Simultaneous Transmigration: The Re-merging of 99 Selves

Chapter 50 Subduing Xia Zhen

As the mask was removed, a young and handsome face was revealed.

With a face like jade, eyes like bright stars, and an air of nobility between his brows, he was none other than Zhao Yu, the Prince of Yongjia, the younger brother of the current emperor, Emperor Ningzong of Song, Zhao Kuo.

Xia Zhen's eyes widened suddenly, his pupils contracted sharply, and his blood seemed to freeze at that moment.

He stared intently at Zhao Yu's face, as if he had seen a ghost, and cried out in disbelief, "Prince Yong... Prince Yongjia! How... how could it be you?"

He couldn't believe that this mysterious person, who possessed unparalleled martial arts skills, ruthless methods, and manipulated him at will, was actually the Prince of Yongjia, known to everyone in the court and the public for his seclusion and long-term reclusion due to his dedication to Taoist cultivation.

Everyone knows that this prince is the emperor's only younger brother. Because the emperor has no sons, he has always been deeply feared by the emperor and has never been promoted in rank.

Therefore, he spent most of his time hiding in the palace to cultivate Taoism and refine elixirs, ignoring worldly affairs and rarely even setting foot in the imperial court.

But who could have imagined that this seemingly carefree prince, who was indifferent to worldly affairs, had secretly mastered such astonishing martial arts skills and laid out such a grand scheme?

Xia Zhen's mind raced; the sounds of battle from the coup in the third year of the Kai Xi era still seemed to echo in his ears.

A prince from the imperial family, who had secretly mastered unparalleled martial arts, approached him, the commander of the Palace Guard, to inquire about the defenses of the imperial city...

It was practically obvious what Zhao Yu wanted to do.

Xia Zhen trembled all over and scrambled forward, falling to his knees with a thud, pleading desperately with Zhao Yu.

"Your Highness! Your Highness, please don't do anything foolish! Our Great Song Dynasty is currently in dire straits, surrounded by powerful enemies from the outside and beset by natural disasters and man-made calamities from within. If strife breaks out in the court at this time, or if there is any change in the palace, the Jurchens will surely take the opportunity to march south, and then the nation will be in grave danger! The world will suffer again!"

"Is the nation in peril?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yu sneered, then slammed his hand on the table, causing the teacup to bounce and spill tea all over the table.

He stood up, looking down at Xia Zhen kneeling on the ground, his eyes filled with rage: "You also know that the country is in danger? When Shi Miyuan conspired with my sister-in-law to kill the prime minister in the palace and send his head to the Jin Kingdom to sue for peace, did you have any regard for the country?"

Upon hearing this, Xia Zhen's expression became extremely unnatural, and his body trembled slightly.

He was a key participant in the execution of Han Tuozhou. It was he who led the Imperial Guards to open the palace gates and let Shi Miyuan's men in, which ultimately led to Han Tuozhou's capture.

This incident is a mark he can never erase from his life.

Previously, he considered this a great achievement and even wanted to have it engraved on a monument to commemorate it. But now, in front of Zhao Yu, how could he dare to take pride in it?

Xia Zhen quickly raised his head and argued, "Your Highness, please forgive me! Han Jiefu has seized power, eliminated dissidents, and controlled the court; he truly harbors treacherous intentions. Moreover, the Kai Xi Northern Expedition resulted in the loss of troops and territory, causing heavy casualties and the destruction of families in the Huai River region—all due to this man! We are acting on the Empress's orders to eliminate this traitor for the sake of the country, and it is absolutely not for our own selfish gain!"

"To rid the country of traitors?" Zhao Yu scoffed, his face full of disdain.

"Xia Zhen, let's not beat around the bush. You don't need to use these high-sounding words to fob me off. Even if Han Tuozhou holds absolute power, even if the Northern Expedition fails, he is still the current prime minister, appointed by the emperor himself as the Grand Councilor of Military and State Affairs."

"He is guilty, and the Emperor himself will issue an edict to arrest him and conduct a joint trial by the Three Judicial Offices. How dare you, a few ministers, act on your own? To collude with the harem and forge an imperial edict to assassinate the Prime Minister within the Forbidden City is treason! It is a coup!"

He took a step forward, staring intently at Xia Zhen: "Moreover, you have connections within the harem. Do you think I don't know what my sister-in-law, Empress Yang, is plotting? She has no children, yet she's single-mindedly focused on controlling the harem and interfering in court affairs. Is she trying to become a second Wu Zetian?"

Zhao Yu was obviously trying to label someone, but at this time, labeling was a very effective tactic.

Xia Zhen's expression changed drastically. He shook his head repeatedly and said in a trembling voice, "Your Highness, please be careful with your words. I dare not, and Empress Yang would never have such an intention."

"Dare not?" Zhao Yu continued with a sneer, "You say Han Tuozhou eliminated dissidents, but how is Shi Miyuan any different from Han Tuozhou now?"

"He monopolized the government, installed his cronies, and most of the civil and military officials were his cronies. He even practically sidelined the emperor. In order to secure his position as prime minister, he did not hesitate to make peace with the Jin people and sign that humiliating treaty that ceded national sovereignty. Increasing annual tribute and ceding territory was not enough; he also demanded that the emperor of our Great Song Dynasty address the emperor of the Jin Dynasty as his uncle."

"How long has it been since the humiliation of Jingkang! The fall of Bianjing, the capture of the two emperors in the north, and the abduction of almost all the women of the imperial family—have you all forgotten this unbearable disgrace?"

Zhao Yu's voice grew louder and louder, filled with indignation: "As the saying goes, a subject should die for his lord's honor. Now that the emperor is about to suffer such a great humiliation, you, as his subjects, not only do not fight to the death to remonstrate, but you also aid and abet the tyrant, helping Shi Miyuan to facilitate the peace talks, and you still have the nerve to talk to me about the sake of the country?"

Xia Zhen knelt on the ground, drenched in sweat, his head bowed low, bewildered and unable to speak.

He simply couldn't refute it.

Shi Miyuan's killing of Han Tuozhou was an undeniable palace coup, and the peace treaty signed with the Jin Dynasty was a blatant act of surrendering sovereignty and humiliating the nation.

As a participant, he had absolutely no room for defense.

After a long silence, Xia Zhen finally spoke, his face full of bitterness. He kowtowed to Zhao Yu and said, "Your Highness's words are all reasonable. It was our foolishness, our failure to serve the nation. But... things have come to this, what does Your Highness intend to do?"

Zhao Yu took a deep breath, looked out the window towards the imperial palace, and declared firmly, "It's simple. Since my elder brother can't hold onto the throne of the Great Song Dynasty, then I will!"

"What he couldn't do—the Northern Expedition against the Jin—I will do! What he couldn't reclaim—the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun—I will reclaim! What he couldn't repay—the humiliation of Jingkang—I will repay!"

"Since you cannot protect our nation and restore our land, then let someone else take that position!"

Xia Zhen shuddered, abruptly raising his head to look at the imposing Prince Yongjia before him, his last shred of hope shattered.

As expected, this prince was plotting a rebellion to seize the Song Dynasty's throne.

But what could he do?

One's life or death is entirely in the hands of the other person's decision.

Moreover, Zhao Yu's words struck at his deepest guilt and unease.

He spent half his life in the military. When he first joined the army, did he not want to launch a northern expedition to resist the Jin and recover his homeland?

But what did they gain by following Shi Miyuan, besides fighting for power and signing humiliating peace treaties?

Oh, no, besides these, there are also fertile fields, mansions, gold, silver, and beautiful women.

If Xia Zhen were to reveal these things, he feared that if Zhao Yu activated the Life and Death Talisman again, he would truly be worse off than dead.

He knelt on the ground, remained silent for a long time, and finally slowly kowtowed: "Your subject... Xia Zhen, is willing to obey Your Highness's orders, even at the cost of fire and water."