Solovyov in Tsarist Russia 1796

Chapter 123 023 Golden Apple Party at Peterhof Palace (Part 2)

At the ball, the girls tried their best to show their talents, especially the characteristics of the Greek goddesses they played.

Maria and Ekaterina did not need to act, they played their roles as they were. Maria was good at playing the harp and loved music. She was a famous music enthusiast in Petersburg. Cleo, among the muses, was the most suitable for her.

Although Ekaterina was of noble status, she was the youngest among the girls present today, except for Louisa's little Maria. It was no problem to say that she represented the goddess of youth, and her performance was also very good. She was always pouring wine for her sisters.

It was just that the "big wine pot" she was holding did not contain wine, but kvass, so the alcohol content was not a problem.

The girls should not let themselves become drunkards, which would easily ruin the good impression their beautiful appearance brought to outsiders.

They came to the courtyard now and were going to find Count Stroganov to judge, but at this time, someone said this.

"Si le comte Stroganov est juge, alors il n'y aura pas de sens à l'histoire de la Pomme d'Or : il faut trouver un jeune homme célibataire pour jouer Paris." (With Count Stroganov as the judge, the original meaning of this story will be lost, we need to find an unmarried person to be the judge.)

But the count was waiting there, and before they went to the courtyard, someone began to chatter and make fun of it at this time.

"Nous ne pouvons pas les faire attendre trop longtemps." (Don't keep them waiting too long.)

So said Louisa, and she took up the writing board in her hand, which was a symbol of Calliope, the chief muse she played.

She was going to lead her sisters to the yard. There were more than 20 girls in the group. Louisa herself did not want too many people to gather together, so only some girls who had close relationships in the palace were here.

Including Elena, who had just married from the Naryshkin family. She became Arkady's bride. The Polish woman had no necessary connection with the women in her family.

What's more, this girl was very cute. She dressed herself up as Demeter today, but little girls generally couldn't handle such a majestic role. Even if she held wheat ears in her hands, she still carried a fruit basket.

She was the first to come out, and Solovyov wanted to complain: Are you here to pick mushrooms?

What's more interesting is that the girls are very self-aware. Including this girl, no one really plays the main god. Moreover, the symbolic meaning of the god of agriculture itself is more, and its main responsibility is also agricultural harvest. The responsibility is heavy. But in various stories, when it appears, it is accompanied by the appearance of her daughter Persephone - this is a story about an uncle who likes his niece and takes her back to be his daughter-in-law. The things about Mount Olympus have never been very clear.

At the same time, it also tests the level of knowledge.

"Your Highness Maria, where is your harp?"

"I have to use this instead. This is a seven-stringed lyre toy prepared for little Martha." After all, Maria's harp needs someone to carry it, and it is too big, so it can't be pushed into the yard.

"It's really great, and Catherine holding the wine pot is the goddess of youth Hebe."

"Yes, do you want a glass of kvass?" Catherine always feels sore when she puts the wine pot on her shoulders. Now she is holding it in her arms. In the ancient world, little girls sometimes go to the well to fetch water, and they hold it like this.

"I think this is unnecessary. You want me to give a golden apple to the most attractive lady during the judging. I am willing to do this."

After the count said this, the girls were laughing. Some of them even carried folding fans with them out of habit to cover their faces and discuss.

"Pasha, the sisters think this is not appropriate, because you are not a Paris, but a Hector."

"Your Highness, that makes me even more flattered."

Louisa meant that she wanted to change an unmarried young man to make the evaluation.

"As for the choice of this shepherd, it is too late to find someone temporarily. Baron, how about you come?"

When Solovyov saw Louisa now, he was a little unnatural and even blushed.

"Mr. Major, I have never seen you so shy before."

Maria often dragged him to work illegally to record music scores. She had also seen Solovyov's resolute and serious expression at his post. She had also heard that he went to the front line to fight, but she had never seen him like this.

Does he like his sister-in-law very much? Maria had this idea, but when she thought about what happened in the palace some time ago, he was more like a patron saint standing in Peterhof Palace, but this patron saint was also a little thin.

Of course, when this girl was daydreaming, she knew that the major had a good sense of aesthetics. Because her sister-in-law was beautiful and asked for love, she would blush. He would not know the story of their accidental encounter in the English garden.

"Your Highness, I don't want to be shot by a poisonous arrow. If you have read the Iliad carefully, you should know the story of Helen. In the end, Paris was shot by Philoctetes (Φιλοκττη), the archer of the Greek coalition."

Soloviev's tongue was about to be tied. After all, Greek names have always been like this. Although Russian names are long, they are not so verbose.

"This is the first time I've seen you like this. You've always been known for your extensive knowledge."

"But Your Highness, my tongue sometimes doesn't want to keep pace with my brain."

Soloviev saw Louisa dressed in Greek clothes again, first under the light of the fire, and then under the moonlight. She was so charming that he didn't know what adjective to use to describe her.

"That's true. I can't tell you that Philoctetes was a great archer who was abandoned on an island. In the end, Odysseus went to invite him back."

"Yes, Your Highness. The city that could not be conquered was finally conquered by the Trojan Horse."

"Although you are smart, you are not a cunning person, and you can't be Odysseus."

"Your Highness, are you punishing me by not being able to go home for 20 years?"

"No, haha, your home is not far from the Winter Palace, how can you not be able to go home, hahaha."

Louisa laughed, her voice was always very pleasant. Solovyov knew that Alexander seemed reluctant to communicate with her in terms of knowledge, but just liked her delicate face. Although the crown prince was a diplomat who was good at dancing with long sleeves and liked women in social circles, he might be a person who didn't seek to understand much in terms of knowledge.

In front of the Tsar, Solovyov also felt that Paul was familiar with many aspects of knowledge, especially military training and judicial provisions. He was not talented, but he became an expert in these two areas through hard work. Alexander is not like that. He has always been smart and has mastered knowledge quickly, but he has never been very thorough and is prone to give up halfway. I am afraid that he will only be able to be a good Tsar and an actor on the stage in the future.

Although such a couple looks like the kind of enviable golden boy and jade girl, they are obviously not in life.

Louisa still hopes that her husband can come back to her, but their long-term relationship has developed to the current state.

As for such a joke, although it is not funny, it can also make her happy, at least the brain waves can match.

"Your Highness, thank you for letting me go home. If it is in the new fortress in the future, it will be closer and I can go directly from the Moika River embankment."

"Don't talk about this first. You won't be shot by a poisonous arrow. No one uses a crossbow coated with poison now. I ask you to be the arbitrator today. You can think of yourself as the judge of the underworld. That will be more fair."

Speaking of this, Soloviev can also find that it is difficult for people to refuse Louisa's pitiful eyes, no matter whether she can't help but send it or pretend.

However, this made people say it to death. Soloviev always understood what "misinterpretation" was, but he couldn't refuse it.

She has a higher status than me. She is also the boss lady of this Russia in the future. Naturally, she is a higher official than me.

She's bigger than me!

So he took the golden apple.

"Seules les femmes les plus séduisantes peuvent posséder des pommes d'or." (Only the most charming woman can get the golden apple)

Such a difficult question is indeed a life-threatening one. When Soloviev saw the count winking at him, it seemed to be a hint.

"Wink at me if your life is threatened!"

It is very dangerous to have the girls walk by him one by one to evaluate him.

Speaking of the girl from the Naryshkin family, Soloviev always felt that although she was so young, she was very frivolous and would definitely not give her the apple.

And Natalia Zagryazhskaya, she is beautiful and charming, and is also Louisa's maid. She is only 15 years old this year, but like his old friend, the countess, she likes to pretend to be an adult.

It's just that the "little fairy" is plump and two years older than her. When she walks, it's easy to attract the attention of others. She is too thin, which is not good either. Moreover, she probably hasn't mastered the essence of playing a Greek role, or the appearance of a girl of this era.

Looking back, the girls waiting to get married all performed poorly, just like the "little fairy". Today she dressed up as the goddess of victory. Let's not talk about other places, but her chest is very "victorious". It's just that she performed well at the beginning. Dressing like this is to show "victory" rather than personal "charm". If she dressed up as Venus, she would be a little short. In short, it's not good. If you only take care of beauty, you may fall for her plump chest and round little butt.

By the way, you have to make a hook, because the goddess of victory is written as Nike.

"Girls, you all performed very well, but I still cannot give you this golden apple, after all, there are still some shortcomings. As for opinions, you need to consider more. Although Greek gods all have seven emotions and six desires, what are the divinity represented by these goddesses and their symbolic meanings."

After everyone passed by, Solovyov was now in trouble.

From today's "dangerous" conversations, he found that Louisa seemed to be interested in him, but rashly giving her this golden apple would only bring disputes and various troubles. For Louisa, life in the palace would definitely not be easy.

And for him, this is a fatal question.

The solution he thought of was actually very simple. The last one to come was Ekaterina. In his opinion, this girl was often rash and reckless, and she was very young. Playing with children could always avoid some troubles.

In order to walk more conveniently, Ekaterina put the ceramic kettle aside, leaving only the pocket around her waist, which was used to "feed the eagle". She also proudly raised her neck and raised her undeveloped chest, walking on the cobblestone road.

This girl is still childish, but she can represent "youth". Solovyov still uses his brain. Seeing Ekaterina posing like a "proud little swan", he finally gave his evaluation.

"Finally, I want to give this golden apple to Her Highness Ekaterina. She represents youth, and I hope that ladies can keep their youthful and beautiful appearance for a long time."

Count Stroganov smiled. He thought to himself that this kid really knows how to avoid this crisis. Giving the "golden apple" to a child can avoid this embarrassment.

But Ekaterina, the child, jumped up when she heard this.

This girl's Achilles tendon must be short. She jumped very high, but you are wearing a Greek robe now!

When she fell, she didn't realize this, but jumped and hopped like a little deer to receive the award, completely breaking the rules, but she still had to fall.

When she got the golden apple, Solovyov saw that she was about to fall, so he squatted down and caught her in his arms.

I have to say, this girl is too thin. I don't know where her amazing appetite has gone.

"Your Highness, your ribs have already hit me even through the uniform!"

And the candies and dried meat in the big bag are generally very hard, just like a small hammer hammering down, that is, the distance is too close.

Hearing this, everyone present laughed.

Solovyov was glad that he escaped the disaster by making a joke, but Ekaterina still threw herself in her arms and didn't get up.

"Major, I think I twisted my foot."

Who told you to walk barefoot and jump like this, it's not surprising to have an accident.

This tearful little girl really needs care. She should be carried to the hall and the doctor should be called.

However, the situation is not as serious as Louisa's last time. When Soloviev was on duty here, he also prepared some medicine boxes with prepared medicine for injuries. After all, this is a common trauma. Old Western doctors are good at using surgery, so it is not surprising to have some external medicine.

Ekaterina was still seeking comfort and hid in her sister-in-law's arms crying. It seemed that she was really in pain.

"It's okay. I also sprained it and it will be healed soon with medicine. In a week, you will be a lively little deer again."

"Your Highness, you still have to wait for the doctor to come. I'm just a 'quack doctor' and I have seen many injuries."

"Thank you for your intelligence, Misha."

Louisa's smile made Soloviev blush even more. Of course, his heart rate soared. It was not because he liked her, but because he hoped that this kind of life-threatening question would not come again in the future.