"Your Majesty, the guests you invited have arrived!"

Bourbas’s reply made Jerome Bonaparte feel delighted.

His persistent invitations have finally received the other’s approval, and now he can implement that plan.

"Where are the guests? Quickly take me there!" Jerome Bonaparte impatiently responded to Bourbas.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Guided by Bourbas, Jerome Bonaparte swiftly passed through the corridors of Fontainebleau Palace and soon arrived at a pair of doors with bronze handles.

The doors were made of birch wood, with bas-reliefs of Emperor Napoleon crossing the Alps carved on their surface, covered with a layer of reddish-brown paint, conveying an exceptionally sacred feeling.

Seeing Jerome Bonaparte and Bourbas from afar, the two attendants guarding the door immediately bowed to greet them. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

As Jerome Bonaparte and Bourbas reached the front of Tanon, the two attendants hurriedly opened the door for Jerome Bonaparte.

The door slowly opened, revealing two guests wearing suits in Jerome Bonaparte’s view.

Although both guests in the room were facing away from Jerome Bonaparte, he could confidently identify these two as his desired guests.

At the same time, upon hearing the commotion from the door, the two guests in the room turned to face Jerome Bonaparte.

Jerome Bonaparte finally saw the faces of the two men clearly: one was a middle-aged man in a tawny suit, with a Mediterranean hairstyle and a dense beard, an oval face adorned with two hawk-like eyes, and from these sharp eyes, Jerome Bonaparte seemed to perceive the blazing flame deep in his eye sockets.

Without a doubt, these eyes belonged only to a successful entrepreneur.

The other guest appeared exceptionally young, dressed in a black suit, his gaze revealing a hint of caution and nervousness, his short beard on the chin not concealing the scholarly aura that is only felt in academic settings.

Clearly, this young man should be a knowledgeable scholar.

With just one glance, Jerome Bonaparte knew the names of the two guests before him.

Upon seeing Jerome Bonaparte and Bourbas enter the room, the two guests quickly bent in a semi-crouch, performing a grand gesture, and said, "Your Majesty!"

Seeing this, Jerome Bonaparte quickly approached the two guests, supporting one with a hand, and told them, "You both are here in France at my invitation, you are the most distinguished guests of the Fontainebleau Palace, so there’s no need for such formality!"

With just these words, Jerome Bonaparte immediately won the favor of the two guests.

It is worth noting that when they met Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, both monarchs did not show them such respect as Emperor of France did—they strictly adhered to the protocol before meeting the two monarchs.

In Fontainebleau Palace, they did not undergo any unnecessary procedures—they directly met the supreme ruler of the French Empire.

This special privilege is only given to friends of the Emperor; it seems the tales of the Emperor respecting scientific workers are not unfounded.

Subsequently, Jerome Bonaparte further expressed apologies to the two guests, saying that the Empress is tutoring the Crown Prince, so she cannot meet them, and asked them for understanding.

Upon hearing this, the two guests felt deeply honored, and they quickly expressed that meeting you is already a lifetime privilege, and if the Emperor needs their assistance, they will spare no effort.

Immediately, Bourbas prepared to introduce the names of the two guests to Jerome Bonaparte.

"No need! I already know them!" Jerome Bonaparte raised his hand to stop Bourbas’s introduction.

Under the shocked gaze of the two guests and Bourbas, Jerome Bonaparte quickly grasped the young man’s hand warmly and said to him, "If I’m not mistaken, you must be Mr. William Thomson!"

Being grasped by Jerome Bonaparte, William Thomson appeared a bit at a loss, not understanding how the Emperor knew him, as they were meeting for the first time!

"Your Majesty, you... you knew me before!" William Thomson asked Jerome Bonaparte in confusion.

Of course! Who wouldn’t know you in the future!

Jerome Bonaparte thought to himself.

Indeed, the William Thomson whose hand Jerome Bonaparte had grasped was destined to be an illustrious figure in later generations.

Of course, many might not be aware of the name William Thomson, but when he later became Lord Kelvin, it’s a title everyone remembers.

The second law of thermodynamics is a mandatory subject in high school chemistry.

"This is our first meeting!" Jerome Bonaparte openly told William Thomson, then added, "However, I’ve always been interested in the thermodynamics laws you proposed!

Therefore, to say it’s recognition isn’t wrong!

Mr. Thomson, I believe you can definitely become one of the greatest scientists of the 19th century!"

Jerome Bonaparte lavishly praised, causing William Thomson’s face to flush with embarrassment.

At present, he was only 35 years old, which for a scientific researcher was quite young. For Jerome Bonaparte to predict at this age that he would become one of the greatest in the scientific community of the 19th century was somewhat overly flattering!

Bourbas further regarded William Thomson differently after hearing Jerome Bonaparte’s praise for him.

One must know, the Emperor rarely praises scientists in such a manner, unless they truly produce exceptional achievements!

"Your Majesty, I am just an ordinary professor at the University of Glasgow, and professors like me are countless in both Britain and France!

The praise you give is far more than I deserve!" William Thomson modestly replied to Jerome Bonaparte.

"No, no, no!" Jerome Bonaparte shook his head and declared to William Thomson with conviction, "I believe, with your capability, you will surely become a top scientific worker!"

"Your Majesty, I don’t dare!" William Thomson continued to respond humbly.

Seeing this, Jerome Bonaparte continued to speak to William Thomson, "Mr. Thomson, you are truly too modest!

I earnestly believe you can reach that height, which is why I praise you!

Only a few in all of France receive the same evaluation as you!

If you are still unwilling to believe it, then I am willing to invite you to become an associate of the French Academy of Sciences!

Consider it as my investment in your future!"

When William Thomson heard that he was invited by Jerome Bonaparte to become an associate of the French Academy of Sciences, he immediately felt dizzy, and even his breathing began to quicken.

At present, he was not yet the accomplished Sir Kelvin of 1877; the French Academy of Sciences was as attractive to him as the Royal Society of London.

No, it was even more appealing because the scrutiny for foreign associates at the French Academy was more stringent.

To be a professor at Gracian University and be invited to become an associate at the French Academy was something that the majority of professors could not even imagine achieving in their lifetime!

"Your Majesty, I..."

William Thomson felt himself almost overwhelmed with immense happiness, and although he took several deep breaths, trying to calm himself, his restless heart could not settle.

"Mr. Thomson, are you willing to join the French Academy and become an associate of France?" Jerome Bonaparte gently inquired of William Thomson.

"Your Majesty, I..."

William Thomson almost blurted out "I am willing."

However, as a scholar, he clearly understood that his current theoretical level was not enough to warrant an invitation to become an associate of the French Academy.

If he entered the French Academy on the Emperor’s grace, William Thomson would surely face much criticism, and even if he reached the average level of the French Academy later, many would consider him a fortunate upstart.

For someone with ambitions to climb higher in the academic world, it was truly an endeavor with more loss than gain.

After much hesitation, William Thomson decided to refuse Jerome Bonaparte’s olive branch.

William Thomson first bowed to Jerome Bonaparte, then with an exceptionally earnest expression, he said to Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, please forgive me for not being able to accept your invitation to join the French Academy!"

"Why?" Jerome Bonaparte curiously asked William Thomson, "Could it be that the French Academy doesn’t deserve to invite you to be an associate?"

"No! Of course not!" William Thomson resolutely responded to Jerome Bonaparte, "In my mind, the French Academy can completely rival or even surpass the Royal Society of London!

Yet my knowledge is insufficient to support my entry into the French Academy. I want to immerse myself in the sea of academics for a few years, and after accumulating enough knowledge, I will join the French Academy through my own efforts!"

Jerome Bonaparte did not respond to William Thomson, quietly standing there as if contemplating something.

Seeing the atmosphere gradually becoming tense, William Thomson hurriedly, with a joking tone, continued to speak to Jerome Bonaparte, "You just said that I will become one of the greatest scientists of this century, so I wonder if you could grant this future greatest scientist a bit more time!"

Watching William Thomson, who seemed slightly anxious, Jerome Bonaparte exhaled and, with a smile, jokingly reprimanded, "What accumulation of knowledge! Isn’t it just that you’re worried about your reputation, that by being ushered into the French Academy by me, the scientific community might look down on you!

You scientists all say you disdain fame and fortune, but in reality, you value them more than anyone!"