Chapter 3: The Mantis Trying to Stop a Chariot?

…

Her skin was whiter than snow, faintly flushed with pink, like the first peach blossoms of spring. Her eyes were like clear autumn water, bright and luminous, filled with charm and curiosity. Her brows were like distant ink washes, her nose small and delicate, her lips naturally red, and two faint dimples lingered on her cheeks. Crucially, though she was still young, her chest was already well-developed.

"That's right—it's Da Lei Jiao!"

Though she was over a decade older than in his past life, Zhao Yu recognized Ma Xiao Jiao at a glance.

Zhao Yu remembered Ma Xiao Jiao so vividly because:

First, he had watched every single one of Ma Xiao Jiao's invention videos—from when she was barely twenty, all the way to nearly thirty.

Even when he closed his eyes, he could clearly recall Ma Xiao Jiao in her mechanic's overalls, crafting those useless inventions.

But what impressed him most was the video of Ma Xiao Jiao testing her automatic jump rope machine, with its chaotic, dramatic ups and downs.

It was this video that made her famous overnight, gaining her a million followers and the nickname "Da Lei Jiao."

Second, the last thing Zhao Yu saw in his past life was the five female internet celebrities who ran him over—and Ma Xiao Jiao was one of them.

How could Zhao Yu not remember Ma Xiao Jiao vividly?

But now it was Yuanfu Year Two, not 2025; Zhao Yu couldn't help wondering if they were merely lookalikes.

Then, as Zhao Yu glanced sideways, he saw Yuan Qing Cheng as well.

Since her third year of university, Yuan Qing Cheng had worked in her school's lab for five years, grafting seedlings and breeding new strains of rice resistant to adversity and high-yielding.

Later, by posting seasonal gourmet videos, Yuan Qing Cheng went viral, making many—including Zhao Yu—aware of this "Agricultural Goddess."

Her makeup was subtle, her skin luminous, her features sculpted like a painting, her aura radiating an otherworldly serenity—like a clear stream washing away impurities, or spring rain falling silently to nourish all things.

"Definitely Yuan Qing Cheng."

Seeing Ma Xiao Jiao and Yuan Qing Cheng—the very two who had killed him—Zhao Yu immediately thought of the other three female internet celebrities who had run him over: "Could it be that Empress Dowager Chun, Hao Zhan Lin, and Ye Shi Yun have also been reincarnated?"

Soon, Empress Dowager Gao Taotao's party entered Funing Palace.

At Zhao Jie's reminder, Zhao Bi led the imperial clan to greet them.

All bowed in formal salute.

Empress Dowager Gao Taotao smiled warmly and said, "May Liezulie Sect bless us—our Emperor has gained a son. I propose a court audience to thank our ancestors. What do you all think?"

All replied, "Your Majesty is wise."

Next, someone suggested petitioning Zhao Xu to grant a general amnesty and proclaim the birth of the Imperial Prince; others proposed holding a grand banquet to invite court ministers to celebrate together.

Zhao Jie suggested: "Have the Imperial Astronomical Bureau select an auspicious day to pray for the Prince's blessings."

Empress Dowager Gao Taotao said, "Prince Duan's suggestion is excellent. Report it to Your Majesty."

Just as the discussion grew heated, a clear, shrill cry of an infant suddenly echoed from the inner chamber.

Someone seized the moment to flatter: "The Prince's voice is strong and resonant—he will surely be great, pure, and beautiful, and one day lead our Great Song to even greater prosperity and strength!"

Many echoed the praise, lavishing extravagant compliments on the unseen infant, even elevating him to heavenly status.

Only Zhao Yu, Ma Xiao Jiao, and Yuan Qing Cheng knew the child was no hope of the Zhao Song dynasty—he was Zhao Xu's harbinger of death.

Soon, Zhao Xu, his face flushed with unnatural redness, carried Zhao Mao into Funing Palace himself.

To everyone's surprise, Liu Qingjing—who should have been confined to her postpartum chamber—also arrived at Funing Palace.

Empress Dowager Gao Taotao led everyone in paying respects to Zhao Xu.

Zhao Xu then bowed to Empress Dowager Gao Taotao and Consort Zhu in filial reverence.

Then Zhao Xu proudly displayed Zhao Mao to all.

As an uncle, Zhao Yu joined the other princes to take a look at Zhao Mao.

At first glance, Zhao Mao seemed no different from any other infant.

But upon closer inspection, one could see his yintang was dark, his tianzhong sunken, and his renzhong marked with a horizontal line—clear signs of a short life.

Zhao Yu said nothing.

Zhao Xu and Liu Qingjing, who had longed for a son until they nearly went mad, would never tolerate such an ill-omened remark.

If Zhao Yu couldn't keep his mouth shut and warned Zhao Xu and Liu Qingjing, he would gain no gratitude—when Zhao Mao inevitably met his end, they might just sneer and blame him, accusing him of cursing the child, and punish him for it.

More importantly, if Zhao Yu's warning somehow saved Zhao Mao, Zhao Yu might never get the chance to become Emperor.

So this was not a good deed to perform.

Seeing Zhao Xu endlessly boasting about Zhao Mao and never mentioning the matter she cared most about, Liu Qingjing cried out: "Your Majesty…"

Zhao Xu finally stopped showing off and addressed the court: "Consort Liu has given birth to the Heir, rendering great service. I intend to appoint her to the vacant position of Empress. What do you all think?"

All suddenly understood: that was why Liu Qingjing had neglected her postpartum recovery and come to Funing Palace—Zhao Xu planned to make her Empress.

It seemed Zhao Xu was seeking the opinion of the imperial clan.

In truth, he was speaking only to the sole obstacle: Empress Dowager Gao Taotao.

Zhao Xu ascended the throne young, with Empress Dowager Gao Taotao ruling from behind the curtain.

Gao Taotao was extremely domineering; during her regency, she forbade Zhao Xu from participating in governance and disciplined him with extreme harshness.

Moreover, fearing Zhao Xu's birth mother, Consort Zhu, would compete for control over him, Gao Taotao constantly suppressed Consort Zhu.

Meanwhile, Sima Guang and other old-party officials paid no heed to the young Zhao Xu, consulting only Gao Taotao and never asking Zhao Xu's opinion.

At the time, Zhao Xu's throne faced Gao Taotao's seat; when Sima Guang and the old party reported to her, they always turned their backs to Zhao Xu, treating him as if he were air.

This led Zhao Xu, after taking personal rule, to say that during Gao Taotao's regency, he could see only the backs and buttocks of Sima Guang and the others.

When Zhao Xu turned seventeen, Gao Taotao should have returned power—but she continued actively governing, showing no intention to relinquish control.

Sima Guang and the old party still submitted all matters to Gao Taotao, followed her edicts without question, and never urged her to withdraw the curtain.

These actions enraged the vengeful Zhao Xu.

Thus, after Gao Taotao's death and his assumption of power, Zhao Xu overturned all conservative policies established by Gao Taotao and Sima Guang, dismissed and purged the old party, and replaced them with the new party to push reforms.

Zhao Xu also disliked the Empress Gao Taotao had chosen for him: Meng Xiang.

Seeing this, Liu Qingjing dared to falsely accuse Meng Xiang of using talismans to curse Zhao Xu, and of setting up altars with her foster mother Yan Shi and the nun Fa Duan—ostensibly to pray for Meng Xiang's fortune, but in truth to transfer misfortune onto Zhao Xu, leading Zhao Xu to depose Meng Xiang and instigate the witchcraft case.

The outbreak of this wrongful case was not only due to Liu Qingjing's personal ambition to seize the throne, but also because Gao Taotao, Empress Dowager Xiang, and Meng Xiang had long supported the Old Party and opposed reform, while the current chancellor Zhang Dun and others of the New Party insisted on reform; the two sides had been engaged in open and covert struggles.

Put simply, the New Party members collaborated with Liu Qingjing to fabricate the witchcraft case in order to eliminate Meng Xiang and crush the entrenched Old Party forces.

The ultimate goal of the New Party members was to install Liu Qingjing as Empress, so she could fight against Empress Dowager Xiang and overthrow her.

Empress Dowager Xiang was fully aware of Liu Qingjing's and the New Party's sinister ambitions; even with her heel, she could guess that if Liu Qingjing became Empress, the next step would be for Liu Qingjing and the New Party to replace her with Consort Zhu.

Consort Zhu had no ambition, no ability, and no power—she could never pose a threat to Liu Qingjing.

If Empress Dowager Xiang were defeated by Liu Qingjing, Liu Qingjing would inevitably become the new head of the harem.

Should the frail Zhao Xu suddenly pass away and Zhao Mao ascend the throne, Liu Qingjing—with the backing of the New Party and the position of Empress—would surely emulate Liu E and Gao Taotao by ruling from behind the curtain.

In that case, the Zhao Song dynasty would fall into Liu Qingjing's hands.

Could Liu Qingjing, like Liu E and Gao Taotao, merely assist the Zhao family without any intention of seizing power herself? What if she followed Wu Zetian and turned the hen into a rooster?

Empress Dowager Xiang did not believe Liu Qingjing, who was ambitious, cruel, and willing to do anything to achieve her goals.

Therefore, even if not for herself, but solely for the Zhao Song dynasty, Empress Dowager Xiang absolutely could not allow Liu Qingjing to become Empress.

Because of this, for years Empress Dowager Xiang had been suppressing Liu Qingjing.

This had made the conflict between Empress Dowager Xiang and Liu Qingjing irreconcilable—even to the point of mutual destruction.

Now, with the situation as it stood, Empress Dowager Xiang dared not let Liu Qingjing become Empress any longer.

This was also the primary reason why, even after Meng Xiang had been deposed for two years, Liu Qingjing—despite enjoying Zhao Xu's great favor—had never been formally elevated.

Yet now, Liu Qingjing had given birth to Zhao Mao, resolving the Zhao Song dynasty's succession crisis and earning great merit.

More importantly, Liu Qingjing had gained Zhao Xu's strong support—he who desperately wanted a son—and even received Zhao Xu's promise to make her Empress.

This was evident from Zhao Xu's having personally forced Empress Dowager Xiang to compromise.

Zhao Xu was a ruthless man; when he first assumed personal rule, he ruthlessly crushed the Old Party and directly accused Gao Taotao of "old cunning and monopolizing state affairs," seeking to strip her of her Empress Dowager title and privileges.

Only after Empress Dowager Xiang had instructed Consort Zhu to plead earnestly with him did Zhao Xu relent.

Think of it: even his own once-powerful biological grandmother, Zhao Xu dared to challenge—how much more so this woman who had no blood tie to him, merely his nominal mother?

Empress Dowager Xiang knew full well that if Zhao Xu had made up his mind to make Liu Qingjing Empress, she could not stop him; if she resisted, she would only enrage Zhao Xu, hastening Liu Qingjing's overthrow of her and her earlier seizure of harem power.

In Empress Dowager Xiang's view, it was best now if someone would step forward to block Liu Qingjing, buying her time to devise a way to persuade Zhao Xu that Liu Qingjing must never be allowed to remain as a threat to the Zhao Song dynasty.

Empress Dowager Xiang looked around at the imperial clan members.

But whoever she looked at, they lowered their heads.

This was only natural.

The New Party members had waited too long for this opportunity to overthrow Empress Dowager Xiang; anyone who dared stand in the way of Liu Qingjing becoming Empress today would surely face fierce impeachment by the New Party tomorrow.

Crucially, Zhao Xu had already taken Liu Qingjing's side.

Moreover, given the current situation, Liu Qingjing would soon defeat Empress Dowager Xiang and become the most powerful woman in the Zhao Song dynasty. If Liu Qingjing was lucky enough to outlive Zhao Xu before Zhao Mao came of age, she might even become the Zhao Song dynasty's "female emperor."

Furthermore, Zhao Xu had only one son—Zhao Mao—and Zhao Mao would inevitably be named Crown Prince; even if Liu Qingjing's elevation to Empress were blocked today, once Zhao Mao became Crown Prince, no one could prevent Liu Qingjing from ascending to Empress through her son's status.

In other words, Liu Qingjing's momentum could no longer be stopped.

Under these circumstances, who would dare help the soon-to-be-fallen Empress Dowager Xiang block Liu Qingjing from taking this most critical and vital step?

Seeing her utterly cornered, the Zhao Song dynasty on the brink of collapse, and not a single imperial clan member among those present daring to step forward to save her or fight for the dynasty, Empress Dowager Xiang was heartbroken; she could not help thinking: "If only I had a biological son alive, I would never be so cowardly, so indifferent to the greater good!"

Even after Zhao Ji, who had always been obedient and charming and delighted her, lowered his head, Empress Dowager Xiang closed her eyes, and two tears slid down her aged face:

"Enough, enough. I have done all I could; I have honored the ancestors of the Zhao clan. If the Great Song truly falls into the hands of this venomous woman, let it not be blamed on me—it is only the Zhao clan's cowardly, self-preserving breed, none daring to rise for their own realm and altars of state!"

Seeing Empress Dowager Xiang submit, Liu Qingjing rejoiced! She believed her era was about to begin.

Zhao Xu sighed inwardly! He knew well that Empress Dowager Xiang's opposition to Liu Qingjing becoming Empress stemmed not only from personal motives, but also from her fear that Liu Qingjing's ambition might harm the Zhao Song dynasty.

In fact, Zhao Xu had delayed helping Liu Qingjing ascend to Empress precisely because of these very concerns.

But now that Liu Qingjing had borne Zhao Xu's only son, whether to reward her or to pave the way for Zhao Mao, Zhao Xu had to make Liu Qingjing Empress.

Of course, this was also because Liu Qingjing's words—"The Empress Dowager follows the example of the Grand Empress Dowager; does His Majesty fear she will become a second Grand Empress Dowager, and that Mao'er will suffer as His Majesty did?"—had struck a chord with Zhao Xu.

Zhao Xu had always hated most how Gao Taotao had tightly controlled him, turning him into a puppet; how could he allow his only son to endure such misery?

So Zhao Xu wanted to leave Zhao Mao someone who could stand on equal footing with Empress Dowager Xiang.

And who else but Zhao Mao's own mother, Liu Qingjing?

As for Empress Dowager Xiang's fear that Liu Qingjing would disrupt court order,

Zhao Xu believed that, first, as long as he and Empress Dowager Xiang were alive, they could suppress Liu Qingjing's ambition; and even if they died, Liu Qingjing and Zhao Mao were mother and son—she would surely not go too far.

It was this reasoning that led Zhao Xu to finally resolve to elevate Liu Qingjing to Empress.

With Zhao Xu determined to make Liu Qingjing Empress and Empress Dowager Xiang having submitted, though others worried deeply about the Zhao Song dynasty's future, none dared speak out.

Thus, Liu Qingjing becoming Empress seemed, perhaps, already settled.

But just as all seemed settled, Zhao Yu straightened his robes, stepped forward, and declared loudly: "Minister Zhao Yu opposes Consort Liu becoming Empress."

…

(End of Chapter)