Saving the Great Song Dynasty from Collapse

Zhao Bozong was originally a member of the imperial clan descended from the founding emperor, with no chance of ever inheriting the throne. But when Emperor Gaozong of Song proved unable to father a son, Zhao Bozong was summoned to the palace.

Among more than a thousand children aged six or seven, he passed round after round of selection and made it to the finals, where he competed against Zhao Bohao. Emperor Gaozong had initially rejected him for being frail, but his opponent was so despicable that he tortured a cat at a crucial moment. Gaozong took another look at Zhao Bozong and adopted him as his son.

A few years later, Lady Wu, driven by jealousy, had one of Zhao Bozong's rivals, Zhao Bojiu, adopted into the palace. From then on, the two princes began a relationship of love and rivalry.

However, unlike Zhao Bojiu, who was later renamed Zhao Qu, and had the backing of Empress Wu, her brother Wu, and Qin Hui, Zhao Bozong, later renamed Zhao Yuan, could only rely on himself as he gradually built up his own court faction.

Xia Yingxin, the niece of Empress Wu, fell in love with Zhao Yuan, but Empress Wu forced her to marry Zhao Qu against her will.

Qin Lian, Qin Hui's ambitious niece, married Zhao Qu through her uncle's machinations, determined to help him claim the throne. Will she get her wish?

Gaozong could never make up his mind about whom to name crown prince.

At last, he set a final test: copy a book and send him a beauty.

Zhao Yuan scored full marks. Zhao Qu...

See how Zhao Yuan, against all odds, brings down Wu and Qin Hui one after another and drives Empress Wu mad.

After ascending the throne, he clears Yue Fei's name and appoints civil and military officials from the faction that favors war to lead a northern expedition...

Extending the Southern Song dynasty's life by more than a hundred years.

[The protagonist is not scheming + no wild fantasy + court intrigue + traditional historical romance + the blurb is weak, please read the story]