Chapter 8: The Return to the Garden of Eternal Spring

Zhao Xu put down his brush, rubbed his wrist, which was slightly sore.

The "Yan Shou Jing" (Scripture of Longevity) had over a thousand more characters than the "Xiao Zai Jing" (Scripture of Disaster Relief).

And since he was still young and lacked strength, he could only write for a while and then take a break.

However, he finally managed to finish copying this volume of the "Yan Shou Jing."

Seeing Zhao Xu put down his brush, Feng Jing, who had been standing by his side, immediately handed him a cup of honey water that Zhao Xu had instructed to be prepared.

Zhao Xu took a sip, moistening his throat.

In the new era, Zhao Xu had already been obsessed with health and wellness.

In his twenties, he would steep goji berries in a thermal cup every day, and even on archaeological sites, he would bring a box of throat lozenges, popping one whenever he felt like it.

Now, having returned to his youth, Zhao Xu brought back his health habits.

If it weren't for the fact that Kaifeng was in the north and lemons were unavailable, Zhao Xu would have asked Feng Jing to find some lemons to steep in water.

After finishing the honey water, Zhao Xu looked at the sun outside and asked, "What time is it now?"

"Feng Jing turned his head and looked at the corner outside the inner chamber screen, where a device was placed on a four-tiered platform, with a female official standing by it.

The female official, upon hearing the question, quickly squatted down, looked at the copper pot in front of her, and replied, "Your Highness, it is now the second half of the hour of Shen!"

Feng Jing, bending over, repeated to Zhao Xu, "Your Highness, it is now the second half of the hour of Shen..."

Zhao Xu's eyes lingered on the device for a moment, then he remembered what it was.

It was a clepsydra, a water clock used in the Tang and Song dynasties, which used water to drive a mechanism and a scale in the bottom copper pot to indicate the time.

It was a precursor to mechanical clocks, and the one in Zhao Xu's chamber was the latest model, developed in the fifth year of the Yuanfeng era by Ouyang Xiu's son, Ouyang Fa.

This model had already divided the scale into four parts for each hour and had a time-keeping function.

However, this model was far from the pinnacle of contemporary technology.

In Zhao Xu's previous life, when Su Song was in charge of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, he organized and mobilized hundreds of skilled craftsmen from various departments, including the Imperial Astronomical Bureau and the Water Conservancy Bureau, to build a massive and wondrous device in the imperial palace.

The Yuan You Water Clock, later known as the Heavenly Clock, not only had an automatic time-keeping function but could also accurately indicate the time and had astronomical demonstration and observation capabilities.

In the new era, Zhao Xu had seen a replica of Su Song's Heavenly Clock in a museum.

According to the museum's introduction, it was the world's earliest and most advanced mechanical clock, leading the West by several hundred years.

At the time, Zhao Xu felt quite proud after hearing the introduction, but upon reflection, he felt quite melancholic.

Because the Heavenly Clock was dismantled by the Jin soldiers after the Jingkang Incident and became a lost masterpiece.

For several hundred years afterward, no one studied or advanced it.

Even the manufacturing techniques were completely lost, making reproduction impossible.

Whose fault was it?

Ouyang Ji's?

Wanyan Guo's?

The Jin soldiers?

It seemed everyone could be blamed, yet no one could be blamed.

After a sleepless night in the hotel, Zhao Xu finally realized who to blame.

Himself!

He lived too short a life and died too early.

If he had lived just two more years, he could have outlived Empress Dowager Xiang, and the throne would not have gone to Ouyang Ji.

Could Ouyang Ji have become emperor?

No! He lacked the ability!

Even Zhang Dun knew—Prince Duan was frivolous and unsuitable to rule the empire.

Could Empress Dowager Xiang not have known?

She knew!

Among Zhao Xu's brothers, the only one qualified to inherit the throne besides Ouyang Ji was Zhao Xu's younger brother, Zhao Si.

However, the relationship between Zhao Xu and Empress Dowager Xiang was not close; they were practically strangers.

Therefore, for her own position, Empress Dowager Xiang would never have chosen Zhao Xu's younger brother.

Not choosing Zhao Si, Ouyang Ji was the only option.

Even if it meant pinching her nose, she had to choose him.

"In this life, I will strive to live to a ripe old age, like Emperor Qianlong!"

"I must go to bed early and wake up early, and get enough rest!"

"As long as I am alive, I can change everything!" Zhao Xu whispered softly.

Seeing Zhao Xu lost in thought, Feng Jing raised his voice slightly and respectfully repeated, "Your Highness, it is now the second half of the hour of Shen!"

Zhao Xu snapped back to reality and nodded. He mentally calculated that it was around 4:15, and in less than an hour, the early spring in Kaifeng would welcome the night, and the palace gates would be locked.

He then instructed Feng Jing, "Feng Jing, please help me carefully pack away the 'Yan Shou Jing.' I will go for a walk outside the palace!"

He led the way out of the inner chamber and into the garden in front of the Qingning Palace.

The Qingning Palace, though called a palace, was not very large, consisting of only a few halls and two courtyards. Many eunuchs in the capital had better and larger residences than the Qingning Palace where Zhao Xu lived.

There was a reason for this.

The Qingning Palace was originally built when Emperor Yingzong was brought from the Puhui Mansion to the palace before he was officially made a prince, following an imperial edict from Emperor Renzong, which converted an old official residence of the Imperial City Office.

The relationship between Emperor Renzong and Emperor Yingzong was well-known: they were not close!

As a foster father, Emperor Renzong rarely cared for Emperor Yingzong and even on his deathbed, did not truly consider him his son, saying, "As long as he bears the surname Zhao, it is enough," implying that he did not want to adopt a son at all.

Even when Emperor Yingzong was brought to the palace with the formalities of a prince, he was seated behind the attending ministers at palace banquets.

Naturally, Emperor Renzong did not provide Emperor Yingzong with a good place, nor did he have anyone properly clean or repair it.

It was said that the prince's residence was simply tidied up, the old sign of the Imperial City Office was removed, and a new sign for the prince's residence was put up.

Many halls were infested with spider webs, and the pillars were eaten by termites.

As a foster son, Emperor Yingzong had a strong and clear sense of right and wrong.

After ascending the throne, he even feigned illness to refuse attending Emperor Renzong's funeral.

Later, he initiated the Puhui Debate, directly challenging the rites, which infuriated Empress Dowager Cisheng to the point of considering deposing him.

In the end, Han Qi mediated, and with the help of Zhao Xu's father, Empress Dowager Cisheng and Emperor Yingzong appeared to reconcile.

Naturally, during Emperor Yingzong's reign, the prince's residence was never repaired, expanded, or renovated.

He only wanted to preserve everything, so that his descendants could see the humiliation he had endured.

Renaming it "Qingning Palace" was already a sign of respect for the royal tradition.

The real changes to the place only happened last year, when Zhao Xu's father, sensing his declining health, ordered the Qingning Palace to be rebuilt.

This is what the current Qingning Palace looks like.

However, the layout and scale of the Qingning Palace still resemble the prince's residence from back then.

Walking through the garden of the Qingning Palace, Zhao Xu basked in the warm early spring sun and breathed in the scent of the palace's reviving life.

His thoughts began to wander.

He thought he had already forgotten his life in the Qingning Palace.

But now, Zhao Xu knew he had not forgotten!

Those childhood days in the Qingning Palace were just sealed away.

Now, walking through the garden, everything felt so familiar.

He had played and laughed here.

Every blade of grass, every tree, every pavilion, he remembered, and could even recall some fleeting memories of his childhood joy.

Living here was the last happy time of his youth in his previous life.

"Yes... this is the place!" Zhao Xu walked into a small pavilion, touching the stone table and seats carved with patterns, recalling how his father had once sat across from him, bringing a child prodigy to the palace for an audience.

He had forgotten the prodigy's name.

But Zhao Xu remembered that the prodigy was about his age.

Yet, he could recite the "Shi Jing," "Shang Shu," "Li Ji," "Yi Jing," "Mengzi," and "Lun Yu" flawlessly.

His father was delighted and specially brought the same-age prodigy to the Qingning Palace, where he recited the "Mengzi" and "Lun Yu" in front of Zhao Xu.

"Sixth Brother, how do you compare to him?" His father's voice seemed to echo in his ears, and Zhao Xu lowered his head.

At the time, he had only just begun to understand the "Lun Yu."

How could he compare to the prodigy? He felt inferior.

Unfortunately, after leaving the capital, the prodigy was never heard from again.

In his previous life, Zhao Xu waited for him in Kaifeng for seventeen years.

But he never saw him in the imperial examinations or at the Imperial Academy.

He was likely another example of a prodigy who lost his talent.

Zhao Xu smiled bitterly, shaking his head.

He knew his carefree childhood was over.

In his previous life, it was so.

In this life, it is the same!

The difference is that in his previous life, he was a child with a naive heart, a puppet that could be manipulated by anyone, harmless and docile.

But in this life, under the innocent and youthful face, he harbored a soul that had ruled the empire for sixteen years and studied abroad for nearly a decade in the new era.

He knew he could no longer dwell on the past.

So, he stood up and ended his reminiscence with a line of poetry.

"Past events are like nightmares, but the return to the garden is always in the spring!" He whispered the line, leading his people out of the pavilion and through the garden path to the boundary of the Qingning Palace.

That is, to the palace gate.

The imperial guards in armor, stationed at the gate, immediately bowed and called out, "Your Highness!"

Zhao Xu looked at them.

In his clear eyes, the tall and strong figures of the guards were reflected.

Zhao Xu knew that these imperial guards, personally selected by Yan Da and stationed outside the Qingning Palace to protect him, were his trump card and support.

Everyone in the world could betray Zhao Xu.

But these imperial guards would not!

Why?

Because from the moment these guards were assigned to protect Zhao Xu in the Qingning Palace, they were bound to him.

If Zhao Xu were to fail, these guards and their families would be exiled to Guangnan, Lingnan, or even to the island of Shamen, and even if pardoned, they could not return.

But if Zhao Xu's position was secure, their status as imperial guards would be unshakable, and in the new era, it would be like having a permanent position, especially as the emperor's personal guards!

This was a golden bowl that could be passed down from father to son!

It was enough to make these warriors risk their lives for Zhao Xu.

These guards had followed Yan Da, fighting across thousands of miles.

From the Xihedao, Qin-Fengdao, Huan-Qingdao, and Lin-Yandao to Jiaozhi, they had achieved great military feats and slain countless enemies!

The palace guards, those show-offs, were no match for them!

Their presence ensured that even if the imperial guards and officials in the palace rebelled, these imperial guards could protect Zhao Xu, break through the encirclement, and go to Jiangning to find Wang Anshi, or to Luoyang to find Wen Yanbo, Fu Bi, and Sima Guang.

So, Zhao Xu just glanced at them, looking at them curiously like a normal child, and then turned and walked back.

He did not need to speak or say much.

Zhao Xu only needed to appear before them from time to time, so they could see the person they were loyal to and ensure they would not mistake him.

That was enough!

The rest would be taken care of by others.

Not long after returning to the inner chamber, Gu Po Po returned from Empress Zhu De Fei's residence.

She brought back news from the De Fei Pavilion.

"Sister said: The princess is slightly unwell, but thanks to the eunuch's instructions, the relevant officials have been ordered to prepare a medical office to await the imperial physician. She is very grateful and has already had someone write a thank-you note to present to the Empress Dowager..."

Zhao Xu was not surprised.

His mother had always been like this.

Even in his previous life, when he had already gained power, she remained humble and cautious before Empress Dowager Xiang, serving her respectfully and never trying to use her son's position to gain favor.

Now, it was the same.

His mother might even be delighted by Empress Dowager Xiang's kindness!

...

Kunning Palace.

Empress Dowager Xiang held the thank-you note sent from the De Fei Pavilion.

"Empress Zhu De Fei is a sincere person!" After reading the note, Empress Dowager Xiang nodded in satisfaction.

The note, though not beautifully written, was sincere and humble.

The words subtly compared herself to a concubine in a common household, addressing Empress Dowager Xiang as the lady.

Empress Dowager Xiang was very pleased.

"The Empress's grace is deeply appreciated. Empress De Fei specially instructed me to say: Once the princess recovers, she will bring the princess to the Empress's presence to express gratitude!" Yan Shouqin, who had just returned from the De Fei Pavilion, said with his head bowed.

"That is not necessary!" Empress Dowager Xiang put down the note: "You go and tell Empress De Fei: The Emperor is currently ill, and her duties in the pavilion, raising and educating the princess and prince, are already meritorious. Once the Emperor recovers, I will request a reward for her!"

She no longer referred to her by her surname, only as Empress De Fei.

Clearly, Empress Dowager Xiang's attitude had subtly changed.

"Yes!" Yan Shouqin smiled and bowed.

...

Note: The prodigy's name was Zhu Tianxi. According to the "Continued Comprehensive Mirror to Aid in Government," in the fourth month of the seventh year of the Yuanfeng era, Emperor Shenzong brought Emperor Zhezong to the Ruisi Hall to meet and interview this prodigy, ordering him to recite the classics, which he did flawlessly. Emperor Shenzong then asked Emperor Zhezong, "Can you recite the classics like him?" He then granted Zhu Tianxi the title of "Five Classics Scholar" and 50,000 coins, advising him to study diligently and not to waste his talent.

Unfortunately, I could not find any further mention of this prodigy in historical records. He may have died young or lost his talent like Fang Zhongyong.

Here, for the sake of the story, I have made some adjustments, changing the interview location to the Qingning Palace.

Note 2: In the Northern Song palace, princes referred to their birth mothers as "sisters" in spoken language. This may have originated from the early Northern Song rule that princesses, after marriage, would be raised to the same generation as their in-laws, thus avoiding the need to bow to them. However, this rule was gradually abandoned in the middle period, but the palace seemed to retain it. When Emperor Zhezong died, his mother held him and cried, saying, "Sister's belly gave birth to you..."

PS: I don't quite understand how to post bonus chapters. I need to ask someone and learn how to post the location of the Qingning Palace and the image of the clepsydra.

(End of Chapter)