Father is seeking self-liberation!

According to Count Orlov’s description, Alexander II immediately realized that Nicholas I was consciously engaging in chronic self-harm.

After all, for an elderly man over sixty, any minor illness could be fatal, let alone in the case of Nicholas I, who would venture out in just a thin coat.

Besides intending to commit suicide, Alexander II could think of no other reason.

"Why didn’t you try to persuade him!" Alexander II anxiously reproached Count Orlov.

Count Orlov smiled bitterly and said, "Your Majesty, it’s not that we haven’t tried to dissuade His Majesty! But His Majesty simply doesn’t listen to our advice, and the Military Attendants responsible for His Majesty’s safety also dare not stop the Tsar from going out."

After hearing Orlov’s words, Alexander II pondered for a long time, then sighed, nodded, and said, "Alright! I understand, I will handle these trivial matters here as quickly as possible!"

"Your Highness, you’d better hurry up!" Count Orlov kindly reminded Alexander II.

"Hurry up?" Alexander II shook his head, also showing a bitter smile, "How can things be resolved so quickly!"

After speaking, Alexander II gently walked to the door, quickly opened it, and pressed his ear against the door as Grand Duke Constantine staggered in, wobbling into the room.

"Big... brother!" Grand Duke Constantine scratched his head, grinning awkwardly.

"Constantine!" Alexander II, feeling somewhat dejected, looked at his mischievous brother and became angry, sternly rebuking Constantine, "You are no longer a child, and you should know what propriety is! Just like your recent behavior, do you believe that I couldn’t send you to a military court!"

Facing the furious Alexander II, Grand Duke Constantine sensed something was wrong and promptly apologized formally to Alexander II, "Your Highness, I was wrong!"

"Alas!" Thinking of his father possibly facing death and Constantine being one of his few relatives, Alexander II’s heart softened a bit, and his tone became much gentler: "Alright! Be careful next time!"

"Yes!" Constantine nodded, indicating he understood.

Alexander II then closed the door again and solemnly said to Grand Duke Constantine, "Constantine, I may have to leave Crimea! During my absence from Crimea, you will fully represent me here! Remember, when you encounter any issues, listen more to Gorchakov and Jomini; both are seasoned veterans! The Russian Army, in the upcoming battles, must adhere to the principle of fighting if able and defending if not, ensuring not to leave gaps for the French Army and not to overestimate our strength while underestimating the enemy’s power.

The previous defeat at Inkman Mountain and the Joya River was because we were too confident in our troops, leading to failure... (Marshal Jomini thought that at least 60,000 troops of the Russian Army could hold out for a while like at Silistra before collapsing, but who knew that the Russian Empire’s army would break Jomini’s lowest expectations, with all three battle directions ending in failure! Russia lost about 60,000 troops in total, meaning that Russia now only has a little over 200,000 troops.)"

Alexander II nagged, giving Constantine a sense of impending danger; he hurriedly asked Alexander II why he was rushing back to St. Petersburg? Had something happened in St. Petersburg?

"Nothing." Alexander II subconsciously glanced aside.

"Brother, tell me, is it because of something in St. Petersburg... no, has something happened to our father?" Constantine asked Alexander II seriously.

Alexander II remained silent, though he didn’t believe Constantine would deliberately leak the news of father’s critical condition, Nicholas I, he was worried that his reckless brother might carelessly let something slip.

This would inevitably cause a catastrophic legal

If not handled well, it might cause an upheaval within the army.

Since the founding of the Empire, every Tsar’s authority has been built on military rule. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Once the Empire’s military rule loses its credibility, those hidden opponents will immediately transform into venomous snakes, showing their fangs to fiercely bite the Empire.

Alexander II knew that opponents of the Empire were never in short supply, and those against the Empire were not merely Republican groups composed of the Petite Bourgeoisie like in France, but conspiratorial groups made of nobles who are pillars of the Empire. These people, while benefiting from the privileges brought by the Empire, criticize the Empire’s authoritarian system in secret.

In their view, breaking the autocratic system would surely lead Russia to prosperity.

These people are dead set on destroying the Empire, making the Anglo-French Alliance seem benevolent by comparison.

At least the Anglo-French Alliance’s aim is simply to force a compromise, while these people aim to destroy the entire Romanov Clan.

"Nothing!" Alexander II shook his head, answering Constantine, "I’m just a bit homesick!"

Constantine watched Alexander II without speaking; after a while, Constantine smiled and said, "I understand! I will follow your teachings and act cautiously!"

"That’s good!" Alexander II sighed in relief and nodded to Constantine, "I’ll leave things here to you then!"

"Your Highness, if there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave first!" Constantine responded to Alexander II.

"Hmm!" Looking at Constantine with a hint of emotion, Alexander II wanted to say something, but in the end, he could only nod in agreement with Constantine’s departure.

After Constantine left, Duke Orlov and Alexander II began to discuss the time of departure.

According to Orlov, it was best for Alexander II to immediately set off back to St. Petersburg.

However, Alexander II thought that he couldn’t leave Crimea so quickly, because leaving in haste would give the soldiers on the Crimea Peninsula bad ideas.

They would suspect that something unexpected had happened in St. Petersburg; otherwise, why would the Crown Prince leave in such a hurry?

This would have a very negative impact on the morale of the troops, stationed in Sevastopol, who were always watching Bakhchisaray.

If the Anglo-French Alliance Army saw that the morale of the Russian Army was unstable, they would definitely not let go of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"Your Highness, when do you intend to set off?" Count Orlov inquired of Alexander II.

"In a week!" Alexander II thought for a moment and then replied to Count Orlov.

"Very well!" Count Orlov nodded in response.

At this time, neither Alexander II nor Orlov knew that despite their many precautions, the Allies had already learned of the situation in the Russian Empire and were actively formulating strategies against it.

...

"Is this the strategy you’ve devised?"

Jerome Bonaparte pointed at the compiled plan placed in front of him and asked Marshal Pelissier, who sat opposite him.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Pelissier nodded and replied to Jerome Bonaparte, "This is a plan jointly devised by all the colleagues in the Staff Department!"

As Jerome Bonaparte flipped through the contents of the plan, Marshal Pelissier, seated opposite him, showed a slightly hesitant expression as if he had something to say to Jerome Bonaparte.

"What is it, my Marshal?" Jerome Bonaparte glanced lightly at Pelissier, nonchalantly asking, "Do you have something you want to say to me?"

"Your Majesty, I..." Marshal Pelissier hesitated for a moment, biting his lip before making up his mind, "Actually, I have an immature idea!"

"Oh?" Jerome Bonaparte put down the telegram he was holding, a smile of interest appearing on his lips as he inquired, "What idea do you have? Can you share it?"

"The telegram you received earlier, was it sent from St. Petersburg?" Pelissier tentatively asked Jerome Bonaparte.

"Which one?" Jerome Bonaparte paused for a few seconds and asked instinctively.

"The one about the Tsar’s severe illness!" Pelissier answered Jerome Bonaparte.

"This telegram was sent by the National Intelligence Bureau, which should qualify as firsthand intelligence from Russia." Jerome Bonaparte responded to Pelissier.

"Your Majesty, what I mean is... could we carry out an assassination in the Peterburg Region..."

Before Pelissier could finish, Jerome Bonaparte coldly interrupted, "Marshal Pelissier, this doesn’t seem to be within your scope of authority!"

"Your Majesty, please forgive my offense!" Marshal Pelissier hurriedly apologized to Jerome Bonaparte.

The entire office fell into a brief silence. After a while, Jerome Bonaparte responded coldly, "I understand your meaning! This matter requires careful consideration. Do you understand?"

"I... I understand!" Marshal Pelissier responded nervously.

"Marshal, you may leave! I will go over the plan and return it to you later!" Jerome Bonaparte closed the plan and responded to Pelissier.

Pelissier hurriedly bowed to Jerome Bonaparte and then got up to leave.

After Pelissier closed the door, Jerome Bonaparte muttered to himself, "This Pelissier dares to think of anything! Isn’t he afraid of becoming an enemy of the monarchy?"

After a while, he mumbled further to himself, "However, it is indeed an idea. I’ll send a telegram to Paris to inquire about it!"