Chapter 24: Seizing the Initiative

Zhao Ti, hearing this, folded his sleeves: “Come with me and see.”

He was not familiar with the Prince of Jiyin; he had only established his own mansion a year ago, and the other was not a close member of the imperial clan.

The Prince of Jiyin, Zhao Zongjing, was the son of Prince Xiang, Zhao Yunbi, and a cousin of Emperor Yingzong.

His official rank was substantial; apart from his princely title, he was Minister of the Imperial Clan, granted the same status as a Grand Coordinator, and Acting Minister of Works.

But his reputation within the imperial clan was poor: besides sending spies into every household to extort money, he committed many other bizarre acts.

In Yuanfeng Fourth Year, he took a concubine he favored and began sneering at his lawful wife, the Princess of Jiyin, who was nearly fifty and no longer possessed any youthful beauty; soon after, whether from anger or some other cause, she died unexpectedly.

After burying the Princess of Jiyin, Zhao Zongjing wanted to elevate the concubine to principal wife, but imperial clan law forbade it: since the lawful wife was already the Princess of Jiyin, she could not be replaced so easily—imperial court approval and a special title were required, and a concubine who entered through the side gate with no status or merit would never be granted such a title.

So he devised a scheme: first, he secretly placed the concubine outside, falsely presenting her as a virtuous commoner woman, then married her with the full rites of three messengers and six proposals, thereby making her his lawful wife—thus evading clan regulations and avoiding imperial scrutiny.

He carried it out, re-wedding the concubine as his principal wife, but nothing stays hidden forever—the Censorate learned of it. Since Zhao Zongjing was Minister of the Imperial Clan, leading such illegal acts was utterly unacceptable, so they submitted a memorial to impeach him.

Emperor Shenzong found the matter indefensible and removed him from his posts as Grand Coordinator and Minister of the Imperial Clan; the concubine remained a concubine. But after Zhao Xu ascended the throne and changed the era name to Yuanyou, for reasons unknown, he restored all of Zhao Zongjing’s former offices.

Zhao Ti arrived at the mansion’s main hall and entered to find an elderly man in purple official robes, stout and heavy, reclining on a chair, stroking a teacup, glancing around.

His residence was plain; after being granted the estate, he had made no renovations or decorations, and many of the furnishings were old.

The old man glanced around with surprise, then slowly rose as Zhao Ti entered: “Prince Yan is always so busy.”

Zhao Ti had seen Zhao Zongjing several times during Emperor Shenzong’s funeral and other grand ceremonies, but had never spoken to him; now he gave a faint smirk: “What brings the Prince of Jiyin here?”

Their bloodlines were distant, and both knew the other’s intent—there was no need to pretend kinship; within the Imperial Clan Ministry, one was not permitted to speak of kinship with the Minister.

“Prince Yan, what are you saying?” Zhao Zongjing chuckled. “I am not here to visit relatives—I come as Minister of the Imperial Clan to inquire about matters concerning you.”

Zhao Ti nodded: “What matter?”

Zhao Zongjing did not answer immediately; he walked half a circle through the hall, then gazed at the walls: “Prince Yan lives so plainly?”

“The Minister might as well say my home is old and dilapidated,” Zhao Ti replied coolly. “I have no money. My annual salary plus miscellaneous allowances barely amounts to a few thousand strings—today’s exchange rate yields only two or three thousand taels of silver, not enough to buy even a few Hequ horses.”

Although silver was not directly circulated in Song markets, it was frequently used for payments at border markets, horse trades, and military salaries.

The Song markets had gold and silver exchange shops, and the Ministry of Finance’s Bureau of Monopoly also handled such transactions.

“Prince Yan, you’re pretending poverty,” Zhao Zongjing snorted. “Which prince doesn’t have ways to make money? I know you’ve received many fine items from Prince Duan—sell even one, and you’d earn more than several years’ salary!”

Zhao Ti paused thoughtfully: “Is that why the Minister came? Signed documents with seals and fingerprints—how can you slander them?”

“No, not at all,” Zhao Zongjing waved his hand. “Prince Duan accuses you of breaking into his mansion, scattering his guests, and threatening and intimidating him.”

Zhao Ti said: “That’s nonsense. Prince Duan is spreading lies.”

Zhao Zongjing replied: “But Prince Duan has many witnesses.”

Zhao Ti sneered: “I have many witnesses too, proving it never happened—it was merely me going to collect medicine fees.”

Zhao Zongjing’s expression darkened: “Prince Yan refuses to admit it?”

Zhao Ti showed annoyance: “If it never happened, why admit it? Let’s confront each other in court—Prince Duan provoked me first, attacked me at my gate, acted recklessly and insolently—those acts can be counted too.”

Zhao Zongjing’s face twitched, forcing a smile: “No need for a court confrontation. Both of you are noble princes; this is a minor clan matter, not involving outsiders—why go to court?”

Zhao Ti said nothing, sat on a nearby chair, and frowned.

“But…” Zhao Zongjing continued, “even if the threats are disputed, Prince Yan did indeed break into Prince Duan’s mansion, didn’t he? Prince Duan never entered yours.”

Zhao Ti lifted his eyelids: “So what?”

“It still violates the law. Since you’re both imperial clan, the punishment is light; if it were a commoner, the penalty would be severe.”

“Then what punishment?” Zhao Ti mocked. “A brother visiting his younger brother’s home—what could it possibly be?”

“Heh, Prince Yan…” Zhao Zongjing shook his head. “I said, since you’re both clan, the punishment is light—fine, house arrest, or… simply a warning, no penalty at all.”

“Oh?” Zhao Ti narrowed his eyes. “No penalty?”

Zhao Zongjing had come here in person—clearly to demand money. Since punishment could be a fine, house arrest, or waived, the authority to decide rested with him—he wanted Zhao Ti to pay to avoid trouble, and he’d planned it perfectly.

“I have no money for a fine,” Zhao Ti shook his head. “Then waive the penalty.”

Zhao Zongjing blinked, then cleared his throat: “Prince Yan, if you can’t pay a fine, then waiving the penalty is even less possible…”

Zhao Ti said: “How so?”

Zhao Zongjing said: “The fine is substantial, but waiving the penalty requires far less…”

Zhao Ti blinked: “Minister, I am poor—unlike other princes with their income streams. I’m drowning in debt, with not a single coin left.”

Zhao Zongjing’s face darkened: “Prince Yan, why pretend? Those dozen or so items from Prince Duan are assets.”

Zhao Ti sighed: “I sold them all to pay debts. If you don’t believe me, go check yourself.”

Zhao Zongjing’s smile vanished; his expression turned cold: “Since Prince Yan speaks this way, don’t blame me for disregarding clan ties when I pass judgment.”

“No fine? Then if you want something, send men to take it.”

“No need. Since Prince Yan is obstinate, the judgment shall be house arrest.”

“House arrest…” Zhao Ti picked up a folding fan and waved it. “Three or five days I can endure; ten days or half a month I can bear. What else?”

“You, Prince Yan, are utterly arrogant!” Zhao Zongjing roared. “By law, house arrest is three months. Since you show no remorse, make it six!”

Zhao Ti glanced at him: “Six months?”

“Six months!”

Zhao Ti murmured to himself: “I’ll take several concubines, feast and revel daily—six months will pass in the blink of an eye…”

“Then a year!” Zhao Zongjing’s face flushed, thoroughly enraged.

“A year?” Zhao Ti’s face changed instantly: “That long? How many years does a man have? Minister…”

Seeing Zhao Ti’s expression, Zhao Zongjing felt triumphant: “Prince Yan, I sentence you to one year of house arrest within your mansion—no leaving. If you step outside, I will personally impeach you before the throne and punish you under clan law. Await the official judgment from the Imperial Clan Ministry!” With that, he turned and walked out.

Watching Zhao Zongjing depart, Zhao Ti’s lips curled upward—this was exactly the outcome he wanted.

From the moment he set foot in Prince Duan’s mansion, he had already planned this.

Song law forbade imperial clan members from leaving the capital without permission; during Emperor Shenzong’s Yuanfeng reforms, this was relaxed for distant relatives, allowing them to reside in Luoyang or other western capitals, but close relatives still could not leave the capital region.

He intended to travel to Dali’s Wuliang Mountain—he had to sneak out, but imperial ceremonies and grand annual assemblies required his presence; he could not vanish entirely. Only house arrest would let him avoid them—yet one year was more than enough.

Moments later, Bai Zhan entered, holding a sealed carp-shaped letter: “Your Majesty, a message from the tower.”

Zhao Ti took it, unsealed it, glanced once, and said: “Tell Shang Qi to eliminate the Tiger Gang and the Green Robe Society tonight—I’ll go myself.”

Bai Zhan nodded and left.

Zhao Ti pondered for a few breaths, then rose and stepped outside. The sky had darkened, thick clouds gathering, as if rain was coming.

After wiping out these two gangs, eighty percent of Dongjing’s underworld territory now belonged to the Golden Wind, Fine Rain Tower—he could now travel to Dali’s Wuliang Mountain with peace of mind.