Chapter 155: Zhang Chun Fakes Illness

…

Zhang Chun never imagined that what had started as an ordinary gathering would end with Li Lin, Ye Shi Yun, Ma Ma Xiao Jiao, and Yuan Qingcheng "expelling" her.

Zhang Chun also knew the fault was hers — it was she who had lost her temper at Ye Shi Yun for no reason and triggered the whole thing.

Still, Zhang Chun also understood clearly that this was not the main reason the four women had "expelled" her. The real reason the four women "expelled" her was that they no longer wanted her to set her sights on the position of Empress, believing she could never become Empress, let alone Empress Dowager, and not wanting her to invite trouble, and most importantly, not wanting to be dragged down by her.

Li Shishi, who had been waiting outside the door with Zhao Yuannu, Cui Nianyue, Xiduo, and Xu Poxi, saw Zhang Chun being "thrown out" by Li Lin, and trotted over to ask, "My Lady, what's wrong with you?"

Zhang Chun said not a single word; instead, she returned to her own quarters in a daze and lay on the bed alone, deep in thought.

Zhang Chun first thought, with a distinctly conspiratorial bent, that because history had undergone drastic changes, the role she — who was skilled in history — could play would grow smaller and smaller, while the other four women were the exact opposite: their respective abilities were gradually coming to the fore and would become more and more important.

Take Li Lin — to say nothing of her serving as Zhao Yu's personal fitness instructor at his side, with Zhao Yu taking her everywhere he went, clearly treating her as one of his attendants and bodyguards; even in the Zhao Song dynasty where women absolutely could not command armies, she had already, through Zhao Yu's hand, established the Shenji Army — currently the Zhao Song dynasty's highest combat force — and could command the Zhao Song dynasty's highest combat force through Zhao Yu, and could even instruct all the senior generals of the Zhao Song dynasty, subtly increasing her prestige in the military. One could not say for sure that, given the right circumstances, her dream of commanding troops might not actually come true.

Take Ye Shi Yun — she had already become Zhao Yu's most trusted economic advisor, constantly helping Zhao Yu keep a grip on the overall trend of the Zhao Song dynasty's economic development; on top of that, she had also managed to become a divine physician. The court was now vigorously promoting her *Ye Shi Yun Medical Canon*, and the court was preparing to use the *Ye Shi Yun Medical Canon* as the foundation to build the largest modern hospital of the age in Dongjing Bianliang.

As for Ma Ma Xiao Jiao and Yuan Qingcheng, there was even less need to say.

The former had already developed numerous advanced technologies that would change the era, and many other major projects — steam engines, electricity, magnetism, wind power, water power, materials, and more — were currently under research and development;

The latter had already improved quite a number of high-yield, delicious fruits and vegetables, and through advanced farming techniques had raised grain output in some regions by more than thirty percent.

With one side rising and the other falling, anyone could see that Zhang Chun was now the most useless of them all, and that in the future she would only grow more useless.

In truth, Zhang Chun had already realized this long ago.

Zhang Chun had also long since seen clearly that Zhao Yu had absolutely no intention of replacing Zheng Xiansu as Empress — not even though Zheng Xiansu could not bear a son, let alone now that Zheng Xiansu had given birth to a son.

Moreover, Zhang Chun had actually long been aware that Zhao Yu — who always made her beg for mercy — was in far better physical shape than she was, and that her merely average body would most likely not outlive Zhao Yu's.

The key point was, she was not Pan Jinlian; she could never bring herself to murder her own husband.

Even more crucially, she was not the Empress, and her son was not the Crown Prince. Zhao Yu did not have only Zhao Tang as his one son — he had another dozen or twenty sons besides. If she went to all the trouble of killing Zhao Yu, not only would she gain nothing, she might even give others an excuse to eliminate mother and son alike; it would be making a wedding dress for someone else entirely.

Therefore, Zhang Chun actually understood perfectly well that her dream of becoming Empress Dowager would most likely forever remain just a dream.

But knowing and accepting were two different things. As a transmigrator — and one who had done the best at the start, who had dominated everything — Zhang Chun truly found it very hard to accept being marginalized, reduced to an appendage of the other transmigrators, living a life dependent on their good graces.

Moreover, in her previous life Zhang Chun had already not done as well as Li Lin, Ye Shi Yun, Ma Ma Xiao Jiao, and Yuan Qingcheng. Now they had all transmigrated, and transmigrated into a stretch of history that only she knew in its entirety while everyone else only had a half-understanding. If even now she still did not do better than the four of them, she would not be able to look up to herself.

Yet ever since she had met Zheng Xiansu, Zheng Xiansu had casually stepped in and given the qualification to instruct palace women — which originally belonged to Zhang Chun — to Ma Ma Xiao Jiao. From then on, Zhang Chun had never risen again, always kept one step down by Zheng Xiansu, and it had developed to the point where she had now completely lost her chance to become Empress, growing more and more mediocre, even suffering a total defeat.

And "becoming Empress, becoming Empress Dowager" had become Zhang Chun's last fig leaf. She wanted to use this slogan to tell Li Lin and the other four: I, Zhang Chun, am going to become Empress in the future, and Empress Dowager too; I will wield the highest authority of the Zhao Song dynasty. You cannot look down on me, do not try to restore the hierarchical relationship from our previous life, you must continue to respect me, and let me remain the leader among us.

She never expected that in the end, Li Lin and the others still tore off Zhang Chun's last fig leaf, leaving her unable to deceive herself any longer.

'Where should I go from here?'

Zhang Chun lay on the bed for a full day and a night, neither eating nor drinking.

This caused Li Shishi and the others in Zhang Chun's palace to worry endlessly.

With no other choice, Li Shishi could only run off to find Zhao Yu and report the situation to him.

Because of the matter of naming Zhao Shou, Zhao Yu had still been wanting to deal with Zhang Chun. But before Zhao Yu could act, Zhang Chun had already run into trouble first.

Although Zhao Yu sometimes wished he could kick Zhang Chun to death, to be honest, despite Zhao Yu having many women — so many he could have as many as he wanted — the women who truly held a place in his heart were actually not many, and Zhang Chun and her four companions were absolutely among those five.

Therefore, upon hearing that something had happened to Zhang Chun, Zhao Yu hurried over with Li Shishi to visit her.

Seeing Zhao Yu arrive, Zhang Chun struggled to sit up and said, "Your concubine… Your concubine greets Your Majesty."

Zhao Yu hurried to the bedside and said, "Beloved consort, please lie back down, no need for such ceremony."

Hearing Zhao Yu say this, Zhang Chun shifted slightly, gripped Zhao Yu's hand tightly, gazing at him with deep affection, tears gushing forth: "Your concubine was born of humble origins; today I have received the holy grace, my heart's wish is fulfilled, and even in death I would have no regrets!"

Zhao Yu was stunned. 'She was perfectly fine two days ago — how has it suddenly come to this talk of life and death?'

Zhang Chun continued: "Though one day Your concubine may be buried beneath the nine springs, my soul shall never leave Your Majesty's side. I earnestly hope Your Majesty will always keep the common people of the world in mind and put the ancestral temple and the state above all. Your concubine cannot bear to leave, yet such is my fate. Your Majesty must take care of your sacred body and not grieve too deeply…"

Zhao Yu immediately gave orders: "Summon the imperial physicians at once to diagnose Consort Zhang's illness — no mistakes allowed!"

Soon, Zhao Yu's "head of the personal healthcare physician team," Wang Wen, arrived and took Zhang Chun's pulse.

After taking the pulse, Wang Wen's brow immediately furrowed.

Seeing Wang Wen's brow furrow, Zhao Yu's heart rose with it.

After taking Zhang Chun's pulse for a while longer, Wang Wen's peripheral gaze swept left and right across the room.

Soon, Wang Wen spotted a water bucket, and then noticed the hand towel beside the bucket was soaking wet, and immediately guessed most of what had happened.

Wang Wen said without changing expression: "Consort Zhang's pulse is as faint as a gossamer thread; I cannot read it accurately. Ruyi, you come and diagnose Consort Zhang."

Wang Wen's subordinate court physician Hao Ruyi came over to take Zhang Chun's pulse.

Wang Wen, taking advantage of this moment, walked over to the water bucket to take a look.

And indeed, there were ice cubes in the water bucket.

Wang Wen glanced at Zhao Yu without leaving any trace.

Wang Wen had served by Zhao Yu's side for over two years, and the two had already slept together; there was certainly a tacit understanding between them.

Zhao Yu said to Zhang Chun: "Beloved consort, wait a moment. I will have Qian Yi and others come diagnose you."

As he spoke, Zhao Yu went out.

Zhang Chun's heart gave a sudden lurch. She was no fool — how could she not realize that if Zhao Yu wanted Qian Yi to diagnose her illness, he only needed to call out, so why did he need to go out?

Combined with the fact that Wang Wen had just gone over to her ice bucket, Zhang Chun immediately realized that her faking illness had most likely been exposed.

Sure enough!

After Zhao Yu went out, Wang Wen said to Zhao Yu: "Before taking the pulse, immersing the wrist in cold water for a period of time will weaken the pulse. Consort Zhang's room happens to have a bucket of ice water. Furthermore, before we take the pulse, taking a deep breath and holding it can also make the pulse become faint and irregular, leading us to misjudge her as being in poor health…"

Although Wang Wen had not said it outright, Zhao Yu also understood clearly: Zhang Chun was faking her illness.

Zhao Yu immediately went back in, fuming.

The moment he entered Zhang Chun's bedchamber, Zhao Yu saw Zhang Chun kneeling obediently on the ground, not moving at all — clearly, if Zhao Yu wanted to beat her, he could beat her; if he wanted to punish her, he could punish her; she would accept it all.

Last time, when Zhang Chun had wanted to give Zhao Shou the name "Zhao Cheng," Zhao Yu had already wanted to deal with Zhang Chun. Now she still dared to fake illness and deceive him — this was the perfect chance to settle both old and new scores with Zhang Chun at once.

Zhao Yu said coldly: "All of you, get out!"

Zhang Chun's heart sank at once, but recalling Zhao Yu's magnanimous character, she still clung to a sliver of hope.

When the room was left with only Zhao Yu and Zhang Chun, Zhao Yu picked up Zhang Chun and carried her to the bed, then pulled down her pants and began spanking her buttocks…

Outside, Liu Mingda and the others heard Zhang Chun's cries of pain and assumed she was being subjected to inhuman abuse.

Who knew that as Zhang Chun kept screaming, her voice changed.

Slowly, Zhang Chun's cries became like those of a cat in heat.

Not long after, unmentionable sounds began to emanate from the room…

…

The clouds dispersed, the rain ended.

Zhao Yu held Zhang Chun, who lay like a kitten, stroking her as if petting a cat, and thought helplessly, 'I give up—Zhang Chun is an M-type personality. How did I never notice this before?'

Zhang Chun, meanwhile, lay contentedly in Zhao Yu's arms, savoring the sweetness of what had just passed.

After a long while, Zhao Yu spoke: 'Tell me, what are you up to now?'

Zhang Chun immediately put on her dramatic act and complained: 'The four of them have isolated me and sworn they will never speak to me again.'

This truly surprised Zhao Yu. He asked: 'Oh? Why would they do that? Aren't you all sister disciples?'

Zhang Chun twisted the truth: 'Now that the four of them are thriving, each advancing in their own way, only I am depressed and unfulfilled, so they deem me useless…'

Zhang Chun's blatant lies were too much for Zhao Yu to bear—he slapped her buttocks again with a sharp *smack*.

Zhang Chun fell silent at once, gazing at Zhao Yu with tender eyes full of liquid longing.

Zhao Yu was truly defeated by Zhang Chun.

To be honest, among all the women Zhao Yu had dealt with, none could outdo Zhang Chun in sheer chaos—she was simply a rare oddity.

In Zhao Yu's view, Zhang Chun's thought process was like a winding mountain path—sometimes steep and rugged, sometimes suddenly bright and clear, always turning in astonishing directions where he least expected. She possessed the innocence of a child, the acting skill of a performer, and an endless talent for stirring up all kinds of trouble—making him love her, hate her, and feel utterly helpless all at once.

Zhao Yu pinched her lips and said: 'Speak plainly. I know exactly what kind of people they are. What you say about yourself—I'd believe. But if you say it about them, I don't believe a word.'

Zhang Chun grew angry: 'Can't there be even a shred of trust between people? So now, nothing I say is believed?'

Zhang Chun made muffled "mm-mm-mm" sounds, signaling: "You're pinching my mouth—how am I supposed to speak?"

Zhao Yu released her lips.

The moment she was free, Zhang Chun pouted, looking pitiful: 'If the Emperor doesn't believe me, why ask? My words are all lies, theirs are all truth—then let it be!'

Zhao Yu looked at her expression and felt both annoyed and amused. He patiently said: 'I don't disbelieve you—but I've always known your nature and theirs. They are not the kind to shun or exclude you because of a temporary setback. There must be something hidden. Think carefully—have you done anything lately to upset them?'

Seeing Zhao Yu press further, Zhang Chun's eyes darted nervously and she stammered: 'Actually… actually, there's nothing major. I can handle it myself—no need to trouble the Emperor with such a trivial matter.'

Zhao Yu instantly knew: Zhang Chun had no valid excuse—or one she couldn't tell him.

Zhao Yu wasn't going to abandon Zhang Chun—could he really drive her to a corner?

Besides, if he pushed further, all he'd get were her lies. Could she really claim they were all transmigrants—or that only they could hear certain things? She wasn't Ye Shi Yun.

So Zhao Yu merely gave a vague 'hmm.'

Zhang Chun heard it and knew: Zhao Yu had let her off.

Zhang Chun thought: 'Women are always unreliable. My carefully chosen man is far better.'

In truth, after being 'expelled' by the four women, Zhang Chun's first thought was: even if they truly cut ties forever, it didn't matter—as long as she held onto Zhao Yu, she wouldn't be utterly defeated.

In other words, as long as Zhao Yu still wanted her, Zhang Chun had the courage to face anything.

That was why Zhang Chun had staged this whole scene—to win Zhao Yu's sympathy.

Who knew, this trick had long been played out by Liu Qingjing. Wang Wen, who had entered the palace with Liu Qingjing, saw through Zhang Chun's ploy at a glance.

Yet by a twist of fate, Zhang Chun had inadvertently discovered that she held great importance in Zhao Yu's heart.

Zhang Chun was now at ease.

'As long as Zhao Yu stands by me, I'll never be abandoned by all. Hmph, if you won't play with me, I won't play with you either!'

Thinking this, Zhang Chun snuggled closer to Zhao Yu and pleaded: 'Your Majesty, while the four of them prosper and shine, I am left behind in every way, filled with shame and unable to face them. I beg Your Majesty to take pity and grant me a duty—so I may regain some dignity…'

…

(End of Chapter)