Just when Peter took Chernyshev, Mirkovsky and some disguised guards out of the palace and began his plan to hunt Matrona, the Black Sea...
“Break the ice—set sail—!”
The butler's face already showed some vicissitudes of life, but he looked very excited.
After receiving the nobleman's order to set off with a huge sum of money, he did not dare to delay for a moment, and started his first cross-country journey with the best of the 30 serfs he selected.
France was really an eye-opener for him. There were many hardships and dangers along the way, but he kept the noble man's instructions in mind and was determined not to cause trouble. He did everything just to achieve his goal.
Fortunately, only three serfs have been lost so far, one died of illness on the road, and the other two...
And he lived up to expectations and brought back what the noble man wanted.
Although most of the money was spent on taking care of the palace courtiers, things like clothes were not strictly inspected.
The butler didn't understand the taste of clothes. He only thought these things were gorgeous and the best things he had never seen in his life.
The noble man and lady must like it very much.
So much so that the merchant ship he was traveling on was now full of boxes, which caused him to become short of funds.
Fortunately, as long as they eat a few hungry meals and eat less every day, they should be able to insist on returning to St. Petersburg.
When they thought of being able to complete their mission and meet the young lady and that noble person, not only the housekeeper but also the remaining 27 serfs burst into tears.
Because they looked back and saw the brutal Ottomans exploiting and beating passing merchants at the dock.
Two of their serfs were beaten to death. They didn't dare to resist or cause trouble. They did everything just for the noble man's explanation...
Thinking of this, they threw it on their backs and looked at the direction of the merchant ship. Everyone looked expectantly.
'We are back, St. Petersburg, waiting for us...'
…
At the same time, the group of people was on their way, and they had already left the small town of Stettin.
Headed by the two princesses, Sophia and her mother Johanna.
When Sophia was 13 years old, she became a slender girl with satin-like dark chestnut hair, a pair of sparkling dark blue eyes, and pouty lips like buds.
Two years have passed, and she is even more beautiful, especially those eyes that are unforgettable at first sight.
Two princesses, an officer, three female courtiers accompanying the princess, a male attendant, and a chef are all the equipment for this trip.
Johanna's pseudonym is "Countess Ryan Baker".
In Schwyz on the Oder River, 50 miles east of Berlin, Prince Christian August said goodbye to his daughter, and both of them burst into tears.
For several days, Sophia felt depressed.
It wasn't until a few days later that her longing for the future rekindled her enthusiasm, and she began to learn Russian while excitedly looking at the scenery outside.
This journey is not a short one.
After setting off from Berlin Schwyz, at an inn, the daughter who missed her father sent a letter:
"Your Excellency, please believe that your suggestions and advice will always be engraved in my heart, and the seeds of sacred faith sown in my soul will remain here forever.
For this reason, I pray to God to give me the courage to face the temptation ahead...
I hope that this effort will not be in vain, and I also hope that I can continue to hear good news about my dear father, so as to get some comfort.
As long as I live on this earth, I can say with full respect that I will always be your humblest, most filial and most devoted daughter and servant, Sophia."
Then, with Sophia's longing, a mother's ambition, and the Prussian King's conspiracy, the carriage drove towards Russia without stopping.
Because there was no snowfall, sleds suitable for hard ground could not be used, so the group could only ride a heavy carriage along the frozen tracks.
Day after day, up and down, shaking and bumping.
The biting cold wind blowing from the Baltic Sea roared into the car from all directions. Even though she was wearing a thick coat and her face and nose were covered with a wool mask, Sophia was still shivering from the cold and hugged her mother tightly.
together.
Passing through the German towns of Danzig and Koenigsberg, dinner consisted of cans of hot chocolate drinks and plates of roasted chicken. This was a particularly happy time for Sofia.
In this way, every morning, she walked east along the frozen road, passing through simple inns, experiencing the huge stove in the common room and the freezing cold bedroom. Sophia felt pain and happiness.
While traveling through Courland, Sofia was surprised to see a huge comet burning blazingly in the dark night sky, and she didn't know where it landed.
Because she drank too much beer on the way, she suffered from indigestion and suffered for several days.
The weather is getting colder and colder, but there is still no snowfall. Every day, from dawn to dusk, the convoy squeaks along the rutted frozen ground.
There were no longer stops after passing through Memel, and the team had to rent replacement horses from local farmers.
Finally, the long journey has a gratifying moment.
At Mitau, on the border between the Kingdom of Poland, Lithuania and Russia, a Russian colonel was waiting for them.
This colonel was the commander of the Russian border garrison. Along the way, Sofia met another Russian minister, Prince Semyon Naryshkin, the former Russian ambassador to London.
After the prince held a welcome party in the name of the queen, the motorcade drove to Riga.
The Lieutenant Governor of Riga and a municipal representative were waiting on the banks of the Dvina River. The water had frozen, and by the riverside, a magnificent royal carriage was parked.
Sophia and her mother entered the city in this carriage. Guns were fired everywhere in the castle to greet them. At this moment, Sophia was extremely excited.
Finally bidding farewell to the long journey, she came to Russia!
In Riga, they boarded the royal sleigh and carriage.
The sleigh was mounted on a seesaw, and 10 horses pulled a small wooden house. The wooden house was spacious enough for them to stretch out on a bed covered with feather mattresses and satin cushions.