I traveled with them to the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 57 Parting on bad terms
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Zhang Chun dispelled all the doubts of Li Lin and Yuan Qingcheng, and made Li Lin and Yuan Qingcheng certain that Zhang Chun would not betray their original plan, which was to replace Zhao Ji with Zhao Ya as emperor.

But Li Lin and Yuan Qingcheng did not let down their guard against Zhang Chun.

The five of them have known each other for quite some time. Who doesn’t know that Zhang Chun has a nickname “Empress Dowager Chun”?

In addition, Zhang Chun had too many small actions and no longer popularized historical knowledge to them.

Zhang Chun's ambition is obvious.

In order to get promoted, Zhang Chun actually rushed to offer himself to Zhao Ya, showing no bottom line at all.

Yuan Qingcheng felt a deep sense of crisis.

Therefore, Yuan Qingcheng found Li Lin and expressed that she did not want Zhang Chun to control her life and become Zhang Chun's pawn, and she did not want to be betrayed by Zhang Chun for her so-called political ambitions.

Li Lin also discovered that Zhang Chun had problems and was no longer reliable, so she formed an alliance with Yuan Qingcheng in an attempt to break free from Zhang Chun's control over them.

However, after leaving Zhang Chun, Li Lin and Yuan Qingcheng found that they had a hard time and encountered obstacles everywhere in this feudal society, especially in the even more feudal imperial palace.

Later, it was Yuan Qingcheng who suggested that they go to Zheng Xiansu, who had the potential to become the queen, and their lives began to get better.

Now, Zhang Chun has stated that she will become the imperial concubine, she can influence Zhao Ya, and she will have a good development. She hopes that Li Lin and Yuan Qingcheng can let go of their guard and help her.

Zhang Chun had already opened up, and Li Lin felt it was time for her to express her opinion, so she explained her point of view: "When the five of us first traveled through time, we agreed to work together to change the Song Dynasty and make it as powerful as the Han and Tang dynasties. This has always been our common goal. As long as you work towards this goal, we will definitely help you."

Yuan Qingcheng added: "The premise is that you can't plot against us, let alone harm us."

"When have I ever harmed you? How could I harm you? Why do you have such strange ideas?" Zhang Chun cried out in injustice.

"Really? How did Jiaojiao fall into your trap?" Yuan Qingcheng exposed Zhang Chun.

"I don't understand what you are saying at all." Zhang Chun denied it flatly.

"You dare not take responsibility for it? Don't tell us that Jiaojiao's pregnancy has nothing to do with you." Yuan Qingcheng asked.

"Jiaojiao is really pregnant?!" Zhang Chun was a little surprised.

"Haven't you planned to let Jiaojiao give birth to a son for Zhao Ya and make them and their son your tools to fight for power?" Yuan Qingcheng simply broke the window paper.

Seeing that Yuan Qingcheng had guessed her purpose, Zhang Chun simply stopped pretending:

"Yes, I did persuade Jiaojiao to face reality. In this era, we women can't accomplish anything without the support and protection of strong men."

"I've even told Jiaojiao that she must not be like you two. It's been almost three months since you traveled here, and you still naively believe that you can make a career and change this era by relying on yourselves in this era where men are superior to women."

"I also advised Jiaojiao to give birth to Zhao Ya's eldest son as much as possible, so that we can obtain an extremely important political bargaining chip that is easiest for us to obtain."

"Oh, right, I also told Jiaojiao that if you don't listen to me, then if all five of us offer our services to Zhao Ya, we can definitely seize this opportunity and fully utilize our advantages as time travelers. Then, with the help of the highest authority, Sister Lin, you will handle the military, Qingcheng, you will handle agriculture, Shiyun will handle the economy, Jiaojiao will handle technology, and I will handle politics. Together, we will make great strides towards our goal."

"I admit all of this, but you said I schemed against Jiaojiao, and I don't admit it."

"First of all, I chose this path for myself. It was Empress Xiansu who interfered, allowing Jiaojiao to benefit."

"Also, unlike you guys who have traveled here for so long and have achieved nothing, Jiaojiao has now begun to realize her value."

"The current situation is very clear. As long as Jiaojiao gives birth to a son for Zhao Ya, when Zhao Ya ascends the throne, Jiaojiao will most likely become an imperial concubine like me."

"And if you don't listen to me, you will be trapped in the harem for the rest of your life, working as maids, frustrated and depressed until the end..." Zhang Chun and Yuan Qingcheng parted unhappily.

Li Lin chased after him, complaining, "Didn't we agree to be patient?"

"I wanted to endure it, but she made Jiaojiao pregnant at such a young age, and later had to risk her life to give birth to a child, and she has no regrets at all!"

"Also, she's still acting like we can only have a future if we listen to her. If we don't, we'll be nothing. It's clear we can't live without her!"

"After all, isn't she still treating us as pawns, trying to control our lives?"

Yuan Qingcheng expressed what made her angry, indicating that she was not being unreasonable.

After hearing this, Li Lin remained silent.

indeed.

Relying on her mastery of history and understanding of politics, Zhang Chun always maintains a psychological advantage and acts superior, as if she is the only one who is right and others are nothing without her.

It’s like Zhang Chun is the heroine, and the four of them are supporting actresses who revolve around Zhang Chun.

This made Li Lin, who was used to being the big sister, very uncomfortable.

After a while, Yuan Qingcheng calmed down and said:
"Sister Lin, I think we've been intimidated by Zhang Chun."

"How could the ancients be as ignorant as we used to imagine? They weren't all shrewd, but there were also some who were meticulous and careful. Take Empress Xiansu, for example, who was very meticulous in everything she did. Zhang Chun fought with her several times, but did he ever get the upper hand?"

"We all know that Zhao Ya is averse to favoring concubines over wives. Could he be like Zhao Xu and allow his concubines to fight against his queen?"

"So, as long as Zhao Ya doesn't make a mistake, Empress Xiansu alone can calm Zhang Chun down without anyone else."

"Zhao Ya... although we haven't met him yet, his reputation is truly well-deserved. Empress Dowager Xiang, Empress Xiansu, Zhang Chun, and Jiaojiao all praised him highly, calling him a wise ruler. So, would he be the kind of emperor who would allow women to interfere in government?"

"I don't think so."

"Let's analyze this rationally. If Zhao Ya can really become emperor, then the person with the highest authority in the future will be Zhao Ya, not Zhang Chun. Even if Zhang Chun can obtain authority, it can only be obtained through Zhao Ya."

At this point, Yuan Qingcheng smiled and said, "If that's the case, why let Zhang Chun be the middleman? Why don't we just contact Zhao Ya directly? This way, Zhang Chun won't be able to control and manipulate us all the time."

Li Lin thought for a moment and said, "You're right, but the problem is, if we approach Zhao Ya directly, there's no guarantee we'll become his concubines. Otherwise, how can we legitimately stay by his side?"

Yuan Qingcheng said slowly, "If that's the case, it's my own choice, not Zhang Chun's."

After a pause, Yuan Qingcheng continued, "Also, Sister Lin, have you ever thought about this? This palace is a cage that we can't get out of on our own. Zhang Chun can't take us out, and Empress Xiansu can't take us out either. Even they themselves will be trapped in this cage for the rest of their lives. There is only one person who can take us out of here, and that person is Zhao Ya."

Having said that, Yuan Qingcheng became determined: "Sister Lin, I have decided. I want to contact Zhao Ya directly."

Yuan Qingcheng looked at Li Lin: "Do you want to come together?"

Li Lin was shaken.

What she wanted was to command thousands of troops to fight on the battlefield.

How can she realize her dream of war and iron cavalry if she stays in the palace for her whole life?
……

(End of this chapter)