New Song Dynasty: My Wife is an Imperial Princess

Returning to her seat in the side hall, Wanyan Xi took out the edict from the Jin emperor that she hadn't yet read, unfolded it, and carefully examined it. Her expression became somewhat unnatural.

"Father said he is quite interested in the glassmaking process and wants to come to Youzhou to see it for himself." He put down the imperial edict and looked at Tang Qian. "Young Master said before that 'a common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime,' and that powerful people might try to seize our workshop. If we hand over the glass workshop to Father, could we avoid an unnecessary power struggle?"

Tang Qian pondered for a moment and also thought it was a good idea: "If the royal family could take over, Youzhou would be under their protection and would be much safer."

According to Tang Qian, Emperor Taizong of Jin, Wanyan Wuqimai, will die in ten years at the age of sixty-one. At that time, Wanyan Xi, the most favored seventh princess of Jin, will inevitably lose her protection. The glass workshop in Youzhou is definitely a money-making machine, and it will naturally be coveted by the powerful princes. With their cunning and forceful seizure, Wanyan Xi may not be able to hold onto her position as the lord of Youzhou, and she will also lose control of the quartz mine.

However, that was ten years later. In the second year of the Jingkang era, the Northern Song Dynasty fell, Zhao Gou fled south, and the Southern Song Dynasty was established. The Song and Jin Dynasties would inevitably reopen trade and exchange goods. When the environment became more favorable, he would definitely look for opportunities to go south. He could not stay in Youzhou and wait for his death.

As long as they can escape, who cares who will take over afterward? The best outcome would be for the Jin state to be ravaged by internal strife, leaving it no time to look south.

It's a pity that Wanyan Xi, such a beautiful young woman, became a victim of the internal power struggle within the royal family for no reason.

Thinking of this, Tang Qian felt that during his time in Youzhou, he should help Wanyan Xi as much as he could, so as not to betray the trust and protection she had given him.

Tang Qian emerged from the side hall and grabbed Balha, who had just returned from delivering grain from Liaoyang: "Did you manage to bring back all the items I entrusted to General?"

"As entrusted by the young master, this humble general would naturally not dare to neglect anything." Balha patted his chest, indicating that he had completed all the tasks assigned by Tang Qian. However, he really couldn't understand what Tang Qian needed a black donkey hide for.

Tang Qian naturally wouldn't explain to him that donkey hide is the main ingredient in making donkey-hide gelatin. If this kid were to reveal this to Wanyan Xi, causing her to vomit every time she saw the donkey-hide gelatin cakes he made, it would truly ruin his plans.

After bringing the necessary materials back to his residence, Tang Qian asked Xiao Qi to help. The two of them worked in the courtyard for most of the night and finally made a plate of donkey-hide gelatin cake that looked very exquisite.

To make the pastries look more appetizing, Tang Qian added various ingredients such as walnuts and dried red dates. In the dead of winter, it was impossible to find flower petals to use for decoration, so Tang Qian could only pluck a handful of white plum blossoms from the wall to use as a substitute.

Looking at the box of dark brown pastries she had never seen before, Xiao Li first cut a small piece with a knife and put it in her mouth. Feeling that her body was fine and that the pastry's fragrance lingered in her mouth, she nodded slightly to Wan Yanxi.

"This is a necessary step in the royal meal, please forgive me, young master."

Tang Qian naturally understood that Xiao Li was testing the poison. Although he had no reason to poison Wan Yanxi, this was a routine matter, and Xiao Li was very familiar with it. Wan Yanxi watched with a calm expression.

Sure enough, even though they were as close as sisters, they still belonged to different social classes. What saddened Tang Qian even more was that the two seemed to have gotten used to it and didn't feel that doing so was unfair to Miss Xiao Li at all.

The evil feudal society.

Wanyan Xi took the piece of donkey-hide gelatin cake that Xiao Li cut for her, put it in her mouth and chewed it gently. She felt that this thing had a light fragrance when it entered her mouth, and the smooth and non-greasy taste was mixed with various nuts. There was also a sweet aftertaste. It would be good to use it as a dessert.

"This dish is called Ejiao cake, which has the effect of nourishing yin and replenishing blood. Unfortunately, the raw materials were too few this time, so I could only make this one plate. If Your Highness likes it, I will make more next time."

"Nourishing Yin and replenishing blood?" Tang Qian's explanation made Wan Yanxi pause slightly, and a blush rose from her cheeks, instantly spreading to her ears.

Is this because he knows he lost some blood and energy recently? Is he eating this to replenish it?

Thinking of the folk remedy that bastard Tang Qian had given her last time, Wan Yanxi felt a wave of shame wash over her. As a result, during the few days she was in Tiankui, she didn't dare to see him at all, lest she have the thought of chopping him up and feeding him to the dogs.

Now that more than half a month has passed, I was almost forgetting about it, but unexpectedly this lecherous man sent me this plate of donkey-hide gelatin cake again. Does he want me to remember it for the rest of my life?

Sensing the princess's embarrassment and anger, Xiao Li immediately explained on Tang Qian's behalf: "Young Master Tang is skilled in medicine, and he was only thinking of the princess's health."

Wanyan Xi glanced at Xiao Li and said, "I think you should eat more too. We can't go against his good intentions."

Upon hearing this, Miss Xiao Li blushed. She dared not joke with her master, so she could only jump up and down shyly, glancing at Tang Qian not far away.

Fortunately, Tang Qian seemed completely oblivious to the meaning behind the master and servant's words, and instead asked another question while bowing: "I wonder if the Great Jin Dynasty celebrates New Year's Day?"

“I know that you Song people celebrate every Lunar New Year’s Day, but we Jin people do not have such a custom.”

Counting the days, it's already the end of the year, so it's no wonder that Tang Qian seems to be feeling a bit homesick and apprehensive.

"New Year's Day is just around the corner. I wonder how you Song people celebrate it? Could you tell us, young master?"

Tang Qian's soul had only been in the Northern Song Dynasty for half a year, so he had no idea how the Song people celebrated the Spring Festival. However, he figured it was just the same old things that had been passed down: pasting Spring Festival couplets and door gods, paying New Year's visits and praying for blessings. He just embellished his description a little, but it aroused Wanyan Xi's great interest.

"I never expected that Song Kingdom would be so lively on just New Year's Day. If I could, I would really like to see what a bustling scene it would be."

Tang Qian really wanted to say that there would definitely be opportunities in the future, but he swallowed the words back down.

If nothing unexpected happens, this Jin princess will definitely not be able to leave the country. What awaits her is a family marriage, marrying a powerful Jin nobleman, and then being a caged bird for the rest of her life.

This was the fate of princesses throughout history.

Suddenly, an idea struck him, and Tang Qian bowed to Wanyan Xi, saying, "Please wait a moment, Your Highness."

After leaving the princess's residence, Tang Qian returned with all the materials he had prepared. Under the watchful eyes of Wanyan Xi and Xiao Li, he made a Kongming lantern.

"Due to time constraints, I cannot make fireworks, so I can only use this lantern instead. Your Highness can imagine the magnificent scene of thousands of lanterns soaring into the sky. Consider it a way of celebrating the New Year with me."

Despite being a princess of the Great Jin Dynasty, Wanyan Xi was still just a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl. She usually pretended to be dignified and mature, but now, after being teased by Tang Qian, her long-suppressed girlish nature was suddenly released, and she looked much more lively and cute.

At Tang Qian's prompting, she picked up a pen and wrote a line of prayers on the lantern. Tang Qian then took the Kongming lantern in his hand and lit the candle placed below it.

The inside of the Kongming lantern was coated with a layer of tung oil, which prevented the heat generated by the burning candle from escaping and instead concentrated it inside the lantern. After a while, the Kongming lantern rose up and showed signs of taking off, which made Wanyan Xi feel an unprecedented excitement. Her hands, which were holding the lantern, began to tremble slightly involuntarily.

"I feel like it's really going to take off."

As the heat inside the lampshade reached its peak, Tang Qian signaled Wan Yanxi to let go. The Kongming lantern slowly rose into the air amidst Wan Yanxi's exclamation, flying into the distance against the wind.

"This is one of the methods we use to pray to heaven for blessings, especially on the Lantern Festival, when the entire city of Bianliang is filled with people releasing lanterns, and the scene is quite spectacular."

Watching the Kongming lantern fly further and further away, leaving only a faint afterimage in the air before disappearing quickly, Wanyan Xi felt a sense of loss. However, she still put her hands behind her back, a smile on her lips, looking every bit the shy and innocent young girl. Tang Qian was somewhat captivated by her charming profile.