Solovyov in Tsarist Russia 1796.

Chapter 135 I also want more
For Solovyov, if he wanted to see Louisa, he didn't have to bypass the guards and sneak in like others did.

You know, he was the one who arranged the security schedule in the Winter Palace, and the early warning measures were also very good. The defense measures were originally designed for the safety of the palace. Now he wanted to set up a "window" to facilitate his entry.

Alexander still often lived outside the palace, sometimes in Constantine's Marble Palace, sometimes at receptions held outside the court, and rarely returned to his own bedroom in the Winter Palace.

The repair of this couple's relationship is always accompanied by the birth and departure of their children. Little Martha in Louisa's arms has passed the weaning stage and is still safe during the teething stage. She is a lovely child.

However, she always lay on her mother's body. She seemed uncomfortable lying on her mother's shoulder and was most comfortable when she lay on her mother's chest.

The child is growing healthily and is not threatened by infection or disease. Even if he is really sick, it should be fine as long as the doctor is not a quack from Austria.

During this stage, Louisa's emotions are invested in her children, and if anyone cares for her, she will give back.

If she wasn't so timid and liked quietness, the script that played her as the queen would have been beckoning to her.

After taking the medicine prescribed by Solovyov for a week, she felt that her appetite had decreased a little, but her physical condition had improved a little. At least when she looked in the mirror, she looked a little better than before.

"Your Highness, you look much better."

Natalia held Luisa in her arms, and she always felt that something strange was about to awaken in her, but it never happened.

"The herbs sent from outside are really useful, but there is not enough food to eat."

"Then let the person who delivered the herbs solve this problem!"

Although Natalia's words were unintentional, they reminded Louisa.

"I know, and there is a way. Natasha, have your sister Sonya take this letter to the new café on the Moika Embankment and give it to the landlord's son."

She did this in order to get Solovyov to come again, and this method was actually very clever. There was nothing written inside, just a blank piece of paper, and the seal was not Louisa's own mark.

The person who received the letter also felt that this princess was still very suitable for intelligence gathering, but it depended on how her lover did it.

After all, Solovyov was an officer of the Guards who was responsible for the security of the Winter Palace. Not one of those tall and handsome Guards Cavalrymen, he was more or less meticulous. He had considered all aspects of the arrangements and planned his own course of action.

Once you enter the palace, there are only two routes that are less likely to be noticed by the guards. This is the time window that appeared after he changed the patrol route arrangement. The soldiers and officers in the guards would not think of this level.

In addition, there is another aspect, that is, the commander of the Guards and a group of junior officers were involved in the coup plot. They did not dare to take action in the presence of the Guards soldiers, and they would not pay attention to these "windows". After all, Paul was still heavily guarded and would not give these people any chances.

It is because of this that it is particularly easy for him to sneak in.

"Mishka, you're on time again."

"Louisa, when I saw your blank letter, I knew you had something to ask me."

After seeing Louisa in the bedroom, the two of them did not rush to get close to each other, but looked at the older and younger children in the bedroom.

"Natalia is also a little beauty. We must arrange a good husband for her in the future."

"I really like her and want to keep her by my side forever. Besides, it's rare to find a girl who sleeps so soundly."

Louisa still had to take care of her and cover her with the quilt.

"Mishka, let's go to the study."

"You still want to read?"

"I really need to read a book. I want you to carry me with you."

Solovyov knew that Louisa's already fragile body had become even more bony after giving birth to two children and falling ill. When he touched her thighs, there was hardly any flesh on them.

It was relatively safe at the moment, but they went to the study. Today's theme was not to kiss, or to have further intimacy and deep communication, but to really read. In Louisa's current physical condition, even if her complexion was better, she was still very weak.

"What are you going to watch today, Louisa?"

"I saw something interesting in this ancient manuscript that was published twenty years ago."

“You see.”

"It is a mechanical device, and appears to be powered by steam."

"Let me take a look. αλουπλη? I know this structure. It's also called a steam ball. It's powered by steam. But it's a 'toy'. It's okay to see the principle, but it doesn't have any practical function."

“If a suitable mechanical structure is adopted, can it be put into practical use?”

When Louisa was a child, there didn't seem to be so many steam engines in use around Baden and Karlsruhe. Even with the strong support of Louis XVI, the French only had Claude François Jufroy Debans build a steamboat for the first time in 1783. It was 42 meters long, but it was not very practical.

The same is true of the French steam cars and the rail steam locomotives that the British are inventing. Their practicality is still very poor. The inventions of the French Pierre brothers (from whom Debans formally learned the principles of the steam engine) and James Watt are making these steam-powered machines practical during production.

The earliest application of steam engines in Russia was an old-fashioned steam engine that was put into use in 1766 with a power of 40 horsepower. However, the designer Ivan Polzunov himself did not live to see the machine put into use in Barnaul.

"Your Highness, I think it is possible. France already had steamships in the past, but they were not very practical. The structure needed to be strengthened and the working principle of the steam engine needed to be improved."

"You are an inventor, Mishka. Not only can you make weapons, but you can also make these things?"

"Of course, Your Highness, I also understand the principles of these machines. The vacuum they use now." "Vacuum? Like the Magdeburg experiment?"

"Yes, Louisa, you are very clever, and you know a lot."

This Crown Princess was indeed smart. She could remember a lot of things she had read, especially some major scientific events. The Magdeburg Hemisphere Experiment was a new thing for other noble ladies, but she was able to associate it with this aspect.

"Reading always helps. Before Anna was born, Alexandra and the other four would always pester me, their sister-in-law, to read them stories, or they would not go to bed."

She loved to coax children, and had been like this since she got married. No wonder her maternal love was so strong after she had her own children. It was just a pity that anyone who had read Alexander's biography knew that she failed to raise her "little mouse" and "little cat".

Luisa did like to compare her children to small animals, with Maria being a "little mouse" and Tonya being a "little brain axe".
"You are such a natural mother and sister, Louisa."

"You are younger than me, and I am your sister."

Louisa could already feel Solovyov's hand on her slender waist, and she slipped into his arms.

"Mishka, how can we improve this steam engine? Just now you mentioned that it has a vacuum structure."

Unfortunately, the profound meaning of Chinese characters cannot be appreciated here. It is just a book-loving noble lady asking her lover questions about mechanics.

"If it is improved to a high-pressure steam power structure, the power can be increased, but it is also more dangerous. However, a safety valve can be set to release the steam when the pressure reaches the design upper limit."

"The power has been increased, but how should it be used?"

"I think it would take some inspiration, perhaps Louisa. Do you have any books on James Watt's steam engine in your collection?"

"There is one, right here"

She stood up, not caring that she was not wearing shoes or socks, and walked barefoot to the back of a semicircular bookshelf on one side, and found a booklet introducing these contents.

"This is it. I've thought that if Your Highness and I have a son, I'll teach him all these things. My mother won't let me take care of Nicholas, so these books will remain on the bookshelf." I wonder how Louisa would feel if she knew that her brother-in-law would destroy most of the letters and notes she gave her when she grew up, making her almost non-existent in Russia except for her name.

"You have thought of a lot, but it's a pity that you only have two girls now. You still have to find a way to get His Highness back to your side, or at least make him find you attractive."

Louisa knew that such a lover was not like those around the Queen. He really cared about her and even held her ankles and stroked the insteps of her feet.

"Luisa, your foot injury looks completely healed now. Don't always step on the ground barefoot. You are weak. If you bend your feet over, you will see that the soles of your feet are red and cold. There is no heating under the floor."

"When you are here, I won't walk. When no one can see me, you hold me."

"But we still need to look at the steam engine," Solovyov opened the book introducing the principles of Watt's steam engine and thought of the reciprocating double-acting piston steam engine, which also had a picture of its structure. "That's it, a double-acting steam engine that can continuously provide power under reciprocating motion."

In comparison, he actually relied on the "power of love" to recall the memories bit by bit while holding his lover in his arms, or to come up with the invention based on the materials in his hands. He is truly unique.

"I can probably understand that. It will also make Her Majesty's lathe more efficient."

Her brain was indeed different from those of today's young ladies, and she could understand what the inventor who was holding her was thinking.

"That's right. I think we should invite some engineers in this field. Many of the engineers from the Bourbon era were aristocrats. I think many of them have gone into exile outside of France. In addition, there are some British engineers. We can consider hiring them with high salaries."

Solovyov now picked up Louisa again, came to the desk where she usually read, and placed her on the table.

Next, he took out a piece of white paper and started writing a list on it.

"Mishka, what are you doing?"

"I thought of vehicles and ships that use steam engines. Since there are already people who can do this, we should find such a group of people. Louisa, after I collect information about the relevant inventors, I will find a way to invite them to Petersburg and advise the emperor. This is of great importance. Russia's territory is so vast that it needs some machines to connect large cities that are far apart through roads and canals. Moreover, not only the emperor, but also the two princes will like this very much."

Constantine, needless to say, was a strong supporter of inventions that were beneficial to the army. As for Alexander, if he could explain it clearly, the crown prince, who liked novel things, would also support it.

After all, after the American inventor Fulton failed to serve Napoleon, he went to the British and finally found support from Russia. Alexander generously funded him and promised to give him the exclusive right to navigate a section of the canal after his invention was successful.

Solovyov thought that if he could get the navigation franchise, it would be better than letting the greedy Russian nobles take it. Moreover, the invention of these ships cannot be limited to the currently known technology. From the invention of guns and grenades, he knew that although he was knowledgeable, he could not do without professionals.

After writing an outline, Solovyov folded the paper, put it in his jacket pocket, and stuck it to the back of his ID card. He had not noticed that the papers in Alexander's bedroom were marked, but of course he should have discovered them after returning home.

"I love it when you say sweet things to me, when you work hard, and when you kiss me."

"Louisa, you inspire me, and at times like this, I want a little 'reward'."

"Do you want to kiss?"

"A kiss is enough."

Solovyov knew that Louisa was too weak, and a kiss was the best reward at this time. Moreover, his mind, which was always calmer than passionate, was indeed still thinking about many things.

And Louisa's kiss, like her personality, was so gentle.

But if this continues, one day this kind of solitude will develop into a further relationship.

After that, the report on the steam engine had to be submitted. On the one hand, it still depended on Paul's approval. On the other hand, it depended on when Louisa could find an opportunity to persuade Alexander. Although their relationship was cold, Alexander still had to return to her. Louisa was still the next Russian queen, and her words still carried some weight.

(End of this chapter)