Austria's finest diplomat

Joseph immediately nodded and said, "Okay, I'll go anywhere as long as it puts your mind at ease."

As luck would have it, even without Queen Mary's orders, he was just about to go to Vienna anyway.

He then looked at his mother. "Mother, what happened that makes you so worried?"

"Alas, I have been cared for by Madame Delvaux since the moment I was born," Queen Mary, wiping away tears with her handkerchief, her voice choked with emotion. "She gave me unparalleled love and care."

According to the tradition of 18th-century Europe Nobility, children were handed over to wet nurses to feed them from birth. The seven children of Queen Mary, the mother of Queen Maria Antoinette and the previous ruler of Austria, were all raised by a combination of wet nurses and tutors.

Therefore, for Queen Mary, Madame Delvaux was practically her mother in her childhood, and they had a very deep bond.

It was precisely because Queen Mary lacked maternal love from a young age that she did not want her children to experience the same pain. Therefore, she greatly admired Rousseau's advocacy of "following the natural way—mothers should feed their children themselves," and was among the first mothers in Europe Royal House to practice this concept. After her, the practice of feeding one's own children gradually became popular among France women.

Incidentally, Rousseau spent his life promoting the idea of "mothers raising children themselves," yet he abandoned his own five children in an orphanage (his wife, Therese, did not die), because he believed himself to be "absolutely free"...

Madame Delvaux wrote to say that her health had deteriorated very badly... and she also had a young granddaughter.

"That poor child lost both his parents to fever when he was very young and was raised by Madame Delvaux."

Queen Mary went on and on about Madame Delvaux's granddaughter, finally saying, "That child grew up to be even more beautiful than her grandmother, and many young Nobility pursued her."

"But that beauty also brought her trouble. A year ago, a scoundrel named Walter began harassing her, and despite her repeated rejections, he continued to bother her."

Joseph frowned and said, "Doesn't the Vienna Sheriff care about this?"

"The Sheriff wouldn't dare mess with that Baron Walter," Queen Mary said, glancing at Madame Delvaux's letter. "He's the cousin of Grand Duchess Maria Vitoluca of Grand Duke of Tuscany."

Joseph paused for a moment before connecting the name with the corresponding identity. "Leopold II's brother-in-law?"

No wonder no one dared to mess with that Baron Leopold II —he was about to be crowned Holy Roman Emperor.

Queen Mary continued, "Baron Walter has a terrible reputation, and Madame Delvaux is worried that no one in Vienna will dare to interfere with him. So she hopes that Camellia, oh, her little granddaughter, can come to Paris and I will provide her with protection."

"You know I can't easily leave Versailles Palace, so I hope you can go to Vienna to convey my blessings to Madame Delvaux and, more importantly, bring poor Camellia back."

"Yes, don't worry, leave these things to me." Joseph nodded seriously.

Two weeks later.

Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna.

Accompanied by solemn music played by the band, Joseph, accompanied by Leopold II, walked between the Honor Guard solemnly on both sides of the road.

"I never expected you to come in person." Leopold II was quite enthusiastic, gesturing towards the main gate of the Schönbrunn Palace. "I have prepared a grand banquet for you."

Joseph politely expressed his gratitude, exchanged a few more pleasantries, and then steered the conversation to business:

"Uncle, is there something important that you urgently summoned Archbishop Talleyrand?"

Leopold II gave a polite smile:

"Haha, over the past six months, France has provided tremendous support to our country on the battlefields of Silesia and the Southern Netherlands. His Majesty instructed me to express my heartfelt gratitude to France."

Joseph muttered to himself, "If I wanted to express my gratitude, I could have just given him some Florin. Why did I have to summon the France Minister of Foreign Affairs?"

As the banquet continued, Leopold II suddenly raised his glass and addressed everyone present in a loud voice:

"With the help of our France allies, General Leo has achieved a decisive victory in the Southern Netherlands! I believe that the rebels will soon be wiped out and order will be restored to the Southern Netherlands."

He then smiled and gestured towards Joseph:

"And the valiant French Soldiers will soon be able to return to their long-missed homeland."

Amid the cheers of the Austria Nobility, Joseph smiled and raised his glass in response, but inwardly he frowned— Leopold II seemed very certain that the Southern Netherlands Rebels would be defeated. Yet he had received no reports from the front lines; apart from a recent Hanover Army, no decisive battles had taken place.

Leopold II continued passionately:

"In Silesia, our army taught the Prussia a sound lesson. In several battles in Liegnitz, Marshal Lacy annihilated nearly ten thousand Prussia invaders. His cannons practically reduced the enemy's positions to scorched earth!"

The Austria Nobility immediately erupted in cheers again:

Long live His Majesty the Emperor!

"Marshal Lacy led us to victory!"

Salute to the warriors on the front lines in Silesia!

Joseph was even more puzzled. Austria had clearly made no progress in Silesia, so why did Leopold II speak as if they were on the Triumph?

The banquet ended in an atmosphere of excitement and joy, followed by a ball, and Joseph was finally able to return to his room at 11 p. m.

Shortly after, Talleyrand knocked and entered, quickly bowed, and said with a solemn expression:

"Your Highness, the situation seems dire. Count Kaunitz wishes to see you immediately."

Joseph nodded, gesturing for Eman to help him change into casual clothes, and then quickly left Schönbrunn Palace with two Servant were already waiting outside.

On the Carriage, Talleyrand reported to his superior with a frown:

"Your Highness, according to the information I've gathered in Vienna, Karl II may soon withdraw to Hanover, and the Prussia will also announce that they will no longer intervene in the situation in the Southern Netherlands."

Joseph exclaimed in surprise, "How is this possible?"

"It's said that Count Frenz orchestrated everything, persuading Karl II and William II with minimal incentives," Talleyrand said. "He also recently received an award from His Majesty Joseph II."

Joseph sneered. If Karl II could persuade them through diplomacy, Prussia was at war with Austria; how could they possibly make peace with the Southern Netherlands so easily?

"What do you think?" he asked, looking at Talleyrand.

"It's definitely not Count Frenz; there must be someone else manipulating things behind the scenes. But if the rumors are true, our military presence in the Southern Netherlands will become extremely vulnerable."