Catherine and the Black Emperor

065. Andrei disappeared.

8 month.

"In order to continue to get closer to the Grand Duchess, Andrei reaffirmed his relationship with her, calling her 'Little Mother' and asking her to call him 'Son'."

Gemma told Sergei that Andrei had recently started bothering Ekaterina again, her words tinged with annoyance.

"And the result?" Sergei asked.

"The Grand Duke and Duchess doted on their 'son' and always talked about him to people."

"That's good, that's settled." Sergei nodded, got up and left.

He certainly wouldn't explain to Gemma that he had arranged all of this.

Andrei, incorrigible, was put in solitary confinement. After his release, he hurriedly approached Catherine, who, of course, had no idea that the real reason for her confinement lay here.

However, Catherine was married to Peter and was a Grand Duchess, so Andrei could not find a good way to contact her every day.

Sergei then had Naryshkin inadvertently suggest that Naryshkin call Ekaterina "Little Mother," which led to Gemma and the other servants' recent heated discussion about the topic.

Sergei's move seemed to have helped Andrei find a way to get close to Catherine.

But as the saying goes, if Heaven wants someone to perish, it first makes them go mad.

Since the other party wanted to get close to Catherine, he would help them make their dream come true and make the matter bigger and bigger.

"Remember, when Andrei Chernyshev is around again, let me know in advance that I will not see Peter."

After returning to her room, Ekaterina gave Matrena some instructions.

She knew very well what Andrei was thinking; he had the same thoughts as his cousin Zakhar back then. But how could she, as the Grand Duchess, possibly be interested in them?

"They're not even as good as Peter. At least Peter had the status and position of a 'Grand Duke.' Compared to Sergei, they're miles behind!" Catherine muttered to herself.

But sometimes, she has no choice.

Andrei spent every day with Peter. Many times she didn't want to go out, but Peter would send someone to call her. If she didn't go, Peter would come over himself and fly into a rage.

Of course, Peter always brought his "son" with him whenever he came.

9 month.

Sergei waited patiently, and an opportunity arose.

That day, Peter acted as the violinist and put on a concert.

Catherine, already disgusted by Peter's dedication to music, returned to her room next to the Golden Hall in the Summer Palace.

The hall is under renovation and is full of scaffolding and craftsmen.

"Your Highness!"

Andrei Chernyshev caught up with them.

Ekaterina pretended not to hear and quickened her pace, but Andrei still caught up with her at the door of the room.

"Your Highness, I don't know what I did to upset you, that you've been avoiding me these past few days. It's too noisy here, let me go into your room and we can talk properly."

Andrei tried to enter Catherine's room, but Catherine stopped him.

"Let's say it here."

At the same time, Pimmen, a servant in the theater, hurried in and approached Count de Vere, who was sitting next to Sergei. He whispered a few words to the Count, who then got up and left in a hurry.

Sergei didn't notice the person next to him leaving; he continued to smile and look at the stage.

"etc."

As Deville walked through the Golden Hall, he suddenly stopped. Pimmen turned around and saw Deville looking across the corridor, where two figures were standing not far away.

"Let's go."

After a moment, Count de Verde walked outside again.

The next day, Andrei Chernyshev disappeared from the palace, along with the rumors that Andrei had a very ambiguous relationship with Grand Duchess Catherine.

Peter initially kept asking about Andrei, but no one knew anything until he found Sergei.

"His Majesty has sent him to a garrison stationed in a distant region."

"Sergei, if you're lying to me, I'll have my hounds eat your bones!" Peter stared at him.

"You're going to kill a friend who once helped you just because someone briefly pleases you?" Sergei stared directly at him.

"Tell me! Where did Andrei go!" Peter shouted angrily.

"You'll find out soon enough." Sergei turned and left.

"Sergei! You bastard! You traitor!" Peter yelled.

Elizabeth's office.

"The Grand Duke asked Sergei about Andrei's situation, but Sergei didn't tell the Grand Duke. The two of them had a big argument about it, or rather, the Grand Duke angrily scolded Sergei," Shuvalov reported.

He knew this wasn't the outcome he wanted; it would make Elizabeth value Sergei even more, believing he was born for secret work.

But he dared not hide such a thing.

Elizabeth said expressionlessly, "Go and interrogate them."

Just as Sergei said, Peter soon found out where Andrei had gone, because Peter saw Andrei locked in a cell in the fortress, which terrified Peter.

Shuvalov interrogated Peter and Ekaterina separately.

Of course, Andrei had already been interrogated countless times before this.

In the end, all three were released.

The Grand Duke and Duchess were not punished, nor was Andrei, but the mental torment he suffered during this period made him feel like he was living a life worse than death.

And shortly thereafter, just as Sergei had predicted, Andrei was indeed assigned to a corps stationed on the border.

"We're both innocent, Sergei. I shouldn't have lost my temper with you that day. Can we still be friends?" Peter found Sergei and seemed to be apologizing, but his eyes were wandering around, and his mind was not on this at all.

Sergei knew that Peter was bored because he lacked playmates. Zakhar was gone, Andrei was gone, and Naryshkin was busy "taking care" of his wife at home. Peter was indeed quite bored.

"You are His Highness the Grand Duke, I shouldn't hold a grudge against you, and we've always been friends."

Sergei's words made Peter jump for joy instantly, like a child who had received a reward, and he hurriedly called Sergei to go to the kennel with him.

Naryshkin, who was walking his dog, handed the white hunting dog to Sergei and whispered excitedly, "Sergei! Andrei has really disappeared from St. Petersburg! He's been sent by His Majesty to the border with his troops!"

Sergei looked astonished: "Something I said casually actually came true?"

Naryshkin nodded repeatedly: "Your mouth is just like God's!"

10 month.

Elizabeth's office.

"Catherine has not yet become pregnant. Is she showing contempt or disgust towards me? Is this a punishment for me?" Elizabeth roared in anger.

"Your Majesty, I am also very worried about this, as it concerns the future of Russian diplomacy," Besdudev said, looking concerned.

Sergei stood to one side without saying a word.

He knew very well that Besdudev, who was determined to consolidate his position as "second only to the emperor," had been stirring up Elizabeth's suspicions and provoking her dissatisfaction with Catherine for the past six months.

Shuvalov felt contempt for Besdov's words, but now was not his chance to speak, so he remained silent.

He also gave his nephew Ivan a meaningful look, preventing him from speaking.

Razumovsky stood aside, acting as if he were invisible.

Elizabeth remained silent, so Besdov continued, "Actually, this matter may not be solely the fault of the Grand Duchess. I mean, the Grand Duchess and Duchess may not be at fault at all, or perhaps their environment needs a change. Environment can numb people."

"You mean replace Bruzer? Her performance has certainly not satisfied me," Elizabeth said.

The "environment" that Besdov mentioned affecting Peter and Ekaterina was actually the people around them. Now, apart from Sergei and Naryshkin, there were hardly any other people around them.

She trusted Naryshkin completely; Sergei had long since changed; Andrei and Zakhar had both been banished from St. Petersburg; the servants couldn't possibly influence Peter and Catherine…

So only the housekeeper, Bruzer, remained—the two of them.

"Who do you think is suitable?" Elizabeth asked.

The prime minister revealed his long-held choice: "Your Majesty, your cousin, Maria Djogolokova."