Chapter 1142: The Despair of Osilev

"This..."

Hearing Yekaterina's words, Peter's anger instantly subsided.

Just like that.

The atmosphere in the House of Representatives changed once again.

As expected...

There is a reason why Menshikov has reached the heights he has today. It is what the common folk whisper: Menshikov has Yekaterina under his thumb, and Yekaterina, in turn, has Peter the Great completely wrapped around her finger.

It is a vicious cycle.

However, this involves the private affairs of Peter the Great, so no one dares to speak of it or ask them about it.

The bystander sees more than the player...

A group of people looked at Peter the Great's head, and all of them saw a patch of green...

"Your Majesty!"

"This must not be! It is precisely because we are in wartime that we should investigate the military grain issue even more strictly!"

"Menshikov is sucking the blood of the nation!"

"Your Majesty!"

Osilev was heartbroken, his voice choked with tears.

The others, meanwhile, wore expressions of people watching a show.

Peter the Great is truly old... With his head full of white hair, he no longer possesses the decisive and ruthless aura he once had. He began to hesitate, faced with the rhetoric of Menshikov and Yekaterina.

That's right...

Menshikov is actually a very capable person. He has always managed the Empire's grain and fodder in an orderly fashion. Because he has controlled the Empire's grain issues for so long, if Menshikov were to be punished in the short term, it would indeed likely lead to a chaotic situation. Because, as things stand now, there is certainly no one else who could take over this matter with such proficiency.

This would indeed be detrimental to the war effort.

It's just that...

Menshikov has truly gone too far.

His greed is already shocking to behold.

What will Peter do?

This group of councilors had already sighed deeply in their hearts.

The outcome is certain...

As expected.

Peter the Great's anger, under Yekaterina's rhetoric, was immediately suppressed. The aged man let out a heavy grunt through his nose: "Menshikov is guilty of a Great Evil! But the Empire is currently in a state of war... Hmm, let this matter be shelved for now; we shall discuss it later."

Once these words were spoken, the tone was essentially set.

Osilev's face was covered in tears of sorrow.

"Your Majesty..."

"Your Majesty!"

Even with such evidence, there is actually no Method to deal with Menshikov!

The Empire is finished!

Finished!

The others dared not speak, keeping their heads bowed low.

The aged Peter the Great, supported by Yekaterina, slowly rose to his feet and, completely ignoring the wailing of Osilev, turned and left.

"Your Majesty!"

Osilev's roar became shrill.

"Hahahaha, dance, let's dance!"

Meanwhile, at the Menshikov Palace, the singing and dancing continued as before.

The news that Peter the Great had not punished him made Menshikov even more arrogant.

Those who participated in this ball also surrendered to Menshikov's power, one after another, flattering him.

The crowd continued to revel, clinking glasses, and the atmosphere began to grow decadent.

"The Grand Marshal is imposing!"

"Hahahaha, we must find a Method to get rid of this Osilev!"

"Hmph, the fellow who doesn't know what's good for him!"

"Marshal, leave this matter to me!"

As these people cursed and swore, they did not forget to show fierce expressions, all while fawning over Menshikov.

Menshikov laughed: "Just a clown, is it necessary?"

"The Marshal is imposing!"

"Hmph, this Osilev really refuses to accept a kindness!"

"The Marshal treated him so well, yet he returns kindness with enmity!"

These people began to trample on him again.

Menshikov held his wine glass and gave a cold laugh.

Deal with Osilev?

No, no, no.

To him, Osilev is completely beneath notice!

To him, Osilev was completely beneath mention!

In fact, his being alive is beneficial to him. Why say this? Because Menshikov can use a "lowly" person like Osilev to test Peter's bottom line again and again!

That's right.

Menshikov knows that in the Empire, there are plenty of people who cannot stand him and are jealous of him. So what if one Osilev is ruined? Another Osilev will just pop up! Better to keep him; what does it matter if these failures keep reporting him?

This time, isn't he helping him continue to probe Peter's bottom line?

And it's nothing again.

Hahahaha.

Old brother, you really are old.

Thinking of this, Menshikov triumphantly raised his wine glass and continued to indulge himself.

Osilev walked out of the palace under the mocking gazes of countless people.

The coachman was already waiting to one side.

He glanced at his own dilapidated Horse Carriage, feeling a sense of sorrow in his heart.

Bastard!

Why did it have to be this way!

As early as a few years ago, Menshikov had tried to win Osilev over; as long as he behaved himself, Menshikov would give him wealth that he could not squander in a lifetime! But Osilev refused; he wanted to be an upright man! He was unwilling to wallow in the mire with them, yet today... these mocking gazes all came from these people, these people who fawned upon and feared Menshikov's power.

Has the entire House of Representatives become like this?

A feeling of despair surged in his heart.

Your Majesty, oh Your Majesty, Great Emperor, oh Great Emperor, have you truly grown old!

Is this Empire truly beyond saving!

Looking at his own gaunt coachman, he waved his hand.

Feeling downcast, he intended to take a walk on the streets of Saint Petersburg.

Would Menshikov find a Method to plot against him?

Heh...

Even if he were to die, what of it?

Osilev is already fifty-eight years old this year; in Tsarist Russia, this is already a long age. If his death could awaken a group of people, what would death matter?

He even felt...

The disdainful gazes of everyone on the street toward him.

The people who had been bustling with excitement and followed him outside the palace just now had also received the news by this time.

Following that, they also began to mock and laugh loudly.

So, all thunder and no rain?

In an instant, Osilev became the laughingstock of all Saint Petersburg!

Clown!

Trash!

Poor wretch!

Osilev gave a self-deprecating smile.

He was just about to beckon for his coachman to bring the Horse Carriage over.

"Lord Osilev..."

Just at this moment, a person wearing a veil nearby suddenly spoke softly.

Osilev was startled: "A Longyan?"

In Tsarist Russia, there are some ethnic groups that wear veils for long periods...

But listening to the accent, this person was a Longyan.

The veiled man chuckled: "My Lord, my master asks, could we step aside to speak?"

Osilev looked around.

At this moment, he had just walked to the entrance of an alley, and no one noticed him.

This person wearing black clothes and a veil, who appeared suddenly, aroused his vigilance.

"It concerns Menshikov!"

The person added.

A brilliant light burst forth in Osilev's eyes.

"Fine!"

After hesitating for a moment, he still gritted his teeth hard.

Following this alleyway for a few turns, the two of them arrived at a secluded courtyard.

"Hahahaha, welcome, my Lord!"

The one who came out to greet him was none other than the very famous lackey of Menshikov in Saint Petersburg these past few days, Qian Yonggui!

As soon as Osilev saw him, his expression began to change drastically.