The prince is more stable

Chapter 776 Forcibly Resolving Revenge
It was unexpected, yet not unexpected.

Surprisingly, the Empress Dowager was unaware of the situation, but not surprising were the other three people in the hall.

The four people in the hall mostly understood the relationship between them. The Empress Dowager's presumptuous matchmaking and Zhao Hao and his son's half-hearted agreement were ultimately exposed by Zhao Ji.

The fig leaf was torn off, revealing that everyone was naked and ugly, with nothing underneath.

Empress Dowager Xiang accidentally dropped her wine cup, her expression momentarily shocked. However, she was, after all, someone who had fought her way out of the bloody battlefields of the inner palace. To sit in this position, she must have experienced many storms and remained calm in the face of any change.

Empress Dowager Xiang quickly regained her composure, a hint of inquiry appearing in her beautiful eyes. She turned to look at Prince Duan, Zhao Ji, and said calmly, "Ji'er, you are being extremely rude. One is your imperial uncle, and the other is your elder brother. How can you not show proper etiquette when you meet? Have you forgotten all the rules you were taught in the palace academy?"

Emperor Huizong of Song (Zhao Ji) originally thought that if he stepped forward to expose the fake alliance between Zhao Hao and his son, the Empress Dowager would stand by his side without hesitation and question the father and son. However, he did not expect that the Empress Dowager's first words would be to criticize his manners.

Zhao Ji was immediately taken aback, and then reluctantly bowed to the father and son.

"Ji pays his respects to the King of Chu and to his elder brother Zian."

In contrast, Zhao Hao and his son showed no change in expression. Even when Zhao Ji accused them of a fake alliance, they still wore smiles, as if they had been prepared all along.

"Haha, Prince Duan, no need for formalities. Perhaps in the future, my son and I will have to bow to you," Zhao Hao laughed heartily.

After performing the ceremony, Zhao Ji quickly revealed a cold smile: "Is that so? Are you sure you'll help me get that seat?"

Zhao Xiaoqian calmly replied, "If Prince Duan is unwilling, my son and I will naturally not force him. There is a saying among the common people, 'You can't force a child to do something.' Father, is that what you mean?"

Zhao Hao chuckled and said, "That's right. You can't force a deal. Prince Duan is very hostile to my father and me. I'm afraid this deal can't go through. Your Majesty, you saw it with your own eyes. It's not that my father and I are unwilling, but that Prince Duan is pushing us away."

The Empress Dowager narrowed her imposing phoenix eyes slightly as she stared at Zhao Ji and asked, "Ji'er, what's going on? Did you have a grudge against the King of Chu and his son?"

Zhao Ji said coldly, "Yes, the hatred runs deep. So I can't understand why they, father and son, would support me. Are they planning to stab me in the back at this critical moment?"

The Empress Dowager's tone gradually turned cold: "What caused this enmity?"

After a moment's hesitation, Zhao Ji had to admit that he had struck first. When Zhao Xiaoqian returned with his army from Xixia, Zhao Ji arranged for an ambush in the Assassin Valley, which nearly cost Zhao Xiaoqian his life. As a result, Zhao Xiaoqian lost the lives of hundreds of soldiers in the Dragon Guard Camp.

Why did Emperor Huizong of Song kill Zhao Xiaoqian?
As Zhao Xiaoqian gained increasing favor with the emperor and was given more and more power, Zhao Ji felt threatened and felt he had to get rid of him.

Many years ago, Zhao Ji had his eye on that position and began to plan and scheme. Originally, no matter how great the merits of a minister like Zhao Xiaoqian were, they would be beneficial to Zhao Ji, and he could still give him important positions after he ascended the throne.

The problem was that Zhao Xiaoqian also shared the surname Zhao, and the emperor repeatedly broke ancestral rules for him, enduring pressure and criticism from court officials, gradually granting Zhao Xiaoqian more and more power. In the end, even the military power, which the Song Dynasty imperial family had always been most sensitive and taboo about, was given to Zhao Xiaoqian.

Emperor Huizong felt uneasy. The emperor had broken so many ancestral rules for Zhao Xiaoqian. Would he also break ancestral rules for Zhao Xiaoqian when choosing the successor to the throne?
Emperor Huizong dared not gamble, so he could only kill Zhao Xiaoqian to end the matter once and for all.

With Emperor Xiaoqian dead, Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji) was the sole heir to the throne. As for the Emperor's young prince, it could be said that Emperor Huizong had already sown the seeds of his murderous intent even before Consort Liu became pregnant, and the young prince was destined to die young.

Empress Dowager lived deep within the palace, and the inner palace could not interfere in politics, so it was inevitable that she was out of touch with the world. Emperor Huizong of Song (Zhao Ji) repeatedly spoke ill of Zhao Xiaoqian in front of the Empress Dowager.

However, Zhao Ji never told the Empress Dowager about the cause and effect of the feud between the two, because this feud involved many unspeakable secrets, and Zhao Ji dared not speak of it.

At this moment, Zhao Ji's face turned red, and he stammered for a long time, unable to speak. With Zhao Hao and his son present, it was essentially a face-to-face confrontation.

If we were to delve into the details of past grievances and delve into his plot to usurp the throne years ago, Zhao Ji's image as a docile and honest man would crumble, and the Empress Dowager, feeling disheartened, might immediately abandon her support for him.

Therefore, Zhao Ji had no way to answer the Empress Dowager's question.

Interestingly, Zhao Hao and his son neither kicked him when he was down nor tried to smooth things over. The two of them remained silent, sitting in their chairs and smiling as they watched Zhao Ji fall into an awkward situation, clearly adopting an attitude of just watching the show and not getting involved.

Seeing Zhao Ji in such a predicament, his face turning red, yet he couldn't utter a single word for a long time, Empress Dowager Xiang roughly understood the situation.

This grudge is probably not so simple; it may involve deep-seated issues and perhaps even some unspeakable matters, which is why Emperor Huizong has been reluctant to speak.

Empress Dowager Xiang gave Zhao Ji a deep look, her phoenix eyes narrowing. At this moment, she was too lazy to dwell on the past; dealing with the matter at hand was the priority.

"Ji'er, whatever grudges you had with Zi'an back then, now, apologize to Zi'an," Empress Dowager Xiang said coldly.

Zhao Ji was taken aback, then his face was filled with grief, indignation and humiliation. He lowered his head, gritted his teeth, and remained silent for a long time.

Seeing his expression, the Empress Dowager grew even angrier, and her tone became even harsher. "Didn't you hear what I said? Apologize!" the Empress Dowager roared.

Emperor Huizong swayed slightly. Looking at the only staunch supporter and ally who had always stood by him, he gritted his teeth, walked up to Zhao Xiaoqian, bowed deeply, and gave a deep salute.

"Brother Zian, I was wrong back then. I hope you won't hold it against me. I apologize to you."

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled at him and said slowly, "Your Highness is too polite. I have long forgotten what happened back then, and I only hope that you have forgotten it too."

Zhao Ji forced a smile and said, "I've long forgotten that little thing from back then. Thank you for your magnanimity, Brother Zi'an."

The Empress Dowager watched the two exchange words with cold eyes, increasingly feeling that the grudges from back then were not simple, but now was not the time to delve into them.

After calming herself down, the Empress Dowager smiled at the father and son and said, "I really don't know what happened back then, but Zian and Ji'er were both young boys at the time. The grudges between young boys are probably not that big. It was just a child's quarrel."

"Now that we've all grown up, what happened back then is no longer a big deal. If we let such a small thing cause us to miss each other and even jeopardize important matters, I'm sure you'll all feel regretful. What do you think?"

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled and said, "What the Empress Dowager says is very true, and I wholeheartedly agree. I have long since let go of that little matter from back then."

Zhao Ji forced a smile and nodded. Now that he was behaving himself, he no longer mentioned the fake alliance between the father and son and the Empress Dowager.

Whether it's true or false doesn't matter. If you don't take it seriously and still treat them as enemies, constantly on guard against them, then it will always be a lie.

Zhao Ji forced a smile, but he was still not even twenty years old and not yet adept at social skills. His smile was so fake that Zhao Xiaoqian could hardly bear to look at him.

However, the Empress Dowager's reaction today caught Zhao Xiaoqian's attention.

This woman is indeed extraordinary. In order to gain the support of the father and son, she did not ask about the reasons or the truth, and immediately and decisively ordered Zhao Ji to apologize. Judging from her attitude, if the father and son were still not satisfied, she would probably not hesitate to stage a self-inflicted injury with Zhao Ji.

As expected of a woman who fought her way out of the deep palace, her decisiveness in killing is no less than that of men.

With Empress Dowager Xiang's strong intervention, the old grudges between Zhao Xiaoqian and Zhao Ji were thus brought to a close, or at least superficially.

Adults don't care about grudges; they only care about their own interests.

Then, looking at the chuckling Zhao Hao, she said calmly, "I can see it now. What you and your son said earlier about supporting Prince Duan was probably not true. Were you just trying to appease me? Perhaps you have other plans in mind?"

Faced with the Empress Dowager's questioning, which was both gentle and firm, Zhao Hao remained calm and said with a smile, "I dare not lie to Your Majesty. I was indeed somewhat perfunctory just now. It's mainly because the two children are not very sensible and still hold grudges about what happened back then. As their elder, it's not appropriate for me to interfere..."

The Empress Dowager's lips curled slightly, and she parted her red lips: "And now? Do the Prince of Chu and Zi'an still have other plans?"

Zhao Hao's expression gradually became serious, and he slowly said, "What I said just now was perfunctory. Now I only want to ask, what will my son and I gain if we support Prince Duan?"

After a pause, Zhao Hao continued, "After all, the grudges from back then are still a hurdle. My son and I don't know if Prince Duan will be able to let go of this matter after he ascends the throne. Otherwise, if he takes us down first after he ascends the throne, wouldn't it be too foolish for us to support him?"

The Empress Dowager unconsciously sat up straight and said earnestly, "I can guarantee that if Ji'er ascends the throne, he will give you and your son important positions and will never harm you. If Ji'er breaks his oath, I am willing to die with you."

Zhao Hao looked terrified and said, "Your Majesty is too kind. I would never dare to implicate Your Majesty in the slightest."

At this moment, Zhao Ji interjected, "Didn't His Majesty bestow upon Brother Zi'an a certificate of merit? It has words engraved on it: if future emperors of the Great Song Dynasty harm the Prince of Chu and his descendants, then the emperor's ascension to the throne is illegitimate, Heaven will not protect him, and the whole world may rebel."

"The Emperor has made such a solemn vow; I dare not disobey the order in the slightest."

Zhao Xiaoqian said lazily, "Prince Duan, let's talk about something practical. You and I both know that this thing can't save your life at all. I personally dealt with the Chai family. We're all sensible people, so let's not bring up the imperial edict."

Before Zhao Ji could speak, Empress Dowager Xiang's expression grew increasingly serious, mixed with a hint of excitement.

She knew that Zhao Hao and his son had only agreed to support Prince Duan so readily to appease her, and might even be planning to stab Zhao Ji in the back at a crucial moment.

But now the father and son are seriously negotiating terms with Zhao Ji, which shows that they are serious this time. If they can reach an agreement and Zhao Ji shows sincerity, the father and son might actually support him.

Before Zhao Ji could speak, the Empress Dowager immediately interjected, "Ji'er, think carefully before you speak. Your Uncle Chu and Brother Zi'an still have concerns. Show your sincerity and dispel their concerns, and the matter can be accomplished."

(End of this chapter)