Solovyov in Tsarist Russia 1796.

Hanging two people is quite an easy thing; the gallows are quite sturdy.

Moreover, it takes even less rope to hang two people.

The exact burial location of these two individuals is unknown, but it was likely near the fortress. In Europe, since the Middle Ages, people who died in prisons were buried in nearby mass graves.

Their coffins are also difficult to find, and Kakhovsky deserved his fate.

When Solovyov returned, he met Ryliev's wife, who had brought their daughter with her.

"Sir, has that terrible thing already happened?"

"Yes, I am there. It is regrettable that your husband's case, and the sentences he and Kakhovsky received, were both ordered by the Emperor himself and cannot be changed. Although I can help some people with lesser crimes so that they do not have to go to Siberia to suffer, the plotting and execution of regicide is something the Emperor cannot forgive."

The poor woman is crying there.

“Madam, I deeply regret this matter. The only thing I can do is to retain Ryliev’s shares at the board meeting of the Russian-American Company, leaving them to you and your daughter. This money is enough for the child’s dowry when she gets married, and Nastya should be able to live a life of comfort. You can raise the child yourself. If you encounter any difficulties, you can come to my wife; she has always been very kind.”

It's important to know that while Solovyov didn't try to reduce the sentences of his son-in-law and nephew, he did help many others.

The main reason is that the two of them were arrested for rebellion, and their crimes were relatively minor, unlike the cases of some others.

Nikolai would grant a pardon at his discretion, but unexpectedly, Solovyov intervened while Trubetskoy was being tried, changing Pavlovsk, where he was exiled to Alaska, to Tashkent in Central Asia.

There were also trials of other people, and these officers who were concentrated in North America were scattered and exiled to several places.

As for Ryliev's wife, she was merely the daughter of a country landowner and had no way to deal with these matters; her husband's crimes were far more serious than others'.

Ryliev was once enthusiastic about liberating serfs and even hired lawyers to defend them, mainly some of his associates.

However, his actions are so radical that even if he succeeds, it will probably not have any significant consequences.

Russia is so large that controlling just one capital city cannot solve the problem. Compared to other European countries, the country has a vast territory and, although sparsely populated, still has a large population.

After seeing off the orphan and widow, Katya sighed with emotion.

“Poor Nadja, if it weren’t for her husband plotting a rebellion and murdering the king, I could have pleaded with Her Majesty the Queen.”

Katya wielded considerable influence in the court; the Empress Dowager and the two Queens favored her greatly. When Loti first became Grand Duchess Alexandra, Katya was often by his side to offer assistance, and thus they had a very good relationship.

Sometimes, women can play an unexpected role.

"I never expected that Her Majesty the Queen would say such a thing when Katarina went to see the Emperor."

“It seems you already know, Mishka.”

"Yes, these things in the palace. There are some things you should try not to get involved in. This time it involves a rebellion. If it succeeds, although it can be called a revolution, the situation will be much worse. The petition I planned to submit at the beginning of the year, a proposal to abolish serfdom in the border regions, may not even be able to be submitted this year."

Solovyov's influence on Nicholas was that of a mentor and friend, even a "kind older brother." He was even quite confident that the problem of serfdom would be solved within ten years, and then other things could be done. At least the serfs on the royal estates and state-owned lands in the name of the Tsar could be freed.

Solovyov wasn't sure how the higher nobles below would react, but he was confident he could persuade these top families in St. Petersburg and Moscow, because they, influenced by the French and having been exposed to this culture for so many years, also had this inclination.

Like Countess Sonya, who was widowed, after Count Stroganov's death, she ran a school on her estate, teaching the serfs and their children. Those who wanted to stay on the estate could work as helpers, and those who left could go out and have a skill.

“Mishka, don’t think too much. Just do your own thing. We all know you’re very capable, a great hero, at least my hero.”

"Yes. How has Katarina been feeling lately? She's not the only woman who went to the Emperor to petition; I understand the ladies' anxiety, but at this time..."

"Don't worry about that, I will speak to Her Majesty the Queen. But there is also a letter here, from Paris, from Demid and Octavia."

Solovyov had a bad feeling. When he opened the package, he learned the terrible news: Polina had died in Florence and had been buried in Prince Borghese's tomb in Rome.

"But this is a relief. When she wrote to me last year, she said that she looked terrible and was afraid that I would be sad if I saw her."

Katya's magnanimity was also based on the fact that, apart from Mikhelima, all of Solovyov's known lovers were people he had known before their marriage.

Should we reply to the children's letters?

“I will write back to Demid. He also mentioned that they have another daughter. These two have been married for ten years and have six children. They must be living a very happy life, just like the people here.”

“Don’t forget, Silvia is also Italian. The Bonaparte family came from Corsica, and they didn’t want any protective measures there either, so of course there will be more children.”

"Yes, but I find it strange that Katarina is already 26 years old and has been married to Trubetskoy for six years, yet they still don't have any children."

"God will bless good people, and I believe they will be together often in the future and will have many children."

"That's a good wish, Katya. How are the other ladies besides Katarina?"

"You mean that hatmaker girl?"

"Yes, Polina. She was willing to follow Annankov to any place of exile for him, rather than for this young man's wealth. That's remarkable, and it's probably the power of love."

"She went to the Emperor to petition, and the Emperor said he would give her a private reply."

"That's good. God is merciful and fair to everyone. People should be born equal but not unequal. What we need to do is narrow this gap."

Of course, there are still some insurmountable gaps.

Polina was lucky. When Nikolai saw the petition, he was just about to ride to the parade ground. He had his adjutant take the petition, agreed, and then galloped away.

It just so happened that Pasha was traveling with him that day, and Nikolai wanted to ask him too. "Lieutenant, what do you think of this French woman?"

“Your Majesty, I think her love is deep, just like Nastya's and my love, but we've been together since childhood. But her journey from Paris to Moscow, and then to Annankov... I wonder how to put it? She's very courageous, risking everything for love of Koy, and not for wealth. Such spirit is admirable, but she should stay in Moscow. Exile is very difficult for a lady.”

"Yes, I know that your father has taken care of her. Pasha, I will personally reply to her petition and publish it in the newspaper."

“Showing His Majesty’s benevolence and enlightened attitude, as long as it’s not exile to Siberia, I think the final outcome will be good.”

"Your uncle has been to Kyakhta, did he have a bad impression of it?"

“Yes, Your Majesty. My two uncles, one went to Kyakhta and the other is on his way to Guangzhou, and he should be there by now. Moreover, I have been to Guangzhou myself and spent a winter in the capital of China, so I know which place is better.”

"Yes, so apart from Pestor and others, I try to exile the rest to warmer places. If they want, they can build up the local area there. If there is an amnesty one day, I will let them come back, but they cannot enter St. Petersburg or Moscow."

Nikolai felt a pang of sympathy for many of the people there, even though one of them wanted to kill his brother.

Before Pasha could even speak, the other officers had already begun their flattery, saying things like, "His Majesty is merciful; he didn't execute these people and even granted their wives' petitions."

But Pasha doesn't need to do that. He just needs to speak properly. Besides, he is now a prince consort. After the coronation ceremony, he will return to St. Petersburg, marry Nastya, and be promoted in his military rank.

Nikolai's trust in Solovyov will also benefit his sons.

Moreover, Pasha was quite capable. Although he was far inferior to his father, he was still much better than others as the Tsar's adjutant.

"Furthermore, I also know about your mother's pleading for those ladies. She is so compassionate, and I intend to promote her to First Lady of State, which is worthy of her. She gave all the honors to your grandmother before. She is an excellent daughter, wife, and mother, isn't she?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"And it's quite unexpected that your father's relationship with her remained so close after he went back. I originally thought Mikhail Sergeyevich was a fickle man, but your mother and that housekeeper, after they got together... it's quite unexpected, but also quite reasonable."

Nicholas himself also had a mistress, because the Tsar needed to maintain a certain image in this regard, and this position could not be missing, especially since the Empress's health was not very good.

It is true that the empresses have been in poor health since the time of Queen Maria Theresa, and once the empresses recover, other things will happen.

Of course, situations like Solovyov's were relatively restrained among the nobility.

"This is love for one's wife. It would be too heartless to separate those rebellious officers from their wives. Their children will retain their noble status, but as for their children afterward, it will depend on the circumstances."

"Your Majesty, once they arrive at their place of exile, they should be able to accept their place of origin."

"Is that your view?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

“That’s you, Pasha. You’re a good boy, always taking care of Nastya. She’s so innocent and carefree. Your sister-in-law never lets the two youngest suffer at all; she’s spoiled them a bit. You’re a suitable husband for her, willing to take care of her, but you can’t be too indulgent.”

Of course, even when a member of the royal family marries into another family, and the marriage takes place within the country, the groom's family's hierarchy is still quite evident.

"Yes, Your Majesty. But..."

When Nicholas returned, he granted permission to all the Decembrists' wives who wished to follow their husbands to exile.

But not everyone got married; most of them were still junior officers and didn't even have a proper girlfriend at that time.

Furthermore, Nicholas granted these people permission to bring some attendants to their places of exile, meaning some people brought their loyal servants and maids with them to their exile.

This was also to prevent these nobles from not being able to adapt at first and dying. By going to "hard labor," their lives would actually be relatively more comfortable.

Pasha even thought that, apart from stripping them of their noble status, this exile was easier and more pleasant than his third uncle Vasily's journey to the customs in Kyakhta.

When Vasily arrived at the Kyakhta border crossing, it was a time when Irish and Russian merchants frequently crossed the border. Unless the weather was extremely bad, they would be on official business at the border checkpoint in the dead of winter, riding sleds.

When these people arrived at the "factory" or "coal mine," the local authorities wouldn't make them work too hard, since some of their relatives were quite influential in Russia, and their families would send money to the place of exile.

These exiled people were heading in three directions: the Americas, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. When they were about to go to their places of exile, the Tsar allowed them to bring their luggage with them.

Even many of the friends who came to Kronstadt to see him off felt that this did not look like exile.

Gorchakov came to see them off as a representative of his classmates from the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum, including Ivan Pushkin and his brother Mikhail Pushkin, who were sentenced to exile in North America and military service in the Caucasus, respectively.

Although the latter defected quickly, he was too deeply entrenched in the Northern Association.

Therefore, being conscripted into the army was unavoidable.

Even Nikolai, out of consideration for their friendship, allowed them a brief period of freedom, having previously kept them under house arrest before their exile.

"Vanka, take care on your journey to America."

"I appreciate your kindness, but please don't let our situation jeopardize your future."

"It's alright, Sasha is fine. It's all because the Emperor likes his poems, and besides, he's not in your organization."

The great poet Alexander Pushkin's recent meeting with the Tsar was somewhat infuriating.

Because he said that if he were in the square, he would join his friends.

In particular, two of these people shared many classmates. (End of Chapter)