Chapter 33: Teaching the Palace Maids

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For three consecutive days, Zhao Xu summoned Zhao Yu into 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 taught me for three years, and the imperial decree forbidding princes from interfering in state affairs was established by our late father—how could I dare defy his command? Had I not seen Your Majesty labor day and night for Great Song yet never find the right path, while those with ulterior motives, fully aware of Great Song's ailments, deliberately kept you in the dark and mocked our imperial house for having no capable men, would I have dared overstep my bounds?"

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

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xu's expression turned solemn, a flash of pain and indignation crossing 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 harbor 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; at the same time, he pondered whether abolishing the imperial clan's prohibition against political involvement 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 chief of Qing Tang 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 sent emissaries to borrow money from wealthy merchants just to barely manage to wage this war.

The result: the Song army defeated the 300,000-strong Xia forces invading; the Xia commander, the Young Empress Dowager Liang, nearly captured, barely escaped by abandoning her imperial regalia and changing clothes.

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 already made clear to His Majesty what must be said and what to watch for. 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 mid-to-late phase, riddled with problems, too deeply entrenched to reverse, its treasury empty—without effective reform, it could not survive.

This was precisely why, in recent years, the Old Faction had shifted its stance to support feasible reforms, and why Empress Dowager Xiang had gradually changed from a staunch conservative to a moderate.

The situation simply forced them to act; continuing down the conservative path would truly collapse the Zhao Song dynasty.

Could the mighty Great Song really continue living by borrowing money forever?

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 inner circle, and Zhao Xu's subordinates were sloppy.

"I didn't want to lend it," Zhao Yu said. "But if the imperial guards mutiny and swarm to besiege Jingcheng, my entire family—even my whole clan—could be slaughtered by rogue soldiers. I know the difference between more and less."

Originally, Emperor Shenzong, 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, and early displayed extraordinary talent in calligraphy and painting; he also loved cuju and played it exceptionally well, earning Empress Dowager Xiang's deep affection.

But young "Zhao Yu" stood out in no way; from childhood he was solemn and gloomy, utterly unlike Zhao Ji, and thus Empress Dowager Xiang did not favor him.

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

Crucially, Zhao Yu was emotionally weighty and understood the need for the bigger picture.

More crucially, Zhao Yu truly had ability.

Not only did he understand the political landscape and possess sharp political acumen, but he also earned over a million guan in one stroke 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 agreeable, nothing like Zhao Ji, who drew ever closer to Liu Qingjing—just thinking of it made her heart ache.

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 planted in his household had not been purged.

Zhao Yu resolved: "I'll have Li Yan find this person—someone who tells Empress Dowager Xiang everything, leaving me not a single secret."

Zhao Yu considered lying:

"They seduced me—I'm not as disciplined as the original host, who, fearing your rebuke, remained a pure virgin until death, leaving everything to me."

"There were only about ten of them—they flirted with me daily, pushing too far. How can one tolerate this?"

"I want a son of my own quickly—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 lose favor.

So Zhao Yu chose to grin and say: "Nothing escapes Your Majesty'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 restraint."

Zhao Yu readily agreed: "Yes, yes, yes—your humble servant humbly obeys Your Majesty's decree."

Then Empress Dowager Xiang changed tone: "Though you now understand this matter, rules must not be broken. When you leave, take the palace maids I've prepared for you as your instructors…"

…

(End of chapter)