xymnovel Chapter 103. For Russia
Chapter 103. For Russia
Chapter 103. For Russia
1754 October.
"Your Majesty, Happy New Year!"
Sergei arrived at Elizabeth's office.
"I heard you were drinking all night?" Elizabeth asked with a smile.
"Yes, my head is still spinning." Sergei rubbed his head.
"Why duel with Duke Toloni?" Elizabeth asked, looking at the report on the table.
"It wasn't a duel at all; I didn't fire a shot," Sergei chuckled.
"But he fired."
Sergei raised an eyebrow: "It's common knowledge that he has a bad temper."
"But what I heard was a husband who had been cuckolded defending his wife's honor."
"Your Majesty, that's just gossip and the jealousy of a petty person."
"Saltikov, is this why Anastasia left you?" Elizabeth looked up at him.
Sergei said bluntly, "Your Majesty, you should believe me. I may not be able to change my nature, but I can definitely restrain myself. I would never lay a hand on Duke Toloni's wife. There has been an invisible hand spreading rumors behind the scenes."
"Alright, I know who you're talking about, Shuvalov, right? The two of you in the secret committee are simply irreconcilable."
Sergei remained silent.
Elizabeth said slowly, "You are excellent. You have done a great job in secret work over the years. I know that much of the credit for Shuvalov's work should actually belong to you. Based on your performance, you are fully capable of taking over from Shuvalov and managing the secret committee."
"But I don't want to talk about work today. As for the chairmanship, whether you can secure it depends on your performance going forward. Don't you think so?"
Sergei feigned ignorance: "Your Majesty, I do not understand what you mean."
Elizabeth smiled teasingly: "Saltikov, everyone says you're very good at dealing with women."
"I'm so clumsy with words, Your Majesty, please don't joke around."
Elizabeth smiled even more as she watched Sergei, who seemed somewhat flustered for the first time since he began his secret mission.
"Okay, you're not good with words, but I feel like you've won over everyone except me."
Sergei grunted in response.
Elizabeth stopped beating around the bush: "Do you like Catherine?"
Sergei stated bluntly, "She is very beautiful."
Elizabeth stood up and approached him: "Do you desire her?"
Sergei laughed: "Your Majesty, do you want to hear the truth?"
"certainly."
"Your Majesty, haven't you received an answer?"
Elizabeth looked at Sergei, her smile enigmatic: "And what about me? Do you want me? Not even a thought?"
Sergei suddenly leaned closer: "Of course, Your Majesty, I've thought about it many times."
"Ugh! Go away!"
Elizabeth quickly waved her hand to blow away the pungent smell of alcohol, not offended by Sergei's actions at all, and instead couldn't help but laugh.
"You remind me of the days when you first came to serve me, and you didn't treat me as an empress with any sincerity."
"How could I not? You have always been the Empress of Russia, my Empress."
Elizabeth pouted. "Liar, but I'm glad you said that. Sit down, sit down quickly, and stay away from me, you reek of alcohol!"
Sergei found a chair and sat down.
He wasn't lying, because Elizabeth was indeed very slim and beautiful when she was young, and the original owner of this body was indeed infatuated with Elizabeth at that time.
"Can I trust you?" Elizabeth's smile vanished.
Sergei replied in a serious tone, "Of course, Your Majesty."
Elizabeth poured herself a glass of wine: "Peter has had surgery for a year now, and the couple still haven't made any progress. Russia can't be without an heir to the throne, you know what I mean?"
Sergei met the other's gaze: "If Your Majesty wishes, then I understand."
"Saltikov, you're not stupid."
"I see."
Elizabeth poured a second glass of wine, and Sergei stood up, picked up his glass, and Elizabeth also picked up her glass.
"Happy New Year, Saltykov."
Sergei replied, "Happy New Year, Russia."
After leaving Elizabeth's office, Sergei headed to the garden.
His plan succeeded!
Elizabeth finally lost all hope in Peter and, in order to produce a new heir to the Russian throne, tacitly approved and even orchestrated the next major event that would determine the future of Russia!
Elizabeth had no idea that the Duke of Trogni had been cooperating with him all along.
To keep his secret, the Duke of Torroni endured the strange looks people gave him, but thankfully, he was not actually cuckolded.
Shuvalov was also manipulated by Sergei. He was completely unaware that Sergei intentionally wanted to spread such news, and he was even eager to help amplify the impact of the matter, so much so that it did reach Elizabeth's ears and she heard that Saltykov was still amorous and philandering.
Sergei straightened his clothes and walked forward.
In the garden, the heavy snow has turned all the flowers, plants, and trees white.
Children and women are playing happily in the snow.
Catherine was playing with a wooden sword with a child, chasing each other across the snow.
The three noblewomen gazed at Catherine's pregnant chief steward, Matrena, in the distance.
"For a woman, nothing is more joyful than having a child," one of the noblewomen said.
"I dream of having a child," another noblewoman said.
"You can't be as fast as me. I'm going to find someone to marry this year! As long as he's not a decrepit old man!"
"The last noblewoman said."
"So what if he's an old man? It won't stop you from finding a lover and having children. You can find whoever you like and get things done," a noblewoman teased.
Another noblewoman saw Catherine playing with the children. Apart from Elizabeth, almost everyone in the court was envious of the Grand Duchess's status, figure, and beauty.
Thinking of this, she deliberately raised her voice.
"Who the father is doesn't matter, what matters is having a child! What do you think, Your Highness?"
Upon hearing this, Ekaterina stopped what she was doing, and her smile slowly faded.
Finally, the noblewoman nudged her companion who had spoken with her elbow. The three noblewomen knew that staying any longer would be pointless, as they had already witnessed how eloquent the Grand Duchess was.
The three of them quickly left.
Ekaterina did not respond to the three men; her mood became dejected.
love.
child.
Even the word "lover" felt so distant to her.
"Your Highness, let's have a snowball fight!"
At this moment, several children gathered around.
Ekaterina's face lit up with a smile again, her childlike spirit renewed, and she waved with high spirits: "Let's go, let's have a big battle!"
Catherine and the children had a fun snowball fight, dodging and running around in the snow.
"Little girl, you can't throw snowballs at other people's faces!"
Ekaterina warned one child, but the child didn't listen. So the next snowball hit another child in the face, making him cry.
"What are you doing! How can you be so rude? Whose child are you!" Ekaterina scolded the other person angrily.
"I am a countess!" the little girl said arrogantly.
"I'm telling you, Countess, if I were your mother, I'd beat you with a saltwater-soaked tree branch!"
"So you can't be my mother, you can't have children!"
The little girl ran off, leaving Ekaterina standing there, stunned.
"I can't have children—it's impossible for me to have children—"
Ekaterina was talking to herself, and as she spoke, she started to cry. She squatted down and tears streamed down her face.
Until a pair of military boots appeared before her eyes.
"Your Highness, I'm late."
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