Chapter 56: Zhang Chun: Zhao Yu Is Almost Like My Son

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Seeing Li Lin and Yuan Qingcheng arrive, bringing Ye Shi Yun egg yolk pastries, Zhang Chun smiled and said, “Last night the lampflower signaled good news, this morning the magpies chirped joyfully—I didn’t expect it to be you two young ladies arriving.”

As she spoke, Zhang Chun walked in.

Li Lin ignored Zhang Chun’s sarcasm and got straight to the point: “Zhao Mao is ill, Zhao Ji was caught visiting a brothel—we’ve come to confirm with you: is Zhao Yu’s position secure now?”

Earlier, Zhang Chun had told the four women about this history, but afterward she stopped spoiling details; politics was far too complex for Li Lin and Yuan Qingcheng, who had only just begun to understand it, to predict.

As a result, Li Lin and Yuan Qingcheng knew only that Zhao Yu would almost certainly become emperor, likely in two months’ time—next January—and nothing else.

The problem was, Zhang Chun had already ingratiated herself with the powerful Empress Xiang; theoretically, she now possessed the power to alter history—if one day she decided on a whim to replace the emperor and restore Zhao Ji, what then?

Or what if Zhang Chun eliminated Empress Xiang? Then after Zhao Xu’s death, the new emperor would almost certainly be Zhao Shi, backed by Consort Zhu and Zhang Dun.

In short, Li Lin and Yuan Qingcheng were deeply uneasy about Zhang Chun—a woman with ambition, the power to change history, no moral compass, and no boundaries.

Moreover, Li Lin and Yuan Qingcheng, utterly blind to the situation, were terrified as they faced this critical historical crossroads, unsure how to choose.

So although they no longer trusted Zhang Chun, fearing one day they’d be betrayed by her and still help her count the money, they still came to probe her intentions, hoping to seize this vital historical opportunity and avoid mistakes at this crucial moment.

Zhang Chun thought: “Fine. My goals are grand—how could I not tolerate two mere girls, especially two useful ones?”

Zhang Chun handed the crab dish to Ye Shi Yun and directly answered Li Lin and Yuan Qingcheng’s question: “Yes.”

Seeing Zhang Chun give a direct answer to their most pressing concern, Li Lin and Yuan Qingcheng relaxed slightly.

Then Yuan Qingcheng bluntly asked: “Did you tell Zhao Yu to frame Zhao Ji?”

“Let me correct you—it’s not framing, it’s risk avoidance,” Zhang Chun said matter-of-factly. “If you know Zhao Ji is the greatest threat, at this decisive moment, you must crush your rival utterly and guard against any accident.”

Although Zhang Chun hadn’t ordered Zhao Yu to do this, she had previously warned Zhao Yu to be wary of Zhao Ji, and Zhao Yu had agreed to treat Zhao Ji as his primary rival.

Moreover, Zhang Chun had told Zhao Yu that Zhao Mao would die, then Zhao Xu would pass away—she had revealed this historical trend to him.

So in Zhang Chun’s view, saying she had made Zhao Yu “frame” Zhao Ji was not wrong.

Zhang Chun naturally felt the need to justify her actions:

“Politics isn’t a dinner party—it’s not enough to stop at a polite gesture. It’s a battlefield of blades and swords, demanding timing, judgment, and ruthless action.”

“Zhao Yu used his foresight, seized the opportunity, and acted decisively—this is precisely the decisiveness and ruthlessness a sovereign must possess.”

“Imagine if Zhao Yu were indecisive and soft-hearted—how could he possibly rise above the treacherous struggle for imperial power?”

“Even if he became emperor, if he were truly indecisive and soft-hearted, how could he prevent the Jingkang Humiliation?”

“In short, I’m pleased Zhao Yu listened to me and eliminated Zhao Ji at this critical moment.”

Li Lin thought of the election in her pre-transmigration America and the dictator’s curse in the neighboring country—she knew Zhang Chun was right: political struggle was brutal, and the loser faced a terrible fate; one must give everything.

So Li Lin helped Yuan Qingcheng recover: “We’re mainly worried this will damage Zhao Yu’s reputation.”

“Have you read Romance of the Three Kingdoms? The part where Cao Cao, on his deathbed, passes the throne to Cao Pi. Cao Cao confronts Cao Pi: ‘Did you poison Cao Chong with a venomous snake?’ Cao Pi denies it to the end—and only then does Cao Cao feel safe entrusting him the throne.”

“So even if Empress Xiang learns Zhao Ji was framed by Zhao Yu, she’ll only be more satisfied—not switch her support to Zhao Ji, whose unsuitability for the throne has already been exposed.”

“History is always written by the victors. As long as Zhao Yu becomes emperor, even if someone learns he eliminated Zhao Ji, others will erase the record—even Zhao Ji himself might publicly endorse him.”

Li Lin and Yuan Qingcheng found Zhang Chun’s reasoning convincing—and crucially, the target was Zhao Ji, whom they had no sympathy for.

“What about Zhao Shi?” Li Lin asked.

“You’re afraid I’ll harm Empress Xiang and switch my bets to Zhao Shi?” Zhang Chun laid it bare.

Li Lin and Yuan Qingcheng said nothing—acknowledging Zhang Chun’s suspicion by silence.

Zhang Chun didn’t get angry; instead, she patiently explained:

“First, I’ve had no contact with Consort Zhu or Zhao Shi. Helping them won’t earn me any favor—I’d gain zero political benefit.”

“Crucially, Zhao Yu is the one I raised myself—he’s like my own son.”

“And you know Zhao Yu has grown fond of me and promised that if he becomes emperor, he’ll make me an imperial consort.”

“If Zhao Yu succeeds on the throne, I’ll gain enormous political gains.”

“Most importantly, Zhao Yu becoming the new emperor is already the inevitable trend. Zhao Shi is far behind—even if Empress Xiang died today, Consort Zhu, a secluded palace woman, and Zhao Shi, a naive boy with no worldly experience, couldn’t possibly outmatch Zhao Yu, whom I’ve trained to be ruthless and sharp.”

“Why would I go against the tide to support Zhao Shi—who has no special advantages and is full of uncertainty—when I can simply ride the current and keep helping Zhao Yu, who satisfies me in every way?”

…

(End of Chapter)