New Song Dynasty: My Wife is an Imperial Princess

With this barrier in place, the relationship between the two became delicate. Zhao Yingluo, who had already resigned herself to Tang Qian, stopped talking about the two of them becoming a real couple and instead let Tang Qian go to another room to rest late at night.

The next morning, Tang Qian, dressed neatly, went out to the quartermaster's office.

After pondering for the past two days, he seemed to have found some solutions for improving the process. Since Wanyan Xun was not content with the status quo, Tang Qian was happy to lend him a hand. It was much better for the Jin Kingdom to be in chaos than for these barbarians to join forces and invade the Song Dynasty from the south.

Before leaving, in order to silence the servants in the house, he and Zhao Yingluo needed to put on a show of being a loving couple in public. He personally brought breakfast into the room, filled a hand warmer with charcoal, covered it with a cloth, and placed it in Zhao Yingluo's palm. Tang Qian whispered, "Don't go out unless necessary. Just stay in the room."

Zhao Yingluo felt the warmth emanating from her palm, and suddenly her eyes crinkled into a smile as she blurted out a question: "This thing is truly exquisite. It must have been made by my husband. I wonder if the Seventh Princess has one?"

Seeing Tang Qian stumble and nearly fall as he rushed out the door, Rong'er couldn't help but chuckle. Then she glared at Tang Qian's retreating figure and said, "You don't know what's good for you."

His Highness has already tacitly accepted their marital relationship, yet this son-in-law, who has gained such a great advantage, is still acting innocent, which is an utter disgrace to his master.

A fleeting look of melancholy crossed Zhao Yingluo's face. She turned to Rong'er and said, "Go and call Commander Wang here. I have something to ask him."

On the other side, Tang Qian left his house and went to the quartermaster's office. He handed over the blueprints he had drawn up overnight to the blacksmith and asked someone to prepare a complete cowhide.

Tang Qian racked his brains for many days to find a way to increase the speed of the lathe with the existing technology. He found that the only solution he could think of was to imitate the transmission method of bicycles in later generations, replace hand-operated with foot pedals, and use belts to transmit power to reduce friction between gears.

"It's a pity we can't make bearings, otherwise we could have gone even faster."

The craftsmen couldn't understand what Tang Qian was saying at all, but with the blueprints, they just had to follow them. Didn't they just copy the previous woodworking lathe and make it just by following the pattern?

"Young master is newly married and should spend more time at home with his young mistress. Leave these small matters to us, and we will ensure that you are satisfied."

Tang Qian sighed, "The deadline given by His Majesty is approaching. If I can't finish making the lathe, I'm afraid my life will be in danger. How can I have the leisure to stay at home with my wife?"

The craftsmen looked at each other for a moment and said, "Young master, don't you know? The commander has already ordered people to transport the lathe we built to Liaoyang City."

"Oh?" A flash of surprise crossed Tang Qian's face. He reached up and touched his smooth, beardless chin, muttering to himself, "Wanyan Xun seems to be in a hurry."

Entering the workshop, it was indeed empty, replaced by a pile of new raw materials. Wanyan Xun's intention was obvious: he wanted what the Jin emperor wanted, and he wanted it even more advanced.

Fortunately, Tang Qian had already come up with a solution. Although in his opinion, this method would only slightly improve production efficiency, it was enough to satisfy Wanyan Xun and put his mind at ease for the time being.

The thought of being constantly exploited by Wanyan Xun made Tang Qian's brows furrow. His knowledge of modern physics was limited, and there would come a day when it would all be taken away, leaving him to be discarded like a used bow after the birds are gone.

Meanwhile, outside the residence where Tang Qian was temporarily staying, Wanyan Xun dismounted and, without needing anyone to lead the way, walked smoothly to the reception room and sat down. After waiting for a moment, a figure in white appeared in the corridor outside the door. Zhao Yingluo, accompanied by the guard commander Wang Jian, walked slowly in.

"My husband went to the quartermaster early this morning; the prince arrived a step late."

Wanyan Xun smiled and waved his hand: "Your Highness misunderstands. I came here today specifically to see Your Highness."

Seemingly sensing the other party's malice, Wang Jian, who was behind Zhao Yingluo, immediately stepped forward to protect the princess behind him, and placed his right hand on the hilt of his sword once again.

Wanyan Xun shook his head with a smile, his eyes full of contempt: "Commander Wang, there's no need to be angry. If I really intended to take action within Youzhou City, do you think your few men could stop me?"

Zhao Yingluo waved to Wang Jian. She was not worried that Wanyan Xun would harm her. If he really had any intentions, there would be opportunities anytime and anywhere on the way back to Youzhou.

"What advice does Your Highness have for me?"

"Back in Tokyo, Your Highness must have been absolutely unwilling to come to my Great Jin for a marriage alliance, and must have been worried that you might end up with a boorish man. But now, I wonder if Your Highness still has such thoughts?"

After a pause, before Zhao Yingluo could speak, Wanyan Xun laughed again, "I have long said that Your Highness will be grateful to me in the future. Your royal brother did not hesitate to send you out to be someone else's plaything, while I have found you a suitable husband. Comparing the two, I believe Your Highness should not find it difficult to judge which is better or worse?"

Zhao Yingluo nodded in agreement: "My husband is a humble man, and he takes meticulous care of me. He is indeed a trustworthy man. I would like to thank Your Highness."

"In that case, Your Highness, shouldn't you do something to repay me?"

Zhao Yingluo pondered for a moment, then looked up and asked, "I wonder what Your Highness wishes to do for me?"

"Your Highness may not know, but Tang Qian, whom you Song people consider a good-for-nothing, is a rare and talented man in my eyes. I need his assistance to accomplish great things. However, that boy is too cunning, and I am not entirely confident that I can control him."

"So, Your Highness intends to use me to keep him by your side?"

“That’s right. Tang Qian is now tied down, so he naturally wouldn’t dare to have any thoughts of defection. Of course, it would be even better if Your Highness could bear him an heir.”

Zhao Yingluo smiled bitterly: "Didn't Your Highness see the sky full of Kongming lanterns last night? Although I am Tang Qian's wife, the one he truly cares about is your Seventh Princess. Your Highness asking me to do this will only backfire."

"Your Highness need not underestimate yourself. I believe you have the means to capture Tang Qian. As for the Seventh Princess, Your Highness can rest assured that the Wanyan royal family will not allow her to act recklessly."

"If I am unable to do it, then what shall I do?"

Zhao Yingluo's question caused a sudden glint of malice to appear in Wanyan Xun's eyes: "It's simple, you two will die together."