson!" Jerome Bonaparte immediately understood Monfort’s intentions.

"Well... you are already the Empire’s Emperor, so you don’t need the Monfort title. Can you give this title to someone else?" Prince Monfort stammered to Jerome Bonaparte.

Jerome Bonaparte showed a gloomy expression upon hearing this, realizing that his old father hadn’t given up on transferring the title to Jerome Patterson.

Prince Monfort curled his body slightly, his tone turning weak: "If it’s really not possible, then forget it!"

Seeing his fearful father, Jerome Bonaparte’s expression gradually calmed down. He asked quietly, "Father, has anyone else besides me been informed about the title transfer matter?"

"No!" Prince Monfort shook his head and replied, "I have only started contemplating this matter recently.

I have grown old and don’t have much time left.

So I wish to offer some tangible compensation in my final moments!"

"Compensation!" Jerome Bonaparte showed a hint of mockery, "Father, you want to compensate the son and grandson you abandoned early on. I don’t mind.

But I hope you don’t use things that don’t entirely belong to you for compensation!

The Monfort title does not entirely belong to you; it is equally important to me and my sister (Mathilde)!"

"I know, that’s why I wanted your opinion!" Realizing his fault, Old Jerome chuckled sheepishly.

"I won’t agree to transfer the title to Jerome Patterson!

If Augusta and I are fortunate enough to have a second child, I will let him inherit the title!" Jerome Bonaparte answered decisively, without hesitation.

"Alright!" Old Jerome had to let go of his little desire.

"However!" Jerome Bonaparte changed his tone and continued, "If Jerome Patterson achieves merits matching his status, I will also consider bestowing him the title of Imperial Prince!"