Struggle in Russia

Nowadays, people who can do the grain business are not ordinary people. If you rush into this field without any reliable connections, especially if you want to sell grain to Wallachia or Moldavia, it is no less than snatching food from the mouth of a tiger.

Let’s put it this way, now the grain trade in Wallachia, Moldavia and even Ukraine, Belarus and Poland is monopolized by top military dignitaries such as Duke Mikhail and Prince Paskovich.

Apart from them, there are only a few husbands of the Grand Dukes or Grand Dukes who can get a share of the pie. If other people want to go to the table and put their hands into their plates to eat some soup, their heads will be screwed off!

Viscount Prozolov knew very well who Petrovna was and what kind of connections and background she had. Although this guy seems to be getting along well in Kiev, he can't even sit on this table, and he's not even qualified to watch and drool.

But now this woman actually told him that she was going to start this business. Viscount Prozolov subconsciously felt that either this woman didn't know how high the sky was, or she had defected to her new master.

A courtesan who doesn't know the heights of the world will not last long, and Petrovna will definitely not be so ignorant and stupid if she can survive until now. So obviously there is only the second reason, this woman has found a new backer!

So who is he?

Viscount Prozolov had some guesses in his mind, but he felt that they were all unreliable. Those people either didn't have enough energy, or they were people that Petrovna couldn't reach. There was no reason to help this woman.

After thinking for a long time, Viscount Prozolov didn't have any clue, so he simply gave up his guess and asked directly: "Really? Although the grain business can make a lot of money, it is not easy to do? Who are you doing this business in partnership with?" ?”

Petrovna is not stupid, she naturally knows that the other party is trying to find out her secrets. If it were before, she would not reveal her secret cards so easily, but now. Because of what some people told me, and because this new patron has a pretty good relationship with Grand Duke Constantine, I am not afraid that Grand Duke Constantine and this insidious viscount will have other ideas.

Petrovna smiled slightly and replied humbly: "The last time I went to St. Petersburg, I was fortunate enough to get the appreciation and care of Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna, so I asked her to protect her and reluctantly did something. It’s just a business to make ends meet.”

Elena Pavlovna!

Viscount Prozolov's expression immediately changed, because this Grand Duchess was really no ordinary person. As the youngest son of Paul I, the wife of Archduke Mikhail Pavlovich, the apple of the eye of Friedrich I, the first king of the Kingdom of Württemberg. The influence of this Grand Duchess in the court cannot be underestimated!

Both the queen of Alexander I and later the queen of Alexander II were good friends of the Grand Duchess. Known as the "Intellectual of the Family", he is the staunchest reformist supporter in the court besides Grand Duke Constantine!

When Alexander II had not yet abolished serfdom, the Grand Duchess took the lead in freeing tens of thousands of serfs she owned and giving them their freedom.

Let's put it this way, if there is a single wheel of power, Grand Duke Constantine is indeed the highest royal among the reformists. But in terms of influence, Grand Duchess Elena can beat him.

Because even though she was a staunch reformist supporter, Elena's political opinions and actions did not disgust Nicholas I. Sometimes she is even willing to listen to her sister-in-law’s opinions.

What's more important is that Elena's late husband, Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich, had an extraordinary influence in the military. This humorous Grand Duke has great face in the military. Whether it is veterans of Duke Mikhail's generation or young men like Baryatinsky, they are willing to sell him face.

In other words, as the widow of Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich, Grand Duchess Elena is well-positioned in both the court and the military. She is a person who has face, is good at dancing and cares about charity, and her reputation among the people is even better. , to say bluntly that no matter who can get her asylum, they can travel unimpeded in Russia.

So as soon as Viscount Prozolov heard that Petrovna had paid homage to Grand Duchess Elena, his expression immediately changed. As Grand Duke Constantine's aunt, and as the only important relative in the royal family who supports him, Grand Duke Constantine must give face no matter what.

Even Grand Duke Constantine had to give face, let alone Viscount Prozolov. This somewhat puzzled him. He couldn't understand how a social butterfly like Petrovna fell into the eyes of the Grand Duchess and was willing to What about providing asylum?

As Petrovna, it is naturally impossible to win the favor of Grand Duchess Elena, but behind Petrovna there are Li Xiao and Alexei. These two have a relatively deep relationship with Grand Duchess Elena.

Grand Duchess Elena is also Li Xiao's cheap aunt, and one of the few relatives in the royal family who treats him well. Faced with the inhuman abuse and deliberate suppression of Nicholas I in those years, if this aunt hadn't secretly supported him and helped open the back door through connections, Li Xiao might not even have had the chance to study, let alone go to the Winter Palace to stand guard.

In the past few years, Li Xiao has naturally not forgotten this kind-hearted aunt, and he has not forgotten to send dry shares in various investments. Although Grand Duchess Elena said that he did not need it, he still sent dividends on time and in amount every year. , not only sending money, but also not forgetting to write letters every now and then. Anyway, Grand Duchess Elena is the person who knows Li Xiao best in the royal family, and she is very happy for what her nephew has done.

Li Xiao wants to insert Petrovna into the upper class society in St. Petersburg, so this relationship should not be too easy.

"So you are a friend of the Grand Duchess."

Viscount Prozolov began to feel envious and jealous. Before, Petrovna still had to look up to him, but now, the status of both parties was suddenly equalized, which really made him feel miserable!

"Then you are here in Chisinau on behalf of the Grand Duchess?"

This question was a bit explicit, and it was also intentional on his part. It was also a test. Petrovna smiled slightly and said, "Why would the Grand Duchess be interested in such a thing? It's just my own decision to do business!"

Viscount Prozolov snorted coldly in his heart and thought to himself: I know that Grand Duchess Elena cannot get involved in this kind of nonsense. I guess you are using the name of Grand Duchess to bluff and deceive!

His expression suddenly changed again, and he was obviously a little dissatisfied. However, Petrovna immediately gave him a slap in the head, which made him unable to stand down...