Solovyov in Tsarist Russia 1796.

Solovyov was well aware that Nikolai was determined to reform, but the resistance would not be any less.

Even today, in the Privy Council, all the nobles rise to applaud the Emperor's speech.

The applause didn't stop; people sat down and then stood up to applaud again.

The more you interact with Russian nobles, the more you'll discover their characteristics; their skill in flattery is absolutely top-notch.

These people are clapping now purely to support the Tsar.

But what will happen next?

Before returning to the Winter Palace, Nikolai also visited the home of Solovyov on the Kutuzov Causeway.

"This is saffron rice, Your Majesty."

"Can't we serve this kind of meal to the Princess Consort as well?"

"You should know, Your Majesty, that pregnant women should sometimes avoid eating certain foods. Although this is a very delicious seafood rice, I still asked the chef to make two kinds."

At the table were Solovyov's unmarried children, especially his teenage son and daughter sitting to Katya's left, while Mihrima sat at the end of the table.

Nikolai could also see that the table was full of seafood rice, but the portion given to him was the complete saffron rice version.

"It must be really good."

"It's not easy to find fresh ingredients this season, there are no barnacles. If you want to eat them, you have to go to the rocks by the sea to look for them, those damn little things are always there."

Knowing Nikolai's understanding of his teacher, he knew that whenever Nikolai said something sarcastic or ambiguous, it meant he was about to bring up a topic.

He emphasized the word "barnacles" when he mentioned them.

“Barnacles? I had them when I was in France. My sister’s chef could make French food like that. Oh, I forgot, Mikhail Sergeyevich, you were in Paris at the time, and you were at the table too.”

Nikolai started joking, and Katya couldn't keep up the act.

“Your Majesty, you are joking. I have known you since I was a lady-in-waiting to Her Highness Elizabeth Alexievna. Your Majesty, you are always with my husband. He used to be your teacher, and now he is your minister. He will do his best to help if you need him.”

It's like bringing back the throne of the Persian Shah. Although it's a replica of the throne that was taken back from the Mughals, the materials used are genuine.

This thing, even if disassembled and sold for gems and precious metals, could bring in a lot of money.

Solovyov did indeed do a lot; the lands he conquered for Russia were all in the Middle East and the Balkans, but he changed the geopolitics of those regions.

Furthermore, when Russia reiterated its protection of Christians in the eastern Mediterranean, it also mentioned that there are many Christians on the islands in these areas, with Crete and some other places having a Christian population of over 90%, while many other places are still under the direct rule of the Ottoman Empire.

These areas still pose a risk of future conflict, but they are sufficient for Russia's geostrategic needs.

Nikolai's determination to implement reforms stems from the unprecedented rise in his prestige following the military achievements of his generals.

Solovyov's relationship with him inevitably drew gossip, but no one dared to say that Nikolai was incompetent; he was doing a great job, and you actually had the idea of ​​replacing him?

They dared not act rashly towards the Tsar.

So now there is a delicate balance in Russia, because of the Tsar's authority and the generals' achievements, the opposition dares not speak openly, but what are they doing behind the scenes?
Nikolai himself was well aware that there would definitely be someone behind the scenes obstructing the reforms or trying to trip them up.

These people might even be high-ranking nobles around him.

After Katya finished speaking, Nikolai felt relieved.

Although Katya was only five years older than him, she was considered his "teacher's wife," and she had helped take care of his children for the past ten years. With her there to speak, he naturally felt at ease with his master.

This absolute trust has lasted for more than thirty years. Compared to Speransky, who was a senior civil servant left by Paul to Alexander, their close relationship is something that no one else can shake.

Moreover, the Romanov royal family would at most sideline important ministers, so from the Tsar's perspective, the political environment was quite well-constructed.

However, the ministers below would also look for weaknesses at this time.

Just like the conspiracy group that dealt with Paul back then, now someone is stirring up trouble again.

Even the leader of these people was Prince Vasily Solovyov's brother-in-law, who had been disgraced by the recent court scandal, but was still a noble leader in St. Petersburg.

This time, someone stirred up trouble, and it really happened in Prince Klimsky's family. Prince Vasily Jr., along with his brother, sister-in-law, sister, and brother-in-law, were somewhat isolated when placed together.

As for Petya and Sonya, they lived in the old Rostov family house in the countryside of Ryazan and rarely got involved in these matters. Besides, Petya was Solovyov's adjutant, and his sister-in-law and brother-in-law Pierre were both close to Solovyov. Although his brother-in-law had little contact with the family, he had previously served under Prince Bagration. Given this family, Petya would certainly side with his sister-in-law.

Solovyov spent most of his time in the south and paid little attention to his family affairs.

However, Katya had a strong opinion about her brother having affairs with other women besides her sister-in-law, and hurting her feelings.

After all, her husband and second brother would always tell their family about anything that happened outside.

When Nikolai was in his first passionate relationship, it was only after his sister reminded him that his partner was Catholic that he cautiously ended the relationship.

After all, their father's example had left a deep impression on them during their childhood and youth.

Petya was an honest man; he only wanted to live a happy life with his wife on the estate and didn't want to concern himself with anything outside. Since his elder brother had paid off the family debts and he had inherited the old house, this peaceful life could continue.

"Your Excellency, although your family is still noble, you have all sided with those peasants and are even trying to mislead the Emperor."

Although Prince Vasily the Younger was protected by his brother-in-law for a time, his own status was still very high at this time.

While he had no opinion on his brother-in-law's political views in the past, his friends did not.

"But Your Majesty."

"What can you say? Your family members, you can tell what their attitude is just by looking at them. The Sparrow Hills residence also belongs to the Prince of Thrace."

Of course, Katya arranged for the purchase. She liked her father's mansion, so after informing her husband, she bought it from Prince Yusupov.

"The Klimsky family has already been the subject of much gossip. But you must consider reality when it comes to rumors. The Prince of Thrace is, after all, my brother-in-law and a high-ranking official of the Emperor. He has been familiar with the Emperor since he served in the court. In fact, one could say that the Emperor's relationship with him is closer than that of the late Emperor. Aren't you being a bit... While I also oppose this kind of change to serfdom, do you know how much this..."

"You'd better not bring out these hypocritical and selfish things. Liberating those serfs will cost you more property than we have. Unlike your brother-in-law, whose family are unscrupulous merchants who don't need to concern themselves with serf affairs—that's all a clever calculation. Those who are willing to liberate those serfs are all primarily engaged in business. We who manage manors don't have that advantage. Without serfs, who will till the land?"

In St. Petersburg, the nobles who voiced their opposition shared a common characteristic: their estates were far from both St. Petersburg and Moscow, yet many of them held official positions in St. Petersburg. "But this..."

"You don't need to say anything more. You should trust people like us in social circles. You are, after all, a noble leader in St. Petersburg, and you can speak with authority even before the Emperor."

"But this time it's different; the Emperor made the decision himself."

Prince Vasily the Younger still wanted to make a comeback. His father had suffered setbacks in the court because he hadn't handled his relationship with the Tsar well.

Now, as long as he stands on the same side as his brother-in-law, he doesn't even have to worry about anything.

However, Katya, as the younger sister, is far too controlling.

He, as the eldest brother, also cares about his reputation.

However, the bond of family also caused him some struggle.

He has a habit of keeping the invitations of all the people attending the meeting here today, who are actually visiting guests, so that the housekeeper can arrange the dishes according to the guests' preferences.

Then, even the most incompetent conspiracy group in Russian history was documented by Prince Vasily the Younger.

Even the reason these people elected him as their leader was because he held the highest official position. Many of the others had never even served as provincial governors. Their common characteristic was that they were large landowners who did not engage in any industry or commerce.

The reason he didn't go to Neserrodie was because the Reich Chancellor and Solovyov had a close personal relationship, and he wouldn't go against the Tsar's opinions.

Then, unsurprisingly, Prince Vasily sat at home, struggling with his problems after the guests had left.

What should we do?

“Sir, if you ask me, your eldest son-in-law is a good man and a good official. You shouldn’t go against him. Besides, after the old master passed away, the family’s reputation was maintained by him. Everyone knows that the Klimsky family has two princes, and your eldest son-in-law is a prince of Thrace.”

Prince Vasily knew that although his servants were all loyal, many of them were left behind by his father, and some in St. Petersburg came from his mother's family, the Bariatinsky family.

They always believed that the second master was capable, but had no interest in an official career and was lenient with the servants in the household.

In social circles, it is said that Prince Nicholas is the one who retains the most characteristics of the old Russian aristocracy.

The second son-in-law was the son of a local gentry and nobleman. He was a very kind and good man, but unfortunately, apart from being brave and good at fighting when he was young and serving as the adjutant to the eldest son-in-law, he didn't have any other skills.

The master was able to become an official because of the lingering influence of his ancestor, the first-generation prince of the family. Even the servants knew this.

Although the servants might have defended the master because of what happened before, the first wife was heartbroken. She was very kind to the servants and always spoke to them in a gentle voice.

When the First Madam passed away, the family was very sad.

If Solovyov knew what his servants were thinking, he would probably think of the attitude of the house-elf Kreacher.

At the Black family home, because Malfoy's mother and son treated him better, they kept mentioning him.

It was just Prince Klimsky's family, not so extreme; British stereotypes are different from Russian ones.

Russian nobles also frequently released servants and serfs who had served them faithfully for a long time, even though these people would later become dependent on them.

Because of the family disputes, the servants also did not want the master and son-in-law, the two pillars of the family, to have a conflict.

So the steward took it upon himself to send a grocery shopper to the Solovyov family's grocery shopper while the master was still making a decision.

Then, Solovyov was shocked.

"Who went to Vasya's house?"

"I heard it was Count Shuvalov and some others."

Which one could it be?

It took Solovyov a while to process what was happening.

His old friend, Count Pavel Shuvalov, who had fought alongside him at St. Gotthard Pass, died eleven years earlier; they had even escorted Napoleon to Elba together.

In addition, there was Count Shuvalov in front of his old house, and the marital home of Prince Bagration, whose owner was also the illustrious Count Shuvalov during the Empress's reign.

He thought about it for a long time, but he never expected that it would be his old friend's nephew.

Because this young man, after marrying a wealthy widow of similar age, rose rapidly in the court. He is now in the Asian Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and also serves as the Chief of Ceremonies, responsible for managing the registers of those awarded the Order of St. Andrew and the Order of St. Anne.

It's not surprising that some people in the palace also hold side jobs.

But strangely, Shuvalov
Solovyov had to take a moment to process the name Andrei Shuvalov.

Now that he knows, all he can do is express anger and helplessness.

Some people within the court also had influence with the Tsar. They wanted to incite their brother-in-law against them because, as a leader of the nobility and the head of the inner stables, he was also a confidant of the Tsar.

The only difference is that the family members took different paths: Prince Vasily Jr. was in the court system, Prince Nikolai was in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Solovyov himself was in the army. He could also be linked to some of his relatives who were civil servants and diplomats.

"What else did Prince Vasily's servants mention?"

"Master, there is a list. The steward of the eldest master's family said he can make a copy and will give it to the madam. After all, you are the eldest master's son-in-law, so it is not convenient for you to directly interfere in this matter."

"You did a great job, here's a raise for you."

“Sir, this is my duty.”

“Hey Matvey, you old codger, you’re nominally my servant, but you didn’t sign a serf’s indenture; you signed a labor contract. If I’m not satisfied here, you can leave as a free person.”

"But the master is such a good person, we don't want to leave. What if you could give us a raise?"

“You deserve it. If you feel bad about it, use this money as a grocery allowance to improve your family’s meals. I know your wife has given birth to twelve children, so there are many expenses.”

In addition, there's the servant intelligence network, which was very useful even before Adela got married, and it's still effective now. (End of Chapter)