The prince is more stable

Chapter 808 Showdown Revealed
Regardless of social class or background, one should always be mindful of how family members interact when they meet.

Especially for a widowed sister-in-law and her brother-in-law, it's best not to let them be alone together, as it's easy for something to go wrong.

It seems that Empress Dowager Xiang and Zhao Hao are about to get into trouble.

Zhao Hao came to the palace today prepared; he had a clear purpose.

Approaching Empress Dowager Xiang and sitting side by side with her, Zhao Hao deliberately created opportunities for physical contact, and his actions became increasingly excessive.

Empress Dowager Xiang was furious and humiliated. She never imagined that Zhao Hao would treat her so disrespectfully.

She is the current Empress Dowager. Even after the new emperor ascends the throne, she will still be the Empress Dowager, her noble position will remain unchanged. How could Zhao Hao dare to do that?

Zhao Hao's unusual behavior completely surprised Empress Dowager Xiang. At this moment, she had an urge to shout for palace servants to come in and protect her, but she swallowed the words back down.

She didn't dare, because she cared about her reputation.

If news of the Empress Dowager being harassed were to spread, even if she had done nothing wrong, she would inevitably face criticism from the court and the public, and her reputation would be tarnished. How could she then have the face to remain in the position of Empress Dowager?

Wouldn't all the glory and wealth of this life be destroyed in a single day?

"Zhao Hao, you've gone too far!" Empress Dowager Xiang's beautiful face was frosty, and she glared at him coldly: "How dare you be disrespectful to me? Do you really think the Song Dynasty will perish without you, Prince Chu and your son?"

Zhao Hao's plump face was full of sincerity: "I have admired Your Majesty for many years. If I could have the pleasure of being with you, I would die without regret. Your Majesty, considering my long-cherished feelings, why not grant my wish today? Is that alright?"

The Empress Dowager was furious: "How dare you! Do you take me for one of those shameless women in brothels? Zhao Hao, have you considered the consequences?"

Zhao Hao chuckled: "What consequences? Will Zhao Ji issue an edict to kill my father and me after he ascends the throne tomorrow? Haha, I'm not afraid."

The Empress Dowager gritted her teeth and said, "Zhao Hao, if you stop now, I can still pretend that nothing happened today, and we will still be relatives. But if you do not restrain yourself and insist on going your own way, then don't blame me..."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhao Hao suddenly wrapped his large hand around the Empress Dowager's slender waist and pulled her tightly into his arms.

The Empress Dowager gasped in surprise, but her body involuntarily fell into his arms.

The situation is getting more and more serious. The Empress Dowager has been widowed for many years and enjoys wealth and luxury. Who would dare to be so disrespectful to her?

Having absolutely no experience in handling this situation, she was stunned and completely at a loss for how to react when Zhao Hao held her in his arms.

Zhao Hao stared at the Empress Dowager in his arms and smiled with a look of lust: "Does the Empress Dowager mean to accuse me of having an affair with her? No problem, go ahead and accuse me. Even if I can't be a loving couple with the Empress Dowager, being a pair of illegitimate lovers who will be cursed for all time will at least satisfy my lifelong wish."

The Empress Dowager's expression grew increasingly flustered, her mind racing.

After all, she was a noble figure who had emerged from the power struggles of the palace. At this moment, she was able to remain calm. Recalling Zhao Hao's confident tone just now, a sense of foreboding gradually crept into her heart.

This is not right!
Tomorrow is Zhao Ji's enthronement ceremony, and Zhao Hao actually dared to enter the palace today to make indecent advances towards her. Obviously, he has some powerful backing, otherwise a normal person would not do such a thing.

His support system was sure to protect his and his son's lives. Even the Empress Dowager and the Emperor's power could do nothing to them, otherwise, how could he dare to do such a shocking and shameful thing?

Thinking of this, the Empress Dowager felt a chill run down her spine and couldn't help but feel terrified.

After Zhao Xu's death, Empress Dowager Xiang was deeply involved in the court's decision on choosing an heir, and the current outcome can be said to be orchestrated by her.

Why was she so actively involved in establishing a new emperor?

Because she also has her own interests to pursue, she needs to maintain her current status and honor, and she needs a stable harem and court so that she can live a life of wealth and honor until old age, while also benefiting her maternal relatives.

But Zhao Hao's current actions clearly show that he no longer cares about the suppression of imperial power. In other words, the supreme imperial power can no longer control him.

This fact made the Empress Dowager feel terrified. What people or things in the world could not be suppressed by imperial power? What exactly did Zhao Hao rely on?
While her mind was a jumbled mess of thoughts, Zhao Hao had one arm around her waist, but his other hand...

The Empress Dowager grew increasingly horrified and immediately began to struggle violently, shouting, "Zhao Hao, you are becoming more and more audacious! Tell me, what exactly do you rely on? If I cry out for help, neither of us will escape unscathed!"

Zhao Hao's hands continued moving. He sneered, "Let me correct you. It is you who will suffer the consequences, while I am safe and sound. If you don't believe me, Empress Dowager, feel free to cry for help. I didn't try to silence you."

Such forceful and audacious words only made the Empress Dowager more wary...

Now she was increasingly certain that Zhao Hao must have some kind of backing. Behind this backing, there might even be a larger and deeper conspiracy.

"Zhao Hao, we have no enmity or grudge over the years. I have treated your Chu lineage well, so why are you so disrespectful to me? Don't you have any conscience?" the Empress Dowager said as she struggled. "Conscience? Your Majesty, you're talking to me about conscience? You supported Zhao Ji's ascension to the throne, and after using us, you and Zhao Ji probably planned to kick us aside, even fabricating charges to have us executed, right? Your Majesty, do you have any conscience?" Zhao Hao's eyes gradually turned red, revealing a hint of madness.

The Empress Dowager was shocked: "I, I didn't..."

"Haha, do you really think I'm a three-year-old child, so easily fooled? I've seen countless instances of the rabbit being killed after the hunt, since I was a child. How can I sit and wait for my death? Empress Dowager, you're also involved. Why don't you die with me? At least I can be a romantic ghost."

Seeing Zhao Hao becoming increasingly frantic, the Empress Dowager felt horrified and fearful from the bottom of her heart, and her resistance grew weaker and weaker.

Suddenly, Zhao Hao reached out and lifted the Empress Dowager horizontally, carrying her straight towards her bed in the palace.

The Empress Dowager struggled to her feet again, angrily shouting, "Zhao Hao, that's enough! If you continue, you won't be able to bear the consequences! Even if you want to die, think of your son and your grandson!"

Zhao Hao laughed loudly: "Empress Dowager, let me tell you another truth. Today, the people who need to worry about their lives are not me, but you and Zhao Ji!"

The Empress Dowager was deeply shaken. She knew that Zhao Hao's words were not a threat, nor were they baseless.

Behind Zhao Ji's ascension to the throne tomorrow, there must be a shocking conspiracy brewing, which may very well endanger her and Zhao Ji's lives.

While he was thinking, Zhao Hao threw her roughly onto the luxurious bed, then pressed his entire obese body down on top of her...

After a long while, the Empress Dowager lay on her bed, two lines of clear tears sliding down her cheeks as she silently sobbed.

Zhao Hao patted his round belly with satisfaction, looking completely content.

Seeing the Empress Dowager sobbing and glaring at him with resentment, Zhao Hao smiled indifferently, patted her shoulder, and said, "We're evenly matched, just scheming against each other. But I'm one step ahead. I won, and you lost."

The Empress Dowager's tone was icy as she wrapped a thin gauze cloak around her body and said coldly, "Zhao Hao, what exactly are you plotting?"

Zhao Hao said slowly, "I can't tell you the specifics, but I'll just remind you of one thing: if you want to live tomorrow, you must sever ties with Zhao Ji, otherwise... I really can't bear to see the beauty perish."

The Empress Dowager's body trembled: "You really do harbor ill intentions! You, you don't mean to..."

Zhao Hao put his arm around her shoulder, inhaled deeply the fragrance emanating from her body, and smiled contentedly: "Your Majesty, you have been widowed for many years, without a loving and caring man by your side. Are you really so satisfied with this extremely noble status and life?"

The word "Imperial Sister-in-law" caused the Empress Dowager to momentarily lose her composure.

Originally filled with disgust and resistance towards Zhao Hao, and just moments ago wishing she could tear him to pieces, the Empress Dowager didn't even realize that her feelings had subtly changed after everything that was supposed to happen between a man and a woman had taken place.

Zhao Hao's words struck at the most vulnerable part of her life. The solid wall of chastity she had built up over the years was beginning to crumble deep within her heart.

Yes, she has been widowed for many years, living a life of simplicity and detachment, and pretending to recite Taoist scriptures every day. But she is still a mortal with emotions and desires. Can she really spend her life in loneliness and desolation?
A man and a woman, spending the rest of their lives together, is the way of yin and yang in harmony.

Calming herself down, the Empress Dowager skipped over Zhao Hao's topic about men and women; that wasn't what she was most concerned about right now.

"Tell me, what exactly are you planning to do?" the Empress Dowager asked coldly.

Zhao Hao narrowed his eyes and smiled, "Do you want to get information out of me so you can prepare for it, salvage the situation, or fight to the death? Sister-in-law, it's too late now."

“My son, Xiaoqian, once said, ‘Even if I put the answer in front of you and let you copy it, you won’t get any points because there’s not enough time.’”

Leaning close to the Empress Dowager's ear, Zhao Hao's tone was as sinister as a cold wind: "The 100,000-strong army of Yan and Yun has approached Bianjing to celebrate Zhao Ji's enthronement ceremony tomorrow. Aren't you happy?"

The Empress Dowager was startled and exclaimed, "The Yan-Yun army? Zhao Xiaoqian mobilized them?... Didn't Zian already relinquish his military power? How could this be..."

Zhao Hao sneered: "Do you think military power is only about the tiger tally and imperial edicts for troop deployment? The loyalty of the soldiers is the most reliable thing."

"My son Xiaoqian has led his soldiers through years of hardship and shared life and death with his comrades. He single-handedly built up the troops of Yanyun. Do you really think that once he relinquishes his military power, he can no longer command the troops of Yanyun? Ha! How naive!"

"The current situation of the Great Song Dynasty, the expanded territory, and the recovered homeland are all thanks to my son. Do you think that everything will be fine once you take away his military power and you can reap the rewards? Zhao Xiaoqian is not Di Qing. He will not obediently stick out his head for you to cut off for the sake of so-called loyalty."

Zhao Hao suddenly grabbed the Empress Dowager's chin with one hand, his action was very rude and impolite, but his eyes were filled with a bit of madness as he stared at the Empress Dowager's still charming face.

"There's one more thing. After the new emperor was established, why has that old codger Zhang Dun, who was so vehemently opposed to Zhao Ji's ascension to the throne, suddenly fallen silent recently? You don't think that old codger has come to his senses and is willing to serve Zhao Ji, do you?"

"Tomorrow's coronation ceremony is destined to be a momentous event. Sister-in-law, I know what you want, but I also believe that you should know how to make choices in the face of life and death. If you still risk your life to protect Zhao Ji, I have nothing to say. It is a momentous event that will change the world. Whether one more or one less person dies, it doesn't matter."

(End of this chapter)