Solovyov in Tsarist Russia 1796.

Chapter 488 065 The destination of the wedding trip is Crimea

When entertaining guests, the couple still had to come out together, especially in the auditorium of Sparrow Hill Manor, where they would perform a play. There were always some programs before the banquet officially began.

But is this play, a special "Iphigenia" for the Russian royal family, just the tone of this story?
The first time it was performed was when Paul visited Europe after Russia defeated the Turks in the Russo-Turkish War. After his return, it became a show that the royal family often watched when they went to the theater.

Compared with later literary and artistic works related to Crimea, this part is probably more implicit in declaring sovereignty, and implicitness is a bit abstract. If it were changed to "Glorious Sevastopol, the enemy must never get it" in the future.

The outline of the story is that when Agamemnon's daughter was sacrificed, the moon goddess Artemis felt pity for her and blew the girl to the Moon Temple in Taurica to be a priestess. Later, Agamemnon was murdered by his wife and a gigolo, and his son came to Taurica to avenge him. Finally, the sister and brother recognized each other at the altar.

Considering the title of Katya’s grandfather and her father Sergei’s military experience, it seems very appropriate.

"Today's performance was great, and your wedding was very unique."

"Marquis, we are also happy that you are the ambassador in Petersburg. At least you are a suitable person to speak up, well-educated and knowledgeable about diplomacy. However, I am not a diplomat, so I may not be of much help in improving the relationship between France and Russia."

"No, that's enough for you."

When a play is performed, there are several small boxes in the theater in such a manor.

Solovyov also knew that this was always a good time to negotiate, to conduct diplomacy behind closed doors.

However, he was only a distant nephew of the Queen of France, and they had no blood relationship. He was relying on the relationship between his stepmother and his younger brothers and sisters.

As for Caulaincourt's coming here, it also represents some conventional diplomatic practices, which is to just deal with it with a laugh and talk about the traditional friendship between France and Russia. As long as it is not the French who attack, everything will be fine.

The problem was that Napoleon might attack, and what was more troublesome was that although Aunt Josephine's position as queen was stable, she was 44 years old. Not every socialite in Paris was Madame de Staël, who could still have children at the age of 46.

That is to say, as a spouse, this aspect is obviously not guaranteed either.

By then, Napoleon would still find a woman to bear his children. Most likely, he would arrange a marriage with the royal families of Europe. The woman could not be too young, and the girl could not be too young.

Considering that Anna is too young, the French national gendarmerie will come to the emperor to ask for an explanation. The only girl of the right age in Russia is probably Catherine.

The French would not make such a request today, but who knows whether Talleyrand will do so tomorrow.

Austrian women are still the backup on this issue.

As for Caulaincourt, he would not pimp so openly.

So, it's just a joke, and behind the diplomatic rhetoric, it's more about personal friendship.

"I think you should spend more time in Moscow. The scenery here is very beautiful, and like Rome, it has seven hills."

"You have been to Rome?"

"We knew Katya when she was a little girl, before I married her. I was traveling with Prince Vasily, my father-in-law, and his family through France and Italy, and we came to Rome."

“The connection between Moscow and Rome is nothing more than seven hills and some heritage in between.”

"If you meet our emperor, you will know our attitude towards the Ottoman Empire. Constantinople also has seven hills."

Although he was a bit self-willed, considering his special identity, he was able to have a say on both sides.

As for the Ottoman Empire, Russia will temporarily cease fire. This is also a tacit understanding between Russia and France.

However, when leaving St. Petersburg, Solovyov also knew what Alexander was thinking. He knew that he had to leave room for intervention on the Balkan issue.

He tested Caulaincourt for the next step. The biggest expansion area for Russia was the Ottoman Empire, which was also the main expansion direction since Peter the Great. There was also a sense of mission of the Orthodox Church, and a lot of BUFFs were superimposed.
Asking the reliable person Caulaincourt actually works.

That Sebastiani, he got into trouble by opening his mouth and exposing his goal when Napoleon was on the expedition to Egypt. He had previously instigated discord and let the Ottoman Empire start another war while Russia and France were at war. I hope he won't cause trouble now.

However, compared to Sebastiani, Caulaincourt can be said to be very close to Napoleon. If there is anything here, he can still pass it on.

Caulaincourt also understood what he meant. The connection between the seven hills was aimed at Russia's future move south to the Balkans.

But he is also a seasoned man. He is a good person, but he is also good at laughing it off.

"That depends on the agreement between the two monarchs, doesn't it?"

Seeing this, Solovyov didn't say much and just mentioned his next plan.

"We plan to leave Moscow and go to the Black Sea coast after we get married. However, the Anapa Fortress is under the control of the Ottoman Empire. Although our country has tens of millions of serfs, our emperor has always been committed to treating serfs more tolerantly, and the Turks are still engaged in the slave trade. As a result, my husband and I have no place to stay when we travel to the eastern coast of the Black Sea."

It sounded strange, but Caulaincourt had a general idea of ​​it. Crimea was a good place to spend the winter. In ancient times, it was on the edge of Greek civilization. There was even a long-term trading post in Tanis at the mouth of the Don River.

Moreover, it is somewhat related to the play in the first half.

It was the will of the moon that Iphigenia went to Taurica.

Well, this riddle is indeed quite talented. In the diplomatic letter that Caulaincourt sent back to Paris, he did mention the Solovyov couple's honeymoon trip to Crimea.

As for what news has been leaked out, that is another matter.

But France’s national policy, like Britain’s, is that they don’t really want Russia to be able to get out of the Black Sea bathtub.

Moreover, Napoleon had a stronger desire for control, so he might make some concessions on the Baltic Sea issue. However, if Russia wanted to go to the Mediterranean from the Black Sea, it had already given up Corfu in the diplomatic agreement.

Now Caulaincourt also mentioned this matter: "Corfu may be a more suitable place, and it is in Greece."

But Solovyov was a general who loved to show off his knowledge, so if he were to talk about academic matters, it would naturally be difficult to respond.

"If it is Corfu, which was the cause of the Peloponnesian War, I think the emperor should be familiar with the ancient Greek literature, especially the biographies of the famous people involving Pericles, while the works of Thucydides and Xenophon cover this period, and Diodorus of Sicily also covers a wide range."

"Ah, now that you mention it, it is true..."

"The relationship between Athens and Sparta evolved into a decades-long war due to the failure to arbitrate the issues of several island city-states, and the expedition to Syracuse was a disaster." These words no longer sounded like a riddle, but more like a clear statement.

Napoleon, who claimed to be well-versed in Plutarch and ancient Greek history books, would have understood the meaning of this, no matter how arrogant he was.

Caulaincourt would also convey this, but that is not the point.

Then there is the banquet, and after the banquet the second half of the play begins. The intermission in between is also convenient for people to go to the toilet and chat, and there is also a banquet at the end of the night.

The ceremony was like this, and there would be drinking during the banquet.

Solovyov, who was never good at drinking, was also dragged back by his servants in a daze.

The fact that he could not drink so much was discovered by the beer he had just given him. Even Russians, who can drink tons of vodka, have the habit of looking down on others if they don't drink after being advised to do so. But that's tons of vodka.

Mixing different kinds of alcohol together is hard to handle even for someone with a good alcohol tolerance.

Little Katya looked at him like this, but she was not drunk enough to fall asleep. She asked the servant to change her clothes, and she undressed and put on a nightgown.

It is well known that women's underwear at this time is still empty inside
For Solovyov, those were all kinds of fun. He swore on the conscience of Crown Princess Louisa, pinched the feet of the Queen of Prussia, and unlocked a lot of strange French knowledge when he was with Madame Recamier.

He did have his own wife, and after he sobered up for a while, he still felt that this kind of young girl was the best!

Little Katya was still a lively girl, and the distance between them was not that far. As the lover of the queen and the noble lady, he had always been more polite.

But it was different here. After all, they were in front of the altar of the church, blessed by the metropolitan bishop, and registered as a legal couple. Even if the young countess came from a famous family, she did not need to be bound by etiquette.

"You're finally sober enough, Mishka."

"Ah, I have already changed them."

"I asked the servants to prepare it. You are a good drinker. If it was my father, it would be very troublesome to serve him."

It seems that my father-in-law, when he entertains guests and feasts all day long, must have the professional skills of a Russian drinker.

"As for you? I see you seem to be fine."

"Although I seldom drink, I can still hold my liquor quite well."

Well, this should also be from my father-in-law.
"I see. Let me see how it goes."

Then he pulled little Katya into his arms. As a couple, it was probably the first time they were so close to each other.

Since she is already someone's wife, having changed from a princess to a countess, she is naturally more relaxed.

"Of course I'm fine. You've been lying here drowsy for a while. I've had time to take a shower."

"No wonder, it smells really good, but you still smell a little bit of milk, you little kitten."

Speaking of this, little Katya blushed a little.

"oops"

"Since I have made an oath, I will cherish you. At this time, wearing a nightgown, your figure is revealed."

Indeed, with these long legs, Maria inherited the Queen Mother's Württemberg-style tallness and strongness, while little Katya has better body proportions.

However, because she often attends dance classes and has to wear dance shoes to practice, her feet are a bit shaky, especially when she stands on the ground. This is more or less the case for anyone who has practiced ballet. Her feet are somewhat deformed and there are some visible scars.

"But it must have taken a lot of hard work to train to this level. I remember you were practicing there when we were in Dresden."

"You remember that time."

"I remember it when I was younger, Katya, but there are many unpredictable things in life, and I never thought you would become my wife. Also, we are going to Crimea, where do you think is a better place to go?"

As he spoke, he had already grabbed Katya's wrist and ankle.

"This way, we can also spend some sweet newlywed time."

"It would be best to go to the seaside. Although I have seen many places, I have never seen the shore of the Black Sea. Besides, my father also said that the scenery on the Black Sea shore is nice. We can also have a house there in the future and go there in the summer."

"But it's also very hot there, and you have to wear such thin clothes to be able to bear it."

Then, he was not very honest and was ready to have a closer contact with little Katya.

"Oh, then you have to be gentle with me."

But when he said this, Solovyov couldn't drive. He mentioned how he had taken care of Mrs. Recamier before. Even if little Katya was very good and she might even tolerate her husband having a lover in her heart, she couldn't be so arrogant.

"I'll listen to you, it's just kittens. We should have a lot of kittens in the future, right?"

"I think so too. Best. Best."

That evening, the happiness index of both of them could be greatly improved. Even though Katya was born into a noble family, in the Russian rank of noble ladies, even if she had to accumulate experience, she could become a lady of the status of "Lady of State" in her early thirties. She could also be given the Cross of the Order of St. Catherine - this was a relatively high-level reward for noble ladies.

After getting married at Sparrow Hills, they completed the necessary formalities and lived for a while at the Dolgorukov estate.

Even if you have a wife, you still have to take care of your health. Even though Solovyov has always been in good health and can handle a lot of high-intensity staff work and front-line command when fighting on the front line, Katya has a strong waist and is still young. So the pressure is on Solovyov.

Compared to hers, her previous experiences were probably not so intense. They were even more exhausting than a series of battles such as the Battle of Austerlitz, the Battle of Eylau, and the Great Retreat from the Aare River.

Therefore, it is better to exercise some moderation.
(End of this chapter)