vrcanaries Chapter 288 The Artistic Youth Zhao Ji
Chapter 288 The Artistic Youth Zhao Ji
Back to the live broadcast room.
Lin Ke took a few deep breaths and then said, "Logically speaking, Emperor Zhezong had other brothers after his death, so why was Prince Duan chosen specifically?"
"This brings us to one person—Empress Dowager Xiang. In 1100 AD, due to Emperor Zhezong's sudden death, Empress Dowager Xiang and several high-ranking officials expressed their opinions on the imperial position."
"Among them, Zhang Dun was the first to express his opinion, stating that Prince Jian was Emperor Zhezong's younger brother and could be established as emperor."
"But this suggestion was rejected by Empress Dowager Xiang, who stated that she herself had no sons, and that everything left behind by Emperor Shenzong had nothing to do with her."
"Originally, when Emperor Zhezong ascended the throne, she was worried about her relationship with Consort Zhu and had never been very close to them. That was fine, but why did it have to come to the point where Consort Zhu's own son had to be chosen? Why are so many people insisting on choosing her child?"
Lin Ke spoke in a strange tone, and the people from Wanchao Time and Space twitched their lips slightly after hearing it, thinking to themselves that this decision was what led the Northern Song Dynasty down the road to destruction!
"As for whether Consort Zhu had the ambition to vie for this power, the answer is naturally yes."
"As early as when Emperor Zhezong was seriously ill, Consort Zhu sent someone to contact Zhang Dun to discuss the successor. So, with the example of Empress Liu E, it is possible that the empress dowagers in the Northern Song Dynasty later all had this ambition to become empress dowagers with real power."
"Therefore, when Zhang Dun brought it up, Empress Dowager Xiang, who was already worried that Consort Zhu and her son would affect her position, naturally refused three times in a row. She preferred Prince Duan, Zhao Ji."
Empress Dowager Xiang: I object! Why, when Emperor Shenzong had other sons, did he have to choose Prince Jian?!
"Furthermore, Empress Dowager Xiang stated righteously that if ranked by age, Prince Shen would have had a vote, but due to his eye ailment, he was unfit to be emperor. Therefore, Prince Duan, who ranked after him, was the rightful choice."
"Empress Dowager Xiang even added: 'The late Emperor once said that Prince Duan was born with good fortune and longevity,' and that's certainly true. Zhao Gou is now emperor, while Zhao Ji is still alive and well!'"
Judy, the Grand General Who Conquers the North: Just say you want to choose Prince Duan!!!
Emperor Zhao Kuangyin of the Song Dynasty: ...If only he had thought more back then, his Song Dynasty would never have ended up like this!
A spoiled young man from the Tang Dynasty: Anyone else might have squandered money, but not everyone can be like Emperor Huizong of Song!
A scholar-official from the Han Dynasty: ...Indeed, if one thought about it more, who would have imagined that Emperor Huizong, who succeeded Emperor Zhezong, would be such a failure!
……
"However, Zhang Dun did not take Empress Dowager Xiang's refusal seriously. Although the Empress Dowager held some power at the time, she was still not as powerful as the prime minister."
"But the problem is that apart from Zhang Dun choosing to support Prince Jian, the other ministers all chose Prince Duan. Or perhaps, while Consort Zhu was secretly contacting Zhang Dun, Empress Dowager Xiang was also secretly making arrangements."
The other ministers (? ????...): Guess why we didn't come to you, Old Zhang!?
Seeing the others' reactions, Zhang Dun also fell silent. Their decisions, to some extent, determined the demise of the Northern Song Dynasty.
"However, as an aside, it seems that Empress Dowager Xiang was merely a tool, only recommended Prince Duan as a candidate."
"She didn't actually benefit much from the new emperor, Emperor Huizong, before she passed away. I wonder if later generations will think, 'If only Empress Dowager Xiang hadn't chosen Prince Duan!'"
Emperor Zhao Kuangyin of the Song Dynasty: Damn it, I want to rush in and shake their heads. Are they all filled with water? Can't they just replace one of them?
Zhang Dun from another timeline: ...This is His Majesty the Great Ancestor!?
A scholar-official from the Han Dynasty: Looks like this is new here!?
Cai Bian from another timeline: Where am I?! Why are you saying that Prince Duan did something wrong?!
Big Han Liu Zhuzhu (grinning): Of course, it's all thanks to you guys for choosing him that the Northern Song Dynasty was destroyed!
Kublai Khan of the Great Yuan Dynasty: It's all thanks to your choice of him, otherwise how could we have entered the Central Plains!
Emperor Zhao Kuangyin of the Song Dynasty: Get out! Get out of here! I'm telling you, we need to replace you! @Zhang Dun from another timeline!!!
Empress Dowager Xiang: .....We're doomed! We're nailed to the pillar of shame!!!
……
The Song Dynasty in another time and space
Zhang Dun, along with several senior officials and Empress Dowager Xiang, were discussing candidates for the position of emperor's successor.
Upon suddenly hearing Lin Ke's words: (;′??Д??`)！ ！ ！
What happened?! How could the Northern Song Dynasty have perished just because Prince Duan was chosen?!
And what's with this block?! How did it appear?!
Is this a comment by the founding emperor?
Zhang Dun and the others hurriedly asked questions, only to be told that the Northern Song Dynasty was about to be destroyed by the Jurchens!
Upon hearing this, Empress Dowager Xiang thought to herself: She can't bear this responsibility! Replace her!
Zhang Dun and the others were stunned. Judging from Emperor Taizu's attitude, Prince Duan would eventually lead to the demise of the Northern Song Dynasty, even though the Northern Song Dynasty was still doing quite well!
This woman who's speaking, does she even know which of Emperor Shenzong's princes is more reliable?
……
Back to the live broadcast room.
Lin Ke continued: "After that, Prince Duan, Zhao Ji, won the final victory and ascended the throne as the eighth emperor of the Northern Song Dynasty, namely Emperor Huizong. At this time, he was only nineteen years old."
"What's interesting is that when Empress Dowager Xiang informed Prince Duan of Zhao Ji's ascension to the throne, he was still traveling outside. I wonder if he did it on purpose or not!"
"Prince Duan arrived late, and when it came time to greet him, he and Empress Dowager Xiang declined three or four times. It is said that in the end, he was forced by his attendants to wear the dragon robe, although the performance was a bit obvious."
"Perhaps Emperor Huizong and Empress Dowager Xiang had discussed something beforehand. After he ascended the throne, Emperor Huizong declined, saying: 'I am still a child. The Empress Dowager should be in charge!'"
"When the Empress Dowager heard this, she must have been very happy, but she had to keep a straight face. So she played a little game of 'back and forth' with Zhao Ji. After two or three rounds, the Empress Dowager finally seized power and began to rule as regent."
"However, on the other hand, the emperors of the Song Dynasty all died quite young. Emperor Shenzong was in his thirties, and Emperor Zhezong was only in his twenties."
"But Emperor Huizong was an exception; he lived to be over fifty. There was also another exception, Zhao Gou."
"He lived to be eighty years old, which is extremely rare in the Zhao family, where there is a gene for early death. Is this the reason why a scourge can live for a thousand years?"
"The key point is, it wouldn't be surprising if he lived this long in peacetime, but Emperor Huizong of Song was a prisoner of the Jurchens. To live this long is like a genetic mutation!"
Emperor Zhao Zhen, the greatest benevolent ruler of all time: Comparison is the thief of joy!
A bystander from the Ming Dynasty: So, is this a case of a scourge living for a thousand years?! Hahahaha!
Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty: What's the big deal? I lived to be over eighty! Remember that! Over eighty!!!
Emperor Yongzheng of the Qing Dynasty: ...Do we really have to compete at this age?!
……