Building a Harmonious Song Dynasty

Chapter 91

Volume Two: Eagle Soars Through the Sky, Chapter 174: What's Next?

In the courtyard of Anqin Mansion, a cluster of delicate white apricot blossoms bloomed along the waterside pavilion. Zhao Gou walked towards the figure beneath the apricot tree. Qin Zhen stood with her arms crossed, her back to him, her figure extremely thin and pitiful.

"Zhen'er."

Zhao Gou put his arm around her shoulder, letting her lean against his chest. The two watched silently as apricot petals drifted down from the trees, carried away by the flowing water; a sense of sadness arose in the springtime season when all things were reviving.

After standing silently for a while, Qin Zhen rallied and said, "It's time to go to the mourning hall. We can't let Father get tired."

Zhao Gou stopped her and said, "You should rest for a while. How can you not have slept all night? There are people to take care of you ahead."

The officials who went south have already arrived in Lin'an. Someone will take care of arranging the funeral and other matters. Why should Qin Zhen be busy?

Qin Zhen insisted on going, saying, "I was unable to fulfill my filial duties to my mother before she passed away, so let me spend more time with her now."

Since she insisted, Zhao Gou had no choice but to accompany her. The white mourning hall was bustling with people, all there to pay their respects, but how many were truly mourning? Most were merely there to curry favor with the emperor and empress. Qin Zhen sat quietly to one side, guarding the coffin, her eyes lowered and silent.

According to ancient customs, when parents pass away, married daughters are required to observe a half-month mourning period. Qin Zhen insisted on observing the mourning period at the Qin residence, so Zhao Gou had no choice but to order some things to be packed and select a few obedient people to serve Qin Zhen. However, due to his status, he moved into the temporary palace converted from the Kang Prince's residence with his two children.

During the two weeks that Qin Zhen stayed secluded in the Qin residence, she devoted herself to caring for her grieving father. She understood that her mother's departure was a great blow to Qin Hui.

One day, Qin Hui said to Qin Zhen, "It wasn't until your mother passed away that I realized that apart from my closest relatives, everything else is meaningless. I never imagined that I would spend my whole life chasing after that illusory thing and lose the most important thing in the end."

Qin Hui understood this. Qin Zhen was deeply moved. Holding her father's withered hands, she said, "Father, from now on, I will stay with you and take good care of you!"

Parents' hearts are always full of love and compassion. No amount of resentment can overcome the love of family. Qin Hui looked at his daughter, who was now a mother, and said with emotion, "I never thought my little Zhenzhen would be a mother of two, but in my heart you will always be my child. I don't need you to take care of me. You and the Emperor should live a good life. Your mother and I are content to see you happy."

Originally, there were plans to celebrate Qin Hui's fiftieth birthday in a grand manner. However, this was canceled due to the sudden death of Lady Wang. On the appointed day, Zhao Gou ordered a banquet to be prepared at the temporary palace and invited Qin Hui over. Only Qin Zhen and the children sat around him.

Seeing this scene, Qin Hui was deeply moved and said with emotion, "Such family happiness, how gratified your mother would be if she saw it!"

Qin Zhen's nose tingled at the thought of her mother, and at the same time, she felt a warmth in her hand as Zhao Gou squeezed her hand tightly. Only then did she manage to suppress her grief.

Zhao Gou rose from his seat and walked to Qin Hui, saying, "Father-in-law, now it is only our family in this hall. Please take a seat."

Qin Hui trembled in fright: "Your Majesty. This... is impossible..." Qin Zhen had not expected that Zhao Gou would set aside his imperial status and treat his father with such respect.

Zhao Gou persisted, and Qin Hui tremblingly sat down in the central seat, tears of gratitude streaming down his face. He couldn't utter a single word about the last bit of resentment he had towards his children.

At this moment, they were just like three generations of an ordinary family, enjoying their dinner in harmony.

Qin Zhen filled his cup with wine, exchanged a glance with Zhao Gou, and the two raised their cups to Qin Hui, saying: "May Father enjoy boundless happiness and longevity."

Qin Hui smiled, raised his cup, and nodded repeatedly, but he couldn't say anything else. He just smiled and drank the wine.

Qin Zhen gave the two children a subtle wink, and Zhao Jiu and Zhao Jin ran to Qin Hui's side with small wine cups, saying auspicious words. The children's happy and sweet voices swept away the gloomy atmosphere in the hall, making it lively and bustling.

Although the two children's cups were filled with fruit wine, Qin Zhen still dared not let them drink too much. Zhao Jiu was alright; he looked young but had a good capacity for alcohol, and perhaps he would truly become a dashing swordsman who would drink and roam the world with a carefree spirit in the future. But Zhao Jin was no match for him; he had already fallen asleep in Qin Zhen's arms, his two little faces flushed red.

Qin Zhen summoned palace servants to carry Zhao Jin away to rest. Turning back, she saw Zhao Gou and her father engaged in a lively conversation, with Zhao Jiu occasionally chiming in. The atmosphere was quite pleasant. She stood alone under the corridor outside the door, gazing at the dark night before her, silent.

Suddenly, a cloak draped over Qin Zhen's shoulders. Without turning around, she knew who was behind her. Those strong arms embraced her, and a voice whispered in her ear, "What are you thinking about?"

Qin Zhenshu sighed and said, "I'm wondering what I should do next."

Zhao Gou said in a low voice, "Why worry about these things? Just follow me."

Following up on his question, Qin Zhen asked, "So what are your plans for the future?"

“After we pass the throne to Zhao Yi, we can’t stay in Bianjing anymore. If we stay there, he will feel restricted, and we ourselves will not be happy. I think Lin’an is much better. Living here, we can go boating or hiking. This detached palace is our former residence of Prince Kang. We are very comfortable living here.”

Qin Zhen nodded and said, "No matter where we go, it's fine as long as our family is together."

Suddenly, a cracking sound came from inside the hall. The two rushed in to see what was happening and found that Zhao Jiu had drunk too much and accidentally dropped a cup. Zhao Jiu, holding onto the edge of the table, said to his parents as they entered, "Mother, Jiu'er is no match for Grandpa. I admit defeat."

Qin Zhen still didn't understand what they were doing, but Qin Hui explained with a smile that Zhao Jiu had somehow started arguing with Qin Hui about academic matters. Although he was young and fearless, how could Zhao Jiu possibly win an argument with Qin Hui? Putting aside everything else, Qin Hui was quite accomplished in his studies.

Qin Hui stroked his beard and said, "This debate with Jiu'er reminds me of my days as a schoolteacher. The days are long, so why don't I open a school sometime and teach some students? What do you think, Zhen'er?"

It was rare for Qin Hui to calm down, so Qin Zhen naturally agreed. Then, he told Qin Hui that they also wanted to stay in Lin'an, which startled him. Seeing their firm attitude, he could only say, "Children and grandchildren have their own blessings. You can make your own decisions."

Volume Two: Soaring Eagle 175 Youth is always impetuous

In the late summer of the seventh year of Song Xuning, the weather was fine and sunny. Seven years had passed since Emperor Gaozong Zhao Gou suddenly ascended the throne as Emperor Mingzong Zhao Yi during his southern tour. The upheaval seven years ago came suddenly, yet it was also so inevitable. The vigorous Gaozong, in his middle age, proclaimed himself Emperor Emeritus and, together with Empress Dowager Qin Zhen and his two children, went south to live in seclusion.

The officials all pleaded with him to stay, and some even knelt before the gates of the detached palace in Lin'an for a long time. Faced with all their pleas, Zhao Gou simply smiled calmly, picked up his brush, wrote a letter, and handed it to the person who had pleaded for his life. Within two days, the turmoil subsided.

The people of the world lamented Emperor Gaozong's resolute abdication while worrying that the newly enthroned young emperor was incapable of shouldering heavy responsibilities. However, three years after Zhao Yi ascended the throne, the various tribes of Tibet, which had been in constant turmoil, all submitted to the Song Dynasty, and the hearts of the people were at peace.

After seven years of peace, the Song Dynasty enjoyed a period of enlightened governance and harmonious society, with prosperity flourishing throughout the land. Since the retired emperor moved to Lin'an, the region has become even more prosperous.

Along the Bai Causeway of West Lake, willow catkins flutter in the air, and the landscape is lush and green.

Under an old willow tree by West Lake, a young girl in a scarlet dress held a beautifully crafted dagger and pointed it at the rippling lake, shouting, "You'd better hurry! The incense is almost gone. If you don't catch any fish soon, your young master will be drowned and fed to the fish!"

Two young servants, around twenty years old, floated to the surface, blowing bubbles. They looked at the people on the shore with distressed expressions and pleaded with the young woman, "Grandma, please give us a little more time. We've never caught fish before. These slippery little things are impossible to catch!"

"It seems you don't want to save your young master, huh? Enough with the nonsense!"

The girl looked to be about fourteen or fifteen. She tapped the willow tree beside her with the dagger in her hand. With each tap, the servants' hearts trembled, for the dagger was striking the hemp rope tied to the tree trunk. Following the rope, they saw a fat, large-eared boy, his hands bound, hanging from a branch above the water. Two large rocks dangled from his feet; if the rope snapped, he would truly sink to the bottom!

The servant watched his young master writhe in the air, whimpering from his gagged mouth. He quickly plunged into the water to catch fish. He thought despairingly, "I'm not going to get through today. I'm sure the magistrate will give me a good beating when I get back!"

Beside the girl stood a young man dressed in an ice-blue brocade robe. He leaned against a willow tree, arms crossed, and said to the girl, "Jin'er, hurry up and deal with him. This is so boring. If we keep going like this, we won't be home for dinner."

Jin'er pouted and thought sullenly, "What a terrible day! These lecherous people ruined it. They didn't even bother to find out what was going on beforehand. How dare they make a move on me? They really don't want to live anymore!"

"Brother, don't you remember how they just humiliated me in the street? How can you let them go so easily!"

The young man in blue drew his sword and said, "I don't want to let them go easily. You can hand them over to me, and I guarantee I'll make them wish they were dead."

The girl's heart skipped a beat. "Brother, you should put your sword away. We don't need it to deal with them." She was uneasy. Although she had been harassed by these lecherous men, she only wanted to punish them slightly and let it go. If her brother were to take action, someone might die.

A gentle breeze lifted Zhao Jin's crimson dress, making her appear like a vibrant sunset over a lake, utterly captivating. The obese young master, hanging from the tree, was stunned by this sight.

Jin'er raised an eyebrow and caught sight of the fat young master's lecherous gaze. Her anger flared up again. With a swift movement, she slashed at the rope on the tree with her sharp dagger. With a splash, Chongshi and the fat man disappeared into the water!

The two servants who were still catching fish in the water panicked when they saw their young master fall into the water. They worked hard underwater for a while before finally pulling the young master out.

Jin'er walked up to the obese young master, who was soaked to the bone, and pointed at him, saying, "You've gotten off easy today. If you dare to flirt with a young girl again, and I find out you've done something bad, you'll be in big trouble!"

The fat young master was already half-conscious from choking on the water and couldn't hear her at all. The two servants next to him quickly kowtowed and begged for mercy, saying, "We understand, thank you for your mercy, madam!"

Jin'er, hands on her hips, didn't bother looking at the people anymore and turned to leave. The servant kneeling on the ground saw this and crawled a few steps to grab her skirt. Before he could say anything, a flying kick swept over him, sending him flying several steps away, lying on the ground unable to move.

The boy beside Jin'er said coldly, "How dare you touch my sister's clothes?"

The servant who had been kicked lay on the ground and said with difficulty, "Grandma, please at least leave your name, otherwise I won't be able to explain to the master when I get back. I'm going to die anyway!"

Jin'er was too lazy to argue with them and said, "I'm not afraid of you coming to find me. If your master thinks that I'm doing something wrong in disciplining his son, just come to Zhenlongfang and someone will take care of me!"

After saying this, they walked to the riverbank of West Lake, gently jumped into a small boat, and gradually drifted away.

The chubby boy Jin'er threw into West Lake was Yang Kun, the only son of the magistrate of Lin'an County, who was used to running rampant in this area. Today, he was out hunting in the streets as usual with his servants when he happened to see Jin'er. Jin'er and her brother were playing and laughing in the street, her every smile and gesture exuding charm, which stirred Yang Kun's heart. He immediately led his men to surround her, unaware that he was about to get himself into a huge mess!

When Yang Kun was sent back to the county government, the magistrate was furious to see him in such a lifeless state. His wife cried out, "My darling!" and wept bitterly.

"You foolish servant, how did the young master get into this state?"

Seeing the magistrate's anger, the servants quickly confessed. The magistrate was furious. He had known for a long time that his son was lustful, but he hadn't thought it was a big deal. He never expected that someone would dare to bully his son on his own turf.

"Who are those women? Let me teach them a lesson!"

"The woman said that if you're looking for her, sir, go to Zhenlongfang. I reckon she's the daughter of the owner of Zhenlongfang; you certainly wouldn't take a merchant seriously..."

The servant boy was unaware of the secrets of the Zhenlong Workshop, but the county magistrate knew it well—the Linglong Workshop was the property of the retired emperor! Upon hearing the name, he lost his balance, stumbled back a few steps, and fell into his chair, his face turning pale!

Seeing this, the magistrate's wife rushed from her son's side to the magistrate, crying out in alarm, "Sir, what's wrong with you?"

The county magistrate slammed his fist on the armrest of his chair and pounded his chest, shouting, "You unfilial son! You unfilial son! How could you have chosen to offend the person you should never have offended in the whole world!"

Upon hearing this, the lady was greatly alarmed and stammered, "Could it be...could it be someone from the royal family?"

The magistrate sighed dejectedly, unable to utter a word. Seeing his ashen face, his wife knew something terrible had happened and could only hold their son and weep softly.

Unfortunately, the lecherous local tyrant encountered the Zhao siblings, Zhao Jiu and Zhao Jin, and could no longer cause any trouble.

Volume Two: Eagle Soars Through the Sky, Chapter 176: A Rare Moment for Two

It is said that Zhao Jin dealt with Yang Kunnasi and rushed home with his brother, reaching a small island in West Lake before nightfall. Although the family should have lived in the imperial palace, Zhao Gou and Qin Zhen, finding too many visitors causing trouble, quietly moved to a manor in West Lake and began a truly secluded life.

As soon as they set foot on the island, they saw the housekeeper, Qingmei, waiting for them at the ferry. Zhao Jiu hurried over and asked, "Aunt Mei, is there something urgent?"

Qingmei nodded and said, "Young Master and Miss are finally back. Master and Madam have something important to discuss with you."

Zhao Jiu and Zhao Jin were incredibly bored all day long. Now that they heard there was something going on, they were overjoyed and hurried into the manor to find Zhao Gou and Qin Zhen.

It was dinnertime, and the four of them sat down at the table. Qin Zhen said to Zhao Jiu, "Jiu'er, prepare for a trip to Bianjing with Jin'er in a few days."

Zhao Jin cheered with joy upon hearing this, shouting, "Really? Really? I can go out and play! That's great!"

Zhao Jin was truly happy. She still remembered that three years ago, Zhao Jiu went on a long trip alone without her. She waited for ten months before her brother returned. After Zhao Jiu came back, he told her a lot about the martial arts world, such as the Battle of Taihu Lake, the Summit of Mount Tai, and the pursuit of women in Qinhuai. Zhao Jin was very excited by what he said.

She longed to go out and see what the martial arts tournament her brother had mentioned was like. She wanted to know if her brother's claim of being the best in the world was true or false. She wanted to see just how beautiful the most beautiful woman in Qinhuai was. She wanted to taste just how delicious the food her brother had mentioned was. But unfortunately, she was still young, and Zhao Gou and Qin Zhen wouldn't allow her to go out and run around.

Now that Qin Zhen has taken the initiative to let Zhao Jiu take Zhao Jin out, how could he let Zhao Jin be unhappy!