Chapter 3: The Mantis Trying to Stop a Chariot?

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Her skin was fairer than snow, faintly flushed like early peach blossoms in spring. Her eyes sparkled like autumn waters, clear and bright, filled with charm and curiosity. Her brows were like distant ink washes, her nose small and delicate, her lips naturally crimson, and faint dimples lingered on her cheeks. Crucially, though still young, her chest was already well-formed.

“That’s right—it’s Da Leijiao!”

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

Zhao Yu remembered Ma Xiao Jiao so vividly because:

First, he had watched every single one of her 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 her testing her automatic jump rope machine, full of chaotic ups and downs.

It was that video that made her famous overnight, gaining her a million followers and the nickname “Da Leijiao.”

Second, the last thing Zhao Yu remembered 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?

But this 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 drought-resistant, high-yield rice.

Later, she went viral on the internet with her seasonal culinary videos, making many—including Zhao Yu—know her as the Goddess of Agriculture.

Her makeup was subtle, her skin luminous, her features sculpted like a painting, her aura ethereal and detached from the mundane—a clear stream washing away impurities, a spring rain nourishing all without sound.

“Definitely Yuan Qing Cheng.”

Seeing Ma Xiao Jiao and Yuan Qing Cheng—the 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, Haozhan Lin, and Ye Shi Yun have also crossed over?”

Soon, Empress Dowager Xiang’s party entered Funing Palace.

At Zhao Ji’s reminder, Zhao Bi led the imperial clan to greet them.

All bowed in formal greeting.

Empress Dowager Xiang smiled warmly and said, “May our ancestors bless us—the Emperor has a son! I propose we hold a court ceremony to thank our forebears. What do you all think?”

All replied, “Your Majesty’s wisdom is unmatched.”

Others then proposed petitioning Zhao Xu to grant a general amnesty and announce the prince’s birth; others suggested a grand banquet to invite court ministers to celebrate.

Zhao Ji proposed: “Let the Bureau of Celestial Observations select an auspicious day to pray for the prince’s blessings.”

Empress Dowager Xiang said, “The Prince of Duan’s suggestion is excellent. Report it to His Majesty.”

Just as the discussion grew heated, a clear, piercing cry came 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 heaven.

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 sickly redness, carried Zhao Mao into Funing Palace himself.

To everyone’s surprise, Liu Qingjing, who should have been confined to her postpartum chamber, had also come to Funing Palace.

Empress Dowager Xiang led everyone in paying respects to Zhao Xu.

Zhao Xu then bowed to Empress Dowager Xiang and Imperial Consort Zhu in filial reverence.

Then, beaming, 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 saw his yintang darkened, his tianzhong sunken, and a horizontal line across his renzhong—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 ill-omened words.

If Zhao Yu had spoken up to warn them, he would gain no gratitude—when Zhao Mao inevitably met misfortune, they would likely sneer and blame him, accusing him of cursing the child and using it to punish him.

More importantly, if Zhao Yu’s warning somehow saved Zhao Mao, he might never get the throne himself.

So he could not play the good man.

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, turning to the assembly: “Imperial Consort Liu has given birth to the Heir Apparent and rendered great service. I intend to appoint her to the vacant position of Empress. What do you all think?”

All suddenly understood why Liu Qingjing had left her postpartum chamber to come here—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 Empress Dowager Xiang, the sole obstacle.

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

Gao Taotao was extremely domineering: she forbade Zhao Xu from participating in governance and disciplined him with harshness.

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

The old party ministers led by Sima Guang also ignored the young Zhao Xu, consulting only Gao Taotao and never asking his opinion.

At the time, Zhao Xu’s throne faced Gao Taotao’s seat; when Sima Guang and the others 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 when recalling Gao Taotao’s regency, he had seen only the backs and buttocks of Sima Guang and his allies.

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

Sima Guang and the old party still submitted all matters to Gao Taotao, obeyed her edicts, and never urged her to withdraw the curtain.

These actions enraged the vengeful Zhao Xu.

So after Gao Taotao’s death and his personal rule, Zhao Xu overturned all conservative policies established by her and Sima Guang, dismissed and purged the old party, and replaced them with the new party to push reforms.

Zhao Xu also disliked Empress Meng, chosen for him by Gao Taotao.

Seeing this, Liu Qingjing dared to falsely accuse Meng of using talismans to curse Zhao Xu, and with her foster mother Yan Shi and nun Fa Duan, setting up altars to pray for Meng’s fortune—while actually transferring misfortune onto Zhao Xu. This led Zhao Xu to depose Meng and create the witchcraft scandal.

The scandal erupted not only because Liu Qingjing sought the throne for herself, but also because Gao Taotao, Empress Dowager Xiang, and Empress Meng had all supported the old party and opposed reform, while the current chancellor Zhang Dun and others were new party members who upheld reform. The two sides had long been locked in covert struggle.

In short, the new party cooperated with Liu Qingjing to destroy Empress Meng to eliminate the entrenched old party.

The new party’s ultimate goal was to place Liu Qingjing on the throne as Empress, so she could fight Empress Dowager Xiang and overthrow her.

Empress Dowager Xiang knew full well Liu Qingjing and the new party’s ambitions—she could guess without thinking that if Liu Qingjing became Empress, the next step would be to replace her with Imperial Consort Zhu.

Imperial Consort Zhu had no ambition, no ability, and no power—she could never threaten Liu Qingjing.

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

If the frail Zhao Xu suddenly died and Zhao Mao succeeded, Liu Qingjing—with new party backing and the Empress title—would surely emulate Liu E and Gao Taotao by ruling from behind the curtain.

Then 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 seeking the throne herself? What if she followed Wu Zetian and turned the hen into a rooster?

Empress Dowager Xiang did not trust Liu Qingjing—ambitious, cruel, and ruthless in pursuit of her goals.

So even if not for herself, but for the Zhao Song dynasty, Empress Dowager Xiang could never allow Liu Qingjing to become Empress.

For this reason, over the years, Empress Dowager Xiang had suppressed Liu Qingjing.

This had made their enmity irreconcilable, even to the point of mortal hatred.

Now, with the stakes higher than ever, Empress Dowager Xiang dared not let Liu Qingjing become Empress.

This was also the main reason why, even after Empress Meng had been deposed for two years, Liu Qingjing—despite Zhao Xu’s deep favor—had never been formally elevated.

But now Liu Qingjing had given birth to Zhao Mao, solving the Zhao Song dynasty’s succession crisis and rendering great service.

More importantly, she had gained Zhao Xu’s powerful support—and even his promise to make her Empress.

This was clear from Zhao Xu’s direct pressure on Empress Dowager Xiang to yield.

Zhao Xu was a ruthless man: when he took personal rule, he ruthlessly crushed the old party and directly accused Gao Taotao of “old treachery and usurpation,” even seeking to strip her of her Empress Dowager title and privileges.

Only after Empress Dowager Xiang had sent Imperial Consort Zhu to plead desperately did Zhao Xu relent.

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

Empress Dowager Xiang knew clearly: 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 her own downfall and Liu Qingjing’s rise to power.

In her mind, the best course now was for someone to step forward and block Liu Qingjing for her, buying her time to find 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.

But whoever she looked at, they lowered their heads.

This was natural.

The new party had waited too long for this chance to overthrow Empress Dowager Xiang; whoever dared oppose Liu Qingjing’s elevation today would be mercilessly impeached tomorrow.

Crucially, Zhao Xu stood firmly on Liu Qingjing’s side.

And judging by the current situation, Liu Qingjing would soon defeat Empress Dowager Xiang and become the most powerful woman in the Zhao Song dynasty. If fortune favored her, she might outlive Zhao Xu before Zhao Mao came of age and become the Zhao Song dynasty’s “female emperor.”

Moreover, Zhao Xu had only one son—Zhao Mao. Zhao Mao would inevitably be named Crown Prince. Even if Liu Qingjing were blocked today, once Zhao Mao became Crown Prince, no one could prevent her from ascending the throne through her son’s status.

In other words, Liu Qingjing’s rise was unstoppable.

Under these circumstances, who would dare help the soon-to-be-fallen Empress Dowager Xiang block Liu Qingjing at this most critical, decisive moment?

Seeing herself in utter despair, the Zhao Song dynasty on the brink of collapse, and not a single member of the imperial clan daring to lift a hand to save her or defend the realm, Empress Dowager Xiang was heartbroken. She could not help thinking: “If only I had a son alive, I would not be so weak, so indifferent to the greater good!”

When even Zhao Ji—her usual obedient, charming favorite—lowered his head, Empress Dowager Xiang closed her eyes, and two hot tears rolled down her aged face:

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—only on the Zhao clan’s cowardly, self-serving breed, none daring to stand up for their own realm and 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 refusal to let Liu Qingjing become Empress stemmed not only from self-interest, but from fear that Liu Qingjing’s ambition would harm the Zhao Song dynasty.

In fact, Zhao Xu had long delayed elevating Liu Qingjing precisely because of this concern.

But now that Liu Qingjing had borne Zhao Xu’s only son, whether to reward her or to secure Zhao Mao’s future, Zhao Xu must make her Empress.

This was also because Liu Qingjing’s words—“The Empress Dowager follows every step of the Grand Empress Dowager. Your Majesty fears not that she will become a second Grand Empress Dowager, and that Mao’er will suffer as you did?”—had struck Zhao Xu deeply.

Zhao Xu most hated in his life was how Gao Taotao had tightly controlled him, treating him as a puppet to be manipulated at will—how could he allow his only son to suffer the same torment?

So Zhao Xu intended to leave Zhao Mao a man capable of standing equal to Empress Dowager Xiang.

Who else but Zhao Mao’s biological mother, Liu Qingjing, could fill that role?

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

Zhao Xu believed that, first, neither he nor Empress Dowager Xiang were dead yet, and they could surely suppress Liu Qingjing’s ambitions; even if they died, Liu Qingjing and Zhao Mao were mother and son—surely she would not go too far.

Only then did Zhao Xu make up his mind to elevate Liu Qingjing to the position of Empress.

Zhao Xu intended to make Liu Qingjing Empress; Empress Dowager Xiang yielded, and though others worried deeply about the future of the Zhao Song dynasty, none dared speak out.

Liu Qingjing thus became Empress—it seemed, perhaps, already settled.

But just as all seemed destined to be settled, Zhao Yu suddenly straightened his robes, stepped forward, and declared loudly: “Your subject Zhao Yu opposes the elevation of Imperial Consort Liu to Empress.”

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(End of Chapter)