Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

"What should we do? What should we do!"

While the main hall was in an uproar, in the bedchamber, Zhao Huan, who had just woken from his coma, was jumping around like a monkey in a frenzy.

"It's over, the Jurchens have invaded! What should we do now?"

"Yes, Father, I must go to Father. Father will surely have a way."

Upon thinking of Zhao Ji, he immediately abandoned the palace maids and eunuchs who were serving him, and ran out of his bedchamber as if possessed, leading a troop of imperial guards towards the East Palace.

Meanwhile, more than a dozen carriages had already been prepared outside the East Palace.

Eunuchs and guards were constantly loading antique paintings and calligraphy, as well as gold, silver and valuables, onto the carriage.

"Be careful, go slowly..."

Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji) kept instructing his attendants on how to properly store these valuables.

He received news of the Jurchens breaching the city earlier than Zhao Huan, so he prepared his carriage in advance and fled south before the Jurchens stormed into the palace.

"Xu~"

A horse's neighing sounded in Zhao Ji's ears.

Looking to the side, one could see that the imperial horse seemed unable to bear the weight of the cargo on the carriage, and its front hooves sank off the ground.

Suddenly, the boxes on the vehicle scattered all over the ground, all of them containing rare stones that had been purchased at great expense from Southeast Asia and other places.

Zhao Ji immediately ordered with heartache, "Alas, pack them up quickly. These are all my brothers, whom I regard as my own flesh and blood. They are to move south with me. They must not be neglected."

Upon hearing this, the eunuchs and guards immediately began to frantically pack up their belongings.

Just as Zhao Ji was in a flurry of activity, Zhao Huan's voice rang out from the nearby corridor: "Father, Father, the Jurchens have invaded! Please save your son, please save him..."

Zhao Huan, who had just been crying out, was stunned when he saw the rows of carriages in front of him.

"Father, what are you doing..."

Zhao Ji glanced at him, picked up a stubborn stone from the ground, wiped it clean, and said, "I am leaving Bianjing City, so I am entrusting this place to you."

After saying that, ignoring Zhao Huan's bewildered look, he directly shouted to a guard, "It's about time to set off."

After the guards bowed respectfully, they led in a royal carriage.

Zhao Ji sighed and was about to step forward.

But as soon as he lifted his foot, Zhao Huan forcefully stopped him.

"Father, where are you going?"

"Let go!"

"Father, are you... are you leaving Bianjing? Are you planning to abandon your son?"

Zhao Ji forcefully pulled Zhao Huan's arm away from his grasp, then said earnestly, "Huan'er,

You have grown up and are now the Emperor of the Song Dynasty. You must bear the risks from now on alone; this is the responsibility of an emperor.

"Your father can't help you anymore. Staying here will only be a burden, so don't be one."

After speaking, he patted Zhao Huan on the shoulder, ignoring his stunned expression, turned around, grabbed the carriage railing, and prepared to step onto the carriage.

"No, Father! You can't leave!"

Just as Zhao Ji stepped onto the carriage, Zhao Huan, realizing what was happening, rushed forward and pulled his father back.

"How can you leave at this time?"

"Huan'er, let go of me, do you hear me!"

"No, Father, don't think you can just leave like this. Your son will not agree to it, absolutely not."

"Get out of my way!"

During the struggle, Zhao Ji pushed Zhao Huan to the ground, turned around, and quickly jumped into the carriage.

"Let's go, leave the palace!"

At a command, ten carriages loaded with treasures and antiques slowly began to move.

Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji) had to leave the south gate before the Jurchens surrounded the entire city of Bianjing.

Seeing that Zhao Ji was about to flee, Zhao Huan finally couldn't hold back any longer and decisively ordered: "Guards, stop the imperial carriage of the Crown Prince and seal all the palace gates. No one is allowed to leave the palace without my permission!"

Soon, the Imperial Guards accompanying Emperor Huizong received the news and immediately blocked his carriage.

Enraged by this, Zhao Ji lifted the carriage curtain and roared at the Imperial Guards in front, "What are you doing? Get out of my way!"

The Imperial Guards were at a loss for what to do and exchanged glances.

"Protect the Emperor Emeritus!"

In that brief moment of hesitation, the guards of the Eastern Palace also drew their swords and spears to protect Zhao Ji's carriage, confronting the Imperial Guards.

For a moment, the atmosphere became unbearably oppressive.

"I told you to get out of the way, didn't you hear me!"

Zhao Ji roared at the Imperial Guards, but when they didn't react, he immediately looked at Zhao Huan, who was chasing after him, and was instantly furious.

"You unfilial son, are you going to do something disloyal and unfilial?"

Zhao Huan said, "Father, the country is in peril. You cannot abandon your son and leave the capital alone. You must stay and help your son face this situation together!"

Zhao Ji shouted, "I am merely the Retired Emperor; you are the Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty and should shoulder the responsibilities of being the ruler of a nation!"

Zhao Huan also became anxious: "I never wanted to be the emperor in the first place. When you left me with a mess and forced me to ascend the throne, did you ever think about the responsibilities of the emperor?"

Zhao Ji's eyes widened: "So, you rebellious son, you dare to defy me now? Do you want to be ridiculed by the world for being disloyal and unfilial?"

Zhao Huan immediately retorted: "Father, you abandoned me and fled for your life. Aren't you afraid that the world will laugh at you for lacking the virtue of a ruler?"

"You unfilial son, I'll ask you only one question: will you let him pass or not!"

"Your Majesty, I request to abdicate. If Your Majesty grants your permission to take me with you, I will naturally allow it."

"You beast!"

Emperor Huizong was so angry that he cursed out loud.

"How could I have given birth to such an unfaithful and unfilial child?"

Zhao Huan retorted, "If a son is not taught properly, the father will also be at fault. Father, don't be so quick to scold me. Unless you depose me from the throne, you will not be allowed to leave the capital today."

He decided to go all out: if you won't let me have an easy time, then nobody will have an easy time either.

Even if I die, I'll take someone down with me.

Zhao Ji was driven to desperation, fearing that if he delayed even a moment, he would become a prisoner of the Jurchens. He decisively ordered the guards of the Eastern Palace: "All of you, listen to my command! Anyone who dares to obstruct the carriage shall be killed without exception."

How could Zhao Huan let his father have his way? He then said to the Imperial Guards, "If you allow even one person to leave the palace, I will exterminate your entire family!"

The situation froze instantly, with neither side's guards daring to make a move.

One is the current emperor, and the other is the current emperor's father.

None of them were people these low-ranking guards could afford to offend; if anything went wrong, they would have to take the blame with their own heads.

So, the guards on both sides tacitly played a game of advance and retreat, keeping a three-step distance between them, neither daring to make the first move.

Just as the situation reached a stalemate, a palace attendant rushed up to Zhao Huan in a hurry.

"Your Majesty, General Guo has sent an urgent report. He has reorganized the remaining garrison and engaged in street fighting with the Jurchens. Please do not panic."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Huan immediately asked, "Where are the Jurchens now?"

The eunuch, panting heavily, replied, "The Jurchens are being held back outside the city by General Guo and the righteous men of the city."

"Censor Zhou Xianwu and Vice Minister Zhong Lue have already led the garrison from the capital to support General Guo Huang in resisting the Jin invaders. We urge Your Majesty to return to court and oversee the situation to reassure the people."

Upon hearing that the Jurchens were still being held back outside the city, Zhao Huan felt a little relieved.

"Very well, I will return to the palace now."

Then he glanced at Zhao Ji and said, "Father, without my order, even if you leave the palace gates, you will not be allowed to leave Bianjing even a step further."

"I have issued a strict order that no one may enter or leave any of the Nine Gates without my written decree."

After saying this, he ignored Zhao Ji's rebukes and curses and walked directly towards the main hall of Bianliang Palace.