No war in the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 30 The Truth About the Demonic Book
Su Ze was respectfully led by the doorman to Zhang Daocheng's study. He walked into the study and saw Zhang Daocheng, bowed and said:
"Su Ze thanks Mr. Zhang for coming to the palace to rescue him the day before yesterday."

Seeing Su Ze being so polite, Zhang Daocheng felt unhappy instead. He snorted coldly and said:
"Su Lang is being too polite. Perhaps he feels that now that he has gained a reputation as a scholar in Bianjing City, he looks down on us merchants?"

Su Ze reacted quickly and changed his words:

"Uncle Zhang, Su has no such idea."

Hearing Su Ze change his words, Zhang Daocheng immediately put on a smile. He stood up, pulled Su Ze to sit down, and then said:

"My uncle has watched you grow up, so how could he stand by and watch you die? Later, Xiuyuan also sent a message from the palace saying that the emperor appreciated your talent. It wasn't my credit, and Uncle Zhang didn't dare to take the credit."

Su Ze felt a little warm in his heart. Zhang Daocheng's family was indeed good to him. After his original body's parents passed away, the Zhang family also took their old friendship into consideration and even helped Su Ze find a few jobs.

It's just that the original person was too ambitious and lacked the skills to do these jobs, and he looked down on these jobs and was unruly, which is why he distanced himself from the Zhang family.

Zhang Daocheng was also an honest and law-abiding businessman. After attaching himself to Zhang Xiuyuan, he did not abuse his power and continued to do his business honestly. Although he was a businessman, he had a strict family tradition and had a good reputation in the city of Bianjing.

The two exchanged a few more pleasantries before Su Ze told Zhang Daocheng the news that Wang Anshi had brought him that morning.

After hearing this, Zhang Daocheng's face turned a little ugly.

One must pass the Jie test to participate in the Ministry of Rites test. He has also experienced the ups and downs of the business world, and soon realized that someone was trying to make a move on Su Ze.

But Zhang Daocheng was a businessman after all, and he didn't understand the struggles in the officialdom. He frowned and said:
"This matter involves the outer court, and it's not convenient to ask for help from the palace. I have a relative, Lord Zhang, who is currently adjudicating the Dengwengu case. Can I introduce him to you? The Dengwengu Court is also under the Jianyuan Court. Can you ask him to intercede and not continue the investigation?"

Su Ze shook his head and said:

"Uncle, now that the news of this matter has spread, it's impossible for the censor to stop. I'm not asking you to intercede for me, but I just want to ask you something."

"what's up?"

Su Ze said solemnly:
"Has there been any changes in the palace since the case of the demon book?"

Zhang Daocheng was stunned, then looked at Su Ze with surprise, and asked:

"Why do you say that, Su Lang?"

Su Ze said:

"These past few days I've been wondering what the case of the demonic book is all about. It's an old story from the reign of Emperor Zhenzong. Empress Dowager Liu has been dead for many years, and the Liu family's relatives have all died out. So who is the target?"

"After much thought, I realize the case of the demonic book must be related to the affairs of the harem. However, I, Su, cannot find out the secret history of the imperial harem, so I can only seek help from Uncle Zhang."

"Only by knowing who I'm hindering, and knowing who wants to kill me, can I find a way to break the deadlock."

Zhang Daocheng looked at Su Ze and said after a long while:

"The future is terrifying!"

Zhang Daocheng walked to the door, closed the study door, and then said to Su Ze:

"This is a matter of great importance, and must not be spread outside."

If someone wants to take revenge on you, you must know who is behind it.

Su Ze nodded quickly. This was the reason why he came to see Zhang Daocheng.

Zhang Daocheng said:
"Do you know that the emperor has no children yet?" Su Ze nodded, and Zhang Daocheng said:

"Originally, Empress Cao had persuaded the Emperor to adopt Thirteenth Tuanlian as his son, but after the case of the demonic book, the Emperor rescinded his order. Although he met with Thirteenth Tuanlian, he still sent him back to Prince Pu's mansion."

Su Ze was suddenly shocked. He finally understood what was behind the case of the demon book!
The Thirteenth Tuanlian is Zhao Shu, the thirteenth son of King Pu'an Yi, Zhao Yunrang, and now the Tuanlian Envoy of Yuezhou. In the historical timeline before Su Ze traveled through time, after the death of Renzong, it was the Thirteenth Tuanlian who inherited the throne.

When Zhao Shu was young, he was raised in the palace of Empress Cao. Later, when Renzong gave birth to his own son, he sent Zhao Shu back to Prince Pu's Mansion. Now that Renzong's sons have died young, the empress requested to adopt Zhao Shu as the successor to determine the country's foundation. This is also a normal operation.

Although Su Ze did not remember the specific details, in the history before the time travel, it was because Empress Cao supported Zhao Shu's adoption of the throne that Zhao Shu's qualifications as the heir to the throne were established. In the end, Renzong was unable to give birth to a child, and Zhao Shu was the Song Yingzong of later generations.

Originally, this matter was about to succeed, but because of the case of the evil book and Su Ze's memorial, Renzong changed his mind.

Zhang Daocheng whispered, "The case of the demonic book, coupled with Su Lang's statement that 'the throne was inherited from the previous emperor,' has given the emperor new ideas."

Zhang Daocheng sighed and said, "Everyone knows that a stepson is definitely not as good as a biological son. Your Majesty is Zhenzong's biological son, and even after he ascended the throne, he caused the evil book to be published. If he adopts an adopted son, what kind of trouble will it be in a hundred years?"

Su Ze understood that Renzong's concerns were actually correct. In the historical timeline before the time travel, after Zhao Shu succeeded to the throne, the "Pu Yi" immediately broke out, which was a discussion about whether to recognize Renzong as his biological father.

Moreover, the "Pu Yi" was different from the Great Ceremony Debate initiated by Jiajing. Jiajing's succession to the throne was in accordance with etiquette and law, and he was the heir apparent to the throne.

However, Zhao Shu obtained the right to inherit the throne through adoption, and the legitimacy of his throne came from the fact that he recognized Renzong as his father. However, after he came to power, he changed his words, which naturally caused a violent shock in the court.

Su Ze now realized that he was blocking other people's way.

Su Ze asked again:
"Uncle, when you met Zhang Xiuyuan that day, did she promise you to ask the emperor to pardon me?"

Zhang Daocheng nodded, and Su Ze took a breath. He had already formed a basic judgment that the mastermind behind the case of the evil book was most likely Zhang Xiuyuan.

If Zhao Shu, who was adopted by the Queen, was made the Crown Prince, the person who would be most affected would naturally be Zhang Xiuyuan, who was competing with the Queen for favor.

He concocted a demonic book and used it to make Renzong recall his succession to the throne.

Empress Dowager Liu adopted Renzong and then used her status as empress dowager to govern the country. When Renzong's true identity was revealed, he hated Empress Dowager Liu in his heart.

However, the Empress Dowager was indeed capable in governing, and Renzong was unwilling to completely overturn her political legacy, so he reluctantly accepted the status of Empress Dowager Liu and gave her posthumous honors.

However, Renzong also honored his biological mother, Li Chenfei, as the empress dowager and bestowed favors on the Li family's in-laws.

If you put yourself in other people's shoes and adopt a stepson to inherit the throne, how will the stepson treat you in the future?

An adopted son is certainly not as good as a biological son, so Renzong rejected Empress Cao's request and wanted to try harder to give birth to a son himself.

The case of the evil book was just a means. Zhang Xiuyuan just wanted to use the evil book to destroy Queen Cao's adoption plan.

Zhang Xiuyuan immediately agreed to ask the emperor to pardon her, which meant putting the blame on herself and quickly concluding the case of the evil book.

What a great method!

Su Ze was shocked. It turned out that none of the women who could climb to a high position in the harem were simple.

However, when he heard that Zhang Xiuyuan wanted to ask the emperor to pardon him, Su Ze concluded that although he had ruined Zhang Xiuyuan's plan, he had ultimately made the emperor reject Empress Cao's adoption proposal, which indirectly helped Zhang Xiuyuan.

The ones who take revenge on me are not from Zhang Xiuyuan's group.

In that case, it must be Queen Cao?
(End of this chapter)