New Song Dynasty: My Wife is an Imperial Princess

After successfully arriving in Liaoyang City with Wanyan Zongwang, Zhuo Luwang, who was not on the emperor's summons list, naturally could not stay at the Sifangguan in the city and could only stay temporarily at an inn at his own expense.

Looking at the crystal-clear glass on the windowsill, Zhuo Luwang felt a surge of excitement.

No wonder the inn's accommodation fees are so high; it turns out the inn owner added the money he would have spent on buying glass to the room rates.

He didn't know if Wanyan Wuqimai would heed Wanyan Zongwang's advice and arrange a marriage between him and Wanyan Xi, but he wasn't worried that this tactic wouldn't work. Now that they were in Liaoyang, if Wanyan Wuqimai remained stubborn, then he would let him taste the flavor of the green fruit pills.

"If the Emperor of the Great Jin also becomes addicted to drugs, let alone the Seventh Princess Wanyan Xi, I might even be able to sit on the throne of the Great Jin Kingdom."

However, Zhuo Luwang was also well aware that he could only indulge in his verbal sparring when no one was around. Even though Wanyan Wuqimai listened to him, he still dared not covet the throne of the Great Jin.

Although the green fruit was good, it couldn't help him control all the noble families. The Zhuolu clan's foundation was too weak. Perhaps even a small ripple stirred up by a powerful figure could completely destroy their clan. So, one should wear a hat that fits the size of one's head. Greed can lead to death.

Having already prepared a backup plan, Zhuo Luwang did not feel the anxiety of gaining and losing while waiting for news. Instead, he was truly bored and lay on the bed with his eyes closed, imagining in his mind whether he should pretend to be humble or reveal his domineering nature when he married Wanyan Xi.

A knock at the door brought him back to his senses. He jumped out of bed, tidied his clothes, and opened the door. When he saw that the person standing opposite him was not one of Wanyan Zongwang's confidants, the expectant look on Zhuo Luwang's face faltered slightly.

"What? Are you unhappy to see me, the prince?" The fourth prince, Wanyan Aru, sneered and gently pushed Zhuo Luwang's shoulder. Zhuo Luwang, who was as still as a wooden puppet, took two steps back and opened the door for him.

Wanyan Aru waved to his two trusted confidants behind him, then walked into the room. His guards stood outside and closed the door, leaving only the aggressive Fourth Prince and the terrified Zhuo Luwang in the room.

"Your Highness should know very well why I have come to see you today."

Zhuo Luwang smiled awkwardly: "The incident in Youzhou is not my fault. We planned everything, but we didn't expect Wanyan Xun to sneak up from behind and launch a surprise attack. Your personal guards didn't return, and I also lost more than three hundred men. No one gained anything, so we should continue to work together to deal with Wanyan Xun."

Wanyan Aru snorted coldly: "You ran away that night, leaving me alone outside Youzhou City. As a result, I was ambushed in the camp by Balha that very night. I have never been so humiliated. Who should I hold accountable for this?"

“Barha is nothing but a dog raised by Wanyan Xi. Once I receive His Majesty’s decree of marriage, the first thing I will do upon returning to Youzhou is to send this fellow to Liaoyang so that His Highness can vent his anger.”

"Speaking of the bestowed marriage, Prince Zhuo Lu really has some tricks up his sleeve. He actually managed to get the Second Prince to plead on your behalf." Wanyan Aru still had a sneer on his face, but he was quite impressed with Zhuo Luwang's methods. "Back when you were in Youzhou, I thought your first proposal was just wishful thinking. Now it seems that I underestimated you."

Upon hearing this, Zhuo Luwang was first taken aback, then overjoyed: "So, according to Your Highness, His Majesty has granted my request to marry the Seventh Princess?"

“You were able to get Wanyan Zongwang to propose marriage for you, which means you’ve mobilized most of the court. And right now, when the soldiers of our Great Jin need to unite as one, how could Father Emperor let a princess ruin such a great undertaking?” Wanyan Aru reached into his robes, and a roll of golden silk appeared in his hand. “However, without my final efforts, it probably wouldn’t have been so easy for you to obtain this imperial decree.”

Seeing that his plan had indeed succeeded, Zhuo Luwang was overjoyed. The value of glass had been best proven in Liaoyang City, and Wanyan Xi was simply unable to hold onto that mountain of gold. Now it had become part of her dowry and ended up in his pocket, which was the best outcome.

After arriving in Youzhou and reading out the imperial edict, he ordered the price of glass raw materials to double. Anyone who disagreed could come and confront him. With Wanyan Zongwang as his backer, Zhuo Luwang didn't believe anyone would dare to bare their teeth at him.

Just as he was about to snatch the imperial edict to see its contents, Wanyan Aru withdrew his hand, and Zhuo Luwang missed his grasp.

"What does the Fourth Prince mean by this?"

"Have you forgotten that we still have an agreement?" Wanyan Aru waved the yellow silk in front of Zhuo Luwang's eyes. "Now that I have obtained the imperial decree for your marriage, shouldn't you, Your Highness, show some appreciation?"

"Does Your Highness mean that the glass industry in Youzhou should be split 50/50 between us?" Zhuo Luwang shook his head. The Emperor of the Great Jin Dynasty had already issued an imperial decree, and from this moment on, he was the future husband of the Seventh Princess. Even if Wanyan Aru withheld the imperial decree, it would be of no use. "Since the Seventh Princess and I have become husband and wife, the glass mines in Youzhou are our joint property. It would be too unfair for us to divide it equally. What do you think, Fourth Prince? The profits from the glass mines will be divided into three parts. My wife and I will take two parts, and you, Fourth Prince, will take one part."

After a brief silence, Wanyan Aru smiled and said, "Zhuo Luwang, you're quite the trickster. You agreed to split it 50/50, but now you're going back on your word. Fine, since you've become one of the owners of the mine, I won't object. We'll do as you say, you take two shares and I'll take one. But this time, it can't just be a verbal agreement; it has to be put in writing."

"Since the Fourth Prince is so straightforward, I am naturally not a hesitant person."

Zhuo Luwang opened the door, intending to ask the innkeeper for paper and pen, but Wanyan Aru waved his hand: "No need for such trouble."

The door was opened by the Fourth Prince, and two guards standing outside were holding the paper and pen that Zhuo Luwang needed, and even the ink had been ground.

The two returned to the table and sat down. Wanyan Aru read a sentence, and Zhuo Luwang wrote it down. Finally, two copies were made, and both parties signed their names at the end.

"Then please take good care of me, Your Highness."

"No problem, no problem. Let's do business together and make money together."