"What on earth is going on?"

Marshal Jomini shifted his gaze from the soldiers outside the window to the royal steward.

"Exactly! What is happening? Why are the streets of St. Petersburg filled with soldiers?"

Grand Duke Constantine felt a certain unease, a keen intuition told him that something significant might have occurred here.

"Marshal, Grand Duke!" The royal steward pondered for a moment, then said to Constantine and Jomini, "The situation here is complicated and can’t be explained in just a moment. You’ll understand everything when you reach the Imperial Palace!"

With that, the royal steward turned his head toward the view outside the carriage window.

Seeing that the royal steward was unwilling to reveal the truth, Constantine and Jomini did not press further. Harboring some doubts, they soon arrived before a Baroque-style palace in Tsarskoye Selo.

The carriage slowly halted directly opposite the palace gates, and the royal steward respectfully said to Jomini and Constantine, "Marshal, Grand Duke! We have arrived!"

Jomini and Constantine disembarked from the carriage, ascending the steps of the palace, where they encountered an elderly man in uniform who seemed to be waiting to welcome them.

"Your Highness/Prince Golitsyn!" Marshal Jomini and Grand Duke Constantine solemnly bowed and greeted the elder statesman in front of them.

"Grand Duke Constantine, Marshal Jomini!" Duke Golitsyn’s face also bore a solemn expression as he spoke, "By order of His Majesty, I am here to welcome you!"

"Thank you for your trouble!" Grand Duke Constantine immediately responded to Duke Golitsyn.

"It is my duty, I dare not decline!" Duke Golitsyn responded humbly, then respectfully said to Grand Duke Constantine and Marshal Jomini, "Please, follow me!"

Led by Duke Golitsyn, Grand Duke Constantine and Marshal Jomini reached an entrance flanked by deployed guards.

At this time, Grand Duke Constantine still did not know the extent of Nicholas I’s illness, and he pointed at the door in front of him, inquiring of Duke Golitsyn, "Duke Golitsyn, why have you brought me here? Shouldn’t we head to the hall?"

"Grand Duke Constantine, His Majesty is in this room," Duke Golitsyn said as he ordered the two guards to open the door.

Upon receiving Duke Golitsyn’s order, the guards gently pulled open the door.

Standing at the doorway, Grand Duke Constantine and Marshal Jomini immediately felt a wave of heat rush toward them, followed by the sound of Duke Golitsyn’s voice, "Please, enter."

Without hesitation, Grand Duke Constantine and Marshal Jomini entered the room. As they moved toward the bedroom, Duke Golitsyn, following beside them, paused briefly in front of the guards, discreetly giving them a look to which the guards nodded knowingly.

Once Duke Golitsyn entered the room, the door to the bedroom closed again.

Upon entering the room, Constantine and Marshal Jomini immediately saw Nicholas I, who was lying on a sofa near the fireplace. Although the bedroom was exceptionally warm due to the blazing fire, Nicholas I’s face remained pale.

"Father/Your Majesty!" Seeing Nicholas I in such a state, Marshal Jomini and Grand Duke Constantine quickened their pace to approach him.

"You have returned!" Lying on the sofa, Nicholas I looked at Grand Duke Constantine and Marshal Jomini, revealing a forced smile on his face.

"Father, what has happened?" Grand Duke Constantine rushed to Nicholas I’s side, grasping his hand tightly and urgently asking, "What happened while I was away? Why have you become like this?"

"It’s nothing!" Nicholas I shook his head in response to Grand Duke Constantine.

"I don’t believe it!" Grand Duke Constantine persistently questioned Nicholas I, "Father, what has happened during this period?"

"Nothing major has really happened!" Nicholas I continued to shake his head, unwilling to let his son worry about his safety.

"But what about your health!" Grand Duke Constantine said to Nicholas I.

"I’ve caught a slight chill due to the recent drop in temperature," Nicholas I explained to Grand Duke Constantine, "I’ll recover after some time."

"Really?" Grand Duke Constantine was somewhat skeptical of Nicholas I’s words, turning his gaze to Duke Golitsyn as if to inquire about the truth of his father’s words.

"His Majesty speaks the truth!" Duke Golitsyn responded with certainty.

"Very well then!" Grand Duke Constantine unconsciously advised, "Father, you should rest more, lest you..."

"Enough! Stop talking about this!" Nicholas I interrupted Grand Duke Constantine, then sternly questioned him, "Constantine, what on earth is going on with you? How could you speak like that to an Imperial Marshal in Crimea? Who gave you the right to question a Marshal who has rendered great service to Russia? Who do you think you are? The Tsar?"

"I know I was wrong!" Grand Duke Constantine replied, lowering his head to Nicholas I.

"Fool!" Nicholas I scolded him in exasperation, then pointed at Marshal Jomini, saying to Grand Duke Constantine, "The person you need to apologize to is not me, but Marshal Jomini!"

"Marshal, I was wrong!" Constantine turned to apologize to Marshal Jomini, "I shouldn’t have said those words back then. I know I was wrong! Please forgive me!"

After saying this, Grand Duke Constantine sincerely bowed to Marshal Jomini.

Marshal Jomini hurriedly came to Grand Duke Constantine’s rescue, telling Nicholas I that Grand Duke Constantine had done nothing wrong. As a Frenchman, he should not over-interfere with the Russian Army. Regardless of whether France wins or Russia wins, it would be something he did not wish to see, so he asked Nicholas I to allow him to resign from his titles of Russian Imperial Chief of Staff and Military Advisor.

Faced with Marshal Jomini’s request, Nicholas I rejected it without hesitation.

He told Jomini that the Russian Empire needed him now; Jomini must not leave.

"Your Majesty, Commander Gorchakov in Crimea Peninsula is sufficient!" Marshal Jomini responded to Nicholas I.

"Do you mean Gorchakov can help Russia win this war?" Nicholas I asked Marshal Jomini.

Marshal Jomini remained silent. As a renowned general, he had his pride. If he himself could not defeat the French Army, how could Gorchakov win?

Moreover, he had seen Gorchakov’s level of warfare.

Frankly speaking, if the Russian Empire and the French Empire could start on the same level in terms of equipment, then Gorchakov might be an adequate Commander-in-Chief.

Unfortunately, the French Empire was far ahead of the Russian Imperial Army in terms of equipment and logistics.

With the Russian military lagging significantly in rifles and artillery, it simply could not inflict much substantive damage to France.

Therefore, it would already be quite impressive if Gorchakov could hold onto the existing cities.

Looking at the silent Jomini, Nicholas I suddenly understood the thoughts in Marshal Jomini’s heart. He once again asked Marshal Jomini what his thoughts were on this battle.

"Your Majesty, I think it’s time for the Russian Empire to seek peace!" Marshal Jomini responded to Nicholas I.

"Alright! Understood!" Nicholas I replied calmly to Marshal Jomini, then turned his attention to Grand Duke Constantine, "What do you think?"

"Father, I think Marshal Jomini is right!" From Perekop to Moscow, Grand Duke Constantine had seen many things he couldn’t see before, and heard many voices he couldn’t hear before. He also realized that the whole Russian Empire was sitting like on top of a volcano, and a slight misstep could lead to a repeat of France’s fate. Therefore, his thoughts began to gradually change.

"Hmm!" Nicholas I also nodded calmly, "By the way, do you still have that little bastard Jerome Bonaparte’s conditions in your hands?"

Marshal Jomini hurriedly handed Alexander II’s personal letter to Nicholas I, who opened the envelope and carefully reviewed the contents.

In the letter, Alexander II not only mentioned Jerome Bonaparte’s conditions, but also proposed to Nicholas I, suggesting that it would be best for the French Empire and the Russian Empire to negotiate peace as soon as possible, even if it meant losing some interests.

After reading the letter, Nicholas I felt both anger and a sense of loss.

His strong sense of pride would not allow him to fail, nor would he allow anyone to defy his will.

Now, the French Empire had dealt a heavy blow to his face, and his generals and ministers continued to defy his will, urging him to negotiate peace as soon as possible.

Marshal Jomini, Orlov, Dolgorukov, and even his two sons were all advising him against his wishes, both explicitly and implicitly.

Am I really going to become the disgrace of the entire Romanov family?

Nicholas I pondered anxiously as he seemed to see the smug face of Jerome Bonaparte in his mind.

No! I will not allow this!

Nicholas I roared inwardly, turning his gaze towards Duke Golitsyn, believing that this family, which had loyally served the Tsar for generations, would certainly stand by his side.

"Golitsyn, what do you think?"