Chapter 28: It Was Not You Who Abdicated, It Was He Who Seized the Throne!

"Thank you, Third Uncle, for your profound guidance. Had it not been for your advice, I truly would not have known how to proceed this time. Now, I feel a sense of certainty in my heart."

At the gates of the Prince of Jin's mansion, Zhao Dezhao looked at his Third Uncle, Zhao Guangyi, who had seen him out, speaking with a sincere and deeply grateful expression.

"Why the thanks? You child, isn't that being overly formal? I am your Third Uncle, and you are my own nephew; why speak as if we are two separate families? This is only what I ought to do. In the future, if there is anything you do not understand, just come to me. Your Third Uncle will tell you everything he knows without reservation."

Zhao Guangyi also wore a full smile, perfectly embodying the demeanor of an uncle. He truly doted on this nephew. Anyone witnessing this scene would surely praise the fine family traditions of the Zhao house. The uncle and nephew got along so harmoniously, complementing each other, that it surely stirred the envy of many onlookers.

"Third Uncle, please return to your affairs; there is no need to trouble yourself with seeing me off. It truly humbles me."

"Haha, your Third Uncle was just tired of sitting and came out for a walk. Besides, Rixin, you are, after all, my Imperial Elder Brother’s son, a prince of our Great Song. Is it not fitting for me to see you off?"

After much display of uncle-nephew affection, Zhao Dezhao bid his Third Uncle farewell and departed. The smile on his face remained constant. It was a smile from the heart; he had not felt this happy in a long time. In his rivalry with his Third Uncle, he had always been on the losing side. This time, however, he had finally managed to turn the tide.

As for whether his Third Uncle felt unhappy about this... that was a certainty. But that was only human nature. Previously, when his Third Uncle had suppressed him at every turn, he had felt equally unhappy. Yet, it went no further than that. Displeasure was just displeasure; after all, blood is thicker than water. They were kin, and the character "Zhao" could not be written in two different ways. He would not do anything excessive to the other, and his Third Uncle certainly would not either.

...

The crescent moon shone over the nine provinces, bringing joy to some and sorrow to others. In contrast to Zhao Dezhao’s joy, Zhao Guangyi’s mood was anything but pleasant.

Returning to his room, once he was alone, his warm, smiling face turned gloomy, as dark as the bottom of a pot. It was almost dark enough to rival his brother, Zhao Kuangyin.

"Your Highness, I am ashamed. I truly did not expect such a thing to happen..." Lu Duoxun said, his face filled with shame as he confessed his oversight to Zhao Guangyi.

"This is not your fault; you acted correctly. No one could have expected that at such a time, the Imperial Elder Brother would put his trust in that brat, Zhao Dezhao!"

Facing his close confidants, he no longer needed to hide his emotions and could vent his dissatisfaction regarding the day's events. After acknowledging the Prince of Jin's magnanimity, Lu Duoxun asked with confusion, "Your Highness, why would His Majesty defy convention and make such arrangements? Could it be... that Your Highness has done something recently that displeased His Majesty?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Guangyi did not even hesitate and immediately shook his head. "No. I have committed no errors recently; everything I have done has been outstanding. I would never provoke my Imperial Elder Brother. It is absolutely impossible that he would, for such a reason, deny me the task of receiving Li Yu." He answered with ironclad certainty; in such matters, Zhao Guangyi was that confident.

"Then, has Zhao Dezhao perhaps done something particularly impressive recently?"

"That young fool, Zhao Dezhao, is exceptionally stupid and incapable of handling major responsibilities. What impressive thing could he possibly have done?" Zhao Guangyi dismissed the notion with disdain.

"Your Highness... could this be related to the person Zhao Dezhao brought to see His Majesty some days ago?" Cheng Dexuan spoke up from the side, with some caution. With the news transmitted from the palace by Wang Ji'en, and considering that only a few days later Zhao Kuangyin entrusted such a heavy responsibility to Zhao Dezhao, one could not help but think in that direction.

Zhao Guangyi, having listened to Cheng Dexuan, fell into deep thought.

"I do not believe that is it." A moment later, Zhao Guangyi shook his head, rejecting the idea. "That bizarre claim is something not even a fool would believe. With my Imperial Elder Brother’s wisdom, how could he possibly believe such words? It is even less likely that he would reward Zhao Dezhao for it. It would be fortunate if he hadn't slapped Zhao Dezhao across the face instead."

"Then... why would today's events have occurred?" Lu Duoxun was puzzled.

"The reason has already been stated very clearly by my Imperial Elder Brother." Lu Duoxun and Cheng Dexuan were taken aback. Then, a look of realization dawned in Lu Duoxun’s eyes; he had clearly understood Zhao Guangyi’s meaning.

"My Imperial Elder Brother said today in court that Zhao Dezhao is now of age and can share in some of the burdens—that is the reason. And two days ago, I heard that Zhao Dezhao went to pay his respects at the Yong'an Mausoleum for the late Empress. The affection between my Imperial Elder Brother and the late Empress was deep, and he is their only surviving son. Zhao Dezhao going to pay his respects would inevitably stir my brother’s longing for her, leading him to extend his affection to the son. Thus, assigning such a task to Zhao Dezhao is perfectly logical."

Cheng Dexuan looked enlightened, as if he had suddenly awakened after hearing Zhao Guangyi’s words, understanding the connections.

"Your Highness is absolutely correct; this must be the truth of the matter. When it comes to grasping the situation and insight into worldly affairs, this humble servant is far behind."

Zhao Guangyi kept his expression calm, though he was very pleased inside. He straightened his chest slightly and said with a touch of disdain, "Zhao Dezhao simply has a good background and was born to such parents. Otherwise, given his talent, how could he have his current status? Let alone compete with me."

In saying this, he forgot that if he himself had not been born to a good brother and a sister-in-law who had treated him exceptionally well while she was alive, how could he have attained what he had today? Was his current status and his many achievements truly earned solely by his own efforts?

"A year ago, when my Imperial Elder Brother promoted Zhao Dezhao to Jiedushi and Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi, that charlatan had not yet been presented to him by that fool Zhao Dezhao. Did my Imperial Elder Brother not promote him then as well? This further proves that this matter has nothing to do with that charlatan."

"Your Highness has profound insight!" Both Cheng Dexuan and Lu Duoxun offered their affirmation.

"It is not profound insight, merely matters within the bounds of reason." He said, snapping open his folding fan with a 'swish' and fanning himself lightly.

"Your Highness, then... what shall we do? Shall we just watch as Zhao Dezhao grows step by step?" Lu Duoxun asked, appearing somewhat worried and restless. He had long since staked his prospects on Zhao Guangyi and naturally did not wish to see Zhao Dezhao rise.

"It does not matter. Zhao Dezhao is nothing but mud that cannot be plastered onto a wall. No matter how many opportunities he is given, he is useless. The more my Imperial Elder Brother gives him, the more his incompetence will be revealed. The more his true colors will be exposed to my brother, and it will only serve to extinguish any thoughts my brother might have of naming him as the Imperial Heir."

Speaking of this, Zhao Guangyi was very confident. Yet, for some reason, he suddenly felt a faint chill. He thought for a moment, then closed his fan—which had been used to project his refined demeanor—and stopped fanning. But the chill did not disappear...

...

"Your Majesty, what you said is not quite right. It is not that you passed the throne to the Prince of Jin, but rather that the Prince of Jin seized the throne for himself."

Zhao Kuangyin: ???!!!