The prince is more stable

Chapter 780 The End is Approaching
Zhao Xu is critically ill, and the court in Bianjing is thrown into chaos.

Although most people knew the outcome, when the day arrived, the courtiers were still heavy-hearted, and many spontaneously gathered outside Yanfu Palace, lingering and weeping.

Emperor Zhao Xu was considered relatively capable among the emperors of the Song Dynasty; he basically did not do anything foolish or incompetent.

During his reign, the Song Dynasty quietly rose to prominence, not only defeating the Western Xia and the Liao Dynasty, reversing the century-long decline of the Song Dynasty, but more importantly, recovering the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, which had been longed for by emperors of all dynasties.

These achievements are substantial and impressive enough to impress any emperor.

Although most of the achievements were made by Zhao Xiaoqian, Zhao Xu was the emperor, and he was also the owner of these achievements.

Now that Zhao Xu is critically ill, the court officials are all reminiscing about his life, and everyone in Bianjing who hears this is filled with sorrow.

Outside the Privy Council, Zhao Xiaoqian returned from the palace gate. He had also waited outside the Yanfu Palace for a while earlier.

Zhao Xu is still in a coma. The palace has tightened its security measures, prohibiting anyone from entering or leaving, including court officials.

Zhao Xiaoqian stood blankly outside the palace gate for a while, chatting absentmindedly with his colleagues for a few minutes before realizing that more than two hours had passed.

So Zhao Xiaoqian had no choice but to turn back. When he was almost outside the Privy Council, he paused for a moment, then continued walking straight toward the Chu King's residence.

Because of Zhao Xu's coma, Zhao Xiaoqian has not been home for several days. Today he still needs to go back to take a bath and change into clean official clothes.

It was almost dark when Zhao Xiaoqian returned to the Prince's Mansion and found it unusually quiet.

There was no laughter or frolicking in the backyard, no debauchery or revelry between the father and his concubines; the vast courtyard was as quiet as a graveyard.

Zhao Xiaoqian tiptoed to his father's courtyard and found Zhao Hao sitting alone in the courtyard, lost in thought. He looked up at the starry sky, his eyes solemn and heavy.

“Father…” Zhao Xiaoqian called softly.

Zhao Hao snapped out of his reverie and said, "He's back? The Emperor..."

Zhao Xiaoqian shook his head: "He's still unconscious, and he probably... won't last much longer."

Zhao Hao sighed and said with a wry smile, "I don't know why, but my Zhao imperial family is not blessed by Heaven. Few emperors throughout history have lived long lives. However, Your Majesty died at only twenty-something years old..."

"Perhaps it is indeed as the folk legend says, that my Zhao family obtained the country illegitimately, seizing the throne from an orphan and a widow, and therefore this is the retribution that should befall us for generations."

Zhao Xiaoqian pursed his lips. He couldn't refute these words because they were true.

Looking at the silent night sky, Zhao Hao said calmly, "The imperial physician said that His Majesty would not survive this winter. Now, with only a few days left until New Year's Eve, he ultimately did not make it."

Zhao Xiaoqian suddenly said, "Father, after Emperor Shenzong passed away, the Empress Dowager intended for you to ascend the throne, but the court officials opposed it, and the Emperor was allowed to ascend the throne anyway. Don't you hate the Emperor?"

Zhao Hao shook his head: "Why would I hate a child, a junior? Everything in the world has its own rules and regulations. Those court officials did nothing wrong. My resentment over the years stems from not getting what I wanted. I don't know what I was thinking back then, but I just wanted to take back the throne."

Zhao Xiaoqian sighed and said, "Father, you can now take action to obtain what you desire. However, chaos in the palace should not lead to chaos in the world. I do not wish for the people to suffer because of this matter."

Zhao Hao nodded: "That's natural. What we're doing has nothing to do with the common people; it's aimed at the court. Qian'er, if you ascend the throne in the future, do more practical things for the people. The struggle between the old and new governments has lasted for decades and must end. If things continue to be chaotic, it will damage the foundation of the country, and the burden on the people is not light either."

Zhao Xiaoqian laughed: "Father, are you so sure we can seize the throne? Maybe we'll fail at the last minute and have to flee in panic."

Zhao Hao laughed: "That's alright. If we fail, I'll give up and follow you for the rest of my life. I'll eat whatever you eat. With our abilities, we won't starve no matter where we are... If nothing unexpected happens, your generals should have secured a piece of territory for you in Japan by now, right?"

"Perhaps so. That is our last resort. If we are defeated, we will flee to Japan, recruit soldiers, occupy the whole of Japan, kill all the able-bodied men there, and buy more Han Chinese from merchants to cross the sea to Japan. We can also be emperors and have some fun."

Zhao Hao glanced at him curiously: "Such a strong killing intent. Did the Japanese offend you?"

Zhao Xiaoqian blinked: "They offended me in my child's dream. They killed tens of millions of Chinese people. It's a blood feud."

Zhao Hao was taken aback and subconsciously shook his head: "The Eastern Yi are a small country, a foreign vassal state. How could they dare to invade my China, let alone kill tens of millions of my people? You little bastard, do you understand what tens of millions of people means? Have you ever seen one? Your dream is too fake."

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled wryly: "Is it too fake? I think it's very real..."

The father and son chatted about everything under the sun, saying whatever came to mind.

Before he knew it, the night had deepened. Zhao Xiaoqian yawned and was about to go to sleep.

Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps were heard. A maid stood outside the courtyard with a flustered expression and reported, "Your Highness, Your Highness, someone from the palace has arrived. They say that the Emperor has woken up and summons Your Highness to the palace for an audience."

Zhao Xiaoqian was taken aback, quickly got up and walked outside, asking as he went, "When did His Majesty wake up? How is his health?"

The maidservant trotted behind, shaking her head, seemingly unaware.

Upon exiting the front courtyard of the Prince's Mansion, a eunuch was waiting outside. A carriage belonging to the Prince's Mansion was also parked outside the gate, with Chen Shou and other imperial guards standing beside it.

Zhao Xiaoqian immediately boarded the carriage and beckoned the eunuchs to come along as well. Then the coachman cracked his whip, and the carriage sped toward the palace gate. A moment later, the carriage arrived outside the palace gate, where many court officials were still gathered in the open space. Perhaps having heard the news of the emperor's awakening, the officials had different expressions; some were happy, and some were worried.

Those who were happy naturally felt relieved, while those who were worried believed that this was a sign of the emperor's dying breath and not a good omen.

Zhao Xiaoqian alighted from the carriage. Before he could greet the court officials, the palace gates opened a crack, and amidst the envious and jealous gazes of the officials, Zhao Xiaoqian slipped inside quickly.

As soon as they entered the palace gate, they were greeted by Zheng Chunhe.

Zheng Chunhe looked grief-stricken tonight, his face still wet with tears. Zhao Xiaoqian was taken aback for a moment, then hurriedly stepped forward and asked, "Eunuch Zheng, how is His Majesty?"

Zheng Chunhe choked back tears and shook his head, saying, "Your Highness, please go to the Funing Palace quickly. The Emperor has woken up, but..."

"But what?"

"The imperial physician said that His Majesty is nearing the end of his life and his time is almost up." Zheng Chunhe couldn't help but cry out.

"Knowing that his time was near, the Emperor did not summon anyone after waking up, not even the Prime Minister Zhang Dun. Instead, the first person he wanted to see was you."

Zhao Xiaoqian grew increasingly anxious and, without saying a word, ran towards Funing Palace, with Zheng Chunhe staggering behind him.

The palace is governed by strict etiquette. Normally, such a mad dash would have resulted in Zhao Xiaoqian being apprehended and punished by the palace guards. However, tonight was different. Zheng Chunhe followed behind, constantly signaling to the patrolling guards not to obstruct him. Zhao Xiaoqian thus ran all the way to the outside of Funing Palace.

After catching his breath outside the hall, he saw the imperial physicians, palace maids, and eunuchs frequently coming and going inside, all with sorrowful expressions.

Zhao Xiaoqian stepped into the hall and came to Zhao Xu's bedside.

After a few days apart, Zhao Xu had lost a lot of weight, his eyes were sunken, and his complexion was as pale as paper, with only his chest rising and falling slightly.

The air was filled with a strong smell of medicine, and several imperial physicians stood dejectedly to the side, looking utterly defeated.

Walking to Zhao Xu's bedside, looking at the weak Zhao Xu on the bed, Zhao Xiaoqian couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness, and his eyes immediately reddened.

"Your Majesty, I have arrived..." Zhao Xiaoqian called out softly.

Zhao Xu, still in a daze, opened his eyes and turned his head to see Zhao Xiaoqian kneeling in front of his bed. Zhao Xu forced a smile.

"Zi'an is here..." Zhao Xu's voice was weak and hoarse.

"His Majesty has woken up. With proper rest and recuperation, he will surely recover well," Zhao Xiaoqian said, offering meaningless words of comfort.

Zhao Xu gave a self-deprecating laugh and said, "It's beyond repair. At a time like this, why does Zi'an still need to lie to me..."

Zhao Xiaoqian sighed sadly, lowered his head, and could not speak.

Zhao Xu looked up and saw many palace maids and imperial physicians standing in the hall, so he waved his hand to order everyone to leave the hall.

Only the emperor and his minister remained in the hall. Zhao Xu sighed and said, "Zi'an, help me sit up. I have no strength left."

Zhao Xiaoqian felt a pang of sadness again. He wrapped his arms around Zhao Xu's body, helped him up, and leaned his upper body against the edge of the bed.

The simple act of sitting up seemed to have exhausted his strength. Leaning against the bed, he panted for a long time before saying with a wry smile, "There are still many things I want to do in this life, but unfortunately, my body is really not cooperating."

"I have enjoyed a lifetime of wealth and honor, but I still died with regrets. Zian, the things I want to do are now in your hands."

Zhao Xiaoqian lowered his head and said, "Your Majesty, I will fulfill your long-cherished wish. If I have the opportunity and if I can gain the trust of the court, I am willing to lead the army to sweep away the north, destroy Liao and Xia, and unify the world for the Great Song."

Zhao Xu closed his eyes and remained silent for a long time before saying, "I failed you back then, but I still have to say that if time could turn back, I would probably make the same decision."

"Zi'an, since the founding of the Great Song Dynasty, all emperors have been wary of military generals and extremely cautious about military power. Emperor Taizu himself was a military general who seized the throne, and he knew all too well how terrifying ambitions military generals could develop once they had military power."

"Zi'an, at the height of your military power, you commanded 100,000 troops, all equipped with the most powerful firearms. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that you had the most elite army in the Song Dynasty. As a subject, you possessed such terrifying power. Any emperor would be afraid. Zi'an, can you understand this?"

Zhao Xiaoqian nodded and said frankly, "I understand, so when His Majesty asked me to return to the capital, I returned immediately."

Zhao Xu smiled: "Actually, after returning to the capital, you were also uncertain, weren't you? You were afraid of following in Di Qing's footsteps, so before returning to the capital, you sent your family and wives away. You also transferred five thousand soldiers, including your general Zhang Rong, from Yanyun to escort your family and wives to Japan."

"The Emperor knows?"

Zhao Xu hummed in agreement and said, "Of course I knew. I just pretended not to know at the time. Your return is the greatest sign of your loyalty to me. You can understand why I was suspicious of you, so I can understand why you sent your family and wives away."

"Zi'an, in my life I have always treated others with empathy and have never wronged anyone, except you. But I have no choice but to do so."

"Zi'an, I still want to apologize to you..."

(End of this chapter)