Catherine involves the peasants, nobles and merchants in a conference designed to bring change to Russia. Peter's hunt for revenge on an historic enemy threatens to destabilise Catherine's attempt to outlaw murder.

Peter is once again tormented by his father, Peter the Great's expectations and his failure to continue the legacy of his empire. Catherine must decide what to do about the unrest being stirred up in the regions, but Velementov is in no state to help her.