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

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Seeing Li Lin and Yuan Qing Cheng arrive, bringing Ye Shi Yun egg yolk pastries, Zhang Chun smiled and said, "Last night the lampflower signaled good tidings, this morning the magpie chirped joyfully—yet 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 Qi Jiguang 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 girls this history, but afterward she stopped spoiling details; politics was extremely complex, far beyond what Li Lin and Yuan Qing Cheng, who had only just begun to understand politics, could predict.

As a result, Li Lin and Yuan Qing Cheng only knew Zhao Yu would likely become Emperor, and most probably in over two months' time—next January—but knew almost nothing else.

The problem was, Zhang Chun had already ingratiated herself with the powerful Empress Dowager Xiang, and theoretically, she now possessed the power to alter history—if one day she acted on a whim and replaced the Emperor with Zhao Qi Jiguang again?

Or what if Zhang Chun eliminated Empress Dowager Xiang? Then, after Zhao Xu died, the next Emperor would almost certainly be Zhao Si, backed by Concubine Zhu and Zhang Dun.

In short, Li Lin and Yuan Qing Cheng 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 Qing Cheng, utterly clueless, were panicked as they faced this imminent, critical historical crossroads, unsure how to choose.

So despite no longer trusting Zhang Chun, fearing one day they'd be betrayed by her and still have to count her money for her, Li Lin and Yuan Qing Cheng still came to probe her intentions, hoping to seize this vital historical opportunity and at least avoid making a fatal mistake 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 gave Li Lin and Yuan Qing Cheng a direct answer: "Yes."

Seeing Zhang Chun directly confirm the question they cared about most, Li Lin and Yuan Qing Cheng felt a wave of relief.

Then Yuan Qing Cheng bluntly asked: "Did you make Zhao Yu frame Zhao Qi Jiguang?"

"Let me correct you—it's not framing, it's risk avoidance," Zhang Chun said matter-of-factly. "Knowing Zhao Qi Jiguang is the greatest threat, at this decisive moment, you must crush your rival utterly and guard against any unforeseen twist."

Although Zhang Chun hadn't ordered Zhao Yu to do it, she had previously warned Zhao Yu to watch out for Zhao Qi Jiguang, and Zhao Yu had agreed to treat Zhao Qi Jiguang 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 Zhao Yu.

So in Zhang Chun's view, saying she made Zhao Yu "frame" Zhao Qi Jiguang wasn't wrong.

Zhang Chun naturally had to defend her actions:

"Politics isn't a dinner party—it doesn't stop at politeness. 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—that's 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 Qi Jiguang at this critical moment."

Li Lin recalled the election in her world before the transmigration, and the curse of the small country's leader—she knew Zhang Chun was right: political struggle was brutal, and losers suffered terrible fates; one must give everything.

So Li Lin helped Yuan Qing Cheng 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 interrogates Cao Pi: Did you poison Cao Chong with a venomous snake? Cao Pi denies it to the end—only then does Cao Cao feel at ease and entrusts him with the throne."

"So even if Empress Dowager Xiang learns Zhao Qi Jiguang was framed by Zhao Yu, she'll only be more relieved—not switch her support to Zhao Qi Jiguang, 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 Qi Jiguang, others will erase it—even Zhao Qi Jiguang himself might publicly endorse him."

Li Lin and Yuan Qing Cheng found Zhang Chun's reasoning convincing—especially since the target was Zhao Qi Jiguang, whom they had no sympathy for.

"What about Zhao Si?" Li Lin asked.

"You're afraid I'll harm Empress Dowager Xiang and switch my bet to Zhao Si?" Zhang Chun laid it bare.

Li Lin and Yuan Qing Cheng said nothing—acknowledging Zhang Chun's guess.

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

"First, I've had no contact with Concubine Zhu or Zhao Si. Helping them won't earn me their gratitude—I'd gain zero political benefit."

"The key point is, 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 a Consort."

"If Zhao Yu succeeds on the throne, I'll gain enormous political returns."

"Most crucially, Zhao Yu becoming the new Emperor is already the inevitable trend. Zhao Si is far behind—even if Empress Dowager Xiang died right now, Concubine Zhu, a palace woman with no experience, plus Zhao Si, a naive boy who's never seen the world, couldn't possibly outmatch Zhao Yu, the ruthless, well-trained man I've shaped."

"So why would I go against the tide to support Zhao Si—unremarkable and full of uncertainty—instead of continuing to back Zhao Yu, who satisfies me in every way?"

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(End of Chapter)