[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them":3,"chapter-i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-chapter-60":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","I Transmigrated to the Northern Song with Them",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2318950,4535,"Chapter 60: The Battle for the Throne Begins","i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-chapter-60",60,"\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crown Prince is dead, the Emperor is ill, and the court and countryside are filled with panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Zhao Song dynasty seemed, in a single night, to have been swept clean by autumn winds, littered with yellow leaves—gloomy and desolate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, a difficult question haunted every mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should the Emperor suddenly pass away, who would take charge of this trembling realm and lead the troubled Zhao Song dynasty, burdened by internal strife and external threats?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rumors spread wildly among the people, and hearts yearned for change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the end of October, two cranes suddenly appeared at the Duan Prince’s mansion, regarded as an omen of good fortune.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing the news, court ministers hurried to offer their congratulations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ji was overjoyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after, a lingzhi mushroom suddenly sprouted in the Duan Prince’s sleeping quarters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ministers rushed again to offer their congratulations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ji was even happier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some clever people in the Duan Prince’s mansion shook their heads at this, whispering among themselves: “If Chief Steward Yang were still alive, he would have advised His Highness to keep a low profile and avoid provoking the Emperor’s suspicion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, not long ago, the Duan Prince’s Chief Steward, Yang Zhen, had drowned after stumbling into the water while walking at night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, the Duan Prince’s mansion was managed by the new Chief Steward, Zhang Di, and a group of sycophants like Gao Qiu, who not only failed to handle the omens discreetly but actively sought fortune-tellers to divine the Emperor’s fortune and misfortune.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, a fortune-teller named Chen Yan declared that Zhao Ji was destined by fate to become Emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ji was ecstatic and rewarded Chen Yan lavishly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, a rumor swept through Bianliang: each evening, from the surrounding villages, people gazed toward the Shen Prince’s mansion and saw the sky ablaze with red light, like a crimson bird soaring. The red glow burned through the night and did not fade until dawn. Villagers who entered the city learned it was not fire—wise men believed the red light was a sign of the Song dynasty’s Fire Virtue, just as the crimson crow had appeared as an omen when King Wu of Zhou ascended the throne.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many officials came to congratulate Zhao Yu because of this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Huang Jingchen and Liang Shicheng appeared on Zhao Yu’s behalf, declaring that the red glow illuminated the Imperial Palace, not their own mansion, and urged the ministers to return—all gifts brought were refused, and Zhao Yu met not a single minister.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, omens had not only appeared at Zhao Ji’s and Zhao Yu’s residences—Zhao Shi’s mansion had also produced so-called auspicious signs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Often, whether one becomes Emperor is not a matter of desire; once the opportunity arises, even if you do not wish it, your subordinates will push you upward—who does not crave the glory of aiding a new sovereign?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the Imperial Palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xu was ill, but not so ill that he was near death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xu did not believe he was near death; he thought he might still be saved—perhaps with some herbal decoctions or acupuncture over time, his condition could improve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet fate is fickle, and Zhao Xu’s condition showed no sign of improvement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, a minister could no longer hold back and urged Zhao Xu to adopt a son to stabilize the realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was like a thousand daggers piercing Zhao Xu’s already fragile heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xu was furious!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was only twenty-four in lunar age, in the prime of his life!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, he had just fathered a son—he was not infertile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xu believed that if he recovered, he would surely father his own bloodline; why should he adopt another man’s son?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have merely fallen ill—yet some cannot wait!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xu overturned all memorials urging him to adopt a son and flew into a rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Empress Liu Qingjing was equally furious, for someone had hinted that she should either cultivate favor with a Prince or adopt a son—she must prepare early, lest she sit idle and perish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Liu Qingjing, having just endured the twin tragedies of losing her son and daughter, could not bear to hear such words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a result, all who had advised her were punished by Liu Qingjing, to vent her inner anguish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, Liu Qingjing heard that the Duan Prince’s mansion had produced omens, that Zhao Ji had been hosting frequent banquets, and that fortune-tellers claimed Zhao Ji was destined to be Emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crucially, before—when Zhao Mao was still alive—Zhao Ji had often visited her, but lately he had been daily visiting Cide Palace, and his relationship with the Empress Dowager seemed restored.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In contrast, Zhao Yu, who had once been very close to Empress Dowager Xiang, had recently become extremely discreet; though rumors said his mansion had produced omens, he firmly denied them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Qingjing relayed all these reports to Zhao Xu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xu, after hearing them, gritted his teeth and spat out two words: “Duan Prince!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xu’s face darkened like still water, his eyes flickering with complex emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He slowly rose, walked to the window, and gazed at the late autumn scenery outside, his heart filled with conflicting thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cold wind swept through the window lattice, lifting his wide sleeves—as if even the wind mourned his plight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Qingjing stoked the fire: “The situation is complex; each Prince has his own intentions, especially the Duan Prince—he has been acting frequently and has reconciled with the Empress Dowager. He likely harbors ill intent. Should we not teach him a lesson?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xu thought for a moment and said: “Bring me my decree: seal off Fan Tower and punish Chen Yan for spreading false omens and misleading the people.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Qingjing was puzzled—how did punishing Zhao Ji relate to sealing Fan Tower and arresting Chen Yan?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xu said coldly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Luring a Prince to brothels brings shame upon our Great Song Imperial House and invites ridicule from foreign envoys. If such conduct goes unpunished, how can we correct the moral climate? How can we teach Princes to uphold their duties?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Chen Yan dares to incite a Prince and stir up imperial strife, shaking the very foundation of the state—his crime deserves death!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, Zhao Xu had already shown mercy, considering their brotherly bond—if not, he would not have merely made an example of one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Zhao Xu refrained from harsh action because he knew Zhao Ji was not the only one stirring unrest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two days prior, Zhao Xu’s birth mother, Consort Zhu, had visited him and subtly praised Zhao Shi’s virtue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Consort Zhu had not spoken plainly, Zhao Xu understood: if he felt his end near, she urged him to immediately pass the throne to his full-blooded younger brother, not let it fall into the hands of outsiders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such is the Imperial House—kinship crumbles before power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since ascending the throne, I have labored tirelessly, never slackening, hoping to restore order and glorify our ancestors. Yet now, my illness has become an excuse for others to covet the throne—alas!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every word from Zhao Xu carried bitterness and fury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Liu Qingjing was even more enraged; she told Zhao Xu: “My Lord must recover! Then, you and I shall have another son—we must not let anyone else seize your throne!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Imperial succession follows two primary paths: father to son, or brother to brother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The former is primary; the latter, secondary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adopting a son conforms to father-to-son succession.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xu has five younger brothers; under normal circumstances, he should adopt a son from among them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the problem is, Zhao Yu and his four brothers all have no sons—this path is blocked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the younger brothers have no sons, the next option is to choose from the descendants of his paternal cousins, as Emperor Renzong once chose Emperor Yingzong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Zhao Xu’s paternal cousins also have no male heirs—this path is also blocked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, the only option left is to select a grandson from the paternal cousins of his father, Emperor Shenzong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this would greatly dilute the bloodline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That too is a problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the real issue lies elsewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The key is: the current ruling branch of the Imperial House will never wish to lose power and see their own authority diminished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xu understood this perfectly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, Zhao Xu exploited this imperial psychology and began a delicate balancing act: he neither adopted a son nor outright refused, but delayed under various pretexts, hoping for a medical miracle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, Zhao Xu also wished to retain absolute control over imperial power until his final moments…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1440,"2026-06-20T15:06:47.302Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","63ec1e946fb0ea55d98cd669c7d0ff805cf51d9d463a036058fa31e6ff66b352","i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-chapter-61","i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-chapter-59",348,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-cover.jpg"]