Chapter 354: Aftermath

With the arrival of deep winter, the weather grew increasingly cold. At the same time, the Zhao Emperor's illness became increasingly erratic, with him often showing signs of improvement for a few days, only to be bedridden again for several more.

Gradually, and quite predictably, this gave rise to some rumors.

At first, the rumors only concerned the Emperor's illness itself—for instance, how severe it really was, what consequences these relapses might have, and whether they should find some famous folk physician.

By this point, it had already stirred unrest among the people. By the time the eleventh month arrived and the Emperor once again missed the month's first Grand Court Assembly, even the monthly quota of Northern Expedition War Bonds experienced a certain degree of sluggish sales in Dongjing.

It must be understood that, according to the current court policy, the bond quotas had long been broken down into monthly installments to ensure a steady, long-term stream. The monthly quota of one hundred fifty thousand strings was distributed across many cities, including Dongjing, Nanjing, Jinan, Xiacai, Yangzhou, Nanyang, Chang'an, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Jiangling, Quanzhou, Guangzhou, and Jiangling. Under these circumstances, the share borne by Dongjing had been greatly reduced. However, due to its political and economic distinctiveness, this city remained remarkably resilient in the bond market. Often, the monthly quota of several tens of thousands of strings would be snapped up within the ten-day protected period as soon as it was released.

In fact, according to the arrangements of the high-level court officials, at the end of the year or mid-year, the Emperor was supposed to allocate a certain amount of large-denomination bonds to nobles, high-ranking officials, and even the powerful merchants of the Ducal Council... a classic case of draining the pond to catch all the fish, scraping together whatever they could.

Therefore, when bond sales in Dongjing slowed slightly after entering the eleventh month, it immediately drew everyone's attention.

Even though the bonds were quickly sold out after the return of ships from Japan and Goryeo, this did nothing to change the unrest in people's hearts caused by the incident.

Sure enough, following this, additional claims about the Emperor's illness emerged... for instance, that this was retribution for the Emperor imprisoning his father and brother; or that it was punishment from the ancestors because the Emperor's accession was illegitimate and he never went to offer sacrifices at the Eight Imperial Tombs in Luoyang; or that, in the early years of the Jianyan era, the Emperor had repeatedly plundered temples and monasteries, even scraping the gold off Buddha statues, thereby incurring the Buddha's wrath, and so on.

Such talk, of course, was not fit for polite society, but it couldn't be stopped from spreading among the common people, because the common folk loved this kind of sensationalism. Even when the liaisons left in Dongjing by the temples and monasteries spontaneously organized prayer ceremonies for the Emperor, it was claimed that the court had forced them to do so.

By the middle of the month, with the Emperor still not leaving his chambers and rumors spreading that he was gravely ill and bedridden, these rumors gradually converged, finally forming a complete version that the entire court, both inside and outside, could no longer tolerate.

According to this rumor, when the Emperor ascended the throne, he had promised to return the throne once the Two Sages returned. That was why he had fought the Jin with all his might in the middle of his reign. His stubborn refusal to negotiate peace was not for any other reason, but to secretly engineer the deaths of the Two Sages, the Empress Dowager, and all his brothers, so he could enjoy the throne alone.

After the Two Sages returned, not only did the Emperor fail to return the reins of government, but he directly imprisoned his father and brother in a temple. As for forcing his father and brother to write humiliating "memoirs," shifting all the blame for the Jingkang Incident onto them—this was an even more outrageous act of filial impiety and fraternal unkindness.

Moreover, since ascending the throne, this Jianyan Son of Heaven had always valued military affairs over civil ones, mistreated the imperial clan elders, arbitrarily killed high ministers, driven away loyal and good officials, defied the sacred teachings, extorted and abused the people, and was unjust in rewards and punishments. He should have long since abdicated to repent. Now that he was afflicted with a serious illness, it was only his just deserts.

Furthermore, since his heir was still young, the throne should rightfully be returned to the Retired Emperor Yuansheng or the Retired Emperor Daojun. At the very least, a worthy and virtuous member of the imperial clan brothers should be chosen to succeed him.

If that was truly impossible, then they should establish the heir and then have a worthy prince and a worthy empress regent govern.

Otherwise, in the future, with a young lord and a suspicious state, any change in the realm would be the consequence of the current Jianyan Son of Heaven's willful actions.

This rumor was less a fabrication out of thin air and more a patchwork construction. It pieced together all the controversial and unpopular things the current Jianyan Son of Heaven had done, then drew a preposterous conclusion, and finally offered a set of utterly absurd suggestions.

Beyond this, anyone with common sense knew that such a lengthy, composite rumor could not have formed spontaneously. Without a doubt, someone with ulterior motives had deliberately stirred the pot.

And this point required no deduction, because the evidence was right there... several hundred slips of paper bearing the rumor, written in a crooked scrawl, had been scattered during the night on both sides of the Imperial Street, inside and outside the Jingyuan, and in front of the main shops and warehouses on Maxing Street.

Even a fool knew that someone was deliberately causing trouble.

Therefore, with the emergence of this extremely malicious rumor, open political turmoil finally erupted within Dongjing city.

First, at the Secret Pavilion, that afternoon, during the daily routine meeting after the Emperor's illness, the Grand Imperial Clan Administrator Zhao Shi, who had been absent from meetings pleading illness, came in person. He first sternly accused Chief Councilors Zhao Ding and Zhang Jun of incompetence for allowing such rumors to exist, betraying the Emperor's great trust. Then he demanded that Minister of Justice Ma Shen set a deadline on the spot to investigate the matter. Immediately after, he handed Zhang Jun a memorial he had written, to be forwarded by the Bureau of Military Affairs, requesting the establishment of a Crown Prince. In it, he explicitly stated that the Two Sages and the close collateral branches of the imperial clan in Nanyang, having gone through the Jingkang Incident and the Northern Hunt, had lost their qualifications to become heirs, including regents. Finally, he declared himself old and infirm and requested to resign.

His words were so fierce, his emotions so agitated, and the hint of resentment and dissatisfaction hidden within them truly made the few chief councilors somewhat unable to bear it.

Even the Director of the Imperial Academy, Chen Gui, who was originally scheduled to launch a major offensive on behalf of the younger faction, subsequently lost some of his momentum.

One could only say that the Grand Imperial Clan Administrator, having experienced the Yaoshan Entrustment Incident once, had developed immunity and a certain intuition for such matters, and also seemed to have seen through the Zhao Emperor by about three-tenths. That was why he dared to be so sharp-tongued and go all the way.

And thanks to the Grand Imperial Clan Administrator's outburst, after the Secret Pavilion, the Ducal Council hastily assembled and then jointly submitted a memorial to the court, essentially copying the Grand Imperial Clan Administrator's homework... However, they not only criticized the chief councilors but also blamed the entire Secret Pavilion. As the governing body entrusted by the Emperor with the court's affairs, allowing such rumors to exist was truly harboring ill intentions. Then, still targeting the Secret Pavilion, they demanded that the Secret Pavilion investigate the rumors within a set deadline. Then, of course, they also requested the establishment of a Crown Prince, inquired after the Emperor's health, and at the same time heavily criticized the Two Sages and the Emperor's brothers. Finally, inevitably, those like Han and Kong, who had been subjected to so-called "unjust rewards and punishments," took the opportunity to submit resignations.

After the Ducal Council, the Imperial Academy launched a massive critique of the rumor, and the results of the Imperial Academy's critique were directly published in the Capital Gazette. It was during the debates at the Imperial Academy that the younger members of the close collateral branches of the imperial clan settled in Nanyang realized what was happening. They also used public channels to submit memorials, inquiring after the Emperor's health, requesting an investigation into the rumors, then declaring themselves lacking in virtue and integrity, and begging the Emperor to establish a Crown Prince soon.

At the same time, it went without saying that the ten Military Governors, twelve Commandants, and hundreds of Controllers had probably already sent private letters to the Emperor to inquire after his health and express their loyalty... It was also possible that some, ignorant of the rules, had directly requested the establishment of a Crown Prince in their private letters.

In other words, the Zhao Emperor's sting operation could be declared a failure from the start.

However, throughout the entire eleventh month, the various factions made a noisy show of expressing loyalty, but nothing substantial came of it.

The Zhao Emperor still did not emerge from the inner palace, but it was said that he had already resumed listening to daily intelligence briefings once every three days. The source of the rumors remained undiscovered, but instead, due to the central government's extraordinary attention, they became known throughout the realm.

No Crown Prince was established, no one was punished, and of course, the army did not make any moves... According to a drunken Controller, the Zhao Emperor had replied to his private letter with eight characters: "This is none of your business; don't get involved."

It seemed the matter had simply become deadlocked.

However, by the time the twelfth month arrived, with the Emperor again absent from the month's first Grand Court Assembly, and with the memorials from the distant collateral branches in Yangzhou arriving, even the public atmosphere began to feel somewhat strange.

Or rather, by this time, most people's judgment on the matter had gradually converged in the same direction.

And sure enough, after the last batch of memorials arrived, the Zhao Emperor, whose fishing expedition had failed, finally made a public appearance... or rather, a semi-public appearance, because the location was chosen in the front hall of his bedchamber, Jingfu Palace, the so-called Yanhe Hall. The assembled high-ranking officials from the outer court included only one Ducal Minister, four Chief Councilors, one Censor-in-Chief, and six Ministers.

Of course, the various close ministers who usually attended him daily were also allowed to be present... but it was clear they had no right to speak.

Lord and ministers faced each other. The high-ranking officials of the outer court instinctively focused on the Emperor's posture and appearance. The Emperor made no attempt to hide anything. He walked in from the rear courtyard with a light step, sat down behind the desk in the hall, and raised his head. His complexion was ruddy, his demeanor calm, clearly showing that he had long since recovered.

Seeing this, most people, from Lu Haowen on down, remained composed.

Of course, only most people.

"Is the outside world saying that I am stirring up trouble for no reason?" After the Zhao Emperor sat down, the Chief Eunuch Lan Gui, the Imperial Guard Controller Liu Yan, and the Palace Receptionist Ren Baozhong stepped forward to move piles of sorted memorials onto the desk in front of the Emperor. Seizing this moment, the Emperor spoke directly, with a faint, ambiguous smile.

"Your Majesty should not govern people with devious methods."

Censor-in-Chief Li Guang, who had barely managed to restrain himself the moment the Emperor entered, finally lost control this time. He stepped forward directly, cupped his hands, and admonished the Zhao Emperor seated in the hall. "Does Your Majesty not know that your safety is tied to the very foundation of the state? And how much unrest has been stirred in people's hearts this past month, how many baseless incidents have been caused? Who advised Your Majesty to feign illness for so long? I beg to have him executed to apologize to the realm!"

Zhao Jiu looked at the mountain of memorials piled on the desk before him and shook his head. "It was my own idea."

"Your Majesty!" Li Guang was momentarily furious.

"Minister Li, please calm down," Zhao Jiu said unhurriedly. "Actually, I ask you all to think about it. Even if I had some doubts while ill and couldn't help but test things a little, once I recovered, why would it have come to this? Why would I truly stir up trouble for no reason?"

"Your Majesty," Minister of Justice Ma Shen stepped forward half a pace, his face dark, and cupped his hands. "I take the liberty of asking, does Your Majesty's meaning of 'test things a little' imply that you admit those rumors actually originated from the palace?"

"Indeed," Zhao Jiu replied boldly. "I was the one who released them!"

"May I ask why Your Majesty would do something so absurd?!" Ma Shen's anger was clearly even greater than Li Guang's.

He couldn't help it; these days had been harder for him than for anyone else... everyone had been using attacks on him as a way to show loyalty to the Emperor.

"Because I was truly gravely ill at the end of the tenth month," Zhao Jiu confessed frankly. "At that time, a whole day would pass in the blink of an eye. I was truly afraid that I might, in a dream, go to meet the Dao Ancestor and never wake up. Then, after six or seven years of hard work, having finally created this situation, who knows if some Retired Emperor, or worthy prince, or worthy empress might pop up and change everything, just like the Yuanyou Restoration after Emperor Shenzong?"

"Yuanyou..." Ma Shen started to speak but stopped.

"The Yuanyou Restoration was just factional strife," Zhao Jiu interrupted him, casually flipping through the memorials before him. "But the situation today concerns the unification of the nation. How could I allow the death of a ruler to mean the end of his policies at a time like this? Therefore, at the end of the tenth month and the beginning of last month, I had already made up my mind. If anyone dared to collude without authorization... hmph... if the Two Sages dared to harbor thoughts of contending for the throne, then I would truly dare to do a 'Candle Shadow and Axe Sound' deed. And if the three Empress Dowagers or two Imperial Consorts were implicated, then I would truly dare to emulate Emperor Wu of Han, who killed the mother to establish the son. And if some worthy prince or powerful eunuch dared to show their face, I wouldn't bother looking for historical precedents; I'd just bury them directly... In the end, I will never allow the state to be content with partial peace! I won't allow even the slightest inclination towards it! While I live, I will drag and pull this state to resist the Jin and to launch the Northern Expedition. If I die, I will take as many troublemakers with me as I can!"

The Zhao Emperor's tone was not harsh, even somewhat casual, but as he calmly narrated these fierce, wolf-like words, Ma Shen and Li Guang's jaws gradually clenched, and the faces of the high ministers present today became completely serious.

They truly didn't know how to respond.

But someone still had to speak... not speaking wouldn't do; not speaking would be unfilial and disloyal, wouldn't it?

"Your Majesty, please be careful with your words."

After Zhao Ding, Zhang Jun, and several other high ministers, including the two of them, repeatedly tried to speak but couldn't bring themselves to, the retired Lu Haowen sighed, stepped forward, and responded slightly.

"What is there to be careful about?"

The Zhao sovereign, clutching the memorial in his hands among those seated, did not raise his head, but only lifted his eyes to look at Lu Haowen before him, then shifted his gaze away from Lu Haowen, swept it one by one over the other high ministers of the court, and only then continued speaking.

"When all is said and done, the Jingkang Incident was not merely the loss of a single city plus the northern hunt of the Two Sages; it was the loss of millions of li of land across the Two Rivers, the calamity of millions of lives lost in the North and the Central Plains, and even more so, the great upheaval of the actual destruction of the Old Song and the establishment of the New Song... Compared to this, what is state dignity, what is fatherly kindness and filial piety, what are ritual and institutional systems? They aren't even worth a fart... Do you ministers not understand this principle?"

No one made a sound.

"You all know." Zhao Jiu withdrew his gaze, lowered his head to look at the memorial in his hands, and gave a wry smile. "You are all clever people, the most elite among the scholar-officials under heaven—how could you not know? Those Daoist scholars in the south also know; they too are elites among the scholar-officials. The local clerical and secular magnates know it too; even the Goryeo people know it... But some people just like to pretend they don't know, as if by lowering their heads and not thinking about those unspeakable matters, not doing those arduous tasks, they can muddle through and survive. In such a situation, once there is some 'Abyssal Sage Emperor' or 'Compassionate and Benevolent Empress Dowager,' even you few, who today are willing to grind alongside Us, will gradually be worn down in days to come, won't you?"

Someone else could no longer bear to listen, and it turned out to be Zhang Jun, Zhang Deyuan: "Your Majesty! Your Majesty's probing this time has already yielded results. There are not too many who plug their ears to steal bells. On the whole, it can still be said that there is unity of purpose from top to bottom, and all follow Your Majesty in heading north."

Zhao Jiu shook his head and smiled again:

"Deyuan over-thinks it. We are truly not satirizing or lecturing anyone, but speaking from the heart... There's no helping it. Human hearts seek ease; scholar-officials want to drift along; officials want to be dull and sluggish; the powerful, the wealthy, and the landowners care only for their own gains and losses. It's only because, under this system of ruler and minister, We are still here, that there is unity from top to bottom and consistency in speech. But if there were no Son of Heaven capable of making a firm decision, even if there were some loyal ministers and good generals, they would be ground down by the overall situation... Thinking of it this way, when it comes to crossing the river to campaign north, recovering the Two Rivers, and annihilating the Jurchens—if not Us, then who? So, Our illness is indeed gradually getting better."

Lu Haowen had no choice but to cup his hands and step forward: "Your servant congratulates Your Majesty on your recovery."

The remaining high ministers, pinching their noses, also stepped forward one after another, cupping their hands in congratulations.

"Many thanks to you all." Zhao Jiu put down the memorial and smiled easily. "Idle talk is done. Let's discuss the real business. This time, Our attempt to lure the snake out of its hole has undoubtedly failed. Or rather, you all in Dongjingcheng have come to understand Us somewhat, and are not so easy to fool... However, there are still a few slightly interesting things happening elsewhere. Did you know that in the medicine box the Grand Empress Dowager Yuanyou sent yesterday, she also included the personal self-defense letters of the two Retired Emperors?"

The faces of those in the hall changed drastically, and Ma Shen, disregarding everything, quickly cupped his hands and spoke hastily: "Your Majesty! The Grand Empress Dowager Yuanyou is far away in Yangzhou and does not know the situation here in the capital. She may not even understand the principles between the Two Sages and Your Majesty. When the Two Sages appealed to her, she found it hard to refuse. There is no possibility of collusion between them."

"Yes, We think so too," Zhao Jiu replied casually. "But since that's the case, it would be best to invite the Grand Empress Dowager Yuanyou back to the capital to reside. After all, the Yanfu Palace is large and has some spare rooms... With the three Empresses Dowager together, it will be convenient for Us to fulfill Our filial duties, and they can watch plays and chat to relieve their boredom. It will also save them from finding it hard to refuse next time."

Ma Shen immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

"There is a man named Cao Yong, said to be a fifth-generation descendant of Cao Bin. In his early years, he followed the group that fled with the Grand Empress Dowager Yuanyou to Yangzhou. Now he often runs around between Nanyang, Yangzhou, Hangzhou, and Luoyang. Does any of you know him?" Zhao Jiu asked casually.

Someone did indeed know him.

Chief Councilor Zhao Ding thought for a moment and then blurted out: "Your servant knew this man when he was the Registrar of Kaifeng Prefecture in his early years. He has always been cunning and unscrupulous, relying on his ancestral shadow to loaf about—a common rogue... However, in his early years, he once funded Qin Hui, now the Vice Commissioner of the Jin Jun's Privy Council. Later, when Qin Hui rose slightly in the world, he often boasted about it to others."

"No wonder..." Zhao Jiu sighed. "We cut off Qin Huizhi's path back south, which also cut off his path. Such behavior is only normal."

"Such a petty man, daring to collude with the imperial family and sow discord between father and son, ruler and minister—he should be beheaded!" Ma Shen was especially impatient, and grew even more irritated upon hearing the name of his former superior, Qin Hui... How could he not know that it was this man who had been running back and forth, delivering documents between the Two Sages and the Grand Empress Dowager Yuanyou?

"What about Wang Ciweng?" Zhao Jiu brought up another name.

At this, the hall suddenly became solemn, and then many of the high ministers exchanged glances.

After a moment, Imperial Censor-in-Chief Li Guang immediately asked the Zhao sovereign seriously: "Your Majesty, may I ask what this man has done?"

"This man is the one who funded Cao Yong. Whenever Cao Yong traveled between places, it was he who provided the money and sent letters to various places to request smooth passage," Zhao Jiu replied calmly. "We have looked at this man's resume. It seems that from before the Jingkang Incident, he has always opposed increasing taxes in the south?"

"Yes," Li Guang said, his throat feeling dry. "This man is a native of Jinan, long known as a famous scholar. He ranked first in the special examination for officials' sons. In his early years, during the Maritime Alliance, he was appointed as the Magistrate of Daozhou. At that time, because the campaign for Yanyun required the imposition of the 'Exemption from Corvée Tax,' he..."

"He was very resistant, and in Daozhou he did not disturb the people, thereby gaining an even greater reputation," Zhao Jiu interjected, looking at a memorial in his hands. "After the Jingkang Incident, he remained in the southeast to live. When Lu Xianggong (Lu Yihao) took over from Li Gang to lead the southeast, he recruited him for service. When he saw Lu Xianggong increasing taxes in the southeast, he left directly in a huff. Later, when Yue Pengju went south to suppress the rebellion, he was running around between Jiangxi and the Two Lakes, accusing Yue Pengju of disturbing the people by stationing troops... Minister Ma was the Grand Coordinator of Jinghu North Circuit at the time; you should know about this, right?"

"For Your Majesty's information, Wang Ciweng was also deeply concerned for the people, and his intentions were good..." Ma Shen also found it difficult to speak.

"Yes," Zhao Jiu said expressionlessly, sighing as he looked up. "Such a man, deeply concerned for the people with good intentions, would naturally hate Us, a sovereign who extorts excessive taxes and squeezes every last drop of blood to raise funds for war, to the bone. He would then long for the reappearance of the Compassionate and Benevolent Empress Dowager, to give the people a respite... What did We say when We first came in?"

"Your Majesty."

Ma Shen remained silent, while Li Guang struggled to respond: "This man is, after all, well-intentioned and has integrity..."

"How is this any different from Du Chong?!" At that moment, Minister of Personnel Chen Gongfu suddenly roared, startling Li Guang into a shiver and causing the other high ministers in the hall to look at him in surprise. "Good intentions! Good intentions! Can one do such things under the banner of good intentions? The great state policy was decided long ago, and has not changed in six or seven years—it is to wage war, to campaign north! Previously, we were all enduring for the sake of the nation, with the entire court and the entire country exhausting their efforts to increase revenue and reduce expenditure for the Northern Expedition. If he disagreed, he should have stopped at words and abided by the way of a minister! Now that he has actually done such a thing, how can we keep him?! Minister Ma, just now you said Cao Yong dared to collude with the imperial family and sow discord between father and son, ruler and minister. Now that we have the mastermind behind it, does your Ministry of Justice have nothing to say?!"

Ma Shen's face was pale. He tried to speak several times but choked on his words. Finally, under the gaze of everyone, he forced himself to respond: "This man is involved with the imperial family; naturally, it is for Your Majesty to decide."

"Your Majesty, is it only Wang Ciweng who is like this?" Chen Gongfu turned back to the Zhao sovereign under Li Guang's complex gaze.

"How could it be just one person?" Zhao Jiu sneered. "Those who style themselves as Daoist scholars, advocate giving the people a respite, and fear no power or influence—whose inner intention is to advocate for peace—are plentiful in the southeast. It's just that Wang Ciweng was bolder, to the point where Cao Yong could directly confirm that it was this man who gave the money. And Wang Ciweng has always had a wide circle of friends. We can't very well deal with all his ilk. The only other person who can be confirmed to have met Cao Yong together with Wang Ciweng is Fan Tong."

"This man was a fellow student and roommate of Qin Huizhi at the Imperial Academy, and has always been dissatisfied with the heavy military presence of the Imperial Camp Army," Ma Shen blurted out, then closed his eyes and sighed. "Please, Your Majesty, handle it as you see fit. Your servants have nothing more to say."

"We won't kill him..." Zhao Jiu's gaze swept over Chen Gongfu, Ma Shen, and Li Guang, then looked at the other Councilors and Ministers who remained silent, and couldn't help but smile wryly from his seat. "Killing Du Chong is still remembered by people, to the point where someone is always shouting that We killed a civil official, and the state is no longer a state. Besides, this man only meddled in the imperial family's private affairs; there is no clear violation of legal statutes. How about this: Wang Ciweng is to be exiled to Zhuyajun (Hainan), and Fan Tong to Xining (Prefecture, Qinghai Lake), so that the two of them can never meet again in this life... Cao Yong, and a eunuch named Chen Yongxi from the Grand Empress Dowager Yuanyou's side, are to be executed together... No one else will be implicated. What do you all think?"

"Your Majesty is magnanimous," Lu Haowen quickly interjected at the right moment.

Seeing this, the remaining Councilors also expressed their agreement one after another, and Li Guang and Ma Shen also muddled through, blending in with the crowd.

"The Grand Master of the Imperial Clan needs to be comforted. Let his eldest son, Zhao Fanzuo, enter the Imperial Camp Army to do some real work..." Zhao Jiu thought for a moment and then continued. "The Ministry of War should arrange it appropriately."

"Your servant receives the decree."

Liu Ziyu spoke for the first time... On such an occasion, even a Minister rarely had a chance to speak.

"We have noticed that this month's national bonds sold particularly quickly. We plan to issue a slightly larger amount of the year-end large-sum bonds," Zhao Jiu said, glancing again at the Minister of Revenue, Lin Jingmo, who stood beside Liu Ziyu. His expression was somewhat strange, but what he said was expected. "Minister Lin, please prepare."

Now, with the Zhao sovereign's fishing expedition having failed, but with him remaining silent all along—perhaps fearing a purge—the bond market in the twelfth month was exceptionally hot... After all, bonds were exempt from confiscation. So it was foreseeable that the upcoming year-end large-sum bond market would also be quite hot.

Given the Zhao sovereign's temperament, if he didn't take this opportunity to sell another wave of Northern Expedition bonds, it wouldn't be him.

To this, Lin Jingmo, though he noticed the sovereign's gaze, could only respond calmly.

After this exchange, the hall fell silent again... As a small hall attached to the Zhao sovereign's bedchamber, it was clearly heated with a hypocaust. The men standing inside felt stifled and restless, yet still no one spoke.

After all, everyone knew that some things had not yet been brought up, and those things could only be initiated by the Zhao sovereign himself.

In fact, aside from Lu Haowen, the several Councilors had not been very active precisely because they were waiting for those topics.

"We have thought about the matter of the Crown Prince for a long time," Zhao Jiu finally sighed. "Only after having a son did We understand the difficulty of being a father... Wanting him to be brilliant and mighty, yet also wanting him to be dull and simple... But this is not something We can decide. What worries Us is that if We establish a Crown Prince and give him the officials of the Eastern Palace, as time goes on, it will be hard to avoid trouble between father and son... Not to mention Han Gaozu, Han Wudi, Tang Gaozu, or Wu Zetian, but in the past few years, wasn't there an irreconcilable conflict between the Retired Emperor of the Supreme Way and the Retired Abyssal Sage Emperor? Especially since We can barely be considered a half-horseback emperor; who knows what greater calamity might arise."

When this speech began, many of the high ministers from outside the court, starting with Zhao Ding, immediately went back to reviewing the speeches they had prepared. But after a few sentences, these high ministers became helpless again.

Simply put, this sovereign just liked to casually say things that gave people headaches... When he was sick, he feared the Two Sages would seize the throne, so he fished for lawbreakers, forcing everyone to shout about establishing a Crown Prince. Now that he was well and thought the Two Sages were nothing, he didn't want to establish a Crown Prince. Why did he have to drag in the matter of father and son harming each other every time he talked about anything?

"But if We don't establish one, and something happens to Us, as We said at the beginning, how can We ensure that the great cause of the Northern Expedition does not come to nothing?" Zhao Jiu seemed not to notice the helpless expressions of the crowd and continued to lament. "It's nothing more than needing a definite, convincing heir, so that you, who are willing to carry on Our will, can protect him in the Northern Expedition... Am I right?"

Since he was already well, there was no need to talk about 'carrying on the will' or 'something happening'... Even Minister Lin was too lazy to analyze the sovereign's intentions behind this; it was unnecessary.

"That's right." Zhao Jiu indeed did not intend to let these people respond. "We have thought of a method... called the Secret Establishment of the Heir... That is, We will write two identical testamentary edicts. One will be placed high on the beam of the main hall of the Wende Hall for all to see, and the other will be carried by Yang Yizhong on Our behalf. In this way, no matter where We die, you can compare them and establish the new sovereign."

The crowd was stunned for a moment, then immediately began to think seriously.

Immediately, Zhao Ding asked solemnly: "Your Majesty's idea seems to come from the *Old Book of Tang*. The Persians have long had such a system... But Your Majesty, what if the two edicts are different?"

"If they are truly different, then of course the one in the Wende Hall shall prevail," Zhao Jiu, of course, knew nothing about the *Old Book of Tang*; he was copying it from 'Our Great Qing,' and as for who 'Our Great Qing' learned it from, that was none of his concern. "However, We will not create two hidden heirs of equal standing. We will certainly let everyone have a general idea, at least an unspoken understanding..."

Having said this, Zhao Jiu turned his head to look at Yang Yizhong, who was standing by the side door. The latter, holding two boxes, understood and immediately stepped forward, first carrying the two boxes before the Duke of the Realm, Lu Haowen.

Lu Haowen, clearly caught off guard, glanced at the Zhao sovereign, carefully opened the top box, and then solemnly took out the bright yellow silk inside. Immediately after, Yang Yizhong carried the second box before Chief Councilor Zhao Ding of the Capital Secretariat. Zhao Ding did not dare to be negligent and immediately followed suit, taking out the second piece of silk.

"It is Our eldest son, Zhao Yuanzuo."

Just as the remaining Councilors and high ministers were looking solemn and carefully watching the two pieces of yellow silk, Zhao Jiu gave them no chance to create a solemn ritual atmosphere, directly revealing the answer. "Under the current circumstances, there is no reason to bypass the eldest and give it to the second. Of course, if there is a different opinion later and the secret edict needs to be changed, We will naturally tell you then."

After carefully handing the silk in his hand to the Councilor of the Privy Council, Zhang Jun, who stood beside him, Chief Councilor Zhao Ding thought for a moment and then spoke seriously again: "Your servant believes that the meaning of Your Majesty's action is actually not to establish an Eastern Palace? Rather than not establishing a Crown Prince?"

"Lord Zhao hit the mark." Zhao Jiu admitted frankly.

"If that's the case, the advantages and disadvantages are both clear." Zhao Ding replied seriously. "The advantage is that without an Eastern Palace establishment, there can be less suspicion between father and son, ruler and subject. But the disadvantage is that without a title or subordinate officials, the Crown Prince cannot easily train in the art of governance..."

This time, it was Zhao Jiu's turn to fall silent.

After a long while, the Emperor finally managed a strained smile: "If I said that this has been the real reason I've been feigning illness all this time, you'd probably think I was talking nonsense again. But it's the truth... Gentlemen, what do you think of how the Chief Councilor-Secretariat-Public Council system has been running while I've kept out of affairs? Isn't it working pretty well without me?"

The ministers in the hall, from Lu Haowen down to the few inner court officials who had no right to speak at that moment, almost all shuddered in unison, then raised their heads to look at the Zhao Emperor sitting there.

"I have no earth-shattering intentions," Zhao Jiu continued with a smile. "Nor any desire for instant success. It's just that I've been thinking about the succession these past days, and both my sons are still mere children. As a father, if my sons or grandsons turn out capable, it would be fine to have a Song Emperor Wen, Jing, or Wu. But what if the child grows up to be like the Retired Emperor of the Way? Wouldn't that produce a Song Emperor Yang? And these days, lying alone in the rear palace while rumors swirl outside—there's clearly been a political storm brewing. Yet you gentlemen, leading the Secretariat as Chief Councilors, have kept the court running smoothly despite some ripples. I couldn't help but harbor a bit of patience... and then I thought: if the Chief Councilors and Secretariat had even more power, and the Public Council were given more authority to oversee the Secretariat, at least we could turn a Song Emperor Yang into a Song Emperor Ling... isn't that right?"

Lu Haowen stood dumbfounded and silent. Zhao Ding and the others, including Li Guang and Ma Shen, all found their mouths dry.

"Take it slowly!" Zhao Jiu continued with a smile. "It would be fine to truly achieve effortless governance one day. But what if my sons and grandsons aren't willing? We can only gradually cultivate traditions... Even while I'm alive, if you lot fill the Secretariat with nothing but Dao Learning pedants, I'll just have to disband it outright. Only when both inside and outside the Secretariat advocate Original Learning and are willing to launch the Northern Expedition will I gladly play the role of a hands-off master, so I don't exhaust myself into illness again... As for the secret establishment of the heir, it actually echoes this mindset."

The senior ministers below, except for Ma Shen, who came from a Dao Learning background, all showed a somewhat spirited demeanor... Compared to this, the Emperor's earlier feigned illness and his frivolous reform of the Crown Prince's position now seemed forgivable.

It seemed they had been successfully placated by the Zhao Emperor.

On the other side, after finishing this matter, the Zhao Emperor ordered Yang Yizhong to put away one secret edict, then had Lu Haowen lead the way to personally watch as another secret edict was stored in the Wende Hall.

Just as everyone was about to turn and take their leave, the Emperor, who had already risen, suddenly turned back to address them:

"Gentlemen, since I've already moved the Yuanyou Empress Dowager here, should I treat everyone equally and invite the two Retired Emperors to reside here as well?"

The ministers were helpless. Seeing that even Hu Yin, who had remained silent all along, was growing angry, the Zhao Emperor finally gave a sardonic laugh, shook his head, and turned away.

Once outside the hall, the ministers naturally followed Yang Yizhong to the Wende Hall to perform this highly ceremonial act of hanging the edict. This time, there was no Emperor to spoil the mood, and it was truly a satisfying achievement.

The matter was completely settled, and the ministers dispersed, each harboring their own thoughts.

However, just outside the Wende Hall, Yang Yizhong suddenly called out to one of them:

"Minister Lin!"

Lin Jing turned his head in surprise.

"May I ask if you have any relatives registered in Xinghua Army, Fujian?" Yang Yizhong asked a question that made the other ministers lose all interest.

"Yes." Lin Jing paused for a moment, clearly recalling the Emperor's strange look earlier. Only after the other ministers tactfully walked away did he reply seriously. "My Lin clan is widespread, and Fujian has little land, so the branches have spread far. In Xinghua Army, there is a full cousin of mine, sharing the same grandfather, who is registered there."

"Then may I ask, Minister Lin, before the Jingkang Incident, when this cousin of yours was an official in the Eastern Capital, he bought a maidservant. That maidservant was pregnant, but the principal wife was extremely jealous, so she was forced to leave her original master and married your cousin while still carrying the child... Does Minister Lin know of this matter?"

Yang Yizhong's questions grew increasingly absurd.

"I truly do not know the details of such a matter." Lin Jing was silent for a long time before replying. "But such things were common before the major revision of the penal code two years ago, and even more so before the Jingkang Incident... Commander Yang, this concerns the private affairs of my cousin's household. I do not wish to answer further. If the Emperor ordered you to ask this, please speak plainly."

"That child is called Lin Yifei, nearly an adult now. He was discovered by accident during this investigation of Cao Yong..." Yang Yizhong also became cautious; he had to respect Lin Jing. "The Emperor clearly does not wish to implicate the innocent. It was I who took the liberty of seeking out Minister Lin... But please rest assured, Minister Lin. I only hope you can verify the origins of the mother and son. It will not affect them, because if it's true, a single message sent north might be enough to move a thousand pounds with four ounces, affecting the overall situation... That jealous woman was without issue."

Lin Jing was extremely sharp-witted. He realized the truth almost as soon as he finished hearing these words, but then he looked up and sighed: "Yifei's scholarship is not refined. Since I returned to the capital, he has served as a steward in my household in the capacity of a nephew... I certainly knew there was something to his background, but how could I have dared to imagine he was the only bloodline of an enemy state's chief councilor?"

Yang Yizhong remained silent.

Lin Jing turned to leave, shaking his head, but then stopped of his own accord and looked back: "Commander Yang, tell me—if that man had known earlier that his only bloodline was safe here, would he still have so calmly become a Song traitor that day?"

Yang Yizhong finally spoke calmly: "The Emperor had a casual remark about this matter. He said that some paths are like carrying a heavy load downhill—once you start, you can only rush all the way to the bottom... Just as some paths are like carrying a heavy load uphill—after traveling ninety-nine steps, that single last step can undo all your previous effort."

Lin Jing nodded and turned away.

PS: Thanks to Xiahou Ningyuan for the third alliance, thanks to Liuli Qin for the twenty-seventh alliance... '...' thanks to Pige Malimaweng for the alliance, this is also the 155th alliance leader of this book.