Solovyov in Tsarist Russia 1796.

Chapter 166 023 The Court's Etiquette and Status Issues
Paul's body is now lying in state in the Mikhailovsky Palace, and the diplomatic department is drafting a press release to be sent abroad, because the commotion was so big that it would be impossible to conclude it by saying it was a "stroke", so a thorough investigation is needed.

"Your Majesty, at this time, we need to get to the bottom of everything. Who are the people behind this venomous snake?"

"Then how to check?"

The task of investigating von Paalen's conspiracy group was actually extremely complicated. All the ministers present knew that the regicide must have overseas connections.

At this time, it was Privy Councilor Nikolai Rumyantsev who spoke up: "Your Majesty, at this time, either the investigation should be completed quickly or delayed for a while. From what we all know, the British are likely involved in the conspiracy, but no one knows how deeply they are involved."

"What do you say, Nikolay Petrovich?"

"If the investigation is concluded quickly, although the conspirators can be dug out quickly, I am afraid that the people's hearts will be unstable, and it will also affect diplomatic occasions and relations between countries within a few months. If the investigation is slow, I am afraid that all parties in the conspiracy will have the opportunity to eliminate the information in their hands. If I were Lord Whitworth, I am afraid that they would have started to destroy the documents by now. I can send someone to the door of the British Embassy to take a look."

At this moment, Prince Kurakin came in to interrupt: "It was just reported that the British really burned something in their embassy, ​​and we have no right to inspect it."

"Now that everyone knows about it, it's not easy to deal with. Alexander Sergeyevich, you are the most senior one. I'm afraid you need to say a few words to stabilize the situation."

"What I thought of is to seal off the official residences of those who were mainly involved in the conspiracy. We won't confiscate their property, but just find those confidential letters and follow the clues. What we need first is evidence. The British really didn't leave any clues. We can know what they did just by using the intelligence we have about the British diplomats at the British Embassy and the correspondence with some of our great nobles."

"I think we should do that. In addition to von Palen's official residence, the official residences of some of his friends should also cooperate with the investigation."

Count von Paaren, who was imprisoned in the Peter and Paul Fortress, was not aware of the search of his home, but he would not reveal any information about his contact with the British, and mourning activities during the national mourning period were still continuing.

Since the Mikhailovsky Palace restricted entry and exit, only people with aristocratic status were allowed to enter the palace, and they were allowed to enter in order. Many of the citizens in St. Petersburg gathered on the Field of War, where there were not so many palaces. Many citizens also gathered in places like Peter the Great's Summer Garden and Mikhailovsky Garden.

The news of Paul's death had already been known in St. Petersburg. Many nobles celebrated, but it was the bourgeoisie and ordinary citizens who mourned spontaneously. They had also gained some benefits from Paul's reforms. Most citizens and businessmen did not have to serve in the military, and asking them to pay taxes made these citizens happier, as they believed that the emperor was on their side.

Even serfs from the imperial estates near Pavlovsk and Oranienbaum and workers from the royal factories came over.

After all, although the old emperor was moody, his personal character was impeccable and he was willing to interact with the citizens. When he was young, he would secretly ride out on horseback to chat with serfs. Some people even called him "our Pugachev".
When Paul was alive, he was always resentful of the great nobles for betraying Peter III. It is no wonder that those nobles who did not support him became a little too proud of themselves.

In other words, many of these people turned to Alexander and formed a political force. Otherwise, Alexander might have really dismissed a number of nobles from their posts just because they did not cry sadly enough.

"Now, we need to confirm the etiquette in the palace."

However, Alexander looked at the royal family members around him. Maria and her brothers and sisters were all at the children's table, so he must not listen to the children's opinions. Louisa was very weak, so she spent a whole night in the coup and helped him to mobilize the soldiers, finally ensuring a smooth coronation. Constantine also had to reorganize the guards.

"Your Majesty, at times like these, you need to make your own decision. After all, when it comes to etiquette, we are all your subjects."

Alexander was also very troubled. After all, Queen Mother Maria's status was not easy to arrange and it was difficult to accommodate her in the court etiquette.

At times like this, he even needed to come back and ask Louisa, even when she was lying in bed in a daze.

"Your Majesty, you came here at this time without telling me, like this when you are only wearing pajamas."

"Lisa, you look so adorable. Are you feeling better?"

"I'm no longer dizzy, and luckily, I don't have a fever. I just feel a little tired."

"You've worked hard, and you should rest more. I think you should rest more, and..."

Alexander is not like his usual self now, the poor poem he wrote to Louisa was full of emotion, praising Louisa's eyes as "sapphires" and a bunch of flowery and empty words, but now he can't speak much.

"Your Majesty, you are the monarch of Russia. If there is anything, please tell me. I am your wife. If I can help you in any way, please tell me. Alexander, I will not feel good if you do this."

Alexander stroked Louisa's back and let her lie fully on the sofa.

"It's difficult to be an emperor, and now it involves the issue of palace etiquette. The Grand Chamberlain, the eunuchs, and the ministers and I have not come up with a set of rules, and this involves my mother and you."

In fact, Louisa was also very clear that Queen Mother Maria was very strong. Even though she was said to be "crazy" and sent to the Winter Palace to "calm down", her influence on her children was very strong.

Louisa herself always felt chest tightness, which was the result of being suppressed by the Queen Mother. She had never been so nervous when the more majestic Queen was around.

The queen liked her very much and had been hoping that she could give birth to an heir as soon as possible so that four generations could live together. However, her marriage to Alexander, from the initial freshness, repeatedly swung back and forth between coldness and passion, and Alexander's mother was such a person.

After the Queen's death, the diligent Paul had no time to care about the affairs of the harem. He also took care of Louisa in the limited time he had, but now he is gone.

Alexander is going to make a deal with her right now, and this kind of thing will definitely make her sad.

After all, it was Luisa who stood up that night, which made Maria completely become the Queen Mother. There had to be some exchange of interests in the palace.

"Tell me, Alexander, what you want me to do."

"The status in the palace, according to the latest rules and regulations, is as follows. The most honorable lady in the empire is the Empress Dowager, my mother, and you are the second."

Alexander is an emotional political animal and an excellent actor. He now puts on a guilty attitude to take advantage of Louisa's gentle character and her willingness to give in, especially after she has said a few sweet words to her - this is the result of her longing for her husband's love. "I think it's okay, Alexander. After all, the queen mother has lost a lot, and this is a kind of compensation for her."

"As for you, Lisa, I love you. I have ordered jewelry for you. I wonder if you like the look of it."

Alexander himself held the pattern, which was a dolphin pattern inlaid with a series of small diamonds. The size of this jewelry was quite large, and in addition to the necklace, there was also a crown and earrings.

Louisa was not very happy about this. Thinking about her own status and position, she could only accept it by default. Alexander could come to please her, but she also needed to be able to accept it psychologically.

"Your Majesty, everything will be done according to your wishes. This is what the Queen Mother deserves."

Alexander did not explain further. He had already met the Queen Mother, who was very satisfied with this arrangement. As long as she was there, Elizabeth would not be able to make any waves - although Louisa herself hated appearing in public and preferred to enjoy a quiet life in the palace gardens. In every sense, she was no match for her.

Louisa had to restrain herself, and when Natalia came over, she didn't know what to say. Alexander had already made the decision and just came to tell her.

If she had not stood up to refute the Empress Dowager late at night, although it would not necessarily be Empress Maria who ruled Russia, the situation would have been much worse.

"It would be bad if you cry like this and hurt yourself."

"Natasha, you should go and rest too. I want to be alone and quiet."

If it had not been a period of national mourning, Alexander might have run to his mistress for comfort. Although the Polish woman did not pose much of a threat to her position, it always made her unhappy.

She returned to the Winter Palace and came to the Queen's bedroom. The furnishings there were luxurious, but she was not comfortable.

However, at this time, she did not plan to ask others to come and comfort her. Instead, she just wore her pajamas and buried her head in the pillow and cried.

She was the queen, but her position in the palace was very awkward, as there was also the empress dowager above her. Considering that her mother's family in Baden was inherently weak, even weaker than Württemberg, there was nothing much to say.

The Queen Mother targeted her everywhere because she had some remnants of the Queen's influence. Although it was a bit unnecessary, the person involved thought it was necessary.

At the same time, Alexander is also arranging other ceremonies, including the coronation ceremony half a year later. Now only the time has been set, and the arrangements at that time will need to be gradually adjusted within half a year.

As for politics, he was not prepared to make any immediate adjustments. He simply sent the young Prince Saltykov, whom he disliked, to manage the diplomatic archives - it looked like a gardening leave, but he still gave quite high-level treatment to the prince's father, the old tutor Prince Saltykov himself. Alexander also hoped to replace many official positions in Russia with his own people.

However, everything has to be done step by step. He also has to recall Adam Czartoryski from Lisbon and set up a new secret committee. There are many things to do according to his ideas.

His actor-like personality can easily paralyze his opponents, but if he goes too far, he will paralyze himself and his allies as well.

As for what he was going to do, Solovyov now had only one solution: "Yes, Your Majesty!" and then he would do it. The intelligence he had shown in the past was indeed due to his low status. He was the last one to come among Alexander's confidants, and he was also Paul's personal bodyguard, so he needed to be restrained.

What he didn't know was that Alexander was very satisfied with him, but because there were too many nobles who needed to be rewarded, his matter was not important. However, just like in Paul's time, he rewarded silver pocket watches, jewelry and manors, and only his father's title certificate was implemented.

Solovyov's own idea was very simple. He wanted to go abroad to see the world and could not stay in Russia all the time. During the reign of Tsar Paul, there were many restrictions on overseas travel.

For Russia, there would be a period of peace until 1805, when the next anti-French alliance was organized. This would be a rare period of peace.

For Solovyov, at his age when he was fighting against Napoleon, he could only advance through military achievements, and he could not consider other things. It was too early for him to exert his energy in politics.

There are only so many things a major in the Guards can do.

However, he also noticed that even during the national mourning period, many citizens came to the Mikhailovsky Palace to mourn spontaneously.

He had no duty at the moment, so he came to the square.

At this moment he saw several serfs from his village, and it was quite convenient for them to come to St. Petersburg.

"Master, are you on duty today?"

"I'm not on duty. I just came out of the palace."

"Master, you are a good person, just tell me, shouldn't God punish bad people? How come Emperor Paul was killed by bad people at his age?"

"I don't know, old man. I don't know."

"If you ask me, I may not be able to meet such a good emperor in the future. It is harder than meeting a good boss like you, young master."

"Yes, may Pavel Petrovich's soul ascend smoothly to heaven and rest there. When I was on duty, I always saw the emperor getting up in the morning to pray. He was so pious and a good man. How could he leave like this?"

Solovyov had many things to say, but he couldn't say them. These country folk and city citizens loved the Tsar who was willing to punish the lawless nobles. Indeed, no Tsar in the future would be willing to listen to the opinions of his subjects in this way. Alexander was just a show-off.

While alive, Russia may look peaceful, but as time goes by, there will certainly be more unknown dangers, and one day the flood will overflow the dam.

(End of this chapter)