Chapter Sixty-Seven: A Blessing in Disguise

Liao Kingdom, Upper Capital.

Crash!

An exquisite porcelain bowl shattered as Emperor Tianzuo, in a fit of rage, hurled it to the ground.

“Outrageous! Those Song dogs dare to insult me so? If I do not avenge this humiliation, I am not fit to be called a man. Fengxian, assemble the army at once—I will destroy the Song!”

Xiao Fengxian, Duke of Lanling and Grand Marshal, was startled by the emperor’s outburst. With the Jurchens pressing threateningly from the north, how could they possibly muster the strength to attack the Song? They were lucky enough as it was that the Song hadn’t come to strike at them.

Still, he had to admit that Emperor Huizong of Song had gone too far. There was no issue with a political marriage, but to demote Prince Yi to commoner status beforehand—was that not a deliberate insult? Was a princess of Liao only fit to wed a Song commoner?

“Your Majesty, I beg you to temper your anger. Our armies are all engaged in the north, suppressing the Jurchens. Let the Song have their moment of arrogance—once we have dealt with the Jurchens, it will not be too late to settle the score.”

The emperor’s fury spent, Tianzuo regained his composure. He realized that the Jurchens were like cockroaches—no matter how hard they tried, they only grew stronger. They were the kingdom’s most pressing threat; only after they were subdued could anything else be considered.

He would have preferred to refuse this marriage alliance, but it was his mother’s order, and he could not disobey. Despite his usual muddled ways, Emperor Tianzuo was a filial son and never shirked his mother’s instructions. What he didn’t know was that Xiao Fengxian himself had been urged by his sister, Consort Xiao, to ensure the marriage went through.

Consort Xiao, recently arrived at court, had quickly become favored by the emperor. But with Empress Dowager Xiao presiding over the harem, she knew her position was far from secure. To keep her standing, she had to ingratiate herself with the empress dowager.

Xiao Yiyi’s parents were long gone; she had been raised by the empress dowager, cherished and spoiled as if she were the apple of her eye. Whatever she set her mind to, she always managed to accomplish.

Xiao Fengxian’s eyes flickered, and he suddenly smiled. “Your Majesty, as the Han say, the highest form of warfare is strategy. Since Emperor Huizong seeks to humiliate us, why not return the favor? There’s no need to anger yourself over it.”

“Oh? And what clever plan do you have? Speak, quickly!” The emperor, still seething, brightened instantly at the prospect of a solution.

“Emperor Huizong has demoted his son and sent him here, clearly with no intention of allowing his return. Once Zhao Yu arrives, we can bestow grand honors upon him and see to it that he earns some notable achievements. Then we’ll send word of his exploits back to Song—let’s see how that sits with Emperor Huizong.”

“And what title should we grant him?”

“He is a Song prince, after all. Naturally, we should make him King of Song.”

Emperor Tianzuo was taken aback, then threw his head back in laughter. After a moment, he pointed at Xiao Fengxian, still chuckling. “You sly fox, that’s truly diabolical, ha ha…”

“I have learned much from your majesty over the years—my mind has grown keener. And as the Han also say, to use the enemy’s own methods against him…”

Though he spoke in flattery, Xiao Fengxian was quite pleased with himself. All those years reading Han books had not been for nothing.

“Excellent. Let it be done. Send envoys at once to receive this new King of Song, ha ha…”

It wasn’t that the Liao title of king was cheap. Zhao Yu was an imperial prince, and this move would also please the empress dowager, for her niece would marry none other than the King of Song, not a mere commoner.

Zhao Yu never imagined that Emperor Tianzuo would restore his royal rank. In the days before the imperial edict arrived, he was far from idle. He was heading into a new world, and preparations had to be made.

The Taoist who had appeared in the crowd was named Gongsun Sheng. Upon learning his name, Zhao Yu was delighted. Discovering that Gongsun Sheng was not involved with Song Jiang, Zhao Yu drew him aside for a private conversation. Soon after, Gongsun Sheng slipped away quietly, leaving Lin Chong and the others none the wiser as to what had been discussed or why he left so abruptly.

A few days later, the imperial decree finally arrived. It was delivered by Qin Xi, a eunuch under Liang Shicheng. He bore not only the edict stripping Zhao Yu of his princely rank, but also an order to overturn everything Zhao Yu had accomplished in Jiangnan.

After the decree was read, Zhao Yu’s princely regalia was confiscated, and his household guard disbanded.

Then the eunuch announced an even more outrageous command.

“Seize Zhao Yu!”

Zhao Yu was momentarily stunned, but quickly understood—this was clearly Liang Shicheng’s order. They intended to escort him to Liao as a prisoner.

“Anyone who touches His Highness dies!”

With fists and kicks, Lin Chong and Wu Song knocked down the soldiers who charged forward.

Yan Qing didn’t stand idle either. After flooring one soldier, he sprang onto the man’s shoulders and leaped straight to Qin Xi’s side, grabbing him like a chick and tossing him at Zhao Yu’s feet.

“You… You dare rebel—”

“Shut your filthy mouth! Did you really think I’d be so easy to push around?”

Before Qin Xi could finish, Zhao Yu’s foot shot out, striking him square in the mouth.

Qin Xi screamed, then spat out a mouthful of blood mixed with several broken teeth.

“Listen well! Though I have been stripped of my title, I am not someone to be insulted at will. If you want to make a scene, go ahead. Let’s see, in the end, whose side the emperor will take!”

Zhao Yu’s shout quelled the restless soldiers. They had come from the capital and were familiar with him; and, thinking it through, Zhao Yu’s words rang true. Whatever happened, he was still a prince—when push came to shove, the emperor would always favor his own son.

Having cowed the soldiers, Zhao Yu leaned over Qin Xi and said coldly, “Go tell your master to wash his neck and wait—I will return.”

The eunuch’s posture made it clear: they intended to escort him to Liao. If he simply left, he would have no chance to return to the capital and bid farewell to his mother.

This so-called father of his was truly heartless. Was his own son something he’d won in a lottery, or picked up as a supermarket freebie?

Anger aside, Zhao Yu knew he couldn’t fight openly now.

The decree required immediate departure. Fortunately, his preparations were ready. At his command, Yan Qing led out a carriage from the courtyard, Lin Chong and Wu Song mounted their horses, and they waited for Zhao Yu’s order to set off.

Just then, crowds of commoners surged in from all directions. This time, however, they did not plead for him to stay—they simply gazed in silence at Zhao Yu as he prepared to board the carriage.

The dense crowd was utterly silent, the scene eerie in its stillness.

But in their eyes, Zhao Yu saw the reluctance and sorrow they could not speak. At that moment, his own throat seemed blocked, and though he had a thousand words to say, he could not utter a single one.

After a long pause, Zhao Yu clasped his hands and bowed deeply to the people around him. Then he turned and entered the carriage, which began to move slowly under Yan Qing’s guidance.

The people silently parted to open a path. Suddenly, sobs broke out from the crowd—soft at first, then louder and spreading farther and farther.

Within the carriage, Zhao Yu could not hold back his own tears. Who says men do not weep? It is only because their hearts have not been truly broken.

As he entered the carriage, he was startled to find Xiuxiu and Wanyu, whom he thought had left, sitting inside.

Nothing needed to be said; from the resolve in their eyes, Zhao Yu understood their intent. He could not help but sigh inwardly—why go to such lengths?