Chapter 50: The Prince Who Bears Responsibility

…

Unlike many who die in political struggles without ever knowing how they died, Zhang Chun clearly understood 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.

Zheng Xiansu's move, combined with minor favors, easily shattered their five-woman alliance; Li Lin and the other transmigrants even regarded Zheng Xiansu, this native, with gratitude and obedience.

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

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

Such an opponent filled Zhang Chun with fear, reverence, and a burning desire to compete.

——Zhang Chun desperately 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, the Prince ordered the two of us to send our sister to the Empress Dowager's side, and we spent years cultivating her favor, hoping to elevate our sister to our position as Zheng 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 caused us great suffering."

"Thus, I harbored resentment, and recently I have neglected her."

"Today, I spoke with the Prince about this matter, and he said that our sister possesses divine arts, and her opposition to the Empress Dowager's peace overtures must have reason behind it—not reckless ambition."

"The Prince has severely reprimanded me for failing to speak up for my sister, and I now realize I nearly ruined our great Song's affairs. 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 had justification.

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 plans, 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 harshly reprimanded her before she even entered his household—clearly a case of him instructing his wife behind closed doors.

Zhang Chun thought: "She gained both substance and appearance, won hearts, made everyone unable to utter a single word of criticism, and showed everyone her tolerance, her sense of responsibility, her backing, and her strategic vision—flawless. Truly formidable!!!"

Then Zhang Chun pierced straight to the core: "But if I can please Zhao Yu, make him adore 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, and Zhao Xu favored Liu Qingjing, then even if Zheng Xiansu were a hundred times more brilliant, she could still defeat her.

As for how to achieve this?

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

But before reaching that level, Zhang Chun still had to feign compliance with Zheng Xiansu.

Thus, facing Zheng Xiansu's apology, Zhang Chun quickly bowed in fearful contrition: "Sister shames your younger sister! This is entirely my own fault—I cannot blame you. 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 Zhao Yu.

Seeing this, Zhao Yu had no choice but to visit Chancellor Zhang Dun that night, saying: "A servant of my household accidentally overheard a Xia envoy say that Liang Shi was poisoned by Li Qianshun in collusion with Liao envoys. I dared not believe such an absurd thing could happen, yet I feared that if true, it might jeopardize state affairs, so I sent my deputy chief steward Li Yan to verify it. Li Yan captured a Xia attendant and interrogated him under torture, confirming the truth of the matter."

Then Zhao Yu handed Li Yan's captive Xia attendant over to Zhang Dun.

At this critical juncture in Song-Xia peace talks, the Song court's possession of this vital intelligence was 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 Song Shi listed Zhang Dun among the traitorous ministers, condemning him for autocratic arrogance and personal vengeance.

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 partisan tactics.

In short, traditional historiography stressed Zhang Dun's negative image while ignoring his successful reforms.

As a twenty-first-century person, especially a historical novelist who had written many novels set in the Two Song periods, Zhao Yu knew clearly that during Zhang Dun's tenure as Chief of the Privy Council, he appointed renowned generals like Zhang Jie, adopted the "fortify-and-advance" strategy, and constructed military outposts such as Pingxiacheng and Lingping Zhai along the Song-Xia border, gradually compressing Western Xia's operational space.

In last year's Battle of Pingxiacheng, the Song army decisively crushed the Xia forces, forcing them to seek peace—achieving the most brilliant military victory of the mid-to-late Northern Song, briefly stabilizing the northwest and delaying the Northern Song's decline.

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

These were tangible achievements no one could erase.

Furthermore, Zhang Dun refused special treatment for relatives—even when his son failed the imperial examinations, he did not interfere. Contemporaries called him "heartless."

He also remained incorrupt during his tenure, sharply contrasting with corrupt ministers like Cai Jing.

Of course, Zhang Dun was not without flaws: to consolidate the New Party's position, he ruthlessly suppressed the Old Party (such as Su Shi and Fan Chunren), and in his later years, he became hopelessly entangled in partisan 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 environment 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 and particularly desired to help the Song dynasty reclaim Western Xia.

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

Yet Zhang Dun was currently Zhao Xu's chancellor, and Zhao Xu had shown him great favor; moreover, Zhao Yu's recent assertiveness had indeed grown excessive. So Zhang Dun planned to reprimand Zhao Yu, reminding him that princes must not interfere in state affairs.

With this purpose in mind, Zhang Dun turned to Li Yan and rebuked: "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 adverse consequences for our Great Song, I alone shall bear full responsibility. If Chancellor Zhang wishes to pursue accountability, you may petition His Majesty to impeach me."

Seeing Zhao Yu shoulder the pressure from the sitting chancellor and take all blame upon himself, Li Yan was filled with indescribable gratitude and loyalty. He straightened his spine; though silent, his firm posture seemed to declare to all: Li Yan would willingly 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 subordinates all marched after him, heads high and spirits bold.

Looking at Zhao Yu's upright back, Zhang Dun murmured, "Capable, decisive, responsible. Prince Xin… what a pity…"

……

(End of Chapter)