Chapter 1315: Tsarist Russia's Sudden Change

Tsarist Russia, Butulin City.

"Regent, I wish to see my sister, Elizabeth; I implore your approval."

Menshikov's face immediately fell; this was the seventh time this week.

Recently, Peter II did not know what had gotten into him, always bringing it up at various councils: he missed his sister, wanted to visit her, and requested the Regent Menshikov's gracious permission.

This matter had become known to the entire citizenry of Tsarist Russia, who felt deep sympathy for their Tsar, who was only twelve years old.

At the same time, they secretly cursed Menshikov, calling this Regent a villain; what was wrong with a younger brother seeing his older sister?

He did not want Peter II to have any contact with his own blood relatives, lest it pose a threat to him.

Forced by public pressure and targeted attacks from various directions, Menshikov was also annoyed beyond endurance.

Even the advisors in his own mansion were reminding him: "For the sake of our great cause of becoming the Emperor of Tsarist Russia in the future, we cannot have an image of tyrannical rule; just endure it for now. What risk is there in a little brat going to visit that sister of his who holds no official position?"

In the end, this Regent made a decision he would regret for the rest of his life.

In the Upper House, he approved Peter II's request to visit his sister.

As it turned out, not long after, he learned that Peter II's sister, Elizabeth, was currently in Moscow.

Menshikov instantly realized he had been played, and the one playing him was a little brat he had looked down upon.

Menshikov smashed his favorite porcelain cup, imported from Longyan, on the spot.

"Going to Moscow, he wants to move the capital to Moscow!"

Moving the capital! That little brat, in order to escape his control, actually wanted to move the capital to Moscow and defect to that group of his mortal enemies, the Conservative Faction.

The Dolgorukov Family and the Naryshkin Family!

Although they were no better for the imperial family, the Conservative Faction had recently shown signs of leaning toward the imperial house.

This was certainly not good news for Menshikov.

"Hmph, don't even think about it!" A cold sneer appeared on the corner of Menshikov's mouth as he hurriedly ordered the recall of his daughter, Peter II's legal wife.

I was able to support you, a twelve-year-old brat, to be the Tsar of Tsarist Russia, so I can also support a second one!

A vicious idea surfaced in Menshikov's mind.

At this time, in Saint Petersburg, Peter II took one last look at the palace where he had grown up.

Without a care, he boarded the horse carriage; he was heading to Moscow this time for the prosperity of all of Tsarist Russia.

Peter II warned himself in his heart: You cannot have too many unnecessary emotions; you are already the Tsar of Tsarist Russia, you must shoulder the responsibility and eliminate Menshikov.

At this moment, his legal wife, Menshikov's daughter, arrived.

The two rode in one horse carriage and set off toward Moscow.

Osilev took the lead and left first; there were no major incidents along the way.

However, as they neared Moscow, Peter II suddenly developed a high fever that would not subside, and red rashes appeared on his body.

After the accompanying medical staff examined him, they felt a deep sense of foreboding.

"It is smallpox!"

Once this news spread, everyone in the entourage fell into despair; smallpox was impossible to cure.

Those who contracted this disease were considered ill-omened people. At this time, Menshikov, far away in Butulin City, jumped out and shouted loudly.

Peter II was a devil who invited disaster, cursed by God.

He did not listen to his dissuasion and insisted on going to Moscow.

Osilev was furious and wanted to argue back in the newspapers, but he was powerless; few who contracted smallpox could survive it, and Peter II was only twelve years old.

If he could not pull through, then his confrontation with Menshikov this time would be his defeat...

A crushing defeat; once Peter II died, the Regent Menshikov would become the most powerful person in all of Tsarist Russia.

Lying on his sickbed, Peter II had already been tortured by smallpox until he was unrecognizable, but he remembered Menshikov's

arrogant face.

Gazing at Moscow, which was right before his eyes, Peter II left a final letter in unwillingness before passing away.

The news of Peter II's death quickly spread throughout Tsarist Russia.

Menshikov was triumphant in Butulin City, issuing one article after another detailing Peter II's faults and his own failure to supervise him properly.

"I have failed the trust of Peter I and Yekaterinya; I did not take good care of Peter II."

This hypocritical display, when it reached the ears of Elizabeth I in Moscow, nearly made her explode with rage.

But there was nothing she could do.

Poor younger brother, he had died of smallpox outside the city of Moscow.

As an ill-omened person, there was no way to bury him according to imperial rites.

"Princess, a letter from your brother, left for you."

Elizabeth held back her tears; she and her brother had the deepest bond. After opening the envelope and seeing the contents inside.

"Menshikov, how dare you poison him!"

The letter stated clearly that Menshikov's daughter had been infected with smallpox first, and then used the fluid from the red rashes to poison Peter II.

By the time Peter II discovered it, it was already too late.

Menshikov did not know that his act of poisoning had been discovered, and he was leisurely thinking in Butulin City.

How to play the next move.

Peter II was dead; now, the most likely candidates to inherit the throne were the three daughters of Peter I.

Two of them had married into foreign countries and could not return.

One was too young and had no chance to inherit the position of Tsar.

The only one left was Elizabeth, who had the best relationship with Peter II.

Menshikov pondered how he should get rid of Elizabeth and install himself as Tsar.

After such a long effort, the implementation of the currency was going quite smoothly, and the compilation of his own genealogy was also nearing completion.

Menshikov narrowed his eyes; the small merchant he once was would never appear again.

But he did not know that at this moment in Moscow, Elizabeth I had urgently convened a meeting of the Conservative Faction.

A coup d'état had already been launched in Moscow.

Following that, the final letter of Peter II was made public, and the status, position, and reputation that Menshikov had painstakingly accumulated—

—were shattered overnight.

Menshikov was still dreaming his big dreams in Butulin City when he heard the sound of cursing coming from outside.

"Traitor, get out!"

"You are the devil, give Peter the Great back to us!"

Menshikov was still a bit dazed and asked, "Guards, what is happening outside? Why is it so noisy?"

But not a single person answered Menshikov, and countless citizens on the street surged into Menshikov's palace.

He had not even figured out what was happening before he was dragged out into the street.

When he saw Osilev, everything became clear.

"You bunch of the Conservative Faction, do you really think you can topple me with just this!"

"Guards, guards!"

Menshikov looked around and was shocked to find that he, who once held supreme military and political power, now did not even have a single soldier under his command.

"Stop shouting, Menshikov. You dared to poison the Tsar; this charge alone is enough to make you die ten thousand times!" Osilev said coldly.

Menshikov looked up to the sky and laughed bitterly: "Ha ha, what authority do you have to judge my crimes? Do you have evidence, or do you have the power?"

"Don't forget, I am still the Regent. Everyone who dared to break into my residence today will die!"

Osilev looked at the disheveled Menshikov, who was there spouting nonsense—this opponent he had fought for most of his life—never expecting that even at the brink of death, he still did not know how to repent.

"I don't, but she does!"

Osilev stepped aside, and a young woman walked out from behind him, graceful and luxurious, with an imposing aura.

"Elizabeth!" Menshikov said in horror.

Elizabeth smiled faintly: "Respected Regent, as the daughter of Peter the Great and the successor to the current Tsar, do you think I have the authority to judge you for the crime of poisoning Peter II?"