Chapter 55: Zhao Yu Is Secure

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Because Zhao Mao was ill, Zhao Xu had been restless, agitated, and in terrible spirits these past two days.

Unexpectedly, just then, news of Zhao Ji's visits to courtesans spread like wildfire, and censors all impeached Zhao Ji, harshly condemning him.

Zhao Xu flew into a rage and publicly rebuked Zhao Ji: "The Crown Prince is gravely ill, on the brink of death, yet you, his imperial uncle, cavort in brothels, chasing after courtesans, utterly disregarding the dignity of the imperial family and the bonds of kinship—what manner of conduct is this?!"

Moreover, the Vice Censor-in-Chief Fan Qing told Zhao Xu: "The Liao and Xia envoys have both heard of this; they laugh at our Great Song, claiming our imperial princes are nothing but debauched drunkards, bringing shame upon our state—where then is the dignity of Great Song?!"

The Liao and Xia knew nothing of the fact that visiting brothels was a refined, fashionable pastime among the high nobility of the Zhao Song dynasty; they were simply eager to seize any opportunity to regain the upper hand, so they seized upon Zhao Ji's brothel visits as a weapon.

Especially the Xia, who were currently the most vulnerable.

Notably, after Li Qianshun ascended the throne, his younger brother Li Chan'ge commanded the army and personally led troops to aid the Qingtang Tubo tribes during their rebellion against Song, returning victorious—thus earning immense prestige throughout Xia.

Compared to Li Chan'ge, Zhao Ji seemed instantly diminished.

At least, that was how Zhao Xu saw it.

Thus, Zhao Xu erupted in royal fury: "Prince Duan, as a member of the imperial clan, fails to share the state's burdens and instead brings forth such scandal—this is a disgrace to the imperial house, a humiliation to the state's dignity!!!"

Zhao Xu nearly stripped Zhao Ji of his princely title.

At the last moment, Zhao Bi arrived with other princes to plead on Zhao Ji's behalf, sparing him from this disaster.

Yet "death may be pardoned, but living punishment cannot be avoided"—Zhao Xu still ordered the Grand Clan Office to punish Zhao Ji with three years' salary forfeiture and one year of house arrest.

This reveals just how furious Zhao Xu was over Zhao Ji's brothel visits.

In contrast to Zhao Xu's rage, Empress Dowager Xiang felt only disappointment.

Zhao Ji had been raised by Empress Dowager Xiang, who had poured immense effort into him.

Empress Dowager Xiang was well aware that Zhao Ji was frivolous and unrestrained in character.

But previously, she had believed it was merely youthful recklessness, and that with time and hardship, Zhao Ji would gradually mature into a pillar of the imperial family.

Even after the Funing Palace incident, she had still held out a sliver of hope for Zhao Ji.

Only after Zhao Ji's brothel scandal did she lose all hope in him.

This was no longer merely a failure of personal conduct—it was a matter of national honor and imperial dignity.

Moreover, the Zhao Song dynasty now teetered on the brink; it needed not only an emperor with iron-fisted resolve to stabilize the realm, but also imperial family members to lead by example and set a virtuous standard.

Zhao Ji's frivolous and dissolute behavior was, without doubt, adding fuel to an already volatile situation.

Empress Dowager Xiang sighed softly, her voice trembling with a barely perceptible quaver.

Seeing this, Zhang Chun silently thought: "Zhao Yu is secure."

Soon after, the heartbroken Empress Dowager Xiang dismissed all unrelated personnel and retired to bed early.

Zhang Chun left the Empress Dowager's quarters and returned to her new residence.

Because Zhang Chun had "predicted" Zhao Mao's certain death, Empress Dowager Xiang granted her a private residence and permitted her to choose a palace maid as her personal attendant.

Ye Shi Yun, who had previously shared quarters with Zhang Chun, knowing Zhang Chun would select a maid, volunteered herself.

To be honest, Zhang Chun hesitated.

Zhang Chun knew well that Ye Shi Yun was lazy and gluttonous; more importantly, in Ye Shi Yun's eyes, she and Zhang Chun were equals—so if Zhang Chun chose her as attendant, it would be nearly the same as having no attendant at all; whereas selecting another palace maid would let her immediately enjoy a life of being waited on hand and foot.

Yet after much deliberation, Zhang Chun still chose Ye Shi Yun as her attendant.

Zhang Chun chose Ye Shi Yun not because she believed "wealth unshared with one's homeland is like walking in brocade at night," but because she intended to divide the other four women and reclaim her leadership.

Yes.

In moments of fury, Zhang Chun had considered discarding the four women and acting alone.

But once she calmed down, she realized: she understood history and politics, and should be able to rise to high rank—but the knowledge she possessed held no practical value.

Zhang Chun had objectively ranked the five women's abilities.

If ranked by their contribution to this era:

The top position must go to Yuan Qing Cheng.

In any era, the value of food must come first, for it is the foundation of survival.

If Yuan Qing Cheng could cultivate high-yield, disease-resistant rice, she would greatly benefit this era.

And as long as the people were fed, they would not rebel—whether Zhao Yu ruled this world or Zhang Chun did, stability would be assured.

Without doubt, Yuan Qing Cheng was the greatest treasure.

Second was Ma Xiao Jiao.

Technology transforms life.

Technology is the primary productive force.

If properly harnessed, Ma Xiao Jiao could lead humanity toward a far better future.

If Yuan Qing Cheng represented survival, then Ma Xiao Jiao represented development.

These two were, in truth, the most valuable among the five—though their utility depended entirely on who wielded them.

Third was Ye Shi Yun.

Whether survival or development, both required economic support.

Without economic backing, any endeavor would be crippled—or impossible.

Yet unlike Yuan Qing Cheng and Ma Xiao Jiao, whose skills were technologically monopolized, this era's natives already had economists—such as Cai Jing, Zhao Kai, and Zhang Que—who, though inferior to Ye Shi Yun, could still be used.

Thus, Ye Shi Yun ranked third.

Fourth was Li Lin.

To be honest, Zhang Chun did not know whether Li Lin's military skills from her past life would even work in this era.

Yet Li Lin was familiar with every battle in Chinese and world history, and had obtained numerous military texts from Ma Xiao Jiao, studying them relentlessly—clearly adapting to, even mastering, this era's warfare.

If Li Lin succeeded, her military expertise would be invaluable—what if Zhao Yu led troops in person? Or if Zhang Chun herself ever did?

Last was herself.

Zhang Chun summed herself up: "The things I know are fine for internal power struggles, grasping the big picture, and making decisions—but they hold no value for this era."

Thus, whether Zhao Yu or Zhang Chun wished to achieve anything, even merely to stabilize their rule, they could not do so without the other four women, especially Yuan Qing Cheng.

But the problem was, Zhang Chun didn't know what she had done to provoke Yuan Qing Cheng's resentment—Yuan Qing Cheng guarded against her as if she were a thief, and even drew Li Lin into opposing her.

As a result, she nearly became utterly isolated.

So Zhang Chun had to bring Ye Shi Yun over, along with Ma Xiao Jiao, who had already "pledged loyalty" to her, so that even if voting were introduced, she could lead the other four women.

Precisely because of this, Zhang Chun not only agreed to let Ye Shi Yun serve as her maid, but treated Ye Shi Yun especially well.

For instance, right now.

Zhang Chun had brought back the washed crab the Empress Dowager had gifted her, intending to win over Ye Shi Yun's greedy appetite.

"Shi Yun, come see what delicious thing I've brought you?"

As she spoke, Zhang Chun opened the door—and saw Li Lin and Yuan Qing Cheng sitting outside, opposite Ye Shi Yun, who was eating egg yolk pastries…

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(End of Chapter)