New Song Dynasty: My Wife is an Imperial Princess

"Your Highness, good news."

In a side room in the backyard of Tang Qian's temporary residence, the maid Rong'er pushed open the door and immediately sat down next to Zhao Yingluo. The joy on her face made Zhao Yingluo put down her needlework.

"What news have you found out this time that makes you so happy?"

Rong'er poured herself a glass of water, tilted her head back and drank it all in one gulp. Only then did she catch her breath. She glanced around to make sure no one was around before moving a table and chair closer to where Zhao Yingluo was sitting. "I did find out some things from the two servants in the front yard. Our future consort is actually from Dongjing (Kaifeng), a Song dynasty person."

"I am no longer a princess, and the title of consort should never be mentioned again." Zhao Yingluo frowned slightly, then let out a cold laugh. "What's there to be happy about in a marriage alliance with a Song person? He's just a cowardly traitor. Do you really think he'd be good to us?"

Thinking of her current situation, Zhao Yingluo sighed again: "Now that I am in danger, I should not say these things in the future, lest I bring about my own death."

“No, Your Highness.” Rong’er hurriedly waved her hand. “I heard that this person did not surrender to the Jin voluntarily, but was a Song envoy who was detained by the Jin army in Youzhou and could not return to the capital. Even though he has lived in Youzhou for so long, he still dresses as a Song person and is not a traitor.”

"An official?" Zhao Yingluo's face also showed a hint of doubt. "If it is really as you say, this person does have some integrity."

"And then there's the Prince Consort... that young master is about the same age as Your Highness, and he's very kind to the servants in the mansion. He doesn't seem like a villain. Moreover, he has a close relationship with the current Lord of Youzhou City. He's an advisor to the Princess's mansion and has the deep trust of the Jin Kingdom's princess. If we can get his protection, our days in Youzhou should be much easier."

Having said this, Rong'er's fear had lessened considerably. If His Highness's marriage partner was indeed as rumored, it would be a stroke of good fortune amidst misfortune.

Zhao Yingluo narrowed her eyes slightly. As an official of the Song Dynasty, to be able to thrive in the Jin territory without surrendering to the Jin Dynasty, this person's ability to be so adept at navigating social situations is truly remarkable.

"It's still unclear whether this person is friend or foe. But in any case, we must stay true to our duties, be careful in everything we do, and not let anyone find fault with us. Since we've stayed in Youzhou, it means we're not destined to die. Being able to live peacefully again is not necessarily a bad thing."

When she heard that Zhao Huan had sent her to marry a foreign ruler, she thought she would become the plaything of the Jin nobles. Rather than live such a miserable life, she thought it would be better to die. However, the reality was not what she expected. Zhao Yingluo felt that she could hold on a little longer.

The master and servant were whispering in the room when Wang Jian's low voice suddenly came from outside the door: "His Highness has retired for the night. Please show some respect, young master."

Zhao Yingluo and Rong'er immediately held their breath and heard another unfamiliar yet humble voice: "Forgive my impertinence, but seeing that Your Highness's room is still lit, I intended to have a chat with Your Highness. I wonder if this general could inform you that Tang Qian, son of Tang Huan, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, has important matters to discuss with you."

Tang Qian bowed respectfully, but Wang Jian remained unmoved. Just as he was about to speak up and send him away again, a creak sounded, and the princess's room door opened. Tang Qian looked up and saw a young girl emerge from the hazy moonlight.

As she approached the two men, Rong'er gave Tang Qian a deep bow: "This servant Rong'er greets you, young master. His Highness has said that it is not appropriate for me to meet you before we are married. I hope you will understand."

Tang Qian gave a bitter laugh. What kind of time is this to be concerned about such trivial matters? He came to see her so late, obviously he had something very important to tell this princess of the Song Dynasty. Now the two of them are bound together and must join forces to help each other to overcome the difficulties.

"When will Your Highness be able to meet with me?"

Rong'er chuckled, "Didn't I say that once Your Highness and Young Master are married, they can naturally meet?" Then, she took out a scroll from her bosom and handed it to Tang Qian with both hands. This was a letter of marriage written by Emperor Zhao Huan of the Great Song Dynasty. "As long as Young Master signs his name on this letter of marriage, he will be the imperial consort of the Great Song Dynasty."

"That's...ok."

Since he couldn't escape the fate of marrying the Song Dynasty princess, Tang Qian could only accept it for the time being. He reached out and took the scroll, cupped his hands in greeting to Rong'er and Wang Jian, and said, "Then I will take my leave first, and we will discuss this further after the wedding."

Watching Tang Qian leave, Wang Jian snorted coldly, his resolute face, as sharp as if carved by a knife and axe, was full of disdain. "Who do we have here? It turns out to be the eldest son of the Tang family."

"Commander Wang, do you recognize this person?"

"A notorious good-for-nothing in the capital, who would have thought that after coming to Youzhou, he would transform into a staff member of the Jin princess. It is laughable that our Great Song Dynasty would be bullied to such an extent by a country that treats even trash as treasure."

"Commander, be careful what you say, walls have ears." It's alright if Wang Jian is courting death, but if he is killed, then he and His Highness will truly have no one to rely on.

Back inside and closing the door, Rong'er sat down next to Zhao Yingluo again: "Young Master Tang is quite handsome, with the air of a charming young man. He is a good match for Your Highness. However, Commander Wang seems to have some reservations about him. I wonder what disgraceful things he did in Tokyo."

Rong'er thought that since her future son-in-law was a playboy in the capital, he must have done a lot of dirty things in his daily life, otherwise Wang Jian would not have looked so contemptuous when he mentioned him.

No matter how domineering Tang Qian was in the past, he would eventually be the prince's husband, and perhaps even her own husband. After all, as a personal maid, she was also Zhao Yingluo's concubine. At this moment, Rong'er only hoped that Tang Qian would not be too outrageous and do something that would make people feel ashamed just thinking about it.

"Hey, what are you thinking about?"

When Zhao Yingluo noticed that Rong'er had lost in thought while talking to her, she couldn't help but find it amusing. After all, she was just a girl in her early teens. The fact that Tang Qian's good looks could make her think about such things was truly remarkable.

"By the way, Young Master Tang came in a hurry tonight. I noticed that he didn't even tidy his disheveled hair. I'm afraid he has something very important to discuss with His Highness."

Zhao Yingluo nodded. Although the conversation outside the window was not loud, she had heard it clearly inside the room: "In that case, let's wait until the wedding day and hear what he has to say."

Meanwhile, in the princess's mansion across from the residence, Xiao Li's pretty face was filled with anger, clearly furious at Wanyan Xun's outrageous actions.

The Seventh Princess harbored feelings for Tang Qian, which perhaps others in the mansion were unaware of. As Wanyan Xi's personal maid, she naturally sensed it. She had thought that by keeping Tang Qian by the princess's side, the two could stay together forever. However, Wanyan Xun unexpectedly brought back a princess from the Song Dynasty for Tang Qian.

No wonder His Highness remained silent after returning to his residence, only staring sadly at the hairpin given to him by Tang Qian.

"Why don't we send someone to Liaoyang to request an imperial edict to send that princess from the Song Dynasty to someone else? That way, Wanyan Xun will know who the real master is."

“The Song Dynasty princess was originally requested by Wanyan Xieye and given to Tang Qian. My father would never make an enemy of the powerful Hulubo Jilie over such a trivial matter. Even if he had not married the Song Dynasty princess, my relationship with him would have been nothing more than a fleeting dream, with no future possible.”

As a princess of the Jin Dynasty, Wanyan Xi knew that her fate was also inescapable. She never dared to hope for a good outcome with Tang Qian. Developing inappropriate feelings for him was already a grave taboo, and Wanyan Xi was unwilling to see Tang Qian lose his life because of it.

"However, Wanyan Xun's actions were definitely not well-intentioned. His claim of repaying the General's kindness was all lies. Wasn't he just planning to use this to manipulate Tang Qian and make him work for him?"

After the members of the original mission were imprisoned, apart from Tang Qian, only a few who voluntarily surrendered survived. All the others were executed by Wanyan Xun. Judging from this alone, Wanyan Xun must have realized that Tang Qian was no ordinary person.