Chapter 59: The Emperor Has Fallen Ill

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Before meeting Empress Dowager Xiang, Zhao Ji was nervous, fearing she would scold him mercilessly for being caught visiting a brothel.

To be honest, Zhao Ji truly did not want to provoke this misfortune.

But Zhao Mao was dead, Zhao Bi’s eyesight was impaired, and according to “inherit the legitimate, not the illegitimate; inherit the eldest, not the most capable,” Zhao Ji was the first in line for succession until Zhao Xu had a new son.

More importantly, Zhao Xu’s health had always been poor, and the shock of Zhao Mao’s death had left him weeping uncontrollably for three days straight—what if he suddenly collapsed?

Zhao Ji was a man of great ambition; he did not wish to remain forever bound by his title as Prince, powerless to act, even punished severely for merely visiting a brothel.

In short, Zhao Ji, who possessed decent political acumen, sensed this might be his chance to change his fate.

Moreover, Zhao Ji believed that although Zhao Yu had recently shone brightly and won the favor of many ministers, and although Zhao Shi, as Zhao Xu’s full younger brother, had legitimate claim under ritual and reason, if he could win Empress Dowager Xiang’s favor again—just as she once had—then should Zhao Xu suddenly pass away, he would surely have a chance to inherit the throne.

That was why Zhao Ji had mustered the courage to seek an audience with Empress Dowager Xiang, hoping to mend their mother-son relationship.

To Zhao Ji’s immense relief, Empress Dowager Xiang did not rage at him; she merely gave him earnest counsel.

Empress Dowager Xiang said: “Prostitutes are base; they are unfit to serve a prince. The world of brothels and willow-lined lanes is full of rogues and villains—danger lurks. You must cherish yourself.”

Zhao Ji felt ashamed and quickly vowed: “Your servant has learned his lesson and will never repeat this mistake.” His motto: admit fault, repent, then repeat—forged through endless trials!

Empress Dowager Xiang further urged Zhao Ji to work diligently and produce an heir soon, to expand the imperial lineage.

Zhao Ji readily agreed.

Even more joyfully, Empress Dowager Xiang kept him for a meal, and before he left, ordered servants to give him one large glass mirror and five small ones to take to his princess consort, Lady Wang.

In short, this visit went far better than Zhao Ji had imagined.

Zhao Ji even wondered: “Could Zhao Yu have angered the Empress Dowager and lost her favor?”

The thought filled him with excitement—he believed his opportunity had returned.

But Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu, who knew Empress Dowager Xiang intimately, saw clearly: Zhao Ji had lost her favor completely.

Zhang Chun was certain: Zhao Ji was out of the race entirely.

Only when one still holds hope for someone does one feel compelled to rebuke them when they stray from expectations—because deep down, one wishes them to become better, to meet one’s ideals. That rebuke hides care and concern, the desperate frustration of seeing potential wasted.

But when one’s hope for someone is utterly shattered, when all expectations dissolve like bubbles and passion is doused in cold water, words become meaningless. What remains is only indifference and distance—and so one becomes polite. This politeness is no longer kindness, but a courteous separation, a final surrender, a complete expulsion from one’s emotional world.

Zhao Ji was not less clever than Zheng Xiansu, Wang Yisu, or Zhang Chun; he simply could not see his own situation clearly—those involved are blind, those watching see clearly.

After Zhao Ji left, Empress Dowager Xiang asked Zhang Chun: “How is Prince Duan?”

Zhao Yu had kept Zhang Chun beside Empress Dowager Xiang precisely to ensure she watched over her in these final moments, using her mystic status to stabilize her and guarantee her continued support for him—not to let her suddenly switch allegiance and revive Zhao Ji, causing his hard-won victory to slip away.

Though Zhao Yu had not explicitly told Zhang Chun this, Zhang Chun, who understood history better than Zhao Yu, knew exactly what she must do at this critical juncture to secure their vital victory.

For instance, at this moment, Zhang Chun wanted to tell Empress Dowager Xiang: “Prince Duan is capable in all things—except ruling!”—to crush Zhao Ji utterly.

But as the words reached her lips, she suddenly noticed Zheng Xiansu subtly shaking his head at her.

Zhang Chun instantly realized: “Since Empress Dowager Xiang has already given up on Zhao Ji, I must not overreach—otherwise I might backfire.”

Realizing this, Zhang Chun swallowed the words she had nearly spoken and instead gave a cryptic, slow shake of her head.

Seeing Zhang Chun also deemed Zhao Ji unfit, Empress Dowager Xiang sighed deeply, then waved her hand listlessly, signaling Zheng Xiansu, Wang Yisu, and Zhang Chun to withdraw.

Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu rose to leave—but Zhang Chun did not move.

Seeing this, Empress Dowager Xiang asked: “Do you have something to say?”

Zhang Chun spoke solemnly: “Your servant observed the Purple Micro Star dimming—the calamity has not yet passed.”

Empress Dowager Xiang’s pupils contracted sharply: “Is there still a great disaster coming for His Majesty?!”

Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu, who had not yet left far, also looked stunned.

Zhang Chun gave a slight nod, confirming Empress Dowager Xiang’s fear.

Empress Dowager Xiang, Zheng Xiansu, and Wang Yisu all turned their gaze toward Zhao Xu’s sleeping quarters: “What other calamity could be coming?”

Four days later, a palace maid accidentally knocked over a copper basin; the shock frightened Yangguo Princess, Zhao Xu’s young daughter born to Liu Qingjing, who fell violently ill and died.

Yangguo Princess was Zhao Xu’s favorite daughter; her death plunged him back into unbearable grief—he wept aloud once more.

Zhao Xu suspended court for three days.

Three days later, overwhelmed by grief and fury, Zhao Xu summoned the imperial physicians to punish them for his loss.

The physicians knelt trembling before him, not daring to breathe.

Zhao Xu pointed at them and roared: “What use are you, incompetent physicians? First my crown prince, now my princess—both my children have died by your hands! How dare you enjoy my salary? How do you deserve the title ‘Imperial Physician’?!!!”

Chief Physician Qian Yi braved his wrath to defend himself:

“The Crown Prince suffered from a congenital heart defect, present since birth, with erratic pulse. Symptoms included labored breathing and cyanotic lips. Medicines proved useless; the illness was incurable. We beg your pardon for our inability.”

“The Princess suddenly fell ill from fright—her limbs convulsed uncontrollably, her jaws clenched, faint froth appeared. By the time we arrived, it was too late; medicine could not save her. We are guilty of deserving death.”

When Zhao Xu was a child, he suffered from severe diarrhea; many imperial physicians failed to cure him. Qian Yi was recommended by Princess Chang and treated Zhao Xu successfully with yellow earth decoction, later becoming an imperial physician.

Because of this history, Qian Yi dared to speak up, explaining that Zhao Mao had a congenital heart disease, utterly untreatable, and that Yangguo Princess’s heart was weak—she had been frightened into fatal illness, leaving no chance for their skills to help.

In short, Qian Yi meant: Zhao Mao and Yangguo Princess died of fatal illnesses—none of it was their fault.

Zhao Xu pointed at Qian Yi and roared: “Incompetent physician! How dare you defend yourself? I—I—”

Suddenly, Zhao Xu spat a mouthful of blood and collapsed to the ground!

“Quick! Save His Majesty!!!”

The imperial physicians rushed forward to rescue Zhao Xu; the palace erupted into chaos.

Soon, the news spread: the seventh emperor of the Zhao Song dynasty, Emperor Zhezong Zhao Xu, had fallen ill…

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(End of Chapter)