Chapter 85: Bounce, Bounce, Bounce

…

Zhao Yu arrived at Cide Palace; before Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu could warn him, numerous eunuchs, junior eunuchs, and palace maids alerted Zhao Yu that Han Zhongyan and Xu Jiang had just visited and spoken at length with Empress Dowager Xiang.

Upon hearing this news, Zhao Yu knew at once his guess was correct: the old party had sensed his and the new party's plan to purge them.

As for how the old party found out, he had to ask the new party—could it possibly be that he himself or Zhang Chun and the others had leaked the news?

Soon, Zheng Xiansu, Wang Yisu, and Yang Jian came to greet Zhao Yu.

Seeing this, Zhao Yu dismissed the eunuchs, junior eunuchs, and palace maids, then followed Zheng Xiansu and the others to meet Empress Dowager Xiang.

There, Empress Dowager Xiang had already prepared a lavish banquet.

Zhao Yu, as if at home, walked straight to the table, grabbed a duck leg, and ate it with complete disregard for propriety.

"I never let you go hungry as a child—why, whenever you come to me, are you so disrespectful?"

Empress Dowager Xiang feigned annoyance, yet her face brimmed with doting smiles, her eyes glimmering with tender memories of bygone days.

Zhao Yu chewed the duck leg, mumbling: "Now that I am by my mother's side, I ought to act as I please."

Hearing this, Empress Dowager Xiang personally ladled a bowl of three-delicacy soup for Zhao Yu, told him to eat slowly, then sat beside him.

Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu took positions to her left and right, attending to her.

Empress Dowager Xiang said to Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu: "You two sit as well."

"Without Your Majesty's upbringing, how could we have ever had the fortune to marry the Emperor? Our wedding day draws near—please allow us to remain by your side and serve a little longer," Zheng Xiansu said.

"Even after marrying the Emperor, we remain Your Majesty's servants—we dare not sit," Wang Yisu added.

"Nonsense," Empress Dowager Xiang corrected. "You two marrying the Emperor makes you my daughters-in-law—how can you still be servants?"

"We apologize, Your Majesty," Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu said in unison.

Hearing this, Empress Dowager Xiang's gaze softened, her lips curved into a gentle smile, and she whispered: "I am deeply moved that you two never forget your roots."

Empress Dowager Xiang said to Zheng Xiansu: "You will soon become Empress. Remember the responsibility and self-restraint I taught you—remember always: your words and deeds must be dignified and proper, so you may serve as the mother of the realm."

Zheng Xiansu replied: "I shall never forget."

Empress Dowager Xiang turned to Wang Yisu: "Follow your sister's advice, and your life will never go astray."

Wang Yisu's eyes grew moist; she quickly bowed in thanks: "I obey, thank Your Majesty's grace."

Unable to persuade them otherwise, Empress Dowager Xiang allowed them to remain standing beside her.

Empress Dowager Xiang said to Zhao Yu: "Of the hundreds in my palace, only these two are truly filial and thoughtful."

Zhao Yu smiled: "If not for that, why would I marry no one but them?"

Zhao Yu and Empress Dowager Xiang spoke for a while longer about Zhao Yu's wedding.

Zhao Yu said the ceremony should be kept simple—he had already failed to fully observe mourning rites, so he could not afford to be ostentatious.

Empress Dowager Xiang replied that Han Zhongyan and others planned to use threats of military displays by Liao and Xia as grounds to petition Zhao Yu to shorten mourning from thirty months to one, to prepare actively for war, just in case.

After finishing the wedding discussion, Empress Dowager Xiang shifted topic and said:

"Wang Anshi's reforms were bold and ambitious, aiming to enrich the state and strengthen its military, yet he moved too hastily, ignoring public sentiment and the limits of national strength, ultimately plunging court and people into turmoil and widespread resentment. Sima Guang, by contrast, championed a return to ancestral laws—though he stabilized the situation, he failed to resolve the Song's deep-rooted problems, instead causing the state to miss vital reform opportunities and gradually grow conservative."

"My son, govern by taking the strengths of both and avoiding their flaws. You must have the will to reform and strengthen, yet also consider the people's suffering, proceed gradually, and never chase quick gains. Had Wang Anshi's reforms placed greater emphasis on the people's welfare and understood their hardships, perhaps many unnecessary conflicts and sacrifices could have been avoided. Had Sima Guang's restoration incorporated new ideas of the age and not clung rigidly to outdated customs, it too could have brought fresh vitality to the state."

Though Empress Dowager Xiang did not say it outright, Zhao Yu knew she had already learned of his intent to purge Sima Guang. Her words were a plea for him to view the Wang-Anshi–Sima-Guang conflict fairly, not to be misled by the new party into attacking the old party, but to follow the middle path they had agreed upon: mediating between the two factions and leading them toward a way to save the Zhao Song dynasty.

Zhao Yu first dismissed everyone, including Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu.

When only Zhao Yu and Empress Dowager Xiang remained, Zhao Yu laid bare before her all the Song dynasty's current difficulties, the internal conditions of Liao and Xia, his planned responses—including Zhang Chun's proposed remedies—and even named the thirteen men he intended to purge and detailed their corrupt, lawless deeds.

After speaking, Zhao Yu concluded:

"Sima Guang handed back the territories won at great cost by our late Emperor's ministers and fallen soldiers to Western Xia—yet he gained no peace, only Western Xia's intensified aggression, repeatedly invading our border. Our dynasty was forced to expend vast resources and sacrifice countless more soldiers to reclaim those lands—this is an undeniable fact."

"These twelve men are all ravenous corruptors—vermin of the state, monstrous plagues upon the people. Executing them will bring great relief to the populace and serve as a warning to others."

"Our dynasty now faces internal strife and external threats. Without swift fiscal solutions, we cannot withstand them. Hence, we must resort to risky measures—I beg Your Majesty to prioritize the greater good."

Empress Dowager Xiang listened in silence for a long while before saying: "My son, proceed with the utmost caution."

Seeing she approved, Zhao Yu said: "Your Majesty speaks wisely. Governing is like cooking a small fish—it demands balance and restraint. I shall act with calm deliberation…"

Having persuaded Empress Dowager Xiang, the matter was essentially settled.

Afterwards, Zhao Yu stayed with Empress Dowager Xiang for a long time; mother and son spoke at length—mostly Empress Dowager Xiang imparting the governance insights and life wisdom she had gathered over decades, hoping Zhao Yu might avoid unnecessary detours.

As Zhao Yu prepared to leave, Empress Dowager Xiang suddenly said: "Meng Shi is a pitiable woman, betrayed by the wrong man, left with nothing, utterly desolate. Bring her back to the palace, treat her kindly, to atone for Emperor Zhezong's deeds and soothe the hearts of the Yuanyou faction—what do you say?"

Zhao Yu knew well that bringing Meng Xiang back was far more than simply welcoming back a woman.

Meng Xiang was originally chosen by Gao Taotao, the chief architect of the old party, to represent its interests.

After Gao Taotao's death, Zhao Xu assumed power, appointed the new party, and deposed Meng Xiang to strike at the old party.

Having endured both events, calling Meng Xiang a banner of the old party was no exaggeration.

Now Zhao Yu was treating old party figures like a savings jar to be smashed.

As the old party's greatest supporter, Empress Dowager Xiang naturally wished to restore Meng Xiang's status to signal her backing of the old party.

Should Meng Xiang be reinstated, it would also be a major demonstration of Empress Dowager Xiang's influence—indeed, she sought to stabilize the old party's hearts by restoring the status of their symbolic figure.

As always, Zhao Yu's goal was to secure his imperial throne, and Empress Dowager Xiang was undeniably pivotal in this matter.

Empress Dowager Xiang had little time left; Zhao Yu had no reason to quarrel with her over temporary gains or losses.

Empress Dowager Xiang did not truly wish to oppose Zhao Yu—she merely believed the middle path offered the best chance to save the Zhao Song dynasty.

Crucially, Empress Dowager Xiang had always treated Zhao Yu well.

Based on all this, Zhao Yu readily replied: "I shall go to Yao Hua Palace myself tomorrow."

Seeing Zhao Yu take her wishes so seriously, Empress Dowager Xiang was deeply pleased. She said to him: "My son, do not overthink it—I do this only to stabilize the court."

"I understand," Zhao Yu said.

…

Though Zhao Yu returned to the palace late at night, Pei Sui still waited for him at the inner palace gate.

Unlike yesterday when she wore a bit too little, today Pei Sui draped herself in the great cloak that Zhao Yu had bestowed upon her yesterday.

Zhao Yu was well aware of how awkward Pei Sui's situation was, and he also knew that if he didn't lend her a hand, she would surely spend the rest of her life bearing the reputation of being unable to bear children.

For a woman, that was utterly cruel—especially given that she had squandered so many opportunities.

To further help out this Miss who had temporarily stabilized his harem for him, Zhao Yu once again chose Pei Sui to share his bed.

Just like yesterday, Zhang Chun and Ye Shi Yun again sent Li Shishi and Zhao Yuannu to wait for Zhao Yu.

The outcome was obvious: Zhang Chun and Ye Shi Yun had been snatched away by Pei Sui once more.

Upon hearing this news, Zhang Chun and Ye Shi Yun were nearly driven mad with rage—especially Zhang Chun.

To win Zhao Yu over, Zhang Chun had racked her brains yesterday helping Zhao Yu perfect the piggy-bank-smashing plan, and afterward, she had even endured fatigue and pain to practice that lousy "Convict Conditioning" and lousy "Yoga" with Zhao Yu. In the end, Zhao Yu chose Pei Sui again instead of her.

"What does Pei Sui have that I don't? Are her contributions greater than mine?"

"And Zhao Yu—don't you get tired of playing with the same one every day? Can't you switch to someone else?"

"Besides, isn't Pei Sui infertile? Why are you wasting so much seed on her? Wouldn't it be better to give it to someone who actually needs it?"

After thinking it over, Zhang Chun went to find Ye Shi Yun.

Arriving at Ye Shi Yun's bedchamber, Zhang Chun saw Ye Shi Yun pounding a pillow embroidered with a little figure: "I've already lowered myself this much, and you still want to play hard to get with me? Do you believe that if you push me too far, I'll flip the script and take you by force?!!!"

Zhang Chun laughed: "Oh my! Look what you've been reduced to, Dr. Ye—actually preparing to take the Emperor by force. Tsk, tsk, what nerve!"

Ye Shi Yun said irritably: "Before coming to someone else's home, couldn't you bother to knock? Do you have any manners?"

Zhang Chun let out a "hmph": "You say that as if you ever knocked when you came to my place."

Ye Shi Yun thought about her own usual behavior and immediately changed the subject: "It's so late already, what did you come to find me for?"

"I came to find you to sum up the reasons for our failures," Zhang Chun said straight to the point.

"The reason I've failed time and again is entirely because you keep competing with me. That caused that bastard Zhao Yu to see through my desire to sleep with him, and he keeps playing hard to get with me, constantly squeezing out my wisdom, making me engage in a catfight with you. If it weren't for you, I would have long since taken Zhao Yu down and made him fall at the hem of my pomegranate-red skirt. How could I have let him act so arrogantly toward me!" Ye Shi Yun said indignantly.

What Ye Shi Yun hadn't expected was that Zhang Chun didn't argue back, but honestly admitted: "Indeed, that's the case."

Ye Shi Yun looked Zhang Chun up and down, finding it somewhat hard to believe: "You actually admitted your mistake?"

Zhang Chun rolled her eyes: "Let me correct you—it's not that I'm admitting I'm wrong, but that I'm facing the problem head-on. A person who can't face problems head-on will never improve. I don't want to keep tripping over the same stone over and over."

Ye Shi Yun acknowledged what Zhang Chun said, so she replied: "Considering how sincere you are, I'll hear what you have to say."

Zhang Chun didn't waste words either, getting straight to the point: "First, we're on the same side. We absolutely cannot let our internal scheming keep benefiting outsiders."

"You mean Pei Sui?" Ye Shi Yun asked.

"Not just Pei Sui—anyone outside the five of us. The first thing we need to do is lock down all the benefits among the five of us, keep the meat from leaving the pot. We can't possibly have done so much for Zhao Yu, only to end up gaining nothing in return, while also disrupting the market and letting Zhao Yu get cocky, forcing us into a catfight. If this goes on, we'll be completely drained by Zhao Yu with nothing to show for it, and in the end we'll just become Zhao Yu's lapdogs, wagging our tails begging him for pity, having to rely on his charity for everything we want." Zhang Chun said.

Ye Shi Yun immediately felt a kindred spirit in Zhang Chun, and she agreed: "Sister Chun, you're absolutely right. We're transmigrators—if anyone's going to play, it should be us playing Zhao Yu. We can't let Zhao Yu play us. If word of this got out, how much face would we be losing for transmigrators!"

Zhang Chun nodded: "Right, we absolutely cannot indulge Zhao Yu's bad habit. With our knowledge that surpasses his by a thousand years, and being five against one, could we really lose to a mere little native?"

Ye Shi Yun reminded Zhang Chun: "It's four against one. Jiaojiao is pregnant with Zhao Yu's child and can no longer be relied upon. Didn't you notice? When she addresses Zhao Yu, she opens her mouth with 'my lord' and closes her mouth with 'my lord'—she's clearly gone native. She's probably been brainwashed by Zhao Yu. Until we can straighten her out, we have to be on guard against her, don't let her sell us all out."

Zhang Chun felt Ye Shi Yun's reminder was very timely. Ma Ma Xiao Jiao had indeed gotten too close to Zhao Yu and was somewhat unreliable—she had to be guarded against.

"Fine, then it's the four of us," Zhang Chun said. "Sister Lin and Qingcheng have no intention of sleeping with Zhao Yu. Right now, only the two of us have that intention. As long as we two sort out who's first and who's second, and help each other out, we'll definitely both be able to take Zhao Yu down."

"Then between the two of us, who goes first and who goes second?" Ye Shi Yun asked bluntly.

Much to Ye Shi Yun's surprise, Zhang Chun didn't even think about it before saying: "I'll let you go first."

Seeing how sincere Zhang Chun was, Ye Shi Yun didn't beat around the bush either: "Alright then, once I've slept with Zhao Yu, I'll definitely help you sleep with him. If there's no good way, even if I have to use force, I'll help you get what you want."

Zhang Chun said: "Then the two of us are comrades in the same trench right now."

Ye Shi Yun said: "Grasshoppers on the same rope."

Zhang Chun added: "From now on in the harem, the two of us stick together,"

Zhang Chun and Ye Shi Yun said in unison: "Bouncy bouncy bouncy!"

As they spoke, Zhang Chun and Ye Shi Yun took each other's hands and started bouncing up and down...

(End of chapter)