The prince is more stable

Chapter 753 Old Friends from the Streets
Only those with desires and wants are worth cooperating with.

This is one of the rules of the game.

If you encounter someone who wants nothing in return, who is purely there to help you and help you succeed, and who will then disappear without a trace, there's no doubt that this person is either a fraudster or planning to devour you whole.

Empress Dowager Xiang clearly understood this, and she was finally relieved when Zhao Hao indeed made many demands without any politeness.

The King of Chu and his son are people with needs and desires; such people are worth cooperating with.

They wanted power, money, and land, and she believed that Zhao Ji could satisfy them all.

With this father and son taking sides, it should be able to quickly quell dissenting voices in the court, including the opposition from Prime Minister Zhang Dun.

Even Empress Dowager Xiang herself is unaware that her attitude towards Zhao Hao has become increasingly intimate, and the expressions and eyes she reveals are increasingly trusting.

After a long while, Zhao Hao took his leave, and the Empress Dowager removed the beaded curtain. The two finally faced each other and exchanged knowing smiles.

Looking at Empress Dowager Xiang's mature and dignified appearance, Zhao Hao's heart fluttered and his heartbeat quickened.

If I could sleep with this woman, I can't even imagine how sunny and cheerful I would be...

As Zhao Hao stepped out of the Celebration Hall, his respectful expression quickly returned to its coldness.

No one knows why he suddenly declared his support for the Empress Dowager, and perhaps even his son Zhao Xiaoqian would not understand.

If one truly intends to emulate Emperor Taizong of Tang by launching the Xuanwu Gate Incident, leading an army into the imperial city without any preparation and brutally seizing the throne, then one is oversimplifying matters.

The Song Dynasty was not the Tang Dynasty. Emperor Taizong of Tang launched the Xuanwu Gate Incident and achieved his goal. If Zhao Hao and his son did the same thing, they would only be imitating each other poorly and become a laughing stock for future generations.

The imperial court, officials, political factions, the military, scholars, merchants...

The complex relationships involved mean that any miscalculation in any aspect could lead to unexpected changes and ultimately failure. When Emperor Taizong of Tang was alive, things weren't so complicated; he simply gathered a group of loyal confidants and led the army to accomplish the task.

Zhao Hao was simply using his schemes to push Zhao Xiaoqian step by step, with difficulty but determination, toward the throne.

…………

Zhao Xiaoqian finally had some free time.

The imperial decree has not yet arrived, and the second-in-command of the Privy Council has not yet taken office. It is a good opportunity for Zhao Xiaoqian to rest quietly in the Prince's Mansion for a few days, or go out to visit old friends.

The brothels and entertainment districts of Zhouqiao were extremely prosperous, and they had become a scenic spot in the entire Song Dynasty. Every day, a constant stream of people came to and from Zhouqiao, most of whom were from other places who came to the capital just to catch a glimpse of the brothels and entertainment districts of Zhouqiao and take a photo.

Zhao Xiaoqian was dressed casually today, sitting cross-legged without any proper posture. He was in a brothel, listening absentmindedly to the storyteller on stage.

The storytellers of the Song Dynasty were quite unique; they didn't just rely on their mouths, they also had their own rhythm, and a small drum was placed next to them.

When he got to the crucial point, the man tapped the small drum in rhythm, talking as he spoke, the drumbeats rising and falling with the rhythm of his story. The combination of the two was particularly captivating and exciting for the audience, who couldn't help but be drawn into the story.

Or, when the conversation reached a crucial point, the gentleman would suddenly stop talking, and the drum would beat a few times slowly and deliberately. The audience below would then laugh and curse, and the waiter would walk between the tables with a tray, tossing coins into the tray one by one.

Once the reward was sufficient, the gentleman stopped drumming, stroked his beard, and continued speaking slowly.

These are all common tricks used by brothels to make money; the stories the audience hears are clearly manipulated by capital.

Today, Zhao Xiaoqian was sitting in this brothel when he happened to hear the story of King Cheng's recapture of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun.

Indeed, the person in question sat below, listening to the storyteller exaggerate his own story.

Even Zhao Xiaoqian himself found the exaggerated parts of the story baffling, much like a Chinese exam question asking the author's thoughts and feelings when writing a particular sentence, expressing the author's grief and indignation about the country and its people.

Go ask the author this question in person and see if he gets angry or not.

Sitting next to Zhao Xiaoqian, Zhang Xiaoyi listened with great enthusiasm, occasionally turning his gaze to look at Zhao Xiaoqian with admiration.

"Zi'an, you are truly remarkable. I never imagined that the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun could be reclaimed in this way. It's just that you've suffered so much..." Zhang Xiaoyi sighed, feeling a deep empathy for him at that moment.

Zhao Xiaoqian had a piece of venison stuffed in his mouth. He chewed it a few times dryly and swallowed it, his cheeks twitching involuntarily.

Clearing his throat, Zhao Xiaoqian slowly said, "Actually, I never expected the process of reclaiming Yanyun to be so tortuous and moving. Well, I was moved too. I just wanted to give the storyteller a silver ingot on the spot and then secretly order my men to break his legs..."

"Huh?" Zhang Xiaoyi looked at him, puzzled. "Is he wrong?"

Zhao Xiaoqian's lips twitched: "Anyway... I never did the so-called 'Three Campaigns Against Yan and Yun,' nor did I 'enter the capital alone,' nor did I 'speak harshly to the Liao Emperor and force him to return Yan and Yun'..."

"Am I crazy? I dared to go to the capital of Liao alone, without any attempt to conceal myself, and even went to the Liao emperor to ask for Yan Yun. If a normal person saw me in the capital of Liao, they would just arrest me and then tear me to pieces to feed the dogs."

Zhao Xiaoqian squinted at the storyteller on the stage and said quietly, "This guy is so unprofessional when it comes to making up stories. He just replaces Jing Ke's name with mine and that's it. Then he spreads it everywhere to scam money... It must have been forwarded at least five hundred times, right? He should be punished." Zhang Xiaoyi laughed, a bright laugh: "Actually, I've heard this story many times, and I also think it's a bit unbelievable. I specifically called you here today to hear it, just to verify it."

Zhao Xiaoqian glanced at him and said, "No normal person would do such a thing. How stupid would you have to be to go to the capital of Liao Kingdom alone to demand the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun? Do you really think I'm a god descended from heaven, invulnerable to swords and spears?"

Zhang Xiaoyi chuckled and said, "Actually... this person's account is quite plausible. Zian probably doesn't know that the storytellers in the other brothels in Zhouqiao gossip about it are even more exaggerated, saying that His Highness Prince Cheng can communicate with the gods and summon thunder to kill tens of thousands of Liao soldiers on the spot."

"The Liao army feared its power, which is why they returned the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, which they had occupied for a hundred years, to the Song Dynasty... Oh, right, there were also those related to romance."

"It is said that Zian, you secretly sneaked into the capital of Liao and met Yelü Yanxi's concubine. The concubine admired his great stature and endurance and had a sexual relationship with you. In order to help her lover, she whispered in Yelü Yanxi's ear, which tricked Liao into returning Yanyun."

Zhao Xiaoqian's eyes lit up immediately: "This version is interesting. I'm eager to hear it, especially the details of the bedroom affairs, and how 'great and enduring' I am. Tell me, which brothel owner is telling this version? I'll definitely lend a hand!"

Zhang Xiaoyi laughed loudly: "I'll take you there later, I guarantee you'll be thrilled."

No sooner had the words been spoken than the storyteller on the stage struck his small drum with great excitement and announced, "His Highness Prince Cheng has successfully recovered the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, a perfect victory!"
The waiters below the stage carried trays around asking for tips, and the spectators were very satisfied and generous, making everyone happy.

Zhao Xiaoqian also took out half a string of copper coins and threw them onto the tray. The waiter thanked him profusely and left.

"Damn it, I have to pay for my own story to hear it. Something just doesn't feel right..." Zhao Xiaoqian muttered under his breath.

Zhang Xiaoyi laughed and said, "After all, others have put in a lot of effort, and it's their way of making a living. Zian, just listen to it for fun."

The brothel was bustling with noise, everyone waiting for the next show to begin.

Zhang Xiaoyi suddenly whispered, "My wife got pregnant last month."

Zhao Xiaoqian was taken aback, then laughed and said, "Congratulations! You're finally going to be a father soon. It's rare to become a father at your age."

Zhang Xiaoyi smiled happily: "My family used to be poor, and my mother and I often went hungry. Naturally, we didn't want to be a burden on other people's daughters. Now that we finally have some savings, I'm confident that I can support my wife and children."

Zhao Xiaoqian generously replied, "I'll give you a big gift when your child is born."

"No need. Zian, you've already done me a favor by coming for a cup of wine. There's no need to bring any big gifts."

"Yes, yes, how about I give you a woman? I'll take you to a brothel, and if you take a fancy to any woman, I'll redeem her and give her to you as a concubine."

Zhang Xiaoyi was startled and hurriedly shook his head: "No, no, don't hurt me! My wife and I are deeply in love, and I have never thought of taking a concubine."

Zhao Xiaoqian winked mischievously: "What's wrong with taking another concubine? A love story between three people is more exciting, really, believe me."

Zhang Xiaoyi firmly said, "No, Zian, quickly give up this idea."

Seemingly unwilling to accept this generous gift, Zhang Xiaoyi quickly changed the subject.

"Before Zian returned to the capital, I heard many rumors in the streets of Bianjing. The rumors said that Zian was a powerful military commander who was very wary of the Emperor and the court. The rumors also said that Zian and the Emperor had actually become enemies behind the scenes... Is this true?"

Zhao Xiaoqian pointed to the brothel platform and said leisurely, "It's just as outrageous as the story that gentleman just told."

Zhang Xiaoyi nodded: "That makes sense. Now that Zian has returned to the capital, all the rumors circulating in the city have been dispelled. The common people revere you like a god, and they're about to build a shrine for you."

After a pause, Zhang Xiaoyi lowered his voice and said, "I also heard that the Emperor's health seems to be..."

Zhao Xiaoqian glanced at him and said, "Just how much nonsense have you heard?"

Zhang Xiaoyi was taken aback: "Could the rumors be wrong?"

Zhao Xiaoqian pursed his lips and remained silent.

But silence is also an answer. Zhang Xiaoyi remained silent for a long time, seemingly understanding, and then he also kept his mouth shut, no longer discussing the palace and the court.

After a long silence, Zhang Xiaoyi suddenly said, "Zian, if something changes is about to happen in Bianjing, is there anything I can do to help you?"

Zhao Xiaoqian said calmly, "No need. You should live your life well. Your wife is heavily pregnant. Don't do anything risky. Think more about your mother, wife, and children at home."

Zhang Xiaoyi smiled innocently: "It's alright. My mother and wife often tell me that everything we have today is thanks to you. When Your Highness needs me, I must do my best to help, even at the cost of my life."

Zhao Xiaoqian said with a wry smile, "Why is your whole family so reckless? You're always willing to risk your lives. Just shut up. I don't need you to risk your life for me. Taking care of your family is more important than anything else."

"The last time I ate at your house, your wife made a delicious steamed fish. Let's have lunch at your house, and we can't miss the good food and drinks."

Zhang Xiaoyi smiled happily: "Okay!"

(End of this chapter)