North America 1849, from Gold Rush to Warlord

Chapter 197 The Art Student Who Failed the Exam
In Vienna, Austria, Azu and the Habsburg Emperor, Franz Joseph I, reached a series of arms deals.

In Vienna, Azu and the women also experienced the city's romantic and rich artistic and musical atmosphere.

At the Burgtheater in Vienna, Azu, along with several girls, drowsily received a refined education in art and music.

Compared to opera, Azu was more interested in Vienna's art.

While visiting the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts, I suddenly thought of that art student who failed the entrance exam decades later.

"Principal, if in the future an art student named Adolf applies to the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts, please be sure to accept him...!"

Facing the principal of the art academy who was accompanying him on the visit, Azu couldn't help but make a terrible joke.

"A candidate named Adolf...!" The principal was completely dumbfounded.

"Your Excellency Earl of Gold Mountain, what is your relationship with this Adolf?"

Azu smiled and shook his head.

The headmaster was even more puzzled: "Then, Your Excellency, why did you recommend this candidate, Adolf?"

Azu said solemnly, "Principal, believe me, if the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts accepts this candidate, it may save the whole world a lot of trouble!"

“Was…?” (German: What…?)

Faced with the shocked principal, Azu did not offer much explanation.

He was well aware, of course, that his little joke would have no impact on the future course of history.

Because at this time, it was still more than thirty years since that little mustache was born.

It was more than fifty years before the mustache applied to the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts.

But the conscientious principal remembered the name.

After Azu and his group left, the principal personally recorded Adolf's name in his principal's memo.

Recommended personally by a distinguished count, this art candidate, Adolf, must be someone of considerable importance.

We must recruit Adolf into the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts in the future.

The current principal certainly can't do that.

But what if a future school principal sees this senior's memo...? The outcome is hard to predict!
……

After leaving Vienna, Azu and his party traveled by boat up the beautiful Danube River, heading straight for the Kingdom of Bavaria.

When the ship passed the border between Austria and Bavaria, in a small town called Braunau, Azu made a point of disembarking there and visited the town, which is located on the Danube River and is separated from Bavaria by only a river.

It must be said that the town of Braunau is exceptionally beautiful.

The emerald-green Danube River flows quietly past the edge of the town.

The ancient town is tranquil, beautiful, and elegant, full of romantic charm.

No one could have imagined that one of the most infamous butchers in history would be born in such a beautiful and historic town.

However, in this era, even the father of that mustache had not yet been born.

……

After leaving the town of Braunau, Azu and his party arrived in Munich, the capital of the Kingdom of Bavaria.

However, Duke Maximilian Joseph of Bavaria was rarely in Munich.

This duke, who loved country life, hunting, and fishing, spent most of his time in seclusion at Posenhofen Castle, a few dozen kilometers from Munich, far from the constraints of the court and the vortex of politics.

So, Azu and the others rode in an open carriage that the kingdom had sent to greet them, and headed straight for Posenhofen Castle.

Posenhofen Castle, nestled against the Alps and next to the beautiful Lake Starnberg, boasts exceptionally beautiful scenery.

It was early autumn in September, the sky was high and the air was crisp. Ah Zu, riding in an open-top carriage, looked at the beautiful scenery around him and felt so relaxed and happy.

As the carriage approached Lake Starnberg and drew ever closer to Posenhofen Castle, Azu spotted a beautiful white figure in the distance, quietly squatting by the lakeside fishing.

As Ah Zu's carriage passed by, the white-clad figure happened to be swinging a golf club.

"puff……!"

The flying fishhook, by sheer coincidence, snagged right on Ah Zu's hat.

"call……!"

The fishing rod hooked onto the hat and instantly flew high into the sky!

"parking……!"

Azu felt that this scene was so familiar.

Did this classic scene appear in later movies?
The white-clad figure fishing cast a long line into the lake, only to discover that a black top hat was hooked on the hook.

At this moment, Azu's carriage finally came to a stop.

The white-clad figure hurriedly reeled in the line, frantically removing the wet black top hat from the hook.

Azu smiled and walked behind her.

"Beautiful lady, you have had a great catch today! You've caught a count...!"

"ah……!"

She gasped softly and quickly turned around, looking at the young and handsome Chinese man in front of her with utter astonishment.

At this moment, Azu also got a clear look at the beautiful girl fishing in front of him.

Although she was only a fourteen-year-old girl, she had already grown into a graceful and beautiful young woman!

Her pure and flawless face, like a bright crescent moon, was so radiant!
Her thick, lustrous hair cascaded down like a waterfall, jet black and shiny.

She was also quite tall and well-proportioned, even slightly taller than Vivian.

A slender waist, so delicate it could be encircled with one hand; long, straight, and shapely legs...!
"Sir, I'm so sorry, is this...is this your hat?"

She was quite shy as she handed the wet hat to Ah Zu.

Ah Zu took the hat and smiled, "Beautiful lady, I guess you must be the legendary Princess Sissi, right?"

"Um... sir, may I ask who you are? How do you know my childhood name?"

Princess Sissi, very curious, secretly sized up the young Chinese man in front of her.

This was the first time she had ever seen a strange face from the far East.

Ah Zu smiled brightly: "I came here specifically to visit your father, so of course I've heard of you."

"Princess Sissi, you are indeed as beautiful as the legends say... no, you are even more beautiful than the legends say...!"

When she was a princess, Sisi was the most beautiful princess in all of Europe.

After becoming Empress of Austria, she was the most beautiful empress in all of Europe.

"Hehe...!" Princess Sissi's smile was more radiant and captivating than the most beautiful flowers: "Sir, I know who you are...?"

"Oh? Then tell me, who am I?"

"You must be the legendary Earl of Gold Mountain, the youngest Chinese governor in America, right, sir...!"

Azu smiled and nodded, then reached out and took Princess Sissi's soft little hand.

Then, Azu gently kissed Princess Sissi's soft hand.

"Let me introduce myself. My name is Li Zunian, Your Highness. You can call me A-Zun...!"

Princess Sissi was startled when her grandfather kissed her hand. She quickly pulled it away as if she had been electrocuted, and a blush appeared on her perfect little face.

"Count, how could I casually call you by your childhood nickname...!"

Azu said, "It's settled then. I'll call you Qianqian, and you can call me Azu, okay?"

"Hmm...!" Princess Sissi lowered her head and thought for a moment, "Alright then, Grandfather... sir...!"

Azu walked to the lakeside, picked up Princess Sissi's fish basket, and looked inside.

"Sisi, it looks like you're having a bad day. You didn't catch a single fish."

"Hehe, but I caught you, Mr. Azu."

Princess Sissi looked at the wet hat in Azu's hand and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Mr. Azu, I ruined your hat...!"

"It's okay, I'm not used to wearing this thing anyway."

With that, Azu threw the hat in his hand far into the lake.

"Hehe... Mr. Azu, you are a very interesting person."

Ah Zu, carrying an empty fish basket in one hand, said, "Sisi, can you take me to see your father, His Excellency the Duke?"

"Of course!!"

Princess Sissi reeled in her fishing line, hoisted her long fishing rod, and walked shoulder to shoulder with Azu toward the castle.

Behind them followed a long line of luxurious Bavarian royal carriages. "Mr. Azu, I'll tell you a secret, my father doesn't like being called 'Duke'...!"

"Oh...? What should I call him then?"

"Maximilian, or Mr. Joseph, either will do!"

Princess Sissi chuckled softly, "Mr. Azu, if you want to be friends with my father, you'd better sneak off to the town's tavern for a drink...!"

"But you have to go secretly. Because my mother hates it when he sneaks out to drink!"

"Okay, that's a good idea."

"Or, go hunting with him... Hmm, remember to take me with you...!"

"Yes, beautiful Miss Sissi, I've got it!"

Princess Sissi asked with great interest, "Mr. Azu, could you tell me what kind of country China is in the far East?"

"I read in Marco Polo's Travels that it was a vast and rich country where the air was filled with milk and honey, is that true?"

Azu smiled and nodded: "In the long history of China, there may indeed have been a period when the air was filled with milk and honey...!"

"But more often than not, we are just a normal large country, with times of prosperity and times of poverty. There are periods of peace and times of war and conflict... For example, that's the case right now!"

“Oh…that’s a real shame!” Princess Sissi said hopefully, “Mr. Azu, what kind of countries are America, and your California?”

"I read in the newspaper that your California is full of gold that you can't dig up everywhere... and that there are Native Americans everywhere, and they're so vicious, I heard they scalp people... Is that true?"

Azu nodded: "My California does indeed have a lot of gold... and some Native Americans do indeed scalp people...!"

"They're all true? That's incredibly barbaric...!"

"However, most Native Americans were not that savage."

As he spoke, Azu took out a small tiger made of pure gold from his pocket.

"Sisi, this is a gift for you to welcome us...!"

Wow, what a beautiful little tiger!

Princess Sissi took it and examined it with great delight, turning it over and over in her hands: "Thank you, Mr. Azu...!"

Wow...my name is even engraved on it!

At this moment, Princess Sissi was pleasantly surprised to find a line of words engraved on the golden tiger cub.

"Dedicated to the most beautiful and innocent woman in the world—Miss Elizabeth Amalie Eugenie!"

"Mr. Azu, I really hope that I can have the opportunity to travel around the world like you...!"

Azu smiled and said, "Beautiful Sisi, you will definitely have such an opportunity."

"Really...?" Princess Sissi was overjoyed, her little face beaming with joy.

Her smile is so infectious!

Seeing her smile always puts you in a good mood.

……

The two walked and talked, and soon approached Posenhofen Castle.

This is a building with white walls and a red roof. Rather than a castle, it is more like a large country villa!

"Sissi, you skipped class again...!"

"Our castle is welcoming the Earl of Gold Mountain today, where have you been playing...?"

As Azu and Princess Sissi walked and talked, a tall and beautiful girl walked towards them.

Her appearance bears some resemblance to Sisi.

Compared to Sissi, she appeared more dignified in appearance and demeanor, and her skin tone was slightly darker.

“Mr. Azu, this is my older sister, Helene, her nickname is Nene…!”

Princess Sissi secretly stuck out her little tongue at Azu and said, "My sister is like my mother, she's always looking after me...!"

Azu smiled and looked at Helene, who was coming towards him.

It must be said that Helene and Sissi are both beautiful in their own way!
In comparison, Helene is more like a dignified and elegant queen!

This has indeed been the case in history!

The woman who was originally set up on a blind date with the Austrian Emperor, his young and handsome cousin, was the dignified and elegant Helena.

However, that damned Franz Joseph fell for the innocent, romantic, and carefree Sisi, and told his mother, the Dowager Empress of Austria, that he would rather remain unmarried for life than marry Sisi.

Then, out of necessity, this ill-fated relationship that should never have happened came about, which also led to Sisi's tragic life.

Sisi's innocent and carefree personality was a perfect inheritance from her somewhat unreliable father.

Helene's dignified and virtuous character, however, was inherited from her mother.

Sisters born of the same mother have such completely opposite personalities.

At this moment, Helene also saw Azu next to her sister, and a look of surprise appeared on her face.

Azu stepped forward and smiled, "Your Excellency Duchess Helene, I am Earl of Gold Mountain, Li Zunian!"

Helene Caroline Therese is Helene's full name.

"You are the Earl of Gold Mountain...?" Helene exclaimed in even greater surprise, "You really are the Earl of Gold Mountain? You are so young...!"

Azu smiled and nodded: "Yes! Besides me, what other Chinese person would impersonate the Earl of Gold Mountain?"

The dignified and elegant Helena looked Ah Zu up and down, and her pretty face couldn't help but blush slightly.

“I’m sorry, Earl, I thought you would be coming in the welcoming carriage… My father is waiting for you…!”

Azu said, "Your sister and I are already very good friends! May I call you Helena? Of course, you can also call me Azu...!"

"A very good friend...?"

Helene couldn't help but glare at her younger sister.

"Hehe...!" Sisi secretly stuck out her tongue playfully at her older sister.

“Count, you may certainly call me Helene…!”

Although Helene is only sixteen years old, she is already mature and dignified like an adult, and her every move has the demeanor of a future queen.

At that moment, a long line of carriages also stopped outside the castle.

Vivian and a group of girls, along with Zuo Zongtang, Shi Dakai, and others, disembarked from the carriage.

Standing in front of Posenhofen Castle, everyone was amazed by the beauty of the white-walled, red-roofed castle, and even more so by the stunning beauty of the twin sisters, Helene and Sissi.

Similarly, Helene and Sissi were amazed by Vivian, Daisy, Victoria, Monica, Yuma, and Fu Shanxiang, each possessing their own unique beauty and captivating charm.

At this moment, Duke Maximilian Joseph and his wife also appeared at the castle gate to personally greet the visitors.

"Welcome to Posenhofen Castle, Your Excellency Earl of the Goldberg!"

Joseph laughed and strode forward to give Azu a tight hug.

This unconventional and naive duke greeted Azu as if he were welcoming an old friend rather than a complete stranger.

"Duke Joseph, I apologize for disturbing your family's peace!"

Azu returned the gesture with a firm hug and a genuine smile: "Would His Majesty not welcome an unexpected visitor like me?"

"Hahaha...!" Joseph laughed loudly, "Posenhofen Castle always welcomes any sincere visitor, whether he is a farmer or a king...!"

Joseph, holding Azu's arm, walked towards the castle, saying, "However, it is truly a surprise that a Chinese governor from America, and the Earl of Gold Mountain, who has just been conferred a title by the Vatican, would visit my castle!"

His wife, Princess Maria of Bavaria, smiled and said, "When we received a personal letter from my nephew, the Emperor of Austria, saying that the Count of the Goldberg was going to visit Posenhofen Castle, we were a little incredulous!"

“Indeed!” Joseph nodded. “We are a little puzzled as to why a guest as distant as you would come to visit the remote Posenhofen Castle.”

"Hahaha!" Joseph laughed. "These past few days, my whole family has been discussing this matter...!"

As they spoke, several children, ranging in age from eleven or twelve to just two or three, ran into the castle's living room, laughing and joking.

Azu counted them; there were five children in total.

If you include Helena's Sissi, that makes seven children...!
Joseph and his wife are really good at having children!

"Hahaha...!" Joseph was quite pleased with himself, calling out to the group of children, "You little brats, get over here right now and meet the Earl of Gold Mountain who has come from afar...!"

"Hehe, haha, giggle...!"

A group of children lined up in front of Azu, laughing and playing around.

"Excuse me, are you Earl of Jinshan? That yellow-skinned Chinese man...?"

The youngest child, two-year-old Maximilian, looked up at Azu with curiosity and asked in a childish voice.

(End of this chapter)