New Song Dynasty: My Wife is an Imperial Princess

While Tang Xiaoqi was ordered to kick down various Taoist temples near Tokyo, Tang Qian's city of Youzhou welcomed a high-ranking figure from the Jin Dynasty court, Wanyan Zonghan, who was regarded as the first meritorious minister of the founding of the Jin Dynasty by successive emperors.

Walking side by side with Wanyan Xun, the commander of the Youzhou army in charge of receiving them, on the streets of Youzhou City, Wanyan Zonghan was taken aback by the orderly and prosperous scene of the people's lives.

“Our cousin has been spoiled by His Majesty, and I thought Wanyan Xi was just a spoiled princess who didn’t know anything. Who would have thought that she, a woman, could govern this almost desolate Youzhou so well? It’s truly impressive.”

Wanyan Xun smiled faintly: "It's not that the Seventh Princess has the talent to govern the people, but that she knows how to appoint people to positions. Does the Grand Marshal still remember the advisor named Tang Qian who was by my side when we were at the gates of Tokyo?"

“Of course I remember,” Wanyan Zonghan replied without hesitation. “He saved our army from a disaster that day when we launched a strong attack on Tokyo. Anban Bojilie is still grateful to this kid to this day, so how could I forget him?”

"This is the person who assisted the Seventh Princess in governing Youzhou."

"Oh?" Wanyan Xun's words made Wanyan Zonghan stop in the middle of the street. "Wasn't he an advisor who served under you? How did he become Wanyan Xi's right-hand man?"

Wanyan Xun's lips curled into a wry smile: "Has the Grand Marshal forgotten that this lad was brought back to Youzhou by an imperial edict from Liaoyang, and the one who brought this edict was none other than our Seventh Princess."

"I see." Wanyan Zonghan suddenly realized. He had been wondering why Emperor Wanyan Wuqimai, who was in Liaoyang City, would take such a big interest in such a nobody and send an imperial edict from afar to bring him back. But he never expected that it was Wanyan Xi's doing.

"Looking at the current state of Youzhou City, it does bear some resemblance to the capital city of the Song Dynasty. It seems that this kid is indeed quite capable."

It must be said that the work-for-relief method implemented by the Princess's Mansion is indeed a governance plan that can be emulated. Except for the elderly and weak, everyone in Youzhou City is creating benefits for the Princess's Mansion. Perhaps the effects will not be seen in the short term, but if this continues, Youzhou City will definitely become a wealthy city that people envy.

With the gratitude of the entire city's people, Wanyan Xi had firmly secured her position as the Lord of Youzhou City, and no one could shake her position.

In just half a day, Wanyan Zonghan had toured the glass workshops and weaving workshops in the city. Seeing that the Grand Marshal still seemed somewhat unsatisfied, Wanyan Xun looked troubled: "Outside the city, there's only a brick kiln and a glass mine left, mostly manual labor, so there's not much to see. The Princess's plan is to wait until the Jin and Song dynasties open their border trade, then transport the glass and wool produced in Youzhou to the Song dynasty for sale, and then transport the silk and lacquerware from the Song dynasty to the Jin dynasty, making Youzhou a trading city. At that time, it will truly be a pearl of the desert."

Of course, there was also a shipyard under construction outside Youzhou City, which Wanyan Xun would not take Wanyan Zonghan to visit.

Wanyan Zonghan indeed had little interest in mining and brick-making. With his hands behind his back, he looked at Wanyan Xun with amusement in his eyes: "You should know very well what my purpose is in traveling all the way from Shengjing to Youzhou."

"Please enlighten me, Grand Marshal."

Seeing that Wanyan Xun was still pretending to be stupid, Wanyan Zonghan directly spoke up: "I heard that the Youzhou military supply department has made a woodworking lathe for His Majesty to make arrow shafts. I thought that your Youzhou army could not have made only one. So, brother, could you have someone demonstrate to me what kind of lathe could please His Majesty?"

Wanyan Xun had long known that the old man's purpose in coming to Youzhou was not pure, he thought to himself, but he dared not show any change on the surface. However, he still had to say the words of stern refusal. If he were to enter the Youzhou military supply department, his plans would be in vain.

"Since the Grand Marshal has spoken, I should obey immediately. However, the Youzhou Military Supply Office is a military secret location. According to the rules of our Great Jin, only generals of the Youzhou army are allowed to enter without authorization. I hope the Grand Marshal will not put me in a difficult position."

Wanyan Zonghan snorted coldly. He knew, of course, that if Wanyan Xun refused, even as the Grand Marshal of the Western Route Army of the Great Jin, he could not rashly enter the military stronghold of Youzhou.

However, he could also figure out that since the lathe in Wanyan Wuqi's possession was made by the Youzhou Military Supplies Department, the craftsmen under Wanyan Xun would definitely be able to develop a more advanced lathe. This was why Wanyan Zonghan did not return to Liaoyang, but came directly to Youzhou.

"Since that's the case, I won't go to the Youzhou military supply depot. However, I am quite curious about this Tang Qian from the Song Dynasty. I really can't imagine how a teenager could manage to govern Youzhou City to its current state. It's a pity that he left in such a hurry when we were at the gates of Dongjing that I didn't get to see him. Today, I can finally make up for that regret a little."

Immediately, Wanyan Zonghan cast a slightly sharp glance at Wanyan Xun again: "I wonder if the Commander still cannot fulfill this request of mine?"

Wanyan Xun narrowed his eyes slightly, a hint of murderous intent flashing across his face. The next instant, respect and humility returned to his expression: "Of course."

He bowed and gestured for them to proceed, and Wanyan Xun led the way, completely unaware of the glint in Wanyan Zonghan's eyes.

He was still too young after all. He thought he had quickly suppressed the murderous intent he had just released, but Wanyan Zonghan still saw it all.

The inner city of Youzhou was not very large. The two chatted and laughed along the way and soon arrived at the gate of Tang Qian's residence. Wanyan Xun was about to go forward to have someone announce their arrival when the gate creaked open.

Accompanied by her maid Xiao Li, Wanyan Xi walked out from inside the door. Wanyan Zonghan was taken aback at first, then his face darkened: "This is Tang Qian's residence. Seventh Sister, is it beneath the dignity of the royal family of our Great Jin to come and go so casually?"

No wonder Wanyan Zonghan was so angry. A man and a woman alone in a room, Wanyan Xi's behavior was simply a complete disregard for etiquette.

The sudden reprimand startled Wanyan Xi. She quickly calmed herself down and then saw Wanyan Zonghan standing on the street.

While others feared this Great Jin Marshal, she was not: "My sister and the Song Dynasty princess are like sisters. We visit each other every few days. What's wrong with that?"