Chapter 237: Taking Action

Wang Xu stood up, bowed, and said: "Your Majesty, Prince Jin, this is an imperial household matter; I… dare not speak recklessly."

"I told you to speak, so speak!" Zhao Kuangyin's tone left no room for doubt.

Wang Xu pondered for a moment, then slowly opened his mouth: "Your Majesty, forgive my frankness. Your Majesty and Prince Jin were brothers in youth; now they are ruler and subject."

"Between brothers, they can share a cake, share a mat."

"But between ruler and subject, there are rites, there is decorum, and even more, this vast land of ten thousand li."

"Closeness is affection; distance is duty."

His words were flawless, both pinpointing the crux of the issue and cleverly exonerating Zhao Guangyi.

Zhao Kuangyin listened, and his expression became even more inscrutable.

He waved his hand, signaling Zhao Guangyi to rise.

"Well said! Well said!" He clapped his hands, as if praising, yet also mocking: "Ruler and subject, ruler and subject! What a fine ruler and subject!"

He slammed the table hard.

"Wang Jieren!"

"Your servant is here!"

"Issue the decree! Set up the feast!"

"Right here! Now!"

The feast was set up amidst the chaos of this bedchamber.

Several low tables were quickly pushed together, laden with steaming food and drink.

The palace attendants swiftly cleared a clean space, then, at Zhao Kuangyin's order, all withdrew.

In the vast bedchamber, not a single attendant to lay out the dishes remained.

The chamber doors were shut tight, sealing out the wind and snow outside as well as any prying eyes.

Inside the hall, only three people remained.

The emperor of Great Song, Zhao Kuangyin.

The future emperor, Zhao Guangyi.

And the catalyst and witness of this power transfer, Wang Xu.

"Come! Drink!"

Zhao Kuangyin personally picked up the wine pot and filled the cups before Zhao Guangyi and Wang Xu to the brim.

The amber liquor, in the flickering candlelight, gleamed with a dangerous light.

"Elder brother, your dragon body is important; drink a little less." Zhao Guangyi lifted his cup, his face still wearing that worried expression.

"Drink less?" Zhao Kuangyin gave a self-mocking smile, "Do I still need to worry about that now?"

He raised his cup and drained it in one gulp.

The fiery liquor slid down his throat, burning all the way to his stomach.

That was exactly the feeling he wanted.

"Drink!" He slammed the empty cup down on the table, his eyes locked fixedly on Zhao Guangyi.

Zhao Guangyi's heart jolted; he dared not urge further, and downed the wine in his cup in one gulp.

Wang Xu watched silently, then followed suit and drank.

He knew tonight's wine was not so pleasant to drink.

Each cup could cost a life.

"Guangyi." Zhao Kuangyin poured another cup, his eyes somewhat unfocused, "You say, how am I faring as emperor?"

He had asked himself this question during the day, and posed it to a Daoist in the temporary palace at Luoyang.

Now he brought it up again to ask his own brother.

"Elder brother, your heroic talent and grand strategy have ended the chaotic age, your merit towers over the ages; you are a sage ruler unseen for myriad ages!" Zhao Guangyi offered the praise without hesitation.

"Sage ruler? Hahaha!" Zhao Kuangyin burst into laughter, his voice brimming with sorrow, "Does even a sage ruler's fate hinge on the whim of Heaven?"

Zhao Guangyi's heart leapt up to his throat.

He has arrived.

He finally gets to the point.

"Elder brother, you… what do you mean by this?" He feigned not understanding.

"You don't understand?" Zhao Kuangyin seized his wrist, "Even among the guards who went to Luoyang back then there were rumors; you couldn't possibly not know, you couldn't fail to grasp what I'm saying."

"Have you long been hoping for today? Hoping for this damned snow, hoping for my death!"

Zhao Kuangyin's voice suddenly rose.

"Elder brother! I'm wronged!" Zhao Guangyi fell with a "plop," kneeling again and striking his forehead hard against the cold floor, "If I harbor such intent, may heaven and earth destroy me!"

His voice trembled with sobs, sounding utterly sincere.

Wang Xu, standing nearby, felt his heart rise to his throat.

He hadn't expected Zhao Kuangyin to be so blunt.

Zhao Kuangyin stared fixedly at the back of Zhao Guangyi's head, his chest heaving violently.

He wanted to believe him.

He truly wanted to believe this brother who grew up sharing a fried dough stick with him.

But the Daoist's words still echoed in his ears; if he were to die tonight, who would be the greatest beneficiary?

"Rise."

After a long while, Zhao Kuangyin wearily uttered two words.

He sat back in his seat, drinking cup after cup of bitter wine.

Zhao Guangyi rose shakily, sat back in his place, and dared not speak another word.

The wine became the only thing moving inside the hall.

Zhao Kuangyin drank more and more, and grew increasingly drunk.

His words also began to become jumbled.

He would at one moment recount the past campaigns of southward and northward wars, and the next rebuke the officials at court who pretended loyalty while acting otherwise.

"…They all think I'm a fool! One after another, they speak of loyalty to the sovereign and love of the country, yet behind the scenes, who knows what calculations they are making!"

"Also your Wang Family! You think that by withdrawing everyone to Yangzhou, I have no way to deal with them? A pack of wolf cubs! Sooner or later I will pull out each of their teeth!"

He cursed while pointing at Wang Xu's nose, but his gaze was unfocused.

Finally, Zhao Kuangyin drank the last jar of wine.

He set down his cup, and his eyes slowly swept over Zhao Guangyi, then over Wang Xu.

Then, suddenly in an unmistakably clear tone, he said word for word:

"Guangyi."

"The younger brother is here."

"Today I have made myself clear to you."

"After my death, the realm of the Great Song shall be inherited by Crown Prince De Zhao."

Boom!

The words exploded in Zhao Guangyi's mind.

Although he had long anticipated it, when he heard the words himself his heart was seized by a huge hand, the pain nearly choking him.

What about the Golden Treasury Alliance?

What about mother's dying wish?

Elder Brother, have you forgotten?

The color drained from his face instantly, yet he forced his muscles to keep his expression from cracking at all.

Zhao Kuangyin did not look at him, but continued speaking.

"You are De Zhao's paternal uncle."

"I hope you can, like Duke Zhou assisting the Cheng King, properly assist your nephew."

"When De Zhao's realm stabilizes, I will grant you a fief, send you to Luoyang to become a Leisurely Prince, ensuring you a lifetime of wealth and honor."

"This is my final arrangement for you, my brother."

The words were finished.

The final verdict was issued.

There is no Imperial Younger Brother.

There is no right of succession.

Only a nominal title of Prime Minister and a future of exile to the frontier.

Zhao Kuangyin, after speaking, leaned back against the chair, closed his eyes, and gasped heavily.

He felt as if he were settling affairs after death.

Zhao Guangyi lowered his head; no one could see his expression at that moment.

His hands, hidden beneath his wide sleeves, clenched into fists, nails sunk deep into flesh, yet he felt no pain.

Grant a fief? Leisurely Prince?

Sounds nice!

When Zhao De Zhao ascends the throne, this "imperial uncle" of his, who commands heavy troops and enjoys great reputation, will be the first target of purge!

By then, not to mention the Leisurely Prince; if a whole corpse can be left, it would count as the nephew's mercy!

Elder Brother, Elder Brother, you truly are my good Elder Brother!

You are forcing me onto a dead end!

Since you won't give me a way to live, don't blame me… for abandoning brotherly sentiment!

A mad thought fully formed in his heart.

He slowly lifted his head; on his modest face still no ripple could be seen.

His gaze, passing over the chaotic cups and plates on the table, met Wang Xu's in the air.

His eyes were calm.

But Wang Xu read from that deep calm an unmistakable hint.

Act.

Now.