Solovyov in Tsarist Russia 1796.

Solovyov no longer needed to pay attention to the British movements; they had already chosen to depart, and all known intelligence was readily available.

The next step is to take care of family matters, starting with a wedding.

He still needed to write to his father about Anton's matter, hoping that his father and stepmother would agree.

On the contrary, Alexander, as the Tsar, had no objections. The extra sister was an illegitimate child, and the matter was originally entrusted to Solovyov. The fact that she was married to his half-brother was always kept secret, and the outside world had no way of knowing.

And then there's the second sister, Polina. Her relationship with Count Stroganov Jr. will require a period of adjustment for both of them.

This time, when Sonia's wedding was held in Moscow, there were actually more guests.

Now that we're at peace, we've sent out hundreds of invitations.

The Rostov family had many relatives, and Ryazan was close to Moscow.

It's a pity that the old count passed away last year, and the countess usually lives in the convent.

Nikolai moved in with Maria, where Andrei's wife and children were also living. Little Nikolai had reached the age to join the army, and after he was assigned to the Guards, someone could choose him as his adjutant.

He was an 11-year-old boy who joined the army as a sergeant because he was a nobleman, which allowed him to have connections through nepotism.

Solovyov wanted to take him along, also to avoid any influence on Nikolai Bolkonsky because of those people in the association.

But when it comes to his interpersonal relationships, many of them are from this area.

So much so that when Sonia was getting ready, her brother-in-law, Solovyov, happened to pass by and saw the guests.

Many of these guests came from the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum, the staff cadets, and private French schools in St. Petersburg; they were all people who had access to cutting-edge ideas.

But they always act on impulse, unlike Solovyov, who often thinks things through carefully before taking action.

"Ah, these people."

"It's the Earl, I'm so glad to finally meet you."

"you are?"

Solovyov hesitated when he saw the young man.

“I am Ryliev, and also a director of the Russian-American company.”

Solovyov remembered that young man.

Solovyov and his father also held shares in the Russian-American company, but later the father and son bundled all the shares together and, as the father and eldest brother, distributed this part of the property to their younger siblings, including their adopted daughter Adela.

When the girls got married, they brought with them a generous dowry, while the two boys each had their own businesses, and with the inheritance left to them by their father, they had enough to live on.

Solovyov didn't see how his younger brother was doing, but it was certain that Anton wasn't suited for the army. Besides, this romantic had promised Marina that he wouldn't be going to the army.

In reality, Marina's wealth was only at the level of an average wealthy heiress.

This girl is plain-looking, except for her fair skin that makes her look like a porcelain doll. She has no breasts or buttocks and is quite short.

It's all about the emotional connection. Solovyov also needs to be emotionally involved, but just look at the figures of his "achievements"—his relationships with his wife and the noblewomen—and you'll probably know.

Anton probably felt pity for her because he saw that she had neither a father nor a mother, even though he knew which noble family she came from.

That's just how it often is.

If that girl hadn't said anything, she'd be small enough to be a flower girl following behind the tall and slender Sonia.

Although she was fifteen years old and Solovyov had arranged for her to be well cared for, she still grew up with a somewhat malnourished appearance.

These kids, they're all in early relationships, even earlier than I was at that age.

In the garden, Solovyov also saw the young count from St. Petersburg, embracing and kissing his sister.

They...
Solovyov sighed again, and seeing him like this, Natasha came over to comfort him.

"Isn't this great? I also had boys I liked before I got married."

"I remember it was Boris. He was still in the Commander-in-Chief's headquarters, serving as the general's adjutant. And then? Didn't you marry Pierre?"

"Yeah, that's it."

Ah, sometimes I really envy young people.

However, Solovyov is only 35 years old when he said that.

"You describe yourself as if you were an old man."

"Yes, I've become like this because I've seen too much. Before you got married, you were always a lovely girl, innocent and carefree like a child. But after experiencing more, you've matured. Our Sonia is the same way. She still has a childlike temper, just like when she was getting dressed."

"But she is very happy, and she thanks you for always helping Petya."

"It's a case of true love prevailing in the end; Petya and Sonia are a perfect match. But Natasha, where's your Sonia?"

I really don't know what to say.

In the end, Nikolai Rostov did not marry his cousin, but instead chose Maria.

But they still lived together. Sonia's problem was that she didn't have enough dowry.

Dolokhov fell in love with her and was even willing to stop doing those ridiculous things for her, but in the end, nothing came of it.

Of course, it's hard to believe Dolokhov would say that.

Solovyov also knew that he was quite familiar with Dolokhov, and had even recommended him to be the commander of a fortress near a town in Finland.

"Alright, I should go check on our Sonia again. That girl is a bit restless."

Natasha had to go back to take care of her child, and she had calculated the time carefully. The baby was only a month old, and the noisy environment outside was not good. It was Solovyov's mother-in-law, Ekaterina Feodorovna, who arranged a private room for her so that it would be convenient for her to take care of the children.

Katya and Natasha were there taking care of all the children, big and small.

When Solovyov returned, he saw his sister-in-law, Sonia, who was about to become a bride.

If I weren't always away on campaigns, I'd probably spend a lot of time playing with her.

It's often said that the sister-in-law and brother-in-law are closer, practically half-sisters.
That's true. When Sonia wasn't even as tall as Solovyov's legs, she slowly learned to walk. At that time, the Dolgorukov family lived in Dresden, Saxony, and Katya always followed behind when she went to dance practice.

Now that she's grown up and has just qualified as a maid, she's married off like her older sister.

Although Petya's future in officialdom was not good, and because the Rostov family had been struggling financially for years, their assets were rather meager, making him more like a live-in son-in-law.

Solovyov's mother-in-law, however, was troubled by her son-in-law, who, despite being considered outstanding by outsiders, was rarely home. Although Solovyov doted on his wife at home, he was amorous and lecherous, having had a mistress before marriage, though he managed his relationships well both inside and outside the home.

Katya was quite tolerant, and in order to make her husband restrain himself a little, she had Mihrima accompany him.

They could be considered her spies, forming a united front within the family.

The good thing about Petya is that his youngest daughter likes him very much. Although he seems naughty and mischievous, he is very serious about Sonia.

In that case, the widowed princess could not say anything and could only wish the young man happiness.

Meanwhile, Solovyov returned to look at Sonia's attire.

"This outfit is really nice, you look like a princess in purple, but it must have been very difficult to dye it."

"I know, and thank you, brother-in-law Mishka, for getting such good material."

“When you marry into the royal family, you use the same fabric. You are the youngest daughter of Prince Klimsky, so you are worthy of this too.”

If we were to say that she was a descendant of Yuri Dolgoruky when Moscow was being built, with the bloodline of Rurik on her father's side, and being from the Moscow branch, she would naturally be very noble.

“I feel very happy today, but from now on, you and my sister will both be in St. Petersburg, not here.”

“We’re going on a long trip, but you can’t let Marina be your flower girl.”

“Count, how can you speak like that?”

Marina blushed and hid behind Sonia.

Although this girl is of average appearance, she has a rather cute personality, though she is a bit shy.

"Alright, I'll take Anton out for training this year. When we come back next year, you two can get engaged, or even get married right away. How about that?"

"That's more like it."

Marina popped her head out from behind Sonia, whose purple wedding dress was quite large and had a complicated design, thus blocking her from view.

"If we're going to find a flower girl, we need to find someone else. Aren't you supposed to be Sonia's bridesmaid?"

It's a bit outrageous to have bridesmaids who are only a little taller than flower girls.

Solovyov meant to have his eldest daughter, who was a black-hearted cotton enthusiast, follow behind her aunt.

Sonia agreed, and everything went very smoothly in this regard.

The church chosen for the wedding was the small chapel on the Dolgorukov family estate. Although it was a bit crowded, it was still enough to accommodate the relatives and friends of both sides.

However, both of the newlyweds' fathers have passed away.

Petya's side was represented by her eldest brother Nikolai and her second brother-in-law Pierre, while the one who led Sonia in was surprisingly her brother-in-law.

But his position was indeed suitable: an infantry general, a favorite of the emperor, about to be sent on a foreign mission, leading the largest delegation in Russian history.

Pierre Nash, the richest man in Moscow, chairman of the Moscow Railways, a shareholder of a Russian-American company, and a major shareholder of multiple companies, has military and political connections that are comparable to those in the business world.

Moreover, Pierre and Solovyov were both good people whom no one from any social class or faction could find fault with.

As for the marriage vows, with the father absent, the couple received the mother's consent and blessing, and the two brothers-in-law represented their deceased father, thus ensuring the couple's successful union.

A happy couple gets married right here, and there is nothing happier than this.

The Dolgorukov family's internal property issues are no longer a problem.

Prince Vasily the Younger was unwilling to watch his aunt act recklessly, but she was the only elder in the family who could speak up at this time. After all, his mother was a married woman, and the other aunts were either deceased or living in convents as nuns.

The fact that she didn't react at this time was already a sign of respect for the newly rich and powerful of the Russian Empire.

Praskovia Musina-Pushkina never imagined that her brother would choose such a frivolous and charming young man as his son-in-law, who would become excessively favored by the Emperor, not only defeating Napoleon but also maintaining good relations with foreign monarchs.

If he still wanted to get involved in the lawsuit concerning his family's estate, he would be somewhat reckless.

After all, these things would attract the attention of the Tsar himself.

Solovyov also had to return to St. Petersburg after his sister-in-law got married.

But before that, he also needed to make sure that Petya and Sonia... cough cough, it was the kind of thing where they both took advantage of each other.

The next day, Solovyov and Katya left their estate in Moscow to return to St. Petersburg, taking only their two eldest children with them.

"I really hate to leave you all, having to leave again at this time."

“Ekaterina Feodorovna, our departure this time is also on the Emperor's orders. We will be back in about a year. We will need your help in taking care of our four young children.”

This also includes Mihrima's daughters; the two youngest are now barely weaned, and they might have a serious tantrum once they're separated from their mother.

Because both of them insisted on raising their children themselves, their parent-child relationship was very close.

But Solovyov could give some advice to the two boys in the middle.

"You must listen to your grandma and aunt, be good at home, and take good care of your two younger sisters. When Dad comes back next year, he'll have to see how you behave."

As for the older Sasha, he still mustered up his courage and imitated the adults.

"Dad. Um. Dad, you and Mom go out, but be sure to come back early."

"Yes, but it's such a long trip. Do you miss your dad and mom?"

"I'll definitely think about it. Dad's always out, but Mom..."

The second son was clearly also attached to his mother and didn't want her to leave, so he tried to snuggle into Katya's arms.

“Sasha, Mommy will miss you too, but you must do as Daddy says.”

Before parting, Katya kissed the children on the forehead and gave them a few more nagging instructions.

When it was time to say goodbye, Katya was still reluctant to part with the children.

"It's alright. The children are just stronger when they came back, so don't worry about anything."

"Yes, it's just that we have to travel such a long distance and go to so many places."

“But such opportunities are rare in life. Katya, haven’t you always longed to go to those mysterious places? Let’s treat this as an adventure.”

For Solovyov, it was indeed a unique adventure. (End of Chapter)