I traveled with them to the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 64 Intimidation
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Concubine Zhu did not expect that her son was still alive and the royal family members were going to force Zhao Ya to be the crown prince.

Ok.

Zhao Xu's health condition is indeed worrying. Just in case, the issue of appointing a crown prince should be put on the agenda.

But she also has a son. From the perspective of succession, her youngest son should be the crown prince.

However, the royal family didn’t mention this at all. Isn’t that too bullying?
Concubine Zhu was only timid and honest, not stupid. She knew that this must be the intention of Empress Dowager Xiang. It was because Empress Dowager Xiang did not want two concubines to coexist and did not want to establish another prince with a biological mother, so she deprived her youngest son of the qualification to inherit the throne of her eldest son.

Clay figurines also have a third element of earthiness.

Concubine Zhu decided that as soon as she returned from Cide Palace, she would go to see Zhao Xu and force him to issue an imperial decree to appoint Zhao Si as the crown prince, or to let Zhao Si serve as the governor of Kaifeng.

After finally waiting for the banquet to end, Concubine Zhu was the first to stand up and say goodbye to Empress Dowager Xiang, wanting to leave as soon as possible.

Unexpectedly, Empress Dowager Xiang said, "Wait a moment, I have something to tell you."

Empress Dowager Xiang oppressed Concubine Zhu for her entire life, and even after Zhao Xu became emperor, he was unable to change the situation.

Now, Zhao Xu fell ill again. Without her backer, Concubine Zhu dared not resist Empress Dowager Xiang. She could only respond submissively, "Yes."

Soon, Empress Dowager Xiang asked Zhao Ya to see the guests off on her behalf, while she called Concubine Zhu to the inner room and asked everyone else to leave.

After Empress Dowager Xiang sat down at the top, she took off her glasses and pressed the Jingming acupoint.

It can be seen that Empress Dowager Xiang is very tired.

But Empress Dowager Xiang put her glasses back on and said, "Sit down."

Only then did Concubine Zhu cautiously sit down at the side below.

Empress Dowager Xiang personally poured a cup of tea for Concubine Zhu, saying as she did so, "Do you know why I suggested to the late emperor that Your Majesty be made the crown prince?"

Concubine Zhu chose her words carefully: "Perhaps the Empress Dowager felt that Your Majesty was intelligent and virtuous, so she recommended him to the late Emperor?"

The Queen Mother shook her head: "Because you are weak in character, you will not disobey me."

Concubine Zhu was stunned for a moment, then smiled bitterly. She felt that Empress Dowager Xiang had not lied to her. It was likely that Empress Dowager Xiang had chosen her son as the crown prince because she was easier to control than others.

Empress Dowager Xiang then confessed, "More than a decade ago, I was still young and I definitely had to consider that no one could challenge my position as empress. If you were me, you would probably do the same."

Concubine Zhu, who had also been in the harem for a lifetime, understood Empress Dowager Xiang very well. If she were in his place, she would have done the same.

Empress Dowager Xiang continued, "I am now approaching sixty years old and in poor health, so I no longer have the heart to fight for power and profit. However, there is one thing that, as the Empress Dowager of the Great Song Dynasty, I must consider in the long run, and that is the eternal stability of our Great Song Dynasty."

When Concubine Zhu heard this, she felt suspicious but did not dare to express it easily. She just listened quietly.

Empress Dowager Xiang used the lid to stir the teacup as she spoke, "You probably think I'm wary of your youth and good health, afraid that you'll gain status through your son, and worried about the coexistence of two concubines, so I'm not letting Prince Jian succeed Your Majesty to the throne, right?"

Concubine Zhu quickly knelt down and apologized: "I dare not!"

"Get up! You're already a concubine, yet you're still so timid." He scolded the Queen Mother.

Concubine Zhu felt aggrieved: "Isn't it all thanks to you that I'm so timid?"

But Concubine Zhu could only think about this, and she would not dare to say it out loud even if she was beaten to death.

After Concubine Zhu sat back down, she continued to speak to the Queen Mother, "Prince Jian is a good child, but as a mother, you must know that he is timid and weak-willed by nature, and he doesn't dare to take responsibility, just like you." Concubine Zhu deliberately said, "My son is not as bad as you say."

But in front of Empress Dowager Xiang, Concubine Zhu was just thinking about it. She would never say anything to resist Empress Dowager Xiang.

Empress Dowager Xiang looked at Concubine Zhu and asked, "Are you not convinced?"

Concubine Zhu quickly wanted to kneel down and admit her mistake.

"Sit down." Empress Dowager Xiang stopped Concubine Zhu.

Only then did Concubine Zhu stop moving.

"Let's not talk about Prince Jian for now, so you don't have to worry too much." Empress Dowager Xiang changed her tone and asked, "Do you know why Prince Duan would go to a brothel at this critical moment and ruin his own reputation?"

Concubine Zhu thought to herself, "He's usually frivolous, so why would he do something so reckless? Is that surprising?"

Concubine Zhu replied politely, "I don't know."

"Yang Jian found out that Liang Shicheng, deputy general manager of Prince Shen, and Gao Qiu, steward of Prince Duan, and his playmate Li Bangyan were selling soap together, and they made a lot of money from it. On that day, it was Gao Qiu, Li Bangyan and Cai Jing's eldest son Cai You who instigated Prince Duan to go to Fanlou." Empress Dowager Xiang said calmly.

Concubine Zhu was shocked. She said in disbelief, "It was Prince Shen who framed Prince Duan?!"

"It was Prince Duan who was frivolous, dissolute, and ignorant of the big picture that led to his fate." Empress Dowager Xiang corrected Concubine Zhu.

"Yang Zhen, the chief steward of Prince Duan's mansion, was calm and careful. If he were here, he would never have taught Prince Duan to make such a fuss. But he inexplicably slipped and fell into the water and died while walking at night. This is too much of a coincidence." Empress Dowager Xiang said again.

Only then did Concubine Zhu realize that there was such a thing behind the fight for the crown prince!

Then, Concubine Zhu's heart tightened, and she asked hurriedly: "How does Prince Shen treat me..."

"Isn't it too late to worry now?" Empress Dowager Xiang said lightly.

Concubine Zhu's heart skipped a beat and she quickly asked, "Did Prince Shen do anything to my Si'er?"

"If Prince Shen felt that Prince Jian was a threat, he would have taken action against him long ago. There was no time for you to realize it later." Queen Mother Xiang said honestly and bluntly.

After hearing from Empress Dowager Xiang that Zhao Ya did not attack Zhao Si, Concubine Zhu felt relieved.

But before Concubine Zhu could completely relax, Empress Dowager Xiang said, "Don't be too happy too soon. Prince Shen didn't attack Prince Jian because he didn't pose a threat to him. If one day Prince Jian threatens him to seize the throne, who knows, Prince Jian might follow in Yang Zhen's footsteps."

Concubine Zhu was horrified! She never imagined that if Zhao Si continued to compete with Zhao Ya for the throne, his life might be in danger.

Concubine Zhu, who was eager to protect her son, blurted out: "Prince Shen is so reckless, why does the Queen Mother let him do it?!"

Empress Dowager Xiang ignored Concubine Zhu's attitude and replied bluntly, "The Great Song Dynasty is now plagued by internal and external troubles. At this critical moment of life and death, even a benevolent monarch cannot save the Song Dynasty. Prince Shen is a man of extraordinary talent, good at using talents and making plans, and knows how to appoint the right people. He is determined to save the world and bring peace to the people. Perhaps he can turn the tide and save the country from collapse."

Concubine Zhu was a little unconvinced: "My son is still young. When he grows up, he may inherit the aspirations of his father and brothers."

Empress Dowager Xiang did not refute Concubine Zhu. Instead, she continued leisurely, "The Liao army is now showing off its strength in Hebei. If the new emperor fails to handle the situation properly, hundreds of thousands of Liao cavalry will march south in force, perhaps reigniting the Chanyuan Incident. In that case, the Prime Minister will surely follow Kou Zhun's example and personally lead you and your son north to fight the enemy. If you lose, you and your son will become criminals of the Song Dynasty, ashamed of our ancestors and infamous for eternity. If you win, you can be like Emperor Zhenzong, enshrined in the Taishan Temple. If you have such a lofty ambition, since we are sisters, I will help you achieve your wish."

When Concubine Zhu heard this, she was dumbfounded: "What the hell? I, a woman who hasn't left the palace for decades, am going to take a half-grown boy and lead an army to fight those barbarians from the Liao Kingdom?!!!"

……

(End of this chapter)