[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them":3,"chapter-i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-chapter-43":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","I Transmigrated to the Northern Song with Them",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2318933,4535,"Chapter 43: Zhao Yu: I","i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-chapter-43",43,"\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Historically, Zhao Mao was never made crown prince while alive; only after his death—and even after Zhao Xu’s death—did Zhao Ji, who inherited Zhao Xu’s throne, posthumously grant him the title of Crown Prince and change his posthumous name to Xian Min.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this life, it was because Zhao Yu blocked Liu Qingjing once, causing her to feel intense peril, that she persistently persuaded Zhao Xu to make Zhao Mao crown prince.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xu knew his own health was poor; crucially, his grandfather Emperor Yingzong and his father Emperor Shenzong had both been healthier than him, yet still died in their thirties—he truly feared he would not live long enough to see Zhao Mao grow up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And at this critical moment, to protect the Zhao dynasty’s realm, Zhao Yu stepped forward, determined to turn back the tide and prop up the collapsing structure; though he had no political faction behind him, he dared to offend half the court with nothing but righteous fervor, while the other half remained neutral—he was blunt by nature, yet held the exalted status of a prince, making him uniquely suited for guardianship and the role of Zongzheng .\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was also one reason why, after Zhao Yu had fiercely rebuked Liu Qingjing and publicly humiliated him, Zhao Xu so easily forgave Zhao Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after deeply interacting with Zhao Yu, Zhao Xu realized Zhao Yu was too formidable—his literary and martial strategy, insight, and wisdom were unmatched among the imperial clan, even the best in the realm; he himself was far outmatched by Zhao Yu, let alone his young son?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xu truly feared that if he met an untimely end, Zhao Yu might emulate Emperor Taizong Zhao Guangyi and seize his nephew’s throne.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, Zhao Xu accepted Liu Qingjing’s persuasion and named Zhao Mao crown prince; feeling this still wasn’t safe enough, he outright made Liu Qingjing, who was at odds with Empress Dowager Xiang and Zhao Yu, empress, to counterbalance Empress Dowager Xiang and Zhao Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Empress Dowager Xiang and Zhao Yu could also restrain the restless Liu Qingjing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xu believed the balance he had engineered would surely ensure his throne passed safely into his beloved son’s hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the art of imperial rule.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Notably, to prevent Empress Dowager Xiang and Zhao Yu from sabotaging this, Zhao Xu did not inform Empress Dowager Xiang nor summon Zhao Yu—he issued the edict naming Zhao Mao crown prince and elevating Imperial Consort Liu to empress, making it a fait accompli.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon learning of this, Zhao Yu did not choose to appease; instead, he immediately submitted a memorial to Zhao Xu, first affirming his support for Zhao Mao as crown prince, then solemnly declaring his opposition to Liu Qingjing becoming empress—his words were even more vehement than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Didn’t Zhao Yu know that the matter was already settled, that his opposition to Liu Qingjing becoming empress would be futile and might even anger Zhao Xu?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course he knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Zhao Yu absolutely had to take this firm stance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In politics, loyalty demands absolute alignment; the first to be eliminated are always the fence-sitters. Incomplete loyalty equals absolute disloyalty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this critical juncture, at the moment when Empress Dowager Xiang was most vulnerable, Zhao Yu must further bind himself to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Put simply: if Zhao Yu has always aligned himself with the imperial house, with Empress Dowager Xiang—the one who, after Zhao Xu’s death, would determine the next emperor’s identity—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>then tell me, after Zhao Xu dies, who will Empress Dowager Xiang and the imperial house install as the new emperor?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right after sending the memorial to Zhao Xu, Zhao Yu gathered Ma Xiao Jiao, Liang Shicheng, and Tong Guan, loaded a cart with newly developed glass products not yet on the market, and brought along the most skilled artisans to pay respects at Cide Palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this time, Empress Dowager Xiang had already heard that Zhao Yu had submitted a solemn memorial to Zhao Xu, urging him to rescind the edict naming Liu Qingjing empress; Zhao Xu had thrown the memorial over three zhang away in rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Empress Dowager Xiang also learned that Zhao Ji had submitted a congratulatory memorial to Zhao Xu, lavishly praising Zhao Mao and Liu Qingjing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What Zhao Ji said about Zhao Mao need not be repeated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only this: Zhao Ji praised Liu Qingjing as “possessing benevolent heart and virtue, harmonious speech and conduct, embodying grace and gentleness, possessing noble and virtuous character, nurturing the heir apparent, bringing blessings for ten thousand years”—his florid prose was breathtaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Empress Dowager Xiang sighed softly: “Prince Duan’s literary talent has grown even more refined. In this regard, Prince Shen ought to learn well from his eleventh brother—if he had even one-tenth of Prince Duan’s polished tact, the emperor wouldn’t have thrown his memorial so far.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, she gently rubbed her temples, a trace of weariness and helplessness in her brow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Empress Dowager Xiang knew well that Zhao Ji, by offending neither Zhao Xu nor failing to flatter her and the entire imperial house, demonstrated a kind of worldly wisdom in survival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But could such a man be entrusted with great responsibility?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Empress Dowager Xiang was lost in thought, Yang Jian reported: “Your Majesty, Prince Shen has arrived.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Empress Dowager Xiang laughed and scolded: “If Prince Shen has come, do I need to be told? That rascal never comes without barging right in—my Cide Palace is nearly his own Prince Shen Mansion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Jian smiled: “If Prince Shen came alone, he would surely enter on his own to pay respects. But today he brings many offerings and numerous artisans—he requires your imperial decree before his party may enter the palace.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Empress Dowager Xiang did not ask what Zhao Yu had brought; she simply said: “Let them in. I want to see what mischief this rascal is up to now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after, Zhao Yu’s party entered Cide Palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yu acted as if he were at home, boldly ordering: “Replace all the windows here with mine—make them exquisite. If done well, I shall not withhold rewards.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After giving his orders, he left Ma Xiao Jiao and Tong Guan to supervise, then took Liang Shicheng and several eunuchs carrying glass mirrors, telescopes, and spectacles to meet Empress Dowager Xiang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon seeing Empress Dowager Xiang, she asked: “What’s going on in the courtyard? So lively?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yu walked to her side, picked up a pear, bit into it, and said: “Don’t ask—you’ll get a big surprise later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Empress Dowager Xiang grew even more curious, but she held her tongue and asked instead: “If you knew you couldn’t stop Liu Qingjing from becoming empress, why bother?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I show no clear stance on this matter, with Empress Liu’s aggressive nature, who knows what she might do? Then my mother and I would be in danger. So even if I cannot stop her from becoming empress, I must make her know we are not to be trifled with,” Zhao Yu said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Empress Dowager Xiang had already guessed Zhao Yu’s intent; she fell silent for a moment, then said: “If I truly lose my position as Empress Dowager, what will you do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yu replied without hesitation: “Then I shall bring you to my Prince Shen Mansion to spend your remaining years in peace.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He added: “Even if I lose my princely title along with you, what of it? With my abilities, supporting one elderly mother is as easy as turning over one’s hand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Empress Dowager Xiang believed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had long seen that if Zhao Yu were not bound by his princely status and confined to Bianliang, his talents would find far greater scope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yu’s declaration deeply comforted her; she smiled warmly and said: “Good. If that day ever comes, I shall come to my son’s home to spend my old age…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1319,"2026-06-20T15:06:47.302Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","6b722b27b7f848264e7756e69437aec6fa60fbfc361b4e5a12ed5a46772da471","i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-chapter-44","i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-chapter-42",348,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-cover.jpg"]