Chapter 241: with translation of chapter title

In the middle of the night, wind and snow raged.

The main gate of Zhao Pu's residence was knocked, sounding "bang bang".

The elderly premier was startled awake from sleep, threw on his clothes and came out, face full of anger: "Who dares, in the middle of the night, to disturb people's sweet dreams!"

The steward came running in, stumbling and crawling, his voice trembling: "Sir... Sir, it's Hanlin Scholar Wang Xu, Master Wang! He says there's an urgent matter of great importance and must see you at once!"

"Wang Xu?" Zhao Pu's brows knit tightly together.

He certainly knew this red‑nosed favorite before the emperor. A flunky who rose on looks and talent, Zhao Pu despised him from the bottom of his heart.

But coming at this hour with such urgency is certainly out of the ordinary.

"Let him in." Zhao Pu pondered a moment, then decided to see him.

Wang Xu was brought to the study.

He was covered in snow, yet his face bore an unusual calm.

"Master Wang, why this late‑night visit?" Zhao Pu sat in the grand master's chair, his tone unfriendly.

Wang Xu beat around no bush; he bowed deeply to Zhao Pu and then uttered a shocking statement.

"Sir, the Emperor has passed away."

"What did you say?!"

Zhao Pu sprang up from his chair, and his teacup clattered to the floor, shattering.

He glared at Wang Xu, eyes sharp as a blade: "Wang Xu! Do you know what you're saying? Such treasonous talk is a crime punishable by extermination of nine clans!"

"I dare not speak falsely," Wang Xu raised his head, meeting Zhao Pu's gaze, "Just half an hour ago, the Emperor suffered a stroke after drinking in the inner chambers and has already... ascended to heaven."

"A stroke after drinking?" Zhao Pu's mind raced, "Why hasn't the news spread? Why are you the one telling me this?"

"Because at the time of the incident, only His Highness the Prince of Jin and I were by the Emperor's side."

Wang Xu's words carried a huge amount of information.

Zhao Pu instantly grasped the danger therein.

The Emperor died suddenly in the night, with only the Prince of Jin and his close aide beside him. This...

"Where is the Prince of Jin?" Zhao Pu's voice was already very anxious and flustered.

"The Prince of Jin is grief‑stricken, but to stabilize the situation he is now residing in the palace, sealing off news to prevent turmoil among the inner guards." Wang Xu spoke according to the pre‑arranged script, "His Highness sent me to ask you, Sir, to take charge of the overall situation."

"Take charge of the overall situation?" Zhao Pu snorted, "How to take charge? Should we immediately enthrone Crown Prince Dezhao, or..."

He didn't finish the sentence, but the meaning was already clear.

Wang Xu knew the critical moment had arrived.

He bowed again, his voice heavy and earnest: "Sir, you are an elder statesman of the late emperor, and moreover a witness to the Golden Coffer Covenant. Empress Dowager Du's dying instructions, you know better than anyone."

"The Empress Dowager's intent was that the elder brother should succeed the younger, to preserve the realm's stability and avoid repeating the Later Zhou's tragedy of orphans and widows."

"Although Crown Prince Dezhao is now of age, his foundation is still shallow and his prestige insufficient; I fear he cannot overawe the veteran generals, and placing a youth on the throne might throw the state into turmoil."

"Prince Jin is benevolent, filial, sagacious and enlightened; he has long resided in the capital, participated in state affairs, and enjoys the people's support. Having Prince Jin inherit the great mandate would be in accordance with Heaven's will and the people's hearts."

Wang Xu's speech was reasonable, well‑evidenced, and combined soft and hard tactics.

He not only invoked the Golden Coffer Covenant as legal justification, but also analyzed the dangers that enthroning a youth might bring.

Zhao Pu fell silent.

He stood there, his face alternating between gloom and clarity.

As the drafter of the Golden Coffer Covenant, he certainly knew of its existence.

But he also knew that Zhao Kuangyin's true intention could have let Empress Dowager Du die in peace, yet his favor still lay with the crown prince.

Now Zhao Kuangyin is dead.

He faces a choice.

Should he follow Zhao Kuangyin's dying wish and enthrone the crown prince?

Or should he abide by the Golden Coffer Covenant's agreement and enthrone Prince Jin?

Enthroning the crown prince would be "loyalty." But the prince is young; if he cannot hold the situation and the country falls into chaos, he would be a sinner for all ages.

Enthroning Prince Jin would be "expediency." He clearly knows Prince Jin's ability and tactics; he could surely secure the realm. Yet this would contravene Zhao Kuangyin's true intent, raising suspicions of usurpation.

In his mind, heaven and man waged war.

Wang Xu watched him, saying nothing more, merely waiting in silence.

He knew Zhao Pu was an extremely pragmatic politician.

His considerations were never about who was right or wrong, but who could bring the greatest benefit and who could make the state most stable.

A long time passed.

Zhao Pu let out a long sigh, as if he had aged ten years in an instant.

"Never mind." He slumped back into his chair, "The state relies on a long‑reigning monarch. Go tell His Highness the Prince of Jin, old man... I understand."

Wang Xu's heart finally settled back into his stomach.

Zhao Pu tacitly acknowledged!

He had won the gamble.

"Thank you, Sir, for seeing the greater good!" Wang Xu bowed again, "The realm of the Great Song is fortunate! The people under heaven are fortunate!"

"Don't flatter me." Zhao Pu waved his hand impatiently, "Do what you need to do. After dawn, I myself will summon the officials and go to the palace to see the emperor."

"Yes."

Wang Xu dared not delay; he immediately took his leave and departed.

Leaving Zhao Pu's residence, Wang Xu wasted no time, immediately directing his carriage toward the Kaifeng Prefecture office.

The assistant magistrate of Kaifeng Prefecture was a distant relative of the Wang family whom Wang Xu had long placed there.

Upon seeing him, Wang Xu said only one sentence: "The Prefect has ordered that before dawn, all constables and garrison troops be mustered, the four city walls and nine gates sealed—entry permitted, exit forbidden. Anyone who dares to make a disturbance will be executed on the spot, no pardon."

The assistant magistrate, though startled and uncertain, upon seeing the Jin Prince's command token in Wang Xu's hand, dared not disobey and immediately went down to make arrangements.

Having secured Kaifeng Prefecture, Wang Xu's carriage, once again in the darkness, headed toward the residence of Metropolitan Guard Commander Shi Shouxin, located before the hall.

He did not go to see Shi Shouxin, but instead passed through the gatehouse and secretly arranged a meeting with his nephew, the commander Shi Baoji.

In a secluded alley, Wang Xu met this early‑thirties young officer, whose face was full of frustration.

"General Shi, do you want to take it a step further?" Wang Xu said bluntly.

Shi Baoji was startled, looking at him warily: "Wang Scholar, what do you mean?"

"The heavens are about to change," Wang Xu's voice was full of guile. "The New Monarch will soon ascend the throne. Whether you continue to serve as an obscure commander under your uncle's shadow, or seize the chance to become the Imperial Guards commander of the new dynasty, it all rests on a single thought of the general."

"New Monarch?" Shi Baoji inhaled sharply, "Your Majesty, he…"

"Your Majesty's dragon body is healthy," Wang Xu cut him off, "but I am speaking of the future New Monarch."

Shi Baoji was no fool; he understood instantly.

His breathing grew rapid.

"Wang Scholar… what do you need me to do?"

"Very simple," Wang Xu patted his shoulder. "At dawn, if any incident occurs in the palace, you only need to lead your brothers and hold Xuande Gate. No one may enter or exit without a personal order from Prince Jin. Can you do it?"

Xuande Gate is the main entrance from the imperial palace to the outer court.

Controlling this point is equivalent to cutting off communication between the palace interior and the outside.

Cold sweat seeped onto Shi Baoji's forehead.

This is a gamble with his life.

But as he looked at Wang Xu's confident and composed eyes, he recalled the humiliation he had endured over the years.

His heart hardened.

"Wealth and honor are sought within danger!" he gritted his teeth and whispered, "Wang Scholar, rest assured, I, your subordinate, await your orders!"

"Good!" Wang Xu nodded with satisfaction. "After the matter is settled, the front‑hall inspection post will be yours."

…

One command after another was issued.

One person after another was hauled onto Zhao Guangyi's war chariot.

When Wang Xu finished all this and returned to his own residence, a faint glimmer had already appeared in the eastern sky.

The snow, at an unknown time, had already stopped.

The night in Kaifeng City was about to end.

But no one knew that when the sun rose, the capital of the Great Song would experience an extremely violent earthquake.

Wang Xu stood at his own doorway and glanced back toward the direction of the imperial palace.

There, a hush prevailed.

Yet he seemed to hear, beneath that hush, a cataclysmic storm brewing.

"Your Highness, I have already done everything I can."

"From now on, it's up to you."