Chapter 19: Hard to Accept

“Why do you say such harsh words when things are fine?” Fu Shi was both anxious and reproachful.

She quickly spat three times onto the ground, murmuring, “May the gods not take offense; let the strong winds blow it all away.”

Zhao Guangyi saw Fu Shi’s reaction and smiled even more broadly.

Yet his tone softened considerably. “Alright, alright, I’ve taken note. I won’t speak like that again. But doesn’t this just confirm that this matter can’t be true...?”

“That doesn’t mean you can say it like that!” Fu Shi replied, shaking her head.

“Brother Shuan is truly becoming more and more reckless. This child was decent before; who would have thought he’d turn out like this? My husband, do you think... he’s feeling pressured, so desperate to seize the throne that he’s made such a foolish move?”

Fu Shi could think of no other reason that might explain Zhao Dezhao’s seemingly thoughtless actions.

“You are wise, madam! I believe it’s very likely,” Zhao Guangyi nodded, then laughed again.

“His anxiety is useless; the more frantic he becomes, the more confused he is, and the more foolish his deeds. The throne will only slip further from his grasp. This time, he performed well—so well that our elder brother clearly sees what kind of man Zhao Dezhao truly is. Would he entrust the realm to him and expect it to be kept safe?

“Wait and see; in time, our elder brother will surely make some move. It’s not impossible that he might just hand the crown prince position to me!”

As he spoke, Zhao Guangyi’s face was alight with smiles.

He had been contemplating this day for a very long time.

“When I become emperor, madam, you will be empress. With our talents and virtues, I shall be a sovereign of eternity, and you a wise empress for all ages. Our names will be praised in history, setting the standard for all future emperors and empresses.”

His expression was earnest as he said this.

He truly believed he could achieve all of this...

...

Under the cover of night, a figure placed a secret letter in a certain spot, then walked away as if nothing had happened, disappearing into the darkness.

Not long after, another person arrived to retrieve the letter.

The one who took the letter moved swiftly and soon arrived at the Prince of Jin’s residence.

This individual clearly held a high status within the Jin estate, possessing certain privileges; otherwise, they would not be able to freely enter and exit a small gate there at night.

Upon arrival, they were led by someone toward the room where Zhao Guangyi resided.

“Your Highness, are you asleep yet?”

Hearing the knocking and the soft voices outside, Zhao Guangyi told Fu Shi to rest first while he put on his robe and came out.

He saw that the visitors included the trusted steward Lao Wang and Cheng Dexuan.

He immediately grew serious.

Cheng Dexuan was responsible for receiving intelligence from the palace. It seemed the matter at hand was significant—likely news from Wang Ji’en.

Otherwise, Cheng Dexuan would not have come to see him at this hour.

Zhao Guangyi suspected it might be related to his elder brother having been left alone with Zhao Dezhao today.

That simpleton Zhao Dezhao was probably in serious trouble.

Feeling optimistic, Zhao Guangyi grew even more eager to learn the contents of the secret letter.

Soon, he and Cheng Dexuan entered the study.

Cheng Dexuan said nothing and handed over the carefully concealed secret letter from within his robes.

Zhao Guangyi inspected it thoroughly, confirming it was intact and unopened, before breaking the seal to read it.

Before even seeing the letter’s contents, a smile crept onto his lips.

He was confident that good news of filial harmony would follow.

But moments later, that smile faded, and his expression grew dark, troubled, and full of doubt.

Zhao Dezhao had not been punished?

Not only was he not beaten, but Zhao Kuangyin had not reprimanded him!

That was not all—he had even gone with Zhao Kuangyin to the imperial gardens!

This alone was hard for Zhao Guangyi to accept.

Wang Ji’en’s further reports in the letter were even more unexpected.

Shortly after entering the imperial gardens, the eunuch Qian Cheng was struck down by the imperial guards.

He was charged with deceiving the sovereign and disrespecting the throne.

Qian Cheng was the eunuch previously assigned to guard that charlatan.

Moreover, Zhao Dezhao and their elder brother stayed in the gardens for quite a while before leaving.

Before departing, they summoned four imperial guards inside, evidently to continue guarding the eunuch who had been killed.

Still uneasy, not long after returning, they even dispatched the imperial palace guards to stand watch outside the gardens.

Finally, Wang Ji’en inquired in the letter who the young man detained in the gardens really was.

After reading the letter, Zhao Guangyi felt his head buzzing.

He had always considered himself sharp-minded, yet now he was utterly confused.

The situation had unfolded far beyond his expectations.

Wasn’t Zhao Dezhao supposed to have caused a huge scandal and incurred their elder brother’s displeasure?

None of that had happened.

Staring at the question Wang Ji’en posed at the letter’s end, Zhao Guangyi’s heart remained unsettled.

He recalled Ma Shao’s report—the young man speaking of coming from a thousand years in the future—which seemed laughable.

Could it really be true?

How could anyone come from a millennium ahead?

Even a child of three would not believe such nonsense.

Yet, apart from this being true, Zhao Guangyi could find no rational explanation for the strange events.

...

Watching the Prince of Jin’s face darken so severely after reading the letter, Cheng Dexuan who delivered the message felt his throat tighten, frightened by the prince’s reaction.

Could some unforeseen crisis have arisen within the palace?

After waiting anxiously for a while, Zhao Guangyi finally spoke.

“Do you think... someone could really have come from a thousand years later?”

Those words stunned Cheng Dexuan.

Could it be that His Highness was troubled and upset all this time over such a thing?

“No, impossible,” Cheng Dexuan shook his head firmly after gathering his thoughts.

“I don’t believe it either, but this matter... well, you see for yourself.”

He handed the letter back to Cheng Dexuan.

Cheng Dexuan quickly read through it and found himself equally dazed.

“There must be some hidden truth. Whatever the case, that person cannot have come from a thousand years in the future!”

Cheng Dexuan offered his opinion.

Zhao Guangyi nodded. “Write back to Wang Ji’en. Tell him our thoughts on this—that the story of coming from a thousand years later is what we have heard.”

Cheng Dexuan wanted to say more but found no words.

After a moment of silence, he nodded in understanding.

...

“My lord, what’s wrong?”

Fu Shi had been unwell lately, with restless sleep.

Furthermore, Zhao Guangyi had not slowed his pace since returning, so she was soon awakened by his troubled expression.

Seeing his gloomy countenance, she asked with concern.

Zhao Guangyi recounted the contents of the secret letter to her.

Fu Shi was stunned.

“Husband, could it be that this person really did come from a thousand years in the future?”

“Certainly not!” Zhao Guangyi answered firmly. “Such nonsense could never be true. There must be some hidden matters we do not understand.”

Calmed somewhat by his words, Fu Shi agreed with her husband’s reasoning.

How could anyone come from a thousand years later?

“Actually, I would rather believe that he did come from a thousand years later,” Fu Shi said thoughtfully.

Zhao Guangyi was taken aback; this was hardly in line with his character.

“If he truly came from a thousand years hence, he would surely know of my valor and Zhao Dezhao’s folly.

“If he can tell the truth, it might persuade our elder brother to name me heir sooner, instead of delaying until now.

“That would be a blessing for our Zhao family, a blessing for our great Song dynasty, and a blessing for China itself!”