Struggle in Russia

Looking at Alexander who was crying into a ball, Zhukovsky was speechless and sighed.

He has very complicated feelings for Alexander. The crown prince became his student when he was very young. He almost watched Alexander grow up, and watched him get married and have children step by step. He has great feelings for this student who resembles him very much. of. In a sense Alexander is more like his son.

Zhukovsky felt that Alexander was the crown prince with the highest quality in history, and none of the previous tsars possessed profound knowledge, elegant sentiments, and delicate feelings like him.

Zhukovsky had no doubt that Alexander must be a good emperor, must be the best tsar ever, and would usher in a new era. But sometimes the student is just too much like him.

Is it bad to be like Zhukovsky? That's not true, it's just that Zhukovsky is just a poet after all, and it's not a bad thing for a poet to have a lot of emotion, because the poems he writes are full of passion. But Alexander was not a poet, but the crown prince and future emperor.

As a prince, it is not a good thing to have too many emotions. Zhukovsky felt more and more that his students were too emotional and tender, which would not be of any benefit to being emperor.

"Your Highness, what you need now is not to cry, but to do it! Show your will, things are not that bad yet!"

Zhukovsky seldom yells at his students, but today he was in a hurry. He had known for a long time that Nicholas I didn't like Alexander's soft personality, but he didn't expect the emperor to suddenly attack him. The outbreak was so sudden and without warning that even he was a little flustered and confused for a while.

Fortunately, old Adlerberg and Bariatinsky arrived at the critical moment. They stabilized Zhukovsky's flustered heart and told the poet how to act.

"Count Adlerberg and Prince Bariatinsky have something to say to you. I think their opinion is very important to you. Now you must calm down and listen to their opinion! Immediately!"

Following Zhukovsky's reprimand, Alexander barely held back his tears, and asked with tears in his eyes, "Sorry, teacher. I'm sorry, both of you. I'm in a mess, and I really don't know what to do. What should I do? Father, he...he..."

As Alexander was about to cry again, old Adlerberg quickly interrupted: "Your Highness, don't worry. According to the old minister, although the situation is not good, it is far from as bad as you imagined!"

Alexander asked while wiping his tears: "No? But..."

"Your Highness!" Old Adlerberg hurriedly said, "Your Majesty is very dissatisfied with you and punished Menshikov, but this does not mean that he is going to depose you, and it does not mean that Grand Duke Constantine will be prosecuted. For the new Crown Prince!"

Alexander stared at old Adlerberg with wide eyes. Although he liked to hear these words, he didn't really believe them.

Old Adlerberg continued: "If Your Majesty really wants to do that, Prince Menshikov will not only be punished at today's imperial meeting, but you will also be reprimanded. But as you saw, only Menshikov The prince was reprimanded and didn't say much to your Majesty!"

"But, but I can see... Father is very dissatisfied with me..."

Old Adlerberg sighed in his heart: 【If I were Your Majesty, I would be dissatisfied when I saw you like a bear! 】

But it is not suitable to say this, because the old Adlerberg has also seen that Alexander is now a frightened bird, and he is quite lacking in confidence and lack of self-confidence. If you still yell at him at this time, not only will it not cheer him up, but it will make him even more depressed.

"Your Highness, His Majesty is not dissatisfied with you, but has high expectations for you." Old Adlerberg said foolishly, "If you continue to be decadent, His Majesty will really be dissatisfied with you!"

Alexander looked at old Adlerberg and at teacher Zhukovsky,

Obviously he didn't particularly believe in the former, which made Zhukovsky really anxious, and immediately raised his voice and scolded:

"Sanya, why are you still hesitating? Do we still have the leisure to lie to you at this time? Hurry up, or everything will really be over!!"

Alexander shivered, it was the first time he saw a teacher in such a state. In his impression, Zhukovsky has always been gentle and polite, and his speech is even softer. Just now, he was so anxious that he even changed his voice, which shows how anxious he is.

Alexander quickly stopped his tears, and asked anxiously, "Then what should I do?"

Zhukovsky looked at old Adlerberg and motioned him to answer. After all, although he was Alexander's teacher, he was really not good at politics, and such a professional thing had to be explained by a professional.

Old Adlerberg hurriedly said: "Your Highness, let me analyze the situation for you first. If you understand it, you won't be so anxious and flustered. Then how about we discuss the next strategy?"

Of course, Alexander couldn't wish for it. He was so anxious just now that he was so anxious that someone could help him analyze it, so he nodded and urged: "Count, please tell me, quickly..."

It's just that Crown Princess Maria is not as abrupt and impatient as he is. The crown prince interrupted Alexander politely, and apologized to Zhukovsky and the three: "Sorry, gentlemen, it coincided with a huge change, and our husband and wife lost their composure and forgot to entertain everyone. I am really sorry !"

"Pronia! Roska! Hurry up and entertain the gentlemen to the drawing room. The teacher likes black tea, the earl likes coffee, prepare gin for the duke!"

Crown Princess Maria took over the important task of hospitality in a reasonable manner. While entertaining the three of Zhukovsky, she asked Crown Prince Alexander to rush to re-dress. He was really out of his mind just now.

All these were seen by Zhukovsky and the three of them. As a teacher, Zhukovsky didn't feel deeply. He was probably used to the sophistication of the crown prince and concubine. The old Adlerberg and Bariatinsky secretly exchanged glances. It is obvious that they have a high opinion of the crown prince and concubine, and feel that the mistress seems to be more calm and stable than the crown prince at critical times.

Ten minutes later, Alexander, who had been tidied up by the Crown Princess, returned to the three of them. At this time, he could no longer see the slightest bit of panic, nervousness and gaffes, and all traces were covered up by the shrewd crown prince and concubine.

"Gentlemen, I am very sorry. I lost my composure. As the Crown Prince, I should be more calm and calm. I apologize to everyone. Thank you for coming to help me in the first place, which is very important to me, and thank you for your generosity! I will always remember today. !"