I traveled with them to the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 23 The Beginning of the Split
...

When Zhang Chun returned to his residence, Li Lin and her four daughters immediately surrounded him.

Ye Shiyun couldn't wait to ask: "Can we go teach Zhao Ya about that?"

Without waiting for Zhang Chun to speak, Ma Xiaojiao and Yuan Qingcheng, who had already made a big mistake in this matter, looked at Ye Shiyun with a smile.

Seeing this, Ye Shiyun calmly corrected herself: "I mean, can we leave this damn place?"

After Ye Shiyun finished speaking, Li Lin and the other three girls looked at Zhang Chun again.

"I spent too much time talking to Zhao Ya about other things and didn't have time to talk about this matter," said Zhang Chun.

When Zhang Chun said this, Ye Shiyun and Ma Xiaojiao looked disappointed. Yuan Qingcheng looked at Zhang Chun calmly, while Li Lin asked bluntly, "Why didn't you tell me about such an important matter first?"

Zhang Chun also knew that they were living a miserable life here, and a few words from him would not be enough to get through.

"Listen to me, although I haven't discussed this matter with Zhao Ya, Zhao Ya told me that if I have any problems, I can go to Empress Xiansu and Concubine Yisu. In this matter, it is not Zhao Ya who has the final say, but Empress Dowager Xiang. I guess Empress Dowager Xiang will most likely hand this matter over to Empress Xiansu and Concubine Yisu, so it will definitely be more effective for us to go to Empress Xiansu and Concubine Yisu than to ask Zhao Ya for a quota." Zhang Chun said.

After hearing what Zhang Chun said, Li Lin and the other three girls became excited again.

"So, we can leave this damn place now?" Ye Shiyun asked.

Zhang Chun shook his head:
"There are only four spots in total. There's no way all five of us can leave with this opportunity."

"Besides, Empress Xiansu and Imperial Concubine Yisu will definitely take this opportunity to send their trusted aides to Prince Shen's mansion to help them scout ahead. And the Guo family of Deshun Army might also take this opportunity to place someone to help Guo Ting scout ahead. In this way, we can only get one or two spots at most."

After Zhang Chun's analysis, Li Lin's four daughters were all disappointed.

There are five people, but only one or two can escape. Who will escape first?
Also, what about those who escaped first? Would they rely on Zhao Ya for survival? What about those who didn't escape? Would they continue to wait for an opportunity to escape in Cide Palace?
It was a lot of trouble. This opportunity seemed to be a waste.

Seeing that Li Lin and her four daughters were somewhat discouraged, Zhang Chun encouraged them:

"I think having this opportunity is better than having no opportunity at all."

"No, I should say this is actually a very good opportunity."

"I think we should take a two-pronged approach. On the one hand, we should find a way to make Empress Dowager Xiang abandon Zhao Ji and choose Zhao Ya as emperor; on the other hand, we should help Zhao Ya deal with Zhao Ji, manage the situation, build power, and choose the right political path. Only in this way can Zhao Ya defeat Zhao Ji and achieve our goal of changing the emperor."

"Also, if our plan succeeds, Zhao Ya will be the new emperor. We can't work so hard to help Zhao Ya seize the throne, but he doesn't know it's our contribution and thinks it's destiny. So, we have to go to Zhao Ya as soon as possible and let him know who helped him seize the throne."

"Only in this way, after Zhao Ya becomes emperor, will he listen to us and carry out drastic reforms to the problematic Zhao Song Dynasty, enabling it to accumulate strong political, military, and economic power, avoid the Jingkang Incident, and seize that rare opportunity to achieve great unification."

What Zhang Chun said made sense, so the four Li Lin girls suppressed their disappointment and began to re-examine this opportunity.

After a while, Li Lin asked directly: "Who will get the spot?"

Ye Shiyun, Ma Xiaojiao, and Yuan Qingcheng were silent. They didn't know whether they should seize this opportunity.

Zhang Chun decisively recommended himself: "I want this position."

Li Lin and her other three daughters all looked at Zhang Chun, waiting for her to explain.

Zhang Chun said righteously, "I want this position for no other reason than that I'm a history student and understand politics, and I'm the best person to help Zhao Ya at this stage." Feeling that this wasn't strong enough, Zhang Chun added, "Let me be frank. Of all us, I'm the only one who can help Zhao Ya seize the throne. So, I don't think I should stay here and waste our precious time trying to change history. I should stay by Zhao Ya's side and offer him advice."

The reasons Zhang Chun gave were very convincing, but Li Lin and her four daughters did not give in.

The labor intensity of low-ranking palace maids is quite high, and these ladies, who are used to a life of luxury, have been very tired these days.

Also, the living environment of low-ranking palace maids was very poor and they did not eat well.

The key is that the management of Cide Palace is strict and there are many rules, so they have to live in fear every day.

So they've really had enough of staying here.

If they went to Zhao Ya's place, they might become guests of honor and would probably feel more comfortable than staying here.

Seeing that Li Lin's four daughters also wanted this opportunity, Zhang Chun further argued:

"This isn't our only chance to get out of here."

"After a while, when Zhao Ya gets married, Empress Dowager Xiang will definitely send a group of palace maids to accompany Empress Xiansu and Imperial Concubine Yisu. As long as I can gain Zhao Ya's trust, you will definitely be able to leave here with Empress Xiansu and Imperial Concubine Yisu."

"Let's take a step back. Even if Empress Xiansu and Imperial Concubine Yisu couldn't take you all out that time, once Zhao Ya becomes emperor, it would only take a word for him to let you leave. And it's only been a little over five months since Zhao Ya ascended the throne."

"Also, in another year and five months, Empress Dowager Xiang will also pass away. At that time, all the young palace maids in Empress Dowager Xiang's palace will be incorporated into Zhao Ya's harem. By then, it will be impossible for you to stay here."

"The most important thing is that Zhao Ya has helped us connect with Empress Xiansu and Imperial Concubine Yisu. Zhao Ya asked Empress Xiansu and Imperial Concubine Yisu to take care of us. Today, I also met Yang Jian through Zhao Ya. With the three of them taking care of us, we will definitely not suffer any more in the future."

"To be honest, if it weren't for the overall situation, I definitely wouldn't rush to Zhao Ya."

Under Zhang Chun's persuasion, Ma Xiaojiao was the first to speak out: "Sister Chun, I agree to give this opportunity to you."

Ye Shiyun said lazily: "As long as I don't have to work, I don't mind staying here for a while."

Li Lin and Yuan Qingcheng glanced at each other subtly.

Li Lin and Yuan Qingcheng have begun to suspect that Zhang Chun is abusing her power for personal gain and wants to contact Zhao Ya alone to achieve her own ulterior motives.

This is also the main reason why Li Lin and Yuan Qingcheng did not give this spot to Zhang Chun.

Li Lin and Yuan Qingcheng have already told Ye Shiyun and Ma Xiaojiao their guesses.

But the former didn't care about Zhang Chun's little plan.

The latter wondered if Li Lin and Yuan Qingcheng were overthinking it. Everyone had come from the 21st century to the unfamiliar Northern Song Dynasty, so they should tolerate each other, support each other, and stick together.

Now, the reasons Zhang Chun gave were very sufficient, Ye Shiyun and Ma Xiaojiao had already compromised, and Li Lin and Yuan Qingcheng could no longer argue with Zhang Chun.

Li Lin and Yuan Qingcheng exchanged opinions calmly, and finally Li Lin said, "Isn't it possible to get two places? So, let's go to Zheng Yaban and Wang Yaban together first to see how many places they can give us. Then we can discuss who gets the places..."

……

(End of this chapter)