I'm playing whack-a-mole in Siberia

Chapter 642: Can’t Hurt Nikki
Caroline sat at the bar not far from Alexandra, looking at Alexandra who was clapping the table and whistling with the young officers, with a look of doting and helplessness on her face.

Alexandra's attention was focused on the dancers on the stage.

At least half of the young officers' attention was on Alexandra.

"The Grand Duchess will be more beautiful than these bitches if she puts on a skirt—"

Alexandra's captain of the guard, Maria, is 30 years old and the daughter of a hunter. She once killed three wild wolves with a dagger to protect her flock.

Caroline looked at Maria, and Maria felt guilty, so she picked up the cup to cover her mouth.

Caroline did not allow the guards around Alexandra to swear.

Alexandra seemed unaware of how attractive she was, and she enjoyed the company of these young officers.

When she was with the young nobles, Alexandra followed the rules, spoke with a pinched throat, and paid attention to her words and actions at all times.

Only when she was with these young officers did Alexandra not care about other people's eyes and regard herself as a person who contributed to the empire, rather than a spoiled girl raised in the deep palace.

When Alexandra was a child, her tutor told her that if she wanted to truly contribute to the empire, she should be chosen as a marriage partner and become a bargaining chip for the empire to win over a certain family.

After Anne found out, she changed the tutor for Alexandra and told her that a powerful empire never needed to sacrifice women to safeguard the interests of the empire.

Perhaps influenced by George, Alexandra became more and more fond of wearing military uniforms. She idolized Catherine the Great and hoped to expand the empire's territory and become a royal military god like her father.

Alexandra was not dull, she could see the admiration in the young officer's eyes, but she was never moved by it.

Maybe you haven't met the right person.

Caroline and Maria never interfered in Alexandra's life unless some blind man showed up.

No one dared to provoke Alexandra. Even if there were strangers who didn't know Alexandra's identity, they would be forced back by Maria and a dozen guards who were eyeing her covetously.

Children who grew up in aristocratic families, among other things, have the ability to read people's expressions far beyond that of ordinary people.

Although Maria was not by Alexandra's side, she and a dozen guards were fan-shaped and distributed behind Alexandra. Anyone who wanted to get close to Alexandra would be driven away by them in a rude manner.

Things like "Why" would never happen in Constantinople. There are too many nobles here, and if you are not a prince or princess, you would feel embarrassed to say hello to others.

At 9:45, Caroline came over to remind Alexandra that it was time to leave.

"Can I stay here for 10 more minutes, just minutes—"

Alexandra was happy and didn't want to leave.

"Sorry Sasha, no!"

Caroline strictly enforced the curfew set by George.

George demanded that Alexandra be home before 10 p.m.

"Okay, have fun, I'll buy you some drinks tonight!"

Alexandra was generous, which was one of the reasons why she was so popular among young officers.

There are many wealthy grand duchesses.

Not many people who have money like to treat others.

Even if there is, it has nothing to do with ordinary people.

“Thank you Grand Duchess Yurievskaya!”

"Bye Sasha, we'll drink your share back!"

The young officers laughed and waved goodbye to Alexandra.

Alexandra walked out of the officers' club, and an armored car with the Yuriev emblem on its body was waiting at the door.

The burly female guard, armed with guns, protected Alexandra as she got into the car.

Suddenly, a frivolous whistle was heard from not far away.

Caroline pushed Alexandra into the car.

After Maria closed the car door, she nodded to the club manager who was seeing her off at the door.

When the club manager called for help, the convoy had already sped away.

"That whistle may not be directed at me—"

Alexandra didn't want to hurt innocent people.

"If not, then it's fine."

Caroline didn't take it to heart at all. People should always control their mouths and hands.

If you can't control it, someone will naturally help you control it.

Mikhail came to Constantinople again and discussed with George how to limit Alex's power to the Winter Palace.

"Alex is going too far. She has placed her cronies in government departments and monopolized the supply of materials to the front lines. You should know that even trains transporting ammunition need Alex's consent to use the Siberian Railway." Mikhail could no longer tolerate it. The queen's actions infringed upon the interests of many people.

The new Minister of Transport, Strulsky, was recommended by Alex. He was a former Hebrew loan shark.

George had discussed this issue with Alexander and must use caution with the Hebrew group.

Putting the Hebrews in the right position can indeed have a positive effect on economic development.

But if used improperly, the Hebrews' destructive power is equally terrible.

This group of people care about money more than their lives.

George believed that there must be something extraordinary about Strulski that made him popular with Alex.

But putting him in the position of Minister of Transport would be a disaster for the empire if Strulski's goal was not to ensure smooth transportation in the empire but to seek benefits for Alex.

"how do you want to do it?"

George couldn't stand it anymore. This woman had gone crazy.

"Destroy her, make Nikki give up his marriage, and drive this bitch out of the empire!"

While Mikhail came to see George, Paul went to the Caucasus Military District.

Little Nicholas' dream of traveling around the world did not come true, and Nicholas was transferred to the Caucasus Military District as commander-in-chief.

"That's impossible. Nikki won't abandon Alex."

George knew Nicholas too well. All of his uncles and brothers combined did not mean as much to Nicholas as Alex did.

"Then what do you think we should do?"

Mikhail looked at George with anticipation.

George smiled, knowing what Mikhail wanted him to say.

As long as George agrees, St. Petersburg will change tomorrow.

If George disagreed, anyone who dared to rebel against Nicholas would be severely suppressed by Grand Duke Yuriev.

"You can do whatever you want, but I only have one request, don't hurt Nikki."

The only person George wanted to protect was Nicholas.

Alexei and the princesses need not worry, as long as Nicholas is safe, they are safe.

"Uncle George, Nicky is my brother, how could we hurt him--"

Mikhail was very excited and assured George again and again.

Mikhail did not stay in Constantinople and left that day, eager to implement his grand plan.

George called Christie over and asked her to send someone to St. Petersburg to ensure Nicholas' safety at all costs.

"How many people should I send?"

Christie was confused and didn't know what to do.

Without enough people, we couldn’t complete the task assigned by George.

Sending an army to Beijing, does that mean Grand Duke Yuriev is going to rebel?

"Go find Ivan. He knows what to do."

George also has a backup plan in St. Petersburg.

Almost all Amur enterprises have branches in St. Petersburg.

The guards of these branches were all arranged by the Amur Governor's Office, and the total number of guards and staff exceeded 1000.

The champagne needed by the Winter Palace is still provided by "Saint Louis". Ivan is the head of this company and visits the Winter Palace once a week on average.

Although Ivan was not a staff member of the Winter Palace, he might be more familiar with it than Alex, the hostess.

Every summer, the Tsar and the Tsarina would go to the Summer Palace, and the Winter Palace would take this opportunity to undergo routine maintenance. Ivan had been in charge of this work since five years ago.

Through this job, Ivan developed a deep relationship with the Winter Palace officials, and he could even freely enter and leave the office of the Winter Palace's chief steward, Tsitsi Naryshkin.

1915 passed in the midst of noise and chaos. On the first day of 1916, Nicholas issued a proclamation to the entire nation, calling on all Russians to unite, fight bravely, and strive hard to win the final victory of the war.

Unlike in the past, Nicholas' call did not receive an enthusiastic response from the Russians. Some newspapers did not even publish the Tsar's New Year's speech, but instead discussed William II's speech.

William II also delivered a public speech in the German Parliament on the first day of the new year.

In his speech, William II summarized the progress of the German army over the past year, with the capture of Warsaw being emphasized as a key point.

William II asked Nicholas in a sarcastic tone: What has joining the British and French camp brought to the Russian Empire?
This question has caused all Russians to think deeply.

(End of this chapter)