Chapter 105: If Not Used, Then Destroy

As Empress Dowager Xiang, Consort Zhu, Zhao Xu, and the others departed from the Prince of Duan’s mansion, Zhao Xu lingered behind, whether intentionally or inadvertently, and walked toward the gate side-by-side with Zhao Ji. The two brothers exchanged pleasantries, appearing remarkably close.

"Why is the Lingnan scholar, Li Sanjian, staying in your mansion?" As they neared the gate, Zhao Xu suddenly turned his head and asked Zhao Ji.

"Ah... this... in reply to Your Majesty," Zhao Ji was caught off guard and stammered, "I saw that his paintings were exceptional, so I cherished his talent and kept him in the mansion as a retainer."

There were countless scholars in the world, and even more who had failed the examinations. That Zhao Xu knew Li Sanjian’s name, and furthermore, had discovered him within the Prince of Duan’s mansion, left Zhao Ji deeply bewildered.

Upon reflection, a chill ran down Zhao Ji’s spine. Zhao Xu certainly had not just discovered Li Sanjian’s presence; he must have known all along. This revealed that Zhao Xu was keeping him under strict surveillance, and not a single move he made escaped the Emperor's eyes. Zhao Ji felt as if he were standing naked in the broad daylight, stripped of every secret—a realization that filled him with dread.

Zhao Xu glanced at Zhao Ji and smiled. "Exceptional paintings? I would not have thought that someone with such profound insights in his writing would also excel in art."

"Your Majesty means...?" Zhao Ji asked.

"You must have read his essay, *Discourse on Establishing an Office to Control the Land via the Sea*, have you not?" Zhao Xu countered.

"In reply to Your Majesty, I have read it long ago." Zhao Ji had studied the piece before Li Sanjian arrived in the capital and had been shocked by it then. Now that Zhao Xu brought it up, he realized the Emperor had undoubtedly read it as well.

"Hmm," Zhao Xu nodded and continued, "After reading it, what are your thoughts?"

"Thoughts?" Zhao Ji pondered for a moment before answering, "At first, I thought his words were complete nonsense, utterly absurd. But upon deeper reflection, I realized Li Hanren's ideas were not entirely baseless; perhaps... perhaps there is a glimmer of possibility for their implementation."

"The Eleventh Brother speaks reasonably," Zhao Xu agreed. "I have read this article no fewer than five times. I have not only read his work but also the essays of other candidates in the provincial examinations. I believe this man’s insights are uniquely bold, even unconventional—one might say extraordinary. I have never seen anyone like him; no one in our dynasty has ever possessed such views. Indeed... there are even phrases in the text that I have never encountered before. It makes him seem like a man from beyond our borders. I am deeply suspicious of him."

"A man from beyond our borders? Extraordinary insights?" Zhao Ji thought to himself that it was indeed true. He had already harbored secret doubts about Li Sanjian, such as when he modified the rules of *cuju*—methods no one had ever conceived of or attempted before.

Li Sanjian was merely a scholar from the wild lands of Lingnan, his mother a member of the Li tribe, and he was only seventeen years old. How could he know so much? *Cuju*? He perhaps had never even seen the game before, so how could he have rewritten its rules? Furthermore, Li Sanjian’s paintings were exceptionally unique; throughout history, no such style had ever appeared. How could someone so young possess such vast talents? Who was his master?

Zhao Ji had even suspected that Li Sanjian was not human. He had secretly ordered his servants to test him with dog blood and pig manure, yet Li Sanjian had remained unmoved, never revealing a true form.

"Your Majesty, but this man is truly the son of Li Qing and the grandson of Li Xu. How could he be a man from beyond our borders? And is that... is that why he was...?" Zhao Ji asked hesitantly.

"You wish to ask why I failed him?" Zhao Xu glanced at him.

Zhao Ji nodded.

"Matters in the court are not so simple," Zhao Xu sighed. "Though I am the master of the world, there are some things even I cannot decide."

Zhao Ji remained silent. As the Emperor of the Great Song, Zhao Xu’s primary concern was the stability of the court and the security of the realm. He could not allow a person of such obscure background to jeopardize the state. Zhao Xu was, at times, quite helpless.

"Brother, you must take care of your health," Zhao Ji said, his eyes welling with tears. Although Zhao Xu had felt slightly better recently, to outsiders, the Emperor’s health seemed to decline day by day. Even today, during his visit, Zhao Xu had barely eaten, consuming only two bowls of porridge.

"I am fine." Zhao Xu, unwilling to discuss his health, waved his hand to interrupt. "Li Sanjian is still so young, yet he possesses such discernment. In my view, he will surely become a pillar of our dynasty in the future."

"Ah? Your Majesty rates him so highly? But I still do not understand, how should I treat him?" Zhao Ji asked.

"Use him. Of course, you must use him, but not now—in the future," Zhao Xu mused.

"In the future?" Zhao Ji asked, bewildered.

"Yes, in the future," Zhao Xu nodded. "One day, he may become your pillar of state."

The words struck like a thunderbolt, leaving Zhao Ji stunned and speechless. It was not Li Sanjian’s potential that shocked him—no one knew what the future held for the scholar, and Zhao Ji was skeptical of the Emperor's prophecy. It was the word "yours." To become *his* pillar of state implied that he, Zhao Ji, would one day ascend the throne.

What did Zhao Xu mean? Was he testing him? Zhao Ji felt a tremor of fear. It was common knowledge that Zhao Xu had no sons, and due to his frail health, there was a real possibility that he might pass without an heir. In that event, a successor would have to be chosen from the imperial clan to continue the Zhao line. Of the fourteen sons of Emperor Shenzong, only six remained. If Zhao Xu were to pass, one of the five others would have to be chosen. Every one of them, including Zhao Ji, was acutely aware of this, though it was never spoken aloud. They lived in fear of two things: that Zhao Xu might suddenly produce an heir, or that they themselves might not be the chosen successor. They curried favor with the inner palace and gathered scholars in secret, all while terrified of being found out by the Emperor.

Zhao Xu’s remark had terrified him to his core.

"Brother, your words are mistaken," Zhao Ji said, his legs weakening. "He... how could he be mine... You are in the prime of your youth, and the imperial line will surely continue. I have dedicated myself to painting and landscapes; I truly have no... no such intentions." He nearly knelt in his panic.

Zhao Ji’s immersion in art and pleasure was partly out of genuine interest, but primarily a calculated move to show he had no ambition for the throne. Very few knew of this true intent.

"Oh? Is that so?" Zhao Xu smiled faintly.

The prime of his youth—Zhao Xu felt a surge of ambition at the words. Yes, he was only in his early twenties; he had plenty of time. His poor health was surely temporary. Once he recovered, who was to say he could not father a son? He had, after all, once had a son, though he had passed away prematurely.

"If this man cannot be used by me, then kill him," Zhao Xu said after a long silence. With that, he left the Prince of Duan’s mansion, leaving a stunned Zhao Ji in his wake.

***

"Pass the word: from now on, Li Sanjian may do as he pleases within the mansion, and he may read any book he wishes. No one is to stop him." After Zhao Xu left, Zhao Ji gave his orders. He wanted to see what kind of future this Li Sanjian could actually carve out for himself.

***

"'Fish is what I desire; bear's paw is also what I desire. If I cannot have both, I will forsake the fish and choose the bear's paw. Life is what I desire; righteousness is also what I desire. If I cannot have both, I will forsake life and choose righteousness...'”

Li Sanjian was in his room, reading the *Three Chapters of Mencius* by the light of an oil lamp. Fu Erniang sat nearby, spinning yarn with a smile. It felt as if they had returned to the days in the small fishing village in Danzhou, a moment of immense warmth. Li Sanjian had tried to persuade her many times to stop, as his position as a retainer was enough to support them, and Shankui had joined the army and received a salary. But she insisted on working whenever she had spare time, leaving Li Sanjian with no choice.

What comforted him was that their living conditions had improved; the pine torches had been replaced by proper lamp oil, and they could even afford candles. The materials for spinning were of better quality now, making her labor less strenuous.

"Mother, it is late. Please get some rest," Li Sanjian said, setting aside his book.

"I am not tired." As the weather grew hot, one would sweat with the slightest movement. Fu Erniang wiped the sweat from her temples and said, "Sanlang, I have something to discuss with you."

"Mother, what could you possibly need to discuss with me? You are the master of this house," Li Sanjian smiled.

"Master? Am I that old?" Fu Erniang chuckled.

"Mother is not old at all. You are in your prime, looking as young as a girl of sixteen." Li Sanjian rose and sat beside her.

"You child, you talk nonsense. Is that how you speak to your mother?" She tapped him playfully.

Mother and son seemed to have drifted back to those days in the fishing village, where they had relied solely on each other for survival.