Chapter 13: First Intimate Contact

…

"Empress Dowager Chun?!"

At the same moment Zhang Chun saw Zhao Yu, Zhao Yu also saw Zhang Chun.

When writing his historical novel, Zhao Yu often searched online for materials, and eventually came across Zhang Chun's videos.

To be honest, Zhao Yu got hooked because Zhang Chun's skin was as white as jade, her features stunningly beautiful, and her demeanor elegant.

After watching Zhang Chun's historical lecture videos, Zhao Yu, who also studied history, had to admit that Zhang Chun understood history better than he did—especially the minute details, which she knew like the back of her hand; she could recite the exact dates of historical events without a single error, and she could analyze the political factors within those events with remarkable insight.

Because of this, Zhao Yu had watched all of Zhang Chun's lectures on the Northern and Southern Song periods, and even borrowed many of her theories and summaries for his novel.

Notably, whenever Zhang Chun spoke about powerful Empress Dowagers in history, her eyes sparkled, and her words brimmed with admiration and longing for them—hence some of her fans called her "Empress Dowager Chun."

Seeing Zhang Chun again, Zhao Yu was virtually certain that Zhang Chun, Li Lin, Ye Shi Yun, Ma Xiao Jiao, and Yuan Qing Cheng had all been transported here.

One of Zhao Yu's purposes in coming to Cide Palace was to test whether Ma Xiao Jiao and Yuan Qing Cheng were truly transported, and to see if Zhang Chun, Li Lin, and Ye Shi Yun had been transported as well.

Ma Xiao Jiao was an inventor, possessing extensive knowledge of physics and chemistry, and she had exceptional hands-on skills; if she had truly been transported, and Zhao Yu could obtain her and make proper use of her, he could dramatically boost the productivity of this era, even enabling the Song army to use advanced firearms centuries ahead of schedule.

As for Yuan Qing Cheng, the agricultural scientist, it goes without saying—if she had been transported, and Zhao Yu obtained her, she could develop high-yield hybrid rice, greatly stabilizing Zhao Yu's rule, and she could also cultivate fruits and vegetables unknown in this era, enriching its culinary culture.

Li Lin, who excelled in military affairs, and Ye Shi Yun, who excelled in economics, were both immensely useful.

Even Zhang Chun, whose skills overlapped with Zhao Yu's, could help him fill gaps and devise strategies.

In short, if Zhang Chun and the other four women had been transported, they were virtually Zhao Yu's golden finger.

How could Zhao Yu possibly not value them?

Yet Zhao Yu was still unsure whether they had truly been transported—or whether they merely resembled the women from his world.

After instructing the eunuch guarding the gate, Pei Yanchen, to announce his arrival, Zhao Yu, while pondering how to verify whether Zhang Chun and the other four were transported, had Liang Shicheng distribute Guanghan Workshop's osmanthus cakes and Li's candied fruits to the palace maids and young eunuchs.

These two items weren't expensive, but they were hard to obtain within the palace, especially for low-ranking maids and young eunuchs.

While Pei Yanchen went to announce him, Zhao Yu chatted casually with the maids and young eunuchs—asking about their surnames, duties, hometowns, family size, and how they managed life in the palace.

After hearing their answers, Zhao Yu said: "Poor children—you entered the palace at ten or eleven to serve the Empress Dowager. Work hard, and if you ever get the chance, I will speak well of you before the Empress Dowager."

Whether Zhao Yu's words were true or not, a prince of such high status bringing them snacks they hadn't tasted in ages, and speaking to them so kindly—how could any of them not feel grateful to Zhao Yu?

The key is: without comparison, there is no harm.

Other princes also come to pay respects to the Empress Dowager, yet they never even glance at these maids and young eunuchs; if they do look, it's like Zhao Ji—only casting a few lingering glances at particularly beautiful maids like Li Lin, perhaps uttering a few light, teasing remarks to the ones they fancy, but never bringing them snacks or chatting with them as Zhao Yu did.

Thus, many young eunuchs surrounded Zhao Yu, showering him with thanks and gratitude; some older maids blushed shyly, their eyes filled with longing as they gazed at Zhao Yu.

Zhang Chun could never be so easily infatuated, but she clearly understood that politics was about winning people's hearts—those in power who could act convincingly and win people's hearts would gain support and secure their positions.

From this perspective, Zhao Yu was undoubtedly well-suited to be emperor.

Zhang Chun thought: "Using wealth to win hearts generally earns good reputation; he can also patiently play the part—why doesn't he compete with Zhao Ji for the throne? Is it because he lacks political backing? Or does the Empress Dowager prefer Zhao Ji, who is all glitter and no substance? Or perhaps he has no desire to be emperor?"

Though she didn't know why historical records made no mention of Zhao Yu competing with Zhao Ji for the throne, based on what Zhang Chun had seen and heard so far, Zhao Yu was clearly a man well-suited to be emperor.

Zhang Chun wanted to have a deep conversation with Zhao Yu to further judge whether he was fit to replace Zhao Ji.

But Zhang Chun had always been too shy to initiate conversation with Zhao Yu, and now, surrounded by maids and young eunuchs, she had no idea how to approach him.

At the same time, Zhang Chun knew well that this was the imperial palace, and they five were the lowest-ranking maids—meeting Zhao Yu once was already extremely difficult; even seeing him now was largely due to luck, a chance that would never come again. So no matter how hard, she had to speak to him. Otherwise, when she returned, she wouldn't be able to answer to Li Lin and the other four.

In truth, Zhao Yu had patiently chatted with the maids and young eunuchs partly because he wanted to subtly probe Zhang Chun.

Yet Zhang Chun had remained on the periphery, too hesitant to approach, and Zhao Yu didn't want to alarm her—thus wasting the opportunity he had deliberately created.

Before arriving, Zhao Yu had already decided that even if he confirmed Zhang Chun and the other four were transported, he must keep his own identity as a transported person a secret from them—after all, it was his greatest secret; the more people who knew, the greater the risk. If some ambitious person discovered he could "foresee the future," they might capture him, torture him, and force him to reveal what they wanted to know.

"Forget it. As long as I become emperor, these five will become my concubines—then, won't it be easy to find out whether they're transported?"

Soon, Pei Yanchen returned.

Zhao Yu smiled at the maids and young eunuchs, then walked toward Pei Yanchen.

Seeing Zhao Yu about to leave, Zhang Chun had no time to think further—she abandoned her reserve and poise, stepped forward in three strides, and whispered to Zhao Yu: "The Wu man gathers the imperial light, and from now on court authority shifts. Months hence, the great mandate arrives, and the dynasty begins anew."

As she finished, Zhang Chun slipped the method of making soap into Zhao Yu's hand.

The instant Zhang Chun's small hand touched Zhao Yu's large one, her face flushed crimson.

It felt to her as if she were handing a love letter to a boy.

Embarrassed, her heart leapt to her throat!

Though she had only vaguely spoken a cryptic verse, it clearly indicated that "Zhao Yu" would soon become emperor—a statement so treasonous in this era.

To put it plainly: if investigated, this single sentence could convict her of rebellion, warranting execution of her entire family; at the very least, her male relatives would be exiled three thousand li, and her female relatives sent to the courtesan quarters.

To be honest, though circumstances forced her hand, Zhang Chun still felt regret.

"Perhaps I should have waited longer, or thought of a safer way to phrase it?"

"But time waits for no one—opportunities vanish in an instant. I could only take this risk to avoid losing this chance, right?"

"I'm still only at the stage of theoretical talk—politically and practically, I'm still immature. Sigh!"

As Zhang Chun sweated profusely and inwardly cursed herself, Zhao Yu calmly slipped the "letter" she had given him into his sleeve and continued walking toward Pei Yanchen.

Pei Yanchen stepped forward: "The Empress Dowager asks Your Highness to wait a moment in the front hall."

Zhao Yu smiled: "Good." Then followed Pei Yanchen into Cide Palace, as if nothing had happened between him and Zhang Chun.

Seeing this, Zhang Chun felt as if she had been pardoned.

After a moment, Zhang Chun watched Zhao Yu's back, a faint smile curling at her lips: "Now I'm certain of two things: one, you're composed—you're someone who can accomplish great things; two, you've always harbored ambition to be emperor…"

…

(End of Chapter)