Chapter 118: A Guilty Conscience

Emperor Shenzong of Song had six sons. Zhao Xu is the current Emperor. Among the remaining five, Prince Mu, Zhao Qi, is the eldest. According to the principle of "prioritizing the eldest over the virtuous," Zhao Qi was the most likely successor. However, Prince Xian, Zhao Si, was born to the Noble Consort Zhu and is the biological brother of Emperor Zhao Xu, giving him a strong claim as well. Prince Duan, Zhao Ji, falls in the middle, making his prospects seem less likely than the other two.

"Prince Mu, Zhao Qi, has an eye ailment," He Zhizhong replied mysteriously when Li Sanjian voiced his doubts.

"An eye ailment?" Li Sanjian asked, surprised.

"Indeed. If he cannot see, how can he inherit the mandate of heaven?" He Zhizhong continued.

That is not necessarily true, Li Sanjian thought to himself after understanding the nature of the ailment. It is just some "nearsightedness," is it not? He is not blind. In this era, lighting sources like oil lamps, candles, and pine torches are quite harsh on the eyes; it is not rare for scholars to suffer from some form of ocular affliction. To use this as a pretext seems quite far-fetched.

"Hanjin, what do you think we should do at this juncture?" After a long silence, Zhao Ji asked.

How should I know? Li Sanjian wondered. He had not even fully grasped the complexities of the situation yet, so how could he devise a strategy? However, since Zhao Ji had asked, he intended to share his thoughts. A staff member of a prince’s mansion could not just take money and do nothing.

"Did Master He not mention that when the mother is flourishing, the son is healthy?" Li Sanjian thought for a moment, then pointed toward the Imperial Palace. "In that case, Your Highness’s path forward lies entirely in that direction."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ji exchanged a glance with He Zhizhong, then clapped his hands and laughed. "Hanjin is truly a man of insight."

"Your Highness is correct," He Zhizhong agreed admiringly. "Li Hanjin is indeed extraordinary; his vision is remarkably keen."

Through his study of the palace records, Li Sanjian had learned that the Song dynasty had a tradition, or convention, of "ruling from behind the curtain." According to Song law, when an emperor was too young or severely ill, the Empress Dowager could act upon the late emperor's testament or the request of high officials to preside over state affairs, compensating for the flaws in the hereditary system to ensure a smooth transition of power.

Since the founding of the dynasty, this practice was established at the start of Emperor Renzong's reign. Before Emperor Zhenzong passed away, considering the young age of the successor, he left an imperial decree entrusting state and military affairs to the Empress Dowager. When Renzong ascended the throne at twelve, unable to govern, the ministers deliberated and, after some complications, established the practice of the Empress Dowager ruling from behind the curtain as a permanent institution.

Therefore, Li Sanjian believed that the key to Zhao Ji’s succession lay within the palace, specifically with the Empress Dowager. Although Noble Consort Zhu was the biological mother of Emperor Zhao Xu, she held only the status of a noble consort; the legal mother of Zhao Xu was Empress Dowager Xiang, the mistress of the inner palace.

Li Sanjian had seen this, but in truth, Zhao Ji and He Zhizhong had long realized this crucial point and had already begun acting upon it, sparing no effort to win the favor of Empress Dowager Xiang. This was the only course of action currently available to Zhao Ji. The two were simply surprised that Li Sanjian had hit the nail on the head so precisely.

Could what Zhao Xu said be true? Zhao Ji wondered to himself. He Zhizhong was also stunned; despite this man's youth, he was not to be underestimated. How many people in this world possessed such discernment?

"Although Li Hanjin is clear-sighted," He Zhizhong added, "I must warn you: this matter is of great consequence. Do not breathe a word of this to anyone."

Li Sanjian nodded. "My life and the lives of my family depend on this. I would not dare to be careless or slack in the slightest. Your Highness and Master He may rest assured."

From this day forward, Li Sanjian and his family were tied to Zhao Ji’s chariot. Their fates were bound together—prospering or perishing as one—and there was no room for error.

Li Sanjian's reply left Zhao Ji extremely satisfied. He could hardly believe the man was only seventeen; he was incredibly shrewd. Even some mediocre elders would likely be no match for him, Zhao Ji thought.

***

"Master He, there is still one thing I do not understand. Could you enlighten me?" After they stepped away, Li Sanjian asked He Zhizhong privately.

"Pray, speak, Li Hanjin," He Zhizhong said.

"Earlier, you mentioned that my actions at the Fengle Tower hindered His Highness. I still do not understand how."

"His Highness has been biding his time and hiding his light. With your intelligence, have you not realized this?" He Zhizhong asked in return.

So that was it, Li Sanjian realized. No wonder Zhao Ji appeared to be obsessed with calligraphy, painting, and exotic flowers, acting in such an eccentric manner—it was a ruse to deceive others. By making people think he was wasting his life on trivialities, he lowered their vigilance. This was certainly the best strategy for Zhao Ji at present, but what confused Li Sanjian was that Zhao Ji’s love for the arts seemed genuine, not something that could be easily faked.

What exactly was going on? Li Sanjian fell into deep thought.

***

Emperor Song usually traveled in state carriages or litters; royal relatives primarily used litters or carriages; officials used palanquins or carriages; while commoners, scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants relied on horses or carts. Owning a horse or a carriage was a sign of considerable wealth.

To gain the support of the Khitan, Shi Jingtang of the Later Jin had ceded the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun. Since then, the Central Plains had not only lost a vital horse-breeding region but also lay completely exposed to the Khitan cavalry. Without the strategic barrier of Yanyun, the north was a constant threat, and the strategic situation for the Song had been passive since its inception.

Both Emperor Taizu and Emperor Taizong had exhausted themselves in failed attempts to recover these lands. Recovering Yanyun was the political ideal of every emperor since Taizu, a sacred pillar that no one could openly deny. Emperor Shenzong had sought to fulfill this ancestral ambition, aiming to restore the glory of the Han and Tang dynasties, but he died prematurely, leaving his goal unfulfilled. Before he passed, he had left a will: whoever recovered the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun would be granted a royal title, regardless of their background.

Li Sanjian flicked the reins, slowly riding his horse through a busy market in the outer city of Kaifeng. After several months of practice, he could manage a horse reasonably well, provided he didn't attempt high-difficulty maneuvers. Riding in a crowded market required control to avoid injuring pedestrians, which would lead to immediate arrest.

However, Li Sanjian was distracted. As he rode, pedestrians scattered, looking curiously at the handsome young man who seemed lost in thought. The struggle for succession was, in his mind, unimaginably cruel—a fight to the death where one mistake meant total ruin. He wondered how he had ended up in such a precarious position. If he won, it would be a triumph for all; if he failed, even if he survived, his future would be bleak. He longed to take his mother back to Qiongtai, Danzhou, and spend his life selling seafood rather than staying in the treacherous capital.

"Li Sanjian! You... where are you going? Do you think you can hide from me forever?" A familiar female voice rang out.

Li Sanjian was startled. He looked up to see a beautiful young woman on a small donkey, glaring at him angrily. It was none other than Li Qingzhao.

Li Sanjian nearly fell off his horse. He pretended not to hear her and flicked the reins, intending to flee. He felt guilty—like a thief caught in the act. Rumors had spread that his time in the detention center was due to a drunken brawl in a brothel over a woman, and with Fu Erniang having sought Li Qingzhao’s help, he could not bear to face her.

As Li Sanjian urged his horse away, Li Qingzhao grew even more frustrated. She couldn't understand why he kept avoiding her, as if she had done something wrong. She was determined to confront him. She closed her parasol and urged her donkey to give chase.

Normally, a donkey could not outrun a horse. But in the crowded market, where the streets were packed, Li Sanjian dared not gallop. In such a crush, a powerful horse was less maneuverable than a small donkey.

"Li... Qing'er? What are you doing here? Haha..." Li Sanjian asked, laughing awkwardly as she blocked his path.

"Quiet!" Li Qingzhao retorted, arms akimbo. "Is 'Qing'er' a name for you to use?"