Reincarnated as Napoleon II-Chapter 170: Before Meeting the Emperor

A week after the meeting in Tianjin, the French delegation entered the outskirts of Beijing under full escort.

The journey north had been controlled from the moment they left the port. Riders stayed on both flanks of the convoy, rotating in shifts while supply carts appeared at regular intervals without slowing their pace. Orders clearly moved ahead of them. By the time they reached the main roads leading into the capital, the route had already been secured.

Villeneuve remained inside the carriage for most of the final stretch, seated across from Remy. He did not speak much. When he did, it was brief and direct.

Remy pulled the curtain aside as the outer walls of Beijing came into view. They were built high and thick, reinforced with packed earth and stone, with watchtowers placed at even intervals. Banners hung along the top, unmoving in the still air. Guards stood at the gates in full formation, their posture rigid as they watched the convoy approach.

"They’ve prepared for this," Remy said quietly.

Villeneuve gave a short nod, his eyes fixed on the gate ahead.

The convoy did not stop for inspection. Orders had already been given. The guards stepped aside, and the gates opened just enough to allow them through. As they passed into the city, the difference was immediate. The streets had been cleared ahead of them, leaving only scattered groups of civilians pushed to the edges, watching in silence. Soldiers were posted along the route at measured distances, ensuring no one stepped into the path.

The carriage rolled forward at a steady pace. Villeneuve shifted slightly and looked through the opening again. He took in the layout without comment—the width of the streets, the placement of patrols, the controlled movement of people kept at a distance. Nothing about the entry felt rushed or unplanned.

They did not remain in the central districts. After some time, the convoy turned away from the busier streets and moved toward a quieter section of the city where the spacing between structures widened and the presence of soldiers became more pronounced. Civilian activity dropped off almost entirely, replaced by official compounds and guarded grounds. The route curved gradually, leading them away from the dense parts of the capital and toward the imperial domain.

The Summer Palace came into view not as a single structure, but as a wide complex stretching across the land. The buildings were arranged in connected sections rather than rising upward. Long halls with yellow-tiled roofs extended across raised stone platforms, supported by red wooden columns. Covered walkways linked one courtyard to another, creating a controlled path through the entire compound. A large lake bordered one side of the palace grounds, its surface still, with a few small boats tied along the edges.

Trees lined the stone pathways, placed deliberately rather than naturally. Guards stood at regular intervals along every approach, their positions fixed with clear lines of sight across the open spaces. Nothing in the layout appeared accidental. Every structure, every path, and every guard placement served a purpose.

The convoy slowed as it approached the main entrance. A new detachment of palace guards was already waiting. They stood in tighter formation than the soldiers outside the city, their uniforms cleaner, their posture more rigid. Officers stepped forward as the carriage came to a stop.

Villeneuve stepped down first, his boots landing on the stone without hesitation. He took a brief look across the entrance grounds, noting the spacing between the guards and the positioning of the structures beyond the gate.

Remy followed, adjusting his coat slightly as he came down beside him.

"This is where it starts," he said.

Villeneuve gave a small nod but said nothing.

An official approached and spoke at once, his tone controlled and formal. Remy listened closely before responding.

"He says we will be brought inside shortly and that we are to remain here until called," Remy translated.

Villeneuve nodded once.

The escort that had accompanied them from Tianjin stepped back, and a new group of palace guards took over without pause. The transition was immediate and efficient. There was no overlap in authority, no confusion in movement.

After a short wait, they were led through the main gate and into the inner grounds.

The path ahead was straight and wide, paved with fitted stone that had been maintained without visible wear. The buildings here were larger and more structured than those at the outer edge of the compound, with courtyards opening between them at measured intervals. Each courtyard was empty except for guards and attendants stationed along the sides, all of them facing inward, watching the movement through their assigned areas.

They were brought to a waiting chamber near one of the larger halls.

Inside, several officials were already present.

They remained standing as Villeneuve and Remy entered.

The door closed behind them.

For a moment, the room stayed quiet.

Then one of the officials stepped forward and began speaking in a steady, deliberate tone.

Remy listened.

His expression shifted slightly.

Villeneuve noticed at once.

"What is it?"

Remy took a breath before answering.

"There is a matter of protocol before we proceed."

Villeneuve looked at him directly.

"Go on."

Remy turned back as the official continued speaking, then translated.

"He says that when you enter the presence of the Emperor, you are required to perform a kowtow."

Villeneuve frowned slightly.

"What is that?"

Remy hesitated for a moment before explaining.

"It is a formal act. You kneel, then lower yourself fully to the ground. Your forehead touches the floor. It is done multiple times."

Villeneuve did not move.

"And that is expected of me?"

Remy nodded.

"Yes."

Villeneuve shifted his gaze toward the officials.

"They expect that from me?"

Remy translated the question.

The official answered immediately, his tone firm.

Remy turned back.

"He says it is required of all who stand before the Son of Heaven."

Villeneuve shook his head once.

"No."

Remy paused.

"You should think about—"

"No."

His voice remained even.

"I do not kneel to foreign rulers."

Remy translated without altering the words.

The reaction was immediate. Several officials spoke at once, their voices rising before the senior official raised his hand to silence them. The room tightened, but the discipline held.

The senior official spoke again, slower this time.

Remy listened carefully.

"He says this is not optional. It is the law of the court."

Villeneuve took a step forward.

"Then your court will have to adjust."

Remy translated.

The official’s expression hardened slightly.

He responded at once.

Remy listened, then spoke again.

"He says refusal will be seen as disrespect and may affect your audience."

Villeneuve held his position.

"I represent the Emperor of France."

Remy translated.

"I recognize one Emperor."

The words landed cleanly across the room.

One of the officials stepped forward and spoke in a lower tone, as if attempting to ease the situation.

Remy listened.

"He asks how you intend to show respect if not through the proper form."

Villeneuve answered without hesitation.

"I will bow."