Chapter 69

New book uploaded, seeking recommendations and collections.

Regardless of what the two guys who had drunk too much 1825 Chateau d'Yquem wine laced with cocaine were planning, our Duke Zhu Jishi really had no intention of rebelling—of course, he didn't mind being a guide for future rebels, but he didn't want to take the lead himself. The famous saying, "In the Qing Dynasty, one doesn't rebel, but uses an electric drill on the anus," had long been thrown to the nine heavens by him.

In his view, rebelling was always a matter of risking one's head. So only those who were so poor they couldn't go on would take such a desperate step to rebel and start a revolution. And what did those rebels who risked their lives throughout history really want? Wasn't it money they couldn't spend and beauty they couldn't enjoy enough? Zhu Jishi already had both. The Jishi Bank had already taken on the雏形 of a multinational company, with the pharmaceutical, rubber, and explosives sectors all developing well. If you counted the 20% stake in the Segur Wine Company that Maria Clementina had given him, the Jishi Bank's net assets were estimated to be over 200,000 pounds! 75% of which belonged to Zhu Jishi, or 150,000 pounds, equivalent to 450,000 taels of silver. This was the fortune Zhu Jishi had created in just a short year, truly proving that science and technology are the primary productive forces!

As for beauty, he had just enjoyed an excellent Western beauty.

Maria Clementina had already gotten out of bed, put on a robe, and opened the window. The cool night breeze rushed into the room, dispelling the fragrant and passionate air, and the bright moonlight shone on the tangerine wood floor, casting a faint golden glow.

Zhu Jishi lay on the big bed, legs stretched out, and comfortably stretched.

Maria Clementina walked over, leaning against him with her legs, her long golden hair fluttering in the wind, emitting a light scent of perfume.

This feeling was really nice, with the bright moon in the sky, a gentle breeze, and a beautiful and flirtatious Western princess by his side. Unfortunately, such a woman couldn't be kept in a "harem," well, he, as a capitalist, didn't have the right to build a harem. But that was for the best; if someone like Maria Clementina entered a harem, it would surely lead to palace intrigue!

"Maria, do you know the Pope?"

Maria Clementina was taken aback for a moment, then nodded. "You mean Gregory XVI? I'm quite familiar with him."

She thought for a moment and asked, "Jason, are you planning to be baptized and convert to Christianity?"

"Not for now," because of the unexplainable time-travel phenomenon, Zhu Jishi was now a firm believer in the existence of deities, but he wasn't sure if the deity who sent him here was the same as God, so he couldn't casually believe in Christianity, lest he anger the true deity. He continued, "Maria, didn't you mention before that the Roman Catholic Church could help me set up schools?"

Maria Clementina thought for a moment and whispered, "Jason, are you thinking of getting Gregory XVI to sponsor your university?"

"Is it possible? I think the Pope must want to spread the gospel of the Lord to the upper and middle classes of the Qing Dynasty, right?"

"You're wrong," Maria Clementina chuckled and waved her hand. "Jason, you don't understand my godfather. He is actually... a money-grubber!"

"Money-grubber?"

"I think his love for money far exceeds his love for God."

Maria Clementina smiled, shrugged her fragrant shoulders, and gently stroked Zhu Jishi's firm chest. "But I still have a way to persuade this old money-grubber to provide some help for your university."

Zhu Jishi looked at Maria Clementina's dazed face and frowned. "Maria, are you planning to use the beauty trap..."

"Ha ha ha, where are you going with this?" Maria Clementina laughed. "Gregory XVI is already 78 years old; his manhood probably can't get hard anymore!"

"Then what are you planning..." Zhu Jishi thought, "Besides seducing men to bed, what other skills do you have?"

"Cocaine!" Maria Clementina said, "Our Pope runs the Roman Church like a business. After becoming Pope, he established discount banks, the Roman Bank, the Holy Spirit Bank, and savings institutions. But even more outrageous, he set up a company to sell holy water!"

"Holy water... company!?" Zhu Jishi said, "Maria, are you planning to put cocaine in the holy water and sell it?"

Maria Clementina laughed lightly. "Jason, according to the agreement between the Jishi Bank and the Segur Wine Company, any beverage containing cocaine is exclusively operated by the Segur Wine Company. I think holy water is a type of beverage, right?"

In fact, Gregory XVI sold holy water as medicine, but Zhu Jishi didn't know this. He looked at Maria and frowned. "Maria, you won't refuse to help me, right?"

"Dear Jason," Maria Clementina blinked and said softly, "How could I say no to you? But you can't let me help you for free, right? How about this: I want the naming rights for two colleges, called... the Segur College and the Maria Clementina College."

"Alright," Zhu Jishi laughed, "It's a deal!"

Maria Clementina's lips curled into a satisfied smile. The Jishi University in Hong Kong was the top university in Asia, with students not only from China but also from Southeast Asia and India. With the Segur College and the Maria Clementina College, the Segur Wine Company's brand would be established in Asia.

"By the way, Maria, my business in France is almost over. When are we leaving for Italy?"

"Of course, the sooner the better. Tomorrow, we'll go to Italy!" Maria Clementina said, "Just the two of us."

"Just the two of us?" Zhu Jishi hesitated, thinking, "Louis Bonaparte is already a washed-up political figure. Does his condition need to be kept secret?"

Maria Clementina said, "Although the Bonapartists have significant influence in the French government and military, the Bonaparte family is the enemy of the Orleans Dynasty. If the Orleans Dynasty's spies learn of our close ties to the Bonaparte family, it would cause many unnecessary troubles."

"But... can't Isabella come?"

Actually, Zhu Jishi found Isabella's decision to come to France with him a bit strange.

Maria Clementina smiled. "No, she has other matters to attend to."

"What matters?"

"I don't know." Maria Clementina's answer was one Zhu Jishi didn't believe at all, but he didn't press further because he instinctively felt that the Bonapartists were definitely plotting something. Both Isabella and Maria were involved, and it was best for him to stay out of such intrigues.

Thinking about this, he nodded slightly and said, "Let Bai Siwen and Han Si stay in Paris, Maria. Do you have a place to accommodate them?"

Maria smiled. "Don't worry, I'll take care of everything." She then became serious and said to Zhu Jishi, "Jason, this trip to Italy is very important for your career. If we can save the life of Emperor Louis Bonaparte, the Bonapartist faction will certainly repay you."

Repay? What could they repay? This sounded strange.

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