Song Xiu

Chapter 28 Your Majesty is willing to assist you in achieving your goal.

Every word Zhao Dexiu said deeply moved Wei Renpu.

His disciples, like him, had the world in their hearts.

Zhao Dexiu's ambition made Wei Renpu unable to suppress his excitement.

As the eldest son of the emperor, one should have such aspirations.

It's time to take action.

Wei Renpu stood up and came to Zhao Dexiu's side. Before Zhao Dexiu could react, he bowed to him and said:

"Your Majesty, I am willing to serve as your advisor and assist you in achieving your goal!"

In ancient astronomical theories, Zuoyuan was one of the guardian stars of Ziwei.

Faced with Wei Renpu's bow, Zhao Dexiu, who was always modest, did not back down this time.

Wei Renpu has already shown that he is willing to give everything for him. If he continues to back down at this time, he will only disappoint Wei Renpu.

After Wei Renpu finished bowing, Zhao Dexiu quickly got up and helped him up.

"Lord Wei, please have a seat."

After being helped to sit down by Zhao Dexiu, Wei Renpu immediately spoke up:
"Your Highness's most pressing matter should be planning your departure from the palace."

Upon hearing Wei Renpu's suggestion, Zhao Dexiu appropriately showed a hint of surprise.

Wei Renpu could understand Zhao Dexiu's surprise.

When he first arrived at Yande Palace, he said to Zhao Dexiu, "I hope Your Highness will uphold virtue and conduct yourself with the diligence of a scholar, working tirelessly day and night, and never deviating from the duties of a son."

Zhao Dexiu had done very well in this aspect under his guidance some time ago.

As a prince, there are two paths to officially become the crown prince: the path of the king and the path of the tyrant.

What Wei Renpu taught Zhao Dexiu before was the way of the king.

But the situation has changed now.

Previously, Wei Renpu thought that Zhao Dexiu's competitors for the crown prince position were Zhao Dezhao and Zhao Defang, but those two princes were far inferior to Zhao Dexiu in age and ability.

Under these circumstances, Wei Renpu naturally recommended that Zhao Dexiu take the path of benevolence, so that he could ascend to the throne with the advantage of popular support.

After realizing Zhao Guangyi's ambition, Wei Renpu immediately changed his mind.

Judging from Yao Shu's behavior, this was not the first time Zhao Guangyi had secretly colluded with ministers, and it is very likely that Zhao Guangyi's power was expanding rapidly in secret.

Under these circumstances, Zhao Dexiu had no choice but to prioritize taking the domineering path.

Zhao Guangyi's matter could not be told to Zhao Dexiu at the moment, so Wei Renpu carefully considered his words and explained:

"There are undercurrents in the palace. As a prince, Your Highness is under the spotlight and many things you do will be restricted."

Currently, the imperial city has, in some ways, hindered His Highness's growth.

If that's the case, then we should make a clean break.

Your Highness should not linger in the splendor of the palace. If you can leave the palace as soon as possible and recruit heroes, Your Highness will be like a dragon entering the East Sea, and the day of your soaring flight will be just around the corner.

What Wei Renpu didn't know was that his thoughts were exactly what Zhao Dexiu was thinking.

"What Lord Wei said is absolutely right. In chaotic times, wealth and honor must be protected by strength."

If I wish to smoothly ascend to the throne, I must first possess the strength to do so.

Zhao Dexiu's words brought a smile to Wei Renpu's face—truly a talent fit for an emperor, understanding things so quickly.

However, Zhao Dexiu quickly raised a concern:
"As His Majesty's eldest son, it is not an easy thing for me to leave the palace and establish my own residence in haste."

Zhao Dexiu's concerns are quite reasonable.

For the eldest son of the emperor to leave the palace and establish his own residence would be a major political event in any dynasty or era, and it would not be an easy thing to accomplish.

Wei Renpu had already considered Zhao Dexiu's concerns.

"Your Highness need not worry. There is a way to allow Your Highness to leave the palace smoothly."

If I remember correctly, Your Highness will soon be sixteen years old?

In response to Wei Renpu's question, Zhao Dexiu nodded.

He was born in the second year of the Kaiyun era of the Jin Dynasty, and according to the traditional Chinese age reckoning, he would be almost sixteen years old. After receiving confirmation from Zhao Dexiu, Wei Renpu became even more confident in his calculations:
"Your Highness, do you know that according to the customs of the Han and Tang dynasties, princes could get married at the age of sixteen?"

According to the established rites, a prince must establish his own residence outside the palace after marriage!

Wei Renpu was talking about something that many people in the world already knew.

Zhao Dexiu had long been planning to leave the palace; how could he not have thought of this before?

However, achieving this is not so easy.

The difficulty in this matter lies in the fact that Zhao Dexiu has no power to persuade Zhao Kuangyin to speak on his behalf.

Marriages in that era were arranged by parents and matchmakers, not to mention that Zhao Dexiu was the eldest son of the emperor, whose status was sensitive.

Constrained by the traditions of his time, Zhao Dexiu, as a son, could not, like in later generations, simply present a girl to Zhao Kuangyin and declare his intention to marry her.
If he really did that, not to mention whether Zhao Kuangyin would be furious, his reputation for being "frivolous" would be forever tarnished.

Of course, there are ways to solve this problem.

Upon noticing Zhao Dexiu's predicament, Wei Renpu's eyes revealed a kind expression.

"Do not worry, do not worry, I am here!"

"I will leave the palace tomorrow to meet with Your Highness to arrange this matter."

Since entering Yande Palace, Wei Renpu has never stepped out of the palace gates.

It wasn't that Wei Renpu's freedom was restricted by Zhao Kuangyin, but rather that Wei Renpu knew that Zhao Kuangyin had been in charge of the Privy Council for many years and had considerable influence over the army.

Staying in the palace would lessen Zhao Kuangyin's suspicion of him.

Now that things have come to this, it's time for his old bones to go out for a walk!

Wei Renpu spoke softly, but his words weighed as heavily as a boulder in Zhao Dexiu's heart.

Zhao Dexiu knew that Wei Renpu would be leaving the palace the next day, and that he planned to use the power behind him to speak out for him.

Zhao Dexiu's planning over the past few days was all aimed at seeing if Wei Renpu would take this step.

Indeed, based on their previous interactions, Zhao Dexiu felt that Wei Renpu genuinely regarded him as a disciple.

But that wasn't enough; Zhao Dexiu wanted more.

Zhao Dexiu knew in his heart that Zhao Guangyi must have been secretly developing his power, and that Zhao Guangyi's political talent was by no means ordinary.

Zhao Dexiu remained cautious and careful in the face of this potentially formidable adversary, fearing that he might reveal any weakness.

Zhao Dexiu greatly admired Wei Renpu's talent and character. Zhao Dexiu knew that he needed to treat Wei Renpu as his most important and trusted strategist in order to grow rapidly.

Choosing a strategist was a matter of life and death, and the bond between master and disciple alone was not enough to put Zhao Dexiu at ease.

The master-disciple relationship would allow Wei Renpu and Zhao Dexiu to share both honor and disgrace, but most of the time it was just that—sharing both honor and disgrace.

What Zhao Dexiu wanted was a strategist with whom he could share life and death!
What does it mean to be inseparable in life and death?

When Wei Renpu used all the power behind him to assist him, then he and Wei Renpu became inseparable, bound by life and death.

In the struggle for succession, the victor may forgive the loser's teacher, but will never let go of the key figures in the loser's faction!
At this moment, Zhao Dexiu felt the joy of a successful plan, and even more so, gratitude towards Wei Renpu.

With a few tears in her eyes, Zhao Dexiu got up and knelt down heavily in front of Wei Renpu.

Zhao Dexiu acted quickly; by the time Wei Renpu reacted, Zhao Dexiu was already kneeling in front of him.

This greatly surprised Wei Renpu, who had just submitted to Zhao Dexiu. How could he possibly accept Zhao Dexiu's kneeling?

Wei Renpu's first reaction was to get up and run away, but Zhao Dexiu had already anticipated his thoughts. Zhao Dexiu reached out and pressed Wei Renpu back into his seat, then bowed his head in sincere worship to Wei Renpu.

Heaven, Earth, Ruler, Parents, Teacher – Zhao Dexiu was performing the long-overdue apprenticeship ceremony to Wei Renpu.

The apprenticeship ceremony performed by Zhao Dexiu was the most solemn of its time.

Zhao Dexiu knew that Wei Renpu was worthy of the title.

After bowing three times, Zhao Dexiu looked up at Wei Renpu and respectfully addressed him as "Teacher!"

Zhao Dexiu's call of "teacher" brought tears to Wei Renpu's eyes.

Wei Renpu reached out and patted Zhao Dexiu's still somewhat immature shoulder:

"If you are like the Purple Star, I will be like the Left Wall, wholeheartedly protecting you, as inseparable as the sun and moon!"

　Interested readers can try to guess who the protagonist's wife will be!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)