New Song Dynasty: My Wife is an Imperial Princess

After seeing Wanyan Xun out, Tang Qian returned to his bridal chamber.

Seeing that her son-in-law was indeed very approachable, Rong'er finally put aside her worries about the road to marriage with Zhao Yingluo and became bolder. She raised her chin at Tang Qian and asked, "Does the son-in-law still intend for me to wait outside this time?"

Zhao Yingluo glared at her maid, seemingly scolding her for being disrespectful. Tang Qian, on the other hand, smiled and said, "Miss Rong'er, you are joking. Although I am married to your young lady, I dare not have any improper thoughts. It's just that there are many people outside who gossip. If I don't come here, I'm afraid people will talk about me. I will leave after everyone in the manor has gone to sleep."

He sent Rong'er away just now not to take advantage of Zhao Yingluo, but simply to explain some things to Her Highness the Princess.

The girl in front of him didn't seem to have any guile, and letting her hear would only ruin things. As for Zhao Yingluo, as a princess of the Song Dynasty, if she were to report that he planned to escape back to the Song Dynasty, Tang Qian would be doomed.

Zhao Yingluo understood Tang Qian's intentions. There must be servants in the mansion monitoring their every move. Since they were putting on an act, they had to go all the way.

“My lord, there’s no need for that. As I just said, we’ve both signed the marriage agreement, so we’re truly husband and wife.” Without waiting for Rong’er’s reaction, she turned to look at her. “Since you don’t like serving me here, then go and rest in the next room.”

"Miss."

Rong'er was about to say something when Zhao Yingluo gave her a single glance, and she immediately swallowed back the words that were already on the tip of her tongue.

Reluctantly curtsied to the two of them, Rong'er left the room, leaving only Tang Qian and Zhao Yingluo in the room once again, which was decorated with large red "double happiness" characters.

Before Tang Qian could react, Zhao Yingluo stood up from the edge of the bed. However, having been sitting for so long without changing her position, her legs were already numb. She lost her balance and almost fell backward. Fortunately, Tang Qian reacted quickly and reached out to support her back. The two of them then helped each other to their feet.

Whether it was the glow of the red candlelight or not, Zhao Yingluo's cheeks were flushed. She tried to break free from Tang Qian's embrace, but seemed unable to muster the strength. When she tried to move away, the numbness in her legs returned, and the tingling sensation made her afraid to move at all.

Noticing Zhao Yingluo's embarrassment, Tang Qian helped her back to sit on the edge of the bed: "It's getting late, my wife, please rest first. I'll just sit here in the room."

He stood up, pulled aside a stack of red cloth, dividing the bedroom into two spaces, threw a few pieces of wood into the burning fireplace, and finally sat down at the table by the window to continue studying his woodworking lathe improvement plan.

Wanyan Xun was determined to get this thing; the sooner he got it, the sooner he could finish his task.

Tang Qian really didn't intend to touch her, which reassured Zhao Yingluo a little, but also raised a new doubt in her mind.

Sages say that food and sex are human nature, but which man in the world is not lustful? Take my father, for example. Even though there are countless concubines in the harem, doesn't he still hold beauty pageants every year to fill his palace?

The young man before her, despite her somewhat attractive appearance, remained unmoved and planned to sleep in separate rooms on their wedding night, which Zhao Yingluo found truly perplexing.

After their private conversation, she had decided to give herself completely to Tang Qian. Otherwise, she wouldn't have shamelessly said several times that they were a true couple and should share a bed.

Could it be that Tang Qian has some unspeakable secret?

The next moment, Rong'er's voice came from outside the door, solving the mystery in Zhao Yingluo's heart.

"Miss, come out and take a look! There are so many Kongming lanterns outside!"

"Kongming lanterns? Did the Jurchens also have the custom of releasing lanterns?"

Zhao Yingluo, her face full of suspicion, stood up and opened the door. With Rong'er's help, she went to the courtyard outside and looked up. Sure enough, under the dark night sky, countless Kongming lanterns were rising from all over the city. Blown by the night breeze, they slowly flew towards the Song Dynasty. The orange lights twinkled like stars in the night sky, reminding Zhao Yingluo of the Lantern Festival in Bianjing (Kaifeng). For a moment, she forgot her surprise.

As the master and servant were still looking up at the spectacular scene of thousands of lanterns lit up, Tang Qian opened the window in the room. Suddenly, a figure walked out from the dark corner, startling the unprepared Zhao Yingluo and Rong'er.

Startled the young master's wife, Tang Xiaoqi scratched her head sheepishly before going to Tang Qian's window and saying, "This is the Seventh Princess's work."

Hearing the news Tang Xiaoqi had gathered from the city, Tang Qian simply nodded slightly. He had already guessed it when the princess's daughter, Xiao Li, came to deliver congratulatory gifts. Looking at the lights filling the sky, Tang Qian sighed softly and murmured to himself, "Is there a way to have it all, to be true to both Buddha and my beloved?"

Then, under Zhao Yingluo's silent gaze, Tang Qian waved for Tang Xiaoqi to leave, and then slowly closed the window.

"Neither betraying Buddha nor betraying you," what a heartfelt exclamation! Zhao Yingluo seemed to detect a strange sadness in it.

She didn't know what Tathagata was implying, but the word "Qing" should refer to the seventh princess mentioned by the black-clad boy who came to deliver the message.

"I see."

Zhao Yingluo gave a bitter smile. No wonder he refused to share a room with her in every way. It turned out that he already had someone else in his heart. Judging from the Seventh Princess's behavior, the two of them were definitely in love. On the contrary, she, who had married him, had become the most awkward person.

She turned and went back to her room, once again blocking Rong'er at the door. After closing the door, she walked to Tang Qian's side, the bitter smile on Zhao Yingluo's lips still lingering: "Just now, my husband and I made a three-point agreement, one of which was that the two of us must be honest with each other. Why did I do it, but my husband failed to do so?"

Tang Qian was stunned for a moment, then he understood the meaning behind Zhao Yingluo's words.

"Does my wife mean my relationship with Wanyan Xi?" Tang Qian breathed a sigh of relief. "As you can see, she is a princess of the Jin Dynasty, while I am just a Song person who has not surrendered to the Jin. Given the difference between us, even if we are willing, what good outcome could there really be?"

Zhao Yingluo's expression froze slightly, and a sense of sadness rose in her heart. They loved each other but could not be together forever, which was a kind of helplessness. However, Tang Qian did not intend to tell her directly. What should he do if he accidentally offended the Seventh Princess?

It should be noted that Youzhou was always Jurchen territory, and she was no longer a princess of the Song Dynasty.