Chapter 1: Noble Scion of the Imperial Line

The scorching sun hung high in the sky over the martial arts ground.

With a sharp "Clang!", the goose-feather blade was knocked away by the red-tasseled spear, falling into the green grass.

Suddenly, a flash of cold light appeared; a blue-steel sword, radiating chilling air, slashed diagonally toward the burly man holding the spear.

The spear in the burly man's palm moved like a snake hiding in grass; the red tassel exploded, and in an instant, he flicked out three flower-like shadows. Before the move could be fully completed, the blue-steel sword, trailing a streak of light, was clumsily knocked far away.

"I yield!" The burly man brought the spear to his chest, calm and composed, and said with clasped fists.

Two people standing opposite looked at their empty hands and wore expressions uglier than crying: "Master Zhou, your skill is impressive! We admire you, we admire you!"

"These are mere trifles; you two overpraise me." Although the burly man wore common clothes and straw sandals, he was full of spirit, his qi and blood flourishing, exuding a formidable aura.

"Excellent!" Under a large tree nearby, a young man rose from a folding chair, his voice clear and resonant: "Master Zhou's spear technique is exquisite and unparalleled, unpredictable as gods or ghosts, truly rare in the world."

The burly man quickly turned, clasped his hands to bow, and said: "Your Highness the Prince of Yan flatters me. A commoner like me dares not accept such praise; I have only learned a few crude moves, hardly worthy of Your Highness's grand acclaim."

The speaking youth wore a white jade crown set with treasures, with a golden silk ribbon fluttering lightly. He wore a silver cloak, a dragon-shaped jade pendant hanging at his waist. Born with red lips and white teeth, he was extremely handsome. A smile played on the corner of his mouth: "Why must Master Zhou be so modest? The title of the Great Hero of Shaanxi, Iron Arm, is known throughout the world; how could what he knows be mere crude skills!"

The burly man's surname was Zhou, given name Tong, courtesy name Guangzu; "Iron Arm" was his nickname. Hearing this, his face flushed red, and he bowed again, saying: "Your Highness, though Tong has a slight reputation, if we truly speak of Wu Gong... in the Imperial Palace and court of the Eastern Capital, there are countless who surpass a commoner like me."

"Imperial Palace and court?" The youth withdrew his gaze, revealing a thoughtful expression, and stood with his hands behind his back, murmuring softly.

"Your Highness, yes, the Imperial Palace and court." Zhou Dong answered cautiously. The Prince of Yan before him was the eighth son of Emperor Shenzong, the younger brother of the current sovereign, named Zhao Ti.

Some time ago, the other party had specially sent someone to Huashan to find him, observing all proper etiquette to invite him to the Eastern Capital. After entering the Wang Fu, there was nothing else to do; every day was spent in martial arts sparring, leaving him deeply puzzled and confused.

"Your Highness, the region around the capital hides tigers and dragons. Within the Forbidden Inner Palace, capable and extraordinary people emerge. Although a commoner like me is skilled in spear and staff, compared to them, I can only sigh in self-deprecation."

"Does Master Zhou mean there are masters within the palace? This Prince knows nothing of it; speak and let me hear." Zhao Ti narrowed his phoenix eyes slightly.

Zhou Dong said: "Your Highness, in the past, the Eunuch Li Xian, who assisted Prime Minister Wang Grand Coordinator in recovering the Hehuang region, and later Wang Zhongzheng who led armies in one direction, and Fang Xiankan, were all martial arts experts famous throughout the world!"

"Li Xian... is the adoptive father of Tong Guan, the commander of the five routes attacking Xia during the late Emperor's reign, Li Xian?" Zhao Ti looked thoughtful.

"Your Highness, a commoner does not know Tong Guan, but I know Li Xian. It was indeed during the late Emperor Shenzong's time that the Eunuch Li Xianggong led the five routes of the great army to punish the treacherous Xia."

Zhao Ti nodded. The eunuch Li Xian, due to his outstanding talents, was heavily utilized by Emperor Shenzong. Since the reign of Emperor Taizong, it had been a habit for eunuchs to be dispatched on missions; during Shenzong's time, the most trusted eunuch was Li Xian.

The five-route attack on Xia was the largest military campaign following Emperor Taizong's Yongxi Northern Expedition. Li Xian not only participated but was appointed commander of the five routes, holding the heavy power to coordinate all routes, showing his level of favor was extraordinary.

"Li Xian left the palace early; I do not know what skills he possessed. Does Master Zhou perhaps know?" Zhao Ti looked upward. A bird floating its wings against the wind in the sky, as if woven from clouds, landed lightly on the top of a green tree.

"Eunuch Li Dahuan's Wu Gong is unfathomable. In the past, he not only shook the north of the He and Su regions, but the western provinces also never suffered a defeat. However, as he was in the court, he was merely passing through the Jianghu. Yet, with just a fleeting glance, he left behind an immortal, glorious reputation."

"Oh?" Zhao Ti raised his eyebrows: "Li Xian is actually this powerful? I do not understand his private methods; where did he learn such skills?"

"Your Highness, is it not learned within the palace?" Zhou Dong was stunned by these words, revealing a look of confusion.

"The palace?" Zhao Ti slowly shook his head: "What powerful martial arts are there in the palace? Mostly ordinary external spear, staff, fist, and foot techniques. No internal skill is seen; some guards enter the palace with their own skills, not taught by the Forbidden Inner Palace."

"Your Highness, this..." Zhou Dong frowned, wanting to speak but stopping himself.

"This Prince loves martial arts. This time I invited Master Zhou to stay long within the Wang Fu, to spar daily every day. Speak freely without hesitation!" A clear breeze blew, moving the hem of Zhao Ti's robe, looking like piled snow.

Zhou Dong said cautiously: "Jianghu legends say that when Emperor Taizong was in his private residence, he was ordered to campaign south. On the way, he encountered Jianghu sects and green forest families, sweeping them away by hand, collecting many martial arts secret manuals. Initially stored in the Jin Wang Fu, after ascending the great throne, they were all brought into the Forbidden Inner Palace."

"Hmm, truly?" Zhao Ti was stunned. He had grown up in the palace for over ten years and had never heard of this matter. Even though he had learned martial arts in various ways since childhood and inquired about all kinds of martial arts skills, he did not know this either.

"A commoner has indeed heard... I dare not fabricate or speak recklessly." Zhou Dong spoke after careful consideration.

Zhao Ti fell silent for a few breaths, expressionless, turned around, and slowly walked out of the martial arts ground. Only after walking more than ten zhang did he say: "Master Zhou, rest first. This afternoon, accompany this Prince to drink tea at the Great Xiangguo Temple."

"Yes, Your Highness." Zhou Dong looked at the other's back. For some reason, although he was merely a fifteen or sixteen-year-old youth, seeing his clothes white as clouds and sleeves like flying snow, there was an indescribable feeling of desolate loneliness.

Zhao Ti walked slowly forward, but his mind was pondering Zhou Dong's words.

He was currently sixteen. Last April, he left the palace to establish his own Wang Fu outside, his title promoted from the original Commandery Prince of Dongping to Prince of Yan, living alone since then.

During the previous ten-plus years of palace life, he had almost turned over every book storage place in the Forbidden Inner Palace. Sword and fist manuals did exist, but none were particularly powerful.

Precisely because of this, he had sent someone to invite Zhou Dong. In his memory, this Shaanxi Great Hero, Iron Arm, was a Wu Gong expert of this era; given time, he would be the ceiling of the martial arts world. He needed such a person by his side to assist, after all, he planned to do too many things in the future.

But he did not expect the other party to be so modest, even saying that masters emerge from the palace, and that when Emperor Taizong swept south to clear the Jianghu green forests, he hid many martial arts secret manuals within the palace.

This was information he had not anticipated.

Zhou Dong had no reason to speak nonsense; then it must be that there truly are rumors in the Jianghu. These rumors would not arise without cause; there must be some reason. Since he traveled to this era, everything was under his control. Hearing this news for the first time, a strange and unusual feeling arose in his heart.

He was a transmigrator. Originally, the eighth son of Emperor Shenzong fell seriously ill in childhood and was fated to die young, but he happened to travel here at that moment.

Because of the former owner's interest, he was very familiar with Song Dynasty history, but this also made him somewhat annoyed.

As for the Song, the current period is not a good one, and the future trend is worrying.

In less than a year, Empress Dowager Gao Taotao will pass away.

In seven years, Emperor Zhezong Zhao Xu will die, and Empress Dowager Xiang will advocate for Prince Duan Zhao Ji to ascend the throne, who is the later Daoist Emperor Song Huizong.

During Huizong's reign, dust rose from all directions, with dozens of rebellions, large and small.

In twenty-seven years, the Liangshan bandits will raise their banners in rebellion.

In twenty-eight years, Fang La and the Mingjiao will rise in Jiang Nan.

In thirty-three years, the Jurchen Jin troops will march south.

In thirty-four years, the Eastern Capital will fall. The two Emperors will be taken north to be hunted and never return. The royal clan, from the various Princes down to the younger sons, will all be taken as prisoners together, with countless dying of injury and death along the way.

It can be said that the future is full of crises, never settling down even until old age. The Song Jiangshan is in extreme danger; even wanting to be a carefree Prince is difficult.

Then one must only plot methods and consider countermeasures.

Emperor Zhezong had no heir; the elder brother dies and the younger brother succeeds. However, he knows history well. At that time, Empress Dowager Xiang, against all opposition, solely supported Zhang Dun, who proposed several candidates and even said the Prince Duan was frivolous and unfit to rule the world, yet none could change Zhao Ji's eventual ascension.

Prince Duan Zhao Ji's mother, Chen Shi, came from the palace maid service of the side palace. She was personally promoted by Empress Dowager Xiang and regarded as a confidante. Empress Dowager Xiang's own son and daughter died in childhood, and she bore no more children. Therefore, after Chen Shi died, she always regarded Zhao Ji as her own child.

Therefore, even though the age is slightly older, with the rule that the legitimate heir takes precedence over the eldest, this path is also not easy to walk.

Legitimacy is easy to discuss, with no controversy. As for seniority, in past and future dynasties, history has proven countless times that it is unreliable!

In that case, should one prepare for the Chenqiao Mutiny, or plot the Candle Shadow and Axe Sound?

Should one first forge a Golden Coffer Alliance? Or, if there is indeed no succession, wait for the Jurchen to march south, escape the Eastern Capital early, kill Zhao Jiu, and gather troops in the name of a close royal Prince?

Zhao Ti felt none of these were easy. The premise of all this is to first grasp immense power, but royal titles are held remotely and granted from afar. Hindered by ancestral rites and laws, it is difficult to enter the court as an official.

The royal clan cannot take the imperial examinations, cannot serve in the army, and is not appointed to court officials, unless the Emperor gives a special decree to open the door. But which Emperor would do such a thing? At the beginning of the Song Dynasty, even positions like the Director of the Zongzheng Temple or the Judge of Temple Affairs, which manage the royal clan, were held by Zhao Pu and his younger brother Zhao Anyi, not by members of the imperial family.

Closely aligning with Empress Dowager was useless; after pondering, he leaned toward the Grand Empress Dowager Gao Taotao. Although his title was granted in absentia, he still needed to advance, assess Gao's status, and act better in the future.

Not every Imperial Prince would be enfeoffed as a Prince of the First Rank. Emperor Shenzong was already gone; their descendants counted only as the Jin Sect, not the direct line of the current Son of Heaven. Many were enfeoffed as Earls, Dukes, or Commandery Princes.

The title of Yan King was a great kingdom title, originally meant for Zhao Yu, the twelfth son of Emperor Shenzong, to advance to in the future. But he had seized it a step ahead, making it the only great kingdom title among the current princes of the Jin Sect.

Although Zhao Ti knew that aligning with Gao Taotao would offend Zhao Xu, even though the little Emperor showed no sign of it now, after Grand Empress Dowager Gao Taotao passed away, the little Emperor would inevitably settle the score. Not only the old faction currently holding power in court, but they had even nearly stripped Gao of her title of Grand Empress Dowager, demoting her to a commoner.

However, he already had a countermeasure for this, so he was not overly worried.

He had been three years old when he transmigrated; now thirteen years had passed. During this time, he learned martial arts to defend himself, strengthen his body, and adapt to changes.

He calculated right and wrong, aiming one day to question the supreme position.

After leaving the palace, he secretly allied with street gangs, planning to sweep clean the markets and streets of Jingcheng, controlling the entire capital region underground. If matters went awry in the future, he might resort to a dangerous move, playing a risky game.

He had thought everything would remain under his control, but who could have expected Zhou Dong to speak such words today? Such events were not recorded in later generations, and they did not conform to common sense. Emperor Taizong had once gathered martial arts from the Jianghu and hidden them in the palace; thinking about it, it was all utterly incredible!

Zhao Ti returned to his study, sat in a chair and pondered for over an hour. Watching the sun pass noon, he finally rose, changed into a simple set of clothes, and walked toward the door.

He had a habit of drinking tea at the Great Xiangguo Temple, not inside the temple, but at the old-established Ding Family Vegetarian Tea House directly opposite the main gate in Jingcheng.

Stepping out, he called out. A youth with bronze skin and sharply defined features appeared from the shadow of the corridor: "Young Master, shall we depart now?"

Zhao Ti nodded: "Summon Master Zhou, Su Da, and Yu Er to come along."

The youth was named Bai Zhan. He, Su Da, and Yu Er were all Zhao Ti's personal attendants. Taking the order, they hurried to send the message.

Moments later, the group left the mansion. They walked the entire way, crossing streets and alleys, heading toward the Dongmen Street.

When they reached the intersection of Dongmen Street and saw the outline of Xiangguo Temple, the road ahead suddenly became congested. Faint sounds of beating and scolding drifted over.

"Young Master, this..." Bai Zhan asked.

"Go see what is happening," Zhao Ti said calmly.

The group moved forward, parting the crowd. They saw an open space where five or six ruffians were kicking and beating an old man and a youth. A bamboo basket lay shattered on the ground, its fruits scattered everywhere. The old man and the youth were desperately using their bodies to protect the fruit.

Several other ruffians held slings, blowguns, and sticky poles, cheering from behind. The ringleader had a knife-like face and triangular eyes, a cunning expression, and held a round kickball, shouting the loudest.

In a moment of excitement, he exerted force to launch the kickball in his hand toward the old man and the youth. Unexpectedly, he threw it too high, and it flew straight toward Zhao Ti and his companions!