After resolving the "Sword of Damocles" hovering over the head in St. Petersburg, Duke Golitsyn quickly, under the authority of Nicholas I, issued a negotiation request in the name of the "new government" to the Kingdom of Britain, the French Empire, the Sardinian Kingdom, the Kingdom of Sweden, and the Ottoman Empire.

Duke Golitsyn publicly declared: The new government is committed to maintaining bilateral relations with the Western World, hoping that England and France can consult and cooperate on the basis of mutual respect!

In response to the request from St. Petersburg, the British Cabinet, unsure of what exactly had occurred in St. Petersburg, appeared especially sluggish.

Although Palmerston convened several cabinet meetings in succession, the British Cabinet never managed to reach a consensus.

Having no other option, Palmerston had to head to Windsor Castle to seek the assistance of Prince Albert. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Led by a steward, Palmerston entered a guest room in Windsor Castle.

There, he saw Prince Albert standing with his hands behind his back.

"Your Highness!" Palmerston bowed slightly to Prince Albert as a sign of respect.

"Prime Minister Palmerston, please have a seat!" Prince Albert invited Palmerston to sit down and then poured a cup of tea for both Palmerston and himself.

Subsequently, Palmerston, in a lengthy and convoluted official manner, tentatively inquired of Albert how he should respond to Duke Golitsyn’s invitation to negotiate.

"Prime Minister Palmerston, that depends on you!" Albert took a small sip of tea and smiled as he replied to Palmerston, "Because you are the irreplaceable core of the entire cabinet!"

"I..." Palmerston pondered for a long time, unsure whether Albert’s words were a compliment or a criticism.

After all, his actions recently had indeed been somewhat overinflated.

(As the Anglo-French Army had achieved decisive success in capturing Suomenlinna not long ago, a confident Palmerston ignored the warnings of the French Empire and insisted on relying on Britain’s own forces to seize the Kronstadt Military Port, only to be directly reprimanded by the Russian Army there, almost leading to the complete annihilation of nearly 6000 British soldiers.)

"Your Highness, the Royal Family is the undisputed core of Britain! The Cabinet merely aids the Royal Family in conveniently managing Britain!" Palmerston humbled himself before Prince Albert.

Seeing that his admonishment of Palmerston had yielded some effect, Albert casually responded to Palmerston in a nonchalant tone, "However, I have heard some news! I wonder if you, Prime Minister Palmerston, would like to hear it!"

"Your Highness, please speak!" Prime Minister Palmerston promptly asked Prince Albert.

Prince Albert informed Palmerston that just a day earlier, Empress Augusta of Paris had sent them a telegram, mentioning her imminent childbirth, and at the end of the telegram, she subtly referred to the events unfolding in St. Petersburg, expressing her wish for the Romanov Clan’s safety.

Upon hearing Albert’s words, Palmerston immediately realized that what was happening in St. Petersburg, if not directly related to France, at least they were aware of it, and he only needed to inquire the French Envoy’s opinion on the new government.

Palmerston hurriedly expressed his gratitude to Prince Albert, acknowledging that without Prince Albert’s insight, he would have been running around aimlessly like a headless chicken.

Having sorted out his thoughts, Palmerston hastily bid farewell to Albert, who waved with a smile.

Returning from Windsor Castle to 10 Downing Street, Prime Minister Palmerston, in a personal capacity, invited the French Envoy to Britain for a meal at a restaurant.

During the meal, Prime Minister Palmerston delicately inquired of the French Envoy in Britain about his views on the new government formed by Duke Golitsyn.

"Mr. Palmerston, in what capacity do you ask me this question?" Envoy Vallette casually inquired.

After hesitating for a moment, Palmerston responded to Vallette, "Vallette, of course I am asking as a friend!"

"Since we are friends, I will speak openly!" Vallette naturally didn’t believe in the so-called friend identity; he was willing to disclose information only because of orders from Paris, "Paris’s stance is, whoever holds power in the current Russian Empire, we will converse with them!"

"So, you intend to engage in negotiations with the government led by Golitsyn?" Palmerston instinctively queried.

"I never said that!" Vallette immediately retorted, "That’s entirely your own conjecture!"

Prime Minister Palmerston shrugged his shoulders, showing a helpless smile.

"The stance is, as long as Duke Golitsyn is willing to maintain the monarchy and cede some Russian interests, negotiations are not out of the question!" Vallette continued softly to Palmerston, "After all, our goal is to bring the Russian Empire to submission!"

"What about Crimea?" Palmerston followed up with a question.

"Negotiations are possible there as well!" Vallette responded to Palmerston. "Our aim is to weaken the Russian Empire, not to help them maintain their regime!

"Whoever offers more benefits, we will lean towards them!"

"I understand!" Palmerston hurriedly nodded.

Subsequently, using busy official duties as an excuse, Palmerston left the meal early, leaving Vallette alone to eat leisurely.

After Vallette finished his meal, the restaurant manager handed him a check worth 10,000 British Pounds, explaining it was a token of appreciation from the restaurant.

Vallette, upon accepting the check, naturally understood that this was Palmerston’s reward to him.

After all, diplomatic envoys are allowed to sell some undisclosed diplomatic policies as long as it does not harm their country’s interests.

This is considered an unwritten rule in diplomatic circles.

"Thank your boss for me!" Vallette said to the restaurant manager with a smile, then got up and left the restaurant.

Two days passed, and Sardinia was the first to extend a request for peace talks to Duke Golitsyn, making a responsive move.

The Sardinian Kingdom expressed willingness to negotiate with all forces that desire to maintain peace in Europe... In other words, Sardinia was willing to accept the new government led by Duke Golitsyn.

This response was like a stone thrown into a thousand waves. Although Sardinia is a second-rate power in Europe, it has the backing of the French Empire.

The statements made by Sardinia were likely the intentions of the French Empire.

And the reason why the French Empire was unwilling to issue this statement in its own name was probably due to concerns about the legal inadequacies of Duke Golitsyn’s newly formed government.

Thus, Palmerston also mimicked the French Empire’s approach of operating under cover.

That afternoon, the Kingdom of Sweden also quickly followed the Sardinian Kingdom, announcing its willingness to cooperate with the Russian Empire on bilateral issues to jointly maintain peace in Europe.

Early the next morning, Duke Golitsyn once again declared his willingness to engage in friendly consultations with the Sardinian Kingdom and the Kingdom of Sweden to resolve some contentious issues. He also hoped that the "Kingdom of Sweden" and the "Sardinian Kingdom" would send special envoys to the Russian Empire for face-to-face talks.

This proposal from Duke Golitsyn quickly received approval from the "Kingdom of Sweden" and the "Sardinian Kingdom." They declared they would send special envoys to St. Petersburg for negotiations soon, hoping the Russian Empire would maintain order in St. Petersburg during this period!

Upon receiving the responses from the "Kingdom of Sweden" and the "Sardinian Kingdom," Duke Golitsyn excitedly said to Andrew Nikolaevich Golitsyn, "We’ve succeeded! Who would have thought they would help us in this way!"

Slightly politically insensitive Andrew Nikolaevich Golitsyn asked Duke Golitsyn how exactly England and France were helping them!

Duke Golitsyn told him that England and France’s request for them to "maintain order in St. Petersburg" was an indirect way of helping them.

"I still don’t understand!" Andrew Nikolaevich Golitsyn remained puzzled.

Duke Golitsyn explained that now both Russian Empire nobles and citizens do not wish to continue fighting. Engaging in peace talks with England and France can be considered a common desire in the Russian Empire. Now that England and France proposed holding peace talks with his newly formed government, it is tacitly recognizing the legitimacy of the government he leads. Moreover, the request to "maintain order in St. Petersburg" is a warning to those nobles planning potential uprisings in St. Petersburg to behave during the peace talks.

Otherwise, the hope for peace talks may shatter in an instant.

Duke Golitsyn believed that even if the Russian nobility in St. Petersburg hated him, they wouldn’t dare eliminate him at this time.

If the peace talks failed, their wealth would further diminish.

In terms of maintaining the Tsarist regime and protecting personal property, most nobles would likely choose to safeguard their property.

Therefore, they could use this period to greatly reorganize St. Petersburg.

"I see!" Andrew Nikolaevich Golitsyn awoke as if from a dream, then shook his head and said with emotion, "I’m not cut out for politics!"

"Then just diligently keep an eye on the army for me!" Duke Golitsyn said in a lighthearted tone, then asked Andrew Nikolaevich Golitsyn to bring Third Hall Chief Nikolai Orlov over.

"Yes!" Andrew turned and left.

A while later, Nikolai Orlov appeared before Duke Golitsyn.

Duke Golitsyn informed Nikolai Orlov that from now on, the Third Hall would be granted the functions of the Public Security Committee, tasked with eliminating anyone unfavorable to the new regime.