A forum in later years

Recently, an anonymous post quickly went viral online, even stirring up quite a lively buzz…

The thread title was:

“Everyone, tell us about the true and false rumors or little stories about famous people in Song history…”

At first glance it looked ordinary, even a little eccentric, but the comment section beneath was where things got interesting.

Early July, during the summer break for major universities, a bunch of college students stuck at home with nothing to do but blast the air conditioner had plenty of time to stir things up.

Before long, an originally empty thread ballooned to 999+ replies.

1st post (I Can Pluck Stars With My Hands):

Haha, famous people in Song history? There are so many. I’ll start. The most obvious one: who exactly was the unknown biological father of our second-generation sage-emperor, the Zhaojing Emperor? Hahahaha. But that one’s pretty much an open secret by now!

And that Wang Anshi really didn’t like bathing — that got written into the books later by his good buddy Sima Guang, tsk…

2nd post (Chemistry Is Crap!):

Good buddy, tsk. They worked together all their lives; how are they not good buddies? Even His Majesty praised how well they cooperated, lol.

3rd post (Praying I Don’t Fail the Exam):

Even so, the not-bathing stuff was recorded, so it’s hard to guarantee there weren’t personal grudges. Hahaha…

4th post: Not necessarily!

After all, those two were always together, day in and day out!

Sigh, our His Majesty really never takes a loss!

By the way, His Majesty even once said Minister Zhang was petty, tsk~

5th post: Haha, but that chancellor really was petty, true. It’s because his own daughter personally sealed the deal — jealous and petty. He’s a big reason their mother couldn’t enjoy conjugal bliss.

6th post: Yes, exactly. At that time our Crown Prince was the pitiable one!

Both parents had small hearts; no wonder our sage ancestor was vindictive as hell. Referring to that country, the so-called sea rebels causing trouble? Poof — he wiped out the source!

7th post: Petty isn’t the only thing — our sage ancestor had super high standards. According to newly leaked historical material, because the Crown Prince wasn’t smart enough, our His Majesty almost had to create a second account!

8th post: Hahaha hic — create a second account? For real? So even a noble like the Empress, the legendary one who supposedly used an SSS-class reincarnation card and was an absolute prodigy, the great Zhaojing Emperor, still had to suffer from their descendants? Hahahahaha!

9th post: Well, the guy did have a throne to inherit!

Though in the end he didn’t actually inherit it…

10th post: Sigh, nothing to do — who can compete with a mom who had a rock-solid body, lived to a hundred and something and was still spry, who without fail did her health routine twice every morning!

Sigh, pity the poor Crown Prince!

10th post: Hahahaha +1 for sighing

What a tragic fellow!

11th post (Praying I Don’t Fail the Exam):

Hahahaha, let me cheer for our Crown Prince: where in the world is a Crown Prince who lives to eighty?!

12th post: Indeed, it sounds tragic, but the post above is probably off. The Crown Prince, while not at the level of his mother or that big shot, was still a top-tier genius in both IQ and EQ, okay?

“Average talent” — what do you mean? Does someone who can read a tens-of-thousands-word policy paper twice and remember it all, and plays chess as well as the ministers, count as average?

Tsk, calling that average is way too casual!

13th post: (Your Majesty, please warm the bed)

Sigh, sigh — nothing to be done. The benchmark is just too overpowered!

Let’s not even mention the sage whose abilities surpassed mundane measures; this Crown Prince’s mother, the Zhaosheng Emperor, had photographic memory and perfect recall. Before nine years old, besides his own mother, no minister could beat his chess — a genuine prodigy!

The most impressive thing: not only did he perfectly inherit his mother’s governing policies and lift the Song dynasty into a new zenith, he could still comfortably sit on the throne at around a hundred years old, holding military and political power in one hand, casually treating his grandchildren and even great-grandchildren like playthings!

After all, historians admit this was a truly extraordinary person, practically a political monster.

Ahem ahem… According to some unofficial histories, the famous Grand Academician Su once almost became despondent after playing chess with this ruler!

That was when His Majesty was nine!

Because of that, it’s said our Crown Prince once doubted whether he was an idiot as a child! Hahaha, how pitiable!

14th post (Little Dongpo):

Ahem ahem… Su’s big fan here, I can vouch this isn’t some wild rumor. Poor Su — such a cheerful, carefree person — saw the chessboard change color for over a year, and then wrote a lot of poems to vent his gloom. I think his famous “Ode to Sighing at Spring” came from that!

Staring through the screen, the netizen named Little Dongpo let out a sigh!

Whether they secretly chuckled afterward, who knows!

14th post (Turns Out I’m the Silly One): Heehee, seeing that username above, looks like we’re on the same page.

Still… speaking of Grand Academician Su, isn’t the funniest part that the two of them eventually became part of the same family? Losing at chess wasn’t the worst — in the end he lost something much bigger!

Especially since this big loser kept trying to steer his elbow toward the Crown Prince!

A son married for over a decade and didn’t even know his in-laws were right in front of him; who understands the psychological trauma of poor Su, hahaha!

Especially when the sage abdicated and went traveling, all his buddies chased after him, and only then did Su realize it!

You should know there were many sharp-eyed people at court speculating at the time. But nobody spoke up — except our Su, who was too simple-hearted.

Sigh, nothing to be done!

Though he was naive, his literary talent was superb and his temperament struck the sage’s heart!

Even if he had to memorize thousands upon thousands of poems until he wanted to vomit…

15th post (Hail the Empress!): Hahahahaha, she was indeed supremely oblivious to some things, but able to compose teasing poems that almost split friendships—had it not been for her son mediating afterward…

In short, her largeness of heart was incomparable, haha hic~

16th post (Long Live His Majesty and Grand Academician Su):

Sigh, with a father like that, it’s no wonder our imperial consort’s temperament was unnervingly steady. Even when faced with provocations from a dashing youthful general, proud literati, scheming chancellors, and other rivals, he could remain the number-one figure in the Crown Prince’s house.

In the end they weathered it and grew old together with His Majesty…

Hehehe!

A screen-side netizen couldn’t help showing a slightly twisted smile!

Other netizens: “…”

Originally the thread was bustling; after a sudden silence, someone eventually poked their head back in:

17th post (Ruthless Sword God):

……

“Um… leaving the others aside, sis, is your username for real?”

Others might be forgiven—considering how rakish that emperor was in his youth…

And what about the “weathered it and grew old together” bit? The Sword God’s lip twitched: maybe the emperor was just bored and done playing around?

“Actually, sis, I really want to ship the Empress and the imperial consort. Aren’t they a pair above? These two were truly of one heart and mind, faithfully together for life…”

18th post (Your Majesty, I Volunteer Tonight):

“Ahhh, finally someone mentioned Zhaosheng His Majesty and Minister Zhang as a pair. They didn’t have official status, but they’re so ship-worthy!

Whether as sovereign and minister, or as lovers…”

19th post (A Big Fan of the Sage):

“Exactly. Another rare thing is that beyond affection, these two truly shared political views and marched in step!

Honestly, Minister Zhang’s temperament was wildly unruly in his youth. Apart from His Majesty, no one could really rein him in. Yet he was able to be wholeheartedly trusted by the emperor.

And our sage — compared to the later Zhaojing Emperor, I think the sage was the truly ruthlessly rational mastermind!

“Yes, in self-restraint, my idol was just too amazing.”

“That’s the throne, you know; to give it up so decisively, to hand over power cleanly without hesitation!”

“It’s said when the sage announced his abdication, not only the ministers but ordinary people were nearly stunned! Grand Academician Su wrote several poems in response, adding much homework for later generations, alas!”

20th post (Long Live the Sage):

“Indeed, that’s true! I remember reading an unofficial history that on the day he offered to resign as prime minister, Minister Zhang even told the later Zhaojing Emperor something.”

“The gist was: your mother is the one truly holding power, not someone who is controlled by power. On this matter, neither Your Highness nor I could compare…”

“Sigh, you can’t deny Minister Zhang had reasons to win His Majesty’s favor! True love, true admiration…”

21st post (Your Majesty, I Volunteer Tonight):

“Hehe, unofficial histories say Minister Zhang was not only handsome but also quite the player! Full of taste, hehe… His Majesty always had good dining preferences!”

“I heard he even volunteered to share the pillow earlier, tsk…”

19th post (Long Live His Majesty and Grand Academician Su):

“Er, although that celestial match above is real, Su’s bittersweet literature is also so ship-worthy!”

The dashing, flamboyant Crown Prince and the solemn, steady future Crown Prince—cough—plus all sorts of little temptresses in between…

20th post (Your Majesty, Take My Knees):

“Sigh, the Crown Prince was just too dazzling at the time!”

“And isn’t it argued by many historians that the reason the Song reached unprecedented heights under those two was because of the stable transmission of super-high IQ leadership between those two sovereigns?”

21st post: “Yes. Under the sage, productivity leapt. Capitalism and industrialization were already emerging, social classes were shifting. Regardless of the empress’s identity, if a successor had quietly weakened even a bit, it would have been hard to transition smoothly to an industrial society and truly liberate productive forces. Even just stabilizing what the previous reign achieved would be tough…”

“It’s a pity — such emperors are so rare; later generations had many smart people, but honestly, compared to those two… sigh!”

22nd post: “So that’s why the Zhaojing Emperor ultimately chose to give up some royal privileges and implement constitutional monarchy?”

23rd post (Basking in the Sage Ancestor’s Aura):

“Actually, His Majesty did nothing wrong, right? That move preserved the imperial family’s wealth and honor for centuries. If not for the modern push for democracy and republicism, maybe his descendants would still be acting as the sovereign today!”

“Compared to that, ephemeral loses of power mean nothing.”

“Look at history — which empire or royal family has survived so long with its lineage preserved intact? A three-hundred-year continuity is already remarkable!”

24th post (Sage Ancestor Is Supreme):

“Exactly, as above said, genes are unstable; as soon as a descendant slacks off mentally, no matter how great the foundation, it collapses!”

“Better to relinquish power at the height of royal prestige and call it ‘returning power to the people’ — it’s something posterity will remember…”

25th post (Both Emperors Are My Favorites!):

“Agree with the above. Another point: those two left such a huge foundation. With the populace becoming enlightened, people’s thoughts awakened.

The sage unified the Central Plains, personally freed his people from hunger and hardship — a ruthless, extraordinary leader. Skilled in political maneuvering, and reportedly mastered agriculture, engineering, medicine, mathematics, etc.

If his daughter’s intelligence didn’t reliably inherit, you could suspect time travel.

Said to have died at 108, when all of Song — court and commoners — dressed in mourning white.

Wept for months…

His successor, the sage ancestor, was no slouch either — reigning over seventy years of peace and prosperity, continued technological and industrial growth, foreign trade flourishing, tributaries from all nations. In short, these accomplishments… bluntly speaking, unless the royal family had another pair of minds like these two, any future ruler would lead the empire downhill!”

26th post (Basking in the Sage Ancestor’s Aura):

“Better to change from the top than be overthrown from below?”

“You must admire the sage ancestor!”

“And honestly, he didn’t completely abandon royal power. A large part of the military remained under his control; the prime minister rotated every three years, while the royal line was hereditary and enjoyed enormous prestige. With those two emperors’ extensive assets, a prime minister wouldn’t dare slight the royal family.”

“By preserving decades of noble honor while selecting capable rulers and shifting political contradictions, His Majesty’s strategy was genius…”

27th post (Sage Ancestor Is Supreme):

“Hehe indeed. My sage ancestor really was history’s luckiest person. An SSS-class reincarnation card, born the only crown prince, peerless intelligence and beauty, heir at the empire’s peak. A long-lived mother who didn’t cling to power, lovely seventy-plus years of rule, and a son who never dared revolt — all the way to living past about 120…”

28th post (Basking in the Sage Ancestor’s Great Fortune):

“Indeed, how can someone have such luck? Truly what they say: life is as easy as flipping the palm!”

What a fate!

Seeing all this through the screen, everyone couldn’t help envy-crying.

29th post (Long Live the Sage, Please Accept My Knees!):

“Still… rather than calling it luck, wasn’t it having a great mother? The best power, the best genes, and even picking lovers who combined looks and brains — Minister Zhang!”

“Ha!” Across the screen, a netizen snorted:

“Don’t look at how well women live now; that wasn’t always the case. Before the Zhaosheng Emperor, women weren’t even allowed to sit for the imperial examinations; imperial princesses had to follow rigid etiquette and their whole lives were bound to others!”

“Because of the Zhaosheng Emperor and those two brilliant female sovereigns, for hundreds of years women could be this unrestrained…”

30th post (Both Emperors Are My Favorites):

“Exactly. Because of these two, however arrogant someone might be, you couldn’t deny women’s political wisdom. In every field, women could display their talents, and our country remained at the world’s peak. Wonderful…”

31st post (Long Live His Majesty and Grand Academician Su):

“Though, doesn’t everyone find it odd? With such amazing rulers, why are related TV dramas or films so few, especially none starring the two as protagonists…”

“And that period had so many geniuses: Lord Fan, Lord Han, and Grand Academician Su who wrote countless masterpieces, the brilliant and tactful Chancellor Zhang, beauty Minister Zhang, the code-savvy Minister Sima, Dean Cao who devoted his life to agriculture, the first female chancellor Lord Han.

Also the lifelong rival good buddies Wang and Sima, the hydraulic and economic expert Minister Zhang Heng sent to exhaustiveness, the charismatic… oh, not a conman but thinker Zhang Zai…”

So many people, aren’t they perfect material?

Everyone: “…”

32nd post (Your Majesty, Tonight I Volunteer to Share the Pillow):

“Er, cough cough… well, was it that they didn’t want to be portrayed? Or that they dared not? Hey, have you checked modern world economic newspapers, or that frequently headline-grabbing big figure — what’s that family name?”

“Hehe, though those two emperors have long passed, their descendants still exist…”

33rd post:

“But with so many geniuses, in some sense, at least the Zhao family — especially the Zhaosheng Emperor’s line — did have fairly stable genes…”

Though it did decline somewhat over time…

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep