Chapter 231: Heir Apparent?

Another five years passed.

The winter in Kaifeng always comes quickly and urgently.

The cold wind rolled up snow foam, beating against the windows of the Hall of Supreme Reverence, making a wailing sound.

Inside the hall, the charcoal fire burned brightly.

Zhao Kuangyin leaned on the couch, holding a scroll, looking at it with great relish.

The painting was a "Hunting in Snow" scene, with bold brushwork and a broad artistic conception.

"Wang Xu, your painting skills keep improving." Zhao Kuangyin set down the scroll, a satisfied smile on his face.

"Your Majesty overpraises me."

Wang Xu stood beside him, still in his immaculate white Hanlin official robes, tall and straight, his features handsome; it seemed the years had left few marks on him.

"This modest talent of mine is merely to earn Your Majesty a moment of leisure."

"Hahaha!" Zhao Kuangyin laughed loudly, "I just like that about you! Uncompetitive, ungrasping, aware of the situation."

In recent years, he has grown ever more fond of Wang Xu.

When court affairs troubled him, he would have Wang Xu play chess and paint; when urgent frontier battle reports arrived, after handling military matters, he also wanted to hear Wang Xu play a piece.

Wang Xu was like a good medicine, always able to soothe his inner agitation.

But this good "medicine," in the eyes of all civil and military officials, had become a "poison."

Morning court.

"Your Majesty!"

Vice Censor-in-Chief Li Fang held an ivory tablet, stepped out of the ranks, his voice like a great bell.

"I, I have a memorial to present!"

Zhao Kuangyin lifted his eyelids slightly.

It's him again.

"Speak."

"I impeach Hanlin Academician Wang Xu!" Li Fang's voice echoed in the hall: "This man, as a descendant of the Wang clan, does not think to share the nation's worries, but instead uses poetry, songs, and frivolous tricks to confuse the sovereign's mind—truly a jester of the age!"

"Your Majesty handles myriad affairs day and night, wearing yourself thin; you need virtuous ministers to assist you. But men like Wang Xu only sap your ambition and corrupt the court's atmosphere—if this continues, the state will cease to be a state!"

His words had just fallen.

"I second that!"

"I second that!"

With a rustle, a large group of officials rose, each filled with righteous indignation.

They had endured this for a long time.

A young man who rose by looks and slick talk actually enjoys more favor than these hardworking old officials.

Rewards poured in like flowing water to his residence.

Even Your Majesty personally inscribed a plaque reading "Number One Talent Under Heaven" and hung it on the gate of Wang Xu's mansion.

This is utterly a disgrace and humiliation!

Zhao Kuangyin's face darkened bit by bit.

What vexed him was not their impeachment of Wang Xu.

But his irritation with this bunch of fools, who simply do not understand his thoughts.

A jester?

He certainly knew Wang Xu was a jester!

Isn't this exactly what he wanted?

He needed a hostage from the Wang family who posed no threat to the court—someone who would let him watch the Wang family's movements at any time and also satisfy his personal taste as a plaything.

Wang Xu was the perfect choice.

He drove all those ambitious wolf cubs of the Wang family back to Yangzhou, leaving only this docile, harmless "pet" by his side—this was precisely his proud imperial strategy.

And yet this bunch of officials dared to jump out and point fingers?

What do they know!

"Finished?" Zhao Kuangyin's voice was icy.

Li Fang and the others felt a chill, but still steeled themselves to say: "Please, Your Majesty, severely punish Wang Xu to set the record straight!"

"Severe punishment?"

Zhao Kuangyin gave a cold snort.

He rose to his feet, his gaze sweeping over the excited faces below.

"Wang Xu keeps me company in chess, so that amidst scheming and strife I may have a moment of peace."

"Wang Xu paints for me, so that I know my Great Song has not only spears and iron horses, but also splendid landscapes."

"He has never interfered in state affairs, nor ever recommended a Wang family member to me. You say he confuses the sovereign's mind—what exactly has he confused?"

"Is it that he had me increase corvée labor, or reduce military provisions?"

A string of questions left the entire hall silent as tomb.

Li Fang's forehead beaded with cold sweat.

"You……" Zhao Kuangyin pointed at them, "Instead of wasting effort here catching shadows in the court, you'd better think about how to let the Yellow River run calm and how to let the people survive winter."

He flicked his sleeves and sat down.

"Court is dismissed!"

The emperor's wrath made everyone fall silent like cold cicadas.

The officials looked at each other, then slunk away in embarrassment.

That afternoon, an imperial edict once again shocked the entire city of Kaifeng.

The emperor issued an edict, awarding Hanlin Scholar Wang Xu a thousand taels of gold, a hundred bolts of brocade, and promoting him to Vice‑President of the Hanlin Academy, raising his rank by one level.

Although it was still a nominal position without real authority.

But this was undoubtedly the emperor using action to slap those censors hard.

Zhao Kuangyin thought the matter would just pass like that.

He continued to enjoy his own imperial heart technique, watching those ministers suffer, and even felt a hint of satisfaction.

Until one month later.

A eunuch whispered in his ear, and his smile froze instantly.

"Your Majesty, Prince Jin has been frequently visiting the Wang Scholar's residence lately."

Zhao Kuangyin's pupils contracted sharply.

Prince Jin Zhao Guangyi, his younger brother.

"How often?" Zhao Kuangyin's voice, suppressing anger, "How often?"

"Almost… every three or five days he'd go. Each time he'd dismiss attendants, talk in the study for one or two hours."

The eunuch's voice grew fainter.

"What were they talking about?"

"I don't know… I only heard that Prince Jin is very interested in those Institute of Investigating Things drawings collected by the Wang Scholar."

Institute of Investigating Things drawings?

Ingenious tricks! Would he even hand over the steam engine's drawings to you?

But Zhao Guangyi! Wang Xu!

How could these two get mixed up together?

A surge of inexplicable anger and chill rose from his heart.

He was wary of the Wang family, so he kept watching them.

He guarded against Wang Xu, so he treated him like a jester.

But after all his calculations, he never expected his own younger brother to get so close to the Wang family!

This is ten thousand times more terrifying than those censors' impeachments!

"Summon Zhao Guangyi!"

Zhao Kuangyin almost squeezed these words out between his teeth.

Half an hour later.

The slightly plump, fair‑complexioned Zhao Guangyi hurried into the side hall of the Hall of Supreme Gravity.

"Elder brother, why did you summon me?" Zhao Guangyi said with his usual humble smile.

Zhao Kuangyin said nothing.

He merely stared fixedly at his younger brother, his gaze as if looking at a stranger.

Zhao Guangyi felt creeped out being stared at like that.

"Elder brother?"

"You've been idle lately?" Zhao Kuangyin finally spoke, his voice hoarse.

"Your subject… your subject dares not be lax, handling state affairs daily in the mansion."

"Really?" Zhao Kuangyin slammed the table, making the teacups jump, "I hear you keep running to Wang Xu's place every few days! You two are having a great time!"

Zhao Guangyi's face turned pale.

"Elder brother, you've misunderstood! I merely… merely discussed some poetry and prose with the Wang Scholar."

"Poetry and prose?" Zhao Kuangyin laughed as if hearing a huge joke, "Do you need to look at the Institute of Investigating Things drawings?!"

Zhao Guangyi's legs gave way, and he thudded to his knees.

"Please calm your anger, elder brother! I merely… I was just curious for a moment!"

"Curious?"

Zhao Kuangyin stepped forward step by step, looking down at him from above.

"What are you curious about? Curious about that iron lump that belches black smoke? Or that ironclad ship that can travel a thousand miles a day? Do you think he'd just hand all these things over to you?"

"Have you forgotten your surname? You're a Zhao! The realm of the Great Song belongs to the Zhao!"

"How dare a proper prince, future heir, go to a jester for advice on these things—what's your intention?"

Zhao Guangyi trembled all over, lowering his head even further.

"Your subject… I was wrong."

Seeing him like that, Zhao Kuangyin's anger eased a little, replaced by deeper worry and disappointment.

He thought of the Golden Chest Alliance.

He thought of his mother's dying instructions.

He had always thought that, after his death, his younger brother would be his son's strongest support.

But now…

Zhao Kuangyin bent down, grabbed Zhao Guangyi's collar, and hauled him up.

He almost pressed his lips to Zhao Guangyi's ear, saying word by word: "Guangyi, listen to me clearly."

"This realm will belong to our Zhao family; I will pass it on to Dezhao in the future."

"You are his paternal uncle."

"I hope that, when I am gone, you will, like I once aided Father Emperor, well assist your nephew and safeguard the Zhao family's realm!"

His voice carried a hint of warning; Zhao Guangyi's body stiffened, he dared not raise his head, and merely replied in a trembling voice.

Subject younger brother…… I will respectfully follow the elder brother's teachings.