Brittany Club (2)

"I thought you were being hunted and had come to me for refuge," Joseph laughed. "But you've arrived at the perfect time; you might as well stay for dinner."

He ushered Armand inside, then turned to call out to the maid working in the other room: "Aunt Sophie, please bring another set of cutlery for my friend."

Once he sat down, he looked at Armand and asked, "So, what high-end invitation have you received this time that requires me to go and show my support?"

"I have indeed received a special invitation—to perform at the Palais-Royal," Armand boasted, not without a hint of pride.

"Ah, you've truly made a name for yourself now," Joseph chuckled.

At that moment, Sophie brought over the cutlery.

"Aunt Sophie, please fetch that bottle of brandy from my cabinet. I want to have a drink with Armand to celebrate," Joseph said, clearly pleased.

"Understood," Sophie replied, then turned to leave.

"However, Armand, I'm afraid I won't be able to attend this performance of yours," Joseph said, feigning deep regret. The outbreak of the French Revolution was imminent. Although Joseph's knowledge of history from his past life was learned from a gym teacher, he knew that in the period following the Revolution—and until his convenient younger brother Napoleon stepped onto the political stage—the political situation in France would be a chaotic revolving door of power. One day they would hang aristocrats and royalists from lampposts, the next day profiteers and traitors, and the day after that, it would be the turn of the sans-culottes and hoodlums. In short, the political shifts were too violent and dangerous. Joseph felt it was best to keep a certain distance from those political figures for now.

"No, no, no, Joseph, you've misunderstood," Armand said. "The invitation I mentioned isn't for this performance. I know you're busy, and since this isn't the premiere, I wasn't planning on inviting that many friends anyway."

"Then what invitation are you talking about?" Joseph felt a vague, ominous premonition.

"It's an invitation to a club," Armand said, pulling the letter from his pocket and handing it over.

Joseph took the letter and glanced at the envelope first. It was addressed to: "To Mr. Joseph Bonaparte." The signature at the bottom was written in a flamboyant, calligraphic script: "Maximilien François Marie Isidore de Robespierre."

Joseph hadn't yet processed who this was when Aunt Sophie returned with the brandy.

"Thank you, Aunt Sophie." Armand took the bottle, poured a glass for himself, and then poured half a glass for Joseph.

"Maximilien François Marie Isidore de Robespierre... Robespierre!" Joseph finally realized who it was, and the surname at the end of that long string of names broke him out in a cold sweat.

"That's right, Deputy Robespierre. The Incorruptible," Armand replied while drinking.

Joseph lowered his head to pull the letter from the envelope, using the action to mask his terror.

"What is it, Joseph?" Armand noticed something was off and asked, "If you're too busy, you don't have to go. After all, it's just a club invitation; what could be the problem?"

If I could avoid it, who the hell would want to go! Joseph thought. He knew that if he didn't go now because he was "busy with scientific research," Robespierre probably wouldn't be too angry. But Robespierre not being angry now didn't mean he wouldn't be angry in the future.

Robespierre wasn't angry now because his status wasn't higher than Joseph's, and he couldn't do much to him. But in the future, when wealthy cities lay at his feet and a powerful nation was in his hands, when a single word from him could send those who offended him to the guillotine—would he still be so tolerant when he remembered this incident? Joseph had absolutely no confidence in that. After all, this was the legendary "murderous demon" Robespierre!

However, this invitation was for the "Brittany Club," not the "Jacobin Club." (Since Joseph's history was taught by a gym teacher, he didn't know that the Brittany Club was the predecessor to the Jacobin Club.) Joining it shouldn't be too fatal, right? Besides, not everyone who joined the Jacobin Club ended up on the guillotine. But if one were marked by the "Great Demon," the chances of avoiding the guillotine would be much slimmer.

"I suppose I can find the time to attend," Joseph said, looking up. "Of course, I am different from those deputies; it's unlikely I'll attend every one of their gatherings."

"That goes without saying, that's not a problem at all," Armand said. Judging by his expression, he had no idea how much trouble he had just caused Joseph.

"Very well, I am honored to receive this invitation," Joseph said.

"Shall we have a toast, then?" Armand never missed an opportunity to drink with others.

"Fine." Joseph put on a face full of smiles and raised his glass...

After seeing Armand off, Joseph couldn't help but curse, "Damn it!" This classmate was truly a magnet for trouble; he had gone and provoked the Great Demon himself. This was just...

But cursing wouldn't solve the problem now. So, Joseph had to calm himself down before carefully considering how to handle the situation.

The time specified in the invitation arrived quickly. Joseph changed his clothes, boarded a light carriage, left Paris, and arrived at the Royal Tennis Court near Versailles. The National Constituent Assembly held its meetings here, and the "Friends of the Constitution Club" now used one of the halls in the Royal Tennis Court as their meeting place.

Joseph stepped out of the carriage outside the gates of the Royal Tennis Court and handed his invitation to the doorman. A moment later, he saw a neatly dressed young man walking toward him.

"Are you Mr. Bonaparte? I am Robespierre, a deputy of the National Constituent Assembly." The young man extended his hand toward Joseph.

"I am very pleased to have received your invitation," Joseph replied.

Robespierre led Joseph into the Royal Tennis Court, pointing out the various buildings as they walked.

When the two entered the activity hall of the "Friends of the Constitution Club," it was already packed with people. Robespierre chatted with others from time to time, introducing Joseph to his friends. His face was full of smiles, showing none of the aura of a "Great Demon."

"Oh, Bonaparte, I didn't expect to see you here." Just as Joseph was following Robespierre to talk to his friends, a voice called out.

Joseph turned his head and saw the Duke of Orleans striding toward them.

"Your Highness, I didn't expect to see you here either?" Joseph said while bowing.

"No need for such formalities, we are old friends," the Duke of Orleans said, patting him on the shoulder affectionately. "What? Surprised to see me at the Brittany Club? There's nothing strange about that; I am also a supporter of constitutionalism and a member of the Brittany Club."

Indeed, high-ranking nobles like the Duke of Orleans and the Marquis de Lafayette were all members of the Brittany Club, and for a time, they were even its leaders.

In fact, in the original history, the Brittany Club—which later became the Jacobin Club—only turned into a radical leftist organization when the trial of Louis XVI began. Due to differing attitudes toward the King, the Jacobin Club split. In the club elections, Robespierre, who advocated for the death penalty for the King, was elected president, while a group of royalists led by the Marquis de Lafayette left the club. Only then did the Jacobin Club become a radical leftist organization. The Duke of Orleans, however, remained in the Jacobin Club, hoping to use the power of the Jacobins to kill Louis XVI so he could become the King of France himself. In the end, his scheme backfired, and he ended up on the guillotine instead.

"Bonaparte, let me introduce you to a friend. He has actually been wanting to meet you for a long time," the Duke of Orleans said.

He looked left and right, then told a servant following him, "Go over there and call Gilbert."

The servant headed to the left. Joseph followed him with his eyes and saw a tall, middle-aged man in a wig talking to someone. The servant walked over, waited for the man to finish his conversation, and whispered something to him. Joseph then saw the man look up and glance in their direction. He clearly noticed Joseph, smiled at him, and strode over.

"Gilbert, let me introduce you to a friend," the Duke of Orleans said. "This is our genius scientist, Bonaparte—well, he shares my name, Joseph Bonaparte. He's the one who accurately measured the speed of light."

He then turned to introduce the tall, middle-aged man to Joseph: "This is the Marquis de Lafayette, the hero of the American Revolution."

Joseph knew a little about this man, thanks to forums in his later life where someone once asked how to view the "God-Emperor's" claim that if it weren't for America, the French would all be speaking German. Someone had replied: "If it weren't for the French army led by Lafayette sent by King Louis to aid America, Washington would have been hanged by the British for treason—though the God-Emperor would still be speaking English, his title would just change from President to Governor-General." Then, some troublemakers gave Louis XVI the honorary title of "Father of the United States."

After arriving in this era, Joseph knew even more: because Lafayette was one of the few French generals who had won a war against the British, he held high prestige in the military. Thus, he bowed to the Marquis de Lafayette and said, "It is an honor to meet you, Marquis."