New Song Dynasty: My Wife is an Imperial Princess

Fortunately, as Wanyan Xieye led the Eastern Route Army to successfully reach Tokyo, the two sides joined forces and began to discuss how to attack the city. The rumors within the Western Route Army were temporarily suppressed by the strict orders and prohibitions in the lead-up to the great war between Song and Jin.

The Jin army outside the city was preparing for war, while Zhao Huan inside the city was on tenterhooks. The third wave of envoys sent out to seek peace had not brought back the good news he wanted to hear. Wanyan Xieye's meaning was very clear: he would not return until Tokyo was conquered.

Despite being rejected, Zhao Huan did not give up on seeking peace. It wasn't until Wanyan Xie ordered the execution of the last group of Song Dynasty peace envoys and their heads were hung outside the camp that Zhao Huan slumped onto the dragon throne, ignoring the discussions in the court and unsure of what to do.

When the Jin army demanded three towns, he agreed to cede them. When the Jin army demanded compensation, he pawned the treasures in the palace. When the Jin army demanded that he submit to them, he accepted that as well. He could be said to have been accommodating to every request. So why did the Jin army still want to attack the city in the end?

That's it. He was put on the throne by his father, Zhao Ji, who wanted someone to take the blame. He worked hard for half a year, hoping to turn the tide and save the Song Dynasty from its dire straits. He then devoted himself to governing the country and developing its strength, aiming to conquer Youzhou and even Liaoyang, ultimately creating a golden age that his ancestors could hardly achieve and establishing the third unified dynasty after the Han and Tang dynasties. In the end, he had to bear the infamy of being a ruler who lost his country and be forever nailed to the pillar of historical shame.

He did want to climb onto the city wall and curse Wanyan Xie as a treacherous, despicable, and shameless villain, but tens of thousands of Jin soldiers were watching him from the outside. Could he possibly drive them away with just a few curses?

Forget it, the enemy is already at the gates, what can I do? Just wash my neck and wait to be stabbed.

In this atmosphere of confrontation between the two sides, the New Year's Day of the second year of Jingkang arrived quietly, accompanied by a sudden snowstorm.

Amidst the swirling snowflakes, the once vibrant city of Bianjing was now shrouded in a chilling atmosphere, covered in white. What should have been a joyous festival filled with dazzling lights and fireworks was instead a scene of utter desolation. The streets were deserted, and the people were filled with dread, barely daring to breathe. The once bustling capital of the Song Dynasty was now deathly silent.

In stark contrast, Youzhou City, hundreds of miles away, which should have been desolate and lifeless after several major battles, has become a paradise in this chaotic world after a year of recovery.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of the female workers, the textile workshop actually managed to make sweaters from wool yarn. In addition, a batch of cotton was harvested in the autumn. Although it was impossible for all the tens of thousands of people in the city to wear cotton-padded clothes, it was more than enough to distribute a few cotton quilts to each household.

They had no worries about food and clothing, and were not required to serve in the military. Even if they didn't have any spare money, their lives were still quite frugal. At least their whole family was safe from danger, which was enough to make the people in the city grateful to the Princess of Youzhou's residence.

Therefore, on New Year's Day, every household consciously made Kongming lanterns, which the Seventh Princess had once requested to be set off throughout the city to celebrate the happy marriage of Tang Qian, a staff member in the mansion, and spontaneously prayed to heaven to bless the Seventh Princess with good health and longevity.

As the sun set and the city lights began to twinkle, Zhao Yingluo's eyes were filled with a dazed look as she watched the Kongming lanterns rise into the sky. She vaguely felt as if she had returned to the prosperous and peaceful capital of Tokyo, but she quickly regained her senses.

With a bitter expression on her face, Zhao Yingluo sighed softly: "Even the people in the capital city of Tokyo are laughing and joking, but none of them seem as sincere and genuine as the smiles of the people of Youzhou."

"Since we were born in a chaotic world, there's no need to wallow in sorrow. Let's focus on living our own lives first." Tang Qian handed a Kongming lantern to Zhao Yingluo. "What wish does my wife intend to make?"

Zhao Yingluo came to her senses and took the lamp with the lit candle with both hands. "I don't ask for anything, so I just wish for peace in the world."

"No, let's choose one that's easier to achieve." Tang Qian smiled wryly. "I'm afraid this lamp is burdened with such a grand ambition that it won't be able to take flight."

After a day of feeling down, Zhao Yingluo was finally amused by Tang Qian. The moment their eyes met while holding the lamps, the princess felt a slight heat on her cheeks. Although they had been sleeping together for half a year, Tang Qian had always been polite and composed towards her. His tender gaze now made Zhao Yingluo feel a little uncomfortable.

"Then let's hope that one day we can return to the Song Dynasty."

She actually wanted to express her hope that the two of them could stay together forever and be a real couple. However, thinking about that lecherous old man Wanyan Zonghan lurking in the shadows, eyeing her covetously, Zhao Yingluo felt that it would be better to return to a safe place first and then live happily ever after with Tang Qian.

Tang Qian reached out and ruffled Zhao Yingluo's hair, giving her a reply that brought a slight smile to her face: "Don't worry, it won't be long before we return to the Song Dynasty."

When it was completely dark, Wanyan Xi and Xiao Li arrived late. Zhao Yingluo pulled the two of them to sit down at the round table. Tang Qian brought out a bronze stove that none of them had ever seen before from the kitchen: "Tonight we're having hot pot."

What is hot pot?

"Isn't this obvious?" Tang Qian said, throwing red-hot charcoal into the central opening of the copper stove with iron tongs while adding chicken broth to the copper pot outside the stove. "Use the central stove to heat the broth outside, then cook your favorite raw food in the broth, and dip it in the sauce, just like this."

Then, Tang Qian began to demonstrate for the four girls. Seeing Tang Qian's praise as a piece of mutton was thrown into his mouth, everyone became eager to try it.

Hot pot did exist in the Song Dynasty, but it was never as refined as the one Tang Qian made. It was a simple and crude cooking method. Zhao Yingluo, who grew up in the deep palace, had never seen it before, let alone the Jin Dynasty, which didn't care much about cooking.

Because of the season, Tang Qian could only find a pitifully small amount of ingredients, including only two or three kinds of seasonal winter vegetables. However, there was plenty of meat. In addition to lamb rolls, Tang Qian also went to great lengths to find a cow that was about to die and cut several large plates of beef rolls. Various kinds of meat that Wanyan Xi and Zhao Yingluo did not recognize at all were also laid out on the table.

It didn't matter if they didn't recognize the ingredients, as long as it tasted good. Although the seasonings were just salt, soy sauce, and vinegar, the group still ate with great relish and couldn't stop.

Looking at the empty plates, Tang Qian wondered if the four girls would throw up if he told them they had eaten various animal organs.