From Corsica to the Fourth Rome

Four o'clock in the afternoon, Paris, light snow.

Although the snowflakes flying in the air and the biting cold wind made the citizens shiver, standing in the courtyard of the Palace of Justice, every citizen only felt that hot blood was flowing in their veins.

They watched with excitement as Madame du Barry was brought before the tribunal again, and watched her return to her rightful place.

At the same time, many people also noticed that a group of bureaucrats and servants from the Palace of Justice were busy running around inside and outside the courtyard, as if they were going to build another high platform next to the trial court immediately.

The people in the courtyard were crowded together, but they were not noisy. You could almost hear the roar of the wind, because everyone was holding their breath and waiting for Justice Mopu on the trial stage to officially end this just trial.

On the high platform, Madame Du Barry was shivering in the cold wind.

She stared in extreme fear as Justice Mopu walked onto the trial stand, her whole body trembling uncontrollably.

What particularly frightened Madame Du Barry was another newly built high platform next to the judgment seat.

The bureaucrats and servants of the Palace of Justice erected a thick wooden pole more than twenty feet long on the high platform, and were struggling to put a hemp rope as thick as a bowl on the wooden pole.

Looking at the hemp rope that was thicker than her own arm, Madame Du Barry immediately realized something.

She could no longer suppress the panic in her heart, and she knelt down on the spot with an unstable figure. Her lower body also showed an incontinent water stain due to extreme fear.

"Jeanne Bequ, please face this court directly."

Justice Maupe shouted sternly, and coldly motioned to the two assistant judges to lift the limp Madame Du Barry.

He did not have the slightest pity for Madame Du Barry who was kneeling due to incontinence. Political struggle is so cruel. If he had not won the support of Laurence Bonaparte, then he would probably be the one kneeling on this high platform today. This is the justice.

"Jeanne Bequ, the person on trial, this court's trial against you has not yet been completed."

Justice Maupe looked at Madame Du Barry with dignity:

"A few hours ago, you escaped from the Palace of Justice before the end of the trial. This court has enough reason to suspect that you are involved in malicious resistance to trial. Jeanne Bequ, do you agree with this crime?"

Madame Du Barry, who was being held up like an empty shell without a soul, did not respond to Justice Maupe's questioning. She just shook her head blankly and in vain, denying these accusations in vain.

When the people saw that this woman dared to shamelessly resist the evil deeds she had committed, they immediately burst into curses. Justice Mopu quietly waited for the curses to dissipate and announced loudly:

"Since you dispute this accusation, well, come on! Please call the witness, the distinguished Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Corsica, His Excellency Laurence Bonaparte, come to the stage!"

Under the gaze of thousands of people, Lawrence walked out of the main hall of the Palace of Justice, surrounded by guards, and walked onto the court with a solemn expression, almost standing shoulder to shoulder with Madame Du Barry.

Lawrence and Justice Mopp looked at each other, and they both nodded tacitly.

Justice Mopp asked Lawrence to come on stage to testify at this moment, naturally not just for the sake of going through the process.

Although Crown Prince Louis has agreed to execute Madame Du Barry, no one knows how the King will face the news of Madame Du Barry's death after he wakes up.

Under such circumstances, Justice Maupe certainly did not dare to bear the pressure of executing Madame Du Barry on his own, so it was necessary for Lawrence to step out of the darkness and stand on the court with him.

Lawrence also knew that if he did not come forward publicly, Justice Maupp would not dare to directly order the execution of Jeanne Bequ, so he readily agreed to the other party's request.

Anyway, as a personal attendant of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Lawrence's every move at this time was to implement the will of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, so he was not too worried about being held accountable by Louis XV for executing Madame Du Barry.

Justice Mopu cleared his throat and asked loudly:

"Ahem, Your Excellency Bonaparte, you personally brought Jeanne Bequé back to the Île de la Cité. I would like to ask if Jeanne Bequé escaped to the Tuileries Palace as the rumors said, and whether she wanted to Using the royal family to escape the blame she deserves."

"It's consistent with the rumors, Lord Mopu."

Lawrence glanced around at the breathless people below, nodded solemnly and confirmed:

"Jeanne Bequé fled into the Tuileries Palace and tried to coerce the King to escape the trial of the High Court. Fortunately, the wise Crown Prince did not turn a blind eye to this crime. He finally decided to make Jeanne... Bequ returns to the Palace of Justice to receive the justice she deserves."

As soon as Lawrence finished speaking, there was a burst of exclamation among the people below.

None of them expected that in the end it would be the kind-hearted Crown Prince who defied all opinions and resolutely chose justice and fairness.

In the minds of many people, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince must have been arguing with His Majesty the King in the palace just now, and even risked offending His Majesty to carry out fairness and justice to the end. Only then did the damn Jeanne Béqué return. To the judgment seat.

When they thought of this, the people couldn't help but be moved. They didn't expect that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince could do this for his people. First he donated a huge amount of property at a charity auction, and now in order to severely punish Du Barry Madam and offended His Majesty the King.

This is simply a well-deserved wise monarch. Is there any monarch in Europe today who can be so benevolent?

On the high platform, Lawrence glanced at the grateful and emotional expressions of the people, and nodded with satisfaction.

The reason why he deliberately raised the image of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince here was to avoid the wrath of Louis XV in the future.

When His Majesty the King woke up and learned that his grandson had once again harvested a large wave of public support through the death of Madame Du Barry, he must have felt less uncomfortable.

Justice Maupp was also very surprised when he saw the cheering people in a circle. He quickly understood Lawrence's good intentions and couldn't help but sigh that this Monsignor Bonaparte was really good at it.

After feeling a sigh of relief in his heart, Justice Maupe signaled everyone to quiet down, looked at Madame Du Barry and asked:

"Then, Jeanne Bequ, do you have any objections to Monsignor Bonaparte's testimony?"

Madame Du Barry didn't react at all. At this moment, she just wanted to know what these insidious and cunning bastards were going to do to her.

After waiting silently for a few seconds, Justice Mopp nodded, picked up the quill and began to draft a new judgment, and at the same time announced loudly:

"Jeanne Bequ, the person on trial, this court previously sentenced you to life imprisonment on two counts. However, in view of your subsequent heinous crime of fleeing the court and hijacking the royal family, it is necessary for this court to change the sentence."

After that, Justice Maupp dried the ink on the judgment in his hand, solemnly stamped it with the seal of the French Justice, then looked at the people in the audience and said in a deep voice:

"This court hereby declares that the person on trial, Jeanne Bequé, is guilty of all charges of embezzlement of citizens' property, impersonating a noble identity, malicious resistance to trial, disrespect, and bullying. In accordance with French law, Jeanne Bequé is now sentenced to death by hanging. , execute immediately!”

As Justice Maupp's solemn and solemn words spread to every corner of the courtyard of the Palace of Justice, the entire courtyard fell silent for a moment.

The people couldn't help but open their mouths, and some couldn't believe their ears.

In any case, in the subconscious mind of the citizens, Madame Du Barry was the woman beside the unattainable His Majesty the King.

Although today, the High Court has deprived this woman of her aristocratic status and confirmed her humble origins as a street prostitute, many people's perceptions have not been corrected in a short period of time.

In their minds, this woman is still a member of the upper class, a high-class lady.

Almost no one could have predicted that Justice Maupe would actually tie the noose around this woman's neck.

Even the citizens who shouted loudly for Madame Du Barry to die were just venting their anger and had no idea that their words would actually come true.

Madame Du Barry on the stage suddenly widened her eyes, and there was only one word left in her mind that kept playing over and over again - hanging.

Are they going to kill me?

Dare they kill me? !

They're going to put that noose around my neck and rip my spine out in the air?

"You! De Mope! How dare you!"

Madame Du Barry suddenly looked like a crazy beast, trying her best to break free from the restraints of the two assistant judges, roaring and looking at Justice Maupe:

"What qualifications do you have to execute me?! Your Majesty hasn't spoken yet, how dare you execute me?!"

Justice Mopp calmly packed up his documents and seals. His work was over, and it was time for the executioner.

After finishing cleaning up, Justice Maupe finally looked up at the hysterical Madame Du Barry and said goodbye expressionlessly:

"Goodbye, ma'am."

After saying that, ignoring Madame Du Barry, who was stunned, Justice Maupe left the trial platform.

Lawrence glanced at Madame Du Barry who was shouting hoarsely with the same indifference, and prepared to leave.

"etc!"

In despair, Madame Du Barry grabbed Lawrence's clothes and shouted tremblingly:

"Laurence Bonaparte! I know that you and De Mope are in the same group, aren't you afraid of His Majesty's condemnation?"

Lawrence gently patted Madame Du Barry's clasped fingers and said softly:

"I'm sorry, madam, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince wants you dead."

"lie!"

Madame Du Barry didn't believe it at all and screamed at the top of her lungs:

"How could that little fat man want me to die? He can't even bear to step on an ant to death. How could he let me die?"

Before she finished speaking, Madame Du Barry seemed to suddenly realize something. Her pupils shrank, she pulled Lawrence's sleeve harder, and murmured in disbelief:

"Wait. I understand, it was you who ordered the crown prince. You did all this. So did De Mope, so did Edmund, and so did the following people. They were all ordered by you, right! Lawrence Bonaparte!”

Lawrence slowly pulled off Madame Du Barry's hands and said expressionlessly:

"Madam, if you add one more accusation of slander, I'm afraid you'll get in the car and break up."

At the same time, two tall, thick-set executioners with beards walked up to the trial platform carrying ropes and strips of cloth.

They bowed to Lawrence with utmost respect and asked for instructions:

"Your Excellency, the execution will begin soon."

Lawrence nodded and stepped aside.

And Madame Du Barry just glanced at the two rough and brutal executioners, and her legs began to weaken involuntarily.

The chill of death rushed into my mind and spread rapidly through the veins of my body.

"No! Wait, please wait!"

At the last moment, Madame Du Barry used all her strength to break away from the restraints of the two assistant judges, fell to her knees behind Lawrence, grabbed Lawrence's thigh tightly and cried:

"Don't kill me! I. I will give you everything, Laurence Bonaparte. I have money and assets. I will give them all to you. You can have anything you want. I can be your mistress. You can find it." A more beautiful woman than me? Please!”

Lawrence gave the two executioners a helpless look.

Two strong men also hurriedly stepped forward, lifted Madame Du Barry up, and began to tie ropes to her body to prevent her from resisting any longer.

Madame Du Barry struggled desperately and shouted:

"Let me go! Bonaparte! I also know a lot of secrets. Aren't you and the Duke of Richelieu a mortal enemy? I know his secrets!"

Upon hearing this, Lawrence just paused and did not look back.

Madame Du Barry couldn't care so much anymore and shouted directly:

"Richelieu and the British ambassador, they have been planning something. They started exchanging letters long before they met. I also overheard their conversation, with you and the Duke of Choiseul. related!"

Lawrence stood up, turned his head and glanced at Madame Du Barry, then motioned the two executioners to step aside, squatted down and asked:

"Oh? This is interesting, what else?"

Madame Du Barry raised her head happily:

"That's all I know, but as long as you let me go, I will definitely know more from Richelieu, I swear!"

Lawrence sighed slightly disappointedly. It seemed that the old fox Duke Richelieu also hid very deeply from those close to him, so he shook his head:

"I'm sorry, madam, although your information is of some value, we still have to say goodbye."

After standing up and straightening his clothes, Lawrence glanced at the dazed Madame Du Barry, then suddenly leaned over and whispered in her ear:

"However, even if you are about to die, I don't like to owe favors. In return for your news, I will also reveal a secret to you."

As he spoke, before Madame Du Barry could react, Lawrence whispered in a deep voice:

"You guessed it right, ma'am, I did instigate all this."

After saying this, Madame Du Barry raised her head suddenly, but only saw Lawrence's deep eyes.

"you!!!"

She wanted to scream out, but Lawrence had already signaled the two executioners to come forward and gag her and blindfold her.

Amidst a burst of desperate sobs, Lawrence raised the three-cornered hat on his head, looked at Madame Du Barry who was being dragged off the trial platform by the executioner, and murmured softly:

"Farewell, Countess du Barry."