Chapter 4

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Seeing that Liu Qingjing had now grown so powerful that Zhao Xu himself had pressured the Empress Dowager, forcing even her to avoid her sharpness, Zhao Yu still dared to throw an arm in front of a chariot—everyone present could not help but stare in shock!

The Empress Dowager, having resigned herself to fate, opened her eyes and looked at Zhao Yu.

The Empress Dowager never imagined that just as she was about to fall into a bottomless abyss, the one who pulled her back was not Zhao Ji, whom she had always treated as her own son, but Zhao Yu—the so-called adopted son she had rarely spoken to or even properly acknowledged.

There, Zhao Yu stood firmly before her, shielding her from Zhao Xu's overwhelming pressure, a stark contrast to the surrounding eyes that either avoided or stared in astonishment.

At this moment, Zhao Yu, long obscure, shone like a brilliant star, radiating dazzling light in the darkness.

The Empress Dowager gazed at Zhao Yu's back and thought: "Could I have misjudged him? Is the Prince of Xin truly the filial son, the most responsible among the imperial clan, the pillar of our Great Song?"

Zhao Ji was also stunned—he never expected Zhao Yu, who always seemed so composed, to be so reckless: "The Empress Dowager has the support of the Old Faction and is the Emperor's legitimate mother; even she dares not directly oppose Liu Xianfei, who has an Imperial Prince backing her. Yet you, a retired prince, dare to be this outlying bird—how can you avoid retaliation from Liu Xianfei and the New Faction?"

Ma Xiao Jiao and Yuan Qing Cheng finally noticed Zhao Yu; they exchanged a glance.

"Is he the Zhao Yu that Zhang Chun said is suitable to replace Zhao Ji as emperor?"

"Judging by his demeanor, he seems to have real guts—even daring to defy Liu Qingjing, that female demon."

"If such a bold man became emperor, he wouldn't be as cowardly as Zhao Ji, Zhao Huan, and Zhao Gou—the three father-son rulers who brought about the Jingkang Humiliation, would he?"

Liu Qingjing stood aside, her face dark with rage; even her meticulously applied makeup could not hide her twisted expression. Her eyes narrowed, emitting two icy glares, as if warning Zhao Yu not to ruin her plans—or she would make him pay with his life.

Zhao Yu met Liu Qingjing's gaze without fear, radiating an unmistakable "come at me if you dare" attitude.

Zhao Xu had anticipated someone might step forward to block Liu Qingjing's ascent to empress, but he never imagined it would be Zhao Yu—someone who had always shown zero interest in court affairs.

Zhao Xu had already decided to make Liu Qingjing empress; he now unleashed his imperial pressure, fixing Zhao Yu with a piercing stare: "Prince of Xin, why do you oppose?"

Facing Zhao Xu's pressure, Zhao Yu did not retreat, but answered with calm strength:

"The Empress is the mother of the nation, bearing immense responsibility.

She must be virtuous, treating concubines and maids with kindness and compassion, showing no favoritism based on closeness, resolving palace disputes before they arise, making the inner court a place of peace and harmony.

She must be tolerant—even when faced with concubines' offenses or maids' mistakes—forgiving and understanding, free of jealousy or resentment, maintaining court harmony with grace and dignity.

She must be reverent and filial toward elders such as the Empress Dowager and Imperial Consorts, observing morning and evening rites, serving them faithfully, strictly adhering to filial propriety, setting an example for all subjects in honoring parents and elders.

Only then can she serve as a model for all women, be revered by the people, embody maternal virtue for the realm, uphold the imperial dignity, educate the women of Great Song, and stabilize the foundation of our rule.

But Liu Xianfei, arrogant from favor, acts capriciously, indulges in reckless behavior, has already stirred chaos within the inner court; no one in the palace does not fear her infamous reputation—how can she be made empress?"

When Zhao Yu spoke these words, everyone present was stirred to the core.

Some among them looked at Zhao Yu with growing admiration.

Many palace attendants even felt that finally, a ray of light had pierced the darkness of the inner court.

This included Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu.

In fact, they had entered the palace alongside Liu Qingjing.

But Liu Qingjing was lucky—assigned as Zhao Xu's personal attendant.

In her early years, Liu Qingjing was clever, beautiful, skilled in song and dance, talented in many arts, deeply favored by Zhao Xu; she also showed filial piety toward the Empress Dowager and Imperial Consort Zhu, rising steadily from Lady of Pingchang to Beauty.

Later, after bearing Zhao Xu two daughters in succession, she gained even greater favor.

Gradually, sensing Zhao Xu's dislike for Meng Xiang, Liu Qingjing began violating the conduct expected of a concubine, growing arrogant from favor, openly provoking Meng Xiang.

Zhao Xu chose to ignore all of it.

Eventually, Liu Qingjing used Zhao Xu's hand to depose Meng Xiang, standing on equal footing with the Empress Dowager.

Thereafter, Liu Qingjing grew even more tyrannical; countless people in the inner court suffered her and her subordinates' cruelty and oppression.

Now, taking advantage of bearing Zhao Xu's only son, she turned her blade toward the Empress Dowager.

Once the Empress Dowager is toppled, Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu—as her closest female attendants—would almost certainly meet a grim fate, possibly following the same path as Meng Xiang's retinue.

Thus, though Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu maintained calm expressions, inwardly they fervently hoped Zhao Yu would crush Liu Qingjing's arrogance and preserve the Empress Dowager's power and status.

Of course, many others—like Zhao Ji—believed Zhao Yu was too impulsive, even foolish, daring to directly confront the unrivaled Liu Xianfei.

But Ma Xiao Jiao and Yuan Qing Cheng, upon hearing Zhao Yu's definition of an empress, greatly increased their favor toward him: "At least he understands what makes a good woman versus a manipulative one—he's not as clueless as Zhao Xu, unable to tell a virtuous woman from a green tea."

Liu Qingjing could no longer hold her composure; she shrieked in fury: "You slander me with lies! Where have I been unvirtuous, intolerant, or disrespectful? Where have I been arrogant from favor, capricious, or reckless?"

Zhao Yu met Liu Qingjing's contorted face and spoke bluntly:

"You conspire with court officials, suppress dissent, frame the Empress, and disrupt the inner court—all witnessed by all; how dare you deny it?"

"Now you leverage your childbirth to demand the empress title, seek to overthrow the Empress Dowager, and monopolize the harem—your intentions are as obvious as Sima Zhao's."

"Which of these charges do I falsely level against you?"

Before Liu Qingjing could reply, Zhao Yu turned to Zhao Xu and added: "The Han rose to its fifth generation, flourishing under Jianyuan; Wu Di expelled barbarians externally, reformed laws internally, performed Feng and Shan sacrifices, corrected the calendar, changed dress and color—deserving praise as a sage ruler. Yet in his later years, the Witchcraft Scandal erupted, destroying his glory and costing him his beloved son—alas, what a tragedy."

Here, Zhao Yu met Zhao Xu's piercing gaze and declared without hesitation: "Brother Emperor, if you do not rein yourself in now, you will follow Wu Di's tragic end—too late to regret."

Seeing Zhao Yu, to block Liu Qingjing's ascension, had dared to resurrect the forbidden Witchcraft Scandal, everyone present was utterly stunned.

Yes.

Liu Qingjing was the mastermind behind the Witchcraft Scandal.

But do not forget—the Witchcraft Scandal was ordered by Zhao Xu himself.

In other words, Zhao Xu bears equal blame for the Witchcraft Scandal.

Now, while Zhao Xu still reigns, Zhao Yu dares to seek justice for Meng Xiang—publicly humiliating Zhao Xu.

Is this not the audacity of a man who ate bear's heart and leopard's liver?

Ma Xiao Jiao and Yuan Qing Cheng, who already knew Meng Xiang's historic achievements, deeply sympathized with and admired her; now, seeing Zhao Yu publicly vindicate Meng Xiang, their favor for him skyrocketed—they even thought: "Him. Such a bold man deserves to be emperor."

Liu Qingjing collapsed to her knees before Zhao Xu, weeping: "Your Majesty, please punish Prince of Xin for falsely accusing me!"

Zhao Xu's face had turned dark; he had never imagined Zhao Yu would dare publicly expose the Witchcraft Scandal—and compare him to the aged Han Wu Di!

Zhao Xu stared at Zhao Yu and asked coldly: "Prince of Xin, do you believe I erred?"

Zhao Yu did not evade; he met Zhao Xu's gaze and answered with calm strength: "As Emperor, your taking many concubines and ensuring imperial lineage is natural. Yet even among commoners, it is known that favoring a concubine over the wife leads to family ruin—how much more so in the imperial house? If Your Majesty insists on my opinion, I humbly submit: you have erred."

When Zhao Yu spoke these words, everyone present froze—no one dared to breathe! They could not believe Zhao Yu had dared to publicly accuse the Emperor of wrongdoing!

This also secretly delighted those who had grievances they dared not speak, especially those in the harem including Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu.

Of course, there were also people like Zhao Ji who believed that Zhao Yu's going against Consort Liu was one thing, but now daring to slap Zhao Xu in the face before everyone was simply the height of foolishness.

And in the eyes of Ma Ma Xiao Jiao and Yuan Qingcheng, the admiring light grew brighter and brighter. In fact, if it were left to them alone, they might well have decided on the spot to have Zhao Yu replace Zhao Ji as the next Emperor of the Zhao Song Dynasty.

Zhao Yu seemed to have already disregarded his life and death, and he said again in a righteous and stern tone: "Consort Liu's domineering and unfilial acts are too numerous to record. If she is not restrained, Your Majesty's good name will surely be tarnished by her. Where will the royal dignity stand? Where will the peace of the harem stand?"

Having already said this much, Zhao Yu simply stopped holding back, and he said bluntly:

"Your Majesty's dislike of Empress Meng and fondness for Consort Liu is Your Majesty's private affair; this minister does not dare to interfere."

"But if Consort Liu were to become Empress, I fear it would harm our Great Song's Jiangshan and the state — this is a matter of the nation, concerning the ancestral foundations; this minister dare not refrain from speaking frankly."

"Moreover, the Empress Dowager is not only Your Majesty's birth mother, but also this minister's birth mother. Though I am talentless, as long as I still have a single breath left, I will absolutely not allow anyone to insult my mother — Your Majesty's favored consort included."

"This minister has spoken all he needs to say. I hope Your Majesty will think thrice before acting, and not be blinded by villains, leading to the collapse of court discipline and disharmony within the palace."

Zhao Yu's voice was steady and forceful, echoing through the silent palace…

……

(End of this chapter)