Chapter 33: Teaching the Palace Maids

…

For three consecutive days, Zhao Xu summoned Zhao Yu to the palace for audience.

This also indirectly revealed that Zhao Xu truly wished to resolve the problems of the Zhao Song dynasty and eliminate its hidden dangers.

To instill in Zhao Xu the idea that only he could save the Zhao Song dynasty, and to guard against the possibility that Zhao Xu might not die suddenly as in history but instead live long enough to name an heir, Zhao Yu spoke at length to this dying man.

This opened many new doors for Zhao Xu, who had long been trapped in an information cocoon.

“Why did you not tell me these things sooner?” Zhao Xu reproached.

“Before, your humble brother had not yet met the master who instructed me for three years. Moreover, princes are forbidden from interfering in state affairs—that was the decree of our late father. How could I dare defy his command? But seeing Your Majesty labor day and night for Great Song yet find no solution, while those with ulterior motives know full well the source of our illness yet keep you in the dark, believing our imperial house has no capable men—I dared not overstep.”

—To explain his knowledge and ability, Zhao Yu invented a master out of thin air.

Hearing this, Zhao Xu’s expression grew grave; a flash of pain and indignation passed through his eyes. He thought: “I ascended the throne as a child. Though I longed to revive the realm, I often felt powerless. The ministers each have their own agendas—some seek self-preservation, others form cliques for personal gain. How many truly worry for me or for the future of Great Song?”

Zhao Xu looked at Zhao Yu and felt increasing regret that he was a prince; he began to consider whether abolishing the rule forbidding imperial clan members from interfering in politics would bring more benefit than harm—or vice versa.

Soon after, Western Xia, defeated at Pingxiacheng, came to apologize and seek peace.

Not long after, the chieftain of Qingtangcheng surrendered his city.

Zhao Xu’s attention was quickly drawn to these two brilliant achievements.

Many ministers had originally opposed Zhao Xu’s war.

At the time, the Zhao Song dynasty truly had no money to fight.

Zhao Xu had to send envoys to borrow funds from wealthy merchants just to barely wage the war.

The result: the Song Army defeated the 300,000-strong Xia forces. The Xia commander, the Young Empress Dowager Liang, nearly was captured; she abandoned her imperial regalia and changed clothes barely to escape.

From then on, the Song Army effectively controlled the Hengshan and Mount Tiandou regions.

It was a glorious victory.

Thanks to these two events, Zhao Yu finally no longer needed to visit Zhao Xu.

The next day, Zhao Yu went to Cide Palace to pay respects to Empress Dowager Xiang.

Upon seeing him, Empress Dowager Xiang teased: “So, no more running to His Majesty’s side?”

“His Majesty has no time for your humble servant these days.”

Before Empress Dowager Xiang could ask further, Zhao Yu volunteered: “I don’t know whether what I told His Majesty will bring fortune or disaster. If he truly decides to reform according to my methods, it will surely trigger massive political upheaval.”

Here, Zhao Yu shook his head: “Enough. Those who eat meat will plan it. I’ve said all I needed to say and made all necessary warnings to His Majesty. The choice is his as emperor.”

To be honest, Empress Dowager Xiang also feared Zhao Xu acting rashly and provoking a collective rebellion from the high officials, scholar-gentry, and powerful clans.

Yet on the other hand, the Zhao Song dynasty had reached its middle-to-late phase, riddled with problems, too deeply entrenched to reverse, its treasury empty. Without effective reform, it could not survive.

This was why, over the years, the Old Faction had shifted its stance to support feasible reforms—and why Empress Dowager Xiang had gradually moved from staunch conservative to moderate.

The situation simply forced them. To continue down the conservative path would mean the Zhao Song dynasty truly could not hold out.

Could Great Song truly go on forever borrowing money to survive?

Speaking of borrowing, Empress Dowager Xiang looked at Zhao Yu and asked: “You lent all your hard-earned money to His Majesty. Do you not regret it?”

Zhao Yu immediately understood: Empress Dowager Xiang had spies in Zhao Xu’s circle, and Zhao Xu’s men were careless.

“I didn’t want to lend it,” Zhao Yu said. “But if the Imperial Guards mutiny and swarm the capital, my entire family—even my whole clan—could be slaughtered by rogue soldiers. I know well what’s more and what’s less.”

Originally, Emperor Shenzong of Song, aged thirty-eight, died of illness.

Zhao Ji’s mother, Consort Chen, was heartbroken. She guarded his mausoleum day and night, refusing food and drink, and soon followed him to the grave.

That year, Zhao Ji was only three.

Empress Dowager Xiang’s own son and daughter had both died young, so she cared for Zhao Ji, orphaned of his biological parents, as if he were her own son.

Zhao Ji grew up alongside “Zhao Yu,” Zhao Si, and other imperial princes, in carefree comfort.

From childhood, Zhao Ji was sensible, intelligent, studious, broadly interested, kind and filial. He displayed extraordinary talent in calligraphy and painting early on, and he loved cuju, playing it exceptionally well—thus earning Empress Dowager Xiang’s deep affection.

But young “Zhao Yu” stood out in nothing; from childhood he was solemn, gloomy, and utterly unlike Zhao Ji—making Empress Dowager Xiang less fond of him.

Yet today, Empress Dowager Xiang realized Zhao Yu had simply matured early—he had been superior to Zhao Ji since childhood, yet chose not to show it.

Crucially, Zhao Yu valued loyalty and righteousness and understood the greater good.

Even more crucially, Zhao Yu truly had ability.

He understood the political landscape thoroughly and possessed sharp political acumen; he had earned over a million guan in a single move and lent it all to the court to eliminate hidden dangers.

What skill, what vision—how could Zhao Ji, who spent his days only with qin, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and cuju, possibly compare?

In short, Empress Dowager Xiang now found Zhao Yu increasingly pleasing—nothing like Zhao Ji, who grew ever closer to Liu Qingjing, a thought that filled her with sorrow.

The mother and son chatted a while longer about current affairs, when Empress Dowager Xiang suddenly said: “I hear the young maids in your household have all served you in bed?”

“This…”

Zhao Yu instantly realized: the spies Empress Dowager Xiang placed in his household had not been removed.

Zhao Yu resolved: “I’ll have Li Yan find this person and eliminate them. They tell Empress Dowager Xiang everything—I have no secrets left.”

Zhao Yu considered lying:

“They seduced me. I’m not as disciplined as the original host—afraid you’d scold me, he remained a pure virgin until death, and then it all fell to me.”

“There were only about ten of them. They flirted with me daily, pushing me too far. I couldn’t bear it.”

“I want a son of my own. I don’t want to end up like Zhao Xu, sacrificing his life for one son.”

But Zhao Yu knew that saying this would make him appear irresponsible—and cost him favor.

So he chose to grin and say: “Nothing escapes Your Mother’s notice.”

Seeing Zhao Yu admit so openly, Empress Dowager Xiang did not rebuke him harshly—only gave him a sharp look: “Excess harms the body. You must practice moderation.”

Zhao Yu readily agreed: “Yes, yes, yes. Your humble servant obeys Your Mother’s decree.”

Then Empress Dowager Xiang changed tone: “Though you’ve now learned this art, rules must not be broken. When you leave, take the palace maidens I’ve prepared for you as your instructors…”

…

(End of Chapter)