New Song Dynasty: My Wife is an Imperial Princess

Since it was a marriage alliance, to avoid affecting diplomatic relations between the two countries, the time for Tang Qian and Zhao Yingluo to get married should be sooner rather than later.

By signing his name on the treaty of marriage, Tang Qian rightfully became the husband of Princess Shunde of the Song Dynasty. If this were in the Song Dynasty, he might have been able to obtain a sinecure as a consort and a mansion of considerable size.

Youzhou is now under the jurisdiction of the Great Jin Dynasty, so their wedding naturally cannot be conducted according to the rites of the Great Song Dynasty. In addition, they have no relatives or friends here, so there is no need to get bogged down in those formalities.

The next day at noon, Tang Qian, dressed in a red wedding robe sewn by Zhao Yingluo herself, arrived at the room where Princess Diji had stayed the night before, amidst the laughter and shoving of several servants and maids. He then brought out Zhao Yingluo, who was also dressed in wedding attire and holding a round fan to cover her face.

To avoid causing unnecessary trouble, the two did not leave the house. They simply walked around the main hall, then stepped over the brazier and saddle in front of Tang Qian's courtyard. As Zhao Yingluo was led into the simply decorated bridal chamber and sat down on the bed, the entire wedding ceremony was considered complete.

Compared to her married sisters, Princess Shunde's wedding was so shabby it was outrageous, which made her maid Rong'er shed a few more tears.

In contrast, Zhao Yingluo remained calm and composed, showing no sign of sadness or grief. She remained serene and unperturbed, like a bystander observing the entire process, or a puppet being manipulated, silently completing the most important event in her life.

As the saying goes, there is no greater sorrow than a broken heart. From the moment she was betrothed to Xiang Ziyi, Zhao Yingluo already knew that she could never spend her life with the man who gave her the poem "Little Chongshan". Since that was the case, what difference did it make to her whether she married Xiang Ziyi or someone else?

Rong'er was still sobbing in the room. Tang Qian knocked on the door from the outside and only entered after receiving Zhao Yingluo's permission.

He first greeted Princess and Rong'er, then walked to the round table, picked up the wine pot, and poured two cups of wine: "Although it is indeed unfair to Your Highness that we cannot hold a grand celebration, according to the customs of the Great Song Dynasty, this cup of nuptial wine must be drunk."

While he was pouring wine, Zhao Yingluo slightly tilted the fan in front of her to one side, and only then did she see her husband's face for the first time.

He was slender and stood tall, about half a head taller than her, a figure that made Zhao Yingluo stick out her tongue.

Tang Qian's wedding robe was made by himself based on the size of Xiang Ziyi, the man his father had arranged to marry. Now, it looked somewhat comical on him because it didn't fit him well.

With a fair complexion and no beard, and delicate features, he wore a faint smile that gave him an air of righteousness mixed with a hint of wickedness.

With elegant manners and graceful movements, although not exactly handsome, her looks alone could easily charm the socialites and courtesans of Tokyo.

No wonder Rong'er said last night after meeting Tang Qian that her future husband had a handsome appearance.

While Zhao Yingluo was stealing glances at Tang Qian, Tang Qian naturally took the opportunity while pouring wine to observe this princess of the Song Dynasty.

However, since the other person was sitting down and wearing warm clothes, Tang Qian couldn't really tell whether the other person was well-endowed or not. But considering that Zhao Yingluo was fifteen years old, she was definitely an unripe green fruit.

She has a pretty face, with bright eyes and white teeth, and is both beautiful and intelligent. In addition, she has two willow-leaf eyebrows and a pair of almond-shaped eyes, making her look like a girl from a good family.

Tang Qian couldn't help but compare Wanyan Xi from the princess's residence across the street with Zhao Yingluo in front of him.

It's true that different environments nurture different people. Wanyan Xi is graceful and dashing, while Zhao Yingluo is naturally beautiful and gentle, perfectly embodying the temperament of both the Song and Jin dynasties.

Tang Qian brought two cups of wine to the bedside and handed one to Zhao Yingluo. The two of them drank half of their cups, exchanged cups, and then drank together. They then placed the two cups, one upright and one upside down, under the bed, thus completing the ceremony.

What followed was an awkward silence in the bedroom.

Tang Qian looked up at Rong'er, who had been standing to the side, completely absorbed, and then at Zhao Yingluo, whose gaze remained unwavering as if looking straight ahead. A bitter smile appeared on his face. He asked softly, "Miss Rong'er, could you allow me to be alone with Her Highness the Princess for a moment?"

"No." Rong'er's answer was firm. "As His Highness's personal maid, I must be by His Highness's side at all times. My lord, please rest assured, do whatever you want, and do not worry about me."

"What?" Tang Qian was completely bewildered. He had heard that young ladies from wealthy families had maids as part of their dowry when they got married, and he knew what the role of these maids was. But this firsthand experience made him underestimate the openness of the ancients.

If Tang Qian really intended to take his fake marriage with Zhao Yingluo to the next level and complete the wedding night, with Rong'er standing by the bed, he probably wouldn't be able to muster any virility.

"Rong'er, go out first and wait outside. My husband and I have something to talk about."

At the crucial moment, it was Zhao Yingluo who saw through Tang Qian's thoughts. Last night, he rushed to see her. Considering their current situation, what Tang Qian wanted to say to her alone must be a matter of life and death.

When Rong'er reluctantly closed the door, Tang Qian finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"In urgent situations, expediency is necessary. Please forgive my intrusion, Your Highness."

“From the moment I received the letter of marriage, I was no longer a princess of the Great Song Dynasty, but merely a tool to maintain diplomatic relations between the two countries. Please, my husband, discard the title of Your Highness.”

“Uh… alright.” After a moment’s thought, Tang Qian felt that Zhao Yingluo’s words made sense. Since she had already given up her princess status, there was no need for him to keep mentioning His Highness. “Since our marriage is now a fact, we should act naturally in front of outsiders. I will call you my wife, and you will call me your husband. But please… Miss Zhao… please rest assured, my wife, I would never dare to have any improper thoughts. In front of outsiders, we are husband and wife, but in private we can treat each other like brother and sister. In the future, when we return to the Great Song Dynasty, my wife can also divorce me and find another suitable husband…”

"Back to the Song Dynasty?" Before Tang Qian could finish speaking, Zhao Yingluo's expression froze slightly, then she gave a bitter smile. "Does my husband really think that the two of us can go back?"

It would be good enough if he could die peacefully in Youzhou City, yet Tang Qian still dared to hope to go back?

"It's all up to human effort. I can't fathom what my wife is thinking, but I don't want to be trapped in Youzhou forever."

Turning her head to look at Tang Qian's confident profile, Zhao Yingluo wanted to retort, but couldn't utter a single word.

He arrived in Youzhou before him, so Tang Qian should know better what his situation was like. Even in the face of such a desperate situation, he still dared to say that he was looking for an opportunity to escape south. If Tang Qian wasn't stupid, then he must have a complete plan.

But if there truly is a day in this lifetime when I can return to the Song Dynasty...

After a moment's thought, Zhao Yingluo made up her mind.

"What do you need me to do? Please tell me, my husband."

"My lady, you are a hostage, while I am a prisoner. All we can do right now is to endure this humiliation. And most importantly, we must be very close. Uh... my lady, please don't misunderstand."

Seeing a blush suddenly rise on Zhao Yingluo's face, Tang Qian hurriedly explained, "What I mean is that we must be completely honest and open, and not have any suspicions. Otherwise, no matter how meticulous my plan is, I'm afraid it will all be for nothing."

Originally, Tang Qian only had the master and servant, plus that kid Ye Yilie, so the chances of successfully escaping Youzhou weren't small. Now that Zhao Yingluo and her group have joined, they'll have to plan carefully if they want to take them all with them.

"I will obey my husband's orders in everything."

"Furthermore, this matter must be carried out in secrecy. No one can be informed until the time is right, including Wang Jian, the guard commander who seems somewhat hostile towards me. I am quite curious, though. I have never met this Commander Wang before, so why is he treating me so coldly?"

Zhao Yingluo covered her mouth and chuckled: "I don't know the reason either, but I suppose it's because Commander Wang knows my father and is quite helpless about you, my husband, who is beyond redemption."