Life of Being a Crown Prince in France

Joseph knew better than anyone that in history, London turned gas street lights into its own calling card, which elevated the prestige of the entire Britain and thereby attracted talents and investments from all over the world.

Of course, this was also based on Britain’s own wealth and favorable investment environment. However, the London gas street light project greatly accelerated Britain’s pace of development, which was undeniably true.

Now Joseph wanted to snatch this hot spot for France! Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire

He continued to paint a grand picture for Queen Mary, “Can you imagine, Paris, which used to fall asleep once it got dark, will now be full of vitality under the illumination of gas lights. People will continue to be active outside after nightfall, shops will extend their business hours by several hours, resulting in higher income.

“At the same time, crimes such as theft and robbery that happen under the cover of darkness will considerably decrease with the street lights.

“Paris will become more prosperous and safer, full of appeal!”

He also had some advantages of gas street lighting that he hadn’t mentioned to Queen Mary.

For example, once the scale of use for these things picked up, the cost of lighting would be much lower than candles and oil lamps, allowing more people to afford lighting, improving the quality of life.

In addition, cheap, high-brightness lighting would greatly extend factory operating hours. Well, in plain terms, it meant that workers could work overtime.

Overtime, this thing that ordinary people loathed, was a tremendous progression in productivity at the end of the 18th century!

The same factory, the same workers, my output could inexplicably be 30% more than yours, a production and cost advantage equivalent to a major technological innovation.

Of course, with this came workers’ health issues, which would require government legislation to address. Otherwise, given the ruthlessness of capitalists at that time, one could guarantee they’d make workers work 24 hours a day.

Finally, gas lamps required the large-scale refining of gas, which could stimulate the coal industry, and the byproduct coal tar could boost organic chemistry.

That’s why Joseph attached so much importance to this industry, inviting the Queen herself for the opening ceremony. Once Paris was fully covered with gas street lamps, he planned to take advantage of the situation and hold a “World Expo,” instantly pushing Paris to the pinnacle of major European cities!

When Queen Mary heard that such a trivial thing as a lamp was so important, she immediately agreed:

“All right, my dear, I will definitely attend your ceremony.”

“Thank you! You truly are the best mother in the world!” Joseph casually picked up a pastry that was beside him, feeding it into Queen Mary’s mouth.

The latter chewed with a smile, her eyes inadvertently catching a glimpse of a script by her side—she was a drama enthusiast, not only a fan of watching but often acting herself. This script was for the second part of “Breaking Through the Heavens,” which her theater company was planning to produce.

Queen Mary suddenly remembered the events from the previous night and immediately came up with an excellent idea.

She looked at Joseph, smiling, and said:

“My dear, the lead actor of my theater company recently fell ill. Hmm, I think you are the best replacement, just look at my Crown Prince, more handsome and charming than any actor in the company!”

Upon hearing this, Joseph seemed to put on a mask of pain. Not to say he disliked acting, but rehearsal and performance would take up a lot of time, and he had a pile of tasks at hand to deal with.

However, his mother had just agreed to attend the opening ceremony for the gas street lamps—if he refused now, it would seem somewhat unappreciative…

“Uh…” Joseph hesitated, “Let’s agree on just one performance…”

He had only gotten halfway through his sentence when he suddenly caught sight of the title of the script and felt his heart tighten. Oh no! “Breaking Through the Heavens”? The lead role… That’s asking me to play Hurter Xiao?!

This excessively cliché role, if I can’t get through the first act without feeling embarrassed to death…

He immediately shook his head, “That won’t do, I will definitely star in another script next time.”

Queen Mary held onto him, “Dear, won’t you even help your helpless mother?”

“It’s not that, it’s mainly the script…”

“My birthday is coming up soon,” Queen Mary made her final play, “This play is to be performed on that day. Consider it helping to fulfill my birthday wish.”

Joseph felt a headache coming on. His mother had put it that way; how could he not agree…

He nodded despondently, “Well, alright then.”

“Wonderful, dear!” Queen Mary embraced him, “I will invite all the nobles from the Palace of Versailles to watch. I believe you will put on a very splendid performance!”

“Invite all the nobles?”

Upon hearing this, Joseph couldn’t help but be taken aback. He knew that his mother was exaggerating. A theater couldn’t accommodate so many people, but those who would be invited by Her Majesty the Queen were undoubtedly nobles of no ordinary status.

Well, so this could be an opportunity. He thought to himself, though the production lines for soda and casein glue hadn’t been built yet, it didn’t stop him from advertising synthetic board furniture and soda bubbly beverages in advance.

All the most prestigious nobles from Versailles gathered together would certainly create a huge momentum.

In the time before the products were launched, he could also play a bit of hunger marketing. When the products were finally on the market, wouldn’t they sell like crazy?

Right, he would also need to get his mother to endorse them.

Thinking of this, the bitter look on his face instantly disappeared, and he smiled at Queen Mary:

“Dear mother, I’ve thought of what to give you for your birthday gift. It’s some very fine furniture…”

“Furniture?”

…

North Africa.

Tunisia.

Manuel Jacques de Sanel stepped off the gangplank and immediately felt much more at ease, the constant rocking on the sea having nearly been the death of him.

After waiting for a moment, the servant Victor brought over his precious Gaul horse from the transport ship. The poor animal seemed to have sea sickness too, froth still stuck at the corners of its mouth from vomiting.

“It’s over, the suffering is over!” Sanel took the horse’s reins, raised his arms with force, and cried out, “Tunisia will witness the arrival of its hero!”

He glanced back at the hundreds of nobles accompanying him and instructed his servant, “Mathew, go buy some top-quality oats from nearby. ‘Crossbow’ needs to recuperate properly. I’ll go ask where the assembly point is.”

Mathew, however, stretched out his hands pitifully, “Master, I only have 1 livre and 6 sous left. I’m afraid that won’t buy much…”

Sanel frowned. To obtain a piece of fiefdom in North Africa for his family’s glory, he had come to Tunisia to join the military at his own expense. Indeed, ever since the Crown Prince’s speech, it had become fashionable at the Palace of Versailles for young nobles to go to the front to earn glory with their swords. Upon seeing young men, noble ladies would ask, “Why haven’t you gone to win glory for yourself with your sword?”

Reluctantly, Sanel took out ten silver coins and handed them to his servant, “Go on. Pay attention to the quality, don’t get cheated with inferior goods.”

He had already spent 140 livres from leaving Paris to arriving here.