Chapter 53: The Crown Prince Is Ill

…

People never stir unless there's profit to be had.

Zhao Yu made it clear that no matter how many glass products Cai Jing sold, he would receive a ten percent commission.

Cai Jing was short on cash to bribe officials and maintain his career while enjoying life—how could he refuse such an easy opportunity to earn substantial money?

Besides, Zhao Yu acted with restraint: he did not sell telescopes, a military device, but only glass windows, glass mirrors, glass crafts, and eyeglasses—a black technology born a century ahead of its time.

As for the high pricing?

Although Ma Xiao Jiao's methods were already scientific and the skilled artisans recruited by Huang Jingchen possessed sufficient craftsmanship, the output of glass, especially colorless glass, remained low; without raising prices, supply could not be guaranteed.

Crucially, these glass products were never meant for the poor—they were luxury goods exclusively for the wealthy.

Remember, Zhao Yu had explicitly ordered that the foremost priority of these glass products was exquisite craftsmanship.

For instance, glass crafts and vessels were fired by artisans who had originally produced imperial porcelain for the royal court, retrained under Ma Xiao Jiao.

Zhao Yu believed that some extravagantly decadent figures of this era, like Zhao Ji, would certainly pay for these glass products.

In short, Zhao Yu and Cai Jing reached an instant agreement, and Zhao Yu's glass products would soon enter the most complete and vast sales network of the Zhao Song dynasty.

As Zhao Yu saw Cai Jing off, Cai Jing hesitated repeatedly before cautiously asking: "If our Great Song wishes to sweep away its chronic poverty and grow rich and strong, it must resolutely reform—otherwise, it is utterly impossible. What is Your Highness's view?"

Zhao Yu replied without expression: "I too know that only innovation can bring revival, yet I am a prince—willing but powerless, unable to assist."

Cai Jing sighed and took his leave…

…

During this period, Zhao Xu was riding high with triumph!

First, Consort Liu gave birth to a son, resolving the Zhao Song dynasty's succession crisis.

Simultaneously, the Song army first crushed the Xia forces, establishing strategic advantage for the Zhao Song dynasty; then they captured Qing Tang, established Shanzhou and Huangzhou, and appointed a Military Governor of Longyou, further consolidating Zhao Song's control over the Hehuang region.

After consecutive defeats, Western Xia was forced to seek peace with the Zhao Song dynasty.

In this process, Western Xia appealed to Liao for aid; Emperor Daozong of Liao, Yelu Hongji, seeking to maintain the three-way balance among Song, Liao, and Xia, dispatched emissary Xiao Dechong to Dongjing Bianliang with a jade belt, demanding Zhao Song halt military action against Western Xia.

Zhao Xu sent Cai Jing as his representative to firmly reject Liao's interference in domestic affairs, emphasizing that Western Xia was a vassal of the Zhao Song dynasty; the Liao emissary returned empty-handed.

One could say that during this period, the Zhao Song dynasty, through military victories and diplomatic maneuvering, temporarily suppressed Western Xia and intimidated Liao, achieving one of its rare high points since its founding.

Added to this, Cai Jing had merely conducted a preliminary inventory of the imperial palace's various treasuries, had his men appraise the accumulated obsolete supplies, and already concluded these "rubbish" could fetch at least ten million guan.

Crucially, this money did not count as state revenue—it could be freely spent by Zhao Xu, whether on war or any other purpose.

These many good tidings left Zhao Xu in a constant state of euphoria, the unhealthy flush on his face growing ever more pronounced.

Yet Zhao Xu felt no unease; instead, he worked even harder at court affairs.

Meanwhile, Liu Qingjing was no passive woman: as soon as she finished her postpartum period, she relentlessly pursued Zhao Xu, seeking to bear another son as insurance.

Zhao Xu also felt that having only Zhao Mao as his son was not secure; thus, despite his poor health, he pushed himself relentlessly, hoping Liu Qingjing—who had already delivered one son—could deliver another.

On the Jiazi day of the ninth month.

Zhao Xu gasped and panted as he climbed off Liu Qingjing.

Disappointment flickered briefly in Liu Qingjing's eyes.

Though dissatisfied with Zhao Xu's performance, she still falsely praised his vigor and urged him to rest before trying again.

At that very moment, the palace maid attending Zhao Mao rushed in: "Your Majesty, Your Imperial Highness—the Crown Prince is ill!!!"

Zhao Xu, who doted on Zhao Mao, instantly broke into a cold sweat!

But how could Zhao Xu afford to attend to such a trivial matter?

He leapt from bed, snatched his nightgown from the maid's hands, and hurried toward the side hall where Zhao Mao lay, shouting: "Summon the imperial physicians at once!!!"

Liu Qingjing did the same—disheveled and half-dressed—racing toward the side hall where Zhao Mao lay.

Soon, the on-duty imperial physicians arrived one after another to treat Zhao Mao.

Not long after, even those who had gone home to rest were recalled to the palace for a joint consultation on Zhao Mao.

Before long, the news of Zhao Mao's illness reached Cide Palace.

Empress Dowager's heart tightened!

From her experience, infants under six months rarely fell ill.

Yet if an infant did fall ill during this period, it could be deadly.

At that moment, Zhang Chun stepped beside Empress Dowager and whispered: "Your Majesty… prepare."

The moment Zhang Chun spoke, Empress Dowager recalled Zhao Yu's earlier words—that Zhang Chun had foreseen a matter of life-or-death consequence for the Zhao Song dynasty within ten days.

What matter could so profoundly affect the fate of the Zhao Song dynasty?

The Heir Apparent?!?!

Empress Dowager's pupils shrank—she turned sharply to Zhang Chun and asked with grave seriousness: "The Crown Prince…"

Zhang Chun nodded firmly.

Empress Dowager's heart reeled: "The Crown Prince will die?!?!?"

If true, this would be enormous.

It meant the Zhao Song dynasty would once again lack a legitimate heir.

If so, who would be fit to become the heir?

The first person to flash through Empress Dowager's mind was Zhao Yu.

Yet, according to precedent, if an emperor had no sons, he would adopt a son to inherit the throne.

For example, the fourth emperor of the Zhao Song dynasty, Emperor Renzong Zhao Zhen, had three sons—all died young; ultimately, he adopted Zhao Zongshi, the thirteenth son of Prince Zhao Yunrang of Pu, who became Emperor Yingzong.

"If the Crown Prince truly dies, His Majesty is still young and has just fathered a son—he will not hastily adopt an heir, but will continue trying to sire another prince until all hope is lost, only then will he consider adoption."

"At such a time, I must observe quietly and not act rashly, lest I invite disaster."

Thinking thus, Empress Dowager ignored Zhang Chun's advice to prepare—she acted as if she knew nothing of Zhao Mao's impending death, her expression unchanged.

The phrase "even as Mount Taishan collapses before him, his expression does not change; even as deer stir to his left, his eyes do not blink" describes Empress Dowager at this moment.

Seeing her response was as good as silence, Zhang Chun was frustrated: "What? Such a huge matter, and this is your reaction? You won't do anything, or even consult me? At least act shocked!"

Who knew, Empress Dowager not only had no intention of consulting Zhang Chun, but waved her hand, signaling her to leave.

As Zhang Chun walked out, she muttered inwardly:

"This old witch is so annoying—she gives me zero room to act. All that preparation I spent days on, wasted!"

"Good thing I held back—I only told her Zhao Mao would die, not that Zhao Xu would too, hmph!"

"Hmm… even if this old witch can hold power for a few days, she's stubborn and foul-tempered, refuses to listen to my advice, and anyway, she won't live much longer—destined to be a fleeting bloom, not worth my time at all."

"Zhao Yu is far better—gentle, considerate, magnanimous, and open to counsel. Ten thousand times better than this old witch. Fine, when Zhao Yu ascends the throne, I'll go to his side."

Meanwhile, Li Yan, who had eyes and ears spread throughout the palace, also received word that Zhao Mao was ill.

To be honest, Li Yan didn't take the news seriously—but he still, as Zhao Yu had instructed, reported it to Zhao Yu at once.

After hearing it, Zhao Yu thought: "I need to ban Zhao Ji…"

……

(End of Chapter)