The Song Dynasty on the Sand Table

Chapter 515 Secret Message
A few days later, the news that the Northern Song Dynasty had welcomed back the coffin of Emperor Huizong of Song, Zhao Ji, spread throughout the land.

Along with Zhao Ji's remains, Empress Dowager Wei, Emperor Huizong's principal wife, also returned.

This Empress Dowager Wei was the birth mother of Emperor Gaozong Zhao Gou!
This put the Southern Song Dynasty in a somewhat awkward position.

Qin Hui's men began to work frantically, whispering among themselves and the civil and military officials.

Zhang Jun sat down in front of Liu Guangshi: "Have you heard? Empress Dowager Wei has arrived in Kaifeng and moved into the old palace."

Liu Guangshi: "I've heard about it! The Northern Song Dynasty was truly amazing."

Zhang Jun: "Empress Dowager Wei was the birth mother of the Southern Song emperor, but now she is among the former officials of the Northern Song. What do you think is going on?"

Liu Guangshi: "Shh! How can you say such a thing?"

Zhang Jun: "Sigh, what can't I say to you, brother? You're not going to report me, are you?"

Liu Guangshi: "That's true. What kind of relationship do we have? What we said today is known only to heaven, earth, you, and me. No third person will ever know."

Zhang Jun: "Our Southern Emperor Zhao Gou was initially put on the throne by Empress Dowager Meng."

Liu Guangshi: "Yes, what's wrong with that?"

Zhang Jun: "Empress Dowager Meng's status was lower than Empress Dowager Wei's, right? Back then, Empress Dowager Meng's single word put Zhao Gou on the throne. But now Empress Dowager Wei is in the Northern Song Dynasty... This is... heh..."

Liu Guangshi: "Brother Zhang, stop beating around the bush and just say what you want to say."

Zhang Jun's true intentions were revealed: "What I mean is, with just one word from Empress Dowager Wei, the Seventeenth Prince could become the rightful emperor!"

Liu Guangshi's eyes changed: "Hey! I understand! Brother Zhang, don't say anything more. Actually, I've been thinking the same thing for a long time."

Such dialogues occurred not only between Zhang Jun and Liu Guangshi, but also among a large number of officials...

Almost all the civil and military officials of the Southern Song Dynasty were discussing this matter.

Officials had to avoid discussing the matter with the emperor and carefully choose their conversation partners, lest they get burned by talking to the "emperor's party" who were loyal to Zhao Gou. But ordinary people didn't have to worry about all that; they could just grab anyone and start talking. Street vendors and laborers alike were all discussing this issue.

"Empress Dowager Wei carries more weight than Empress Dowager Meng! With just a word from Empress Dowager Wei, our Emperor could lose his legitimacy."

"Hey! You can't say that. After all, Empress Dowager Wei is the birth mother of our Emperor, while the Seventeenth Prince was born to Consort Yang. How can a mother not help her own son?"

"Ha, how foolish you are! Empress Dowager Wei is in the hands of the Northern Song Dynasty. Who she sides with is none of her business."

"As a mother, she would rather die than harm her own son. Even if he fell into the hands of the Northern Song Dynasty, she would not harm him."

"You're an idiot. You don't understand the court at all. Whether Empress Dowager Wei is willing or not is irrelevant. You don't hear a single word she says. The Northern Song says that whatever she said is what she said. Whether she said it herself or not, what's the use?"

"This……"

"There's another very important matter: Empress Dowager Wei is the Emperor's birth mother! The Emperor must observe filial piety. If Empress Dowager Wei issues any imperial edict, do you think the Emperor would dare disobey?"

"This……"

The public and officials alike were abuzz with discussion.

This caused even more people to flee north, and the border was crowded with civilians. If the border guards were even slightly negligent, large numbers of people would immediately escape across the border. This desire to flee spread to the border guards, and more and more soldiers followed suit.

Even the entire army stationed at the pass fled to the Northern Song Dynasty, so the pass was naturally opened, and the people poured out in droves...

The current state of affairs presents a rather comical atmosphere.

The Northern Song Dynasty and the Jin Dynasty clearly made peace, yet it was the Southern Song Dynasty that fell into chaos. Who could they complain to?
Yue Wenxuan possessed Ake's body, nimbly scaled the palace wall, and slipped into the Southern Song Dynasty's imperial palace.

The defenses here are very tight, with large contingents of imperial guards patrolling, making it extremely difficult to find an opening. Yue Wenxuan had also waited a very long time for this opportunity.

Peeking over the top of the palace wall, one could see Yang Yizhong, the commander of the Southern Song imperial guards, standing ramrod straight at the entrance to the imperial study, one hand on the hilt of his sword.

Yang Yizhong is a staunch supporter of imperialism!
For many years, he had been in charge of the Imperial Guards, loyally protecting Zhao Gou.

During the debate between the pro-peace and pro-war factions, Yang Yizhong remained neutral and did not say a word.

During the power struggle between the faction that favored and opposed the establishment of the legitimate heir, Yang Yizhong remained neutral and said nothing.

He only cared about Zhao Gou's safety and nothing else.

He knew that people outside were talking about it, and he was a little worried, but he still didn't get involved and stuck to his post.

Yue Wenxuan couldn't get any closer. Climbing over the wall was already extremely dangerous. If he jumped into the palace, he might be discovered as soon as he landed. Fortunately, he was prepared. He took out a pre-written letter, wrapped it on a dart, aimed at the pillar next to Yang Yizhong from a distance, and threw it...

The dart flew away with a "whoosh".

Yang Yizhong reacted extremely quickly. Hearing the sound of the wind, he turned to the side and dodged far away. The dart landed with a "thud" in the pillar next to him.

Yang Yizhong glanced at the direction the dart came from, then looked at the pillar, and judged from the angle: this dart was never intended to hit me!
The words "There's an assassin" were on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed them back down.

He darted to the pillar, snatched the paper from the dart, and unfolded it to read...

The paper contained only a few words: "Qin Hui's treacherous clique is plotting to overthrow the emperor, and there is a fear that they will force the emperor to abdicate and commit regicide soon."

Yang Yizhong was taken aback and rushed toward the direction from which the dart had come, but Yue Wenxuan had already slipped outside the palace wall and was nowhere to be found, leaving only a wisp of fragrant breeze at the edge of the palace wall.

Yang Yizhong was extremely anxious as he held the secret letter!
He wanted to send the letter to Zhao Gou immediately, but then he reconsidered and felt it was inappropriate. The emperor trusted Qin Hui immensely; how could he possibly convince Zhao Gou with such a vague and unsigned secret letter? Moreover, Qin Hui was merely a civil official with no military power; how could he possibly have forced the emperor to abdicate and commit murder?

Not to mention the officials, even I feel that this letter is a frame-up against Qin Hui.

How to do?How to do?
Yang Yizhong was so anxious that he jumped around.

A direct, forceful approach probably won't work; we should investigate covertly, while prioritizing the protection of the officials.

Once the evidence is verified or the evidence is obtained in the act, we will consider showing this to the authorities.

Yang Yizhong quickly summoned several trusted imperial guards and instructed them: "Keep a close eye on Qin Hui and see what he's been up to lately. See if he's been communicating with the generals who hold military power. If so, report back to me immediately. Note! This matter must be kept secret. No one is to know that you are watching Qin Hui."

Several trusted confidants realized that this was a serious matter! They dared not delay and quickly got to work.

(End of this chapter)