BSI Chapter 111. Cutting Off His Own Career
Chapter 111. Cutting Off His Own Career
Chapter 111. Cutting Off His Own Career
Sergei underestimated Catherine's determination and was also surprised by her audacity.
Sure enough, he was right to do it.
Those words of Peter's were not spoken by Shuvalov, but rather told to Peter by him!
Only in this way can Catherine be completely disappointed with Elizabeth, Peter, and everyone else, and only then can she be fully inspired to take the throne and become emperor herself.
"Catherine, haven't you considered that even if we reach Prussia, we still won't find a way out?" Sergei tried to rouse Catherine.
"Even if we put aside all other possibilities, we can tolerate that, but what about Paul? He grew up in an environment of surveillance and control; how could he possibly grow up happily?"
"Frederick did not want Paul to grow up healthy, and he would certainly use various means to ensure that Paul returned to Russia without a brain or even a healthy body to inherit the throne as Paul grew up."
"The children of the Prussian nobles around him would speak ill of Paul, and Paul would spend every day in an environment of ridicule and ostracism—"
Sure enough, Ekaterina's eyes flickered.
"Yes, I oversimplified the problem. We can't go to Prussia, but we can't go to other European countries either. Those royals would love to use us to gain benefits for Elizabeth."
"North America won't work either. Britain and France are fighting for colonial rights every day, and we'll all die there—"
Then we can only go south! Go south, go east!
"Dongfang Yao—" Sergei looked on with a look of reminiscence, but he ultimately shook his head.
He looked intently at Ekaterina.
"Let me ask you a question: Have you ever thought about becoming the Emperor of Russia?"
Catherine was taken aback: "The Emperor?"
Sergei nodded: "Russia has had more than one empress—Catherine I, Empress Anna, Empress Elizabeth—so why can't there be a Catherine II? Why can't there be a second Great?"
Ekaterina was taken aback by Sergei's words.
She considered kidnapping Peter, she considered taking Elizabeth hostage, but she certainly never considered becoming the Empress of Russia.
"Impossible. We have no power to launch a rebellion, and I have no legitimate reason to sit on the throne. Elizabeth is loved by the army and the people. The only one who can resist her is the Church, but even the Church has been subdued by her." Catherine shook her head.
"The fact that you can analyze this rationally already shows that you approve of this method. It's just that we are not strong enough, and we haven't yet gained the support of all levels of Russian society. Don't worry, this doesn't mean you're not qualified; it just means the opportunity hasn't come yet."
Sergei placed his hands on her shoulders.
"The Empress has summoned me. I will be leaving St. Petersburg soon. Stepan will facilitate our communications. All you need to do is remain calm and wait for my return."
Ekaterina looked into Sergei's eyes, eyes so firm, so pure, and so reassuring.
She nodded seriously.
"I'll wait for you to come back!"
Sergei left Catherine's room and went to Elizabeth's room.
Elizabeth no longer goes to the office; her bedroom is where she spends day and night. She goes to the outer room to handle state affairs, and she has no plans to receive ministers anytime soon.
"Sergei, do you want to stay in St. Petersburg? Do you want to become the chairman of the secret council? You have made tremendous contributions to Russia, no reward is too much for you." Elizabeth smiled as she looked at him.
"Your Majesty, you had many choices, yet you chose me. Although I am reluctant to think this way, it seems to me that you are worried that my growth will threaten your throne, and that one day the Saltykov family will have the ability to stage a coup!"
Sergei's words shocked everyone else present.
Razumovsky went even further, shouting, "Sergei, you bastard, what nonsense are you spouting!"
Elizabeth remained silent, her smile slowly fading as she looked at Sergei with a detached expression.
Sergei remained unmoved, meeting his gaze calmly.
"Your success has made me lose all appreciation for your achievements. You are not excellent, but arrogant, conceited, and disdainful of others. The Saltykov family will be ashamed of you," Elizabeth said.
"At least for now, they are proud of me," Sergei said calmly.
"That won't be the case anymore. They will watch you go from being in the limelight to the darkest corner of Russia. Now, on behalf of Russia, I entrust you with an important task and appoint you as the Imperial Ambassador to Sweden. I hope you can complete your diplomatic mission successfully." Elizabeth said with a smile.
Sergei bowed and then left without looking back.
"I really don't understand why he would do that," Razumovsky sighed.
"He's a smart man," Elizabeth said after a long silence.
Razumovsky was puzzled: "Why? If it's because of Paul, he could have easily refused His Majesty's offer. With His Majesty's benevolence, he could have left St. Petersburg, not gone abroad, and become a high-ranking official, or lived a life of comfort in Moscow."
Elizabeth didn't explain much to her lover, but a smile of approval appeared on her face.
Sergei is cutting off his own career.
But at the same time, it was also to protect his family.
Her words just now were all a test. If Sergei showed any willingness to accept the reward and become the chairman of the secret committee, then she would imprison him in the fortress.
She absolutely would not allow Sergei, Paul's biological father, to remain in St. Petersburg!
Sergei is not allowed to have any other ideas!
But if, as Razumovsky said, Sergei refused her offer, it means that Sergei knew he should be as far away from St. Petersburg as possible at this time.
Since Sergei was a pragmatic person, she would consider arranging a good end for him in life.
To become a high-ranking local official, or to enjoy wealth and luxury in Moscow.
But that's about it.
His parents and brother will see their status in St. Petersburg plummet, and the decline of the Saltykov family is inevitable.
However, Sergei chose another path, cutting off his own career. By speaking disrespectfully to the Empress, he was banished abroad, thus showing her that he, Sergei, was no longer a threat and that she would no longer make things difficult for his parents and brother.
Thus, the Saltykov family remained a prominent noble family in St. Petersburg, their parents' status remained unchanged, and their brother could even receive her promotion.
Therefore, Sergei was a smart man.
Of course, Sergei was also right about her rude remarks.
Elizabeth chose Sergei not only because of his excellence and because she wanted Paul to have exceptional qualities, but also because Sergei was so outstanding that she saw him as a greater threat than Shuvalov, Besdudev, and others.
Sergei is younger than Besdudev and Shuvalov, which is a sign of potential and his greatest asset!
Therefore, there's nothing wrong with taking this opportunity to successfully remove it.
"Knowing your fate is sealed, will you use your last rays of light to illuminate your family?"
Elizabeth didn't think about it anymore.
Since Sergei went abroad, she was destined not to do anything more to the Saltykov family.