Catherine and the Black Emperor

012. Take off your skirt

"Counselor Lestok approached Prime Minister Besdov, attempting to persuade him to support the French princess, but Besdov refused, gave Lestok a stern warning, and mentioned something about the soul and perfume, and the two parted on bad terms."

"Leistock also said that the one who would sit on the Grand Duchess's seat would definitely be the French princess... I heard this with my own ears on the Ambassador's Stairs (Jordanian Stairs), Your Highness."

Ulyana lowered her head, not daring to look at Sergei, and spoke very softly.

"You did a good job, but remember, your safety is the most important thing. I don't want anything to happen to you." Sergei gently patted the other's soft shoulder.

Ulyana's ears were burning hot, and the base of her ears was red.

"I understand, Your Highness. I am not afraid to die."

"But I don't want you to die, I want you to live well." Sergei's words were full of unquestionable authority.

Ulyana looked up and nodded firmly.

Sergei smiled slightly: "Go ahead."

After Ulyana left, he looked thoughtful.

France funded Elizabeth's coup, so Lestoker, a Frenchman, was not only Elizabeth's chief physician, but also held numerous positions in the Russian court, including counselor and Privy Councilor.

When Lestok approached Besdudev, he was undoubtedly bringing up the issue of French aid to Elizabeth, and Besdudev's rise to Prime Minister must have been aided by the French.

But as mentioned earlier, Lestoc obtained so many positions, not to mention France, and he also benefited greatly from the Russian court.

Moreover, Besdov is now the Prime Minister of the Privy Council, in charge of all state affairs, and is second only to the Prime Minister in Russia. He will definitely not allow Lestok to control him again.

"So, Besdudev has truly broken ties with Lestok and the French."

With this conclusion in mind, Sergei immediately understood.

"To bring down Lestok, gain Besdudev's favor, and ideally Shuvalov's trust, will allow me to intervene in the secret committee."

Alexander Shuvalov was not only the chairman of the special tribunal, but also headed the secret committee, which was the Russian intelligence organization. His secret police were so feared that they made the entire Russian court tremble with fear.

"The soul and the perfume, Besdudev has trampled the last bit of dignity the French have left on the ground," Sergei chuckled.

The connection between these two things comes from a quote by Peter the Great: "The heart of the French is a bottle of perfume."

"Wait... why is Lestoker so confident that... the Chief Physician... should examine the body!"

Sergei suddenly realized the problem.

He strode into the palace and saw Lestoker leading a large group of doctors toward Sofia's room in the distance, in the other direction of the corridor.

"Damn bastard!"

He cursed under his breath, quickly planned the shortest route, walked through the corridors, and knocked on Sophia's door first.

"Duke!"

Sofia, who was learning Russian on her own, was overjoyed to see Sergei.

But Johanna, who followed them out, gave them a very unwelcoming look.

Sergei ignored her and solemnly reminded Sophia, "Princess, please remember what I'm about to say: Lestoker will examine you and the other princesses. He is the Queen's chief physician and a Frenchman!"

"What should I do?" Sophia's blue eyes revealed unease and anxiety.

"To ensure the French princess's election, Lestoker will stop at nothing. Therefore, besides the routine physical examination, the most important private examination must not be allowed. We must stall him and hold out until hope arrives!"

"If he dares to do anything, I'll go to the Queen! My brother still holds a place in the Queen's heart!" Johanna shouted.

Sergei looked at the other man calmly: "If he does it, the princess will already be harmed; if he doesn't, the empress's arrival will have no effect on him."

Johanna backed down.

"I'll listen to you, Your Highness! I will definitely hold on!" Sophia pursed her rosy lips, her eyes resolute.

"I have to go."

Knowing that Lestoker would arrive soon, Sergei dared not linger. Not long after he left, Lestoker appeared at the end of the corridor.

Sofia unconsciously gripped the hem of her skirt.

"I am His Majesty's physician, Count Lestoker." Lestoker looked at the German mother and daughter expressionlessly.

Sofia bowed to the other person.

"I need to conduct a physical examination on you. If there are no problems, the Grand Chancellor will grant you an audience with Her Majesty the Empress, followed by a welcoming banquet. Time is tight, so we need to get this over with quickly."

"Thank you for your help. I'll be at your service." Sophia nodded.

"Very good, come with me."

Lestoker turned and left. Sophia had just left the room when Johanna was stopped by soldiers, which infuriated her.

"Count! What you're doing is incredibly impolite!"

"I'm sorry, but you cannot move around freely until the princess's body has been examined," Lestoker said without turning his head.

"It's unreasonable that I can't even accompany my daughter!"

Lestoker ignored her. Sophia left surrounded by doctors and servants, glancing back at her mother every few steps, but her mother could only make a futile struggle with the soldiers at the door.

In Lestoker's office, the outer room.

The maids measured Sofia's height, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, shoulder width, and so on.

The doctors then examined Sofia's vision, sense of smell, and hearing, as well as her teeth and mouth, listened to her heartbeat, and inquired about her recent diet and past illnesses.

"Count, as you instructed, everything except the private examination has been completed, and all the results show that the princess is in excellent health," a doctor reported to Lestoker.

"A private examination, I'll do it myself." Lestok took the examination report and put it aside without even looking at it.

Everyone else left the room.

Lestoker led Sophia into the inner room, where Sophia saw various examination tools on the table behind the screen, including wooden supports, metal tweezers, and glass lenses.

Sofia, who was already on tenterhooks, now had her legs trembling slightly.

She knew what a private examination was—checking if she was a virgin and her fertility.

For a young girl who has never experienced sexual intercourse, this would bring unprecedented fear.

"Princess, I must admire your beauty."

Lestoker was quite amazed by Sofia's appearance; in terms of looks alone, the French princess was no match for this German princess.

"I am pleased by the count's praise, but count, could you please find a female doctor to examine me? I would be extremely grateful," Sophia pleaded earnestly.

Lestoker smiled: "A private examination depends on whether you are qualified to be a Grand Duchess. As Her Majesty's chief physician, I have an inescapable duty to do something so important."

Sophia wanted to say something, but Lestoc didn't give her the chance and gave a stern order.

"Now, Princess, take off your dress!"