"Your Majesty, I respect your wish to accompany Count Radetzky on his final journey, but I still disagree with your decision to personally carry the coffin!

Your body does not belong to you alone but to the entire Austrian Empire!"

After a moment of silence, Bach continued speaking to Franz Joseph.

Upon seeing Bach’s lack of further objection, Franz Joseph smiled. He understood Minister Bach’s cautious nature and did not expect him to be openly supportive. As long as Minister Bach didn’t oppose his actions, it was enough.

"Minister Bach, thank you very much for your understanding!" Out of respect for the imperial minister, Franz Joseph expressed his gratitude to Bach. "I will act within my limits!"

"If that’s the case, all the better!" Minister Bach bowed to Franz Joseph and said no more.

Seeing that Bach had chosen to comply with the emperor’s wishes, Grand Duke Albrecht and Benedek did not further obstruct Franz Joseph’s actions.

When Franz Joseph once again inquired about Albrecht and Benedek’s stance, they too expressed to the emperor: They had the same viewpoint as Count Bach, disagreeing but not opposing!

Successfully convincing Albrecht and others, Franz Joseph glanced gratefully at Richard Metternich, knowing full well that if it weren’t for Richard Metternich’s maneuvering, Bach wouldn’t have consented to this undertaking.

As long as Bach remained staunchly against it, Albrecht and others would naturally follow suit.

"Mr. Richard, Albrecht... shall we begin?" Franz Joseph said kindly to those present.

"At your command!"

Richard Metternich moved to the positions arranged by Franz Joseph. The soldiers originally carrying the coffin stepped back, making way for them.

With a command from Franz Joseph, the coffin was lifted by six people.

To conserve the emperor’s effort at the rear end of the coffin, Albrecht and Benedek lowered their bodies at the front, allowing the weight of the coffin to concentrate at the front and middle.

The officer leading the coffin-bearing squad was unsure if he should issue orders as they had rehearsed, now that the task was being carried out by the governor and the emperor instead of soldiers.

Seeing the confused officer, Benedek immediately ordered, "Soldier, your task now is to guide us in bringing the old Marshal’s coffin onto the carriage!

Do you understand?"

Hearing Benedek’s instructions, the officer quickly realized, placed his tall military hat near his heart with a solemn expression, and, with Albrecht’s party in tow, commanded, "Forward!"

Next, the officer began walking steadily off the train, followed by the bearers with the coffin on their shoulders.

When the coffin containing the old Marshal Radetzky and Albrecht’s group appeared on the train platform, both the imperial officials on the platform and the foreign envoys were astonished at the sight.

They saw that the emperor of the empire, Franz Joseph, was personally part of the coffin-bearing procession. For an emperor to carry the coffin of a deceased minister was an exceptional honor.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk... Count Radetzky, this life was indeed worthwhile!

When my brother-in-law (Prince Schwarzenberg) died, the emperor didn’t personally bear his coffin!"

In the crowd, the former governor of Bohemia, Prime Minister of the Lodomeria Duchy, Prince Windischgrätz, said with a hint of jealousy to the Duke of Lodomeria, Carl Ludwig, beside him.

As a ruling monarch, Carl Ludwig detected the dissatisfaction in Prince Windischgrätz’s tone regarding his current situation and his mockery of Prince Schwarzenberg.

After all, Prince Windischgrätz had been a loyal governor of Bohemia for the Habsburgs in 1848, and he, along with Radetzky, saved the Habsburgs from the brink of destruction.

Yet after that great revolution, Prince Windischgrätz was not only ousted from the core of the Austrian Empire by his brother-in-law but also dismissed from the governorship of Bohemia.

Conversely, Radetzky, previously in retirement, was appointed governor of Lombardy and Venice, a position he held until his death.

[In the normal historical timeline, Radetzky’s governorship lasted only until 1857 before being succeeded by Maximilian.

In this universe, Maximilian has gone to the Kingdom of Poland to become the Grand Duke/King of Warsaw, and Carl Ludwig also went to Lodomeria to serve as Grand Duke! 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

The Habsburgs lacked grand dukes of sufficient stature to serve as governor of Lombardy and Venice, so Radetzky continued in the role until his death!]

Even someone as opportunistic as Josip Jelačić managed to hold onto the position of Croatian Governor.

But he—the noble Prince Windischgrätz—could only go to Lodomeria and serve as a powerless prime minister.

(The Lodomeria Duchy is unlike the independent Kingdom of Poland.

Their bureaucracy seamlessly integrated with the bureaucracy of the Austrian Empire, and the army was essentially a renamed Austrian Imperial Army.

Grand Duke Carl Ludwig experienced a phase of merely administrating Lodomeria Duchy without genuinely governing it.

The advantage of this was that the Duchy’s taxes only needed to satisfy the bureaucrats, while the Duchy’s army would receive funding from the Austrian Empire.

The downside was the loss of independence!)

This sense of disparity was indeed somewhat difficult to accept!

"Mr. Prime Minister, I assure you that after you pass away, you will receive the same treatment as Count Radetzky!

The Empire will never forget the hero who saved it!" Carl Ludwig quietly promised Prince Windischgrätz.

Years of interaction had already allowed Grand Duke Carl Ludwig to understand the personality of Prince Windischgrätz; ultimately, he was merely an old man who needed comforting.

Windischgrätz smiled upon hearing Carl Ludwig’s words and modestly said, "I don’t concern myself with such things; I am just glad for Radetzky!"

Carl Ludwig simply smiled without saying a word.

On the other side of the crowd, when Grand Duchess Sophie of the Habsburg saw Franz Joseph carrying Count Radetzky’s coffin, her expression became extremely displeased. She immediately asked those around her in a low voice, "Who allowed Franz to do this!"

Those surrounding her shook their heads and answered Grand Duchess Sophie, "We don’t know!"

After a while, Grand Duchess Sophie sighed to herself and said, "Sigh! This child just can’t be peaceful!"

...

When the coffin reached the crowd, the people slowly parted, revealing a path outside the platform. At the end of the path was an open carriage drawn by four horses, the carriage entirely black, giving a particularly heavy feeling.

A band was positioned around the carriage, and as soon as they saw the coffin in the distance, they immediately changed songs. The lively "Radetzky March" began to play.

Although the tune of the "Radetzky March" was not fitting for today’s somber funeral, there was no better-suited piece than it.

Because the "Radetzky March" musically narrated the life of Marshal Radetzky, from the beginning of wars (Sardinian Kingdom and Austria’s War) to besieging and conquering (severely defeating the Sardinian Kingdom), and then to triumphantly returning home (achieving victory).

In the sound of "Radetzky March," Marshal Radetzky’s coffin was placed on the carriage by Albrecht and others.

After securely placing the coffin, Franz Joseph massaged his slightly aching shoulder, with Empress Elizabeth beside him, considerately using her handkerchief to wipe the sweat off Franz Joseph’s forehead.

Later, Franz Joseph quietly asked Elizabeth if she would like to accompany him on horseback to the place where Count Radetzky’s funeral was held.

Upon hearing Franz Joseph’s suggestion, Elizabeth couldn’t help but brighten up, yet she thought of the Emperor’s mother, Grand Duchess Sophie, and quietly said to Franz Joseph, "Franz, should we not follow the etiquette officer’s arrangements!"

"Rest assured! I will explain clearly to Mother!" Franz Joseph reassured Elizabeth confidently.

Immediately, Franz Joseph along with Elizabeth found Grand Duchess Sophie.

"Mother, I want to ride with Qianqian!" Franz Joseph said to Sophie.

"Why?"

Grand Duchess Sophie wanted to loudly reprimand the disobedient Franz Joseph, but given the current environment, she couldn’t do so.

"Riding horses is more conducive to bridging the gap between us and the people of Vienna!" Franz Joseph quietly responded to Grand Duchess Sophie, "The reason for holding such a grand funeral for Count Radetzky is also to inspire more people to serve the Empire!"

Upon hearing Franz Joseph’s explanation, Grand Duchess Sophie glanced at Princess Sisi then calmly responded, "Franz, you are already 30 years old! I think you have your own judgment on what to do!

I, as your mother, can’t always make choices for you!

If you think this matters benefits the reign of the Empire, then go ahead and do it boldly!"

Having received the approval of Grand Duchess Sophie, Franz Joseph showed a joyful expression, then left holding Elizabeth’s hand.

Watching Franz Joseph and Elizabeth’s departing backs, Grand Duchess Sophie sighed to herself.

Leaving Grand Duchess Sophie, Franz Joseph and Elizabeth rode two white steeds, walking alongside Albrecht and others ahead of the coffin carriage.

On both sides of the road, the people of Vienna behind Count Radetzky’s coffin all spontaneously (arranged) raised white flowers in their hands, sending the old marshal on his final journey.