New Song Dynasty: My Wife is an Imperial Princess

Seeing her father being held at swordpoint and on the verge of death, Tang Jing rushed to the city wall once again.

"Jin Gou, you dare to hurt my father! I'll make sure you suffer a terrible death!"

Turning to Tang Qian, her eyes were full of pleading: "Tang Qian, please find a way to save them!"

Tang Qian reached out and hugged Tang Jing, gently comforting her: "I think you should have realized by now that Father never intended to betray the country for personal gain. He just wanted to die on the land of the Song Dynasty, which was his final resting place. As his children, we shouldn't go against our father's wishes."

Curled up in Tang Qian's arms, Tang Jing was already sobbing uncontrollably.

As intelligent as she was, how could she not understand the meaning behind Tang Huan's words? The Jurchens were always two-faced and not trustworthy at all. If Tang Qian really surrendered the city for his father's sake, all that awaited his family was a guillotine gleaming with cold light.

Even if the Jurchens kept their promise to exchange a city, or even the entire Song Dynasty, for Tang Huan's life, my father would not be able to live on.

She could think of these things, but how could Tang Jing, as a daughter, stand by and watch her father die without doing anything?

“Jing’er, after I’m gone, listen to your elder brother in everything. He’s completely different now than before. With him protecting the Tang family, I feel very at ease.”

Tang Jing broke free from Tang Qian's embrace, feeling as if something was stuck in her throat, unable to utter a single word despite having a thousand words to say.

Wiping away her tears, Tang Jing mustered her strength and shouted towards the outside of the city, "Jing'er bids farewell to Father."

Then he bent down and knelt down.

Since his sister had done this, Tang Qian couldn't just stand there. The two siblings kowtowed to Tang Huan from the city wall.

Next came the three daughters-in-law, followed by four maids standing behind them.

For a moment, the world was completely silent. The bright light seemed to dim suddenly. Ye Zhao looked up and saw a dark cloud drifting in from somewhere, blocking out the blazing sun and even sprinkling some raindrops.

Would you say this is an example of filial piety that moved Heaven?

Someone shouted, "The entire garrison of Guangling bids farewell to Prefect Tang."

All the Song soldiers on the city wall knelt down. This scene not only made Tang Huan feel gratified, but also made Wanyan Zonghan, who was standing next to him, stand there dumbfounded and felt a sense of fear.

Tang Huan cannot be killed.

If he were to die, it would surely ignite the fighting spirit of all the defenders, and the Song army's combat effectiveness would more than double.

However, they were now in a difficult position. If they did not kill Tang Huan, their morale would be severely damaged. As a result, the Jin army attacking the city was at a disadvantage.

Just as he hesitated whether or not to strike, Tang Qian's voice rang out again: "Father, do you still remember the poem I gave you in Youzhou?"

"Of course I remember." Tang Huan laughed loudly, "I laugh as I brandish my sword at the sky, my heart and soul remain loyal to the Kunlun Mountains, whether I stay or go, how delightful!"

"Today, I present you with another farewell poem. I have endured hardship since I began my studies, and three years of war have left me desolate. The land is shattered, like drifting catkins in the wind; my life is adrift, like duckweed in the rain. I have denounced the court from within its walls, and sighed for Guangling from outside its walls. Since ancient times, who has ever escaped death? I will leave behind a loyal heart to illuminate history."

"Since ancient times, who has ever escaped death? Let my loyal heart shine in history... Wonderful! Truly wonderful!"

A seven-character regulated poem vividly describes the life of Tang Huan.

In his early years, he passed the imperial examination and was determined to work hard to govern the country and advocate for the people. He experienced the war in the first year of Jingkang and it has been more than three years since then.

The nation is on the verge of collapse, like willow catkins in a storm; how can an individual compare to duckweed in a sudden downpour?

He once angrily denounced the incompetent emperor and treacherous officials in the imperial court, but now he stands outside Guangling City, lamenting that Guangling, under the garrison of his son, has become the last solid line of defense for the Song Dynasty.

Who has ever lived forever? I want to leave behind a patriotic heart to shine in the annals of history.

"To leave behind a loyal heart to illuminate history—this is the essence of my life, Tang. Wanyan Zonghan, what are you waiting for? Come, Tang will sacrifice himself for righteousness today."

"Kill you? Do you think I'm stupid?" With a cold snort, Wanyan Zonghan sheathed his sword, turned around and called over two guards, "Take him away and keep a close watch on him. There must be no mistakes. If anything happens to him, you will answer to me with your heads."

Seeing his father being taken back to the Jin army camp, Tang Qian shouted to his sister, who was still crying with her head down, "Stop wailing, your father isn't dead yet."

"Ah?" Hearing Tang Qian say this, Tang Jing, who was kneeling and not getting up, immediately perked up, got up and went to the city wall. Sure enough, she saw her father, Tang Huan, being carried by two Jin soldiers towards the rear camp.

Perhaps because the atmosphere had been built up to its peak, and because he hadn't actually died, Tang Huan was furious and embarrassed. He struggled every now and then, trying to break free of the control, but as a scholar, how could he possibly match the strength of the burly Jin soldiers?

In the end, all resistance could only turn into impotent rage, shouting, "Kill me quickly!" Tang Huan's figure disappeared behind the formation of 80,000 Jin soldiers.

"Thanks to our commotion, Father's life has been saved for the time being."

"Why? Isn't he still in the hands of the Jurchens?" Tang Jing was just a pampered young lady who had never worried about food and clothing since childhood. She had never cared about these things of power and intrigue. At this moment, she was confused by her concern and could not imagine the deeper aspects. It was only after Zhao Yingluo explained a few words in a low voice that she realized.

“If my father is killed, the Guangling army will surely unite against him, and they will have no chance of winning.”

"Tang Qian, do you really think I wouldn't dare kill Tang Huan? You're far too confident." Wanyan Zonghan sneered. "Don't think that just because you're making some small moves outside Chuzhou City, I can't do anything to you. Your cavalry ambushed our supply train in the field, causing our army to run out of food. Fine, then I'll boil your father and let the soldiers share the food. Although it's a drop in the ocean, it's better than nothing."

Didn't the Song people say that the Jin soldiers were cruel, ruthless, and inhumane? Well then, I, the commander, will be truly cruel this time, so that these people will know what it means to be loyal to me and perish against me.

"Alright." Everyone thought Tang Qian would burst into curses, but to their surprise, the other party smiled faintly, his face full of mockery. "Then I will follow the example of Emperor Gaozu of Han and ask the Grand Marshal for a sip of meat soup. Remember to add plenty of salt, I have a heavy palate."

"You!" Tang Qian's words left Wanyan Zonghan speechless. He pointed at the city wall and stammered "you" for a long time, unable to utter a complete sentence.

One wonders what Tang Huan's reaction would be if he knew he had given birth to such a shameless and rebellious son.

"You just wait and see."

Riding back to camp, Wanyan Zonghan drew his long sword and shouted, "Sound the horn, attack the city!"