[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them":3,"chapter-i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-chapter-2":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","I Transmigrated to the Northern Song with Them",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2318892,4535,"Chapter 2: Let","i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-chapter-2",2,"\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Chun also wanted to replace the emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In her view, Zhao Ji was not only corrupt and immoral, but also stubborn and self-willed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— Historically, when Zhao Ji chose the strategy of allying with the Jin to destroy the Liao and recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun—a decision that led to the fall of the Northern Song—many Song ministers, including the then-chancellor Cai Jing and the two successive Chief Military Commissioners Deng Xunwu and Zheng Zhong, had tried to stop him, yet Zhao Ji still chose this path to ruin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, Zhao Ji despised women interfering in politics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— Historically, Empress Xiansu had also tried to dissuade Zhao Ji from allying with the Jin to recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, yet Zhao Ji not only ignored Empress Xiansu, but even distanced himself from her for a time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, they were unlikely to change Zhao Ji’s mind; if Zhao Ji became emperor, they could hardly prevent the Jingkang Humiliation—the greatest shame in Han history—from occurring, and to achieve anything like other transmigrators did would be pure fantasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After thinking it over, Zhang Chun said to Li Lin, Ye Shi Yun, Ma Xiao Jiao, and Yuan Qing Cheng:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Replacing the emperor… isn’t easy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Emperor Shenzong of Song had fourteen sons; eight died young, and excluding Zhao Xu, who is about to die, only Prince Shen Zhao Bi, Prince Duan Zhao Ji, Prince Xin Zhao Yu, Prince Jian Zhao Shi, and Prince Mu Zhao Si remain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Among them, Zhao Bi is the eldest and should have inherited the throne, but he is blind—definitely out of the question.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Excluding Zhao Bi, Zhao Ji is the oldest; by succession order, it should be his turn. The key is, aside from being unfit to be emperor, there’s nothing he can’t do—other princes stand little chance against him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm… Zhao Shi might have a chance—he is Zhao Xu’s full younger brother; according to ritual and reason, he should inherit the throne, and moreover, their birth mother, Imperial Consort Zhu, is still alive, giving him natural support.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But Zhao Xu became emperor thanks to Empress Xiang’s backing, yet in the end, he still favored Imperial Consort Zhu more, treating Empress Xiang with mere politeness; having suffered this great loss, Empress Xiang is unlikely to install another prince with a living birth mother as emperor—this is the main reason Empress Xiang ultimately backed Zhao Ji.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Crucially, Zhao Shi is also a short-lived man—like Zhao Xu, he didn’t live past twenty-five; putting him in Zhao Ji’s place would make no difference.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After further thought, Zhang Chun said: “If one of us were a physician, we could try to save Zhao Xu—he’s the only Song emperor who, Mianqiang , still counts as having done something meaningful; certainly far better than Zhao Ji.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Xiao Jiao said: “Forget it. Just look at how Zhao Ji favored concubines over his wife and let Liu Qingjing frame Empress Meng—it doesn’t make him look like a good man.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Chun wanted to say: “It’s not just about favoring concubines over the wife—it involves the factional struggle between the New Party and the Old Party.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Zhang Chun changed her mind:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Empress Meng never held Zhao Xu’s abandonment and the immense psychological trauma he caused her against him; she repeatedly rescued the collapsing dynasty, turning back disaster, extending the Zhao Song dynasty’s life by 152 years—proving she truly was a good empress.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But Zhao Xu, by allowing the wicked Liu Qingjing to violate the rites of a concubine, grow arrogant from favor, and orchestrate the witchcraft case to frame his own wife, is truly not worth saving.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even if we saved Zhao Xu, with his utterly ruined health, he’d never live to see the Jingkang Humiliation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Most importantly, none of us are physicians—even if we wanted to save Zhao Xu, we lack the ability.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What if we get pregnant by Zhao Xu before he dies?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, Zhao Xu’s body is nearly dead—he’s probably incapable of impregnating women anymore, and there’s no time left.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We still need to seize this chance and replace the emperor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now only Zhao Yu and Zhao Si remain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But they hold no advantages; their mothers died long ago, leaving them without anyone to help them vie for the throne—how can they compete with Zhao Ji?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And we, right now, are merely the lowest-ranking palace attendants—our status is low, our voices unheard, and we can’t even reach anyone—we can’t help Zhao Yu or Zhao Si at all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Chun laid out these points for discussion with Li Lin and the other four women.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After endless debate, the five women realized they could do nothing now—they could only humbly serve as palace maids and adapt to this new environment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This dealt a heavy blow to the five women, who had achieved great success in their past lives and were now powerful transmigrators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, they comforted each other, saying at least they were all ten or more years younger—that was a priceless gift money couldn’t buy—and among them were historical giants, military geniuses, economic experts, inventors, and agricultural specialists; given the right platform, they might even help the Han people unify the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after, a palace attendant shouted: “Rise!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Based on their original hosts’ memories, the five women knew this meant Zheng Yaban and Wang Yaban were assigning today’s duties to these low-ranking palace maids.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The five women hurried behind the other attendants to meet Zheng Yaban and Wang Yaban.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the way, Zhang Chun whispered to Li Lin and the other three: “This Zheng Yaban is likely Zhao Ji’s second empress, Empress Xiansu, and Wang Yaban is Zhao Ji’s Empress Yisu—they are Empress Xiang’s confidantes; if we can win them over, we might achieve something.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Li Lin and the other three straightened up, ready to win over Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when they met Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu, before the five women could find a chance to draw close to them, Wang Yisu ordered Zhang Chun and several other attendants to weed the garden, while Li Lin and Ye Shi Yun were assigned to carry water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Xiao Jiao and Yuan Qing Cheng were relatively lucky—Wang Yisu told them: “You two take your fans and come with us to Funing Palace…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The carriage stopped outside Xuande Gate. Zhao Yu got down and, guided by a eunuch, arrived at Funing Palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many imperial clan members had already arrived, including Zhao Bi, Zhao Shi, and Zhao Si.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The imperial clan shared the fate of the Zhao Song dynasty—rise or fall together; if the dynasty changed, no matter who took the throne, they would meet a terrible end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And those imperial clan members like Zhao Yu, who had a claim to the throne, were even more vulnerable—even if they hid deep in the mountains, the ruling power would hunt them down and exterminate them to eliminate all future threats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So most imperial clan members, especially those with no ambition for the throne, all hoped Zhao Xu would produce an heir quickly, stabilizing the turmoil caused by the vacant crown prince position, so they could enjoy the shade beneath the great tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why, when Zhao Xu had a son, every member of the imperial clan—men, women, young, old—came to visit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following the habits of his original host, Zhao Yu politely greeted several elder clan members, then quietly chatted casually with younger ones like Zhao Bi, Zhao Shi, and Zhao Si.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after, the eunuch announced: “Prince Duan arrives!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ji was noble and elegant, radiating the refined grace of a scholar—overall, he was truly graceful and imposing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon entering Funing Palace, Zhao Ji warmly greeted every clan member and engaged in lively conversation about poetry, painting, calligraphy, cuju, and horseball with the cultured elites, like Imperial Son-in-Law Wang Shen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, Zhao Ji came over to Zhao Yu and the others, smiling: “Heaven blesses our Great Song—our elder brother has fathered a dragon son.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ji’s smile was radiant, as if he genuinely rejoiced for Zhao Xu and the Zhao Song dynasty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Zhao Yu keenly sensed a hint of forcedness in Zhao Ji’s smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was understandable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only if Zhao Xu had no son could Zhao Ji have a chance to become emperor and escape the constraints of his clan status.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(The Song dynasty imposed strict controls on the imperial clan: all clan members within five degrees of kinship were forbidden to leave Bianliang City; even temporary outings required prior approval from the Grand Clan Office, with strict time limits—violations brought severe punishment. Clan members could not hold local or military posts, and those allowed to attend court meetings could not speak, only watch passively.)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For an artist, nothing is more precious than freedom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, Zhao Ji didn’t just crave freedom—he had political ambitions, wanting to be a capable emperor, even a once-in-a-millennium ruler, etching his name into history.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But all this now seemed hopeless because Zhao Xu had fathered a son.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could Zhao Ji’s mood possibly be good?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Zhao Yu clearly understood that the chance to compete for the throne had appeared and that Zhao Ji would be his greatest rival, he still concealed his intentions, feigning friendship with Zhao Ji, even initiating conversation about cuju.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Zhao Yu’s interest in cuju, Zhao Ji proposed: “It’s been a while since we last gathered—let’s pick a day to meet at my mansion for a cuju match, how about it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the princes replied: “Excellent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after, Empress Xiang arrived at Funing Palace, accompanied by Imperial Consort Zhu and other concubines, attendants, and eunuchs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Xiao Jiao and Yuan Qing Cheng were among them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But without Zhang Chun, who knew history, beside them, they dared not act or speak—only obediently followed Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu, holding their fans as their original hosts had done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Empress Xiang was the empress of Emperor Shenzong of Song, the legal mother of Zhao Xu and the princes, and currently the highest-ranking woman in the harem—the most powerful woman in the Zhao Song dynasty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yu looked at Empress Xiang and thought: “Only by winning over this old woman can I defeat Zhao Ji and become emperor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his focus on external matters, Zhao Yu prioritized solutions over constraints.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This somewhat lowered Zhao Yu’s moral standards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Empress Xiang was over fifty and Zhao Yu’s legal mother—no matter how low his morals, he could never entertain thoughts of her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yu shifted his gaze to Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu behind Empress Xiang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Xiansu was breathtakingly beautiful—her skin like snow, eyebrows like distant ink, nose straight, lips naturally red, face softly contoured, dressed in crimson palace robes, she looked like a fairy stepped from a painting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yisu was even more sublime—her features exquisite, eyes holding millennia of sorrow and allure, gaze like a deep, dark pool, shimmering with endless emotion, clad in purple palace robes that flowed with her steps, she seemed a celestial being descended from heaven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These two women were trained by Empress Xiang herself and are her closest confidantes, childless as she is.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whenever Zhao Ji visited Cide Palace for his daily greetings, Empress Xiang ordered them to serve him; later, when Zhao Ji ascended the throne, Empress Xiang bestowed them upon him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Years later, one became Zhao Ji’s empress, bearing him one son and five daughters; the other became his imperial consort, bearing him five sons and three daughters. Their families received lavish rewards. From this, we can infer that Zhao Ji’s victory over the other princes likely owed much to their help.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I must seize them before Zhao Ji does—win them over and make them serve me, aiding me to the throne!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yu withdrew his gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unintentionally, Zhao Yu glanced sideways and caught sight of the furtive Ma Xiao Jiao!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Big Thunder Jiao?!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1979,"2026-06-20T15:06:47.302Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","ed3776c88ea874d9c1a9c09f11a4cb5e5e91dce2c66064e13d20d34541f57c5c","i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-chapter-3","i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-chapter-1",348,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-cover.jpg"]