Chapter 65: Locking the Victory

…

Zhu Taifei thought Empress Dowager Xiang was threatening her.

But after careful thought, Zhu Taifei broke into a cold sweat.

If Zhao Si truly became emperor.

Given that Zhao Si is only fifteen, someone must certainly act as regent behind the curtain.

Who would that person be?

Normally, it should be Empress Dowager Xiang, with her rich political experience.

But… she too wanted to try wielding the highest power of the Zhao Song dynasty, so it would be best if Empress Dowager Xiang allowed her to share the regency.

But Empress Dowager Xiang has already made clear: if Zhao Si truly seeks this throne, she will support mother and son.

That means Empress Dowager Xiang will not serve as regent.

In that case, only she herself could serve as regent.

She had never handled politics—she was just an ordinary, humble palace woman who had lived her entire life in quiet obscurity; how could she possibly serve as regent?

Thinking again of the current disastrous political climate, where the New and Old Parties were locked in bitter conflict, and of Zhao Song's urgent need for reform yet complete uncertainty over how to proceed, Zhu Taifei panicked!

"Can my son and I accomplish what the Emperor himself could not?"

Even these concerns were not immediate.

What was burning at her heels was how to negotiate peace with Liao and Western Xia.

If negotiations failed, losing territory and dignity, bearing public scorn was not the worst—should Liao and Xia unite to invade Song, the Chan-Yuan Incident might truly happen again.

Flee south without fighting?

Didn't Emperor Zhenzong once think the same? But Chancellor Kou Zhun nearly dragged Emperor Zhenzong to the front lines by force.

If Liao ever launched another major southern invasion, Zhang Dun, that warlike man, would surely emulate Chancellor Kou Zhun.

What would we, a widow and her orphaned child, do then?

"Disaster! I only thought that if my son became emperor, we would continue to enjoy supreme glory, but I never considered the thousand-jin burdens and thorny paths hidden behind that glory."

Zhu Taifei's heart pounded like drumbeats; her face grew even paler!

Only now did Zhu Taifei recall that during Emperor Shenzong's reign and Zhao Xu's rule, though both had wished to revitalize the court, neither could escape the quagmire of factional strife—the New and Old Parties clashed like oil on fire, utterly irreconcilable, until Emperor Shenzong died in his thirties and Zhao Xu fell gravely ill before even reaching thirty.

If this mess were left to a fifteen-year-old child and a politically inexperienced woman like herself to clean up, wasn't this like an old man hanging himself out of boredom—and dragging her last remaining son down with her?

Zhu Taifei finally realized that the struggle for the throne was not merely a game of power, but a matter of national survival and the people's safety—something no ordinary person could bear.

Most crucially, even if one seized the throne, it was not necessarily desirable—her eldest son had seized it, yet look what happened: he was barely in his twenties and already near death.

Seeing Zhu Taifei finally grasp the key truth, Empress Dowager Xiang spoke slowly: "You already have one son as emperor. As long as you make no mistakes, you will enjoy wealth and honor for life; and when I die, you may even become Empress Dowager to the late Emperor. Why cling to a role you cannot handle, risking yourself and Prince Jian's entire future?"

Here, Empress Dowager Xiang concluded: "If you are wise, go recommend Prince Shen as Prefect of Kaifeng, securing protection for yourself and Prince Jian. If you insist on challenging me and Prince Shen, then come at me."

Zhu Taifei turned pale with shock! She had never imagined Empress Dowager Xiang had truly committed to Zhao Yu.

Zhu Taifei wanted to ask: Was Zhao Yu truly so much stronger than my son?

But before Zhu Taifei could speak, Empress Dowager Xiang waved her hand, signaling her to leave.

Zhu Taifei stumbled out, hollow-eyed; Empress Dowager Xiang watched her retreating back and murmured: "Don't think I'm bullying you—I'm helping you because you've yielded to me for decades. Prince Shen is determined to claim the throne; those who obey live, those who resist die. You and your son are too honest—you cannot be his match."

Empress Dowager Xiang did not tell Zhu Taifei many things.

For instance, she suspected Zhao Yu deliberately approached her.

For instance, she suspected Zhao Mao's death, Princess Yang's death, and even Zhao Xu's illness were all connected to Zhao Yu.

For instance, she suspected Zhao Yu was using Zhang Chun to manipulate her, making her believe Zhao Yu was destined by Heaven.

Yet even the imperial physicians confirmed Zhao Mao and Princess Yang died of congenital illnesses, and Zhao Xu had been frail since childhood—blaming Zhao Yu was too far-fetched.

But perhaps because she had witnessed too many conspiracies, Empress Dowager Xiang truly felt these recent events were too coincidental—and that Zhang Chun could predict Zhao Mao's death, and even foresee the disasters befalling Princess Yang and Zhao Xu—was simply too miraculous.

Sometimes Empress Dowager Xiang truly envied Zhu Taifei: simple-minded, lucky, living her whole life without worry, yet still enjoying wealth and glory—unlike herself, who spent her life scheming, and now, in old age, could not tell whether she had outmaneuvered others or been outmaneuvered herself.

"Perhaps I'm overthinking it. Prince Shen is just a filial son, Zhang Chun truly had a divine vision that lets her foretell the future, Prince Shen is truly destined by Heaven, the restorer of our Great Song."

"At least Prince Shen's insight and ability are real—he is calm and reliable, truly the one most likely to save our Great Song."

"Forget it. Better to be foolishly blind."

…

Concerned that Empress Dowager Xiang had grown suspicious, Zheng Xiansu had secretly warned Zhao Yu.

To be honest, before this, Zhao Yu had genuinely feared Empress Dowager Xiang might betray him at the last moment.

For this reason, Zhao Yu had prepared contingency plans.

But now, Empress Dowager Xiang had made her final choice.

Then there was no problem.

Politics always boils down to this: it doesn't matter what you did, only whether you won.

Though nearly a month still remained until Zhao Xu's death in history, because the six of them had already altered key events, history had already changed—in this context, Zhao Xu dying a few days early was entirely possible.

Crucially, the imperial physicians had already pronounced Zhao Xu dead, declaring he had only two days left.

Even if Zhao Xu somehow clung to life a few more days, his authority and influence over succession were now negligible.

Who would sincerely obey the orders of an emperor with only days to live, to block the new emperor's path to the throne?

This is the fate of "the tea grows cold when the man leaves"—a common end for those in politics, especially when no heir is properly established.

Put simply: even if Zhao Xu realized the truth, abandoned hope of a medical miracle, and wished to name Zhao Ji or Zhao Si as crown prince, his edict would never leave the palace.

Not only had Empress Dowager Xiang and Zhao Yu's people already sealed off Zhao Xu—even his own loyalists, given the chance, would seize this final opportunity to earn a great merit, hoping to switch allegiances and retain power and glory.

Most crucially, Empress Dowager Xiang and the imperial house had already placed their bets—they could not afford to lose, so they would never allow anyone other than Zhao Yu to ascend the throne; otherwise, they would face not rewards for supporting the new emperor, but political purges.

One can only say that, out of greed for power or unwillingness to die young, Zhao Xu lost control over succession.

At this stage, if Zhao Xu is still lucid, his wisest move is to proactively name Zhao Yu crown prince, or appoint him Prefect of Kaifeng, clearly declaring Zhao Yu his heir—forging a good relationship with Zhao Yu, preserving his own dignity, and leaving behind a political legacy for Liu Qingjing, Zhu Taifei, Zhao Si, and his two remaining daughters.

As for how Zhao Xu ultimately decides, it no longer matters, because Zhao Yu has already secured victory.

Zhao Yu even has the confidence to make Zhao Xu abdicate in his favor today.

But there's no need for that.

After seeing off all members of the imperial family on behalf of the Empress Dowager, Zhao Yu stood in the courtyard of Cide Palace, gazing at the heart of the palace, his heart surging with emotion: "My era is about to begin!"

At that moment, while Zhao Yu was unattended, Li Lin approached, lowering her voice to say: "Congratulations, Your Highness, on your imminent ascension as Emperor. Might Your Highness desire a mighty army to sweep the world for you…"

…

(End of Chapter)