The prince is more stable

Chapter 334: National Succession
Zhao Xiaoqian felt much more relieved after he had fulfilled his promise to Su Shi.

As for what Su Shi's mood was when he set out from Bian Jing, Zhao Xiaoqian had no control over it.

Unknowingly, Zhao Xiaoqian seemed to have changed the course of history again, at least he changed the trajectory of Su Shi's life.

According to original history, Su Shi had never been on a diplomatic mission to the Liao Kingdom. He was unsuccessful throughout his life and eventually died of depression.

But in this life, the appearance of Zhao Xiaoqian changed the direction of Su Shi's life, and he moved further and further towards an unknown future.

After bidding farewell to Su Shi, Zhao Xiaoqian returned to the palace.

As soon as he entered the door, he saw Zhao Hao sitting alone in the front yard, looking at him with a dejected face.

Zhao Xiaoqian was startled and hurried forward to ask, "Father, you look like this, are you heartbroken?"

Zhao Hao glanced at him and said, "A lot of valuables have been inexplicably lost from my study and bedroom. Don't you know about this?"

Zhao Xiaoqian's eyelids twitched.

He's been doing a lot of stunts lately, selling tea, helping Su Shi, and even making up stories, from gods appearing in his dreams to his grandfather contracting a tea plantation. His mind is so focused on how to scam people out of money that he almost forgot he's made a fortune back home...

Seeing Zhao Hao's expression was not right, Zhao Xiaoqian showed concern and said, "Did father lose something?"

Zhao Hao said calmly, "A lot was lost, all valuable things."

Zhao Xiaoqian asked in surprise, "Could it be that there are thieves in the palace? Should we report this to the Kaifeng government?"

"you……!"

Zhao Hao sighed, pointed at him, and said angrily, "If I had two more sons, I would have broken your legs by now! When I was young, even at my most wicked, I never stole anything from my own family. You've surpassed me."

Zhao Xiaoqian also sighed and said, "Father, why don't you think about it from another perspective? I am the only one left in the lineage of the King of Chu. Everything in the palace can only be left to me. Now I have only inherited a part of it in advance..."

"It's all mine anyway. What difference does it make whether I use it early or late? Doesn't thinking this way make Father feel more comfortable?"

Zhao Hao was startled and murmured, "It seems to be true..."

Coming back to his senses, Zhao Hao said angrily, "But you..."

Zhao Xiaoqian continued, "My father's things are mine. I'm about to take up my post in Zhending and am short of money. What's wrong with me taking some of my own things to help my future?"

Zhao Hao was stunned. This reason... was impeccable!

The father and son stared at each other in silence for a long time. Zhao Hao trembled and said, "How about I apologize to you as your father?"

"That's not necessary. Just be careful next time." Zhao Xiaoqian smiled magnanimously.

Zhao Hao looked at him helplessly. His son had long been able to stand on his own two feet. Whatever he decided to do, he would do it without hesitation, and usually did it very well, including stealing things from his own family.

The reason why he forgave his son's actions so quickly was because Zhao Hao knew very well that Zhao Xiaoqian must have money to support himself when he went to Zhending Prefecture, a place where he was unfamiliar with.

Don't think that you can act tyrannically just because you become a prefect. The officials under you will immediately grovel under your domineering aura.

This is the atmosphere in the officialdom of the Song Dynasty. Subordinates must find ways to benefit their superiors. By the same token, superiors cannot treat their subordinates unfairly, especially when they are new and need to win people's hearts. How can they get things done without money?

Zhao Hao was feeling a bit regretful now. He had spent all the money in the palace on that shady organization, not even thinking of leaving any for his son, which had driven his son to desperate measures...

"Oh, by the way, father, I have found a buyer for the thousands of kilograms of tea in our warehouse. Please don't touch that batch of tea." Zhao Xiaoqian said again.

Zhao Hao was stunned again: "Who has such a big appetite to eat thousands of kilograms of tea?"

"I've sold the child to the imperial court. When the various government offices in Bianjing distribute welfare benefits, every official might be able to get a kilogram or two of tea. Don't touch the money from selling tea. I'm going to take the child to Zhending Prefecture."

Zhao Hao now truly admired his son. "How did you do it?" Zhao Hao asked with a burning gaze.

"I told others that my grandfather contracted a tea mountain..." Zhao Xiaoqian began to tell the story.

…………

There was no new military intelligence coming from the Song-Liao border. After a small group of Liao cavalry raided and looted the border, they seemed to have ceased activity.

But Zhao Xiaoqian knew that even if the Liao cavalry stopped their attacks, his decision to take up his post in Zhending Prefecture would not change.

After all, Zhao Xu's intention was not to let him resolve the border conflict, but to look at the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun and find an opportunity to recover them.

If nothing unexpected happens, Zhao Xu will officially appoint him in the next few days.

Zhao Xiaoqian has been lying down completely these days, racing against time every day to enjoy this wonderful life that is about to end.

Good days are getting fewer and fewer.

The next morning, Su Shi received the imperial edict and left Bian Jing with a group of diplomatic officials, embarking on a journey to the Liao Kingdom.

Zhao Xiaoqian sent him out of Chaoyang Gate. After watching Su Shi leave, he stood there in deep thought for a long time before turning around and returning to the city, picking up his fishing rod to go fishing.

On this day, a very exciting piece of good news came from the palace.

Zhao Xu's concubine, Consort Liu, was pregnant with a dragon seed.

I don’t know why other men were so excited about the couple’s happy event, but when the news came out, it still made the civil and military officials in the court excited and happy.

While all the civil and military officials in the court were delighted, they couldn't help but feel a little regretful. Why was it not Zhao Xu's principal wife, Queen Meng, who became pregnant with the prince, but one of his concubines?

I heard that Zhao Xu and the Queen did not have a harmonious relationship, but Concubine Liu was quite favored by Zhao Xu. So, the final result was that the Queen's belly was still flat and deflated, while Concubine Liu got pregnant first.

Regardless of who's pregnant, it's good news.

The emperors of the Song Dynasty seemed to be cursed by God. They generally did not live long, and many died in their thirties or forties. They also did not have many descendants. There were many rumors among the people that the Zhao family had obtained the throne in an unjust way and thus received retribution.

By the time of Zhao Xu, although he had many brothers, as emperor, he had never been able to give birth to a son. Although he was only in his early twenties, it really made his subjects worried and uneasy.

After all, a country without an heir is the biggest destabilizing factor for the entire country. Only when the emperor has a son can his subjects feel at ease.

When the news of the imperial concubine being pregnant spread today, the whole city was excited. Civil and military officials immediately came forward to offer their congratulations. Some officials flattered the concubine too much and even proposed to show favor to Concubine Liu's parents and brothers. However, they stopped only after being severely reprimanded by Prime Minister Zhang Dun and their proposal was rejected.

Zhao Xiaoqian was sitting by the Bian River fishing when he heard the news that Zhao Xu had a wife. Immediately, a eunuch from the palace came to the Bian River and told Zhao Xiaoqian respectfully that the emperor was holding a family dinner in Yanfu Palace tonight to entertain the royal family members in Bian Jing, and Zhao Xiaoqian was also invited.

After sending the eunuch away, Zhao Xiaoqian secretly curled his lips.

Tsk, now I have a successor, I’m standing up now, and I’m showing off in front of my relatives first. This is probably what tonight’s palace banquet means, right?

Is it great to have a successor?

Although he despised her, Zhao Xiaoqian refused to admit that he actually felt a little jealous.

I have three wives in my family. We have been married for so long, but why hasn’t any of them gotten pregnant?

If any of you lays an egg, it will be considered an explanation to my Zhao family.

From today until he takes up his post in Zhending, Zhao Xiaoqian decided to work harder and toil diligently every night. In short, he has been treating himself like an animal these days.

　The chapter number is wrong, it should be "Chapter 333". . . The title cannot be changed. . .

　　
　
(End of this chapter)