Nowadays, people who can do the grain business are not ordinary people. If you rush into this field without any reliable connections, especially if you want to sell grain to Wallachia or Moldavia, it is no less than snatching food from the mouth of a tiger.
Let's put it this way, now the grain trade in Wallachia, Moldavia and even Ukraine, Belarus and Poland is monopolized by top military dignitaries such as Duke Mikhail and Prince Paskovich.
Except for them, the husbands of a few grand dukes or grand duchess can get a share of the pie. If anyone else wants to go to the table and put their hands into their plates to eat some soup and water, their heads will be screwed off!
Viscount Prozolov knew very well where Petrovna came from and what kind of connections and background she had. Even though she seemed to be getting along well in Kiev, she couldn't sit at this table at all. She wasn't even qualified to watch and drool.
nothing.
But now this woman actually told him that she was going to start this business. Viscount Prozolov subconsciously felt that either this woman didn't know how high the sky was, or she had defected to her new master.
A courtesan who doesn't know how to be a high-ranking social butterfly will not last long, and Petrovna will definitely not be so ignorant and stupid if she can survive until now. So obviously there is only the second reason, this woman has found a new backer!
So who is he?
Viscount Prozolov had some guesses in his mind, but he felt that they were all unreliable. Those people either didn't have enough energy, or they were people that Petrovna couldn't reach. There was no reason why they would help this woman.
After thinking for a long time, Viscount Prozolov didn't have any clue, so he simply gave up guessing and asked directly: "Really? Although the grain business can make a lot of money, it is not easy to do it? Who did you partner with to do this business?
?”
Petrovna is not stupid. She naturally knows that the other party is trying to find out her secrets. In the past, she would not have revealed her secret cards so easily, but now. Because of some people's explanations and because of this new backer.
We have a pretty good relationship with Grand Duke Constantine, and I am not afraid of what Grand Duke Constantine and this sinister Viscount may have other ideas.
Petrovna smiled slightly and replied humbly: "The last time I went to St. Petersburg, I was fortunate enough to get the appreciation and care of Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna, so I asked her to protect her and reluctantly did something.
It’s just a business to make ends meet.”
Elena Pavlovna!
Viscount Prozolov's expression immediately changed, because this Grand Duchess was really no ordinary person. As the youngest son of Paul I, she was also the wife of Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich, the first wife of the Kingdom of Württemberg.
The apple of King Friedrich I's eye. The influence of this Grand Duchess in the court cannot be underestimated!
Both the queen of Alexander I and later the queen of Alexander II were good friends of the Grand Duchess. Known as the "intellectual of the family", she was the strongest supporter of the reformists in the court besides Grand Duke Constantine.
By!
When Alexander II had not yet abolished serfdom, the Grand Duchess took the lead in freeing the tens of thousands of serfs she owned and giving them their freedom.
Let's put it this way, in terms of one-round power, Grand Duke Constantine is indeed the highest among the reformists in the royal family. But in terms of influence, Grand Duchess Elena can beat him.
Because even though she was a staunch reformist supporter, Elena's political opinions and actions did not disgust Nicholas I. She was even sometimes willing to listen to her sister-in-law's opinions.
What's more important is that Elena's late husband, Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich, had an unusually large influence in the military. This humorous Grand Duke was very popular in the military, whether it was Mikhail Pavlovich or not.
Veterans of Duke Il's generation as well as young men like Baryatinsky were willing to sell him face.
In other words, as the widow of Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich, Grand Duchess Elena is well-positioned in both the court and the military. She is a person who has face, is good at dancing and cares about charity, and her reputation among the people is even better.
, to put it bluntly, no matter who can get her asylum, they can travel unimpeded in Russia.
So when Viscount Prozolov heard that Petrovna had paid a visit to Grand Duchess Elena, his expression immediately changed. As the aunt of Grand Duke Constantine, he was also the only influential relative in the royal family who supported him.
, Grand Duke Constantine must give face no matter what.
Even Grand Duke Constantine had to give face, let alone Viscount Prozolov. This somewhat puzzled him. He couldn't understand how a social butterfly like Petrovna fell into the eyes of the Grand Duchess and was willing to
What about providing asylum?
As Petrovna, it is naturally impossible to win the favor of Grand Duchess Elena, but behind Petrovna are Li Xiao and Alexei. These two have a closer relationship with Grand Duchess Elena.
Deep.
Grand Duchess Elena is also Li Xiao's cheap aunt, and one of the few relatives who treats him well within the royal family. In the face of the inhuman abuse and deliberate suppression by Nicholas I in those years, if this aunt hadn't secretly provided aid and help
If Li Xiao opens the back door through connections, let alone go to the Winter Palace to stand guard, I'm afraid he won't even have the chance to study.
In the past few years, Li Xiao has naturally not forgotten this kind aunt when he has been successful, and he has not forgotten to send dry shares in various investments. Although Grand Duchess Elena said that he did not need it, he still sent dividends on time and in amount every year.
, not only sending money, but also never forgetting to write letters every now and then. Anyway, Grand Duchess Elena is the person who knows Li Xiao best within the royal family, and she is very happy for what her nephew has done.
Li Xiao wants to insert Petrovna into the upper class society in St. Petersburg, so this relationship should not be too simple.
"So you are a friend of the Grand Duchess."
Viscount Prozolov began to be envious and jealous. Before, Petrovna still had to look up to him, but now, the status of both parties was suddenly equalized, which really made him feel miserable!
"Then you are here in Chisinau on behalf of the Grand Duchess?"
This question was a bit explicit, and it was also intentional on his part. It was also a test. Petrovna smiled slightly and said, "Why would the Grand Duchess be interested in such a thing? I just make my own decisions when doing business!"
Viscount Prozolov snorted coldly in his heart and thought to himself: I know that Grand Duchess Elena cannot get involved in this kind of nonsense. I guess you are using the name of Grand Duchess to deceive you!
Suddenly his expression changed again, and he was obviously a little dissatisfied, but immediately Petrovna gave him a blow to the head, which made him a little bit unable to get off the stage...