A chivalrous deed

When Joseph saw the report's closing line, "United Kingdom Consul in Tunisia Hollis committed suicide for personal reasons," he couldn't help but shake his head with a smile.

Dai Ying's tradition is indeed old-fashioned; he's absolutely ruthless towards his own people.

Although France had a large number of Tunisia Guard Corps prisoners to testify against, the British Government insisted that it was a false accusation, and Hollis, the only person involved, had died, leaving no one to testify.

Joseph didn't care much about it. After all, France was unlikely to go to war with the United Kingdom at the moment, and he had made a fortune in Tunisia, so he let this little incident go.

He continued reviewing the documents, which ranged from the promotion of scientific composting methods to the construction progress of the Saint-Etienne Industrial Development Zone. From the laying of new Wooden Railway to the development of High-Pressure Steam Engine, from the Royal Armory's trial production of Percussion Cap -fired cannons to the arrival of cheap Russia Flax and United States Cotton in France, enabling Lyon's Textile to begin to turn a profit...

The various matters he had been dealing with were still unresolved by the time the sun began to set.

Overall, however, France's industry, agriculture, science and technology, military, and other sectors have all gotten back on track and entered a period of development. This made Joseph, who was exhausted after a busy day, quite happy.

He glanced at the last few documents, intending to read them all before having dinner.

Next, this is the application submitted by the Paris Police Academy.

The good treatment and attractive career prospects of the Police Academy students have attracted a large number of ordinary people to apply, with some even coming from faraway places like Gascony, Lyon, and Brittany to Paris.

Even though Friant had set extremely high standards for the selection process, he still managed to recruit more than 800 people, bringing the total number of students in the Police Academy to nearly 5,000 across two cohorts.

This far exceeded the capacity originally designed for the Police Academy, to the point that many students had to share a bed with one other person.

Therefore, Friant applied to choose a new location for expansion or to open a branch campus.

Joseph smiled slightly, immediately wrote an address at the end of the application, and asked Friant to continue recruiting. He then tossed the document aside, waiting for it to be sent back to the Police Academy by staff the next day.

That was the address of a Manor, a birthday gift from Louis XVI and Queen Mary to Joseph.

Joseph's birthday is at the end of October. He was in Tunisia at the time, so he didn't really celebrate his birthday, but his parents still gave him a gift.

The Manor was of little use to him; its location near Paris made it perfect for the Police Academy.

The houses in the Manor are all built, and the land has long been leveled. The students can go in, tidy up a bit, and then they can start classes.

Once these 5,000 trainees graduate, along with the Royal Guard Legion, Joseph will have 8,000 elite soldiers under his command. If the Moulins Legion is also included, the total will reach 12,000.

Currently, the total number of troops in France is only around 110,000 to 120,000, and the quality of these troops is far lower than that of Joseph's elite forces. It can be said that, as long as the entire France army does not rebel at that time, Joseph is confident that he can guarantee the absolute safety of the Royal House.

Around 7 p. m., Joseph yawned and picked up the last document on the table.

Somewhat unexpectedly, this was submitted by Denico, the manager of the Paris Business Daily Newspaper Office.

He glanced through it; the content was a complaint about the recent problematic censorship standards of the News and Publication Bureau.

More than half a month ago, the Newspaper Office's news about the "arson case at the Viscount Amboise's house" failed to pass the review more than ten times in a row, preventing the case from being published. After inquiring with other Newspaper Office, Denico found that their news about the case had also been "killed".

Denico believed that the case did not involve the Royal House, had no adverse effects, and had already been heard in the High Court, so the News and Publication Bureau should not prohibit it. Therefore, he used the 《Paris News》 and his relationship with the Crown Prince to complain directly to Joseph.

Joseph frowned. Mono was now in charge of the News and Publication Bureau, and judging from the looks of it, it was likely that the guy had taken bribes again to silence the media for those involved in the case.

"This habitual embezzler..." Joseph shook his head, picked up his pen and wrote a letter to Mono, reprimanding him and telling him to restrain himself, otherwise the Fair Investigation Department would find him sooner or later.

He rubbed his aching shoulders, got up, and headed towards the Dining Hall. But just as he stepped out of his office, he heard Eman's voice from the stairwell. "Miss Freise, if you wish to see His Crown Prince, please submit an appointment request first. If approved, I will send someone to inform you..."

The image of that eccentric, immature girl flashed into Frez Joseph's mind. Wasn't that her last name? What was she doing here?

He leaned down the stairs with some curiosity and said, "Eman, please let her come up."

"Oh, yes, Your Highness."

Soleil, still wearing her dark blue long dress, strode quickly upstairs, her expression somewhat anxious as she lifted her skirt and bowed to Joseph: "Greetings, Your Highness, thank you for granting me this audience."

Joseph gave a slight bow in return and ushered her into his office. "You seem to have something urgent to discuss?"

"Yes, Your Highness." Soleil seemed a little flustered, after all, she had not yet made amends for causing the Crown Prince to "lose Livre" last time, but now she had to ask him for help again.

But she immediately encouraged herself silently: This is for fairness and justice, His Highness will surely understand!

She took a deep breath and looked at Joseph: "Your Highness, please save those two heroes. I know I'm being presumptuous, but I really don't know who else to ask for help besides you."

"Hero? Who are you talking about?" Joseph was completely baffled.

"It's the Maletdu Brothers."

Joseph: "?"

Soleil's large eyes blinked a few times. "Haven't you heard about the arson attack on Viscount Amboise's house? Oh, right, the newspapers covered it up. Those despicable bureaucrats..."

She suddenly realized that the "despicable bureaucrat" was appointed by the Royal House, and quickly changed the subject, saying, "It's like this, Your Highness, there is a poor girl Celine who has been harassed by the shameless Viscount Amboise for a long time."

"Her father was just a coppersmith and dared not rebel. So I secretly helped her a few times."

"Who knew that last month that shameless Nobility would kidnap her and take her to his Villa! I was just about to sneak into that mansion at night to find her when I suddenly saw the Maletdu Brothers appear."

"They bravely set fire to Viscount Amboise's house, and while the people Villa were busy putting out the flames, they rescued Celine. She was indeed reunited with her family the very next day."

Joseph was somewhat surprised. "Setting fire to save people?"

"Yes, Your Highness. There are only two of them; if we're going to rescue people, that's a good idea."

Soleil nodded as if it were a matter of course, then said urgently, "But they were arrested two days later, and the High Court quickly sentenced them to Decapitation."

"Your Highness, they are heroes who helped the poor and needy; they shouldn't die like this. Please, I beg you, help them!"

Joseph immediately recalled the News and Publication Bureau's cover-up of the Viscount Amboise's arson case, and narrowed his eyes slightly, wondering if Mono was doing a good deed this time, preventing the Maletdu Brothers from becoming the focus of news, and thus not letting the media report on the matter?

Perhaps the letter rebuking him doesn't need to be sent.

He asked the teenage girl, "How many people were killed or injured in the arson attack?"

"Viscount Amboise and his three henchmen are dead, and more than ten others are wounded. But they all deserved it!"

Soleil took two more steps forward and knelt on one knee. "Your Highness, the Maletdu Brothers have been Bastille, and it is said that they will be executed next week. I beg you to find a way to pardon them!"

Joseph pulled her up, frowning, and said, "This is a case from last month, why are we going to execute her so soon?"

According to current legal procedures, even with conclusive evidence, it usually takes at least three to five months from sentencing to execution. And this case only happened more than half a month ago.

Soleil said urgently, "I don't know either. I tried to rescue them twice, but both times I failed..."

Joseph's eye twitched. "A rescue? You mean, Bastille?"

"Yes, Your Highness." Soleil seemed unperturbed. "I saw them twice, but the lock on that cell was impossible to pick."

Joseph nodded. "That's not surprising, because my father made all those locks himself."

Since Jeanne, the main culprit in the "Affair of the Diamond Necklace," escaped from the Bastille two years ago, the enthusiastic Louis XVI has had a batch of new locks made for the Bastille, using his own invented double-row tooth technology, which has excellent anti-pry performance.

He then gestured to Soleil, "Please go back first, I will look into this matter."

"Thank you so much, Your Highness!"

After seeing off the eccentric girl, Joseph had a simple dinner and then sent someone to the Versailles Palace that very night to inquire with the Minister of Justice about the arson case.

The following day, Baron de Breteuil came to Joseph's office in person to report on the case.

"Your Highness, those two brothers come from Lesser Nobility, and we've never heard of them having a reputation for chivalry," the Minister of Justice said. "After their arrest, they quickly confessed to the arson."

"I suspect the High Court deemed their actions egregious, and given Viscount Amboise's considerable influence, they decided to expedite the execution."

Joseph frowned and shook his head, sensing that something was amiss.

Remembering that he had to go to the Paris Police Academy that day, he took the Minister of Justice with him in the Carriage and made a detour to the High Court first.

In the office of the Chief Justice of the High Court, Dibore nervously bowed his head and carefully said, "This is indeed against procedure, Your Highness. However, the evidence against those two arsonists is conclusive, and they will be on the Guillotine sooner or later... I will carefully review this case and then submit a formal report to you."

Joseph glanced at him sideways and smiled, "I need to know the inside story of this case, Dean."

Dibore gave a dry laugh, "What... what could be the inside story here?"

"Alright, then I'll hand this case over to Danton. Or you can let the Royal Supreme Court handle it."

Dibore was immediately covered in a cold sweat and hurriedly gestured to the official at the door, "Bring Judge Croix here."

Croix was the judge directly in charge of the arson case. When he saw His Crown Prince arrive in person and learned that the case might be taken to the High Court, he immediately told the whole story.

After a moment, Joseph frowned at Croix: "You mean, Mono ordered you to quickly sentence and execute the two brothers immediately?"

"I swear, Your Highness, I did accept Livre from Count Monod, but he is Cabinet Minister, and he forced me to do it. I really dare not offend him!"

Joseph was increasingly astonished. Mono was using his News Censorship powers to suppress news of the arson case while simultaneously bribing the judge to expedite the execution of the perpetrator.

What exactly is this guy trying to do?

He left Dibore with the words, "Immediately detain Judge Croix for investigation, and keep this matter quiet," before departing from the High Court.

Joseph then summoned Fouche and ordered him to investigate the arson case as soon as possible, focusing on Mono.

The Police Intelligence Division was extremely efficient; just three days later, Fouche presented the investigation results to the Crown Prince.

"Your suspicions are quite accurate, Your Highness," the intelligence chief reported. "The woman named Celine and her family said seven days ago they were going to Tunisia to cultivate the land. In reality, they were murdered as soon as they left Paris. Farmers in the vicinity reported the crime."

"Is it Mono's?"

"Although there's no direct evidence, it should be someone he sent." Fouche nodded. "Actually, we found out that Count Monod's Illegitimate Son, the kid named Anthony who got the right to inherit half a year ago, has been fighting with Viscount Amboise for that woman, oh, that Celine."

"This matter is easy to investigate; many people in Nobility circles know about it. Both men have their eyes on that woman. It's said that Anthony raped her several times before."

Joseph's expression turned cold. "Get to the conclusion."

"Yes, Your Highness. The Maletdu Brothers have a close relationship with Count Monod's son. This time, it seems that Viscount Amboise and Anthony were fighting over the woman but failed, so they kidnapped her."

"Anthony was furious, so he sent his men to 'punish' Viscount Amboise, but those two fools, for some reason, chose to set fire to the place. Oh, perhaps they couldn't find any other way to deal with Boer."

"So, after the Maletdu Brothers were arrested, Mono, fearing that reporters would uncover the truth, suppressed the news. He then bribed the judges to threaten the two brothers not to betray their sons and to execute them as quickly as possible. After that, there would be no way to prove anything."

"That bastard!" Joseph slammed his fist on the table and said in a deep voice, "Have someone keep an eye on the Mono family to prevent that spoiled brat from escaping, but don't take any other actions for now."

"Yes, Your Highness." Fouche bowed and withdrew.

Joseph frowned as he looked at the Investigation Report before him, lost in thought. Mono's case must be severely punished, but after all, he was the Minister of the Interior, the third-highest-ranking official in the Cabinet. Directly dealing with him would have too much of an impact. How could he handle it without causing a serious political upheaval?

However, things took an unexpected turn.

The very next day, almost every major newspaper's front page headline read, "The son of the Minister of the Interior is suspected of involvement in the arson case at Viscount Amboise's house and has been summoned."

The whole of Paris was shaken.