Franz Joseph once again apologized to Princess Mary and promised that he would find a suitable opportunity for another outing.

After all, Franz Joseph still preferred to go out with his innocent and lively little cousin (Elizabeth), as being with Elizabeth was the only time he could escape from the dull court environment and experience a whole new feeling he had never felt before.

However, Franz Joseph had not yet thought of how to tactfully express his thoughts to his future mother-in-law.

Thinking of this headache-inducing issue, Franz Joseph couldn't help but glance at his mother, hoping she could see his inner thoughts clearly, then change his marriage partner to free him from this "torment."

Hope ultimately remains hope; Franz Joseph didn't know that his mother, Empress Dowager Sophie, who had a strong controlling desire, didn't like Elizabeth.

In Elizabeth, she saw a shadow of her own past rebellious self... a past that Empress Dowager Sophie did not wish to recall.

The protagonist of those memories was her and a close friend who had passed away many years ago.

Fearing that Elizabeth would repeat the same mistakes, Sophie was obviously more inclined to have Helen, who was knowledgeable, graceful, and controlled by etiquette, as her daughter-in-law.

In this way, she could still remotely command the entire Habsburg political situation as Empress Dowager.

However, would Franz Joseph really marry Helen obediently as she wished?

...

Leaving the cabin, Franz Joseph once again came before Elizabeth (Princess Sisi) and Helen, to apologize to them for today's abruptly ended outing.

After then giving a hand-kissing salute to Helen and Elizabeth respectively, he left.

Standing to the side, Metternich noticed that when Franz Joseph kissed Princess Helen's hand, his action was very perfunctory, as if it was a routine task. However, when kissing Princess Elizabeth's hand, the Emperor appeared extraordinarily solemn, as if performing a sacred act.

As a former Austrian playboy, Metternich instantly realized that Franz Joseph was not attracted to the Habsburg mode-conforming Princess Helen but was instead smitten with the out-of-place Princess Elizabeth.

Then Metternich thought of the character flaws of his student, Franz Joseph, and Empress Dowager Sophie's attitude towards Elizabeth, causing him to feel apprehensive about Franz Joseph's upcoming wedding.

"Teacher Metternich, let's go!" Franz Joseph said to Metternich warmly yet authoritatively.

"At your command!" Prince Metternich, coming back to his senses, nodded promptly.

Franz Joseph and Prince Metternich walked forward with a half-body distance apart and quickly reached the Cuirassiers' location.

The Cuirassiers Major and his soldiers, upon seeing Franz Joseph's arrival, promptly kneeled and saluted Franz Joseph.

"Rise!" Franz Joseph gently raised his hand and then inquired about the whereabouts of the carriage.

The Cuirassiers Major explained to Franz Joseph that due to the uncertain duration of Franz Joseph and the others' outing, the carriage had returned to Vienna first.

With no extra carriages nearby and not wanting to wait, Franz Joseph had to lower himself into Metternich's carriage and returned to Vienna with him.

As for Mei Quan Palace's head steward, he was "abandoned" on the spot by Franz Joseph to take care of Empress Dowager Sophie and Princess Mary.

Prince Metternich and Franz Joseph got into the carriage, and it quickly sped off, soon arriving at Mei Quan Palace.

Upon returning to Mei Quan Palace, Franz Joseph immediately issued orders to his aide.

The orders required the Austrian Empire military, represented by Count Hess (Minister of War of Austria), and the Austrian Empire Government, represented by Count Baur and Minister Ba (Minister of Internal Affairs, with Count Baur handling external affairs and Bach managing internal affairs), to arrive at Mei Quan Palace's conference hall by seven in the evening.

Once the orders were given, dozens of Cuirassiers rode off to deliver the messages.

Time silently passed, and the setting sun climbed from the branches to the leaves.

At last, as the final ray of sunlight vanished from the leaves, night fell, and the cold wind began.

The winter wind made a rustling noise, mercilessly hitting the glass windows, causing them to emit sounds like old gears lacking oil.

At this moment, Mei Quan Palace was brightly lit, and carriages drove in from the darkness, parking in a space before the palace.

The carriage doors opened, and government officials and military leaders alighted, gathering in groups of threes and twos to shake hands warmly and inquire about each other's well-being.

Led by the Emperor's aide, everyone entering Mei Quan Palace proceeded into its conference hall.

Under the lit crystal chandelier stands a long rectangular table, seated at its head, facing the conference hall's main entrance, was Franz Joseph, who had called them together, and seated immediately to his left was Prince Metternich.

The attendees of the meeting hall displayed various expressions upon seeing Metternich arrive.

Among them, Count Baur, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, had the most complex expression, a mix of surprise and a hint of wariness.

After all, it's not a good sign for Advisor Metternich to be present at this meeting.

There might be significant changes in the Cabinet if things don't go well.

"Please take your seats, everyone," Franz Joseph, with no discernible emotion on his face for reference, extended his hand to invite everyone present to sit.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" The attendees all bowed to Franz Joseph and followed his order to take their seats.

Government officials, led by Count Baur, intuitively sat to the left of Franz Joseph, while the military, represented by Minister Hess, sat to his right.

However, Count Baur sat at the second position on the left, whereas Minister Hess occupied the first position.

The authority of the Minister of Foreign Affairs seemed, in some unspoken way, to be less than that of the Minister of War, and Advisor Metternich, matching against the Minister of War, left Baur unsure whether this was the Emperor's inadvertent arrangement or an intentional one, creating a sense of urgency.

Could it be that His Majesty is already displeased with me?

Sitting in his armchair, Count Baur secretly questioned himself, then once again reviewed his diplomatic strategy over this period.

After repeatedly assuring himself that there had been no failures in his diplomatic efforts, Count Baur felt a little more at ease internally.

Sitting at the center, Franz Joseph expressionlessly surveyed the surroundings, then turned to Prince Metternich and said calmly, "Prince Metternich, you may begin!"

Begin? Begin what?

Everyone present looked at Metternich with confusion, still not understanding what was happening.

Pushed to the forefront by Franz Joseph, Prince Metternich immediately realized this was Franz Joseph's "retaliation" against him.

Alas! His Majesty's methods are still too naive!

Prince Metternich sighed inwardly, then reported the news from France to those present with a solemn expression.

"According to intelligence from the Imperial French Embassy, the French Empire has drafted a plan to invite the Sardinian Kingdom to join the war against the Russian Empire! Should the Sardinian Kingdom and the French Empire fight side by side, it would inevitably pose a certain degree of threat to the Empire's borders!"

Upon hearing this, everyone present showed changes in their expressions, with Count Baur looking the most grim.

One might say that the French Empire inviting the Sardinian Kingdom to participate in the war against Russia inherently undermines Count Baur's balance system (which he believed he had learned from Grand Duke Schwarzenberg and Prince Metternich and could also satisfy Franz Joseph's ideas).

"Provocation!" Minister Hess exclaimed, then added, "This is a provocation by the French Empire against the Austrian Empire!"

"Minister Hess, there's no need to be so agitated!" Franz Joseph reminded gently, tapping the table lightly.

"Your Majesty!" Minister Hess had to lower his voice as he responded to Franz Joseph, "The French Empire's intent is to drag us into the war against the Russian Empire! Once Austria declares war on the Russian Empire, the Russian Empire will undoubtedly support the Slav nations in our borders to revolt! At that time, Poland will inevitably rise! The Apennine Peninsula will also be plunged into chaos! The Austrian Empire's esteemed status in the German Region and the world will plummet from its heights! The French Empire will replace Austria's international status."

"However, Minister Hess!" Franz Joseph clasped his hands, leaning slightly forward as he seriously responded to Hess, "If the Empire doesn't declare war on the Russian Empire, we would likewise face threats in the Apennine Peninsula."

"Your Majesty, please rest assured!" Minister Hess assured Franz Joseph with conviction, "The French Empire is merely bluffing. With their current military strength, it's impossible for them to sustain a two-front war!"

Upon hearing Hess's guarantee, Franz Joseph swayed internally once more.

"Minister Hess, do you truly understand France?" At this moment, Prince Metternich's voice came from directly opposite Minister Hess.

"Of course!" Minister Hess replied to Prince Metternich with a hint of arrogance in his tone, "I had the privilege of being selected by Emperor Franz (Franz's grandfather, the last emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, and the first emperor of the Austrian Empire) to serve as Austria's Military Officer in France. I know France very well!"

"Then how many standing troops does the French Empire have?" Prince Metternich asked Minister Hess.

"426,000!"

"Wrong!" Prince Metternich refuted and then added, "The current total of the French Army is approximately 600,000!"

As soon as Metternich finished speaking, the military representatives were all visibly shocked.

"Impossible!" Minister Hess shook his head, speaking with absolute certainty to Prince Metternich.

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