The gift of the Iron Maiden signifies a formal break between the Tsar and Shuisky. It also means that from this moment on, Ivan IV is no longer a tool in anyone's hands.
He has broken free from the past control of the court by seven princes and has begun to personally preside over the government. Before that, he must completely eliminate the Shuisky faction; those who emptied the national treasury and lined their own pockets, he will make them spit out all the wealth they swallowed.
As dawn broke over the walls of Moscow, a figure cloaked and hooded, leading a entourage, quietly left the Kremlin. Ivan IV did not make a big fuss; everything was carried out silently.
This was the most crucial step in his plan to eliminate the Shuisky family.
Under the morning sun, the streets of Moscow gradually began to bustle. The city was becoming increasingly prosperous, and its population was constantly growing. Moscow, in particular, was developing most rapidly, with foreigners even comparing it to the largest cities in Western Europe.
The rapid population growth led to a rapid deterioration of sanitation. The streets were littered with cow and horse excrement, and sewage and filthy latrine waste flowed into the ditches along the streets and out of the city.
Ivan IV covered his nose in disgust. He had anticipated the poor conditions in Moscow, but he had never imagined these Slavic beasts would be this filthy.
The appalling sanitation was also a major reason for the frequent outbreaks of plague in Moscow. After eliminating Shuysky's influence, the next priority was to improve the city's sanitation.
Ivan IV did not ride a horse; his guards were scattered around him. He walked alone to the vicinity of the square. He remembered how the young Tsar loved to lead groups of lords' children across the square on horseback, but all that was now history.
Just a few days earlier, Dmitry had been riding through the square when he struck and killed an elderly man who couldn't avoid him. This incident caused quite a stir in Moscow, but Shuysky ultimately managed to suppress it by paying bribes.
After all, they were the powerful and wealthy; the common people of Moscow could only dare to obey, filled with resentment but unable to speak out.
Money truly could buy anything.
The sound of hooves clattered in the distance. Ivan IV, wearing a grey-brown hood, sat motionless, watching the pedestrians scatter in the street, and the arrogant young noblemen, dressed in fine clothes and riding spirited horses, galloping towards him. Dmitry, leading the way, paid no heed to his father's words, instead secretly following several of the grand duke's sons out into the streets. In Dmitry's eyes, his father was the all-powerful grand duke, and no one dared to do anything to him. The arrogance brought by power made this grand duke's son the most hated person in Moscow.
Having never cared about politics, Ivan IV muttered to himself, "Machiavelli believed that a monarch cannot be too merciful to the people, because if he is even slightly cruel, the people will remember the hatred and forget all the previous kindness. So he must be cruel in ordinary times; as long as he does one good deed, the people will still forget the past tyranny and believe that he is a wise ruler. I will make you understand that in this world, the one who stands up to uphold justice is not the merciful monarch you expect, but the tyrant of the Kremlin."
"Those who have suffered injustice should respond."
"If even the officials of this Moscow city are unwilling to speak out,"
Ivan IV slowly stood up, facing the approaching figure, and calmly said, "then I will uphold justice for them."
Several grand dukes' children kicked and trampled the crowd in the square, waving their whips to drive the people away. Everyone ran in the opposite direction, their eyes filled with resentment.
This unrestrained and reckless farce was started by Ivan IV. Now it had become his excuse to eliminate the nobles.
Ivan IV stepped forward. He blocked the path of Dmitry, the leader. The arrogant youth clearly didn't recognize the hooded man before him. He impatiently brandished his whip, lunging at Ivan IV.
"Get out of my way, you lowly commoner! Or I'll cut your head off!"
Dmitry's eyes were filled with undisguised disgust as he brandished his whip, threatening to drive the other away.
"You said you'd cut off my head?"
Yet the other stood fearlessly, even retorting with a question.
"Bastard, you dare talk back?"
The Grand Duke's second son hesitated for a moment, then, filled with malice, he tried to lash him with his whip without thinking.
A bunch of lowly commoners, who cared about their lives?
Even if he trampled them to death today, he wouldn't send them to the gallows tomorrow.
Ivan IV shifted back slightly, dodging the whip. And just as the whip missed its mark, gunshots rang out, shattering the tranquility of the square.
Bang!
The sharp, piercing gunshot shattered the silence, startling the horses. Their hooves pounded wildly, and Dmitry, seated on the back, tugged at the reins, barely managing to steady his frightened steed.
Turning around, he was horrified to see his companions behind him, who had fallen from their horses after the gunfire, lying in pools of blood.
The gunshot had clearly been aimed at them.
The people in the square scattered in terror after the volley, leaving only the hooded figure and the archers hidden somewhere.
Then, the arquebusiers, concealed in the shadows, slowly emerged from the darkness, appearing before Dmitry. Their guns, still smoking from the volley, were drawn without hesitation. They casually discarded their arquebuses, drew long swords from their backs, and walked up to the still-breathing noble youths, swiftly and decisively striking them down.
In a short moment, only Dmitry remained alive in the square.
"Do you know who I am? My father is Grand Duke Shuysky! If you dare kill me, I'll make your whole family pay!" Dmitry cried out in terror.
"I know, but your father can't save you,"
the face hidden in the shadows of the hood said calmly. "Dmitry, don't you know what crime you've committed?"
"You are...?"
Dmitry turned his head in horror, looking at the hooded man before him.
He raised his hands and slowly removed the hood, revealing a cold, stern face as he looked at Grand Duke Shuysky's son.
That face, which instilled instinctive fear, was devoid of any emotion.
"I am Ivan IV."
"Dmitry, you have been arrested for allegedly assassinating the Tsar."