New Song Dynasty: My Wife is an Imperial Princess

Ming'an Temple in the outer city.

Tang Qian lifted the carriage curtain and jumped down. Led by a guard, he arrived at a military tent. Wanyan Zonghan, who was reading military reports, looked up at the newcomer, immediately stopped what he was doing, and smiled faintly at Tang Qian: "It's been half a year since we last met. I've really missed you, Young Master Tang."

This old man isn't thinking about himself at all; he's clearly lusting after his wife.

Tang Qian inwardly grumbled, but outwardly dared not show any sign of it. He bowed respectfully to Wanyan Zonghan, his attitude neither humble nor arrogant: "I wonder what brings the Grand Marshal to see me today?"

Wanyan Zonghan pointed to the seat below him, gesturing for Tang Qian to sit down and speak: "Back in Liaoyang, I originally intended to ask the Emperor for your hand in marriage, but unfortunately Wanyan Zongwang beat me to it, almost making a grave mistake. However, now that Zhuo Luwang is dead, I think no one should object to your marriage with the Seventh Princess. After all, I made great contributions during this campaign against Song. I will make the decision for you, and I believe no one in the court will raise any objections."

"Thank you for your kindness, Grand Marshal, but I am unworthy of it." Tang Qian waved his hand with a wry smile. "The Seventh Princess is of noble birth, and I am far too unworthy to be worthy of her. I only wish to assist the Seventh Princess in governing Youzhou in this life. That would be enough for me. I would never dare to have any other improper thoughts."

In the end, Wanyan Zonghan used the same old trick: exchanging Wanyan Xi for his own Zhao Yingluo. The old lecher is indeed still up to his old ways.

"Young Master Tang, please don't be so quick to refuse." As if he had guessed Tang Qian's attitude, Wanyan Zonghan did not show any displeasure. Instead, he took a book from the table and handed it to Tang Qian. "Take a look at this first, page sixteen."

Tang Qian was suspicious and couldn't figure out what the other party wanted to do. He took the book with both hands and turned to page sixteen as Wanyan Zonghan instructed. Suddenly, his pupils contracted and a solemn expression slowly appeared on his face.

Tang Huan, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue of the Song Dynasty.

If I'm not mistaken, Wanyan Zonghan's scroll should contain a list of Song Dynasty prisoners of war.

Tang Qian really didn't expect that his own father would also be captured after the Jin army broke into the city and was now being escorted to Youzhou.

"As a son, seeing your father's name on the prisoner-of-war roster must be quite upsetting for you, Young Master Tang. However, your father is not a member of the Zhao royal family, but someone insignificant to the Great Jin. I still have the right to release him."

Exchanging Tang Huan and Wanyan Xi for Zhao Yingluo would be a worthwhile deal. If Tang Qian still doesn't agree, he would be an unfilial son who would stand by and watch his own father die.

Wanyan Zonghan's move was undeniably ruthless. After all, one can have many wives, but only one father. Wasn't the Song Dynasty known as a land of propriety? For whatever reason, he had no choice but to rescue his father.

After a long silence, Tang Qian closed the roster in his hand and handed it back to Wanyan Zonghan: "Before answering the commander's question, may I humbly request to meet my father?"

Wanyan Zonghan narrowed his eyes as he looked at Tang Qian, as if pondering the other's intentions: "Are you planning to persuade your father to surrender?"

Even if Tang Huan surrenders, what difference does it make? As long as Tang Qian doesn't accept it, he is still a prisoner of war. If Tang Huan wants a pardon, Tang Qian will have no choice but to submit.

“You and your son haven’t seen each other for a year. I am not a heartless man, so it is not unreasonable to allow you to meet.” Wanyan Zonghan waved to his personal guards. “Take Young Master Tang into the temple to visit the prison.”

"Thank you for your grace, Grand Marshal." Tang Qian stood up, bowed to Wanyan Zonghan, and then followed his personal guard out of the military tent. He showed his token in front of the temple gate and followed the guard around the temple. Finally, he met his father, Tang Huan, who was extremely thin but still had a righteous air, in a dark room.

The father and son were reunited after a long separation. When Tang Huan saw his son standing in front of him unharmed, he was shocked but suddenly felt a pang of guilt. If he hadn't forced Tang Qian to join the delegation to Youzhou that day, Tang Qian would probably be in Guangling with his mother Qiu Linghua and sister Tang Jing, spending the rest of his life in peace. How could he be trapped in Youzhou and unable to free himself?

However, Tang Huan quickly felt relieved. Since Tang Qian was able to survive in such a dangerous environment, he must have some extraordinary abilities.

With such a clever son, he will surely be able to turn misfortune into good fortune in the future, so what do I have to worry about?

"You didn't come here to persuade your father to surrender to the Jin Dynasty, did you?"

Tang Qian lowered his head and smiled bitterly: "Given Father's temperament, he probably won't be easily persuaded by his son, will he?"

Tang Huan sneered, not answering Tang Qian's question, but his attitude had already given the answer.

Tang Qian cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to his father: "Forgive me for my incompetence; I am unable to save Father from this prison. Please forgive me."

Tang Huan laughed heartily: "I heard that you have married Princess Shunde. It's a pity that I have no chance to see her today. Since you two are able to live peacefully in Youzhou, then live well for your father. As for serving the Song Dynasty, leave that to me."

Tang Qian sighed softly: "Looking towards the gate, I think of Zhang Jian; I endure death for a moment to wait for Du Gen. I laugh as I brandish my sword to the sky; whether I stay or go, my heart and soul are as firm as the Kunlun Mountains."

Tang Huan was stunned once again by Tang Qian's heartfelt words. After a long while, he finally recovered from his astonishment and looked at Tang Qian with disbelief in his eyes: "Who wrote this poem? It is quite fitting for your father's current situation."

His son had become a laughing stock in Tokyo because he couldn't read. Although the poem Tang Qian recited sounded extremely unfamiliar, Tang Huan absolutely refused to believe that it was written by Tang Qian.

Tang Qian scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly, having plagiarized the immortal masterpiece of Tan Sitong, a gentleman of the Hundred Days' Reform. He genuinely did not want to use other people's poems to make a name for himself.

"I was just talking nonsense, please don't take it seriously."

Tang Huan's eyes suddenly lit up, followed by a loud laugh: "My son can actually compose poetry! I can die in peace now. 'I laugh as I brandish my sword at the sky, my heart and soul remain with the Kunlun Mountains.' It is indeed a fine poem. If it can be spread, I, Tang Huan, will surely be remembered for all time because of these two lines."

In this world, people work hard and diligently their whole lives, whether they follow the right path or the wrong one, and in the end, all they seek is fame and fortune. Tang Huan did not become an official for personal gain; what he wanted was for his name to be recorded in history and remembered by future generations.

To uphold the integrity of the Song Dynasty, one might be recorded by historians, but that would be far less effective than having two famous lines of poetry added to one's name.