Chapter 5: No Harm Done

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He boldly confronted Liu Qingjing, who was about to become empress, publicly humiliated Emperor Zhao Xu, and everyone wondered: had Zhao Yu gone mad, lost his senses, or thought being a reincarnator made him superior?

None of the above.

Although Zhao Yu was far from particularly steady, after years of being beaten down by society, he still had the resolve to keep his tail tucked in.

Zhao Yu chose to step forward and shoulder this massive burden for Empress Dowager Xiang because he fully understood the current political situation, his own status, and future trends.

Emperor Zhao Kuangyin had left a vow hidden in the Taimiao: “The emperor shall not execute ministers or officials who speak out; those who violate this shall bring misfortune.”

Very few Zhao Song emperors ever broke this ancestral decree.

Historically, when Zhao Ji was captured during the Jingkang Humiliation and forced north by the Jin, even in that humiliating, life-threatening state, his final message to Zhao Gou, delivered by Cao Fu, included one line emphasizing this ancestral decree: instructing Zhao Gou not to execute ministers or speech-officials, lest he block the flow of counsel.

Clearly, this ancestral decree carried immense weight in the ruling philosophy of every Zhao Song emperor.

Put it this way: you may say the Song dynasty was militarily weak, but you must admit that from the Cup of Wine Disarming the Generals to the cliff-jumping at Yashan, every Song emperor treated scholar-officials with great respect, even governing jointly with them.

Therefore, as long as Zhao Yu’s words stayed within the bounds of speaking out, he would not be in mortal danger.

Moreover, Song emperors were all famously patient; Zhao Xu included—there was not a single tyrant among them.

And Zhao Yu was, after all, Zhao Xu’s brother and Zhao Xu’s son, a legitimate prince of the Zhao Song dynasty.

In essence, Zhao Yu had merely spoken some facts. Even if Zhao Xu was furious, he was unlikely to kill him over this.

Besides, do you really think Empress Dowager Xiang was an ordinary old woman ripe for the picking?

Since Gao Taotao’s death, Empress Dowager Xiang had remained the anchor holding the delicate balance of Zhao Song court politics.

Think about it.

Even with Zhao Xu’s favor and backing from the New Party, before she bore Zhao Mao, Empress Dowager Xiang had always held the upper hand in her clashes with her.

Moreover, despite Zhao Xu’s hatred for both the Old and New Parties, thanks to Empress Dowager Xiang’s protection, the Old Party still had strength to resist and could obstruct the New Party in many matters.

Crucially, historically, after Zhao Xu’s death, Empress Dowager Xiang single-handedly pushed Zhao Ji onto the throne.

Afterwards, under Empress Dowager Xiang’s indication, Zhao Ji recalled Meng Xiang, whom Zhao Xu had deposed, and honored him as Yuan You Empress, standing equal to Liu Qingjing, who had become Empress Yuanfu.

In short, until her death, Empress Dowager Xiang never let Liu Qingjing, with all her buffs, defeat her.

Later, Zheng Xiansu, who became Zhao Ji’s empress for decades, and his imperial consort Wang Yisu, were both personally cultivated by Empress Dowager Xiang; many women from her palace also became Zhao Ji’s concubines.

Without exaggeration, Empress Dowager Xiang profoundly shaped the political landscape of the Zhao Song dynasty, especially its court politics.

In short, Zhao Yu clearly understood Empress Dowager Xiang’s strength, influence, and political wisdom.

Zhao Yu did not believe that if he took this massive burden for her, she would not save him.

If Empress Dowager Xiang were truly this useless and lacking in courage, she would never have become the Old Party’s protective umbrella.

And then there was the Old Party.

By saving Empress Dowager Xiang, Zhao Yu had saved the Old Party—could they possibly not fight for him?

Who were the Old Party?

They were the historically famous Su Shi, Su Zhe, Huang Tingjian, Qin Guan, and Li Qingzhao’s father Li Kui, among others.

These men were not only renowned in later generations; in their own time, each was a master of verbal combat, wielding enormous influence.

With these Old Party figures watching, Zhao Xu, Liu Qingjing, and the New Party would dare not overstep against Zhao Yu, who held the moral high ground.

Of course, the most important point was that Zhao Xu had only five months left to live.

In five months, Zhao Xu would be dead—could he crawl out of his coffin to bite him?

And without Zhao Xu’s backing, Zhao Yu could mold Liu Qingjing however he pleased—round or flat.

So, no matter how difficult, if Zhao Yu could just survive these next six months, this political gamble would surely yield a hundredfold return, and might even let him fulfill his wish: defeat Zhao Ji and become the next emperor of the Zhao Song dynasty.

Precisely because he understood all this, Zhao Yu threw himself into the fray to break his current extremely passive situation.

But then again, Zhao Yu took this risk mainly because the original owner had left him so little political capital; if he didn’t risk everything, he wouldn’t even have a chance of making Empress Dowager Xiang abandon Zhao Ji and choose him as emperor—she probably wouldn’t even consider him.

The facts proved Zhao Yu had made the right choice.

Seeing Zhao Yu spare no effort to defend her, publicly confront Liu Qingjing, and even dare to oppose Zhao Xu to protect her, Empress Dowager Xiang stared at Zhao Yu’s back, her heart flooded with complex emotions:

“I never expected it would be Prince Shen who saved me!”

—This once-ignored adoptive son had now become her last lifeline in despair.

Empress Dowager Xiang’s gaze then shifted to Zhao Ji, the boy she had raised as her own son:

“At my most helpless moment, Prince Duan chose to stand aside and preserve himself—wise, perhaps, but lacking in responsibility.”

At that moment, a scale appeared in Empress Dowager Xiang’s mind: one end held Zhao Ji, the other Zhao Yu.

“Which of them can ensure I have support in my old age?”

Liu Qingjing, whose plans Zhao Yu had ruined, glared at Zhao Yu with undisguised hatred, her eyes sharp as knives.

Liu Qingjing had every reason to hate Zhao Yu.

Had Zhao Yu not interfered, she was certain to become empress of the Zhao Song dynasty—and soon the most powerful woman in the realm.

Now, Zhao Yu had exposed her naked truth, shamed her publicly—how could she ever become empress?

To block someone’s path is like killing their parents; Liu Qingjing had fully sworn hatred against Zhao Yu. In her heart, she vowed: she would take revenge on Zhao Yu!!!

Ma Xiao Jiao and Yuan Qing Cheng felt that at this moment, Zhao Yu had the exact aura of Liang Jiahui in “The Black Gold”: “I’ve spoken. Who agrees? Who opposes?”

One must admit: at this moment, Zhao Yu radiated real authority, making Ma Xiao Jiao and Yuan Qing Cheng even more confident in him.

Zhao Xu’s face turned ashen, his eyes dark and uncertain, as if weighing his options.

After a long while, Zhao Xu let out a cold snort: “When did it become your place to speak on my affairs? Don’t think your status as prince means I won’t punish you.”

At this moment, the atmosphere in the hall reached its peak of tension—as if a storm over power, justice, and kinship was about to unleash chaos within the palace.

Facing this, Zhao Yu simply closed his eyes, adopting a posture of fearless resignation.

Seeing that even this failed to frighten Zhao Yu, Zhao Xu took a long, hard look at his younger brother—the one he had always ignored.

Just as everyone held their breath for Zhao Yu, Zhao Xu casually dropped: “Go reflect deeply. Do not leave until you’ve reflected properly!” Then he swept his sleeve and walked out.

Seeing Zhao Xu’s restraint, everyone present was stunned.

Yes.

Because Zhao Yu was Zhao Xu’s brother, because of Zhao Kuangyin’s ancestral decree, because of concern for Empress Dowager Xiang and the Old Party, Zhao Xu could not possibly execute Zhao Yu over this minor offense.

But Zhao Xu raising the punishment high only to let it fall lightly still left many puzzled—what exactly was he playing at?

…

(End of Chapter)