Chapter 106

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Li Kefei felt his daughter had surely been spoiled by him—how could she even dream of entering the imperial palace to watch the palace examination? Her audacity was too great!

More importantly, his daughter had too high an opinion of him, believing that this newly appointed Assistant Minister could get her into the palace.

Good heavens, he was merely a Grade 7 Senior official!

Under the Son of Heaven's very feet, calling him a mere speck of dust wasn't an exaggeration.

In front of his daughter, Li Kefei could not admit he lacked the ability—he could only summon paternal authority and shoo Li Qingzhao away: "Go, go, stop acting foolishly!"

After being chased off by Li Kefei, Li Qingzhao felt unwilling. She had heard that the inner palace teemed with hidden talents; competing in literary skill with the imperial consorts would surely be fascinating. If she could win first place, it would be even more fun.

"The imperial examination has never allowed women to take part, but to test one's ability and display one's learning in the palace examination is indeed a fortunate thing."

Thinking of this, Li Qingzhao went to her master's master Su Shi's home, seeking his help to find a way.

To be clear, Li Qingzhao was favored by Su Shi not because Li Kefei had introduced her to him.

Originally, when Su Shi was recalled to the capital by Zhao Yu to serve as a chancellor, his disciples agreed to gather to welcome him back as a king returning.

At such an important occasion, Li Kefei certainly wouldn't bring his daughter to gain fame—it would make him seem too opportunistic.

Yet Li Qingzhao had been greatly praised by Chao Buzhi, Su Shi's top disciple, who had thought since childhood that Li Qingzhao's literary talent was lavish and rivaled the masters.

Coincidentally, at that time, Li Qingzhao had become wildly famous for her poem "Ru Meng Ling: Last Night, Sparse Rain, Strong Wind," bringing great honor to Su's circle.

So Chao Buzhi specifically asked Li Kefei to bring Li Qingzhao to show her to their master.

As a result, even Su Shi had heard of Li Qingzhao's name and her poem "Ru Meng Ling: Last Night, Sparse Rain, Strong Wind."

Su Shi lavished praise: "Her diction is fresh and ingenious, truly a model of ci poetry—I myself applaud it with delight!"

Li Qingzhao revered this literary titan, her master's master, the most.

Their homes were not far apart.

Li Qingzhao often visited Su Shi's house.

Su Shi's home was long filled with disciples of the Su school, drinking, reciting poetry, and composing couplets.

Lucky for her, these were precisely her favorite pastimes.

As a result, Li Qingzhao quickly bonded with these Su disciples.

In this deeply literary circle, through constant exposure and environmental influence, combined with her intelligence and quick wit, Li Qingzhao's scholarship rapidly advanced, showing clear signs of rising above her peers.

Seeing this, Su Shi grew even fonder of this extraordinarily clever young disciple, and in his leisure, he would offer her occasional guidance—or rather, exchange poems with her as a friend.

When Li Qingzhao arrived at Su Shi's home, she saw dozens of Su disciples or aspiring disciples gathered in his courtyard.

Li Qingzhao knew most of these people came not to visit their master, but to seek official posts.

Now, Zhao Yu had entrusted Su Shi, Zhang Shangying, and Li Qingchen with screening talent, while Su Zhe oversaw anti-corruption and the creation of official positions.

Combining the two meant a real, tangible path to office.

Of course, Zhao Yu chose Su Shi, Zhang Shangying, and Li Qingchen not only because their moral character was impeccable, but also to ensure mutual oversight among men from different factions.

Su Zhe was also a man of unimpeachable character; though he assigned former faction members to investigate corruption, the officials he promoted were unquestionably those who could benefit the people.

This was not merely because Su Shi and Su Zhe wished to repay Zhao Yu's trust and favor, but because they also bore responsibility for their reputations, status, and conscience—after all, if the talent they selected and promoted failed, they would not only lose face but also face public criticism.

Crucially, the Zhao-Song dynasty's cultural heritage was extraordinarily rich; imperial examinations came in wave after wave, and Taixue students graduated class after class, while the court was bloated with officials—often seven or eight men crammed into a single post.

The Zhao-Song dynasty certainly had no shortage of talent.

Under these circumstances, since Zhao Yu trusted and relied so heavily on Su Shi and Su Zhe, they must help him select and promote the very best talent from among the multitude.

Yet even so, seeking fortune at the Su gate remained an excellent route to office.

Many were not without talent, merely without opportunity.

Coming to the Su gate and demonstrating one's ability might just open such an opportunity.

Precisely because of this, the most sought-after circles in the Zhao-Song court today were the Cai family and the Su gate—even the Zhang family seemed slightly less influential.

This was also why Zhao Tingzhi, after offending Cai Jing, hurriedly sought to join the Su gate.

Li Qingzhao warmly greeted the gathering of Su disciples.

After asking around, she learned that Su Shi and Su Zhe had been detained after court by Zhao Yu for deliberations and had not yet returned.

Seeing this, Li Qingzhao cheerfully drank wine with several Su disciples; they sang to their wine, composed poetry and couplets, and expressed their feelings.

By the time Su Shi and Su Zhe returned, Li Qingzhao was nearly drunk.

At that moment, she had forgotten why she had come to see Su Shi.

Seeing Su Shi and Su Zhe return, and with so many people seeking them, they clearly had urgent matters to attend to.

She had had her fill.

Better to go home—no need to delay their important business.

So Li Qingzhao bowed to Su Shi and Su Zhe: "Your humble servant greets you, two masters." Then she prepared to leave.

But Su Shi laughed at her: "You're so fond of wine—how will you ever find a good husband?"

Li Qingzhao replied with ease: "Without wine, how can one produce fine verses? Wine is the spiritual spring of poetry and ci. A good husband? I can do without. But no fine wine? That I cannot accept."

Su Shi burst into laughter! Was he not himself such a free-spirited man? How could he not understand that this was not pretense—she truly held such a carefree outlook?

Su Shi casually remarked: "You idle your days away, running here to drink—doesn't your father mind?"

At Su Shi's "reminder," Li Qingzhao suddenly smacked her forehead: "Drunk and distracted—I nearly forgot my purpose! Today, I have come to ask my master for help."

"What do you seek?" Su Shi asked.

Li Qingzhao spoke openly: "I heard the palace will hold a palace examination. I came to ask if my master has any way to let me observe it? If you could let me take part, that would be wonderful."

Hearing Li Qingzhao had come for this, Su Shi laughed: "This palace examination is an elegant affair conducted by the Empress and the imperial consorts—you are not one of them. Why would you go?"

The speaker meant nothing; the listener took it to heart.

Beside him, Su Zhe carefully studied Li Qingzhao.

Her figure was slender, like a tender willow swaying gently in spring wind; every gesture revealed the delicate grace of a young maiden. Her face was as white as jade, flushed with the glow of wine, like a streak of dawn cloud across the horizon. Her eyes were clear and bright, like autumn pools brimming with curiosity and longing for the world, sparkling with wit and intelligence; when she smiled, those eyes curved into crescents, as if holding a sky full of stars.

Overall, Li Qingzhao may not be a peerless beauty, but she is clever and charming.

Su Zhe thought, "Your Majesty has no shortage of beauties; ordinary beauties cannot possibly catch his eye, but a woman like Li Yian—a rarity of a hundred years…"

Su Zhe knew well: though Zhao Yu now walks a middle path, using both new and old factions, this is only because Empress Dowager is alive; it is less Zhao Yu's own political path than Empress Dowager's.

Now the facts prove this political path seems unworkable. The conflict between the new and old factions is too great, their prejudices too deep, and each side clings stubbornly to its own views.

There is no guarantee that, after Empress Dowager's death, Zhao Yu will not grow weary of this endless quarreling and choose one side, abandoning the other entirely, as Gao Taotao and Zhao Xu once did.

Which side will Zhao Yu choose?

In truth, even with his heel, Su Zhe could guess: if forced to choose, Zhao Yu would most likely choose the New Party.

This is not only because Zhao Yu has already embarked on the path of reform.

It is also because the Zhao Song dynasty has truly reached a point where reform is unavoidable.

To speak bluntly, if ancestral laws had always worked, the Zhao Song dynasty could never have arrived at its present state.

The key is, the circumstances when ancestral laws worked were utterly different from today's.

Leaving aside other matters, how much land was then held by the high officials, scholar-gentry, and wealthy clans exempt from taxes? How much land has not since been seized by these parasites?

Without this major source of fiscal revenue, how could the Zhao Song dynasty survive unless it reformed? Wait to die?

In fact, during Gao Taotao's rule, these old faction members had already tried it: relying solely on austerity could never sustain this vast empire.

Otherwise, why do you think Zhao Xu, after assuming personal rule, so easily returned to the path of reform?

Thus, if Zhao Yu is truly forced into a binary choice, these old faction members will surely be discarded, and their fate may be even worse than before.

If it were only Su Zhe himself, though he had never reached the position of chancellor like Wang Anshi, Sima Guang, or Zhang Dun, he had long ago come perilously close to that rank; politically, he had no regrets or attachments left.

But his elder brother Su Shi was different.

Because of his overly candid and straightforward nature, Su Shi had remained depressed and unappreciated for years, exiled again and again by the court, finally even banished to Danzhou in Hainan—hot, malarial, and brutal—suffering greatly.

Fortunately, just as Su Shi was about to break, Zhao Yu ascended the throne, issued an edict recalling him to court, and promoted him to chancellor, placing great trust in him.

After waiting for years, Su Shi could finally realize the political ambitions he had pursued for decades.

To be honest, Su Zhe truly did not want his elder brother to endure another crushing blow.

If another came, Su Zhe truly did not know whether his brother, now of advanced age, could withstand it?

If so, they must find a way.

The old faction's greatest current reliance is surely Empress Dowager, who holds high status and has granted Zhao Yu favor.

Logically, as long as Empress Dowager's protection remains, the old faction should not suffer further devastation.

But recently, Empress Dowager's health has deteriorated severely; she frequently falls ill and visibly ages before their eyes.

Considering Empress Dowager's age,

No one knows whether tomorrow or misfortune will arrive first.

Thus, even if the old faction cannot continue to rival the New Party, to ensure stability, they must find someone to replace Empress Dowager—someone who can, at critical moments, persuade Zhao Yu not to listen to the sycophantic words of Zhang Dun, Cai Bian, and Cai Jing and slaughter the old faction.

Indeed, enlightened members of the old faction have already recognized this problem; for instance, Han Zhongyan has already begun cultivating ties with Cai Jing.

Empress Dowager has also recognized this problem. That is why she had Zhao Yu restore Meng Xiang to his former position.

Yet Meng Xiang is merely Zhao Yu's sister-in-law, not his mother, and only a sister-in-law with little personal connection to him—he cannot replace Empress Dowager.

Zheng Xiansu, however, would be a decent candidate.

But Empress Dowager had long ago told Su Zhe and the others: Zheng Xiansu cannot be trusted; at critical moments, Zheng Xiansu will unquestionably follow Zhao Yu's lead.

Otherwise, Empress Dowager would never have cultivated Meng Xiang as her successor.

But as things stand now, Meng Xiang alone is certainly insufficient.

Thus, they must create someone who can assist Meng Xiang.

To be honest, Su Zhe was uncertain whether Li Qingzhao—neither a peerless beauty, but a drunkard, rumored to love gambling—could fill this role.

Yet Li Qingzhao possesses a charm no other woman has; this is beyond doubt.

What if Zhao Yu, who has tried every kind of woman, happens to favor this unconventional type?

Moreover, Li Qingzhao's status is excellent; her forehead is deeply branded with the character "Su." If she truly enters Zhao Yu's harem and gains his favor, she will surely aid the old faction—at least speak for the Su family.

The key is: if it works, they gain immensely; if it fails, they lose nothing.

Thinking thus, Su Zhe spoke to Su Shi: "Brother, why not take this girl to present her to Your Majesty? If he permits her to participate, all the better; if not, he can merely send her home."

Su Zhe's attitude surprised Su Shi.

But Su Shi trusted his younger brother one hundred and twenty percent; without this brother, he would have died many times over.

Moreover, Su Shi knew well: in poetry and lyrics, Su Zhe was no match for him; but in officialdom and affairs, he was no match for Su Zhe. If Su Zhe spoke up now, he must have his reason.

So Su Shi said to Li Qingzhao: "You're lucky, girl—I'll take you to meet Your Majesty."

Li Qingzhao was overjoyed; her lovely face flushed a charming crimson from the alcohol, like the most delicate peach blossom on a spring branch. Her eyes grew brighter, as if holding a sky full of stars, sparkling with liveliness and delight.

"Really? Don't trick me!"

Su Shi laughed heartily: "It's a deal!"

Afraid Su Shi might renege, Li Qingzhao made a pact with him: "Even four horses cannot catch it back!"

……

(End of Chapter)