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Chapter 487: Cracks in the Jacobin Faction

Duport watched the Crown Prince's calm expression, seeming to understand something, and nodded hesitantly:

"Yes, yes, Your Highness, the corruption case of Baron Asturnody is still scheduled for 3 o'clock...

"In that case... I won't have tea. I, I must return to the High Court now."

"Please see President Duport out," Joseph gestured to Eman, then smiled at Duport. "Oh, and please don't forget what I told you earlier: show leniency when sentencing Count Norfolk and the others, especially since they cooperated by exposing others."

Duport was startled. He had initially thought the Crown Prince was merely granting special favor to the high-ranking nobles, as was customary. Now, it seemed, His Highness likely knew all along that the corrupt officials would expose others in court.

A cold sweat broke out on his forehead. 'I seem to have stumbled upon something highly significant.'

"Yes, Your Highness, I will certainly rule impartially," his thoughts raced, and he quickly added,

"Furthermore... after the trial, I only ate lunch and did not go anywhere else."

Joseph nodded with satisfaction. Duport's words indicated that he hadn't visited Joseph, meaning he wouldn't connect Joseph to the officials' exposures of corruption. He was clearly a man who understood political rules well.

That afternoon, the High Court trial resumed. However, Duport and the other judges presiding over the officials' corruption cases were no longer as flustered as they had been that morning.

Facing the officials' ceaseless accusations, they merely instructed the clerk to meticulously record everything before announcing a further postponement of the trial.

In a café across the street from the High Court, Marat watched the impassioned citizens outside the window. He lightly tapped the newspaper on the table and remarked, "Though I don't know how His Highness the Crown Prince discovered those officials' corruption, it's quite clear he was right."

He looked at Desmoulins opposite him, shaking his head with a smile. "The number of corrupt officials he's uncovered alone surpasses the Bureau of Investigation's work for an entire year. At this rate, it won't be long before he cleans out all those dirty officials.

"I must admit, when it comes to fighting corruption, he truly is the guardian of the French people."

Desmoulins was surprised that Monsieur Marat, who usually harbored animosity towards the monarchy, could offer such an appraisal of the Crown Prince. He immediately nodded in agreement.

In fact, shortly after joining the Office of Fair Investigation, he had already developed great admiration for the Crown Prince, but out of deference to Marat's dislike for the royal family, he had never expressed it.

"The, the Crown Prince, His Highness, is, is truly different from th-those vampires," he stammered excitedly.

"I, I heard that the previous ab-abolition of noble privileges, and, and allowing farmers to re-redeem their land, were all initiatives he p-pushed from behind the scenes."

He seized the newspaper, which listed numerous exposed officials, his eyes gleaming. "N-now he's taking on the bu-bureaucracy.

"P-perhaps we should f-fully support him!

"At, at least I can see with my own eyes that he is making France m-more just and prosperous, and the p-people are happier than before..."

Marat exhaled and cut him off. "We cannot abandon our beliefs! While he has done many beneficial things, he could also become a tyrant at any moment!

"Just like Louis XIV, during the later period of his rule, didn't all his glorious achievements ultimately turn into immense suffering for the people?"

He spoke deliberately, "Only a government authorized by the people can guarantee perpetual justice and fairness. We need a Constitution, we need human rights, we need freedom! Not to wait for the charity of a king or his son!"

Hearing this, Desmoulins rose excitedly, declaring loudly, "Why must we shatter a perfectly good situation merely because of certain theories?!

"The British have a Constitution and a Parliament, yet their officials are still corrupt, ordinary people are still oppressed by the gentry, they aren't even allowed to wander, and the police will throw them into prison without hesitation!

"I dare say, if the British Parliament were to govern France, they would certainly not do a better job than the current monarchy.

"At the very least, most of their land has been bought by nobles and wealthy merchants, while French peasants own far more arable land than British peasants!"

Marat's eyes widened as he stared at his old friend, sensing that he had abandoned the philosophy of Monsieur Rousseau and was being blinded by the monarchy—a very ominous sign.

He suddenly noticed something else and exclaimed in surprise to Desmoulins, "Your stutter seems to have improved!"

"R-really?" Desmoulins' previous 'selfless' state instantly vanished. "I, I just wanted to d-discuss the future of F-France with you..."

"Time will provide the answer."

Marat, unexpectedly unwilling to continue the topic, gestured towards the window. "We're likely to be quite busy recently. Look, hundreds more corrupt officials have been implicated."

Desmoulins merely nodded silently. In that instant, an almost imperceptible rift had appeared between the two "standard-bearers" of the Jacobin faction.

...

Versailles Palace.

In the Crown Prince's private audience chamber, more than a dozen pale-faced officials stood, each with their heads practically bowed to their feet, too nervous to even take a deep breath.

Joseph calmly held his teacup, his gaze sweeping over the men. He began, "As you can see, citizens outside have been protesting for two days, demanding that everyone involved in corruption be hanged."

The officials in the room immediately trembled even more violently.

They had all been named in court by Norfolk and others. Previously, they had sought help from the Minister of Justice, then from Brienne, but had been told that the matter was serious and likely difficult to resolve.

Finally, Brienne hinted that only by appealing to His Highness the Crown Prince would they have a glimmer of hope. So they had come here, only to be met with the word 'hanging.'

"Your Highness," an old man at the front stammered, "W-we have always been loyal to His Majesty the King. For heaven's sake, we beg you to intercede for us with His Majesty..."

Joseph glanced at his watch, sensing they had been sufficiently intimidated. Only then did he slowly say, "However, it's also possible that Count Norfolk, facing a severe sentence, recklessly implicated you all in an attempt to absolve himself."

The officials immediately nodded like pecking chickens. "Exactly, exactly! That's it!"

"Your Highness truly is the 'Son of Divine Favor,' seeing through their lies at a glance!"

"We were all framed; we beg Your Highness to clear our names."

"Thank you, Your Highness, you are as just as God himself!"

Joseph swept his gaze over them again. "I will ensure a fair investigation is conducted to clear your names. Of course, this will take some time.

"During this period, I believe you should be temporarily suspended from your duties to demonstrate your stance to His Majesty the King and the public."