Catherine and the Black Emperor

052. The attack in the suburbs

July, Elizabeth's Office.

"This is a list of bribes Blumer has received since he became a tax collector, this is the tax revenue lost by Russia through his hands, and... he seduced a congressman's wife and even injured the congressman."

Sergei handed a report to Elizabeth.

Elizabeth flipped through the report as she asked, "Which congressman?"

Vasily.

"Investigate him. A Privy Councilor, how could he suffer such a loss and just swallow his anger? Blumer must have some dirt on him," Elizabeth analyzed.

Sergei promptly handed over a report: "This contains the details of the bribes received by Congressman Vasily; the ledgers and witnesses are with the committee."

Elizabeth looked up in surprise, took the report, and smiled at Sergei.

"It seems that appointing you as vice chairperson was the right decision. You're thriving there, and you keep surprising me."

"I will do my utmost for His Majesty." Sergei bowed.

"You handle Vasily's side, and as for Brummer, let's leave it at that for now," Elizabeth said after a moment's thought.

Sergei left.

He wasn't disappointed; on the contrary, he understood that Elizabeth was genuinely trying to solve Blumer's problem, but hadn't yet figured out a specific method.

8 month.

Elizabeth decided on how to deal with Brummer, sending him back to Germany with an annual pension of 3 rubles.

Before leaving, Marshal Holstein was seen off by only one person.

"You can only blame yourself for your own dishonesty. You didn't find anything wrong with Saltykov, but he found something wrong with you. If you hadn't done those things, the Empress wouldn't have banished you!" Shuvalov said, looking at him.

"It's no use saying all this now. Maybe God really doesn't want me to stay in Russia. I was just a step too slow in getting his hold on me, and he got the upper hand first," Blumer said bitterly.

Shuvalov became interested, and Brummer told him this seriously.

"Catherine's relationship with Saltykov is extremely close, even closer than with her husband, Grand Duke Peter. Catherine said it herself, and I heard it with my own ears! Unfortunately, the Empress won't believe me if I say that now! So you must remember to find evidence and deal with those two scoundrels for me!"

Shuvalov turned back meaningfully to look at one of the Winter Palaces and nodded.

Brummer boarded the carriage and saw the other party off. Shuvalov's new adjutant then stepped forward.

"Chairman, now that we have a lead, can we proceed?"

Shuvalov gave a cold laugh.

"Action? You really believe what Brummer said? With Ekaterina's intelligence, would she reveal to the other party that her relationship with Saltykov is closer than her own husband's? If I can't tell that's a lie, then you'll be sitting in the chairman's seat!"

The adjutant also realized that, given the Grand Duchess's intelligence and shrewdness, she would certainly not allow the other party to seize upon such a weakness.

Shuvalov changed the subject: "However, Blumer may not be telling the whole truth. He's the kind of person who only exaggerates and would never dare to speak carelessly. That's why I don't expect him to be able to deal with Saltykov at all. You should immediately arrange for people to monitor Saltykov in shifts day and night."

"yes!"

"Also, have Gemma come to me. I need to confirm Saltykov's relationship with Ekaterina!"

Gemma was quickly taken to Shuvalov's office.

"The relationship between the Duke and the Grand Duchess is indeed unusual, but they never let me be present when they talk, especially now that Matrena has become the Grand Duchess's lady-in-waiting."

"I will arrange your position. Once you become the Grand Duchess's attendant, I hope you can bring me more information."

"Yes."

Leaving Shuvalov's office, Gemma felt a mix of nervousness, surprise, and excitement.

She was surprised that Prince Saltykov had foreseen all of this and given her prior instructions. She was also excited that, as the prince had said, he was indeed going to promote her to the position of attendant.

Each promotion—from servant to head servant, attendant, and head attendant (attendant officer)—was quite extraordinary.

The next level up, the courtiers, were already considered part of the court officials, and only nobles could hold that position.

The original Duke Saltykov was a close bodyguard of Queen Elizabeth, a top-ranking official among the courtiers.

Now, she has finally become a servant!

Meanwhile, on the outskirts of St. Petersburg, two horse-drawn carriages headed toward the Russian border.

Upon arriving at a relatively desolate place, the carriage was blocked by a man and a horse.

"Slap! Slap! Slap..."

The loud gunshots echoed across the vast sky and earth, shattering the long silence.

Yuri collected all the bullets and rode away.

Inside the carriage, Marshal Otto Brummer of Holstein lay in a pool of blood.

All six Holstein soldiers, two coachmen, and four servants perished.

Two days later, news of the incident reached St. Petersburg, and the secret police, under Shuvalov's orders, immediately launched an investigation, especially into Sergei, whom Shuvalov approached directly.

"I don't understand what you're talking about, Chairman. I have no grudge against Blumer. If it's because of the report I submitted, then I should be the one killed. Besides, I've been staying at the palace the whole time. The people you sent to monitor me... know this better than anyone else."

As he continued, Sergei calmly met Shuvalov's gaze.

After a long silence, Shuvalov spoke: "Vice Chairman, you misunderstand. I just wanted to say that this case is entrusted to you for investigation."

"I will definitely find the murderer," Sergei nodded.

Shuvalov warned him, "I must warn you, don't treat this as a robbery. Nothing of Brummer's belongings are missing, and the manner of his death is unusual. The wounds on the victim and the marks on the carriage indicate that the murder weapon was likely a slingshot and steel balls."

Sergei looked surprised: "That's really impressive. The soldiers all carry swords."

Shuvalov turned and left, glancing back at him as he went out the door.

"You're already the vice-chairman of the Secret Committee, yet you're still following Grand Duke Peter around all day. It's fine if you don't care, but don't tarnish the reputation of the Secret Committee. If you really don't want to stay in the Secret Committee, I can explain to His Majesty that you can become the Grand Duke's personal bodyguard."

Sergei smiled but remained silent.

Shuvalov left with a cold expression.

Blumer's departure made it difficult for Sergei and Shuvalov to maintain a superficial harmony, but this was irrelevant to Sergei, because from the moment Elizabeth appointed him as deputy chairman, they were bound to be at odds, which was exactly what Elizabeth wanted—for him to curb Shuvalov's power.

Brummer's death sent shockwaves through the Russian court, and the officials all knew that a cruel and ruthless murderer had appeared on the outskirts of St. Petersburg.

This murderer could kill with a slingshot and steel balls, and even ordinary soldiers were no match for him.

This incident also drew Elizabeth's attention.

9 month.

The three Guards regiments guarding St. Petersburg, including the Izmailovsky Guards regiment, received Elizabeth's orders to launch a thorough search of the outskirts, with the entire Secret Committee mobilized.

But in the end, the murderer was never found.

Elizabeth also blamed Sergei for this incident, which was exactly what Shuvalov had planned.

However, Sergei didn't care at all. When Shuvalov handed the case over to him, he already knew about the other party's scheme.

The reason he didn't just hand over any murderer was because the other party was waiting for him to do so so they could expose him, and he had no such intention at all, because his recent prowess had indeed been too great.

He had already caught the attention of ministers such as Besdov and Apravshin, and even Razumovsky.

Therefore, he took this opportunity to downplay his own role.