Struggle in Russia

Neridova didn't have any embarrassment, because she was telling lies with her eyes open, but she just found a lame excuse to get benefits from Count Rostovtsev.

After all, everyone knows what is going on. So just raise your voice a little to remind people that it's time to pay.

Although Count Rostovtsev laughed at him, he also knew that what should be given must be given. In these days, self-interest takes the lead, who would do anything that is not beneficial?

Even if reforms are carried out, in the final analysis, it is not for profit, but that kind of profit is beneficial to Russia as a whole, can benefit the people of the country, and is beneficial to most people. This is not the current profit distribution method in which the conservative family is greedy, stupid, drunk, and dreams of living and dying, while the other 70 to 80 percent of the population can only eat grass.

Count Rostovtsev clearly understood that no matter how noble a human creature may sound, if there is really only sacrifice and no gain, then he will definitely not do it.

The purpose of the reform is not to let the people of the country live the life of the conservative aristocrats, but to allow the vast majority of people to have the most basic guarantee of survival, and to continuously inject new impetus into the Russian state machine, so that Russia Always maintain sufficient competitive strength.

If it can be done well enough, it will also create a new class of people, let them live a human-like life, and make the Russian superstructure more gorgeous, which will be even more perfect.

As for the top of the pyramid, Count Rostovtsev does not want to kick these masters off the altar, but to eliminate a group of incompetent burdens that will only hinder the country, making the top building more wise and powerful. and efficient.

This is the whole purpose of Count Rostovtsev. According to him, he does not want to completely destroy Russia's traditional order, but to redefine this order and make the rules more reasonable and more dynamic for Russia. That’s all.

Therefore, he has never been shy about sharing the benefits he received with his fellow travelers. In fact, he has always been very generous in this regard, otherwise there would not be a group of talents like the Milutin brothers surrounding him.

As for Neridova, although Count Rostovtsev did not think that this woman was a fellow traveler with him. But for the time being, this person is still useful. He is also relatively generous to useful people or Count Rostovtsev.

After thinking for a moment, he asked directly: "What do you want?"

Nelidova smiled gracefully. If other LSPs saw this smile, they would probably become dissatisfied again. However, Count Rostovtsev has no interest in color and appearance. Nelidova would not be interested in him even if she smiled like a morning glory. Has no effect.

Neridova smiled and said: "What do I want? I want eternal youth, I want 24-hour favor, I want a mountain of gold coins, and I also want this world? Can you give it to me? ?”

These words were a bit abrupt, and ordinary people would be confused by her, but Count Rostovtsev was not affected at all, and replied calmly: "Yes, it's just that you will reap as many fruits as you put in, and you plan to pay for these." What kind of effort does it take?”

This time it was Neridova's turn to be confused, because she just said it casually on a whim, which can be regarded as a rant out of emotion. In fact, she did not even think about what kind of response she would get. She was told by Count Rostovtsev It's normal to ignore it.

But who would have thought that Count Rostovtsev would seriously ask her what price she planned to pay to realize these wishes, and how would she answer?

After a moment of silence, she replied seriously: "No kidding, seriously, what reward do you plan to give us?"

Count Rostovtsev smiled: "I'm not joking. You have to pay the corresponding price for what you want. This is a fair transaction. Unless you don't really want that, you will think it is a joke. !”

Neridova was speechless, pouting and looking at Count Rostovtsev without speaking, while the Count continued: "As for you asking me what I can give you, to be honest, I don't know what you want? Or? Just tell me what you want!"

Neridova was silent again, constantly thinking about Count Rostovtsev's words in her heart, always feeling that there was something in the words of the unsmiling and enigmatic old fox in front of her.

Does she really not know what she wants? Of course she knows, in fact she knows what she wants most better than anyone else. If it could come true if she said it, she hoped to stay together with Count Kleinmicher for a long time. It was best to be together openly and openly. She could go into the church to receive blessings from relatives and friends, have a lot of children, and grow old together. .

But she also knew that these wishes were completely unrealistic. It was impossible for her to marry Count Kleinmicher, not only because Nicholas I was there, but even without Nicholas I, it would not be possible, because Kleinmicher The Earl of Hull had a family and could not possibly marry her.

She didn't dare to ask for this at all, she just hoped that she could maintain the status quo and maintain a relationship with Count Kleinmicher so that she wouldn't be alone.

Even this is an extravagant hope. After all, she is nominally the mistress of Nicholas I. In a sense, her current relationship with Count Kleinmicher is a betrayal. Once discovered, neither she nor Count Kleinmicher would end well.

She lived in fear every day, fearing that one day she would be captured by the third military police who suddenly broke in and thrown into a dark prison with an unknown name to die. They were even taken directly to a sparsely populated corner and executed on the spot.

She was under tremendous pressure and fear all the time, and could hardly sleep well at night. She just hoped that these terrible days would end as soon as possible, because she really didn't know how long she could hold on.

What’s more interesting is that Neridova hopes that this kind of life will end as soon as possible, but she is extremely reluctant to give up the benefits she can enjoy now. The Tsar's favor brought her not only a wealthy life, but also power and influence.

Although she is not obsessed with these things, she admits that her life would be a mess without them. She desperately needs these to protect herself!

Nelidova thought for so long that she even forgot that she was bargaining with Count Rostovtsev. Count Rostovtsev was not in a hurry and just sat there leisurely looking at the beautiful woman in front of her and thinking. Worry.

He believed that this woman would soon figure out what she wanted and clearly explain the purpose of her trip. If his prediction was correct, after that, this woman would completely board the reformist ship...