Chapter 23: The Beginning of Division

…

Zhang Chun returned to her quarters, and Li Lin and the other three women immediately gathered around her.

Ye Shi Yun asked impatiently: “Can we go ask Zhao Yu about that matter?”

Before Zhang Chun could speak, Ma Xiao Jiao and Yuan Qing Cheng, who had already made a huge mess over this matter, smiled at Ye Shi Yun.

Seeing this, Ye Shi Yun calmly corrected herself: “What I mean is, can we leave this hellhole?”

After Ye Shi Yun spoke, Li Lin and the other three women turned to look at Zhang Chun.

“I spent too much time talking to Zhao Yu about other matters and didn’t get around to bringing this up,” Zhang Chun said.

Upon hearing this, Ye Shi Yun and Ma Xiao Jiao looked disappointed; Yuan Qing Cheng watched Zhang Chun silently, while Li Lin bluntly questioned: “Why didn’t you mention such an important matter first?”

Zhang Chun knew the women had been enduring days like years here; her casual words wouldn’t suffice to satisfy them.

“Listen to me—I didn’t bring this up with Zhao Yu, but he told me I can approach Empress Zheng Xiansu and Imperial Consort Wang Yisu with any request. Whether we choose one or the other isn’t Zhao Yu’s decision—it’s Empress Dowager Xiang’s. I suspect Empress Dowager Xiang will entrust this matter to Empress Zheng Xiansu and Imperial Consort Wang Yisu, so going to them directly will be far more effective than asking Zhao Yu for a spot.”

Hearing this, Li Lin and the other three women grew hopeful again.

“So does that mean we can leave this hellhole?” Ye Shi Yun asked.

Zhang Chun shook her head:

“There are only four spots total—we’re five people; it’s impossible for all of us to leave through this opportunity.”

“Besides, Empress Zheng Xiansu and Imperial Consort Wang Yisu will surely use this chance to place their own confidants in Prince Zhao Yu’s mansion to pave the way, and the Guo family of De Shun Army might also slip someone in to help Guo Ting. That means we’ll be lucky to secure one or two spots at most.”

After Zhang Chun’s analysis, Li Lin and the other three women were all deeply disappointed.

Five people, yet only one or two chances to escape—who gets to go first?

And what happens to the one who leaves first? Will she rely on Zhao Yu for survival? What about those left behind? Will they continue waiting in Cide Palace for another chance?

In truth, it’s a mess. This opportunity has become a bone with little meat.

Seeing Li Lin and the others disheartened, Zhang Chun encouraged them:

“I think having this opportunity is better than having none.”

“No—it’s actually a very good opportunity.”

“I believe we should pursue two paths simultaneously. First, find a way to convince Empress Dowager Xiang to abandon Zhao Ji and choose Zhao Yu as emperor; second, help Zhao Yu confront Zhao Ji, consolidate his position, build his influence, and choose the right political path. Only then can Zhao Yu defeat Zhao Ji and achieve our goal of replacing the emperor.”

“Moreover, if our plan succeeds and Zhao Yu becomes the new emperor, we can’t have worked tirelessly to help him seize the throne only for him to believe he was destined by heaven and remain unaware of our contributions. We must get to Zhao Yu’s side quickly so he knows who helped him seize power.”

“Only then, once Zhao Yu becomes emperor, will he listen to us and carry out sweeping reforms on the troubled Zhao Song dynasty, building up its political, military, and economic strength to avoid the Jingkang Humiliation and seize this rare chance to achieve unification.”

Zhang Chun’s reasoning was compelling, so Li Lin and the others suppressed their disappointment and began reevaluating the opportunity.

Soon, Li Lin asked bluntly: “Who gets the spots?”

Ye Shi Yun, Ma Xiao Jiao, and Yuan Qing Cheng fell silent. They didn’t know whether to compete for this chance.

Zhang Chun, however, boldly volunteered: “I want this spot.”

All four women turned to Zhang Chun, waiting for her explanation.

Zhang Chun declared firmly: “I want this spot not for any other reason—I’m trained in history and understand politics; I’m currently the best equipped to assist Zhao Yu.”

Feeling this wasn’t enough, Zhang Chun added: “I’ll be blunt: among us, only I can help Zhao Yu seize the throne. So I shouldn’t stay here wasting our precious time to change history—I should be by Zhao Yu’s side, advising him.”

Zhang Chun’s reasoning was persuasive, but Li Lin and the others didn’t yield.

The labor intensity for low-rank palace maids was high; these women, accustomed to comfort, had suffered greatly these past days.

Moreover, their living conditions were poor, and their food was inadequate.

Crucially, Cide Palace enforced strict rules and rigid protocols; they lived in constant fear every day.

So they truly had had enough of being here.

If they went to Zhao Yu’s side, they might become honored guests—likely far more comfortable than here.

Seeing Li Lin and the others also wanted the spot, Zhang Chun pressed further:

“This isn’t our only chance to leave.”

“Soon, Zhao Yu will marry; Empress Dowager Xiang will surely send a group of palace maids as gifts to Empress Zheng Xiansu and Imperial Consort Wang Yisu. If I gain Zhao Yu’s trust, you’ll surely be able to leave with them.”

“Even if Empress Zheng Xiansu and Imperial Consort Wang Yisu can’t take all of you then, once Zhao Yu becomes emperor, getting you out of here will be nothing more than a single word from him—and that’s only five months away.”

“Moreover, in another year and five months, Empress Dowager Xiang will die; all the young palace maids in her court will be transferred to Zhao Yu’s harem. At that point, you won’t be able to stay even if you wanted to.”

“Most importantly, Zhao Yu has already connected us with Empress Zheng Xiansu and Imperial Consort Wang Yisu—he told them to look after us. Today, through Zhao Yu, I even met Yang Jian. With these three protecting us, we won’t suffer hardship again.”

“To be honest, if not for the greater good, I wouldn’t rush to join Zhao Yu.”

Under Zhang Chun’s persuasive words, Ma Xiao Jiao was the first to speak: “Sister Chun, I agree to give this opportunity to you.”

Ye Shi Yun yawned: “As long as I don’t have to work, I don’t mind staying here a little longer.”

Li Lin and Yuan Qing Cheng exchanged a subtle glance.

Li Lin and Yuan Qing Cheng had begun suspecting Zhang Chun was using this for personal gain—to establish a private line of contact with Zhao Yu for her own hidden agenda.

This was the main reason Li Lin and Yuan Qing Cheng hadn’t yielded the spot to Zhang Chun.

Li Lin and Yuan Qing Cheng had already shared their suspicions with Ye Shi Yun and Ma Xiao Jiao.

But the former didn’t care about Zhang Chun’s hidden schemes.

The latter wondered whether Li Lin and Yuan Qing Cheng were overthinking things. After all, they’d all come from the 21st century to an unfamiliar Northern Song—they should support each other, endure together, and share the same boat.

Now that Zhang Chun had given ample reasons and Ye Shi Yun and Ma Xiao Jiao had conceded, Li Lin and Yuan Qing Cheng couldn’t reasonably press further.

Li Lin and Yuan Qing Cheng exchanged silent signals, then Li Lin said: “Didn’t we think there might be two spots? Let’s go together to Zheng Yaban and Wang Yaban first, see how many spots they can actually secure for us, then decide who gets them…”

…

(End of Chapter)