The Great Song Dynasty: You were put in charge of teaching, and you produced a whole bunch of prime

The three-day period has ended.

The atmosphere at the morning court session that day was oppressive and suffocating. Emperor Renzong Zhao Zhen sat on the dragon throne, with dark circles under his eyes, clearly having slept poorly due to the rumors of the past few days.

In the imperial court, the pro-peace and pro-war factions were clearly divided, each keeping their eyes down and their minds at ease, like the calm before a storm.

Suddenly, Ouyang Xiu stepped forward, holding his official tablet, and declared loudly, "Your Majesty, I have a memorial to present! Recently, rumors have been circulating in the capital that the Imperial Seal has appeared, and the prophecy points directly to 'Western Xia must submit to us.' This is Heaven's decree proving the legitimacy of our Great Song Dynasty! Since this is Heaven's will, I humbly request Your Majesty to add a clause to the peace treaty with Western Xia stipulating that 'Western Xia will relinquish its imperial title and forever maintain the rites of a vassal state.' Otherwise, I fear we will incur divine retribution, and the people's hearts will be uneasy!"

These words caused an uproar in the imperial court.

Wu Chong immediately jumped out: "Ouyang Xiu! You're spouting nonsense! That so-called imperial seal is of dubious origin and is clearly a forgery by a sorcerer. How can it be used as a basis for national policy?"

"A forgery?" Ouyang Xiu sneered. "Then why do the people say it's dragon energy protecting them? Why does the Prince of Western Xia treasure it so much? Lord Wu, are you questioning the will of Heaven, or are you questioning the eyes of the people?"

"You..." Wu Chong was speechless for a moment. In this era that emphasized the "interaction between heaven and man," who would dare to openly speak ill of God?

Just as the two sides were arguing fiercely, an urgent report suddenly came from outside the palace.

"Report! Yeli Yu, the chief envoy of the Western Xia delegation, requests an audience!"

Zhao Zhen rubbed his temples: "Summon them."

Yeli Yuqi strode into the hall, his face extremely grim. He didn't perform the full kneeling ceremony, but merely gave a perfunctory bow and loudly proclaimed, "Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty! My prince has said that this marriage is off!"

The entire audience erupted in uproar.

Zhao Zhen was stunned: "Why?"

Yeli Yuqi gritted his teeth and said bitterly, "My prince admires the culture of the Great Song Dynasty and originally wished to establish a marriage alliance. However, these past few days, rumors have been rampant in the capital, insulting us beyond measure! Some have even fabricated auspicious omens, attempting to force our Great Xia to submit and pay tribute! Although our Western Xia is small, we are heroes on horseback and will never tolerate such humiliation! We are not worthy of this princess! Farewell!"

After saying that, he left without looking back, leaving the civil and military officials looking at each other in bewilderment.

The pro-peace ministers were completely dumbfounded. The marriage alliance they had painstakingly arranged had actually... fallen through? And it was the Western Xia who had proposed it first?

This script is wrong!

Only Ouyang Xiu stood there, head bowed, concealing the smile on his lips. The headmaster's move of "retreating to advance, killing the enemy's spirit" was truly brilliant.

Li Liangzuo's retreat not only saved face for the Song Dynasty, but more importantly, it ensured the safety of Princess Zhao Lingjun.

Inside a side hall of Kunning Palace.

Zhao Lingjun held the gold hairpin, gesturing at her neck for a full hour. Today was the deadline; if her father truly issued an edict forcing her, she would really stab herself.

Niu Aihua stood guard at the door, holding a fire poker she had taken from the imperial kitchen, like a door god.

Just then, Eunuch Chen came running over, his face showing a mixture of relief and embarrassment.

"Princess! Your Highness!"

Zhao Lingjun's hand trembled, and the golden hairpin pierced halfway into her skin: "Don't come any closer!"

"Oh my little darling, put her down! Put her down!" Eunuch Chen stamped his feet anxiously. "She doesn't need to marry! She doesn't need to marry!"

Zhao Lingjun was stunned, thinking he had misheard: "What did you say?"

"The Western Xia have annuled the engagement!" Eunuch Chen wiped the sweat from his brow. "Just now, the Western Xia envoy announced in court that the marriage is off. His Majesty has already granted his request. Princess, are you alright?"

In that instant, the gold hairpin in Zhao Lingjun's hand clattered to the ground. Her body went limp, and she collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down her face.

Three days. It really was only three days.

He did it. Although we don't know how he did it, he truly pulled her back from the abyss when all seemed impossible.

Niu Aihua grinned, tossed aside the fire poker, helped Zhao Lingjun up from the ground, and said gruffly, "Looks like we won't be killing anyone tonight. Princess, are you hungry? Shall I get you a roast duck to calm your nerves?"

Zhao Lingjun burst into laughter through his tears and nodded vigorously: "Two! And the fattest ones!"

……

The news of the Western Xia's annulment of the engagement spread like wildfire throughout Bianjing. The people cheered as if they had won a great victory. In teahouses and taverns, everyone was talking about the magical jade seal and the masked "Senior Brother Su Shi" who had left the Western Xia prince speechless.

Inside the inn, Li Liangzuo was packing his belongings, preparing to leave the capital immediately. He didn't want to stay a moment longer in this place that had caused him so much humiliation. He smashed the "fake jade seal" to the ground, but the shadow in his heart wouldn't go away.

"Su Shi... and that masked man... I'll remember you both." Li Liangzuo stared at the walls of Bianjing, his eyes flashing with hatred. "This debt will be settled on the battlefield sooner or later!"

However, the atmosphere in the small courtyard where the students from Jingshi Academy were staying was not as relaxed as they had imagined.

Jiang Lin took off his mask and threw it aside, his face showing no joy.

"Headmaster, the princess is safe, didn't we win?" Shen Kuo asked, somewhat puzzled.

"This is just the first step." Jiang Lin looked out the window. "The Western Xia people are gone, but the traitors are still here. Zhao Liben's case is not yet closed, and those who wanted to kill the princess and cover up their crimes are still sitting high in the court."

He stood up, walked to the table, picked up the list he had extracted from Zhao Liben, and the ledger that recorded countless blood debts.

"With the external threat eliminated, it's time to clean house." Jiang Lin's voice was icy cold. "Lord Ouyang is already in the palace; I should go and see that official."

Inside the imperial palace, Zhao Zhen's feelings were complex. He breathed a sigh of relief that his daughter was safe. However, the Western Xia's firm stance in announcing the engagement, and the mysteriously appearing jade seal, made him vaguely feel that an unseen hand was controlling everything behind the scenes.

"Your Majesty, Hanlin Academician Ouyang Xiu requests an audience."

"Let him in."

Ouyang Xiu stepped into the Chuigong Hall once more, this time with a more resolute stride than ever before. He was no longer there to argue, but to present the truth.

"Your Majesty, the Western Xia's annulment of the engagement was orchestrated by someone in secret, preserving the royal family's dignity," Ouyang Xiu said bluntly.

Zhao Zhen was taken aback: "Who is it?"

"Jiang Lin, the headmaster of Jingshi Academy," Ouyang Xiu said in a deep voice, "and he is currently outside the palace gates, carrying the blood debt of thousands of wronged souls from Daming Prefecture, as well as evidence that could shake the court and the public, requesting an audience with the Emperor!"

Zhao Zhen's pupils contracted sharply. He knew that this was the real storm.

"Announce!"

A moment later, Jiang Lin, dressed in plain clothes, walked into the hall that symbolized the highest power of the Song Dynasty with neither arrogance nor servility. Unlike ordinary commoners who trembled with fear, he looked at Zhao Zhen, who sat on the dragon throne, with a scrutinizing gaze.

This is Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty, the monarch who ushered in the Renzong Era of Prosperity, but also left behind countless hidden dangers due to his indecisiveness.

"This humble subject, Jiang Lin, greets Your Majesty." Jiang Lin simply bowed slightly and performed a traditional Chinese greeting.

The eunuch beside him was about to reprimand him, but Zhao Zhen waved his hand. He looked at the excessively young headmaster of the academy with curiosity and inquiry in his eyes.

"Jiang Lin, do you know your crime?" Zhao Zhen asked slowly.

"This humble subject is unaware." Jiang Lin raised his head, looking directly at the emperor's face. "This humble subject only knows that some people are illegally operating mines, enslaving the people; some are trafficking in weapons, colluding with the enemy and betraying the country; some are forcing princesses into marriage alliances to cover up their crimes. These people are unaware of their crimes, so what crime have I committed?"

He pulled the account book from his pocket and held it high.

"This is the truth beneath the walls of Daming Prefecture. Your Majesty, please look!"

With this account book presented to the emperor, a purge targeting corruption in the Song Dynasty's officialdom officially began. The pro-peace faction leaders, who had been lurking in the shadows, finally felt the chill of a blade at their throats.