Solovyov in Tsarist Russia 1796.

Chapter 242 009 The Saint's Battle Flag is probably not this color
"Ma'am, thank you for crossing out the snail. In fact, I heard that the snails used in Europe are fine, but if they are replaced with African snails, they will be very toxic. However, I have never been to Africa, so I cannot verify this."

The giant African snail is indeed a terrible carrier of bacteria and is very lethal to edible snails, but Solovyov's words were somewhat mysterious and seemed to be opening a topic about food.

"I don't like snails either. They look slimy."

"But many people still like it, it's inevitable. There are many delicious foods in the world, but there are also countries like the UK where their cuisine is really not that good."

"Michel, the French cuisine that has been introduced to the UK is very good. It costs a lot to hire a French chef in the UK."

"Madam, where did you hire the chef for your family?"

"It's an Italian chef from Nice. Doesn't that sound surprising to you?"

"Madam, your black hair indicates that you are probably from the south of France. It is quite normal for you to hire an Italian cook."

"Where is your cook? In your house in Petersburg, I mean."

"My stepmother is French, but we hired a cook from Petersburg. Moreover, she never let me learn to cook, saying that an aide-de-camp to the Tsar, a respectable nobleman, was not a chef."

"Then what are you going to do?"

"We officers know a little bit, like making delicious roast meat and fish, and removing the bones from a whole sea bass to make soup. I know all of that, but I don't like making cream soup, and she won't let me do it. But when you're out, especially on the march, you have to know at least a little bit."

"If you say so, my brother Leon really likes to eat chicken, but he always asks the cook to cook it."

"It sounds a bit strange. France is a new country that was reborn after the Great Revolution, but officers prefer to hire chefs. And we in Russia seem to be a backward country. It's just that we have been reforming since Peter the Great, and there are still many old systems, but our officers sometimes look very independent."

"It's just that my brother is an artilleryman, and you know that artillery is always different from infantry and cavalry."

Solovyov had not yet associated the young widow with her brother, and indeed the information he had obtained was limited, but her strange accent was even stranger than what he had heard when he first met the First Consul.

"In Russia, you can also bring good wine and snacks in the artillery carriage."

"They look the same, but I have never marched with my brother. He dotes on me and won't let me go to the army to see him."

"You love your brother very much?"

"I love him very much. If we weren't siblings, I would be more interested in becoming his bride."

My goodness, to what extent is this brother-con?
Solovyov was also waiting for his meal. Polina asked the chef to prepare large portions for him, taking into account the officers' good appetites.

"This foie gras should be real goose liver, not made from duck. When I was in Nancy, I heard from an innkeeper that their small restaurant there always served duck liver, but it tasted good."

"Of course, these foie gras are very fresh. My family uses fresh ingredients. Because my little angel has a poor appetite and often gets sick after returning from overseas. My mother was worried that I couldn't take good care of the child, so she took him in."

"Isn't it good for the child to be taken care of by the grandmother?"

Although Polina was very attentive to her children, she mostly prepared beautiful clothes and high-end food for them. Her level of expertise was clearly not enough to really take care of the children.

"Yeah, but I miss him sometimes, but it's good to know he's okay."

"Sometimes it's better for a child to be raised by his grandmother than by himself at home. Madam, I'm not saying that the old lady must have given birth to many children. I know that the previous generation in France also gave birth to many children, and they are very experienced mothers. It's not like many French families nowadays, which only have one or two children."

"Then you don't plan to get married soon?"

"No, ma'am, I won't get married. Now is not the time."

Moreover, his proposal to Sylvia was rejected, although the two still maintained a very close relationship.

"Ah, then you must have been introduced to a young, pretty and charming wife when you returned to Petersburg."

"Ma'am, you are such a lady."

After hearing this, Polina laughed so hard that her whole body shook.

"Ahahaha, thank you for your comments, sir. It's just that I'm older than you. If we get to know each other better, you'll have to call me Sister Madeline."

After Polina said this, she also thought that she was no longer as cute as she was when she got married at the age of seventeen or eighteen. Her breasts and hips were bigger. Although there was no fat on her belly, she had some fat on her body, making her look a lot fuller.

She still prefers her youthful look, which is not bad now, and her son likes his soft and sweet-smelling mother, so she exercised restraint. After she recovered, she didn't go to bed with her lover for a while.

After all, in her eyes, the child seems to be more important now, and is also her only weakness.

As for others wanting to find something to hold against her, it might be difficult. Compared with her money-loving elder sister and ambitious younger sister, her only weakness is her chaotic private life. Besides, everything is public. Knowing that Paulina is the "public transport carriage" of Paris and has ruined her own reputation, it is no longer considered a weakness.

Of course, this also caused great harm to her body. Her husband's death and her serious illness prevented her from leading a dissolute life. Instead, it helped her recover better. Being young does have some advantages.

It's really outrageous that she is so bold that she wants to recognize a younger brother.

Of course, compared to her stupid brother, Solovyov is still very capable, except for the ability to seduce girls.

You know, the best people in Europe at picking up girls are Italians.
"Yes, ma'am."

"How does this meal taste?"

"Very good, ma'am. No wonder people always say that in Paris, the chefs hired at home are of a higher standard."

"But you seldom drink."

"This has a lot to do with my mentor. He always just wants a glass of sweet wine."

“You can try the champagne here.”

"But not all Russians like to drink a lot."

Especially since he is not only temperate, but also has a low alcohol tolerance.

"Well, we can move on to other topics, like fashion in Paris"

But Paulina has a problem, which is that her level of knowledge is too shallow. However, when it comes to talking about the fashions in Paris, she still has a lot to say.

"But, ma'am, if you mention wigs, sometimes they are not as good as real hair. Although you have your hair short now because of mourning, it looks very charming this way."

"Is it?"

"Yes, ma'am." Then Polina took the mirror and started looking at herself.

"It is just as you said, sir. But I have to grow my hair in the future. After all, wigs are not real hair."

"Sometimes, young girls are also asked to cut their hair, which doesn't look good."

"I think what you said is true. Do you want to tell me a story?"

Ah, Russian or French, Parisian or Corsican, these young wives love to be told stories.

At this time, Solovyov talked about the gift of the Magi, which made Polina cry.

"This couple is really touching. My poor husband, he is so tolerant of me."

This is still real emotion, Polina thinks of her dead husband, that's it.

"If someone can treat my poor son Demid well, I am willing to marry him."

"Yes, ma'am, you will always have a new marriage, a more glorious one."

I hope so. Solovyov has noticed that this lady is still somewhat of a male chauvinist. Although she is easily moved and is not a bad person by nature, it is difficult for her to change her old habits.

That is, she always looks like she wants to eat herself alive, which is really a bit scary. After all, she is a carnivorous black-haired beauty.

However, the day was almost over. Polina had to see her guests off, and Solovyov knew that the distance to this place was a little far, but in Paris, it was still within an tolerable range.

After all, the urban area of ​​Paris is only this big now. The second district, the eighth district and the ninth district form a triangle, and these places are adjacent to each other.

It’s not too far to walk home.

"Thank you for your hospitality, ma'am. If you need anything, I'm always at your service."

Although there was some politeness in his words, Solovyov would indeed come here.

He just relied on his intuition to guess that a young widow who could own a property on this street must be of extraordinary status.

But it is still unclear whether it would be Napoleon's sister, after all, there are quite a few nouveau riche in Paris.

At this time, social relationships are even more needed.

Solovyov still hoped to find out news about his stepmother's family, but he was not such a reckless person, and as a result, there was no reliable news so far.

Back at his apartment at 205 rue Montmartre, he also wanted to have a good rest.

Pierre was out attending events these days and was not in the apartment. Sylvia's letter stated that they had entered France under Belzoni's escort and were heading to Paris.

Adela would be back by then, and now he had no maid or servants.

However, the story I told Polina can be taken out and submitted for publication after being polished.

He also raised this point with Mr. Vigee, and had some other ideas.

It will still take some time, so there is no need to rush now.

But Polina still cares about "prey" like Solovyov.

"Madeleine, don't you think that Russian gentleman is very interesting? He is young, handsome, and knowledgeable."

"Madam, if you like, you have to wait for some time. You are my master, and I support you in everything you want to do. But you are only returning to society now, and you lost the general not long ago."

"Okay, I know."

Paulina undressed again and asked Madeline to close the curtains so that her skin would be in direct contact with the bedding, which made her feel very comfortable.

"Oh, this Michel, I must get him!"

She still had her old habit of being an infatuated fan, falling in love with everyone she met, but because of her poor health, she had not been so unscrupulous recently. She settled down in the Charlotte Palace residence to recuperate.

As for the son, he has been well taken care of by his grandmother recently. This rash and irresponsible young mother loves her son, but she is too careless to leave him to his mother.
We should also forgive her recklessness. It was Letizia's coming to take care of her grandson that helped the child's health recover a lot.

Demid is not the oldest grandchild. Surprisingly, Lucien's eldest daughter, Felicity Charlotte, is the oldest child.

Letizia favored Lucien the most, but he also caused a lot of trouble. Sometimes when the brothers quarreled, it was not appropriate for the eldest brother Joseph to come up and mediate.

But among boys, Demid is the eldest. Even in Europe, if you have a boy, it is actually the same, especially since the nobles on the European continent generally follow the Salic law of succession, which gives you a lot of advantages as an heir.

Of course, Demid is the grandson and Napoleon's nephew, so his rank is still very low.

But Napoleon thought it would be great to have a grown-up boy who could go with him in one of the wars.

He had said this when he went on the expedition to Russia in the future. However, during the period when Josephine might still have children, he was always busy with his career and was not always in Paris. Therefore, he stipulated that the son of Louis and Hortense would be his heir.

Before he became emperor, many things had actually been arranged.

As for Paulina's son, when Napoleon saw him, he thought of the unfortunate Leclerc.

"Mother, this child is well raised by you."

"Napoleon, poor Pauletta and Demid, they still need your care. You must also take care of your family for the sake of my mother."

"Yes, mother. Joseph was the one who arranged it at first, but now, there is a marriage, a suitable job to be arranged, and an heir. There is also a child to be raised. Our family must also be prosperous in the future. We have eight brothers and sisters, and there will be these children in the future. We have to raise them all. Poor Demid, he is well taken care of by you."

"But Polina, she lost her husband. What are you going to do with her? If this continues, she might..."

Among her sons, Letizia may be more partial to Lucien, but among her daughters, it is difficult for her to maintain consistent arrangements for a long time. Recently, she has favored Paulina, who has become a widow.

"My beloved sister always causes me some trouble. So, the man I found for her, mother, is obviously not suitable. However, Prince Camillo Borghese is in Paris recently. This young man is very rich, with a fortune of more than 200 million francs, and he is also interested in Paulina."

"Then follow your plan, Napoleon. The Prince of Rome is a very handsome young man. I hope Paulina will be satisfied with him."

(End of this chapter)