Chapter 2: Since Ancient Times, Filial Sons of the Imperial Family Have Never Failed

When Zhao Xu woke up again, it was already daylight.

Seeing him awake, the eunuch in charge of his service immediately brought the palace maids to help him dress and wash.

This made Zhao Xu feel a bit uncomfortable for a moment.

At the beginning of the new century, he also found it hard to adapt.

No one helped him dress; he had to get his own meals and wash his own clothes.

His dorm mates laughed and joked all day, without any sense of hierarchy, and told all sorts of dirty jokes.

All of this was completely at odds with his former supreme imperial status.

It took several months for him to adapt.

After adapting, Zhao Xu found that it wasn't so bad.

Although he no longer had power and was no longer the exalted emperor, he gained friends and began to understand the world's complexities and the bittersweet flavors of life.

Now, after many twists and turns, he was back to being a prince who had everything done for him, from dressing to eating.

Looking at the eunuch by his side, with his fawning expression, and the palace maids, who humbly lowered their heads to serve him, Zhao Xu felt a bit dazed.

This scene seemed familiar.

Perhaps, in his previous life, at this time, he was also in this palace, being served, and unknowingly walking towards the crossroads of fate.

He recalled many things.

The shadows of his childhood, the sleepless nights, the times he was awakened by nightmares.

He also remembered the country torn apart by factional struggles.

The new law ministers who were exiled, demoted, or even banished and executed during the Yuan You period.

He remembered the purges he initiated after taking power to seek revenge.

Under the banner of righteousness in the Shao Sheng and Shao Shu periods.

The old faction was completely destroyed.

Simag Guang and Lu Gongzhu were almost posthumously disgraced.

The living Yuan You ministers were sent to the rugged paths of Lingnan and Yazhou under the supervision of officials.

How they once treated the new faction.

Now, the new faction repaid them tenfold!

In the end, what flashed through Zhao Xu's mind was the record of the Jingkang humiliation.

These words turned into images.

The fall of Bianjing, where Emperor Zhezong and his son Emperor Huizong were stripped naked and led like dogs to surrender to the Jin army.

Thousands of imperial women, noblewomen, and palace concubines, princesses, and duchesses, naked and only covered by a sheepskin, were driven to the Jin army camp.

Hundreds of thousands of Bianjing residents were tied with ropes and driven north.

Behind them, the burning Bianjing, the shattered mountains and rivers, the bloodied land, and the Yellow River filled with corpses.

The world was overturned, and the empire was destroyed.

The tombs of the ancestors were dug up, the coffins were violently dismembered, and the bones were exposed in the wilderness.

Finally, all the images and words converged into a poem.

The humiliation of Jingkang, yet to be avenged; the hatred of the ministers, when will it be extinguished!

Zhao Xu's hand tightened.

His chest heaved violently.

His breathing became more labored.

Cough, cough!

He started to cough!

"Your Highness..." The eunuch, who had been fawning just a moment ago, was now pale with fear and knelt down with a thud.

The palace maids also trembled and knelt down.

They knew very well that if anything happened to Zhao Xu, or if this matter reached the ears of the Empress Dowager and the Empress, they would certainly be beaten!

Beaten to death!

"I am fine!" Zhao Xu took a deep breath to steady his breathing. He looked at the panicked eunuch and palace maids and gently reassured them, "Don't panic, get up and speak!"

He felt the wheezing in his lungs; he knew his condition.

In the new century, Zhao Xu had used the pretext of 'academic research' to consult respiratory experts at the capital's top hospitals.

They discussed the condition of 'Emperor Zhezong'.

After Zhao Xu provided a lot of details about the symptoms and living environment,

The experts concluded that it was likely allergic pneumonia or allergic bronchitis.

In short, there was an allergen causing inflammation in the respiratory system.

From the details Zhao Xu described, it was highly likely related to the palace's decoration materials.

Zhao Xu then turned to look at the furnishings of the palace.

Especially the color of the walls.

The bright and vivid vermilion was extremely glaring to Zhao Xu!

The place where Zhao Xu lived was called Qingning Palace, commonly known as the Prince's Residence.

It was built during the reign of Emperor Renzong specifically for Zhao Xu's grandfather, who was Emperor Renzong's adopted son and later became Emperor Yingzong.

To prevent dampness and insects,

The walls, beams, and screens inside and outside Qingning Palace were painted with a mixture of cinnabar, mercury, and lead.

These materials were highly toxic!

Zhao Xu was determined to immediately order someone to remove all of these materials!

He wanted to move out of this place.

Even out of the imperial city.

But he couldn't!

He couldn't even easily leave Qingning Palace!

Zhao Xu knew that outside Qingning Palace, the imperial city was surrounded by wolves and tigers!

Now, only here, only this place, was absolutely safe!

Because...

Outside Qingning Palace, the imperial guards were personally selected by Zhao Xu's father, who issued a secret edict to the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guards, Yan Da, to 'select loyal and virtuous men to protect the imperial heir.'

Yan Da personally selected the sons of the imperial guards who had followed him in the western campaign against the Xia and the southern campaign against the Jiaozhi, and assigned them to guard Qingning Palace.

At the same time, Yan Da sent his three sons to take turns guarding the entrance to Qingning Palace day and night.

Outside Qingning Palace, outside the protection of the palace,

The storm and rain might pour down on Zhao Xu.

In front of the imperial throne, in front of supreme power,

Those people would do anything!

Zhao Xu took a deep breath and said to the eunuch, "Go and bring Feng Jing, I have something to instruct him!"

"Yes!" The eunuch hurriedly obeyed and left.

Soon, a eunuch in his thirties, tall and sturdy, with a slightly square face and a dark complexion, dressed in a purple robe, came to Zhao Xu.

This eunuch bowed to Zhao Xu and said, "Your Highness, I, Feng Jing, pay my respects. I wonder what you have called me for?"

This eunuch was the inner court official serving Zhao Xu, Feng Jing, who was in charge of Qingning Palace. However, Feng Jing had only been with Zhao Xu for a short time, having been personally assigned to Qingning Palace by Zhao Xu's father at the end of last year.

Zhao Xu looked at the narrow-sleeved purple robe Feng Jing was wearing, scrutinized his face, and leaned forward slightly.

This was a habit he had developed after taking power in his previous life.

It was also a form of body language, intended to convey the message, "I am very serious, so please be serious too."

However, Zhao Xu was too young now.

At just over eight years old, he was still considered a child without the ability to act independently in the eyes of the inner court officials.

Therefore, Zhao Xu couldn't be sure that Feng Jing would take him seriously.

Zhao Xu thought for a moment and said to Feng Jing, "I heard that you were recommended by the late Li Zhongmin?"

Feng Jing was quite surprised and raised his head, saying, "Your Highness, you know this?"

Zhao Xu did not answer but said, "Li Zhongmin was loyal to the state and died for his country, truly a model for inner court officials. Although I am in the deep palace, I have heard of Li Zhongmin's story and regret not having seen him in person!"

Feng Jing was moved and bowed, his voice choked with emotion, "If Li Zhongmin knew of Your Highness's deep affection, he would smile even in the netherworld!"

Zhao Xu smiled slightly and looked at Feng Jing, saying, "Since you were recommended by Li Zhongmin, you must also be a loyal official!"

Feng Jing immediately sensed something from Zhao Xu's words and bowed reflexively, "I am willing to serve Your Highness as a humble servant, and I hope to die before you!"

That's right!

Zhao Xu wanted Feng Jing to take him seriously.

That's why he went through a roundabout way to mention Feng Jing's patron.

Li Zhongmin was Li Shunju.

He died in the battle of Yongle in the fifth year of the Yuanfeng period and was posthumously honored as Li Zhongmin.

This inner court official had cultural relics that survived for over nine hundred years.

The stone carvings of the White Dragon Pool in the White Stream of Mount Tai.

In the new century, Zhao Xu had even seen them, and they were well-preserved!

In the Song Dynasty, the relationship between a patron and the person they recommended was very close.

One's success or failure affected the other.

And Zhao Xu knew that Feng Jing regarded Li Shunju as a father.

That's why he specifically mentioned Li Shunju's name.

It was like in the new century, when a boss wanted an employee to work overtime but didn't want to pay overtime, they could only offer incentives or use psychological tactics.

Now, Zhao Xu had no power and very little money!

So he could only use Feng Jing's patron to motivate (or threaten) him.

"Good!" Zhao Xu observed Feng Jing's expression and nodded slightly.

Although in his previous life, Feng Jing had already proven his loyalty with his life,

The situation was different now.

Zhao Xu needed to ensure that Feng Jing was serious and dedicated, as it was crucial for his subsequent plans and his own safety and health.

"I have two things to entrust to you, my trusted official!"

"Your Highness, please give your orders, I will not hesitate to die!" Feng Jing bowed deeply and said solemnly.

"The first thing..." Zhao Xu extended one finger, "Go to the Zishan Hall and bring me writing materials and Buddhist scriptures!"

At this point, Zhao Xu's eyes reddened, and he said emotionally, "My father is ill, and as a son, I cannot serve him at his bedside, which is already a sign of filial impiety!"

At this point, Zhao Xu began to sob, his voice choked with emotion, "As a son, I cannot serve him, so I can only copy scriptures to pray for his recovery!"

Feng Jing and the surrounding palace maids and eunuchs all bowed and said, "Your Highness's filial piety will surely move heaven!"

Feng Jing added, "I will go to the Zishan Hall and bring the writing materials and scriptures for Your Highness!"

The Prince of Yan'an's initiative to copy Buddhist scriptures for the emperor's recovery was the right thing to do.

Nothing and no one could stop it.

Not only that, Feng Jing knew he had to publicize this widely.

Let others know.

Especially the Empress Dowager and the Empress!

Zhao Xu stopped sobbing and looked at Feng Jing, saying, "This matter must be done discreetly, without alarming others, especially not the Empress Dowager and the Empress!"

Feng Jing was almost incredulous.

He thought this was a suggestion from someone close to the Prince of Yan'an.

But now, the Prince of Yan'an was making this request himself.

This was truly...

So, the Prince of Yan'an was genuinely and sincerely wanting to copy scriptures for the emperor's recovery?

Incredible!

How old was the Prince?

To be so filially pious!

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