Chapter 51: Throughout the Entire Song Dynasty, Youyun Was Never Recovered (Bonus Chapter, Requesting Monthly Votes)

"Your Majesty, in this humble subject's opinion, the Second Imperial Prince should not be created Crown Prince at this time."

Inside the Wansui Palace, Zhao Pu bowed deeply to Zhao Kuangyin, speaking with utmost earnestness.

These words were nothing short of earth-shattering.

They ran completely counter to the original intention behind Zhao Kuangyin summoning Zhao Pu to consult him on the matter.

Yet Zhao Kuangyin's expression remained unchanged. He maintained his posture, gazing calmly at Zhao Pu as he waited for him to continue.

"Although His Highness the Second Imperial Prince is currently Your Majesty's eldest surviving son and has reached adulthood, he has yet to receive a princely title. To elevate him directly to Crown Prince now would truly be raising him too high, too fast. It strays far from Your Majesty's previous design of letting the Second Prince advance steadily step by step. Therefore, this subject believes Your Majesty should first confer upon the Second Prince the title of a Prince of the First Rank."

"What title?"

"Since he is Your Majesty's eldest son today, he should naturally be created the Prince of Qin."

Hearing Zhao Pu's words, a smile broke across Zhao Kuangyin's previously expressionless, dark face.

"What Zeping says is most profound, and it aligns precisely with my own thoughts. I, too, feel that conferring the title of Prince of Qin upon him first is the best course of action."

He knew he could count on Zhao Pu not to disappoint him.

Just as Zhao Pu understood him, how could he not understand Zhao Pu?

The Prince of Qin was no ordinary princely title.

Especially since the Song Dynasty could be said to have been founded upon the conclusion of the turbulent era that began in the late Tang. For them, besides the Later Zhou, the most significant historical reference was the Great Tang.

The title of the Prince of Qin, borne by the second emperor of the Tang Dynasty—Emperor Taizong, the Civil Emperor—was known to everyone. Moreover, he was also the second among his brothers. Thus, bestowing the title of Prince of Qin upon Zhao Dezhao carried an implication that required no explanation.

"The grand ceremony for the creation of the Prince of Qin shall be handled by you, Zeping. See that it is done impeccably. This is my son, the Prince of Qin of our Great Song; the ceremony must be magnificent and worthy of his status."

Zhao Pu bowed in acceptance of the decree, a fleeting smile flashing across the corners of his mouth.

Even if the Emperor had not issued explicit instructions, he would have poured every ounce of his effort into executing this task flawlessly, leaving no room for error.

He was determined to surpass the scale of the ceremony when Zhao Guangyi was created the Prince of Jin.

Naturally, he took immense pleasure in any undertaking that could deflate Zhao Guangyi.

Having just returned to the capital only to be entrusted with such a magnificent assignment, how could he not devote his heart and soul to it?

Though this affair appeared on the surface to be merely the Emperor conferring the title of Prince of Qin upon the Second Imperial Prince, in reality, it was far from simple.

The implications running beneath the surface were immense.

It demonstrated that the Emperor had made a resolute decision regarding the succession of the imperial heir, choosing his own flesh and blood rather than Zhao Guangyi.

Entrusting him with the management of this affair served a dual purpose: it was a chance for him, newly reinstated as chief councilor, to establish his prestige and let the realm know he enjoyed the Emperor's utmost favor.

At the same time, it delivered a clear message to him that he could openly contend with Zhao Guangyi without harboring excessive apprehensions.

For Zhao Pu, who during his days in Heyang had countless times worried in secret whether Zhao Guangyi would send assassins to eliminate him, or feared what would happen if the Emperor truly bestowed the throne upon Zhao Guangyi in the future, leaving Zhao Guangyi as emperor while he himself remained public enemy number one—how could he not rejoice?

This was quite simply the most glorious news imaginable!

Simultaneously, an irrepressible curiosity stirred within his mind: what on earth had the Emperor experienced, what kind of severe provocation had he suffered, to make him act with such resolute decisiveness?

Even the clever stratagem deployed by Zhao Guangyi, which struck right at the Emperor's most vulnerable spot, had failed to halt him.

It had turned an emperor who was previously hesitant and inclined toward a more moderate handling of the succession into someone of such urgent haste.

Less than a month had passed from ordering the Second Imperial Prince Zhao Dezhao to greet Li Yu upon imperial edict, all the way to preparing the creation of the Prince of Qin!

Could it be... could it be—!

With this thought, his heart leaped violently, and a realization surfaced in his mind.

Could it be... that the Emperor's health was failing, that he sensed his days were numbered, and that was why he acted with such haste?!

The more he pondered, the more Zhao Pu felt this must be the truth.

Apart from this, there seemed to be no other way to explain the Emperor's uncharacteristic behavior.

He harbored a desire to inquire further, to express his profound concern for the Dragon's health.

Yet the words reached the tips of his tongue only to be swallowed back down.

Since the Emperor had not mentioned it, he dared not ask. The stakes were simply too high!

Though Zhao Kuangyin appeared expressionless, he was in fact observing Zhao Pu's reactions closely.

Noticing these subtle shifts, he could not help but nod inwardly.

It seemed that relieving Zhao Pu of his post as chief councilor and sending him to rusticate in Heyang for three years of quiet reflection had yielded considerable results.

Had this occurred three years ago, Zhao Pu would certainly have blurted out the question.

This was how it should be; a subject ought to behave like a subject.

Even a prime minister could not afford to be arrogant, overbearing, and devoid of discretion regarding what is appropriate.

"This matter must be expedited. On the twenty-sixth day of the twelfth lunar month, the grand investiture ceremony shall be held to formally create Risheng the Prince of Qin."

Ah?

Zhao Pu was startled, filled with astonishment.

So fast? So urgent?

It was already the twentieth day of the twelfth lunar month, and the imperial edict creating the Second Imperial Prince as the Prince of Qin had not yet been formally promulgated.

To be precise, even this news had only just been hammered out between the two of them.

Yet now, the Emperor declared that the formal investiture would take place on the twenty-sixth.

That meant he had a mere five days to make all the preparations?

"I will issue an order instructing all government offices to place themselves at your disposal and fully support you in this endeavor."

"This subject will surely execute this task to perfection without a single flaw!"

Zhao Pu bowed once more, receiving the decree with an unyielding and resolute attitude.

At the same time, a heavy sense of gravity settled upon his heart.

It appeared the Emperor's health truly was suffering from a grave ailment.

Otherwise, what else could compel such desperate haste?

At this rate, it was likely that not long after the Second Imperial Prince was created Prince of Qin, His Highness the Prince of Qin would be elevated to Crown Prince.

He was deeply reluctant to accept the reality of the Emperor's severe illness.

On one hand, they had been monarch and minister for many years, weathering countless storms together.

After all these years, to say they were purely master and servant without an ounce of personal friendship would be impossible.

On the other hand, the southern territories had now been pacified. Although Wuyue still remained, it was like a fruit ripe on the vine that would fall on its own.

Next came the campaign to march northward, eliminate Northern Han, and recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun—those were the true hard battles.

He and the Emperor had established the strategy of prioritizing the south before the northern expedition; now that the south was secured, it was time to turn north.

If the Emperor's health suffered a catastrophic breakdown at this juncture and he passed away,

without the founding emperor at the helm to steady the state, achieving the goal of sweeping away Northern Han and recovering Youyun in a single stroke would not be so simple.

The worst-case scenario was that throughout the entire Song Dynasty, they might never recover Youyun.

As these thoughts arose, Zhao Pu shook his head inwardly, telling himself not to be overly pessimistic.

Things should not turn out that way.

The Emperor had already cultivated two generations of military talent; a tiger father breeds no dogs, and the Second Imperial Prince should not prove mediocre.

Besides, look at the immense foundation the Emperor had amassed, through such measures as releasing military power over a cup of wine and reforming the official system.

Even if the Emperor were to pass away, it would be exceedingly difficult for the military to rebel or instigate chaos again.

The roots of military rebellion had already been dug out.

The Second Imperial Prince was twenty-five years old, turning twenty-six in the coming year—he was no seven-year-old child emperor.

It was entirely possible for him to recover Youyun, and he would not necessarily shame the temple names of the Prince of Qin and Emperor Taizong.

Surpassing Emperor Taizong of Tang was out of the question, but at the very least, he would not disgrace the temple name of Song Taizong!

Zhao Pu departed. Left alone in the Wansui Palace, Zhao Kuangyin laid his jade-inlaid axe horizontally across his knees, his right index finger tapping lightly against the hilt.

Now that he had ignored his third brother's move and launched a countermove of his own, how would his third brother react?

Would he... perhaps prepare to eliminate his own imperial elder brother?