New Song Dynasty: My Wife is an Imperial Princess

"Brother-in-law is so amazing, could you bring the other sisters back with you too?"

Amidst the crowd's repeated thanks, a weak, childlike voice rang out. Zhao Saiyue had initially thought she was merely being transferred from Ming'an Temple to another prison, never imagining she would escape so easily. Her brother-in-law was so powerful; if he could bring them out, he could surely rescue the others as well.

"Moon, don't talk nonsense."

Before Tang Qian could reply, Zhao Yupan began her reprimand as the eldest sister. Zhao Fujin also pulled her nineteenth sister into her arms and looked at Tang Qian apologetically, saying, "Children don't understand right and wrong, please don't be offended, brother-in-law."

Startled by her elder sister's sudden rebuke, Zhao Saiyue immediately shrank back and hid in Zhao Fujin's arms, not daring to utter a sound.

"It's alright. Yue'er is also a sister who cares about her. Even after such a great calamity, she still hasn't changed her original intention. She's a kind-hearted child." Tang Qian reached out and rubbed Zhao Saiyue's head. "Brother-in-law's abilities are limited. Right now, he can only save a few of you. As for your other sisters, they are all people with great fortune. They will surely be able to turn misfortune into good fortune in the future."

Tang Qian wasn't just spouting nonsense to comfort his sister-in-law. Wanyan Xun had given him a limited number of spots, so he certainly couldn't rescue all twenty princesses. However, those who weren't on the list, although they all stayed in the Jin Kingdom afterward, didn't suffer torture and die. Several of them became concubines of the Jin emperor, and their fates were much better than those of the princesses in front of him.

Zhao Yingluo was about to take her sisters back to the room she and Rong'er had just prepared to settle them in when Xing Bingyi stepped out from the crowd.

She first bowed gracefully to Tang Qian and Zhao Yingluo, then straightened up to face them directly: "This...this humble servant has a question I wish to ask in person, and I humbly request Your Highness and the Prince Consort to enlighten me."

“As I just said, there are no royal family members here. We are just ordinary people from Youzhou City. Madam Zhao, please be careful with your words.” Tang Qian smiled faintly at Xing Bingyi. “Madam Zhao, are you wondering why I didn’t save another princess, but instead used the spot on you?”

Xing Bingyi bit her lip. Although she was ashamed that her husband had abandoned her when she was pregnant in the capital and fled to Cizhou on his way to negotiate with the Jin army, resulting in her becoming a prisoner of the Jin army and losing her unborn child due to the arduous journey, she could understand Zhao Gou's resolute decision.

On the surface, Zhao Gou was going to the Jin camp to negotiate. What kind of envoy would bring his wife to negotiate with the enemy camp? Secretly, he was preparing to flee. Zhao Gou needed to travel light, and no matter how you analyze it, he would not bring his wife as a burden.

Zhao Gou fled to Cizhou, leaving Xing Bingyi, who remained in Tokyo, to become the target of public criticism. There was a constant barrage of insults outside the Kang Prince's Mansion, and even the Xing family threatened to sever all ties with the Kang Prince's Mansion to protect their own reputation.

Who would believe that Tang Qian, who had never crossed paths with her before, would actually give up rescuing a princess for a woman who had no value to him?

“Since the fall of Bianjing, Madam has likely been imprisoned and is probably unaware of any news from the outside world.” Faced with Xing Bingyi’s doubts, Tang Qian began to explain unhurriedly, “Madam, your husband, Prince Kang Zhao Gou, has now been appointed Grand Marshal of the Hebei Army, commanding the remaining 50,000 elite troops of the Song Dynasty. He is the only remaining elite force of the court. Whether the Song Dynasty can overcome this crisis depends entirely on Prince Kang’s shoulders.”

Xing Bingyi's eyes suddenly lit up: "Does the young master mean that my husband will lead troops to Youzhou to take us back?"

In just a moment, her hope was extinguished again. "This is impossible."

Xing Bingyi had been with Zhao Gou for many years, and she knew her husband's character better than anyone else. The retired emperor Zhao Ji doted on the third prince Zhao Kai, while Zhao Huan had to take a backseat, not to mention Zhao Gou, who was neglected because his mother's family background was not strong enough.

Because he was not favored from childhood, Zhao Gou developed a habit of being timid and cowardly. In a peaceful and prosperous era, with his personality, he could have enjoyed life as a leisurely prince until he died of old age. But to make him command troops in this chaotic world and even lead an army to attack Youzhou? Xing Bingyi would rather pray every night for divine lightning to strike down all those beasts of the Jin Kingdom.

"Madam is right. It is indeed impossible for Prince Kang to come and rescue us. If I am not mistaken, Prince Kang will soon lead his army south to avoid the Jin army. Perhaps he is now the ninth emperor of the Song Dynasty and is planning to retreat to the south of the Yangtze River to live a carefree life as an emperor."

Xing Bingyi gave a wry smile: "Young Master's guess might be true."

"So, does Madam understand why I rescued you from Ming'an Temple?"

"Are you planning to use me... my status as empress to blackmail your husband?" Xing Bingyi shook his head. "From the moment he abandoned me and went to Cizhou alone, our marital relationship was over. If he really becomes emperor, he will naturally marry another woman as empress. I, a princess who has long been abandoned by him, am afraid I won't even attract his attention."

Putting aside the fact that Zhao Gou might have retained some affection for his wife, it's impossible for her husband to acknowledge her status as empress after she had spent so many days in the Jin army's camp.

He was the emperor; how could he willingly change his yellow hat to a green one?

"Don't worry, Madam. I still have some connections with Prince Kang, so I would never do anything to offend the court by using you as a blackmail. If one day we are lucky enough to escape back to the Great Song Dynasty, even if you can't become Empress, you should at least be a concubine. At that time, please remember that we have helped you before and put in a good word for you with the Emperor, so that our family can live a peaceful life under the Emperor's protection."

"If only I could go back..."

Xing Bingyi's eyes darted around, as if he was longing for that kind of scene.

Although she certainly won't become Empress and rule the country, with the Xing family's power, it shouldn't be difficult to elevate her to the position of concubine. Zhao Gou also needs to maintain his image; if he's labeled as someone who abandoned his wife, he'll be infamous for eternity.

Therefore, even if there was no longer any possibility of them having a marital relationship, Zhao Gou still had to grant them the title of husband and wife.

only……

"Will we really be able to wait until the day we can go back?"

"How will we know if it will work if we don't try? At least we can't give up hope, can we?"