The prince is more stable

Chapter 742 Honesty between Ruler and Minister
Although they had only been separated for a little over half a year, the meeting between the emperor and his subject today felt like a lifetime had passed.

Their features seemed somewhat unfamiliar, no longer resembling what they once were.

Zhao Xu's energy and spirit were noticeably weaker than they had been six months ago. Despite being in his early twenties, he looked like a hunched and haggard old man.

His temples were streaked with white, his eyes had lost their sparkle, and his yellow robe hung loosely on his body, as if most of his vitality had been drained away.

Zhao Xiaoqian felt both bitter and shocked at that moment.

He didn't know how a mere six months could completely change a person.

Is this still the same spirited young emperor who first assumed power?
Looking at Zhao Xiaoqian's incredulous expression, Zhao Xu smiled calmly: "You didn't expect me to look like this, did you?"

Zhao Xiaoqian sighed, "Your Majesty, why have you come to this..."

Zhao Xu lowered his eyelids and said indifferently, "You are not me, you do not know my suffering."

Zhao Xiaoqian remained silent. He actually understood, but he couldn't say it out loud.

Zhao Xu suddenly smiled and held his hand as intimately as before, leading him to a chair in the hall and pressing his shoulder to make him sit down.

Zheng Chunhe personally served tea with a tray. Zhao Xiaoqian took a small sip and found it tasted just like his own tea, but the leaves were smaller and the roasting process was more refined than that of tea sold on the market.

Zhao Xu also took a sip of tea, then put down his teacup and looked Zhao Xiaoqian up and down.

"Zi'an has also lost some weight. Life on the frontier must be very tough. I heard you were seriously injured. Are you feeling any better now?"

Zhao Xiaoqian hurriedly said, "It's much better now, and it should be fully recovered in about another month or two."

Zhao Xu shook his head: "Health is no small matter; you can tell just by looking at me."

Turning to Zheng Chunhe, Zhao Xu said in a deep voice, "Summon the imperial physician to the palace to take Zian's pulse."

Zhao Xu smiled again and said, "The imperial physicians in the palace are better than the doctors outside. Let him take my pulse so that I can rest assured."

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled, but his heart sank.

Whether it was my own over-interpretation or not, Zhao Xu's sudden summoning of the imperial physician to take his pulse was a sign of genuine concern for his health, or perhaps he still harbored suspicions about his injuries.
After all, after being injured, Zhao Xiaoqian insisted on putting aside military affairs and returning to Zhen Ding City to recuperate. During that period, he did indeed relinquish his military power. If it weren't for Zhong Cheng and others being placed in the army, which displeased Zhao Xiaoqian, he probably wouldn't have returned to the Xijin Prefecture camp to regain control of the military.

What Zhao Xu doubted was whether Zhao Xiaoqian's injuries were really that serious.

He sighed inwardly.

It seems... we can never go back to the way things were before.

The imperial physician quickly entered the hall and took Zhao Xiaoqian's pulse for a long time.

After a while, the imperial physician stood up and bowed to Zhao Xu: "Your Highness's injuries are indeed quite serious. Fortunately, with proper care, the internal injuries have improved and you should be fully recovered in about one or two months. You may continue to take the medicine as prescribed. I may also prescribe another mild tonic."

Zhao Xu immediately said, "Let's prescribe another prescription. Since the injury has improved, the prescription should be adjusted accordingly. After the prescription is written, send the medicine to the Chu Prince's residence."

The imperial physician withdrew as ordered.

Zhao Xiaoqian rose and bowed to Zhao Xu, saying, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your great kindness."

A hint of unease flashed across Zhao Xu's face, but he quickly smiled and said, "We are brothers, there's no need for formalities. Zi'an is of noble birth and has devoted himself to the Song Dynasty. He is a hero of our Song Dynasty, yet he is deeply hated by the Liao people. In the future, you must not take any risks and cause me worry and anxiety."

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled, then tentatively asked, "Your Majesty's health..."

Zhao Xu's smile quickly vanished, and he sighed, "You've seen my body. Everyone around me says I'm just suffering from a minor ailment, and that with proper care I'll recover. Ha! They always try to fool me with this nonsense. Don't I know my own body?"

Zhao Xiaoqian couldn't help but say, "Your Majesty, they are not trying to fool you. They hope that Your Majesty will maintain a good mood. A good mood is good for your health and is more effective than medicine."

Zhao Xu smiled wryly: "Does my mood still affect my health now?"

"Zi'an, I am about to die. I am very happy that you have come back to see me."

Zhao Xiaoqian rose in alarm: "Your Majesty, please don't say such unlucky things. Your Majesty is in the prime of your life and has at least forty or fifty years of life ahead of you. Why curse yourself for such a minor illness?"

Zhao Xu shook his head, his expression growing increasingly desolate. He sat silently beside Zhao Xiaoqian, already displaying the weariness of a king in his twilight years.

After a long silence, Zhao Xu spoke again, his voice low and deep: "Zian, I am truly pleased that you are willing to return to the capital. I was right about you. I am even more pleased that you value brotherhood. For this bond, you are willing to give up your military power in Yanyun..."

Zhao Xiaoqian's eyelids twitched; these words were tantamount to bringing some sensitive topics directly to the forefront.

After pondering for a long time, Zhao Xiaoqian said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, I have never had any ambition. I accepted the military power given to me by Your Majesty only because I could not bear to see the Song Dynasty's military weakness at that time, and being bullied by the Liao and Western Xia people everywhere."

"I manufactured gunpowder and flintlock muskets for the sake of the Great Song Dynasty, without any selfish motives. I presented all the formulas for firearms and gunpowder to Your Majesty immediately without reservation. Your Majesty should know my loyalty." Zhao Xu nodded repeatedly, his voice choked with emotion: "I understand, I have always understood... If Zian had harbored disloyalty, the Great Song Dynasty would not be what it is today. In these past few years, while leading troops outside the capital, if Zian had any disloyal intentions towards me, I don't know how many opportunities he would have had to lead the army back to Bianjing."

"Today, Zi'an has returned to the capital alone, solely because of a letter from me. This is enough to show that Zi'an is loyal and devoted to me and the Song Dynasty."

"Zi'an, I shouldn't have been suspicious of you. I was wrong... But I still have to say this: if time could turn back, I would still choose the same thing. I can be sorry to you, but I cannot be sorry to our ancestors and the country. Do you understand my predicament, Zi'an?"

Zhao Xiaoqian nodded: "Your Majesty understands. Your Majesty is my elder brother, but more importantly, you are the Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty. You have only done what the Emperor must do. Your Majesty is not targeting me, but anyone who sits in that position."

Zhao Xu looked up at the sky and sighed, tears streaming down his cheeks.

"Zi'an understands me, and I have no regrets."

"Looking across the court, you are the only person I can trust. But when you hold the power of 100,000 troops, I cannot trust you. I cannot trust anyone who holds the power of 100,000 troops."

"Yes, Your Majesty understands."

Zhao Xiaoqian paused for a moment, then said, "I have another matter to ask Your Majesty for forgiveness."

"You said."

"I have driven Zhong Cheng and more than thirty other generals out of the camp and ordered them to assist in the defense of the Xijin Prefecture's garrison. I have not yet had time to report this matter to Your Majesty, please forgive me."

Zhao Xu's expression remained unchanged; he simply said, "Zi'an must have his reasons for doing this, and I will not pursue the matter."

"Thank you for your great favor, Your Majesty. I still need to explain a few things. I did not mean to offend Your Majesty and the Privy Council. It is just that after Zhong Cheng and his people entered the camp, they frequently punished and beat the soldiers, and they also stirred up trouble among the soldiers. If such people stay in the army for a long time, the Yan Yun army will surely be in chaos."

"Your Majesty, those are the most elite troops of our Great Song Dynasty. If they are wasted, who will be willing to fight for the Great Song Dynasty in the future? Who will be willing to resist foreign enemies? The Liao Kingdom has not been destroyed and is still eyeing our Great Song Dynasty covetously, waiting for an opportunity to strike."

“If Zhong Cheng and the others are not driven out, this elite royal army will surely disintegrate from within, causing pain to those close to them and joy to their enemies.”

A hint of unease flashed across Zhao Xu's face again.

He knew better than anyone else that Zhong Cheng and the others' actions were entirely at his behest.

At this moment, Zhao Xiaoqian said a few words in a neither soft nor hard tone. It sounded like an explanation, but it was more like a warning to him. He told him that it was okay for his own people to fight each other, but they must not destroy their own Great Wall and give foreign enemies an opportunity to take advantage of them.

Zhao Xu somewhat awkwardly avoided the topic, showing no concern for the fate of Zhong Cheng and the others.

"Let it be so," Zhao Xu said casually. "I will issue an edict to the Privy Council to recall Zhong Cheng and the other thirty-odd generals and find them a sinecure in the Imperial Guards of Bianjing. Such people are indeed not suitable to lead troops."

Zhao Xiaoqian was right. Zhong Cheng and the others were just tools in the power struggles at the top, and no one cared about the fate of those tools.

Now that Zhao Xiaoqian has returned to Bianjing, Zhao Xu's biggest worry has been resolved. Whether Zhong Cheng and the others exist or not, and what their fate is, is no longer important.

Zhao Xu gazed intently at Zhao Xiaoqian and said, "Zi'an, to dispel your concerns, I bestow upon you a certificate of merit and honor. Given the unparalleled achievements you have made over the years, you may accept it and your descendants should keep it safe."

"I will say it again: your willingness to return to the capital has already proven your loyalty. I will not let you down. In the future, Zian's descendants will be intertwined with the country's fate and enjoy wealth and honor for generations. Your title of prince will also be hereditary and can be inherited by your descendants."

Zhao Xiaoqian bowed his head and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. I am very grateful. I am even more grateful that Your Majesty did not betray the affection between my relatives and brothers, and spared me in every way regarding the military power in Yan and Yun, allowing me to withdraw unscathed."

Zhao Xu smiled: "I... truly cannot bear to be ruthless towards you. You are not only a meritorious official, but also my brother. More importantly, you have not shown any signs of rebellion. How can I execute you without warning?"

As he spoke, Zhao Xu's expression suddenly darkened, and he slowly said, "I know my days are numbered, and I also want to leave a good reputation after my death. If I were to kill meritorious officials before I die, wouldn't I be infamous for ten thousand years?"

The emperor, his ministers, and brothers chatted for a long time, mostly about state affairs, including the Song Dynasty's future strategy towards the Liao Dynasty, its attitude towards the Western Xia, and its probing and confrontational interactions with the various Tibetan tribes.

Before he knew it, it was getting dark, and Zhao Xiaoqian tactfully got up to say goodbye.

Zhao Xu seemed to have had enough of the conversation, and subconsciously got up to see him out of the palace gate.

Zhao Xiaoqian bowed and took his leave. Just as he turned to leave, Zhao Xu suddenly called out to him.

"Zi'an, the first restaurant at Zhouqiao... I suddenly have a craving for their soup dumplings."

Zhao Xiaoqian turned around and saw Zhao Xu looking at him expectantly.

At this moment, Zhao Xu didn't seem like an emperor ruling the world; he was more like an innocent child asking for candy.

Only now does the light in his eyes have a familiar quality reminiscent of what it was back then.

Zhao Xiaoqian hesitated for a moment, then said, "His Majesty's health seems to be..."

Zhao Xu quickly shook his head: "I just need to take my medicine on time, not starve myself. I should still eat. I went to the soup dumplings at the First Floor a few times incognito, but for some reason, they never tasted the same as before. Today, Zi'an is with me, so perhaps they taste different."

(End of this chapter)