The story takes place in the Russian Empire at the end of the 19th century. Hrapov, former commander of the Gendarme Corps and current governor and general of Siberia, is murdered on the express train from Moscow to Siberia. He was killed by a stranger in the ministerial compartment of the train. But according to the guards' report, Hrapov was assassinated by Congressman Erast Petrovich Fandorin (Oleg Menshikov). The latter was responsible for Hrapov's security during his stay in Moscow. But when Hrapov's guards came to Moscow to meet the real Fandorin, they realized that the murderer was pretending to be a congressman. Now Fandorin immediately begins an investigation and vows to bring the real murderer to justice.