Chapter 57: It Doesn't Look Like Acting At All

This plan of his was foolproof!
The imperial throne had to be his. Whether Zhao Kuangyin was willing to hand it over or not, he would take it regardless!
Once he got rid of him and became emperor, the entire realm would be his to command.
As for that worthless piece of trash Zhao Dezhao, he could mold him or crush him however he pleased from then on.
After the imperial throne was secured, whenever he decided the boy should die, die he must!
By then, he, the third uncle, would have to show his dear eldest nephew some proper affection!
Not a shred of guilt lingered in his heart regarding the use of such methods against Zhao Kuangyin to seize the crown.
The fault for this did not lie with him, but with that old swine of a Zhao Kuangyin!
How much effort had he himself poured into helping him become emperor?
After ascending the throne, how much anxiety had he suffered and how much work had he done for the Great Song?
If not for his own endeavors as the Mayor of Kaifeng, helping to manage countless affairs, how could the foundations of the Great Song have been so secure?
How could his reign as emperor have been so tranquil?
One could say that at least half of the achievements Zhao Kuangyin claimed were the fruit of his own labor!
In the beginning, Zhao Kuangyin had indeed cultivated him as the heir apparent, wishing to use him to stabilize the political situation and pacify the populace.
Yet now that his son had grown up, he had cast aside human decency, wishing to kick him aside with a single blow!
Blood relatives, it seemed, could never truly outweigh one's own flesh and blood!
For Zhao Kuangyin to be so heartless and unrighteous—committing such a heinous act that defied family bonds and deserved a lightning strike from the heavens, completely forsaking all kinship—he had brought this upon himself.
Since Zhao Kuangyin had treated him so unjustly, taking action against him was nothing less than a mandate of heaven.
No matter who judged the matter, what he was doing was entirely right; it was Zhao Kuangyin who had behaved disgracefully and cast aside the bridge after crossing the river!
That being the case, if Zhao Kuangyin played the first card of betrayal, he would play the fifteenth in return—it was only logical and natural!
With these thoughts in mind, he involuntarily recalled his recently deceased wife.
He felt no sadness whatsoever; instead, he felt that her death had come at a most opportune time.
Once he himself became emperor, in order to consolidate his position, he could select a young woman from a suitable family to enter the palace as empress, making her a major pillar of support for his reign...
...
The night grew deep, and Zhao Kuangyin had already retired to rest.
Wang Ji'en, having no need to keep vigil by the emperor's side, returned to his own quarters.
Gazing at the secret letter before him, his expression trembled with shock.
After reading it carefully, he immediately stuffed the missive into his mouth and began to chew slowly.
He chewed with intense concentration, meticulously grinding every fiber.
Only after the paper had been chewed into a pulpy mash—such that even if someone were to cut open his stomach immediately afterward, it would be impossible to tell what it once was—did he finally swallow it.
Having finished this, he sat quietly at the desk for quite a while before rising to go to sleep.
Lying in bed, however, sleep eluded him.
Countless calculations churned through his mind.
Facing a situation of this magnitude, how should he choose?
In truth, during the daylight hours, he had already reached a decision.
That decision was to sever all thoughts of his past connections with the Prince of Jin, and henceforth devote himself entirely to interacting with Zhao Dezhao, who was about to be conferred as the Prince of Qin, ingratiating himself with the youth and boarding that ascending vessel.
After all, his secret communications with the Prince of Jin were tightly veiled, and few people knew of them.
He only needed to neatly eliminate the person who had acted as the go-between connecting him to the Prince of Jin's estate, and the matter would be settled.
As for the Prince of Jin... his status was noble, indeed.
If Wang Ji'en cut ties with him, the prince would certainly not dare to make a public outcry.
The prince was even more terrified than Wang Ji'en of having these dark dealings dragged into the light.
Yet now, upon viewing the latest intelligence sent by the Prince of Jin, the resolution he had forged during the day began to waver once more.
After weighing the options thoroughly, the scale in his heart gradually tipped back toward the Prince of Jin.
His interactions with Zhao Dezhao were, after all, of recent origin. Shifting his allegiance now would amount to no more than adding flowers to a brocade.
Zhao Dezhao's manor already had trusted eunuchs serving him; once Zhao Dezhao ascended the throne, Wang Ji'en would have to make way for those favored servants, making it exceedingly difficult to maintain a high position.
The Prince of Jin was entirely different.
Firstly, he already shared deep and intimate ties with the Prince of Jin.
Secondly, the Prince of Jin was currently in a precarious situation. To aid him now would be like sending charcoal in the depth of winter—a gesture of profound grace and immense merit.
Once successful, he would undoubtedly soar to even greater heights!
More importantly, the Prince of Jin's plan truly deserved to be called seamless.
While it appeared risky at first glance, the actual probability of success was exceptionally high.
After weighing all considerations, he finally hardened his resolve, ready to take the gamble and fight for his own future!
Of course, in his view, his actions did not even count as a reckless gamble.
Because before the deed was even done, he could already determine that there was at least a ninety-percent chance of pulling it off.
With such overwhelming odds of victory, if he still refused to follow, he might as well have lived in vain!
...
At the morning court session the following day, the hundred officials assembled. Right before the civil and military ministers, Zhao Kuangyin announced his decision to confer the title of Prince of Qin upon Zhao Dezhao, and ordered the imperial edict of creation to be read aloud.
News of this development had already swept through the minds of many officials like a sudden wind since yesterday.
They had been inwardly guessing, silently exchanging opinions and turning over countless schemes in their thoughts.
Hearing the Emperor announce this matter in person before the full court and having the edict read aloud made it all official.
The dust had settled.
Some rejoiced, while many others felt a deep sense of unease.
A greater number of officials cast sidelong glances, watching closely for the reaction of Zhao Guangyi, the Prince of Jin.
With such a monumental event taking place, he was bound to be the one most profoundly affected.
Yet Zhao Guangyi displayed an astonishing composure.
After the edict was read, as the Prince of Jin ranking above the prime ministers, he was the first to voice his congratulations, his face wreathed in smiles.
The joy upon his countenance looked entirely genuine, as though no trace of it were feigned.
Some officials sighed in admiration, believing that His Highness the Prince of Jin truly cherished familial bonds.
However, more people muttered inwardly that the Prince of Jin possessed an unfathomable depth of cunning.
To suffer such a sudden blow and yet maintain such absolute self-control was terrifying!
Some began to consider keeping a safe and proper distance from the Prince of Jin from then on.
A good number of subordinates within the Prince of Jin's faction were already plotting how to sever their ties and pledge allegiance elsewhere...
Amidst the turbulent currents of their thoughts, one point remained the consensus of nearly everyone present.
That was, for the foreseeable future, the political landscape of the Great Song would hardly be peaceful.
Even so, it was unlikely to erupt into any major chaos.
With the Emperor on the throne, all rebellions and ambitions could be firmly suppressed.
Even if the Prince of Jin harbored secret grievances in his heart, he neither could nor dared to perpetrate any excessive deeds.
Zhao Pu watched Zhao Guangyi's retreating back, a faint smile flashing briefly across the corner of his lips.
Zhao Guangyi might be putting on a joyful display at the moment, but God only knew how agonizing his heart felt inside.
Zhao Pu was well aware that Zhao Guangyi had always regarded himself as the heir apparent.
Now that the dust had settled and the crown prince was someone else, the taste of such defeat was bitter beyond measure.
And this was merely the beginning.
Since the Emperor had chosen the Prince of Qin as the heir to the throne, he would naturally begin paving the way for him in the days to come.
Given that Zhao Guangyi's factional influence was far too bloated, pruning his wings and cleaning out his network would be the logical next step...
...
"Go to the Prince of Jin's residence and tell my third brother to come to the Wansui Hall tonight to see me.
The two of us brothers shall have a proper talk."
In the afternoon, Zhao Kuangyin said these words as he looked toward Wang Ji'en.
Wang Ji'en promptly received the order and departed, entering the Prince of Jin's manor to convey the Emperor's oral decree.
Hearing this command, Zhao Guangyi felt as though supreme fortune had descended upon him from the heavens!