Looking at the once high and mighty Monarch, now easily disposed of by him as if strangling a little chicken, Andrew Nikolaevich Golitsyn felt a kind of indescribable satisfaction!

However, the death of Nicholas I also heralded that Duke Golitsyn and others had no choice but to continue winning without a turning back.

After all, regicide in the Russian Empire, although not a once-in-a-millennium event (the last regicide was more than fifty years ago), is still of utmost importance.

Especially as Duke Golitsyn plans to defy the traditional succession order of the Russian Empire, enthrone Alexander III’s elder brother as the new Emperor of the Russian Empire, reform the current system of the Empire, and liberate the serfs...

With all these unfavorable factors combined, Duke Golitsyn faces difficulties far exceeding simple regicide.

Therefore, regicide is not the endpoint for Duke Golitsyn, but a whole new beginning.

After Andrew Nikolaevich Golitsyn disposed of Nicholas I, he, too, turned and left Nicholas I’s bedroom.

At this time, Duke Golitsyn, who was still waiting in the corridor, upon hearing the sound of the door opening, quickly turned around and inquired, "How did it go?"

Andrew Nikolaevich Golitsyn nodded slightly and said calmly, "Nicolai has returned to the embrace!"

"That’s good!" After hearing Andrew Nikolaevich Golitsyn’s words, Duke Golitsyn nodded and calmly said, "What we need to do now is to take advantage of the outside world’s ignorance of the Tsar’s death, taking over as much of the power along the railway from St. Petersburg to Moscow, using these cities as strongholds to further expand our power!

Only in this way can we resist Crown Prince Alexander’s impending attack!"

"Isn’t Crown Prince Alexander still engaged in battle with the Anglo-French Army in Crimea? How could the Anglo-French Army let them off so easily?" Andrew Nikolaevich Golitsyn incredulously asked Duke Golitsyn.

"If Crown Prince Alexander is willing to make friends with England and France at the cost of ceding Russian interests, then he might be able to reorganize his army in the shortest possible time!" Duke Golitsyn replied to Andrew Nikolaevich Golitsyn, "I have told you before, do not trust England and France too much! To them, a Russia in civil war is far better than a stable Russia!"

After a brief pause, Duke Golitsyn continued, "However, we don’t need to worry too much!

I can conclude that Crown Prince Alexander will not be able to withdraw from the Crimea Peninsula in the short term because our current forces are far less than those of Crown Prince Alexander.

Therefore, the Anglo-French Army wants to plunge Russia into a long civil war, and they must weaken the Russian Army reported from Crimea.

We need to quickly use this gap period to the fullest extent possible to conscript troops from various regions, especially in the Finnish Region and Kronstadt!

Do you understand?"

"Understood!" Andrew Nikolaevich Golitsyn responded in a firm tone.

Just then, the soldier responsible for guarding the palace gates suddenly reported news to Duke Golitsyn and informed him of incoming soldiers in St. Petersburg City.

After hearing these words, Duke Golitsyn immediately commanded the soldier responsible for communication to be brought before them.

As soon as the two sides met, the reporting soldier quickly said to Duke Golitsyn, "Your Grace, we have adhered to your instructions and occupied Peterburg Square, the Winter Palace, and the Ministry of War. Although we encountered some resistance while occupying the Ministry of War, those Ministry of War soldiers were no match for us...

Now, apart from the Crown Prince still in the Crimea Peninsula, we have completely captured and imprisoned the Romanov Clan!

Do you have any further instructions?"

"You have done very well!" Alexander II nodded in satisfaction and then instructed them to ensure they "take care" of the Romanov Clan, giving them no room to breathe.

The soldier quickly nodded and inquired about the status of Nicholas I from Duke Golitsyn.

"Nicholas is dead!" Duke Golitsyn said calmly.

"What?" The soldier immediately showed a surprised expression.

"What’s the matter?" Duke Golitsyn asked in return.

"I thought you would keep him around for a while longer!" The soldier responded candidly to Duke Golitsyn.

"A Monarch who cannot speak is more helpful to our cause!" Duke Golitsyn smiled at the soldier and said, "No one can guarantee exactly how many loyal to Nicholas I are still within our army! Getting rid of Nicholas I will help unite us!"

"Yes!" The soldier nodded and responded to Duke Golitsyn.

After speaking, the soldier turned and left.

Before he had gone far, Duke Golitsyn’s voice rang out from behind him once more, "Wait a moment!" 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

The soldier stopped in his tracks and asked Duke Golitsyn in puzzlement, "Do you have any other instructions?"

"Since there’s nothing major here anymore, I’ll go with you!" Duke Golitsyn, who was still worried about the Romanov family, responded to the soldier.

Subsequently, Duke Golitsyn ordered Andrew Nikolaevich Golitsyn to remain in Tsarskoye Selo to continue arresting the nobles there, while he, along with the soldier responsible for delivering messages, rode back to the Peterburg Region under the cover of night.

When Duke Golitsyn arrived at Peterburg Square, it was already surrounded by a group of Slav soldiers in gray uniforms. Upon seeing Duke Golitsyn on horseback, they promptly saluted him.

Duke Golitsyn, also on horseback, returned their salute, and then proceeded to the gates of the Winter Palace.

Dismounting and entering the Winter Palace, Duke Golitsyn, led by an officer, was brought to a room where the Romanov family residing in the palace and Prince Dorogorukov were held.

Seeing Prince Dorogorukov in the room, Duke Golitsyn showed a look of astonishment on his face. After a few seconds, he regained his composure and politely addressed those present, "I apologize for frightening you all!"

"Duke Golitsyn, what is going on here?" Prince Dorogorukov loudly questioned Duke Golitsyn. "Why have you dispatched troops to occupy the Winter Palace? Are you planning a rebellion?"

"Your Excellency Dorogorukov, you misunderstand me!" Duke Golitsyn replied with a pretended sincerity, "The only reason I did this is to comply with the orders from His Majesty!"

"Orders from His Majesty?" Dorogorukov looked at Duke Golitsyn skeptically and said, "How can you prove you are following the Emperor’s orders? If you can’t, then have your soldiers withdraw from the Winter Palace immediately! This is the most sacred place in all Russia, not a playground for you!"

"I don’t have any evidence at this moment to prove that His Majesty gave this order. However, I will not retreat!" Duke Golitsyn shook his head and firmly responded to Dorogorukov.

Seeing Duke Golitsyn’s defiance, Prince Dorogorukov once again made his request, "Where is His Majesty now? I must see him!"

"Mr. Dorogorukov, His Majesty does not want to meet with you," Duke Golitsyn continued to respond.

"If you can’t bring His Majesty here, then do not restrict our movements!" Dorogorukov said loudly.

"Your Excellency Dorogorukov, I must ensure your safety!" Duke Golitsyn answered Dorogorukov earnestly.

"You..." Dorogorukov was left speechless, feeling a sense of unease.

"Enough!" The former Empress, Alexander Feodorovna, also vaguely sensed that something might have happened to Nicholas I.

However, as they were under the eaves of the current situation, she dared not openly confront Duke Golitsyn.

"Thank you for your understanding!" Duke Golitsyn said to Empress Feodorovna, then turned his attention to Grand Duke Nicholas.

At this moment, he too showed a faint, imperceptible smile. He clearly understood that Duke Golitsyn’s presence signified that his father was dead!

And he was set to assume the role of Tsar! (Although he was unaware, Duke Golitsyn had slyly changed the decision for the new Tsar!)

With that thought, Nikolayevich’s heart began to ignite.

"Your Majesty the Empress, Mr. Dorogorukov, I shall take my leave now!" Duke Golitsyn once again bowed to the Empress and Dorogorukov.

After Duke Golitsyn left, the Empress and Dorogorukov fell into deep thought, each avoiding the possibility that Nicholas I had passed away.

Thus, using the advantage of information asymmetry, Duke Golitsyn took only one night to completely control the military within the city of St. Petersburg.

The small groups attempting to resist were also disarmed by him!

The next morning.

Duke Golitsyn once again invoked orders from the Emperor to issue a series of reform measures, including some that threatened noble interests, naming them "New Russian Policies."

When this order spread from St. Petersburg to nearby cities, the nobles who were initially somewhat loyal to the "New Russian Policies" began to start a rebellion.

However, due to the rebels being too scattered, the noble rebellions were quickly extinguished.

After a few days of effort, the sporadic uprisings in the areas surrounding St. Petersburg were completely suppressed by Duke Golitsyn!

Meanwhile, Menshikov, who served as the Governor of the Finnish Duchy, was attacked and killed by unknown forces while returning to St. Petersburg!

Menshikov’s unexpected death granted him the right to intervene in the governorship of Finland. With the cooperation of the members he planted in the Finnish region, Duke Golitsyn quickly took control of the hundreds of thousands of troops there!