Chapter 50: The Responsible Prince Shen

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Unlike many who die in political struggles without ever knowing how they died, Zhang Chun knew very well that her repeated setbacks, isolation, and near-total collapse were due not only to her own flaws but also to Zheng Xiansu’s opportunistic maneuvering.

Without mentioning anything else, Li Lin was personally promoted by Zheng Xiansu to challenge her for the position of leader among the five women.

With this move, plus a few small favors, Zheng Xiansu effortlessly shattered their five-woman alliance; Li Lin and the other transmigrants even regarded Zheng Xiansu, a native, with gratitude and obedience.

Put simply, if Zhang Chun did not understand history or politics, she might not even know how she attained Dao or whose Dao she had fallen into.

This reveals just how high Zheng Xiansu’s political acumen—especially in harem politics—truly was.

Such an opponent made Zhang Chun fear her, revere her, and yet feel eager to challenge her.

——Zhang Chun very much wanted to know: after studying history for so many years and contemplating politics for so long, could she truly match wits with a genuine master of politics?

Soon, Zheng Xiansu’s party arrived before Zhang Chun and Ma Xiao Jiao.

Zheng Xiansu did not beat around the bush; instead, she spoke with sincere tone:

“Previously, His Highness ordered the two of us to send our sister to the Empress Dowager’s side, and we leveraged years of her favor to elevate our sister to succeed us as Yaban.”

“To save our sister from punishment, we incurred many debts, and if this matter were exposed, we would surely face the Empress Dowager’s thunderous wrath.”

“Our sister has made us suffer.”

“Thus, I harbored resentment, and recently I have neglected her.”

“Today, I spoke with His Highness about this, and he said that our sister possesses divine arts, and her opposition to the Empress Dowager’s peace overtures must have good reason—not reckless ambition.”

“His Highness has severely reprimanded me for failing to speak up for my sister; I now realize I nearly ruined our Great Song’s great affairs, and I beg my sister’s forgiveness.”

Zheng Xiansu had come to apologize, and her attitude was sincere.

But Zheng Xiansu first reminded her of the favors she and Wang Yisu had done for Zhang Chun, then pointed out Zhang Chun’s faults, making it clear that her hostility was justified.

Moreover, when speaking of favors, Zheng Xiansu always included Wang Yisu; when speaking of faults, she took all blame upon herself.

More importantly, Zheng Xiansu made it perfectly clear that she came to apologize solely because Zhao Yu valued Zhang Chun—she feared delaying Zhao Yu’s great affairs, demonstrating her grasp of the bigger picture.

At the same time, Zheng Xiansu implied that although Zhao Yu favored Zhang Chun, he was closer to her; otherwise, he would not have reprimanded her before she even entered his household—clearly, he was instructing his wife behind the scenes.

Zhang Chun thought: “She gained both substance and appearance, won hearts, and made everyone unable to utter a single word of criticism—everyone saw her tolerance, her responsibility, her backing, her vision. Flawless. Truly formidable!!”

Then Zhang Chun struck straight to the core: “But if I can make Zhao Yu utterly delighted with me, make him love me more, what use is your brilliance?”

Exactly.

Zhang Chun had found the key to defeating Zheng Xiansu.

That key was Zhao Yu.

Zhang Chun believed that if she could make Zhao Yu favor her as Li Zhi favored Wu Zetian, Li Longji favored Wu Huifei, or Zhao Xu favored Liu Qingjing, then even if Zheng Xiansu were a hundred times more capable, she could still defeat her.

How to achieve this?

Zhang Chun refused to believe that Wu Zetian, Wu Huifei, and Liu Qingjing could do it—but she, a transmigrant who mastered history, understood politics, and possessed two thousand years more insight than they, could not!

Yet before reaching that level, Zhang Chun still had to play along with Zheng Xiansu.

So, facing Zheng Xiansu’s apology, Zhang Chun quickly bowed in humble contrition: “Sister shames your younger sister—this is entirely my own fault, I cannot blame you; and had you not helped me that day, I would have been ruined. How could you possibly owe me anything…?”

After Zhang Chun and Zheng Xiansu cleared the air, the small spark that had just ignited in Zhao Yu’s harem was temporarily extinguished…

…

Leaving Cide Palace, Zhao Yu went straight to see Zhao Xu that night.

Zhao Xu assumed Zhao Yu had come to beg him to rescind his decree naming Liu Qingjing Empress, so he refused to see him.

Forced to act, Zhao Yu went that very night to Chancellor Zhang Dun’s residence and said: “My prince’s servant overheard a Xia envoy say that Lady Liang was poisoned by Li Gan and the Liao envoy—I could not believe such absurdity, yet feared that if true, it might jeopardize state affairs, so I sent my deputy chief steward Li Yan to verify. Li Yan captured a Xia attendant and interrogated him under torture, confirming the truth.”

Then Zhao Yu handed Li Yan’s captive to Zhang Dun.

At this critical juncture in Song-Xia peace talks, the Song court now held this vital intelligence—undoubtedly a major bargaining chip.

Zhang Dun was overjoyed!

After the Southern Song, descendants of the old faction who survived by surrendering dominated historical narratives; their compiled History of Song listed Zhang Dun among the treacherous ministers, condemning his autocratic arrogance and personal vendettas.

Influenced by Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism, mainstream historians from Southern Song through Ming and Qing also viewed Zhang Dun as a power-hungry villain, emphasizing his brutal factional tactics.

In short, traditional historiography stressed Zhang Dun’s negative image while ignoring his reform achievements.

As a twenty-first-century person, especially a historical novelist who had written extensively on the Song period, Zhao Yu knew well that during Zhang Dun’s tenure as Chief of the Privy Council, he promoted renowned generals like Zhang Jie, employed the “fortify and advance” strategy, and constructed military outposts such as Pingxiacheng and Lingpingzhai along the Song-Xia border, gradually compressing Xia’s operational space.

Last year’s Battle of Pingxiacheng saw the Song army crush the Xia forces, forcing them to seek peace—the most glorious victory of the mid-to-late Northern Song, briefly stabilizing the northwest and delaying the dynasty’s decline.

Moreover, his economic policies, though unable to save the Northern Song, did alleviate its fiscal crisis to some extent.

These were undeniable, concrete achievements.

Zhang Dun also refused special favors for relatives; even when his son failed the imperial exams, he did not intervene—contemporaries called him “heartless.”

During his administration, he remained incorrupt, sharply contrasting with corrupt ministers like Cai Jing.

Of course, Zhang Dun was not without flaws: to consolidate the New Party’s power, he ruthlessly suppressed the Old Party (such as Su Shi and Fan Chunren), and in his later years became hopelessly entangled in factional strife.

But then again, considering the atrocities committed by Sima Guang and other Old Party figures—especially their persecution of New Party members—and the zero-sum political climate of the time, Zhang Dun’s actions were somewhat understandable.

In short, while Zhang Dun’s abilities were not extraordinary, Zhao Yu held a favorable opinion of him, the so-called “Iron-Fisted Chancellor.”

Zhang Dun advocated aggressive territorial expansion, particularly seeking to reclaim Xia for the Song.

Thus, with the bargaining chip Zhao Yu had secured for the Song, Zhang Dun felt he might now act boldly.

But Zhang Dun was currently Zhao Xu’s chancellor, and Zhao Xu had shown him great favor; moreover, Zhao Yu’s recent assertiveness had grown excessive—so Zhang Dun intended to reprimand Zhao Yu, reminding him that princes must not interfere in state affairs.

With this aim, Zhang Dun turned to Li Yan and snapped: “How dare you arrest and beat a Xia envoy? If this escalates tensions between the two states, how could you possibly bear the responsibility?!”

To Zhang Dun’s surprise, Zhao Yu stepped forward, placing himself between Li Yan and Zhang Dun, and replied: “Li Yan acted under my orders—he has done no wrong. If this matter truly causes harm to our Great Song, I alone shall bear full responsibility. If Chancellor Zhang wishes to pursue accountability, you may impeach me before His Majesty.”

Seeing Zhao Yu shoulder the pressure from the reigning chancellor and take all blame upon himself, Li Yan was flooded with indescribable gratitude and loyalty. He straightened his spine; though silent, his firm posture seemed to declare to all: Li Yan would gladly face fire and water for Zhao Yu, without hesitation.

“I take my leave.”

With that, Zhao Yu turned and walked away.

Li Yan and Zhao Yu’s other subordinates followed him closely, marching with proud, resolute steps.

Watching Zhao Yu’s upright back, Zhang Dun murmured: “Capable. Bold. Responsible. Prince Shen… what a pity…”

…

(End of Chapter)