[{"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-69":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},2318959,4535,"Chapter 69: Zhao Xu Dies","i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-chapter-69",69,"\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Continuous setbacks, combined with exhaustion and cold from the suburban rites, perhaps compounded by the court’s persistent urging for Zhao Xu to appoint Zhao Yu as Prefect of Kaifeng, worsened Zhao Xu’s condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the very day he returned to Bianliang City, Zhao Xu fell critically ill and could no longer hold court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What troubled Zhao Yu, even infuriated him, was that despite Zhao Xu’s dire state, he still refused to appoint Zhao Yu as Prefect of Kaifeng, let alone name him Crown Prince—no matter who pleaded, it was useless, as if he believed he could recover if he just held on a few more days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, whenever anyone tried to persuade Zhao Xu, he would watch them leave with a venomous gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to those monitoring Zhao Xu, his look resembled “When I’m well again, just wait and see how I’ll deal with you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, this might merely be the speculation of Zhao Xu’s monitors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, at this point, everyone sought to earn merit by supporting the new emperor, hoping for promotion once the new ruler ascended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Empress Dowager had already gambled everything; she dared not risk whether Zhao Xu’s refusal stemmed from delirium, whether the monitors had misread him, or whether they harbored ulterior motives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After repeated failed attempts, the Empress Dowager revealed her ruthlessness: she replaced every attendant serving Zhao Xu with her own loyalists, under the pretense of ensuring better care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Additionally, Liu Qingjing and Zhao Xu’s trusted confidants were all placed under house arrest by the Empress Dowager’s orders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Liu Qingjing was placed under house arrest, she relied on her status as Empress and attempted to resist, even trying to assert her imperial authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Zheng Xiansu, sent by the Empress Dowager to confine Liu Qingjing, stepped alone to her side and whispered low: “The Empress Dowager has not yet condemned you, Your Majesty; please consider your actions carefully.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, Liu Qingjing did not comprehend what Zheng Xiansu meant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But soon, her face turned ashen—she understood: Zheng Xiansu meant the Empress Dowager would overlook past grievances, but if she persisted in defiance, the Empress Dowager would settle all accounts with her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Qingjing recalled the fate of Minister Meng, whom she had destroyed, and the more than thirty eunuchs and palace maids in Meng’s household, who had been detained, tortured with brutal interrogations, many beaten to unrecognizable ruin, tongues cut, limbs severed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Qingjing was terrified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, she remained quietly in her quarters, never again visiting Zhao Xu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two nights later, Yang Jian, personally monitoring Zhao Xu, galloped back to Cide Palace and reported: “His Majesty shows clear signs of imminent death; Your Majesty must decide!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress Dowager, who had slept fully clothed for two days, rose immediately and, as she walked out, issued decisive orders: “Summon Prince Shen to the palace; order Tong Guan and Wang Bing to lead the palace guards and accompany me to protect His Majesty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tong Guan and Wang Bing had already been recommended to the Empress Dowager by Zhao Yu; she had placed them in temporary command of all palace guards, and for days they had been on twenty-four-hour standby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon receiving the Empress Dowager’s command, Tong Guan and Wang Bing immediately led three hundred fully armed loyal guards to escort her into the palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the Empress Dowager arrived at Zhao Xu’s bedchamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a group of imperial physicians were desperately attempting to revive Zhao Xu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the Empress Dowager arrive, the lead physician, Mou Jie, hurried forward and said: “If there is a matter of great importance, time is critical.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress Dowager waved her hand, signaling all physicians to withdraw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without being instructed, Tong Guan told the physicians: “You have all worked hard; please rest in the side hall for a few days; rewards will follow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Zhao Yu’s men act with such precision, the Empress Dowager nodded inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, everyone exiting Zhao Xu’s chamber—physicians and Empress Dowager’s men alike—were “invited” by Tong Guan and Wang Bing to the side hall and placed under house arrest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These people understood: Zhao Yu and the Empress Dowager feared they might leak Zhao Xu’s edict and cause complications; once Zhao Yu ascended the throne, they would be safe—and possibly even promoted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After clearing the chamber, the Empress Dowager entered Zhao Xu’s bedchamber alone with Zheng Xiansu, who then closed the door from within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, Tong Guan and Wang Bing surrounded the chamber with three concentric rings of three hundred guards, leaving no fly to escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after, Zhu Taifei, somehow hearing of Zhao Xu’s critical condition, arrived at the bedchamber’s entrance, clamoring to see Zhao Xu one last time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Bing walked over, drew his sword, and barked, eyebrows raised: “No one may approach this place without the command of His Royal Highness or the Empress Dowager—any violation will be met with execution!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Taifei turned pale, stepped back in alarm, and ceased her cries to see Zhao Xu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, the chancellors and ministers received word of Zhao Xu’s critical state; under the leadership of Zhang Dun, Han Zhongyan, Ceng Bu, Cai Bian, and Xu Jiang, they assembled in the Chuigong Hall, awaiting the imperial succession of the Song dynasty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yu and the imperial clan gathered outside Funing Palace, waiting for word from the Empress Dowager regarding Zhao Xu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Near midnight, the Empress Dowager sent word: “The Emperor has passed; let the chancellors and respected members of the imperial clan come to discuss the succession.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All imperial clan members and civil-military officials without right to participate in the succession burst into loud wailing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yu wept the most bitterly, as if mourning his own parents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, Zhang Dun, Han Zhongyan, Ceng Bu, Cai Bian, Xu Jiang, Princess Qingshou, Prince Pu, and other imperial and ministerial figures entered the eastern pavilion of Xuanhe Hall and met the Empress Dowager.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After offering condolences, Zhang Dun spoke for all: “Did His Majesty leave a last edict?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress Dowager shook her head: “His Majesty departed suddenly; he left no written edict.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All understood: even at death, the Empress Dowager and Zhao Xu had never reached agreement; in truth, Zhao Xu had never consented to pass the throne to Zhao Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unknown to others, when Zhao Xu was still capable of handling affairs, Zhang Dun had probed him: if disaster struck, whom should he support as successor?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Xu gave no direct answer, but Zhang Dun, sharp-eyed, saw him tremblingly write a single character on the draft paper before him: “Jian.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Zhao Xu’s wishes, Zhang Dun should have proposed Zhao Shi as the new emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Zhang Dun thought of the ignorant Zhao Shi, then of Zhao Yu’s proven administrative brilliance, then of the Song dynasty’s dire internal and external crises—he swallowed the words “the prince” and instead asked: “Your Majesty, who among the princes is fit to be the new sovereign?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress Dowager gazed deeply at Zhang Dun and said: “I have no son; all princes are illegitimate. There is no difference among them. By seniority, Prince Shen is eldest and thus eligible—but he suffers from eye disease. Next is Prince Duan…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Dun interrupted: “Prince Duan is frivolous and unfit to rule the realm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress Dowager smoothly bypassed Zhao Ji: “Next is Prince Shen…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1224,"2026-06-20T15:06:47.302Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","3c66d5592e5f66f233286ec1341177aeaef87e6d03bebdf85a1e8f83897f9d3e","i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-chapter-70","i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-chapter-68",348,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-cover.jpg"]