Suspicion, tyranny, cold-bloodedness and cruelty.
Almost all the villainous traits found in novels and stories can be traced back to Ivan IV. The court intrigues of his childhood left a deep imprint and fear in his heart, pushing his personality towards an extreme. His life was almost entirely about ruthlessly trampling his opponents, courtiers, and enemies underfoot before sending them to the gallows amidst their curses.
The angry and resentful eyes of his adversaries were, to him, the most beautiful sight.
Before Ivan IV became subservient to his lords, he was, for a long time, a tool in the hands of his courtiers to eliminate dissidents. They instigated the young Ivan to murder his political rivals. The lords did not report state affairs to Ivan, but instead watched those he trusted and relied on with suspicion, constantly banishing potential favorites from the court.
With the successive deaths of his guardians, indulgence and permissiveness replaced strict, rigid family rules for young Ivan. At twelve, he had climbed to the top of the Kremlin palace, pushed a silent kitten off a "towering cliff," and ridden in groups of children his age with the most illustrious lords through the streets and squares of Moscow, trampling civilians with their hooves, beating and robbing them. His arrogance was more like that of a barbaric Cossack.
Just as his miserable childhood was about to end, a transmigrated being, usurping his place, possessed him and took over everything.
However, today he would let the Duma and Grand Duke Ivan know that he was the true ruler of Tsarist Russia.
Shuysky had just emerged from the Duma, looking weary as he walked towards his carriage. He increasingly sensed the hostile messages conveyed to him at the Duma meeting, warning Andrei Shuysky not to try to use His Majesty Ivan IV to eliminate dissidents.
Shuysky harbored a persistent, uneasy feeling that his days were numbered. His family now wielded immense power, controlling the entire Kremlin, and Ivan IV was surrounded by their spies. Yet, he always sensed a pair of sinister eyes watching him from behind.
He initially dismissed it all as psychological, but a retainer who had been waiting outside the Duma brought him devastating news.
Natasha, Shuysky's personal maidservant responsible for the Tsar's daily life, had been arrested.
"Arrested?"
Andrei Shuysky asked incredulously. "How could she be arrested? She was merely monitoring the Tsar's daily life. She wasn't involved in any political struggles."
The retainer was equally puzzled, but given the gravity of the situation, he had no choice but to tell Grand Duke Shuysky everything he knew.
"According to the attendants present, Natasha attempted to assassinate Ivan IV but failed. Tuchkov has arrested the woman and thrown her into Lefortov for interrogation. It's said His Majesty is preparing to replace the palace guards with Tuchkov's personal guard, in preparation for a major purge."
Shuysky bit his lip uneasily, sensing danger; the situation was serious. His informant had been placed in Lefortov, and with the involvement of the deposed former regent, he felt a political conspiracy was brewing behind the scenes.
"Is this a plan to weaken my power and replace me with Tuchkov? Damn Ivan."
The situation was critical; he had to go to the Grand Duke's palace no matter what.
"Turn around,"
Shuysky said to the coachman, "Go to the Kremlin. I need to see His Majesty."
After leaving the secret prison in Lefortov, Ivan parted ways with Tuchkov. Tuchkov was responsible for mobilizing military forces to replace the palace guards in the Kremlin, ensuring Ivan IV's safety.
He returned to his opulent bedchamber, where his attendant informed Ivan IV that Grand Duke Andrei Shuysky had been waiting for him in the drawing room.
What was bound to happen, would happen.
Ivan wasn't surprised, He dusted himself off and calmly walked towards the Grand Duke's bedroom drawing room. Shuysky had been waiting for a long time. He had felt uneasy when he learned that his pawn, planted beside Ivan IV, had been taken away.
The Duma, the council of nobles, was very dissatisfied with Shuysky's overwhelming power in court. Grand Duke Shuysky felt pressure from all sides, and surrounded by enemies, he dared not use the Tsar to eliminate dissidents.
He was simply certain that he could still control the young emperor.
However, the Tsar was no longer someone manipulated by powerful ministers.
Seeing the Tsar appear before him, Shuysky, who had been pacing back and forth, stopped. He feigned concern and said to the Tsar, "I just heard that His Majesty Ivan's attendants attempted to assassinate him. So I came to see His Majesty, wondering if His Majesty was alright…"
"Thank you for your concern, Grand Duke Shuysky, I'm fine,"
Ivan replied flawlessly.
"It's good that you're alright."
Shuysky feigned a sigh of relief, but the weight on his heart remained; he could no longer feel anything from the young Tsar. He tentatively asked, "How is the assassin Natasha now? I think there might be a misunderstanding, Your Majesty. I suggest that she be dealt with after a thorough interrogation."
Hearing Shuysky say this, Ivan raised his head, looking at him with an ambiguous expression.
Shuysky felt a chill run down his spine from his gaze, that look filled with mockery and contempt; he wondered what Ivan IV was up to.
"Your Majesty, what is it?"
Ivan made no move, only asking, word by word, "Nothing, but I have a question I'm very curious about. When the assassin's attendant was carried out of the Kremlin, his head was covered with a burlap sack. We never revealed the assassin's identity to the outside world. On what basis did Grand Duke Shuysky conclude that Natasha assassinated me?"
Shuysky's smile slowly faded, and he stared at the serious-looking Ivan IV, narrowing his eyes.
He finally understood why Ivan IV's eyes were filled with mockery.
"This..."
"Your Majesty, this isn't the point..."
Shuysky felt he had fallen into a trap carefully laid by Ivan IV.
"No, in my opinion, this is the point, and a very important one."
Ivan abruptly interrupted Shuysky's attempt to change the subject, emphasizing his words again.
"I never said the assassin was Natasha. How did you know, Grand Duke Shuysky?"
"Could it be that you ordered the assassin?"