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Chapter 57: Madame de Semberant

Joseph had no intention of interfering too much with the specific preparations and establishment of the Police Intelligence Bureau. He was an outsider in that field, preferring to leave the detailed work to those skilled in it, while he focused solely on controlling the overall direction.

The members of the Police Intelligence Bureau watched the Crown Prince's receding figure, all of them brimming with eager anticipation.

To be honest, Prosper and the others had been quite dissatisfied when they first heard that the Police Intelligence Bureau would nominally fall under the police system. They had initially expected to be transferred to the Imperial Guard.

However, upon learning that they would receive a generous salary sufficient to mend any emotional scars, all discontent instantly vanished, replaced by a surge of vigor throughout their bodies.

...

The Duke of Orleans returned to the Palais-Royal with a relaxed smile on his face.

Just as he was preparing to topple Archbishop Brienne, news arrived from the High Court that the latest Tax Bill submitted by Brienne contained extremely rigid clauses, completely disregarding the sentiments of the nobility.

The High Court rejected the bill before even completing the procedural review.

It was as if God himself had orchestrated it! This would be a golden opportunity to deal with Brienne!

First, he secured the support of the influential great nobles.

They would spread rumors, claiming that Brienne would only harm the interests of the aristocracy, that he was an enemy to all nobles, and they would rally the noble class to resolutely resist the policies Brienne implemented.

Then, he formed an alliance with the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and they would jointly push for a motion to dismiss Brienne at the cabinet meeting, citing his incompetence and lack of progress on the Tax Bill.

Simultaneously, people throughout the financial sector would coordinate from the outside, spreading rumors that Brienne lacked economic understanding and that only the great banker Necker could save France's finances. The banking industry would firmly support Necker and cooperate wholeheartedly with him to improve the economy.

Under such a concerted attack from multiple sides, the Queen would have no choice but to abandon Brienne to stabilize the political situation.

'Once Necker takes office, everything will fall back under my control!'

The Duke of Orleans walked briskly down the east corridor towards his study but suddenly heard some peculiar noises. He stopped in his tracks and turned towards his son's piano room.

The piano room door was tightly shut, and the sounds grew clearer. He frowned, looking at the guard standing far off. The latter immediately bowed his head deeply and whispered, 'I... I don't know anything...'

The Duke of Orleans called out loudly towards the piano room, "Philippe, are you in there?"

Scrambling sounds immediately emanated from within the piano room.

A moment later, the door was pushed open. A plump woman, nearly thirty years old, rushed out in a panic. It was none other than the Duke of Orleans' son's piano teacher, Madame Holrat.

The woman's face was flushed, her hair disheveled, and her dress was askew, clearly having been hastily pulled on.

She curtsied to the Duke of Orleans, then hurried away, hugging the wall.

The Duke of Orleans entered, grim-faced, to find his son's shirt buttons incorrectly fastened. He immediately pointed at him and reprimanded, "How many times have I told you not to mess around with such common types! You could easily pursue young ladies of noble birth; they would be delighted to..."

Young Philippe, though avoiding his father's gaze, interrupted him with annoyance, "How can those young girls compare to Madame Holrat's allure?"

"You!"

Young Philippe shrank back, then hastily turned and fled from the piano room.

The Duke of Orleans was about to erupt in anger but suddenly recalled his own illicit encounters with the household's adult maids when he was his son's age.

He felt a wave of understanding, shaking his head with a sigh. 'At that age, what boy could resist the charms of mature women?'

Mentioning seductive allure, the image of Madame de Semberant, whom he had just seen at the wine party, immediately flashed through his mind.

A dazzling, utterly seductive siren. Every pore on her body exuded an irresistible allure to men. Countless high-born nobles were utterly infatuated with her. She had at least six or seven lovers.

If a boy of Philippe's age were to meet her, his mind would likely only be filled with one thing.

He suddenly let out a sneer. 'That wanton woman doesn't know that one of her lovers, Comte de Kaunitz, has already contracted syphilis.'

Just the day before yesterday, during the hunting trip, Comte de Kaunitz was still boasting to everyone about how he had passionately made love with Madame de Semberant before arriving, and he had just been diagnosed with syphilis that very day.

'Which means that woman will have a face covered in sores within a few years, exuding the stench of death, becoming a pariah that everyone avoids.'

Syphilis, although treated by nobles as a boastful topic for their amorous exploits, everyone knew it was a terrible incurable disease.

The Duke of Orleans knew that Louis XV had actually died from this very illness.

'If only their entire family would die from this disgusting disease!' He cursed viciously, then suddenly paused, as if he'd grasped an idea.

"Exactly! Let them all catch this!" His eyes gleamed with wild joy. "That boy will surely be unable to resist Madame de Semberant's allure, and then she'll infect him. Yes, that's it!"

He pondered it carefully for a long time, confirming that the chance of success should be high, and even if it didn't work, he had nothing to lose.

He impatiently summoned his butler and whispered some instructions to him.

"Yes, my lord."

A few hours later, at Madame de Semberant's home, Vicomte de Vales said with an excited expression, "He said that as long as you can seduce the Crown Prince, you'll receive fifteen thousand livres!"

Madame de Semberant wrapped her slender arms around his neck, her eyes flashing seductively. "So much money? Which influential figure is so generous? What does he want?"

Vicomte de Vales naturally dared not mention the Duke of Orleans, merely waving his hand. "Don't worry about who it is. He wants to align himself with the Crown Prince, so he needs to know his movements. All you have to do is get close to the Crown Prince, report on his activities, and you'll receive additional payment."

Madame de Semberant was clearly intrigued—seducing a thirteen-year-old boy was a sure thing for a seasoned seductress like her. Perhaps the Crown Prince might even offer further rewards himself.

The French court was rife with scandal; even getting involved with the King was not uncommon, and being known for it hardly mattered.

She suddenly felt it was an immense missed opportunity that she hadn't thought of this path before.

She giggled charmingly, nuzzling his face with her nose, and said in a sweet, coquettish voice, "You're pushing me into another man's arms; won't that break your heart?"

The latter pulled her onto the velvet mattress and lowered his head to kiss her. "It's not like I can't still come to you, so what's there to be afraid of?"

"Oh, stop it..."

The next day, in Queen Marie's music room.

A throng of noblewomen surrounded the Queen, chatting about all sorts of gossip to the accompaniment of soothing music.

Comte de Polignac, the Queen's lady-in-waiting, suddenly said, "Next week is Saint Nicholas' Day; should we hold the customary masquerade ball?"

Madame de Semberant, standing at the edge, felt a thought spark in her mind upon hearing this. 'The Saint Nicholas' Day ball, the Crown Prince will surely attend. This is an opportunity.'

Countless romantic experiences flashed through her mind. She immediately smiled and declared loudly, "The masquerade balls are the same every year; everyone must be tired of them. I have a great idea this year!"