Chapter 6

…

Liu Qingjing chased out of Funing Palace, crying: "Prince Shen falsely accused me of treason against Your Majesty—how can this be forgiven?"

Zhao Xu glanced at Liu Qingjing and said calmly: "Prince Shen has erred, but he is a prince; his blunt words merely revealed his determination to protect the Empress Dowager—his intent toward Your Concubine may not have been hostile. If I confront him directly, he may go all out, and the witchcraft case will draw renewed attention. At that point, Your Concubine, not only will you fail to become Empress, you may follow Jiang Chong and Su Wen to your doom."

Liu Qingjing turned pale as a flower struck by frost!

In his later years, Han Wu Di's favored minister Jiang Chong had a feud with Crown Prince Liu Ju, and together with eunuch Su Wen and others, framed Liu Ju with a witchcraft accusation. Fearing for his life, Liu Ju raised troops to kill Jiang Chong, but was crushed by Han Wu Di's forces; Empress Wei Zifu and Liu Ju both committed suicide.

Later, elders like Hu Guan San Lao and Tian Qianqiu petitioned to clear Liu Ju's name. Han Wu Di, finally awakened, exterminated Jiang Chong's entire clan, burned Su Wen alive, built the "Palace of Longing for a Son," and erected the "Tower of Return and Longing" at the site of Liu Ju's death, to mourn his loss.

This event became known as the Great Witchcraft Calamity of Han Wu Di's later years.

Although Liu Qingjing's witchcraft case was not as devastating as the Great Witchcraft Calamity, the two cases were too similar. This case already led to Meng Xiang's deposition; if pursued deeply, exterminating Liu Qingjing's entire clan or burning her alive might be exaggerated—but forcing her to commit suicide in atonement remains possible.

Until now, Liu Qingjing had believed Zhao Xu knew nothing of the Great Witchcraft Calamity, that he was deceived by them.

Yet Zhao Xu clearly understood the Great Witchcraft Calamity well—and compared her to Jiang Chong and Su Wen, revealing he had already grasped the right and wrong of this case, even seen through her true nature.

Liu Qingjing broke into a cold sweat, bowed her head, and dared not meet Zhao Xu's gaze.

Seeing this, Zhao Xu felt disgust and said coldly: "In consideration of past affection and your great merit of bearing me one son and two daughters, this matter ends here. From now on, you must speak and act with caution—do not stir up further trouble."

Liu Qingjing felt a wave of relief, yet immediately burned with fury!

Because of this incident, not only was her imminent Empress title now uncertain, but her standing in Zhao Xu's heart had become perilously fragile.

Back in her palace, Liu Qingjing flew into a rage, cursing Zhao Yu for a full hour!

After venting, she feared Zhao Xu might change his mind, causing her to miss the Empress title and rendering all her years of effort worthless.

Only when she saw Zhao Mao sleeping peacefully beside her did her heart finally settle.

"With Mao'er here, the Empress title will surely be mine!"

"One day, when I hold absolute power, I will make Zhao Yu pay dearly for today's insolence!!!"

…

In Cide Palace.

The Empress Dowager had shed her earlier dishevelment; she sat upon her throne, her eyes revealing weary relief and authority.

Thanks to Zhao Yu risking his life to block Liu Qingjing's rise to Empress, the Empress Dowager had narrowly escaped disaster—but she knew well: Zhao Xu had already resolved to make Liu Qingjing Empress and would not easily change his mind. Zhao Yu might stop this attempt, but he could hardly stop the next.

The most troubling issue was that Liu Qingjing held Zhao Mao as her trump card.

As long as Zhao Xu had no other sons, no one could prevent him from naming Zhao Mao Crown Prince—and thus no one could prevent Liu Qingjing from becoming Empress.

The Empress Dowager frowned slightly, silently pondering a strategy:

"Only if the Emperor has other heirs can true safety be secured."

"But Liu Qingjing is ruthless and domineering—any concubine who dares to attract the Emperor becomes her target; the other ladies have no chance to conceive."

"The Emperor's health is poor; one Liu Qingjing has drained him dry—how could he possibly spare energy to favor other concubines?"

…

The eunuch Yang Jian, observing the Empress Dowager's thoughts, offered a suggestion: "Your Majesty, I've heard two of the newly admitted maidens possess gentle, refined demeanors—the Emperor might take interest."

Though the Empress Dowager was skeptical, she said: "Find an opportunity to let the Emperor meet them."

Yang Jian replied: "Yes."

The Empress Dowager turned to Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu: "Prepare a meal and send it to Prince Shen. Without a full stomach, how can he reflect?"

With that, she lifted her teacup, took a sip, and could not hide her smile.

"No one shall insult my mother… This child, though impulsive, possesses a rare purity of filial devotion."

Zhao Yu's act of protecting his mother deeply moved the Empress Dowager. In this palace, where kinship was often drowned by power struggles, Zhao Yu's pure emotion stood out as precious.

Ma Xiao Jiao and Yuan Qing Cheng, fanning her gently on either side, noted the Empress Dowager's shifting expression, planning to tell Zhang Chun, Li Lin, and Ye Shi Yun later—perhaps they could use Zhao Yu to replace Zhao Ji?

Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu personally cooked four dishes and one soup, then came to Funing Palace to visit Zhao Yu.

The eunuchs and young attendants guarding Funing Palace dared not block the Empress Dowager's trusted servants—they respectfully ushered Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu inside.

Entering Funing Palace, Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu saw Zhao Yu sitting gloomily beside the grand table, writing something.

"Your Majesty, we come on the Empress Dowager's orders to deliver your meal."

Seeing Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu, Zhao Yu brightened and waved them over: "You've come just in time—help me with something."

Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu were startled—they had no idea a prince would need help from two female officials.

But Zhao Yu was a prince, had just fiercely rebuked Liu Qingjing, condemned Zhao Xu for favoring concubines over his wife, and saved the Empress Dowager—so they held great respect for him. How could they refuse his request?

Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu stepped forward, glancing at the table—on the Chengxin Hall paper lay nothing written.

"I wish to submit a memorial to the Emperor, but my hand is injured and I cannot hold the brush. You two must write it for me."

Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu assumed Zhao Yu intended to write a confession memorial to Zhao Xu.

Though slightly disappointed, they understood.

After all, the Emperor and the future Empress held absolute power—submitting and yielding was the wisest move, indeed, Zhao Yu's only path to survival.

Wang Yisu said to Zheng Xiansu: "Sister, you handle this—I won't embarrass myself."

Zheng Xiansu was exceptionally talented; Wang Yisu's literary skill was slightly inferior, so Zheng Xiansu should write for Zhao Yu.

Zhao Yu turned to Zheng Xiansu.

Zheng Xiansu said confidently: "I have modest literary skill—if Your Majesty does not disdain me, I shall write for you."

Zhao Yu wanted this very woman as his future Empress—how could he refuse?

"Fine. I'll speak, you write."

"Yes."

Zheng Xiansu sat down calmly, picked up the brush, and dipped it in ink.

Zhao Yu wasted no time: "Title of the memorial: 'Memorial on Land Reform.'"

At these words, both Zheng Xiansu, preparing to write, and Wang Yisu, watching, froze: "Prince Shen isn't writing a confession memorial?!"

……

(Chapter ends)