[{"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-71":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},2318961,4535,"Chapter 71: Provisional Empress","i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-chapter-71",71,"\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yu ascended the throne as emperor, and Zheng Xiansu, who had been betrothed to Zhao Yu, would no longer merely be a princess consort—she might become empress, truly soaring from a sparrow to a phoenix.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like Wei Zifu, who had once been merely a singer in Princess Pingyang’s household, she was unexpectedly noticed by Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, and from then on entered the palace, gradually ascending to the position of empress, becoming the motherly model of the realm; even her brother Wei Qing and her nephew Huo Qubing benefited from her rise, realizing their own political ambitions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, Zheng Xiansu’s fate seemed rewritten at this very moment, her future and that of her family bathed in radiant auroras, brimming with infinite possibilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a time, Zheng Xiansu became the very symbol of the luckiest woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet jealousy was always a shadow lurking in a woman’s heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many palace maids, envious and resentful of Zheng Xiansu’s fortune, coveted her luck, whispering cruel words behind her back, even cursing her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their point was that twenty-seven months was far too long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such a prolonged period must be fraught with uncertainty—if Zhao Yu changed his heart, or if some other accident occurred, there was no guarantee he wouldn’t appoint someone else as empress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crucially, by now everyone understood clearly: Zhao Yu had originally taken Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu as his princess consorts primarily to bind himself firmly to Empress Dowager Xiang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now Zhao Yu had not only bound himself irrevocably to Empress Dowager Xiang, but had even used her to seize the throne.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even before Empress Dowager Xiang assumed regency, Zhao Yu had fully seized imperial power; no one could stop him anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu, two women of humble origins, had become useless—if Zhao Yu abandoned them, even Empress Dowager Xiang could do nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most crucially, after ascending the throne, Zhao Yu not only absorbed all the palace maids whom Zhao Xu had never touched, but the Ministry of Rites also carefully selected one hundred young, beautiful palace maids to fill the inner palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yu suddenly gained so many beauties, among whom surely were many younger, more beautiful, and more obedient than Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu—it would be perfectly natural if Zhao Yu grew fond of someone else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only did other palace maids harbor such suspicions, but even Zhang Chun and her three companions believed this possibility likely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin asked Zhang Chun: “Will we really have to wait over two years before Zheng Xiansu becomes empress and Wang Yisu becomes imperial consort?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When a new emperor ascends the Song throne, he generally observes the mourning rites. Only under extremely special circumstances would he deviate from or partially ignore them,” Zhang Chun said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What circumstances?” Li Lin asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First, if the new emperor faces an extremely severe military threat or internal rebellion, he must swiftly handle military and political affairs, devoting more energy to repelling foreign enemies and suppressing rebellions—in such cases, the mourning rites may be flexibly adjusted.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Second, if the new emperor has a strong personal will and sufficient power and prestige, he might adjust or loosely observe the mourning rites. However, the Song Dynasty places great emphasis on ruling through filial piety, so such cases are rare.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Third, emperors who ascend through coups, forced abdications, or other abnormal means may not observe the mourning rites. Zhao Yu clearly is not one,” Zhang Chun said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So Zhao Yu will definitely observe the mourning rites?” Li Lin concluded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[She thought: There are those who substitute days for months, but I won’t say it.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Observing mourning rites is a vital expression of filial piety. If the new emperor observes them, he demonstrates to all his subjects his filial devotion and respect for traditional rites, consolidating the legitimacy and orthodoxy of his rule, proving the rightful nature of his succession and reducing public skepticism. Zhao Yu already lacks Zhao Xu’s imperial edict of succession—if he further ignores the mourning rites, the doubts against him will be immense,” Zhang Chun said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The women understood: Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu would likely have to wait over two years before marrying Zhao Yu—assuming Zhao Yu kept his promise and did not entertain thoughts of replacing the empress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the risks here were not merely Zhao Yu’s possible infidelity, but also the schemes of ambitious men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forget distant examples—just consider Minister Meng: wasn’t he, who once lived with Zhao Xu, brought down by Liu Qingjing through the witchcraft case, his empress title stolen?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no help for it—the empress position was the most honored rank a woman could attain, without exception; which woman wouldn’t covet it, and which woman with a chance wouldn’t fight for it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, Zhao Yu was a newly enthroned emperor whose foundation was still unstable—how could one be sure he wouldn’t abandon Zheng Xiansu, this woman of humble origin, to secure his rule by allying with one or several powerful factions through marriage?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, whether Zheng Xiansu could truly ascend to the empress throne was far from certain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the five women—especially Li Lin and Yuan Qing Cheng—cared less about whether Zheng Xiansu would become Zhao Yu’s empress; what they truly cared about was how they themselves could reach Zhao Yu’s side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The retired Empress Dowager Xiang was now useless; if they remained in Cide Palace, they would merely waste time and youth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had originally agreed with Zhao Yu that they would marry him alongside Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now this situation had arisen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Chun, who had already secured her promise of imperial consort status, had no need to worry—she could go to Zhao Yu’s side anytime, even bring her “maidservant” Ye Shi Yun with her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Precisely because of this, Zhang Chun appeared relaxed, even subtly supporting Zhao Yu’s strict observance of the mourning rites.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—If Zhao Yu strictly observed the mourning rites, Zheng Xiansu, Wang Yisu, and Guo Ting would not be able to reach Zhao Yu’s side in the short term; thus, she would be the highest-ranked woman in his harem—not empress, yet more powerful than empress—and most likely to replace Zheng Xiansu as Zhao Yu’s empress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Notably, Zhang Chun knew well that after more than a year, Empress Dowager Xiang would die, and Zhao Yu would still have to observe mourning rites.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, if Zhao Yu strictly observed the mourning rites, Zheng Xiansu and the others would not be waiting twenty-seven months—but forty months, a full three and a half years!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With such a long time, Zhang Chun believed she could surely win Zhao Yu over and have him replace Zheng Xiansu with her as empress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, Zhang Chun had decided: tomorrow, she would go to Zhao Yu’s side and seize the initiative.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin and Yuan Qing Cheng could also reach Zhao Yu’s side through Zhang Chun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Lin and Yuan Qing Cheng had already decided to bypass Zhang Chun entirely and contact Zhao Yu directly—thus, they would no longer owe her any favors, avoiding the need to repay her with even greater debt later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet without Zhang Chun, how could they, still lowly palace maids, reach Zhao Yu’s side?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin and Yuan Qing Cheng discussed it and planned to seek another opportunity to meet Zhao Yu directly, revealing their true feelings without further detours.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Zhang Chun and Ye Shi Yun were packing to move, and Li Lin and Yuan Qing Cheng were planning how to meet Zhao Yu, Zhao Yu suddenly arrived at Cide Palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this news, Zhang Chun and Ye Shi Yun stopped packing; Li Lin and Yuan Qing Cheng abandoned their plans; they hurried with many other palace maids to pay homage to Zhao Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There he was, Zhao Yu dressed in a simple, elegant dragon robe, arriving at Cide Palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surprisingly, Zhao Yu had not become surrounded by attendants since becoming emperor—his entourage still consisted only of Liang Shicheng and Tong Guan; his other aides and bodyguards—Li Yan, Wang Bin, Cai Jing, Zong Ze, Zhang Shuye—remained stationed far away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, what warmed the hearts of those in Cide Palace was that Zhao Yu had not changed his habits; as always, upon arriving, he chatted with them like family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What moved them most was that Zhao Yu could still recall nearly every one of their names.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short, Zhao Yu’s visit to Cide Palace remained exactly as it had always been—as if returning home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yu’s unwavering loyalty to his roots made everyone in Cide Palace feel that Empress Dowager Xiang had chosen the right man to ascend the throne.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, Zhang Chun arrived at the entrance of Cide Palace, accompanied by Ye Shi Yun, and saw Zhao Yu chatting casually with eunuchs, junior eunuchs, and palace maids.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, Zhang Chun stepped past the others, approached Zhao Yu, and bowed gracefully: “Your servant, Lady Zhang, pays homage to Your Majesty…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1496,"2026-06-20T15:06:47.302Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","8a060de7bcfaba4f418e0eb4b779857b4bb28997167bcb5ffda9b0d82344e21c","i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-chapter-72","i-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-chapter-70",348,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-transmigrated-to-the-northern-song-with-them-cover.jpg"]