Chapter Six: The Grand Plan of the Zhuge Family

"That's good, otherwise Empress Dowager Zheng and Prime Minister Zhuge would surely be furious." Huang Shuren nodded and said, "Bao, you should quickly send a telegram to the Navy's Secret Intelligence Department and the Zhuge family! Ambassador Wei and I are going to the Winter Palace to meet the new Tsar, and we will also take the opportunity to see Zhuge Daozi."

"Go!" Guo Xiaobao said, "Daozi mentioned that this matter is on him... However, he needs to take a few days off to stay in the Winter Palace to recuperate."

Thus, Zhuge hurriedly walked to the bedside, lifted the quilt, and crawled in to lie down comfortably. In a tone that suggested he was on the verge of death, he spoke in Russian: "Natalia Pavlovna? Please come in"

With the barbecue and pie consumed, Zhuge's spirit improved significantly, and the wound on his head no longer hurt as much. It seemed he would soon recover fully, but the lost memories had yet to return

Then I will eat first. Zhuge, feeling truly hungry, picked up a skewer of roasted meat and a piece of pie, and began to devour them ravenously, enjoying every bite. In no time at all, he finished both the roasted meat and the pie.

If Zhuge Liang does not encounter any unexpected circumstances, how long will his deputy military officer remain in position

"Natalie, do you agree?" Zhuge Weidao felt that the time was ripe and thus proposed.

Ambassador Wei also hails from a noble family; his ancestors were subordinates of Li Dingguo, the Prince of Jinzhong, who was stationed in Hunan and later granted the title of Earl. Although the Earl's family cannot be compared to the families of meritorious officials and the eight kings, as long as one is somewhat outstanding, it is quite easy to make a name for oneself in the officialdom. Wei Yuanda was a prodigy from a young age, having entered the prestigious Jinling University, the most difficult university to gain admission to in the Ming Dynasty, at the age of sixteen. He studied international politics and became a diplomat after graduation, serving successively in England, France, Prussia, Austria, Turkey, Sweden, and Russia, effectively traversing the Western powers. He also authored a book that introduces the current international situation and advocates for military expansion and preparedness, titled "The Maritime Nation's Atlas"

Upon hearing that his immediate superior had lost his memory, the tall and broad-shouldered Huang Shuren instantly perked up—he, of course, also hailed from a noble family, being a native of Xinhui in Guangdong, with ancestors who had served under the Prince of Zhennan, Wang Xing, and later received the title of Viscount. Such a background could not be compared to that of Zhuge Weidao, a descendant of the Martial Loyal King, which is why he was five years older than Zhuge Weidao, had much more experience in the military, yet held the same rank of Navy Major, and was serving as Zhuge Weidao's deputy.

Although it is the same "maritime nation", the aspirations behind it can be vastly different

"No," Guo Xiaobao shook his head, "The young lady is still pure and unblemished, and Zhuge Daozi has been holding back his strength all along; he knows how to exercise restraint"

However, when Huang Shuren approached the dock near the Naval Headquarters to gather people under the orders of the ambassador, the battle in the nearby Palace Square had already determined a victor, with Nicholas I achieving a resounding victory

It is no wonder that such a appearance could captivate a female grand duke of the Rakshasa Kingdom

Huang Shuren, standing nearby, also felt a bit puzzled, "Isn't that so! I wonder what Prime Minister Zheng, Prime Minister Zhuge, and Empress Zheng are thinking? A Rakshasi woman, even if she is quite beautiful, cannot become a queen!"

So handsome, really damn handsome, simply stunning! He has height, he has looks, and he has muscles... If this appearance were to travel to the 21st century, even Huang Mouming would have to step aside!

Zhuge has been busy for most of the day, going through various experiences, from time travel to having his mind blown, and even playing the role of a "rich and powerful man." He truly has no desire to think about eating. However, upon seeing a table full of food, his stomach immediately starts to rumble.

Because "The Illustrated Treatise on the Maritime Nations" was exceptionally well-written, the prominent figures of the Ming Dynasty regarded him as a talented individual. Furthermore, seeing that he came from a noble family, they considered him one of their own. Consequently, they made efforts to promote him and appointed him as an ambassador to the Rus' nation. ... Unexpectedly, within less than a month of his appointment, he encountered the death of Tsar Alexander I and the ensuing struggle for the throne between two Rus' princes ...

In addition to the three main characteristics of being tall, handsome, and wealthy, Zhuge believed that he was also a man of power. As a young master from one of the eight prominent families of the Ming Dynasty, with a father who was a marshal, how could he possibly lack power

When Guo Xiaobao hurriedly arrived, he found the ambassador of the Ming Empire, Wei Yuanda, and the deputy military attaché, Huang Shuren, already prepared to depart for the Winter Palace to meet Nicholas I

Since Nicholas I had won, Huang Shuren abandoned the mission to rescue Natalie and returned alone to the embassy, preparing to accompany Ambassador Wei to meet Nicholas I

In order to ensure that Grand Duchess Natalie could escape, Wei Yuanda also ordered Deputy Naval Officer Huang Shuren to go to the naval dock beside the Naval Ministry building to bring people from the cruiser Ningyuan, which has a displacement of 4,500 tons, to assist—this cruiser was on a friendly visit to Petersburg and was also intended to showcase the rapid development of shipbuilding technology in the Ming Dynasty. Since the Rus' side had yet to make a decision on which ironclad to procure, the Ningyuan and its crew had no choice but to remain in Petersburg for the winter

Guo Xiaobao chuckled, "Of course, I am anxious to death. Daozi took that bullet to save her, and she had been teasing Daozi quite a bit before, clearly having that intention..."

I need to think about it

Guo Xiaobao stuck out his tongue and laughed, saying: "Ambassador, if it were in the previous Ming Dynasty, the emperor of the Ming Dynasty would never marry a Rus princess as his empress!"

While he was lost in thought, Natalie, with a flushed face, spoke up: "Well, just now, the British Ambassador Thomas Standon suggested that I marry the Duke of York and Albany, the heir to the British throne... He also said that as long as I can bear an heir for the House of Hanover, the British royal family and Parliament will no longer interfere in my private life, and they will provide me with a substantial annual pension, so that we can live together in the future without anyone interfering. What do you think of this proposal?"

What? Zhuge Daizi has lost his memory? Is that true?

Wei Yuanda smiled and said, "That is the grand plan of the Zhuge family, which is said to have been in the works since the time of Daozi's father... They are quite capable of calculating things!" As he spoke, he glanced at Guo Xiaobao again and then pointed to his head, "Daozi is injured here, can he still manage?"

"For the sake of Dao, you must be hungry, right? I have brought you something to eat," Natalie said as she took the small table from the maid's hands and personally set it down on Zhuge Weidao's bed. She then sat down on the edge of the bed, her eyes filled with affection, gazing at the dazed Zhuge Weidao.

In addition to being tall and handsome, Zhuge Weidao is also wealthy. Although he has not yet recalled how much money his family possesses, the seal that can issue a check for thirty thousand silver dollars has already been found—a seal made of mutton fat white jade! Moreover, it is a large piece, and its quality is evident at first glance. In later generations, it could easily be worth a hundred thousand or eighty thousand. What kind of family would possess such a white jade seal if they were not wealthy?

Do you still remember the mission to come to Petersburg

What scheme is he using? Wei Yuanda is also a bit confused, what scheme is he using? What does he intend to do?

Huang Shuren shook his head: "However, that Paul I has many children, and Nicholas I already has a son. Natalie is also the youngest daughter of Paul, so she is quite low in the order of presumed heirs."

... ...

can ... ... etc

Standing in front of a full-length mirror, clad only in his own skin and talking to himself, was undoubtedly a certain individual dressed as a "tall, rich, and handsome" figure. Zhuge Weidao is quite tall, measuring not less than 1.78 meters, with a well-proportioned physique that is neither too fat nor too thin, possessing muscle. Although his face is somewhat dark, his skin is very fair, clearly having been tanned from his time in the navy. However, Zhuge Weidao's dark face is also a handsome one, with very prominent features. His forehead is slightly high (which immediately suggests intelligence), and there are fine stubble on his cheeks and chin, exuding a strong masculine aura.

Wei Yuanda is from Shaoyang, Hunan, and is only in his thirties this year. He is not very tall, has a somewhat large head and a small body, with slightly high cheekbones. His eyes are not large but are bright and spirited. He sports a mustache and has a bun on his large head—most men in the Ming Dynasty still prefer to wear a bun. However, the officers and soldiers of the naval and military forces typically shave their heads or keep a crew cut. This is to facilitate stitching and bandaging in case of injury, as well as to maintain cleanliness and hygiene in daily life. As Wei Yuanda is a civilian, he is, of course, not required to adhere to military regulations.

What? Is there still something to consider? Could it be the modesty of the noble lady? Zhuge pondered: I haven't even prepared flowers and a ring, it truly is abrupt... Perhaps I should use some public funds to buy flowers and a ring, and then come back to propose, that would surely lead to success

He was feeling quite pleased when suddenly someone knocked on the door of his bedroom, and then the voice of Natalia Pavlovna came from outside: "Excuse me, may I come in?"

This morning, as soon as Wei Yuanda got up, he heard that the Imperial Guard of the Kingdom of Roshan was about to rebel. He immediately realized there was an opportunity to exploit and quickly dispatched Zhuge Weidao and Guo Xiaobao to the Winter Palace to rescue Natalia Pavlovna. The Romanov dynasty had produced several female emperors, and if all three sons of Paul I were to be killed due to internal strife, this Natalia might very well become Natalia I.

Wei Yuanda was also taken aback and hurriedly asked, "Baozhi, what on earth is going on?"

Guo Xiaobao, upon hearing this question, also wore a puzzled expression and shook his head, saying: "Ambassador, to be honest, I am a bit at a loss as well... It seems that Zhuge Daozi has forgotten some things, or perhaps he is employing some strategy."

He was pondering how to approach Natalie when she proactively spoke up: "By the way, has your memory returned?"

Zhuge looked down at the table and saw a salad of red beets, a type of pickled fish whose name he did not know, a can of bright red beef, a plate of grilled meat skewers, a bowl of red vegetable soup, and a piece of pie

"How would I know?" Guo Xiaobao shrugged his shoulders, "Those people from the Zhuge family are all as cunning as monkeys... Who can truly fathom their thoughts?"

However, it doesn't matter; as long as he can win over Natalie, he will have completed his task. He can take his time to regain his memories after returning. The question is, how should he pursue this girl? In his previous life, he was a straightforward child, not very skilled in courting girls, and he had never pursued someone of Natalie's caliber.

The door was quickly pushed open, and then Natalie entered with a maid carrying a small table filled with food.

"Staying in the Winter Palace?" Huang Shuren frowned deeply, "It wouldn't be too close with the Grand Duchess, would it? The Rakshasi woman can be quite liberal in this regard..."

Just as he uttered the word "can," Zhuge realized that he was standing in front of the mirror, completely bare... Although everyone has a desire to be beautiful, he had just been shot in the head and was suspected of being rendered foolish. Now, standing naked in front of the mirror, it seemed a bit abnormal.

He is tall, handsome, wealthy, and powerful...! Soon, he will marry a grand duchess from the Rakshasa Empire, who is also a stunning beauty. What a triumphant life!

Just as he and Ambassador Wei were about to leave, Guo Xiaobao, the military secretary of Zhuge Weidao, hurried back, bringing with him some shocking news—Zhuge Weidao, the young fox of the Zhuge family, had been shot in the head, resulting in a state of confusion and suspected amnesia

It is ! ''

"Remember, I will take you back to the Ming Dynasty." After saying this, Zhuge Weida raised his head to look at Natalie and found her cheeks flushed, and she was smiling with her lips pressed together

Hearing Zhuge's stomach growling, Natalie smiled and said, "Weidao, hurry up and eat, it's all your favorite food"

Wei Yuanda snorted, "Isn't this obvious? Grand Duchess Natalia Pavlovna has the right to the Russian throne, and her children, born of a royal family of equal standing, can also inherit the Russian throne"

"Recovered a little." Zhuge's nonsensical talk comes readily from his mouth

Wei Yuanda cleared his throat, interrupting Guo Xiaobao's words, "Xiaobao, what nonsense are you talking about? The Grand Princess is destined to become the Empress of the Ming Dynasty! In the previous Ming Dynasty, just this statement alone would have landed you in the Jinyiwei prison!"

"That is true," Wei Yuanda said with a frown, "What was the reaction of Princess Natalia Pavlovna regarding the injury to Daizi?"

Zhuge Youde Avenue, Embassy of the Ming Empire in the Rus Empire