Zhao Chen knew his father was right, but he couldn't truly understand.

To understand something, you can't rely on listening to others explain their reasoning. The reasoning others give is ultimately a summary of their own experiences.

Without experiencing things firsthand, one cannot truly understand them.

For someone like Zhao Huan, who had just transmigrated and could only be emperor for a year, in that situation, not only could his father not be relied upon, but his dozens of brothers could not be relied upon either, and his ministers could not be relied upon either.

In that kind of environment, people are capable of anything.

After experiencing that kind of danger, people will completely let loose and be themselves!

We will also be more rational in recognizing the most fundamental rules of this world!

However, Zhao Chen grew up in luxury, and when Wanyan Zongwang's army besieged the city, it was his father who shouldered the heavy responsibility of the entire Song Dynasty. He had never experienced a crisis.

When ministers in the court and the countryside wanted to disrupt the government, it was his father who kept the situation in check. When Confucian scholars rioted, when the south was in chaos, when the Yan-Yun crisis and the northwest crisis occurred, it was his father who suppressed these shocking moments in the Song Dynasty with an iron fist.

He knew these stories, but he couldn't empathize with them.

In his mind, killing Zhao Xu was extremely cruel, a form of fratricide.

Zhao Chen nodded, but Zhao Huan could not see any genuine agreement in his eyes.

Zhao Huan sighed and said, "Brother, if we don't kill your seventh uncle today, we can't explain it to the country or the family. The royal family should be the first in the world. The corrupt imperial clan should be eliminated! You'll understand later. It's getting late, go back and rest. Spend more time with your mother these next few days. I haven't seen her for quite some time."

"Yes, Father, you should also get some rest."

"Go."

Zhao Chen left, and Zhao Huan sat in his study, lost in thought.

The fact that the emperor's son had grown up meant that a new political struggle was about to begin.

Zhao Huan suddenly realized a problem: he had spent too little time or thought too little about the successor.

He is also a human being, and he will die one day. When he dies, the political situation will end with his death, which is the norm.

Without a strong successor, it would be impossible to maintain the ever-growing empire and continue to follow his century-long strategic plan.

Shao Chengzhang came in and stood guard to one side.

Zhao Huan suddenly asked, "Who has my elder brother been in contact with these past few days?"

"Your Majesty, it was Princess Ji who came."

Zhao Huan nodded; that made sense.

“Yesterday, the Prince of Yun also met with my elder brother.”

"The Prince of Yun? What does he want with my elder brother?"

"The Prince of Yun discussed matters of calligraphy and painting with his elder brother."

Zhao Huan simply nodded and said nothing more.

But he keenly sensed that Zhao Ji was behind this.

Prince Yun, Zhao Kai, was the third son of Emperor Huizong of Tang (Zhao Ji), and also the most handsome of his thirty-one sons. He was proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

Emperor Huizong of Song (Zhao Ji) was a typical artist with a great love for all things beautiful.

Compared to the sickly Crown Prince Zhao Huan of yesteryear, Prince Zhao Kai of Yun was practically a perfect person.

Moreover, Zhao Kai secretly participated in the imperial examination back then.

In that year's examination, Zhao Kai topped the list of successful candidates. No one knew that Zhao Kai was the one who topped the list. Afterwards, Zhao Kai told Emperor Huizong of Song, Zhao Ji, and Zhao Ji liked Zhao Kai even more.

Compared to such a person, Zhao Huan at that time was conservative, timid, and rigid. To outsiders, it was simply the difference between a good-for-nothing and a genius.

This is a plot point that only appears in novels, but that's how history is arranged.

If Wanyan Zongwang hadn't besieged the city and forced Zhao Ji to hastily abdicate, Zhao Huan, the crown prince, might very well have been deposed.

Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji) doted on his third son, Zhao Kai, who naturally relied heavily on his father.

Zhao Huan imprisoned Zhao Ji, for which Zhao Kai rebuked him to his face. However, at that time, Zhao Huan was busy fighting against the Jin state and had no time to pay attention to him.

Later, Zhao Huan was also busy with the new policies.

He's not like Hu Hai, who killed his younger brothers and sisters after ascending the throne.

He didn't want to see those princes unless they caused trouble.

In Zhao Huan's mind, the new policies were the most important thing, and he devoted all his energy and time to them.

He will put in a hundred times the effort to create a brand new Song Dynasty!

"It seems some people are starting to get restless!"

Early in the morning, the emperor arrived at the Chuigong Hall.

Waiting in the Chuigong Hall were Zhao Zhongcong, the Grand Minister of the Imperial Clan; Zhao Hongyi, the Duke of Lu, and his son; Zhao Shuren, the Duke of Wei; and Zhao Xu, the Prince of Ji, who was on the verge of collapse.

These people were originally arguing loudly with Zhao Zhongcong, believing that Zhao Zhongcong had treated them unfairly.

But once the emperor arrived, they all became obedient.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I am innocent! I am innocent!"

Duke Lu scrambled toward Zhao Huan, but was stopped by Shao Chengzhang.

Shao Chengzhang scolded, "Duke Lu, mind your place!"

Because of his years of indulging in pleasure and debauchery, Duke Lu looked extremely haggard, weak, and even somewhat gloomy.

Zhao Zifang kowtowed and said, "Your Majesty, we are willing to donate all our family property, all of it!"

But Magistrate Wei was a man of principle. His face flushed red, he said firmly, "Your Excellency, we were all confused about this matter. We apologize to you today!"

What he meant was, "I've already admitted my mistake and apologized to you. You have to let me go. If you don't, you're worse than a beast. You even kill your own kind. If you're not a beast, what are you?"

Prince Zhao Xu of Ji, on the other hand, was much more obedient and continued to kneel there.

The ringleaders of the grain embezzlement case were all here. Zhao Huan simply looked at them calmly, without even a twitch of the hair on his face, and without uttering a word.

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