Chapter 57: Chapter 57 Lady Sangbellon
Joseph did not intend to interfere much with the specific preparation and establishment process of the Police Affairs Department. He was an outsider in this area, and preferred to leave the specific work to those who were adept at it, while he would ensure control over the overall direction.
The people of the Police Affairs Department all watched as the Crown Prince walked away, each one eager to try their hand.
To tell the truth, when Prosper and the others heard that the Police Affairs Department would be part of the police system, they were quite dissatisfied, even if it was only in name. They had all thought they would be transferred to serve in the Imperial Guard.
However, after learning that they would receive a high salary sufficient to heal any emotional wounds, all their displeasure immediately vanished, replaced by a surge of motivation.
…
When the Duke of Orleans returned to the Royal Palace, his face wore a relaxed smile.
Just as he was preparing to overturn Brian, news came from the High Court that Brian’s latest tax bill contained extremely tough provisions that took no account of the feelings of the nobility.
The High Court rejected the bill even before the process was complete.
It was as if God had arranged it all! This would be an excellent opportunity to deal with Brian!
At the just-concluded banquet, he had easily completed all the arrangements.
First was securing the support of influential nobles.
They would spread the word that Brian would only harm the interests of the nobles, branding him an enemy of all nobles and calling for their class to firmly resist Brian’s policies.
After that, in alliance with the Justice Minister and the Foreign Minister, they would join forces at the Cabinet meeting to push for a motion to dismiss Brian on the grounds of his incompetence and lack of progress on the tax bill.
Meanwhile, the entire financial sector would coordinate from the periphery, releasing rumors that Brian did not understand the economy and that only the great banker Necker could save France’s finances. The banking industry would firmly support Necker and work earnestly with him to improve the economy.
With a multifaceted assault, Queen Mary would be left with no choice but to abandon Brian in order to stabilize the political situation.
Once Necker took office, everything would once again be under his control!
The Duke of Orleans walked past the east corridor with a light step, heading towards his study, but suddenly he heard some unusual noises and immediately stopped, turning towards his son’s piano room.
The door to the piano room was tightly closed, and the sound was becoming clearer. He frowned at the guard standing far away. The latter immediately bowed his head deeply and said softly, “I—I know nothing….”
The Duke of Orleans called out loudly towards the piano room, “Philippe, are you in there?”
Sounds of disarray immediately emanated from inside the piano room.
Moments later, the door was pushed open. A woman in her late twenties, of a plump figure, ran out in a panic. She was the Duke of Orleans’ son’s piano teacher.
The woman’s face was flush, her hair disheveled, and her dress was skewed, obviously hastily put on.
She knelt before the Duke of Orleans, then quickly skirted the wall and hurried away.
The Duke of Orleans entered with a stern face, only to see his son’s shirt buttons were all done up wrong, and immediately pointed at him and rebuked, “How many times have I told you not to mess around with this kind of lowly trash! You could easily find high-born ladies who would be delighted to be with you….”
Little Philippe, though avoiding his gaze, interrupted him discontentedly, “How could any of those young ladies compare to the charm of Madame Hollate?”
“You!”
Little Philippe shrank back his neck and hurriedly turned and fled from the piano room.
The Duke of Orleans was about to explode in anger when he suddenly remembered his own experiences at his son’s age with the adult maids in the house, which were far from innocent.
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He suddenly felt relieved, shook his head, and sighed. At that age, which boy could resist the temptation of those ripe women?
Speaking of mature allure, the image of a woman he saw at the soirée instantly came to mind—Lady Sangbellon.
A coquette, the epitome of seduction. Every pore on her body exuded a temptation no man could resist. Numerous noblemen of high status were bewitched by her. She had at least six or seven lovers.
If Philippe, at such a young age, saw her, he would likely have only one thing on his mind.
He suddenly let out a snicker, unaware that one of her lovers, Count Capefield, had contracted syphilis.
Just the day before yesterday, while hunting, Count Capefield boasted to everyone how he had tumbled with Lady Sangbellon before coming, and he had just been diagnosed with syphilis that very day.
Which means, within a few years, that woman would be covered in sores, emitting the stench of death, and avoided by everyone.
Syphilis, although treated as a boastful tidbit amongst those nobles, was well known by all as a terrifying terminal illness.
The Duke of Orleans knew that, in fact, Louis XV had died of this disease.
How wonderful it would be if they all died from this disgusting disease! He cursed vehemently but abruptly stopped, as if he had caught onto something.
“That’s right! Infect them all with it!” A manic joy appeared in his eyes, “That boy will surely not be able to resist Lady Sangbellon’s temptation, and then she will pass it on to him. Yes, just like that!”
He pondered over the plan carefully for a long time, confirming that the success rate should be high and, even if it failed, he would not suffer any loss.
He immediately called for his butler, whispering a set of instructions.
“Yes, master.”
Several hours later, in Lady Sangbellon’s house, Viscount Valais said excitedly, “He said that if you can hook the Crown Prince, you’ll receive fifteen thousand livres!”
Lady Sangbellon wrapped her long arms around his neck, her eyes bewitching as she spoke, “So much money? Which significant person is so generous? What does he want to do?”
Viscount Valais naturally did not dare to mention the Duke of Orleans, merely waving his hand, “Don’t worry about who it is. That person wants to get close to the Crown Prince, so he needs to know some of his movements. You just need to get close to the Crown Prince and report on his situations, and you can receive an additional reward.”
Lady Sangbellon was clearly very tempted—seducing a thirteen-year-old boy was almost guaranteed success for a shark like her in the game of love, and there might even be additional rewards from the Crown Prince’s side.
The French Court was a mess, and even an affair with the King was not uncommon and wouldn’t matter if people knew.
She suddenly felt that not considering this approach before was a significant loss.
She giggled and nuzzled Viscount Valais’s face with her nose, cooing, “Aren’t you heartbroken to push me into someone else’s arms?”
The latter pinned her down on the velvet mattress and kissed her, “I can still come to you, so what’s there to fear?”
“Oh you, stop it…”
The next day, in Queen Mary’s music room.
A host of noble ladies surrounded the queen, chatting about various gossip to the accompaniment of gentle music.
Queen Mary’s lady-in-waiting, Countess Debreninac, suddenly said, “Next week is Saint Nicholas’ Day; shall we hold the masquerade ball as usual?”
Lady Sangbellon, standing at the edge, perked up at this; the Crown Prince would surely attend the Saint Nicholas’ Day ball. It was an opportunity.
Countless experiences on the battleground of love flashed through her mind, and she immediately spoke up with a laugh, “Every year’s masquerade ball is the same, everyone must be tired of it. This year, I have a great idea!”
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