Chapter 154: The Five Women's Break

…

The Qiao clan and the Wei clan had struck it lucky.

For many days in a row, Zhao Yu had both women attend him in bed.

It was only when the Qiao woman became pregnant that the Wei woman was left to fight alone.

As for the women Zheng Xiansu had recommended to Zhao Yu, Zhao Yu gave Zheng Xiansu plenty of face, refusing none and accepting them all.

This directly led to, by the time Zheng Xiansu gave birth to her second child, five women in Kunninggong being pregnant with Zhao Yu's dragon-seed.

One could say Zhao Yu had truly given the women of Kunninggong a fine festival.

This was something the women in Zhang Chun's palace and the women in Cai Xuan's palace simply could not compare to.

From this it was not hard to see that Zheng Xiansu would always be the Empress of the Zhao Song dynasty, the mistress of Zhao Yu's harem. Her resources—no matter what kind, including the resource of getting the women in Zhao Yu's harem pregnant—were beyond what any other woman could match.

Zhao Yu was also very cooperative in helping Zheng Xiansu prove this point.

That evening, Zhao Yu had just finished with the Wei woman and the Shiling Gulin that Zheng Xiansu had recommended, and was lying with the two of them, watching the Wei woman's belly out of the corner of his eye, thinking, "Zhao Gou, I shall see you ten months from now," when suddenly a maid came to report: "My lord, the Empress is about to give birth."

Hearing this, Zhao Yu hurriedly got up to make arrangements.

In fact, Zhao Yu's doing so was entirely superfluous. Pei Sui and others had long since arranged everything properly, and someone had gone at once to invite Li Lin and Ye Shi Yun over just in case.

However, all of this was actually unnecessary. Because she had already given birth once, Zheng Xiansu's second child came very smoothly. In the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Zheng Xiansu gave birth to the child without a hitch—mother and child both safe.

That's right.

Zheng Xiansu's second child had finally borne Zhao Yu his legitimate eldest son; the Zhao Song dynasty now had its most rightful heir.

Upon hearing this news, Zhao Yu let out a long sigh of relief. Zheng Xiansu wept for joy, the heavy burden on her shoulders instantly lifting, and the many people who had worried about the Zhao Song dynasty's succession all felt their hearts ease.

Zhao Yu thereupon, on the grounds of the birth of his legitimate eldest son, issued an edict granting a general amnesty, which read:

"I, in my humble person, have inherited the great enterprise of our ancestors and rule over ten thousand realms, growing more cautious with each passing day, lest I fall short. Now Heaven and Earth have bestowed their blessing: my legitimate eldest son has been born, joy filling the palace chambers, auspicious light encircling the room. This is the favor and shade of the Liezulie Sect, and the great blessing of the state and its people."

"The legitimate eldest son inherits the ancestral rites; the very foundation of the nation rests upon him. The joy of his birth truly heralds the prosperity of family and realm alike. Moved by Heaven's favor, with grace overflowing, how could I dare keep such joy to myself? I hereby specially issue an edict of leniency, proclaiming it to all quarters."

"From the day this edict arrives, all prisoners under detention throughout the realm, except those guilty of the Ten Abominations, premeditated murder, plotting treason, and the like, shall have their sentences reduced by one degree and be released, all granted a fresh start. May they cleanse their hearts and reform themselves, returning to the path of goodness. Taxes and levies in all circuits shall likewise be reduced as appropriate, to ease the people's toil, so that all subjects may know my heart of loving the people as my own children, and together bask in the imperial grace."

"I hope that within the four seas, all shall know my intent. The officials who guard the land shall carry this out with full devotion, ensuring the grace is spread far and wide, leaving none overlooked. May our great Song henceforth grow ever more prosperous, its people living and working in peace, enjoying an age of eternal tranquility."

"Let this be proclaimed far and near, that all may hear it."

When it came time to name Zhao Yu's legitimate eldest son, Zhang Chun once again came scurrying over to offer her suggestion, saying: "'Cheng' means a sage among trees; the Fifteenth Imperial Prince could be named with the character 'Cheng.'"

Sometimes, Zhao Yu truly wished he could kick Zhang Chun to death.

'Relying on being a transmigrator and knowing history, sometimes you're truly brazen!'

'Lucky I'm also a transmigrator and know a fair bit about Song dynasty history, otherwise I'd have been done in by you for sure!'

"Zhao Cheng" was actually the name of the son Zheng Xiansu bore Zhao Ji in history.

Except that Zhao Cheng died the day after he was born—a thorough short-lived ghost.

The key point was that after Zhao Cheng, Zheng Xiansu never bore another son; otherwise, whether Zhao Ji's throne could have passed to Zhao Huan's hands was really not certain.

Clearly, Zhang Chun hoped Zhao Yu's legitimate eldest son would die young just like Zhao Cheng, hoped Zheng Xiansu would never bear another son, hoped she could replace Zheng Xiansu, hoped the son she bore could become Crown Prince, or even Emperor, and that she herself would rise in status through her son to become Empress Dowager. As for Zhao Yu—that went without saying: when the waves behind on the Yangtze push forward those before, Zhao Yu, the wave in front, would naturally end up dead on the beach.

'Zhang Chun needs disciplining again. I must find a chance to teach her a proper lesson, to let her know why the flowers are so red!'

Zhao Yu glanced, without leaving a trace, at Liang Shicheng.

Liang Shicheng, who had grown a seven-orifice exquisite heart, immediately understood and said: "Cheng refers to the tamarisk. Its old branches are red, its leaves resemble scales, its young leaves are used in medicine, and its twigs can be woven into baskets and flails. It is not a fitting name for the Crown Prince and cannot be used."

Zhang Chun looked at Liang Shicheng, a flash of hatred in her eyes, and thought secretly, 'Eunuch dog! You've ruined my good deed. If I get the chance, I'll make you pay for today's business!'

But Liang Shicheng didn't so much as glance at Zhang Chun. Clearly, Liang Shicheng was not afraid of Zhang Chun at all.

Speaking of which, it seemed no one had ever truly feared Zhang Chun.

This was only natural.

Zhang Chun was actually just one of Zhao Yu's imperial consorts, an imperial consort with no real power who couldn't harm anyone. A woman like this—Zhao Yu had plenty of them, as many as he wanted. Who would fear her?

With the台阶 Liang Shicheng had laid down, Zhao Yu went with the flow: "Mm… 'Cheng' is indeed not a fitting name for the Crown Prince, it's inappropriate. Moreover, this child was not easily obtained—the Empress conceived twice before bearing him. I only hope he is healthy and lives a long life. How about naming him with the character 'Shou,' meaning longevity?"

Those present immediately chimed in one after another:

"Your Majesty is wise. Naming the Fifteenth Imperial Prince 'Shou' carries an auspicious meaning; it is truly a blessing for our great Song and the good fortune of all the people!"

"The character 'Shou' is both Your Majesty's deep expectation for the Fifteenth Imperial Prince and a demonstration of our great Song's enduring blessings—it is truly the best choice!"

"The character 'Shou' has 'Feng' above and 'Cun' below. 'Feng' means bountiful harvests and a prosperous people, signifying our great Song's peace and prosperity; 'Cun' means measure and proportion. One in authority must distinguish right from wrong and grasp proportion to govern the state and bring peace to all. Naming the Fifteenth Imperial Prince 'Shou' fits this meaning perfectly—it is truly a match made by Heaven, most auspicious!"

"…"

Those present praised in unison, their words full of devotion and joy, as if the single-character difference between "Cheng" and "Shou" could truly protect this newborn child to a life of health and enduring blessing.

Whether others believed it or not, Zhang Chun's heart tightened. Zhang Chun had a very bad premonition: because this child's name had changed, his fate might have changed too.

Zhao Yu saw through Zhang Chun's thoughts at a glance. He thought, 'Did you never consider that what changed wasn't his name, but his father?'

Before long, Zhao Shou was brought before Zhao Yu.

Zhao Yu looked at the child: a full, broad forehead, a square and rounded jaw, a bearing of dragon-like poise and phoenix-like grace, the look of a future sovereign. He seemed blessed with deep fortune, with not the slightest sign of a short life.

Zhao Yu was overjoyed!

Zhang Chun also saw Zhao Shou's appearance, and her heart sank completely into the abyss: 'It's over. History is going to completely change!!!'

Events were developing in the direction Zhang Chun feared most.

The next day, Zhang Chun waited distractedly the entire day, but no news came of Zhao Shou dying young.

On the contrary, Zhang Chun took the opportunity of visiting Zheng Xiansu to look in on him. Zhao Shou was growing very sturdy, clearly a child who would thrive.

Zhang Chun was disheartened. She felt that the throne beneath Zheng Xiansu might never belong to her; her dream of becoming Empress Dowager was utterly shattered.

Zhang Chun was seething with resentment, so at the gathering of the five women, she took it out on Ye Shi Yun: "It's all your fault, coming up with that lousy 'Barefoot Doctor's Manual.' Now look—Zhao Yu has a legitimate eldest son, and our sons have no chance at all of becoming heir. You can't help with anything, and on top of that you just stir up trouble. What's the matter with you?!"

Ye Shi Yun did not indulge Zhang Chun the way Yuan Qingcheng did. She got straight to the point and started cursing: "Get lost! Don't take your madness out on me! Zhang Chun, I'm warning you—don't you dare provoke me. If you really push me too far, I'll go tell Zhao Yu that we're transmigrators, that you're so desperate to be Empress Dowager you've gone crazy, that you want to seize Empress Zheng's throne first, then kill him to take over the rule of the great Song, and let him throw you into the cold palace to cut off the trouble once and for all!"

Ye Shi Yun still wasn't satisfied. She then flipped the table and said: "Let me tell you all—if I, Ye Shi Yun, don't have it easy, then nobody's having it easy. You all know I mean what I say!!!"

Zhang Chun was instantly left speechless by Ye Shi Yun's retort!

The key point, Zhang Chun knew, was that Ye Shi Yun, this woman with no sense of the bigger picture, when she lost control, was capable of doing absolutely anything.

Last time, when Ye Shi Yun was about to give birth to Zhao Cun, she nearly revealed all their secrets to Zhao Yu.

Moreover, Ye Shi Yun now deeply trusted Zhao Yu and had absolutely no guard up around him.

If she angered Ye Shi Yun, there was no telling whether Ye Shi Yun might go straight to Zhao Yu and expose her.

At this moment, Zhang Chun realized that Yuan Qing Cheng, who cared more about the bigger picture, was far better—unlike Ye Shi Yun, who, whenever things didn't go her way, wanted to burn everything down and die together.

What Zhang Chun didn't know was that Yuan Qing Cheng was at that very moment reflecting inwardly, thinking:

"Ye Shi Yun really lives life to the fullest!"

"I should learn from Ye Shi Yun—I can't keep yielding all the time!"

"Yes, I am now Zhao Yu's true Empress Consort; everything is taken care of by Zhao Yu—I don't need Zhang Chun to guide me at all. Why should I still give in to her?"

"In my last life, my fan base was more than ten times Zhang Chun's. Every time she saw me, wasn't she polite, saying nothing but sweet words?"

"In this life, Zhang Chun knows history well; though she had an early advantage, history has already changed, so her advantage must be shrinking."

"As for politics, I think Zhang Chun's abilities are mediocre—if not for Zhao Yu, who could she possibly outmaneuver?"

"And I? Once I solve this era's problem of food for the people, what achievement could tiny Zhang Chun possibly match?"

Seeing Ma Xiao Jiao patted Ye Shi Yun's back and said, "Shi Yun, calm down, calm down. You know Pure Sister—when she's worked up, she talks nonsense. Don't take it personally."

Ye Shi Yun spoke bluntly: "Whether she's worked up or not has nothing to do with me. Do I owe her anything? My 'Guide to Barefoot Doctors' has helped countless people. So far, none of Zhao Yu's children have died—wasn't that all my doing? Why is she saying this about me?"

Ye Shi Yun added angrily: "Besides, without me, would she and her son even have survived? She doesn't show me gratitude—instead, she blames me for creating the 'Barefoot Doctors Manual.' Isn't she ungrateful?"

Zhao Tang, shortly after birth, developed severe jaundice.

It was Ye Shi Yun who instructed Qian Yi to treat Zhao Tang with Yin Hao Decoction, combined with acupuncture at the Dantong, Ganyu, Zhiyang, Yanglingquan, and Zusanli acupoints.

Last winter, when Zhang Chun suffered a severe cold, it was Ye Shi Yun who instructed the imperial physicians to treat her with Ma Huang Tang and Gui Zhi Tang, combined with acupuncture at Hegu, Fengchi, and Dazhui acupoints.

Ye Shi Yun considered herself the savior of Zhang Chun and Zhao Tang's mother-son pair, so she naturally dared to speak to Zhang Chun this way.

In fact, because of her incomprehensibly deep medical skills—and because, so far, Zhao Yu's children have had a one hundred percent survival rate—Ye Shi Yun held a transcendent status in the harem, even Zheng Xiansu treating her with great courtesy.

Was Ye Shi Yun afraid of Zhang Chun?

Already in the wrong, Ye Shi Yun had stormed in, overturned the table, then shamelessly leveraged her own favors—Zhang Chun was instantly silenced, left with nothing but regret: "Why did I provoke her?!"

But Ye Shi Yun, sensing advantage, pressed on: "You're always scheming to steal Empress Zheng's position—do you have her skills? Look at her: when has she ever complained like you, blaming one person today and another tomorrow, as if your failure to become Empress is all our fault!"

As the saying goes: don't hit someone on the face, don't expose someone's shame—Ye Shi Yun's words shattered Zhang Chun's last defenses. She flew into a rage: "Ye Shi Yun, that's enough! If you keep this up, I'll cut ties with you!"

Ye Shi Yun shot back: "I'm not afraid of a complete break—I'm not afraid of you cutting ties with me! Go ahead, end it! See if I dare!"

"You—"

Zhang Chun wanted to say more, but Li Lin grabbed her by the collar and dragged her out.

Zhang Chun wasn't afraid of Ye Shi Yun, nor Yuan Qing Cheng, nor Seeing Ma Xiao Jiao—but Li Lin? She dared not provoke her in the slightest.

Now, with Li Lin physically acting, Zhang Chun immediately obeyed and followed Li Lin out without resistance.

Outside, Zhang Chun still wanted to explain, but Li Lin cut her off bluntly:

"Today's incident isn't Ye Shi Yun's fault—it's all yours. You wish Empress Zheng had no son so you could replace her? That's just your delusion. In my view, you're utterly unfit to be Empress. Zhao Yu choosing Empress Zheng over you was correct. To be honest, the four of us have discussed this privately and unanimously agree: even without Empress Zheng, you'd never be Empress—you simply aren't fit for it."

"Listen to me: rely on Zhao Yu to realize your political dreams—that's the only path you should take. Stop having unrealistic fantasies, or you're playing with fire and will eventually burn yourself alive."

"Also, as Zhao Yu's fitness coach, I can tell you honestly: with your physical condition, you won't outlive Zhao Yu. Don't be fooled by his nightly revels—you'll never become Empress Dowager, and no one in this dynasty will ever live long enough to become Empress Dowager."

"Lastly, on behalf of the other three, I tell you this: if you still refuse to see sense, don't come near us again. We don't want to be Empress, and we don't want to be dragged down by your stupidity."

"That's all. Mind your own business."

After saying this, Li Lin left, leaving behind only Zhang Chun—betrayed by all, deeply wounded, and still not knowing what she had done wrong…

……

(End of chapter)