Solovyov in Tsarist Russia 1796.

"That's right. Come to think of it, you're more suited to playing the role of a young girl."

Solovyov's interests lay in teaching young maids about culture and cultivating their artistic tastes.

Adela, who had previously been adopted, eventually married Speransky, and the couple lived happily together.

The current Mihrima is like a little white rabbit that has been eaten by this big bad fox.

There is indeed a lot to teach her.

However, her slender figure makes her more suitable for playing female roles than Solovyov himself.

Although Solovyov's physique was well-maintained for a middle-aged general, and he had very beautiful features and a pleasing appearance, he was still quite inferior to the young and beautiful Mikhelima.

She regained her slim figure very quickly after giving birth, and I find her waist increasingly attractive to touch.

"That's because she's still around that age; you were never home in previous years."

Katya inevitably gets a little jealous, both of her husband and Mihrima, which is quite interesting.

"Alright, that's settled then. We'll have to switch roles later. Katya, you should get some rest."

He turned around and came over to coax his wife.

The two children ran off to Prince Qing's wife's place. Children of this age, especially foreigners, are a rare sight.

So when the three of them were here, there was always some fun.

Fortunately, Solovyov was not from the state of Qi, otherwise the story of a man from Qi having both a wife and a concubine would be a well-known joke in Mencius.

There was also the case of people from Chu learning the language of Qi.

"General Suo is in high spirits here."

"What is it, Your Highness?"

Yonglin thought that the Russian nobleman was not bad, even though only his legal wife had a formal title.
However, he overlooked the fact that Solovyov's situation was very special. In general, Russian nobles did not have such close relationships with their spouses, and they were often separated for long periods of time.

It's more likely that housekeepers like Mihrima would be favored, while mistresses would be an even greater exception.

Having been caught by him, Solovyov had to behave himself.

Yonglin's purpose was also very clear: "The Emperor has issued an edict summoning you to the palace."

"In that case, you'll have to wait until I've changed my clothes."

Solovyov went back to the back, but instead of wearing his full dress uniform covered in medals, he changed into a Guards uniform.

"It looks much cleaner this way."

“Your Highness, I have many medals, which is also a troublesome thing. When I served by the late emperor, I often wore this outfit, but the hat is the style of the current general.”

As for his status as a military officer, it was inevitable that he would be arranged to ride a horse to Xihua Gate.

Yes, there were quite a few onlookers from Beijing along the way watching the foreigners.

"If this Russian foreigner goes to Xihua Gate, the Emperor will probably summon him again."

However, for the average person in Beijing, foreigners were not a common sight.

The British barbarians had previously been severely reprimanded by the emperor, which was clearly a case of differential treatment.

The merchants from Luosha, or Russia, were more numerous than missionaries and were among the most common foreigners in Shuntian Prefecture. However, they could only come once every three years, and sometimes they couldn't even come at all for some reason.

This gave the people of Beijing a deeper understanding of foreigners.

After all, this man was staying at the Prince of Qing's residence, and it was rumored that he had brought his wives and concubines with him. The Emperor was taking special care of him, and he was allowed to spend the winter in the capital before returning home in the spring of the following year.

The rest is beyond their understanding.

Moreover, the sauce used on this old Beijing-style fried sauce noodles is still the same old flavor, unchanged for many years. Foreigners who come here have rarely seen it eaten.

The main reason was that the Qing government did not allow foreigners to have public activities when they entered Beijing; they needed to be summoned to go anywhere.

As for Xihua Gate, there was indeed an old man waiting there.

Songyun, the Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince and Grand Secretary of the Wuying Hall, was formerly a Grand Councilor. His presence to receive them was a sign of the importance attached to the event.

Moreover, Songjun was somewhat special. During the late Qianlong period, he served as the General of Yili and participated in border negotiations, dealing with the Russians for at least eight years.

This identity is quite suitable. In addition, although he is Mongolian, he is good-looking. He is just old, but he is still capable of receiving guests.

When he opened his mouth, his voice was actually quite clear and crisp, unlike that of an elderly person.

Speaking of which, even though Solovyov knew a bit about opera, he didn't know that Songyun's great-grandson was Yan Jupeng, one of the four great male lead actors of the time.

Although he had done his homework on both of the people at the ends, few people knew about the connection between them.

That was a remarkable person who started out as a good opera singer, but later lost his voice. However, he was extremely meticulous and even managed to create his own school of opera.

Incidentally, he also lost his job as a civil servant in the Republic of China and went into business as an amateur.

Therefore, her appearance is still excellent.

Tong Guowei will probably be playing a role like the second brother-in-law of the Empress Dowager Xiao, but there's a problem with his appearance.

"I've kept you waiting, sir."

"General, please don't be in a hurry. After dismounting at Xihua Gate, wait a while in Wuying Hall. His Majesty is currently reviewing memorials, and I would be happy to invite you for a chat."

After all, they've dealt with Russia before. If they find someone who can speak official jargon, wouldn't they take full advantage of the situation and find out more about the country?

However, since he was not the current Grand Councilor, the title "Grand Protector" would automatically evoke Li Keyong in Solovyov's mind, and that was that.

After entering through the Xihua Gate and arriving at the Wuying Hall, Songjun invited Solovyov to have tea and admire paintings.

Because of his decent level of education, especially his knowledge, some Manchu and Mongol nobles and civil officials held him in high regard.

As for the Han officials, they had passed the test since the time when Pan Youwei, who had retired, insisted on making them compose poems while they were in Guangzhou.

If someone studies classical texts from a young age, they can probably take the imperial examination route.

Solovyov remembered this incident vividly, and he kept saying, "I am a military general, I am a military general!"

As for appreciating paintings, those hanging here are obviously imitations.

"Without Emperor Qianlong's seal, this long scroll could still be in the Wuying Hall, probably because it is a copy of a famous painting."

Upon hearing this, Songjun couldn't help but glance at him sideways, and even seemed a little...
This statement actually makes some sense. However, the Shiqu Baoji was not officially completed until the Jiaqing era, just before Amherst and Solovyov went to China one after the other.

From the eighth year of the Qianlong reign to the twenty-first year of the Jiaqing reign, all the calligraphy and paintings collected in the Qing Dynasty imperial palace were recorded.

Then, the forgeries of "Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains" ended up in this set of imperial collections, which caused Emperor Qianlong a lot of trouble.

The stamps, inscriptions, and reflections were frequently added to Huang Gongwang's and other masterpieces, resulting in a wave of stamps. However, the "Fuchun Daling Map," which had been in private hands for a long time, was not stamped and became one of the few that slipped through the net, eventually ending up in the Nanjing Museum.

But Songjun couldn't reveal this matter. It was only because this Russian boy was educated and somewhat straightforward that he inevitably revealed his secrets when he spoke.

Many of the royal treasures are well preserved within the palace.

But after the fall of the Qing Dynasty, some of its extravagant possessions were taken away and lost in large quantities.

This would be a huge disgrace to our ancestors, even more outrageous than the Southern Ming dynasty's Yongli Emperor resorting to the Holy See for help when cornered. There's no way around it; they're the worst of the worst, destined to be swept into the dustbin of history.

"Indeed, General, you also recognize paintings?"

"Having lived abroad for so long, I have limited knowledge. Although I can't be considered ignorant, I've only ever seen what the Celestial Empire calls Western paintings."

Those paintings, if shown to people from the Ming and Qing dynasties, would probably be considered offensive to public morals.

Although they are all art, they are still divided into different levels.

However, during the Qianlong era, there were still many Western painters active in the palace, and they even exchanged some painting techniques.

"If it's a Western painting, I know it's lifelike. I wonder what your collection is like, sir?"

"Compared to China, although there are many objects, they lack this kind of charm. There are more realistic portraits and stories. As for the scenery, it lacks blank space. Although it is beautiful, it lacks artistic conception."

"Sitting with the general is far better than with the British barbarians, and even the Russian envoys of the past cannot compare."

"You flatter me, Your Excellency."

Just as they were talking, a head eunuch came over.

"Lord Song, His Majesty has decreed that the Russian envoy must have a private audience. Please wait outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation."

Songjun found it strange that the Emperor wanted to summon him alone.

Logically, the ministers who were to receive the guests should have gone along as well, but since the emperor had already spoken, that was how it was.

"When the general goes to meet the emperor, he must be careful and not lose his manners."

"Thank you, sir, for reminding me."

Solovyov went out and followed the eunuch. When they arrived at Longzong Gate, they could still see an arrow left there a few years ago when the White Lotus Sect attacked the Forbidden City.

He has good eyesight, so he can see things clearly.

After passing through this gate, you can reach the front of the Military Affairs Office from the side, and then walk forward to reach the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

The emperor spent a considerable amount of time working here.

And by sheer coincidence, just as he reached the Yangxin Gate, the Grand Councilors came out.

He even took off his hat and bowed, after all, Emperor Jiaqing had granted him the right to be exempt from kneeling.

The four Grand Councilors, led by Dong Gao, bowed respectfully upon seeing him.

"General Suo, the Emperor is currently reviewing memorials in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Please wait here for a while, and he will be summoned soon."

"Thank you for the reminder, sir."

Dong Gao spent over thirty years in the Grand Council, where he experienced countless battles and saw a great deal.

But he had never met a foreigner like Solovyov before.

A second-class military officer in Russia would be roughly equivalent to a garrison general of the first rank in their own country. This rank is not low, and he is so young, with a long future ahead of him.

Unlike these four Grand Councilors, who are all quite old.

Fortunately, in his opinion, they weren't as rude and troublesome as the British, so at least the northern frontier around Kyakhta was more peaceful.

After all, as they said, his brother-in-law was the governor of Siberia, and they used to be considered equals. However, due to slander from a villain (Barasov) around the Russian emperor, he was eventually demoted and imprisoned (this is a fact).

He happened to be a civil official, and both he and the military official were close advisors to the Russian emperor, and even tutors to two young Russian kings, so their influence was considerable.

With the addition of Neserrodie, the Russian "Chancellor and Minister of Rites," and Solovyov's fellow disciples in the army, the Russians were not considered a major threat to the Qing Dynasty.

At this point, the real trouble came from the British.

After Dong Gao and the others left, Solovyov waited outside Yangxin Gate.

When Emperor Jiaqing was reviewing memorials, he paused for a while. After reading the report from General Changling of Yili, he felt a headache coming on.

It was quite a coincidence that the country being discussed was the Khanate of Kokand, a country that both Russia and the Qing Dynasty found disgusting.

Britain, at least, was an open ally of Russia and also had trade relations with the Qing Dynasty.

This Kokand Kingdom is a problem for both sides.

Russia originally had a white glove-like Tashkent Khanate in Central Asia, which was destroyed by Kokand more than a decade ago. That's why Russia sought trade with Tarbagatai in the northwest.

For the Qing Dynasty, although Kokand was just a small border state, it had always protected the descendants of the Great Khoja, which was a big problem.

Back then, Emperor Qianlong was very proactive in arresting the descendants of the Dahezhuo, and he was quite petty about such matters.

The main reason is that Samsak, the second son of the Great Khoja, has been in exile. Although he was in Kabul in his early years, he has now gone to Kokand.

This is no small matter. The report from the elder statesman clearly states that Samsak's whereabouts have been discovered.

By the time of the Jiaqing Emperor, the matter of arresting people had clearly become less of a priority.

There were many things in the Qing Dynasty that Jiaqing needed to handle, especially after the White Lotus Rebellion broke out. Maintaining internal stability was clearly of paramount importance.

Emperor Jiaqing didn't have much energy to deal with the affairs in the Northwest.

Song Jun was the previous general of Yili. During his tenure, his main tasks were to reclaim wasteland and maintain stability on the frontier, and he was quite effective in doing so.

This was Changling's first time serving as the General of Yili, and he learned about it from the Kazakh herders who were passing through the area.

But Emperor Jiaqing's current response is simply "I understand".

This was a special imperial edict issued by the Qing Dynasty. If it were Emperor Qianlong, he would have already been preparing to send a batch of Solon soldiers to Xinjiang by express courier, so that Changling could cause trouble for the Khanate of Kokand.

Then came the impoverished Daoguang Emperor, who sent Agui's grandson, Na Yancheng, to the Khanate of Kokand, turning it into a slave beg, and this "slave" had no sense of intimacy whatsoever; it was just a slave.

"Your Majesty, the Russian envoy is waiting outside."

"I understand. Summon him in. I have something to ask him."

Of course, there was a small problem for Solovyov.

Mrs. Rycamir had a bank left by her late husband, and Solovyov always liked to sign her family's checks, but these things were not accepted in Qing Dynasty China.

After all, apart from the Pan family recognizing French bills of exchange and the Wu family recognizing British bills of exchange, they probably had some connections with the adults before, but it probably wouldn't work elsewhere.

Solovyov couldn't give the eunuch at the door silver notes, and giving him items would be too valuable for a eunuch; even Western items were difficult to sell.

Then the eunuchs were given a rare moment of freedom.

"Uncle Suo, I dare not accept your things. If the Emperor and Eunuch E and Eunuch Yang find out, I will be in big trouble."

Goodness, they even know his birth order.

"In the Celestial Empire, there are no banks, so you can't exchange this draft for silver notes. Here are a few double-headed eagle dollars; if you can spend them, buy some fruit."

"Thank you very much, sir."

Then, he went to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to see Emperor Jiaqing. (End of Chapter)