New Song Dynasty: My Wife is an Imperial Princess

Legend has it that during the Eastern Jin Dynasty, in Luyu City of Liangzhe Prefecture, there lived a woman named Zhu Yingtai who disguised herself as a man and went to Hangzhou to study. On her journey, she met Liang Shanbo, a classmate from Kuaiji, and the two traveled together...

With Wanyan Xi's approval, Zhao Yingluo began to tell her story. The two princesses of the Great Jin Dynasty were quickly captivated by her tale, and even Xiao Li, Rong'er, and the Fourth Princess's maid, who were standing behind their three mistresses, listened attentively with bated breath.

The story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai is not very long. When Zhao Yingluo told the story of the two turning into butterflies, Wanyan Ling let out a soft sigh and glanced at Wanyan Xi sitting next to her.

Wanyan Xi was completely absorbed in the story Zhao Yingluo was telling, her mind completely lost.

As Zhao Yingluo's ten fingers gently caressed the strings, a crisp sound rang out. Amidst the melodious music, a poignant guqin version of "The Butterfly Lovers" lingered in everyone's ears, refusing to fade away.

As the music ended, Zhao Yingluo slowly lowered her hands, and the echoes in the hall gradually subsided. Only then did Wanyan Ling gently clap her hands, pulling Wanyan Xi, who had been lost in thought while listening to the music, back to reality.

"Your Highness's musical skills are astonishing, and the piece composed by Tang Qian is truly heavenly. I admire you greatly."

Zhao Yingluo bowed slightly: "It's just a trivial skill, not worthy of such praise from the princess."

"Your Highness is too modest." Wanyan Ling picked up her teacup and took a sip. "However, I am quite tired after such a long journey. How about we ask Your Highness for guidance on the zither another day?"

It was as if the other party was seeing the guests off. Zhao Yingluo immediately got up to say goodbye and left the princess's residence with Rong'er, returning to her own courtyard. Only then did she gently pat her chest to calm herself down.

Rong'er, however, had a fierce look on her face: "That so-called Fourth Princess is clearly humiliating Miss. The Seventh Princess said a few days ago that she would call Miss her sister, but she watched us being bullied without saying a word. What kind of sister is she?"

Zhao Yingluo pulled Rong'er, who was still venting her anger in the courtyard, back into the room: "Alright, stop causing trouble for your husband."

Seeing Zhao Yingluo and her servant return, Tang Qian came out of the study, went to the bedroom, and pushed open the door to ask, "Did the Fourth Princess make things difficult for you, Madam?"

Rong'er snorted coldly. Although she was stopped by her young mistress, her anger still rose: "They actually made my young mistress play the zither for them. What is this if not an insult?"

Tang Qian looked at Zhao Yingluo: "So you just played the 'Butterfly Lovers' piece that I taught you?"

Zhao Yingluo nodded: "But now that I have completely extricated myself from the relationship between the three of us, it has put you in even more danger, my husband. I really don't know if what I did just now was right or wrong."

"It's alright. Our goal is to reduce Wanyan Xi's attention to you. Only when she knows that we are a fake couple will she be willing to help me in a critical moment."

Since Wanyan Xi is not yet married, she does not know who her future husband will be. Even if the affection between him and her is reported back to Liaoyang by the Fourth Princess Wanyan Ling, it will not lead to any fatal disaster for him. At most, he will be resented by Emperor Wanyan Wuqimai, but Wanyan Xi can quell his anger. At least until Wanyan Xi is betrothed to a powerful Jin nobleman, Tang Qian will be safe.

With Wanyan Xi and Wanyan Xun locked in a power struggle, the latter would certainly not openly target him, allowing Tang Qian to live a carefree life in Youzhou City.

Meanwhile, in a side hall of the princess's residence, Wanyan Ling looked at her seventh sister, Wanyan Xi, who was still savoring the song from earlier, and snorted coldly: "This Zhao Yingluo is quite sensible. She knows that she was forced to marry Tang Qian and is able to know her place. On the contrary, Tang Qian seems to be a bit arrogant."

Wanyan Xi could certainly understand the unspoken meaning behind her elder sister's words. Tang Qian was using the story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai to allude to her and Wanyan Xi in the present day.

"If he were the son of some powerful nobleman of the Jin Dynasty, he and you, Seventh Sister, would be a match made in heaven. It's just a pity that your identities are too mismatched. Alas."

Upon hearing the new song composed by Tang Qian, Wanyan Xi understood his intentions. As if she had made a great decision, Wanyan Xi's face was full of determination: "At worst, I will never marry in this life. Anyway, it doesn't matter if Father Emperor has one more daughter or one less daughter."

"When we get married and whom we marry are not decisions we can make ourselves," Wanyan Ling said. She had expected her unconventional younger sister to say such things, but unfortunately, these were just empty words. "Father's favor towards you is unique. You are already of marriageable age, yet you have not been betrothed. Look at your sister, I have no feelings for your brother-in-law, yet we still have to share a bed. Don't you understand the principle that the emperor's decree cannot be disobeyed?"

Wanyan Xi remained silent, unwilling to think about the issue at all. Wanyan Ling scolded her a few more times, but seeing that she still had no reaction, she had no choice but to give up: "Getting back to the point, you should know that the glass made in Youzhou has caused a frenzy in Liaoyang, which will inevitably attract the covetousness of others. The purpose of my visit this time is still to help you."

Tang Qian was right.

Wanyan Xi shook her head with a wry smile: "I wonder how you plan to help me, sister? Will you take over the glass workshop in Youzhou or take away the glassmaking technology?"

If Tang Qian hadn't foreseen this and devised a plan to build a psychological defense for her, Wan Yanxi would have been utterly shocked. Even her own sister, who had grown up with her since childhood, could so shamelessly steal her things. What else could those so-called powerful and wealthy people not do?

"Sister, please don't misunderstand." As if sensing Wanyan Xi's anger, Wanyan Ling hurriedly explained, "I only intend to cooperate with you, and I have absolutely no intention of taking the glass for myself."

Inside the Youzhou military supply depot, Wanyan Xun, who was supervising the construction, chuckled upon hearing the report from the princess's spies. His face was full of mockery: "Having a Song princess isn't enough? Does Tang Qian really intend to become the consort of my Great Jin Kingdom?"

It has to be said that Tang Qian has a lot of tricks up his sleeve to make girls fall in love. He used such a metaphorical story to allude to his current situation with Wanyan Xi. How could the Seventh Princess, who is in love at first sight, not fall for his tricks?

Perhaps Wanyan Xi would actually dare to ask the emperor for an imperial decree to marry Tang Qian. If he really becomes the emperor's son-in-law, wouldn't all her scheming be in vain?

However, just as Tang Qian had Zhang Liang's plan, Wanyan Xun also had his own tricks.

"Since you never learn from your mistakes, don't blame me for being too harsh."