Chapter 5: No Harm Done

…

He boldly confronted Liu Qingjing, who was about to become Empress, and publicly humiliated Emperor Zhao Xu—has Zhao Yu lost his mind, become arrogant, or does he think being a reincarnator makes him superior?

None of the above.

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

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

Zhao Kuangyin had a sworn oath hidden in the Imperial Ancestral Temple: "The Emperor shall not kill 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 Emperor Zhao Ji was captured during the Jingkang Humiliation and forced north by the Jin, even in that humiliating, life-threatening state, his three instructions to Zhao Gou, delivered via Cao Fu, included one emphasizing this ancestral decree—urging Zhao Gou not to kill ministers or speech-officials, lest speech be stifled.

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's martial power was 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 co-ruling the empire with them.

So as long as Zhao Yu's words did not exceed the bounds of speaking out, he should 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 younger brother and the legitimate prince of the Zhao Song dynasty, son of Zhao Xu's father Zhao Xu.

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

Besides, do you really think Empress Dowager Xiang is an ordinary old woman who can be easily slaughtered?

Since Gao Taotao's death, in the political chessboard of the palace, Empress Dowager Xiang had always been like a stabilizing divine needle, maintaining the delicate balance of the Zhao Song dynasty.

Think about it.

Even with Zhao Xu's favor and backing from the New Party, before giving birth to Zhao Mao, Empress Dowager Xiang had never lost ground in her clashes with Liu Qingjing.

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 struggle and could still hinder 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 from exile and elevated him to Empress Yuanyou, 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 Wang Yisu, Zhao Ji's imperial consort, were both personally cultivated by Empress Dowager Xiang; many women from her palace also became Zhao Ji's consorts.

Without exaggeration, Empress Dowager Xiang profoundly shaped the political landscape of the Zhao Song dynasty, especially its palace 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 blow for Empress Dowager Xiang, 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 Kefei, father of Li Qingzhao.

These men were not only famous in later generations; in this era, 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 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.

Five months from now, 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, as he wished.

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

Precisely because he understood all this, Zhao Yu threw himself into the fray, breaking 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 an option.

The facts proved Zhao Yu was right.

Seeing Zhao Yu exert himself to defend her, fiercely confronting Liu Qingjing and even daring to stand against Zhao Xu publicly, Empress Dowager Xiang stared at Zhao Yu's back, her heart churning 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, preserving 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 murderous intent.

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 empire.

Now, Zhao Yu had exposed her underwear, shaming her publicly—how could she ever become Empress?

To block someone's future is like killing their parents; Liu Qingjing had fully sworn hatred against Zhao Yu—in her heart, she vowed to 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's character in "The Black Gold": "I've spoken—who agrees? Who opposes?"

I have to say, Zhao Yu was truly imposing at this moment, which made Ma Ma Xiao Jiao and Yuan Qingcheng even more confident in him.

Zhao Xu's face turned ashen, his eyes dark and uncertain, as if weighing pros and cons.

After a long while, Zhao Xu sneered: "When did it become your place to speak on my affairs? Don't think that because you're a prince, 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 a tidal wave within the palace.

Faced with this scene, Zhao Yu simply closed his eyes, adopting a posture of fearless resignation.

Seeing that even this failed to frighten Zhao Yu, Zhao Xu carefully examined his younger brother—the man he had always ignored.

Just as everyone held their breath for Zhao Yu, Zhao Xu casually dropped one line: "Go reflect deeply. Do not leave until your reflection is complete!" Then he swept his sleeve and walked out.

Seeing Zhao Xu so restrained, everyone present was utterly astonished.

Yes.

Because Zhao Yu was Zhao Xu's younger brother, because of the ancestral teachings left behind by Zhao Kuangyin, and out of consideration for Empress Dowager Xiang and the old faction, Zhao Xu was unlikely to directly execute Zhao Yu over such a trivial matter.

But Zhao Xu raising the paddle high only to set it down lightly still left many people puzzled, unable to fathom what trick he was really playing.

……

(End of chapter)