Chapter 47

…

Ma Xiao Jiao understood: Zhang Chun didn't want to wait any longer—she wanted to be at Zhao Yu's side right now.

"Why?" Ma Xiao Jiao asked. "Didn't we agree you'd come with Empress Xiansu and Noble Consort Yisu? And isn't it better for you to help Zhao Yu seize the throne from within the palace?"

Zhang Chun didn't say: "That was Li Lin's plan—I never agreed." Instead, she told Ma Xiao Jiao: "Foolish girl, I'm doing this for you, for our grand goal."

"For me? A grand goal?" Ma Xiao Jiao was confused.

"Don't you remember? I told you your top priority is to get pregnant with Zhao Yu's child and bear him a son. I also told you that, except for Zhao Ji, every Song emperor had few offspring—five emperors faced succession crises precisely because they had no heirs. The sooner you bear Zhao Yu a son, and the more sons you bear him, the greater our political advantage."

"You did say that—but how does that connect to you going to Zhao Yu's side right now?" Ma Xiao Jiao asked.

"How can you not understand?"

"If I go, our chances of bearing Zhao Yu a son increase—and we can bear him more sons."

"In this era, infant survival rates are low. Take Emperor Shenzong: he fathered fourteen sons, but only six lived to adulthood—and of those six, three died in their twenties; only three lived past forty."

"With odds like these, if we bear too few sons, accidents are inevitable."

"Those three—especially Li Lin and Yuan Qing Cheng—refuse to listen to me. If all five of us acted together, our chances of bearing Zhao Yu sons would be far greater, and we'd produce far more sons—then we'd hold the greatest political leverage."

"It's laughable how they delude themselves into thinking they can carve out their own destiny in this male-dominated feudal society."

"They don't realize: without a powerful man's support and protection, they're just three weak women—unable even to sit at the table to eat, let alone showcase their talents."

"Recently, Li Lin and Yuan Qing Cheng have been flirting with Empress Xiansu—this woman, historically, manipulated the ten thousand women in Zhao Ji's harem as if they were chess pieces. A hundred Li Lins and a hundred Yuan Qing Chens combined couldn't outmaneuver her."

"Not understanding history or politics is one thing—but to refuse my guidance? They're doomed to fail."

"Jiao Jiao, don't emulate them—thinking you're clever while doing exactly the opposite of what you should."

"Ever since you left, we've stood still—mainly because they refused to follow my orders. Had we worked together, we could've achieved great things in this era."

…

Seeing Zhang Chun's pent-up resentment, Ma Xiao Jiao truly couldn't tell who was right or wrong—she didn't know whether to help Zhang Chun.

More importantly, Ma Xiao Jiao felt uneasy: "Zhao Yu is my man—yet Pure Sister still wants to sleep with him. Isn't that a gross disrespect to me?"

Yes.

Zhao Yu has many women, and he'll have more in the future—even possibly ten thousand. One more woman hardly seems significant.

But all the others are natives of this era—outsiders Ma Xiao Jiao can't control or dare to interfere with.

Zhang Chun is different—she's my longtime friend, yet she openly plans to sleep with my man. Is this how a good sister, a true best friend, behaves?

Fine.

Ma Xiao Jiao understood: Zhang Chun didn't see Zhao Yu as her man at all—not even as a man, but merely as a pawn.

Ma Xiao Jiao also knew Zhang Chun didn't want to sleep with Zhao Yu to release her feminine hormones—she did it for political reasons.

Yet even knowing all this, Ma Xiao Jiao still couldn't accept Zhang Chun sleeping with her man—and worse, she was being asked to arrange it.

Driven by this twisted psychology, Ma Xiao Jiao "kindly" advised Zhang Chun: "Pure Sister, if you want to be at Zhao Yu's side, I have no objection—but shouldn't we first get the consent of those three? Otherwise, we'll argue again over this."

Seeing Ma Xiao Jiao no longer followed her, Zhang Chun felt a tightness in her chest. She forced a smile after two attempts:

"I never expected you'd think this of me—that I'm destroying our unity. Let me be honest: I want to get to Zhao Yu through you precisely to preserve our friendship."

Then, emotionally broken, Zhang Chun spoke with a touch of spite:

"You don't know yet, but long before you went to Zhao Yu's side, I was already intimate with him—he kissed my lips so hard they swelled."

"That teaching palace maid position was mine originally. Empress Xiansu, fearing me, schemed to have you replace me."

"Yet because you were the one who took it from me, I didn't resist—I actively guided you onto the right path."

"I'll say it bluntly: everything you have now should be mine!"

"Have I ever complained?"

"For the sake of our sisterly bond, for your peace of mind, I never went straight to Zhao Yu—I didn't even plan to tell you about my relationship with him. I wanted to sacrifice my own interests and work with you to achieve something great in this era."

"And yet, in your heart, it's me who's destroying our unity?!"

"Jiao Jiao, I'm heartbroken!"

"Fine. I won't need you. I'll go to Zhao Yu myself—let's see if he'll forget me the moment he pulls up his pants!"

Saying this, Zhang Chun stormed toward the front courtyard.

Ma Xiao Jiao never imagined Zhao Yu and Zhang Chun had such a history.

And from Zhang Chun's tone, it sounded as if Zhao Yu and she had already slept together.

"Am I the third party?!"

At this moment, Zhang Chun had already walked over ten paces away.

Ma Xiao Jiao had no time to think—she hurried after her and said: "Pure Sister, don't be like this. I'm wrong. I'll help you, okay?"

But Zhang Chun replied firmly: "No. I'll go to Zhao Yu myself—let you see if I lied to you, let you see who's been thinking of the bigger picture all along!"

After saying this, no matter what Ma Xiao Jiao said, Zhang Chun ignored her completely.

Soon, Zhang Chun and Ma Xiao Jiao entered the front hall one after the other.

At that moment, Zhao Yu was accompanying Empress Dowager Xiang as she admired a newly installed floor-to-ceiling window.

Bright sunlight streamed through the window into the previously dim and stifling hall, filling it with light and vitality.

Zhao Yu and Empress Dowager Xiang stood before the window, warm sunlight casting a soft halo around them.

Empress Dowager Xiang gently touched the pure, crystal-like glass, her eyes filled with wonder and admiration.

Zhao Yu explained beside her: "This glass window is stronger and more durable than paper windows, impervious to wind and rain, and offers exceptional light transmission—it keeps rooms warm and bright as day, all year round…"

Zhang Chun wanted Ma Xiao Jiao to help her get to Zhao Yu's side rather than approach him directly to offer herself:

On one hand, she was shy, she was reserved, she didn't want to seem too eager;

on the other, she had ruined the opportunity Zhao Yu had secured for her, so she felt too embarrassed to ask him again—and feared he'd doubt her abilities or look down on her. She planned to first blend into his circle, find a chance to prove herself, restore her image in his eyes, then rekindle their relationship and gradually achieve her goals.

But now, Zhang Chun was utterly isolated, cornered by her own actions—she had no other path left but to approach Zhao Yu herself and offer her bed.

So Zhang Chun took a deep breath, then walked to a spot where Zhao Yu could see her, and shot Zhao Yu a look that said: "I need to talk to you—let's meet in a bit."

What Zhang Chun hadn't expected was that Zhao Yu actually beckoned her over with a wave.

Honestly, Zhang Chun was truly afraid of the strict Empress Dowager, and didn't want to go near the Empress Dowager again.

But since Zhao Yu had called her over, she couldn't very well refuse to go.

In the end, Zhang Chun, who still needed a favor from Zhao Yu, could only brace herself and walk toward Zhao Yu and the Empress Dowager…

……

(End of Chapter)