[{"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-64":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},2318954,4535,"Chapter 64: Intimidation","i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-chapter-64",64,"\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Taifei never expected that while her son was still alive, the imperial clan would force Zhao Yu to be named crown prince.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xu’s health is indeed deeply concerning; to be safe, appointing a crown prince must be put on the agenda.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she still has another son; from the standpoint of proximity, her younger son should be the crown prince.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the imperial clan won’t even mention this— isn’t that too cruel?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Taifei is timid and honest, not foolish; she knows this must be the Empress Dowager’s doing. The Empress Dowager doesn’t want two imperial courts standing side by side, doesn’t want another prince with a living birth mother, so she stripped her younger son of the right to inherit her elder son’s throne.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even a clay figure has three parts of earth’s stubbornness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Taifei decided that after returning from Cide Palace, she would go see Zhao Xu and demand he issue an imperial decree naming Zhao Shi crown prince—or appoint him Prefect of Kaifeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After enduring the banquet’s end, Zhu Taifei was the first to rise and bid farewell to the Empress Dowager, eager to leave at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Empress Dowager said: “Wait a moment—I have words for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress Dowager had dominated Zhu Taifei her entire life; even when Zhao Xu became emperor, this never changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that Zhao Xu was again ill, Zhu Taifei, with no protector, dared not defy the Empress Dowager—she could only murmur obediently: “Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after, the Empress Dowager had Zhao Yu escort the guests out, while she summoned Zhu Taifei to the inner chamber and dismissed all others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After seating herself at the head, the Empress Dowager removed her spectacles and pressed her Jingming acupoint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, the Empress Dowager was exhausted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet she put her spectacles back on and said: “Sit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Zhu Taifei cautiously sit on the edge of the lower seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress Dowager poured tea for Zhu Taifei herself, pouring as she spoke: “Do you know why I once advised the late emperor to name His Majesty crown prince?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Taifei chose her words carefully: “Perhaps the Empress Dowager deemed His Majesty wise and virtuous, and thus recommended him to the late emperor?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress Dowager shook her head: “Because you are weak-willed and would never defy me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Taifei froze, then smiled bitterly. She believed the Empress Dowager wasn’t lying—she likely chose her son as crown prince precisely because she was easier to control than others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress Dowager then confessed: “More than ten years ago, I was young and had to consider who could never displace me as empress. If you were in my place, you’d likely have done the same.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Taifei, having spent her entire life in the inner palace, understood the Empress Dowager perfectly—had she been in her position, she’d have done the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress Dowager continued: “Now I am nearing sixty, my health is poor, and I have no more desire for power struggles. But one matter, as Empress Dowager of Great Song, I must plan for the long term: the eternal stability of our Great Song realm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Zhu Taifei harbored doubts but dared not show them—she listened in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress Dowager stirred her tea with the lid and said: “You probably think I fear your youth and vitality, dread you becoming empress mother through your son, and worry about two imperial courts coexisting—so I refused to let Prince Jian inherit His Majesty’s throne?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Taifei immediately knelt to beg forgiveness: “Your humble sister dares not think so!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rise. You’re a Taifei now—still so timid?” the Empress Dowager scolded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Taifei felt wronged: “My timidity is all your doing!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she could only think it—she’d rather die than say it aloud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Zhu Taifei sat back down, the Empress Dowager continued: “Prince Jian is a good boy, but surely you know his nature—timid, weak-willed, incapable of bearing responsibility—just like you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Taifei wanted to say: “My son isn’t nearly as bad as you claim.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before the Empress Dowager, Zhu Taifei could only think it—she would never dare defy her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress Dowager looked at Zhu Taifei: “Disagree?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Taifei hurriedly tried to kneel again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sit still,” the Empress Dowager stopped her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Taifei didn’t move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s not speak of Prince Jian—don’t overthink it.” The Empress Dowager changed tone: “Do you know why Prince Duan went to a brothel at this critical moment, ruining his own reputation?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Taifei thought: “He’s always frivolous—what’s surprising about such reckless behavior?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outwardly, she answered formally: “Your humble sister does not know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yang Jian’s investigation found that Prince Shen’s deputy manager Liang Shicheng, along with Prince Duan’s steward Gao Qiu and companion Li Bangyan, sold soap together and profited handsomely. That day, it was Gao Qiu, Li Bangyan, and Cai Jing’s eldest son Cai You who urged Prince Duan to go to Fan Tower,” the Empress Dowager said, her voice calm as still water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Taifei was stunned: “Did Prince Shen frame Prince Duan?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Prince Duan brought this upon himself—he is frivolous, dissolute, and lacks judgment,” the Empress Dowager corrected her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Prince Duan’s chief steward Yang Zhen was steady and meticulous. Had he been alive, Prince Duan would never have acted so recklessly. Yet he drowned mysteriously while walking at night. Too convenient.” The Empress Dowager added.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Zhu Taifei realize: behind the struggle for the crown prince’s position lay such machinations!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her heart tightened: “Then has Prince Shen targeted my son…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Only now do you worry? Isn’t it too late?” the Empress Dowager said coolly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Taifei’s heart lurched: “What has Prince Shen done to my son?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If Prince Shen saw Prince Jian as a threat, he would have acted long ago—why wait for you to realize it?” the Empress Dowager said bluntly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing that Zhao Yu had not moved against Zhao Shi, Zhu Taifei relaxed slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before she could fully ease, the Empress Dowager added: “Don’t rejoice too soon. Prince Shen hasn’t acted against Prince Jian only because Prince Jian poses no threat. But if one day Prince Jian becomes a threat to his claim, Prince Jian may meet the same fate as Yang Zhen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Taifei was terrified! She never imagined Zhao Shi’s continued rivalry with Zhao Yu might cost him his life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Overcome with maternal fear, Zhu Taifei blurted: “How can you tolerate Prince Shen’s reckless actions?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress Dowager didn’t rebuke her tone but answered plainly: “Our Great Song now faces internal turmoil and external threats—on the brink of survival. A benevolent ruler cannot save us. Prince Shen is gifted, cunning, discerning in talent, and harbors the ambition to save the world and pacify the people—he may yet turn the tide and prevent collapse.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Taifei was skeptical: “My son is still young. When he grows up, he too may carry on his father and brother’s legacy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress Dowager didn’t refute her, but said slowly: “Liao troops now parade along the Yellow River. If the new emperor mishandles this, hundreds of thousands of Liao cavalry will surge south—perhaps reigniting the Chanyuan crisis. At that time, the chancellor will surely emulate Kou Zhun and force you and your son to lead the army north to fight. If you lose, you’ll be Great Song’s traitors—ashamed before your ancestors, infamous for eternity. If you win, you may emulate Emperor Zhenzong and perform the Fengshan sacrifice on Mount Tai. If you have such ambition, sister, I’ll help you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Taifei stared, dumbfounded: “What? I’m a palace woman who hasn’t left the inner court in decades—I’m supposed to lead a half-grown boy against Liao barbarians?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1280,"2026-06-20T15:06:47.302Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","5a5d6e0af359e70d56167b39175f924bd19220e844cfc608ca54411bbd68bf48","i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-chapter-65","i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-chapter-63",348,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-cover.jpg"]