Hier gibt es Liebe für dreihundert Tael

Kapitel 65

When Li Yunluo arrived at the Kang Prince's Mansion with Qin Zhen, Qingmei had already received the news and was waiting at the gate. As soon as she saw Qin Zhen, she went up and greeted her, "Miss Qin, Princess Yunluo."

Seeing Li Yunluo's questioning gaze, Qin Zhen explained, "I am from the Song Dynasty, and my surname is Qin."

Li Yunluo nodded. She had heard that Princess Dingguo was the adopted daughter of General Chenglie, and subconsciously assumed that she was from the Liao Kingdom, but she did not expect that she was from the Song Kingdom.

Qingmei led them to the living room and sat them down. Qin Zhen, looking like she was watching a good show, asked, "Where is your prince?"

"Reporting to Miss Qin, the Prince went to the Privy Council early this morning and hasn't returned yet."

Qin Zhen laughed inwardly. She hadn't expected Zhao Gou to avoid Li Yunluo so vehemently. Even though he was home, he didn't dare to see her. Li Yunluo felt somewhat disappointed upon hearing Qingmei's words. However, hearing from the steward that Zhao Gou had gone to the Privy Council, presumably to handle state affairs, she felt a certain degree of favor towards him, as he didn't seem like a spoiled prince.

"You've come at the worst possible time. Looks like we'll have to make arrangements next time." Qin Zhen said to Li Yunluo, "What should we do now? It's getting dark. How about I take you somewhere for dinner?"

Although Li Yunluo didn't see Zhao Gou today, she did see Qin Zhen, whom she had been wanting to see for a while, so she felt quite comfortable and readily agreed. However, as soon as they left the Kang Prince's residence, something happened that made Li Yunluo very uncomfortable.

A dozen or so men dressed as imperial guards were pacing around not far from the Prince Kang's residence. When they saw Li Yunluo come out, they quickly went up to her and said, "We've finally found the princess! Lord Xia was very anxious. Please come back to the post station with us."

Li Yunluo was a little disappointed. The little girl didn't like being watched over, but she was sensible enough to know that she couldn't be as willful and mischievous as she was at home, so she obediently nodded.

"Sister Mingzhen, let's have dinner together again next time. I have to go back to the inn today."

Qin Zhen nodded and waved goodbye to her.

She hesitated for a moment in front of the Prince's Mansion, then turned back and went straight to the study, where she saw Zhao Gou concentrating on writing calligraphy.

Qin Zhen teased, "Lazy."

Zhao Gou glanced at her sideways and said, "Knowing my current situation, you still say such things."

After returning to the capital, he met with Li Gang several times, which Zhao Huan found out. Zhao Huan first demoted Li Gang, and then used the excuse of letting Zhao Gou rest for a few more months to prevent him from participating in politics, clearly intending to keep him idle.

Qin Zhen pretended not to know and said, "Why didn't you go out and meet your 'fiancée' just now? Although the princess is a bit young, she is a good match for you. She is a very clever girl."

"Are you deliberately trying to annoy me?" Zhao Gou put down his pen and ink, glancing sideways at Qin Zhen. Qin Zhen just chuckled. Zhao Gou muttered to himself, "You naughty girl," and then let it go.

Qin Zhen glanced at the study and suddenly suggested, "We haven't eaten together in a long time, why don't we go to Zhenlongfang for a meal today?"

Zhao Gou naturally agreed. He went back to his room to change into some more casual clothes, and then he and Qin Zhen went directly to Zhenlongfang through the secret passage.

Sitting in the secret private room upstairs, Qin Zhen ate bite by bite, her ears constantly listening to the outside of the window. Zhao Gou knew that her suggestion was not just about eating.

"They're here!"

Zhao Gou asked, "Who is it?"

"My father." Qin Zhen swallowed the food in her mouth, put down her chopsticks, and said, "I secretly read one of his letters. I wonder who he's having dinner with here today. He's being so secretive."

After learning that Qin Hui had booked a banquet at Zhenlongfang, Qin Zhen specifically instructed the manager to set up their private rooms on opposite sides of a wooden wall, one inside and one outside. As long as the people inside didn't speak loudly, those outside would have no idea what was going on. However, Qin Zhen and Zhao Gou overheard everything Qin Hui said to others outside.

The door to the outer private room creaked open, and several people entered. Qin Hui stood up, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Lord Xia, welcome, welcome. Please have a seat."

A high-pitched, thin voice replied with a laugh, "Lord Qin, you are too kind. Please, have a seat."

Qin Zhen was startled in the room. The voice clearly belonged to a eunuch, a eunuch surnamed Xia... She and Zhao Gou exchanged a glance and realized that Qin Hui's secret meeting was actually with an envoy from Western Xia.

Volume Two: Eagle Soars Through the Sky 121 The Envoy from Western Xia

The conversation, neither too loud nor too soft, slowly drifted into the secret room like the flowing water of a stream. Qin Chen's words made Qin Zhen's heart pound higher and higher!

"Lord Xia, it's been three months since I last received a letter from you. I thought you had forgotten your old friend." It was Qin Hui's voice.

The shrill voice replied with a fawning smile, "Lord Qin, you flatter me. How could I possibly forget you? It's just that I failed to complete the task you instructed, and I'm ashamed to face you now."

Qin Hui chuckled and said, "It doesn't matter that the matter wasn't handled well. As long as Lord Xia is sincere in cooperating with me, I'll just consider the little benefit I gave you before as a greeting gift. We can discuss things in the future."

Lord Xia gasped, his expression one of disbelief, which showed just how much he had received from Qin Hui!

"Since you're so kind, Lord Qin, then I won't stand on ceremony. Please feel free to ask for my assistance, and I will do my best to fulfill it!"

"Hehe," Qin Hui chuckled, "If we're talking about matters, there are two things here that I'd like Lord Xia to help with, I wonder..."

Before Qin Hui could finish speaking, he was interrupted: "No problem, no problem, Lord Qin, why are you being so polite? Just say what you have to say."

"Since that's the case, then I'll get straight to the point. First, there's the horse farm that Western Xia and Liaoxi Jing are fighting over, and second, there's your princess's marriage."

Lord Xia hesitated for a moment, then tentatively asked, "I know that the horse farm is reserved for Lord Qin, but regarding Princess Yunluo's marriage, we submitted the memorial to the King according to Lord Qin's previous suggestion. Is there anything wrong with that?"

"This...it's my fault. I only just learned that my daughter and Prince Kang are deeply in love. She has been crying every day since hearing the Emperor's decree of marriage. As her father, I can't bear it..."

Zhao Gou, who was inside, heard this. He smiled and leaned close to Qin Zhen's ear, asking, "Washing your face with tears?"

"Go away. Stop fooling around and listen to what's coming next," Qin Zhen said softly, a hint of embarrassment on her face.

Lord Xia chuckled and said, "So that's how it is. Your daughter can rest assured. The princess is young and was unwilling to marry anyway. I'll go back and talk to her. This matter will be easily resolved."

The two men talked for a while longer, mostly about some underhanded political matters, though not exactly aboveboard. There wasn't anything seriously wrong with their conversation, so Qin Zhen and Zhao Gou listened without taking it too seriously. However, Qin Zhen couldn't help but sigh inwardly, realizing that his father had been extending his influence into the Western Xia Kingdom for the past few years. No wonder the horse trade between the Song Dynasty and Western Xia had been so smooth; it had indeed solved the major problem of the cavalry lacking horses.

Both tables, one inside and one outside, were full of food and drink. Qin Zhen was about to leave through the secret passage when he suddenly heard Qin Hui say, "There is another important matter. I wonder if Lord Xia has the courage to cooperate with me?"

"What is it?"

Qin Hui pondered for a moment and said, "The Emperor of Western Xia has been supporting the Jin Dynasty for the past few years. Now that the Jin Dynasty has been defeated and is confined to a corner by our army, although the Emperor of Western Xia has changed his tune and shown goodwill towards us, I know that you still have reinforcements with the Jin army. Isn't that right?"

Lord Xia said with a troubled expression, "This... His Majesty is rather stubborn about this matter. There's nothing I can do about it."

"Lord Xia, don't panic, let me finish." Qin Hui, slightly drunk, said to him, "Your reinforcements are going to withdraw. But they can't withdraw now; they have to wait, wait for the right opportunity..."

Qin Zhen wanted to hear more crucial details, but Qin Hui remained silent. He simply dipped his finger in the wine glass and began writing on the table. Qin Zhen tried to peek through the crack to see what he was writing, but unfortunately, Qin Hui had his back to her, and she couldn't see a thing. She could only watch helplessly.

The two of them whispered among themselves outside for a while longer. Qin Zhen saw that Lord Xia's originally fair and plump face suddenly turned pale. He said tremblingly, "This matter is of great importance... Please allow me to return to the court and discuss it with the Emperor..."

The people at both tables hurriedly dispersed. After Qin Zhen walked out of the tunnel, he found Liang Hongyu and asked her to quickly contact the people of the Blowing Flower Society to find out what Qin Hui and the Western Xia people had done in the past two years. Then he rushed back to the Qin residence.

The next day, Zhao Gou did not attend the welcoming banquet for the Western Xia envoys, citing illness as the reason, which disappointed Li Yunluo once again. However, her interest in Zhao Gou seemed to be growing, which made Eunuch Xia, who was accompanying her, feel uneasy.

"Princess, these princes of the Song Dynasty are arrogant and ignorant of manners. You need not think about it anymore. There are plenty of fine men in Western Xia. When you return, the Emperor will choose the best one for you to be his consort."

Li Yunluo said unhappily, "Eunuch Xia's tone changes so quickly. Just a few days ago he was praising how good Prince Kang was, what's wrong with him today?"

Eunuch Xia, realizing his behavior was too obvious, said with embarrassment, "What I said some time ago was something I heard from elsewhere, but ever since I heard that he defied the imperial decree to refuse the marriage, and then his absence today, this old servant cannot bear to see the princess suffer!"

Speaking of this, Li Yunluo was truly unhappy. She hadn't even told Eunuch Xia that she had personally gone to Prince Kang's residence to see Zhao Gou yesterday but hadn't been able to see him. At this moment, she gradually guessed that Zhao Gou probably didn't want to see her and was deliberately avoiding her.

"No, I have to see him and see who he really is!"

Li Yunluo acted swiftly and decisively. After the banquet, she had someone escort her to the Kang Prince's residence. Even though Eunuch Xia kept saying that "it is indecent for men and women to meet at night," she did not turn around at all.

Zhao Gou did not attend the banquet that night. Instead, he arranged to meet Liang Shicheng at Xiangguo Temple with Qin Zhen. After sending Qin Zhen home, he walked to the street in front of the Prince's Mansion and saw Li Yunluo's carriage and the accompanying Imperial Guards. He immediately used his lightness skill to hide on the wall next to the street.

At the gate of the Prince's mansion, Qingmei was apologizing, explaining that the Prince was too ill to receive guests. Li Yunluo said she wanted to visit him, but Qingmei said he had already taken his medicine and was resting. After arguing like this for a while, Li Yunluo finally left, full of anger. The little girl wasn't stupid; she could tell the difference between the truth and lies.

After Li Yunluo had completely disappeared, Zhao Gou jumped down from the wall and appeared in front of Qingmei. He said in a deep voice, "Send someone to keep an eye on her. If she makes any move to come to the Prince's Mansion, report it immediately and organize the operation."

Qingmei agreed at first, then couldn't help but laugh: "This is the first time I've seen Your Highness so on high alert."

Zhao Gou shook his head helplessly and said, "There is no place for him between me and Qin Zhen. The little girl is too clingy. I need to teach her a lesson so she will learn to give up."

Qingmei sighed softly, suddenly feeling sorry for Li Yunluo. She hadn't even seen what her "fiancé" looked like, and instead, she was being disliked.

Having just finished discussing some matters with the Song Dynasty envoys and returned to the post station, Ao Luwo was filled with anxiety. The Song Dynasty was keeping its mouth shut, and it was currently too difficult to reclaim the two capitals, Zhong and Shang. Suddenly, he felt a surge of hatred for the Song Dynasty, which had helped him attack the Jin Dynasty.

Rubbing his temples, he was about to return to his room to rest when a servant stealthily approached and spoke to him mysteriously. His expression tightened, and he blurted out, "What? Yi Ge is here?"

Volume Two: Eagle Soars Through the Sky, Chapter 122: Cause and Effect

Yi Ge, dressed in a black cloak, sat in the corner of Ao Luwo's room. Underneath the cloak, her thin face had long lost the roundness of a few years ago, leaving only empty eyes and a sallow complexion.

"Yi Ge?"

Ao Luwo had been missing his half-sister since he last saw her, and now she was sitting in the corner dressed like this, making Ao Luwo almost unable to recognize her.

"Big...brother..."

Yi Ge called out in a trembling voice; how could she not be excited to see relatives she hadn't seen for many years? However, her relationship with Ao Luwo in the Liao Kingdom hadn't been close, which made her hesitate at this moment.

Ao Luwo sat down next to her and asked, "How have you been these past few years? I heard you married the Prince of Yun, but then we lost contact. I didn't see either the Prince of Yun or you at the welcoming banquet a few days ago."

Yi Ge felt a surge of bitterness in her heart, and not knowing where to begin, she suddenly burst into tears.

"I was so blind! Even if I never married, I shouldn't have married Prince Yun. He was imprisoned by the Emperor, and I was deprived of the light of day as well. It was no different from being dead!"

Although Ao Luwo knew that Prince Yun, Zhao Kai, had caused Zhao Huan a lot of trouble before Zhao Huan ascended the throne, he did not expect that Zhao Huan would be treated so badly. Judging from Yi Ge's appearance, one could imagine what kind of life they were living.

Did you sneak out today?

Yi Ge nodded. She had spent all her money in the past two years and finally managed to bribe a guard to allow her to see her relatives once.

"Big brother, what happened before was my mother's fault. I was young and ignorant back then. Please forgive me and take me back, okay?"

Faced with her sudden request, Ao Luwo stared at her in surprise and said, "How can this be? You are still the Princess Consort of Yun, no matter what. How can I take you back to the country without my permission?"

When Yi Ge saw that Ao Luwo disagreed, she cried even more bitterly. Her hatred for the two brothers, Zhao Huan and Zhao Gou, had penetrated to the bone. However, she did not realize that all of this was the result of her and Zhao Kai's own actions.

If Zhao Kai hadn't coveted the throne, why would Zhao Huan have persecuted them to this extent?

If Yi Ge and Zhao Kai hadn't conspired to harm Qin Zhen, why would Zhao Gou have intensified his efforts to suppress them?

Every single thing has a cause and an effect.

Under the cover of night, Ao Luwo ordered someone to send Yi Ge back to the sealed-off Prince Yun's residence. Faced with his sister's resentful gaze, he was powerless to do anything. Not to mention that the Liao Kingdom now relied on the Song Kingdom for everything, even if they were evenly matched, it would be inappropriate to bring a married princess back to the country.