I'll steal Gao Qiu's life and lead the Song Dynasty to prosperity.

In the study of the Cai residence, the night was already deep.

Cai Jing changed into a casual home outfit, made of fine lake silk in a deep color, and sat in a round-backed chair, slowly stirring the foam in his teacup.

Cai Bian sat opposite him, his expression unusually solemn, his brows furrowing from time to time.

On the table were several copies of the official gazette and summaries of the case-closing documents from Kaifeng Prefecture, which were the final disposition of the "Baoshunhao" case.

"Brother," Cai Bian put down his teacup.

"The matter of Baoshunhao is now completely settled. Zhou Qin has lost his official position and been exiled to a remote county. Wang Zhengyan has been banished three thousand miles away and has no hope for the future. Our 'ears' and 'money bags' in the south of the city have been completely uprooted."

Cai Jing hummed in agreement, tapping his fingers lightly on the smooth armrest before speaking after a long pause.

"Let's just shut it down. It's just a gambling den, nothing serious. But..." He raised his eyelids and looked at Cai Bian, "This Zhao Mingcheng is more difficult to deal with than we thought."

Cai Bian nodded, his tone still carrying a lingering sense of frustration and confusion.

"I have observed that this young man's actions are always unpredictable. We originally intended to use Yang San to create trouble at the football field, injure the nobleman in the household, and solidify the charge of 'playing football recklessly and dangerously, leading the prince astray,' thereby damaging Zhao Mingcheng's image in the Prince Duan's mind and causing the Empress Dowager and the Emperor to dislike him. Who would have thought..."

At this point, Cai Bian shook his head.

"Who would have thought that the Prince Duan's mansion would never mention the word 'football' from beginning to end! They only insisted on 'Yang San's theft and the gambling den receiving stolen goods,' completely limiting the case to theft."

In this way, all the memorials we had prepared, accusing Cuju of harming the country and the new plays of being harmful, became completely useless. Instead, they used this as an excuse to shut down Baoshunhao under a legitimate pretext, arrest Wang Zhengyan (Manager Wang), and even dragged Zhou Qin into the mess, losing one of our peripheral personnel who, while not crucial, was still somewhat useful.

This Zhao Mingcheng… so young, yet possesses such quick wit, such ruthlessness, and such… a sense of propriety.”

"His greatest strength lies in his ability to know his limits," Cai Jing replied calmly.

He knew what could be blown out of proportion and what had to be kept quiet. Football was Prince Duan's passion and a vital link between him and Prince Duan. He would never let this fire spread to football, ruining Prince Duan's enjoyment and damaging his own foundation.

Therefore, he preferred to take a roundabout approach, using the seemingly despicable yet safest and most legal pretext of "theft" to achieve his goal. This punished his opponent without giving anyone grounds for attack, preserved the football team, and maintained his position in Prince Duan's heart. A multi-pronged approach; his meticulous planning and seasoned methods were unlike those of a young man.

A moment of silence fell over the study, and the atmosphere became even more oppressive.

"Brother, after this incident, what should we do regarding Zhao Mingcheng and Prince Duan...?"

Cai Bian tentatively asked Cai Jing, implying that he wanted to know if the targeting should continue.

Cai Jing waved his hand, cutting him off.

"That's enough. Zhao Mingcheng is not someone we can touch for now, and there's no need to do anything more to him."

He picked up the slightly cooled tea, took a sip, and said slowly.

"Firstly, this boy's favor with the emperor has not waned, and he is protected by Zeng Bu's faction. His two previous attempts to attack him failed to achieve their goal, and instead alerted him, making him more cautious. If we continue to attack him forcefully, we fear that we will achieve less with more effort, or even suffer the consequences ourselves."

Secondly, our primary target has never been him, a mere student. We've taught him a lesson, shown him he's not someone to be trifled with, and that's enough. There are more pressing matters at hand.

Cai Bian's expression hardened, and he sat up straight.

"Brother refers to..."

Cai Jing did not answer immediately. He put down his teacup and looked out the window at the deep night, as if trying to penetrate the layers of buildings and look at the majestic and silent palace in the night.

After a long while, he finally looked away, his voice extremely low.

"Yuandu (Cai Bian's courtesy name), you have always been meticulous and perceptive. Have you heard anything like this lately?"

Cai Bian's heart skipped a beat, and he lowered his voice as well.

"Brother, are you referring to... the Emperor's sacred body?"

Cai Jing nodded slightly and tapped his finger on the few official gazettes on the table. The gazettes were brief records of the Emperor's recent court assemblies and lectures.

"The Emperor is in his prime, but since last winter, his health has been poor, and he has had to rest and recuperate. Although he seems to be better after the start of spring this year and has been attending court, his complexion and spirit are not as good as before."

Lately, he has been... frequently fatigued, and during audiences, he coughs often, his voice weak; last time the Emperor heard his report, he was interrupted three times during the journey.

Cai Bian pondered for a moment after hearing this.

"I have also heard that His Majesty has been frail since childhood. Since ascending the throne, he has been diligent in his duties, which has taken a heavy toll on him. Although Consort Liu is pregnant, which is a great joy, His Majesty does not seem to be relieved. On the contrary, he seems to be even more worried and burdened?"

"Worries and anxieties are secondary."

A shrewd calculation flashed in Cai Jing's eyes.

"The key question is, how much longer can His Majesty's health hold out? It's still unknown whether Consort Liu's child will be a boy or a girl. If it's a prince, then everything will be fine, and the throne will be passed on. But if it's a princess, then..." He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear.

Cai Bian gasped.

"My brother is worried...what if..."

"It's just taking precautions," Cai Jing said calmly, but his tone carried immense weight.

"The matter of the heir apparent concerns the foundation of the nation, and even more so, our lives, the honor and disgrace of our entire clan. We must consider it as soon as possible."

He paused, then continued.

"Currently, Consort Liu is the most favored concubine in the harem. Once she gives birth to a son, her status will surely rise even higher. At that time, if the Emperor were to... really pass away, and the prince is still young, it would be reasonable for Consort Liu, as the Empress Dowager, to rule from behind the throne. Whoever can seize the initiative in the new dynasty will be able to enjoy the benefits of supporting the emperor."

Cai Bian's eyes lit up.

"Does my brother mean that we might...put some effort into Consort Liu? To help her... advance further?"

Cai Jing stroked his beard and nodded slightly.

"Consort Liu came from a humble background. Her father, Liu Ancheng, held the official position of Inner Palace Attendant, but his influence in the court was still shallow."

If she wants to solidify her position, or even rise to a higher level, she will need the support of the outer court. If we could lend a helping hand at the right time, perhaps… by pushing for the establishment of an empress?”

"Establish an empress?" Cai Bian was taken aback. "But the position of empress is currently vacant. Although Empress Meng has been deposed, establishing an empress is a matter of great importance to the country. Since His Majesty has not mentioned it, it may not be so easy to push forward."

"It all depends on human effort." Cai Jing's gaze was deep. "If Consort Liu gives birth to a prince, it will be a great achievement. With the son as a guarantee, and with some people in the court echoing her, it may not be impossible to succeed. Even if it doesn't succeed immediately, it's never a bad thing to establish goodwill in advance. This is a treasure."

Cai Bian nodded in agreement, but then added...

"However, while this treasure is excellent, it is ultimately subject to fate, and there are still too many variables involved. My brother just said that we 'must consider this matter early,' so I suppose... it's not just this?"

Cai Jing glanced at his younger brother, a look of "you understand me best," and slowly said.

"Of course, anything can happen. Whether a prince will be born successfully is another matter entirely. And even if he is born successfully, what if he doesn't live to see the prince grow up?"

Cai Bian's expression grew increasingly solemn.

"When that time comes, the only option will be... succession by the younger brother after the elder brother dies."

Cai Jing was a man of deep thought. Having served in the court for many years, he had considered the worst-case scenario. Whether the prince could be born smoothly and whether he could grow up smoothly were both unknowns.

"Among the princes, Prince Shen (Zhao Bi) has an eye ailment, a detached nature, and is not the legitimate heir, so his chances are slim. Prince Xin (Zhao Yu) and Prince Mu (Zhao Si) are young and their maternal families are not prominent, so they are also unlikely to assume great responsibilities. There are only two who are truly qualified and have the strength to compete."

Cai Jing bent two fingers.

"Prince Jian, Zhao Si; Prince Duan, Zhao Ji," Cai Bian interjected.

"That's right," Cai Jing said. "Prince Jian is the Emperor's younger brother from the same mother, and their bloodline is the closest, which is an advantage. However, his temperament... I've heard that he's rather mediocre and not very outstanding, and his reputation among scholars is mediocre."

Although Prince Duan was not born of the same mother, he was intelligent from a young age, excelling in both calligraphy and painting. He was deeply favored by Empress Dowager Xiang and enjoyed a refined reputation among the imperial family and scholar-officials. Moreover, he was known for his...unrestrained and playful nature.

When Cai Jing used the phrase "playful and pleasure-loving," his tone was subtle and seemed to carry no negative connotation.

Cai Bian immediately understood.

"Does my brother think that Prince Duan is easier...to control?"

"At least, compared to the unpredictable or opinionated Prince Jian, a prince whose mind is more focused on entertainment and arts might be... less troublesome for the regents." Cai Jing did not directly admit it, but his meaning was clear.

"Furthermore, Empress Dowager Xiang holds a prestigious position in the palace, and gaining her support would be extremely advantageous."

"But," Cai Bian frowned, expressing his concern.

"Brother, we had a rather unpleasant falling out with Zhao Mingcheng and even indirectly with the Prince Duan's mansion. Especially with the Baoshunhao incident, although it didn't directly target the Prince Duan, it's clear to everyone that we suffered a loss."

Prince Duan and Zhao Mingcheng are close friends, and they have likely already offended us. To try and befriend them now would be like offering a warm welcome only to be met with a cold shoulder. Even if we were willing, would Prince Duan and Zhao Mingcheng easily accept our offer?

Upon hearing this, Cai Jing smiled, a smile that appeared somewhat unfathomable under the lamplight.

"Yuandu, you're looking at things too superficially. In court infighting, how can there be eternal enemies?"

He picked up the teacup and watched the tea leaves floating and sinking inside.

"If the time comes to make a choice, whether it is Prince Duan or Prince Jian, what they need is not like-minded playmates, but a force that can help them ascend the throne and stabilize the court."

We are brothers, and after many years of working together, our students and old friends are spread throughout the court and the country, giving us considerable influence in the government.

This power is invaluable to everyone. What are minor grudges compared to such overwhelming power? As long as we offer enough leverage and adopt the right stance, what grudge can't be resolved?

He put down his teacup, his tone turning cold.

"However, your concerns are not without merit. As for Prince Duan, we should keep an eye on things and wait and see what happens, but we must not neglect the necessary preparations and leave room for maneuver. As for Prince Jian..."

Cai Jing pondered for a moment.

"King Jian's family is not prominent, and their influence in the court is even weaker. Perhaps... they are more eager for external assistance."

We can send people to secretly keep an eye on the movements of Prince Jian's residence. If there is a suitable opportunity, we may make some contact and offer some harmless goodwill.

"There's no need to rush. Just let Prince Jian know that there are still people like us in the court who can be of use to him. In this way, we can hedge our bets and, no matter which way the wind blows in the future, our Cai family can remain unscathed."

After listening to his elder brother's plan, Cai Bian felt enlightened, yet also felt a chill creeping over him.

This was no longer just an ordinary political struggle, but rather a preparation for a possible change of imperial power.

He stood up and bowed respectfully.

"Brother, you have profound wisdom and foresight, which I admire. I will leave everything to your arrangements."

Cai Jing also stood up, walked to the window, and pushed it open a crack. The night breeze, carrying the scent of grass and trees, rushed in, and the stuffiness in the room lessened a bit.

He gazed at the faint outline of the imperial city in the distance and murmured.

"These are turbulent times. Only by being cautious and prudent can we go far and achieve steady progress. We need to lay the groundwork for the three lines: Consort Liu, Prince Jian, and Prince Duan. But we must not rush into anything."