Chapter 351 The Two Most Powerful Women in Europe

Chapter 352 The Two Most Powerful Women in Europe

The young nobles who came with Karalis and Marisa began to whisper and glanced at them with a playful look from time to time.

You know, they have been showing off to everyone about the exhibition for more than a month, and everyone's ears are numb.

As a result, they came here with great fanfare today, but saw nothing.

"No, there must be something wrong!" Karalis argued loudly, "My paintings are really exhibited..."

"I have to ask the person in charge of the exhibition!"

Marisa quickly found a steward of Xiali Castle, who took her to the third floor after hearing her questions, and Karalis quickly followed.

The steward opened a utility room in the building, lit the candlestick, and gestured to the table in the corner with an apologetic look: "I'm sorry, honorable lady, due to the large number of termites in room 229, the paintings there have been affected and are no longer suitable for exhibition. Fort Charles will double the compensation for the losses caused."

Calaris rushed up and found her work from a pile of scattered scrolls, and quickly unfolded it, but was stunned on the spot.

Under the candlelight, there were several traces of formic acid and pigment reaction on her painting, and even a termite corpse was stained...

Such a painting would undoubtedly become a joke if it was exhibited.

Filiberto's assistant was very careful in his work. If the boss said there was a "termite disaster", he would definitely arrange everything as if there was a real termite disaster.

Calaris immediately let out a shrill scream and ran downstairs crying...

In the main exhibition hall on the first floor of Fort Charles, Alexandra, wearing the most popular light green dress in Paris that season, had no idea of ​​the bloody scene on the second floor.

She followed all the etiquette and acted like a lady. Accompanied by Alexei and Count Alexander Sergeyevich Stroganov, the Russian ambassador to France, she slowly walked past rows of exquisite paintings.

"This is Mr. Lorrain's masterpiece!" Count Stroganov looked at the painting "Ursula Embarks on a Voyage" on the wall and couldn't help but exclaimed in a low voice.

He is a real art connoisseur. If it weren't for the important task entrusted by His Majesty the Emperor today, he would definitely hold this famous painting and appreciate it for most of the day.

Just after the "Russian Appreciation Group" lingered in the exhibition hall for nearly an hour, a melodious trumpet suddenly sounded outside the Charlebourg, and then the band began to play.

The crowd suddenly became agitated and began to rush out of the exhibition hall.

Count Stroganov looked at Alexei and whispered, "Count Poplinski, they should be here."

The latter nodded. He knew that the "they" the ambassador was talking about was the King and Queen of France.

He signaled Alexandra to walk towards the gate.

Soon, Louis XVI and Queen Marie appeared at the entrance of the exhibition hall. With the reminder of the attendants beside them, they immediately noticed the Russian Grand Duchess and her entourage dressed in gorgeous clothes.

Seeing the King of France coming over here, Alexandra and others hurriedly greeted him and saluted very solemnly: "It is a great honor and surprise to meet you here."

Queen Marie looked at the girl in front of her with thick braids and a very sweet look with some surprise, and smiled kindly: "I am also very happy to meet you. Welcome to the capital of art - Paris."

Afterwards, Alexandra and her entourage naturally followed Queen Marie to visit the exhibition together.

The little girl quickly made way at the signal of her uncle, and the ambassador to France, Count Stroganov, took two steps forward and came to the side of the French queen, saying respectfully: "Your Majesty, His Majesty the Emperor ordered me to express my sincere greetings to you and His Majesty the King."

"Please thank His Majesty for his concern for me." Queen Marie nodded politely.

Stroganov and the queen were also familiar with each other, and they started talking about art. After visiting nearly half of the exhibits on the first floor, he turned the topic to his mission on this trip: "His Majesty admires you very much. His Majesty has praised you to the ministers many times, saying that the financial, military and judicial reforms you have led in France in recent years have been extremely successful, and at the same time, you have also achieved remarkable achievements in foreign affairs that have attracted the attention of the whole of Europe."

Queen Marie blinked, and although she felt something was a little strange, she still nodded slightly. Yes, France has indeed developed well in the past two years, and has also obtained a province in Tunisia.

Stroganov continued: "His Majesty the Emperor particularly admires your North African strategy. With amazing strategic layout, you have achieved fruitful results with minimal impact on the international situation.

"At the same time, His Majesty also highly appreciates your support for our country in the Black Sea and your consistent attitude towards the Ottomans. "

He quietly looked at Queen Marie and saw that she seemed calm. He secretly admired her in his heart. As expected, as His Majesty the Emperor said, the Queen of France was the only woman in the entire European continent who could be compared with her.

As ambitious as she was, and as skilled as she was, they led their countries step by step out of difficulties and ushered in vigorous development.

In fact, Queen Marie was not "calm", but a little confused-what strategy could she admire in North Africa? Wasn't it that their Bey couldn't stand the rule of the Ottomans and admired France, so he came to ask to join France?

What did he support Russia in the Black Sea?

How did they agree with the Ottomans?

What is he talking about? ?

Stroganov took a breath and continued: "In addition, His Majesty the Emperor deeply agrees with the 'Swedish Plan' mentioned by your Foreign Minister Archbishop Talleyrand when he went to St. Petersburg two months ago. His Majesty believes..."

"Please wait a moment." Queen Mary's brain was overloaded. What "Swedish Plan"?

"May I ask what Archbishop Talleyrand said specifically?"

Stroganov nodded secretly. He was indeed a cautious and rigorous ruler. He was worried that his foreign minister's description of the policy was not accurate enough, so he asked me to repeat it in person.

He coughed lightly and said: "Archbishop Talleyrand said that you support Russia's claim to the eastern part of Sweden, and the Gulf of Finland should become Russia's inland sea..."

Queen Mary was getting more and more confused. She didn't know at all that this was a "pie" that Joseph painted for Russia.

At this time, the Russian-Swedish war was in full swing, and Russia's powerful army had gained a considerable advantage. Catherine II must have been thinking about how to tear off a piece of meat from Sweden, but she was worried that the European powers would interfere.

So Joseph played to France's wishes and said that France agreed to Russia's occupation of eastern Sweden. As long as Russia's eyes were still on Sweden, Poland would be safe.

Historically, it was because Sweden defeated Russia in the Battle of Svensksund in 1790, cutting off the latter's thoughts on Swedish territory, that Catherine II turned her hunting target to Poland.