The intrigues of the Russian court are as deep as the ocean. Every powerful prince, cloaked in ostentation, is a seasoned cunning fox.
They meticulously conceal their activities while simultaneously setting traps for their opponents, mastering the art of the chain of suspicion to its fullest extent. However, Grand Prince Andrei Shuisky, completely unsuspecting of the young Tsar, was outmaneuvered. After Ivan IV raised his suspicions about Shuisky, the Grand Prince was forced to either confess to planting a spy within Ivan's ranks or confirm the charge of treason against the Tsar.
It was all part of the Tsar's scheme.
Total annihilation or a painful sacrifice to save himself—Shuisky had to make a choice.
Cold sweat beaded on his nose; Shuisky gripped his damp hands, filled with unease. However, unlike his two decisive brothers, Shuysky struggled to make swift and decisive choices when faced with gains and losses.
The thirteen-year-old Tsar and the forty-year-old Grand Duke Shuysky engaged in a probing contest.
Ivan IV carefully manipulated the king pieces on the chessboard, recalling his own historical past. Before his death, Ivan IV hadn't finished his final game with Bilkin, and the Rurik dynasty vanished with his sudden passing, followed by Peter the Great ushering in over two centuries of prosperity for the Romanov dynasty.
Having studied history, he clearly remembered the weaknesses of every treacherous minister and traitor around Ivan the terrible.
"Grand Duke Shuysky, you haven't answered my question yet."
The precocious Ivan IV waved his hand, pressing the middle-aged man before him further, his tone serious. "Why do you know the assassin's identity? Are you an informant planted around me, or did you plan this assassination?"
Shuysky's gaze flickered towards the entrance to the living room. In the shadows not illuminated by the glittering crystal chandelier, Grand Duke Shuysky's pupils constricted sharply.
He vaguely saw the shadows of the axe-wielder etched on the wall.
The shadow of the axe flickered in the candlelight outside the living room.
Cold sweat beaded on his forehead. Shuysky began to fidget, unsure if he would be killed on the spot by the ambushing guards if he confessed.
He watched Ivan clutch the king on the chessboard and finally realized he had no way out. An idea flashed through his mind, and he made his final decision.
Shuysky, his mouth dry, opened it, too nervous to find the words. Faced with Ivan IV's probing gaze, he finally steeled himself and decided to sacrifice a pawn to save the king.
"Your Majesty..."
"Yes, yes, it just so happens that I know someone among the palace guards, which is how I learned of Your Majesty's actions."
However, Ivan IV pressed on relentlessly, "Is that all you know?"
Shusky raised his hands in panic, his face contorted with despair, and said, "Really, that's all I know! I really don't know anything else! Please, Your Majesty, spare me for the sake of my years of service."
Shusky revealed his cowardice; even those who have enjoyed wealth and luxury are ultimately more afraid of death when they are filled with suspicion.
Taking advantage of Grand Duke Ivan IV's brief pause, he didn't delve further but instead asked, "Names."
"I need their names."
The atmosphere in the entire drawing room became heavy. Ivan IV's relentless pressure made Shusky feel an invisible force closing in on him.
Before him was no longer the young Tsar manipulated by a few princes.
Under Ivan IV's coercion, Shuysky stammered out four names, one of which was Tukhaisov, Ivan IV's captain of the guard.
"Just as I expected,"
Ivan IV's grim face finally broke into a smile.
To Shuysky, this smile was like a demon beckoning to him. Standing up, he looked at Grand Duke Shuysky before him and said calmly, "Grand Duke Shuysky, thank you for your trouble today. If there's nothing else, go back and rest. I just wanted to talk to you; I had no other intentions. Don't take what I said earlier to heart."
Ivan walked towards the door of the living room, leaving the distraught Shuysky behind.
The powerful Grand Duke's legs trembled uncontrollably as he stood up. He turned to look at Ivan IV, who had disappeared through the doorway, his emotions complex.
Then the door slowly closed, separating him from the Tsar.
The palace corridors were filled with Tuchkov's personal guards, ready to pounce and tear Shuysky to pieces should he dare to disobey.
Tuchkov had been waiting for his moment of revenge, but in the end, he still hadn't heard the signal to throw the pieces.
"Your Majesty,"
Tuchkov said, frustrated but not daring to argue, "why don't you let us act directly?"
Ivan waved his hand, rejecting Tuchkov's request, and said, "How can a dog jump over a wall if you don't corner it?"
"Leaving aside the sycophantic nobles, the Shuysky family's power is far greater than we imagine. Now that we've given Andrei a warning, he won't dare to take any excessive actions for the time being. Cut off their family's arms, and when he truly wants to rebel, he'll have nowhere to retreat but to take the final step and wait for death."
Tuchkov suddenly realized that the cunning Shuysky had no room to resist in front of Ivan IV.
The young Tsar had already begun to demonstrate his iron-fisted dictatorial methods. The Grand Duke who had once trampled him underfoot and acted recklessly—he would take revenge on them one by one.
"Grand Duke Tuchkov, Shuysky certainly has more than four spies around him,"
Ivan IV pondered for a moment, then turned to Tuchkov. He made a sweeping gesture and said to the Grand Duke, "Cleanse all the guards in the Kremlin. Replace them with your attendants until a new batch is selected."
After two days of intrigue and interaction, Tuchkov had a clear understanding of the young prince's ruthless mind and iron-fisted methods. Unlike the cunning old nobles who cleansed their political enemies without getting their hands dirty, Ivan IV preferred to personally eliminate enemies who stood in his way.
He preferred a simple and brutal approach, eliminating opponents who blocked his political path.
"Next step?"
Tuchkov asked softly, "How should we deal with Grand Duke Shuysky?"
Ivan seemed to have anticipated everything, formally offering the arrogant Grand Duke a crucial move.
He feigned nonchalance and said, "Doesn't Shuysky's son enjoy riding around the square, trampling, beating, and robbing people? The entire city of Moscow hates these arrogant young nobles to the core. What goes around comes around. Since their family participated in the coup that purged my uncle Staritsky's entire family five years ago,"
Ivan IV said grimly, "I will make sure their line ends."