Catherine and the Black Emperor

066. The Female Head Steward

11 month.

Elizabeth was eager for Peter and Catherine to give birth to an heir to the Russian throne.

They also worried that people like Zakhar and Andrei would reappear and ruin the relationship between Peter and Ekaterina.

Peter's attitude toward Russia and his unusual behavior made Besdov feel threatened, and he couldn't imagine how Peter would deal with him after he ascended the throne.

He also harbored suspicions about Catherine, believing she might be colluding with Frederick II of Prussia, just like her mother.

Based on all of the above, Mrs. Djogologova appeared.

"Your Highness, from this moment forward, you must distance yourself from Her Majesty the Empress. If you have anything to say to the Empress, I will convey it to you." This was the first order issued by Lady Djogolovova.

Ekaterina was furious inside, but outwardly remained calm.

Lady Djogolokova realized that Ekaterina was not simple: "Then there is a second matter, Your Highness. From now on, I will be your guardian. That's right, although you are an adult, you still need a guardian to take better care of you."

"As your guardian, I need to help you reject those friends, including Sofia, Naryshkin, Deputy Chairman Saltykov, Mikhail of the Academy of Sciences, and so on."

"I will also keep an eye on you, you heard right, keep an eye on you, to prevent those flirtatious men from taking the opportunity to seduce you, and you must only have the Grand Duke in your heart."

"You cannot communicate with anyone, you cannot speak alone with anyone without me, you cannot contact any diplomatic envoys, you cannot..."

Ekaterina remained silent.

This infuriated Mrs. Djogolovova, who immediately ran to Elizabeth to complain.

Elizabeth arrived and took Catherine to a room alone, where a torrent of complaints and accusations poured out of her mouth.

Ekaterina's eyes reddened, but she gritted her teeth and refused to shed a tear.

"I have never seen anyone as stubborn as you!" Elizabeth turned and walked away.

After Elizabeth slammed the door and left, a tear finally rolled down Ekaterina's cheek, but she quickly wiped it away with the back of her hand.

When Ekaterina came out, Elizabeth and Djogolokova were no longer there, but Peter was.

"You cried?"

"I should be glad that at least she didn't slap me in her anger. Anyone else would have been covering their face by now."

"I'm asking you, what right do you have to cry? Do you have some grievance? Because of you, Djogolokova was sent here, and now I'm being monitored too. I've lost my freedom!" Peter shouted.

Ekaterina, who had initially thought Peter was concerned about her, looked at him and suddenly laughed, a laugh filled with self-mockery.

She ignored Peter's continued loud questioning and returned to her room.

Thus, Ekaterina lost the opportunity to meet and talk with anyone alone. Only when she returned to her suite at night, she and Peter were alone, but they would not say anything to each other and would simply return to their own rooms.

Even on several occasions, when Djogolokova personally watched Peter and Ekaterina enter a room and stood guard outside all night, one of them slept on the bed and the other on the floor.

Peter, who was locked in a room at the time, expressed strong dislike for Catherine.

"I couldn't sleep all night because I was in the same room as a woman who is like a devil."

He slept in the bed while Ekaterina slept on the floor, and repeatedly scolded her for being too close to the bed. In the end, Ekaterina was forced to sleep in a corner for the night.

When she opened her eyes in the morning, Peter was squatting in front of her, which almost made her shout out loud.

"You wicked woman, your yelling will attract that crazy woman outside! Throw your bedding onto the bed right now!"

12 month.

Finally, as the court assembly ended and everyone left the throne room, Catherine had the opportunity to speak privately with someone.

"Djogolokova is not only the Empress's cousin, but she is also known to the world for her virtue and loyalty. The Empress is using her to set an example for you," Sergei said.

"I won't become a gossip," Ekaterina said with a relatively relaxed smile.

Seeing that the other person was still in the mood to joke, Sergei's worries lessened considerably, and he began to tell her more profound things.

"There is a political tactic called political isolation. If you cannot form a power center with yourself, a political group composed of reliable friends and loyal followers, then you must find a way to isolate the other party from everyone and the outside world, and place a highly capable and vigilant person among their subordinates to monitor their every move and word..."

"Her Majesty the Empress? Why would she do this? All of Russia is hers. How could I possibly threaten her rule? She should be worried about Peter... or perhaps someone else!"

Sergei had to admire Catherine's intelligence; she was indeed someone else entirely.

Because Djogolokova and her husband were both loyal to Besdudev, they were pawns used by Besdudev to consolidate his power and sow discord between Peter and Ekaterina.

But Sergei did not tell Ekaterina who was behind it.

"Perhaps. The next few days will be very difficult for you. Also, if possible, have your people contact me. Although Matrena has become a servant, it's not enough. She can't pass on messages under Djogolokova's surveillance."

"You mean Mrs. Bruzer?"

Sergei greatly admired and approved of Catherine's quick understanding: "Yes, although she had some disagreements with you before, she is no longer your steward and now needs your help. This is the best time for you to win her over."

Ekaterina nodded: "I know what to do."

1749 October.

After a period of effort, Catherine finally won over Bruzer and sent Sergei her first letter.

Upon reading the letter, Sergei was both amused and exasperated: "After careful observation, Djogolokova is a simple-minded, uneducated, cruel, vicious, fickle, and selfish woman!"

Between the lines, Sergei seemed to see the beautiful woman gritting her teeth; it seems that Djogolokova truly made Ekaterina experience the pain of life.

A few days later, Catherine and Peter accompanied Elizabeth on a visit to Levili (now Tallinn, the capital of Estonia).

On the way, Djogolokova started causing trouble as usual.

No matter what Catherine suggested, she would refuse with the excuse that "the Empress doesn't like to hear such things" or "the Empress doesn't agree to do such things."

"So I slept the whole way there and the whole way back," Ekaterina jokingly told Sergei about her painful experience after returning.

But there is no doubt about it.

Besdudev achieved his goal: Djogolokova, his "prison guard," successfully made Ekaterina a prisoner in the hands of the Prime Minister.