Chapter 6: What I Want Is the Empress

…

Liu Qingjing chased after him out of Funing Palace, weeping: “Prince Shen has falsely accused me and defied 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 reveal his determination to protect the Empress Dowager—he bears no real ill will toward you. If I confront him directly, he may act recklessly, and the witchcraft case will draw renewed attention. At that point, you won’t just lose your chance to become Empress—you may end up like Jiang Chong or Su Wen.”

Liu Qingjing turned pale.

In his later years, Emperor Wu of Han harbored a grudge against his crown prince Liu Ju, and his favorite minister Jiang Chong, along 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 Emperor Wu’s forces. Empress Wei Zifu and Liu Ju both committed suicide.

Later, elders like Hu Guan and Tian Qianqiu petitioned to clear Liu Ju’s name. Emperor Wu finally awoke to the truth, exterminated Jiang Chong’s entire clan, burned Su Wen alive, and built the “Palace of Longing for a Son” and the “Tower of Return and Longing” at the site of Liu Ju’s death to mourn him.

This event became known as the Great Witchcraft Disaster of Emperor Wu’s later reign.

Although Liu Qingjing’s witchcraft case was nowhere near as devastating as the Great Witchcraft Disaster, the two cases were too similar. This case already led to the deposition of Minister Meng—if investigated deeply, exterminating Liu Qingjing’s entire clan or burning her alive might be excessive, but forcing her to commit suicide in apology remains possible.

Until now, Liu Qingjing had believed Zhao Xu knew nothing of the Great Witchcraft Disaster, and had been deceived by her schemes.

Yet Zhao Xu clearly understood the Great Witchcraft Disaster well—and he compared her to Jiang Chong and Su Wen. Clearly, he had already discerned right from wrong in this case, and seen 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 coolly: “Out of regard for our past bond and your great service in bearing me one son and two daughters, I shall let this matter end here. From now on, you must speak and act with caution—do not stir up further trouble.”

Liu Qingjing felt a momentary relief, but soon erupted in fury.

Because of this incident, not only was her imminent elevation to Empress thrown into jeopardy, but her standing in Zhao Xu’s heart now teetered on the brink.

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

After venting, she grew terrified Zhao Xu might change his mind, causing her to lose the Empress title and render all her years of effort meaningless.

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 Xiang had shed her earlier dishevelment. She sat upon her throne, her eyes revealing a weary relief and renewed authority.

Though Zhao Yu’s desperate intervention had temporarily saved her from Liu Qingjing’s bid for the Empress title, she knew well: Zhao Xu had already resolved to make Liu Qingjing Empress, and would not easily change course. Zhao Yu might block this attempt, but he could not block 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 stop him from naming Zhao Mao crown prince—and thus no one could stop Liu Qingjing from becoming Empress.

The Empress Dowager Xiang frowned slightly, 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’s attention becomes her target. Other palace women have no chance to conceive.”

“The Emperor’s health is poor; one Liu Qingjing has drained him dry—how could he possibly spare energy for other concubines?”

…

The eunuch Yang Jian, standing nearby, sensed the Empress Dowager’s thoughts and offered advice: “Your Majesty, I’ve heard two newly admitted palace maidens possess gentle, refined demeanors. The Emperor might take interest in them.”

Though the Empress Dowager Xiang had little faith in this plan, she said: “Find an opportunity to let the Emperor meet them.”

Yang Jian replied: “Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Empress Dowager turned to Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu: “Prepare a meal and send it to Prince Shen. How can he reflect without eating?”

With that, she lifted her teacup and took a sip, a smile barely concealed on her face.

“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 unadulterated emotion stood out as precious.

Ma Xiao Jiao and Yuan Qing Cheng, fanning her gently on either side, noted every shift in the Empress Dowager’s 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 junior attendants guarding Funing Palace dared not block the Empress Dowager’s trusted aides—they respectfully ushered Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu inside.

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

“Your Highness, your servants have 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. What could a prince possibly need two female officials to assist with?

But Zhao Yu was a prince—he had just fiercely rebuked Liu Qingjing, condemned Zhao Xu for favoring concubines over his wife, and saved the Empress Dowager. They held Zhao Yu in high regard. How could they refuse his request?

Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu stepped forward. Their glances fell upon the Chengxin Hall paper on the table—blank.

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

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

Though slightly disappointed, they understood.

After all, the Emperor and the future Empress held absolute power. Submitting and yielding was the wisest course—indeed, it was Zhao Yu’s only path to survival.

Wang Yisu said to Zheng Xiansu: “Sister, you handle this—I’ll leave the writing to you.”

Zheng Xiansu was exceptionally talented; Wang Yisu’s literary skill was slightly inferior, so Zheng Xiansu should write the memorial.

Zhao Yu looked at Zheng Xiansu.

Zheng Xiansu said confidently: “Your servant has only basic literacy, but if Your Highness does not disdain me, I shall take up the brush.”

Zhao Yu wanted precisely this woman—the future Empress Zheng—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: ‘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?!”

…

(End of Chapter)