Catherine and the Black Emperor

008. Our Sergei is different now.

Before long, Peter returned with a bottle of wine, still complaining.

"If that princess weren't German, I'd practically want her to marry my aunt. Doesn't my aunt like her a lot? They should just be together!"

"Your Highness, you should be careful with your words," Sergei cautioned.

Peter then reluctantly shut his mouth and turned to look at the portrait of the Polish princess, his eyes shining brightly.

"I will marry her! Sergei, put away her portrait!"

He brought his nose close to the portrait to smell the maid's body scent.

The maid holding the portrait was startled and accidentally stepped on Peter's toy soldier while taking a step back. The smile on Peter's face vanished instantly.

"Please forgive me, Your Highness!"

The maid trembled with fear. Peter raised his hand to slap her, but ultimately lacked the courage to do so. He angrily picked up the toy soldier and left.

"Sergei, teach her a lesson! Make her regret making such a mistake!"

Sergei took the portrait from the maid and waved for her to wait outside.

Naryshkin sipped his wine, shaking his head and smacking his lips.

"The Grand Duke dares to lash out at the Empress, yet he dares not retaliate against a mere servant. Is this God's mercy?"

Sergei glanced at him sideways: "It's hard to say about other things, but if you get drunk again, you won't get your father's leniency anymore."

Naryshkin immediately put down his glass.

"I'll leave this to you. I'll go keep an eye on the Grand Duke and make sure he doesn't get drunk."

Naryshkin made his escape.

When Sergei came out, the maid outside trembled all over. Sergei led her to a side hall, where the maid was already kneeling on the ground in fear.

"Your Highness, for God's sake, please forgive the Grand Duke!"

Sergei placed his hands on her shoulders and gently comforted her, "Get up. What kind of behavior is this? The Grand Duke will not forgive you, but I will find a way to let you stay here."

"Thank you, Your Highness! Thank you, Your Highness!"

Sergei helped her up and helped her sit in a chair: "What's your name?"

Ulyana.

"Several princesses were prettier than the Polish princess, but the Grand Duke chose her because you, holding the princess's portrait, had a better figure than the others, which was your advantage."

Sergei took an apple from the table next to him and held it to her mouth. Ulyana hesitated for a moment, then opened her mouth and bit into the apple. Sergei held the apple and let her take a bite.

Ulyana was flattered.

You can eat an apple, but can you clap your hands?

Ulyana clapped her hands together.

"Great. From now on, take a bite and pat it down. Keep doing this until you finish the apple, then you can leave. Remember to cover your cheeks when you leave."

After saying that, Sergei sat down in the chair next to him and closed his eyes to rest.

Ulyana blinked a few times, and after realizing what was happening, she picked up the apple, took a bite, clapped her hands hard, took another bite, and clapped again...

Not long after, Ulyana finished eating the apple and whispered, "Your Highness."

Sergei, with his eyes closed, waved his hand, and Ulyana bowed to him, covered her cheek, and walked out.

When he was alone in the room, Sergei opened his eyes.

"If you show concern a few more times, you should be able to find a loyal subordinate."

Ulyana is young and will be by Peter's side for a long time. If she can become his person, she can keep an eye on Peter's every move and pass messages between him and Sofia.

He didn't want Johanna to do anything so risky again, or at least not involve him.

In the evening, Sergei returned home. The butler was waiting at the door. As he entered the hall, he saw someone come to greet him, holding a dinner fork.

"Sergei, you're back. Perfect timing, let's have dinner together."

With large, dull eyes, a flat nose, and a mouth that never closes, he was his brother, Pyotr Saltykov.

That's right, his brother shares the same name as the Grand Duke.

In fact, it is now widely acknowledged that Russians have long and unpleasant names.

The church in Russia is the Eastern Orthodox Church, and names are chosen from the Orthodox calendar. However, the calendar has a limited number of names, which makes it very common for people to have the same name in Russia.

The name Elizabeth alone has been used by at least ten people in the Russian court.

"Okay," Sergei replied.

Although the elder brother was usually rude and later often caused trouble in the palace, their relationship as brothers was always good.

Sitting at the dining table were their parents. Thinking that they were the ones who doted on and loved them the most, Sergei stepped forward and hugged his mother, Anastasia Tolstoy.

Then he turned to his father, Ivan Saltikov, and said, "Father, you've worked hard."

Ivan put down his cutlery, chuckled, and said to his wife, "Look, after going to pick up the princess, our Sergei is a different person."

Sergei smiled meaningfully: "You will understand this more deeply in the future."

Despite his womanizing ways, Elizabeth kept him by her side as a royal guard because his father was her adjutant and his mother was equally loyal to him during Elizabeth's coup.

After finishing his meal and returning to his room, Sergei picked up a quill pen and wrote down names on pieces of paper, then pinned the slips of paper to the wall.

Sergei looked at those names; they were the ones who made up the current Russian court.

"стабильностьипрогресс (steady progress), упорядоченно (orderly and methodical)."

The next morning, Sergei put on his crisp courtier uniform and went to the Winter Palace.

Elizabeth left her bedchamber, followed by Sergei and the other courtiers, and headed toward the council chamber.

This was Elizabeth's first court meeting since returning to St. Petersburg.

She was tall and full-figured, with large, bright blue eyes, a broad forehead, white teeth, rosy lips, and a faint blush on her clean, flawless face. Her natural blonde hair had been dyed deep black.

Razumovsky waited respectfully at the entrance of the council chamber, while Sergei and the other courtiers walked to either side of the door and stood with the guards.

"Has everyone arrived?" Elizabeth asked Razumovsky.

"They've all arrived, but the clerk has hemorrhoids, so I've arranged for someone else."

Elizabeth stamped her foot, looked at her courtiers, and finally her gaze fell on Sergei.

The 18-year-old had dark eyes, a handsome yet cold face, was of medium to tall height, had fair skin, a strong physique, and a restrained yet sharp and determined gaze, a stark contrast to the usual dashing and talented young man.

"Saltikov".

"Your Majesty." Sergei stepped forward.

"You will be the secretary for this meeting."

"yes!"

And so, Sergei followed Elizabeth and Razumovsky into the council chamber, and he went to the very front of the long table, to the corner diagonally behind the Queen's seat.

Although this place is remote, everyone except the Queen can see who is seated.

His gaze swept across the crowd: Prime Minister Bestutev, Counselor Lestok, Chairman of the Special Court Shuvalov, Army General Apravshin...

Everyone at the scene was on the note he burned last night.

Each of them holds a high position of power and is a prominent figure in the Russian court today!