Agente secreto Wind Boy

Capítulo 53

A moment later, a pink-clad girl with long braids, wearing velvet boots and a small curved knife at her waist, skipped and hopped into the hall.

"Yige greets Your Highness, the Virtuous Consort!" She turned her almond-shaped eyes to Zhao Gou, looked at him, and said, "Yige greets Prince Kang!"

Consort Wei pointed to the seat directly opposite Zhao Gou below and said, "Sit down and talk. It's a good time to come today. Gou'er just returned to the palace. He went to the Liao Kingdom and you and Yige have some prior ties."

Yi Ge smiled and said in her clear voice, "That's right, Your Highness. I heard that Prince Kang is in the palace and boldly asked to see him. It's because he went to Liao. I haven't seen anyone who has been to Liao for a long time. How could I not want to see him?"

Yi Ge replied to Consort Wei's words, then turned to Zhao Gou and said, "When Prince Kang was sent as an envoy to the Liao Kingdom four years ago, I was still young, so you probably don't know me. But I have heard a lot about Prince Kang. I never expected to have the opportunity to meet you here today. It is truly an honor!"

“Your Highness is too kind,” Zhao Gou replied calmly. “Back then, I was just a child. I was only able to carry on the mission thanks to the help of the adults who accompanied me. Otherwise, I would have failed in my mission, and Your Highness would probably only be laughing at me.”

“How could that be? My brothers all say that Your Highness is capable, ambitious despite your young age, and calm in the face of danger. They all say that you will do great things in the future. When I came here, my brother Prince Jin even told me that if I saw Your Highness, I should give you my regards.”

Zhao Gou gave a cold laugh, glanced at the woman opposite him, and said, "Oh, is that so? You princes are too kind to me."

Before Yi Ge could speak, he immediately said to Consort Wei, "Mother, I have just returned to the capital and there are still many things to take care of at home. I will take my leave today and visit you at the palace another day."

"Since that's the case, then you'd better get to work. Now that you're back in the capital, rein in your temper and stop thinking only about playing. Help your brother with some things too, understand?"

"Yes, I understand."

Standing up, Zhao Gou glanced at Yi Ge sideways before turning and leaving, completely ignoring the disappointment in Yi Ge's eyes.

Volume Two: Eagle Soars Through the Sky 098 The Visitor in the Eastern Palace

When Zhao Gou returned to the palace, it was already dusk. He was deeply touched to see Qin Zhen waiting for him in the front hall for dinner.

"I met a lot of people today, and before I knew it, it was so late. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

Everyone in the Prince's mansion was already used to the Prince's "equal" way of speaking to Qin Zhen. Long ago, no one dared to treat Qin Zhen as an ordinary maid. Although she continued to manage Zhao Gou's daily affairs as always, the reasons behind it were known only to herself.

Qin Zhen said, "You've just returned to the capital, so you'll naturally be busy with many things. But you didn't send anyone back to say you were having dinner outside, so I guess you haven't eaten yet. Hurry up and eat; I'm starving after waiting for so long."

Okay, eat up.

Zhao Gou smiled and sat down to eat, saying, "I made an appointment with my elder brother to visit my sister-in-law at the Eastern Palace tomorrow. What do you think would be a good gift for me?"

Qin Zhen, holding his chopsticks, thought happily, "You're going to be an uncle soon. I'm thinking I should definitely give you a nice gift."

Seeing her so lost in thought, Zhao Gou said, "I was just mentioning it casually. Let's think about it after we finish eating."

"I've got it! Let's give them the Misty Rain Silver Love Chain. One for each of them, mother and son, to ensure their happiness and well-being. How wonderful!" Qin Zhen racked her brains, completely ignoring Zhao Gou's advice.

The "Rainy Day Silver Love Affinity Chain" consists of two bracelets, one large and one small, inlaid with several precious black jade pieces on a silver chain, making them exceptionally exquisite. Legend has it that the black jade on the bracelets originally formed a pair of identical, dark blue-black jade bangles. These once belonged to a couple during a turbulent era. After the birth of their son, the mother smashed the two bangles and used the silver wire to create two bracelets, one for her son and one for herself.

In the chaos of war, a mother and son were separated by the turbulent currents. Years later, thanks to the Misty Rain Bracelet, the son overcame numerous hardships to finally find his long-suffering mother, a testament to his filial piety that has been passed down through generations.

Zhao Gou obtained the bracelet by chance and kept it as a treasure without paying much attention to it. Now that Qin Zhen had found it, he felt it would be more appropriate to give it to the Crown Princess, so he asked Qingmei to go to the warehouse to find it and pack it up.

"I also met someone in the palace today. Can you guess who it was?" Zhao Gou suddenly asked Qin Zhen.

Qin Zhen said blankly, "There are so many people in the palace. How could I possibly guess? Tell me quickly. Don't keep me in suspense."

"She is Princess Qishan of the Liao Kingdom. Do you know her?"

"It's her?" Qin Zhen was surprised. After thinking for a moment, she said, "I had forgotten that she was sent here. I had seen her once before, and she cried so hard that time."

"Oh? Tell me about her. What kind of person is she?"

Qin Zhen recalled, "She was the daughter of Consort Xiao Yuan and the younger sister of the fifth prince, Prince Qin. I met her when Consort Xiao Yuan and Privy Councilor Xiao Fengxian's plot to assassinate the Liao Emperor was exposed. Yelü Yanxi ordered Consort Xiao Yuan to be executed, and she came crying to plead for her life. In the end, she was driven away. She was quite pitiful."

Zhao Gou sneered and said, "The Liao emperor has already shown great mercy by not ordering her and the Prince of Qin to be executed together. With her mother in such a predicament, it's no wonder she was sent to the Song Dynasty as a gift."

"What? Are you interested in her?" Qin Zhen asked sourly, which made Zhao Gou chuckle. Seeing that her face was turning gloomy, he quickly said, "No, it's just that I didn't feel good when I saw her today. She kept saying flattering things, so I wanted to ask what kind of person she is."

"Is it flattery? Actually, she's not much older than me. She left her hometown and came here all alone, with no one to rely on. She must have been forced to do this." Qin Zhen poked at the rice in her bowl and said with pity.

The next day, Zhao Gou went to the East Palace by carriage. Because he was wary of the past when Zhao Huan wanted Qin Zhen to go to the East Palace, he refused to take Qin Zhen with him to the banquet. At this moment, he was alone in the carriage. But after a while, he heard the "clatter" of hooves coming from outside the carriage. He lifted the curtain and saw a young girl on a chestnut horse. Who else could it be but Qin Zhen?

"Why did you come all this way?" Zhao Gou asked, frowning.

Qin Zhen took out a brocade box from his pocket and said, "I almost made a fool of myself. The Misty Rain Silver Chain in your hand is fake. Mine is the real one."

Zhao Gou was surprised. He picked up the brocade box beside him and compared it with the one in Qin Zhen's hand. The quality of the black jade was indeed different.

"How...?"

"Hehe," Qin Zhen scratched his head and said, "I thought it looked nice, so I made a pair, and I really forgot to put them back."

Zhao Gou looked at her with a mixture of amusement and exasperation, saying, "If you like it, just tell me, and I'll give it to you. Why go through all this trouble?"

"No, you know I'm only interested in things for a short time. I like something for a while and then I don't like it anymore. Otherwise, how could I have forgotten about the real bracelet?"

Zhao Gou found it difficult to speak through the carriage window, so he asked Qin Zhen to dismount and get into the carriage.

"Since you're already here, come with me into the palace. It'll save you from riding a horse and getting covered in dust."

When they arrived at the East Palace, Zhao Gou never expected that Yi Ge would also be there!

Zhao Huan said with a slight apology, "She came to visit early this morning and has stayed until now... I think you two are about the same age, so you should get along well. Why don't you have a meal together?"

Zhao Gou never gave Yi Ge a second glance, but Qin Zhen was quite interested in the girl in the pink dress; at least they were related by blood.

Yi Ge naturally paid close attention to the woman who appeared beside Zhao Gou and acted "disrespectfully" with both Zhao Huan and Zhao Gou. She felt that the woman looked somewhat familiar, but she couldn't quite place her.

Qin Zhen wore a light green double-breasted short jacket with a circle of white fox fur around the edge. The style of her clothes was unlike that of an ordinary maid. Her presence puzzled Yi Ge, but since she had no one to ask, she kept her questions to herself.

The two women looked at each other, and Qin Zhen suddenly couldn't help but chuckle. Zhao Gou turned to look at her in confusion, and she whispered in his ear, "This palace is so beautiful, with all these colorful flowers. It's even more beautiful than the scenery in spring."

Zhao Gou realized she was referring to the colors of everyone's clothes and nodded with a smile. This sight reminded Yi Ge of Zhao Gou's coldness towards her yesterday, and she couldn't help but frown angrily and glare at Qin Zhen.

A few days later, they sat at the table again. Because Zhu was pregnant, she couldn't stand the smell of alcohol, so the maid didn't bring any. They chatted and ate some food, but Zhu was weak, so she went to rest. Qin Zhen and Yi Ge had also finished eating and said they would go and talk with the Crown Princess, leaving only Zhao Gou and Zhao Huan to sit facing each other. So the two brothers ordered wine and drank and talked.

Upon arriving at the inner palace, the Crown Princess was experiencing severe morning sickness and felt extremely dizzy. She could only speak a few words before being helped to fall asleep. Qin Zhen then invited Yi Ge to sit in the backyard.

Volume Two: Eagle Soars Through the Sky 099 Good Intentions Misunderstood

The snow was melting slightly, and crystal-clear water droplets dripped from the icicles on the eaves. Two women with masks stood under the eaves, talking to each other.

Qin Zhen smiled and asked Yi Ge, "How have you been in the palace this past year, sister?"

Yi Ge frowned as she looked at Qin Zhen, wondering why this girl called her "sister." She was, after all, a princess of the Liao Kingdom. Was she someone that just anyone could cling to?

Seeing Yi Ge's expression, Qin Zhen knew that she did not recognize him, so he said, "Don't you remember me? I'm Ming Zhen."

Yi Ge's gaze shifted sharply, staring at Qin Zhen's features for a long time before exclaiming in realization, "Mingzhen, you are Yelü Mingzhen!"

Qin Zhen looked at her with a grin: "Sister, you have such a bad memory, you don't even recognize me. After I found out you were in the palace yesterday, I've been trying to find a way to come and see you. I wonder how you're doing, and if anyone in the palace is bullying you? If so, just tell me, and I'll help you get revenge!"

Yi Ge was clearly still in shock and hadn't heard what Qin Zhen was saying. She stammered, "You, what are you doing here?"

Qin Zhen smiled and said, "Sister probably doesn't know, but I am just the adopted daughter of General Chenglie. I was originally from the Song Dynasty. Your father knows this. I told him about my return to the Song Dynasty. It's not so strange that I'm here now."

Yi Ge felt another pang of pain in her heart. Her adopted daughter was just an adopted daughter! The Princess Dingguo, whom her father always talked about, was actually just her second uncle's adopted daughter, and a foreigner at that!

She felt extremely resentful. Why was she, the real princess, unloved and uncared for, while this imposter princess was favored by everyone, including her father, uncle, and brother? Even Zhao Gou and the Crown Prince treated her kindly in the Song Dynasty!

Qin Zhen saw Yi Ge biting her lip, her eyes burning with fury. A sense of foreboding washed over her. She had only meant well, wanting to show concern for Yi Ge, who was far from home, but she hadn't expected this reaction.

"Um... I'll go check if Zhao Gou and the others have finished eating..." Qin Zhen casually made up an excuse to leave, but was stopped by Yi Ge's loud shout.

"What is your relationship with Prince Kang?"

Qin Zhen was bewildered. Why did she care about her relationship with Zhao Gou? Could it be that she saw Zhao Gou as her lifeline?

"I'm just her maid," Qin Zhen replied hastily.

Yi Ge sneered, "A maid? The Princess Dingguo of the Liao Dynasty came to the Song Dynasty to be a maid? A maid dares to address the prince by his given name? Sister, if you're going to lie to me, you don't have to make it sound so ridiculous."

Qin Zhen sensed Yi Ge's hostility and, too lazy to explain further, turned to leave, only to be stopped by her.

"Halt! Didn't you say you were a maid? Fine, I want to admire the icicles on the eaves. Get me two!"

Yi Ge was unaware that Qin Zhen knew martial arts, nor did she know that this request would be a simple matter for her. However, Qin Zhen did not seem to find it easy and would not obey her orders. She coldly replied, "Princess Qishan! I am a maid of the Kang Prince's mansion, and I do not need to listen to your orders!"

"You!" Yi Ge exclaimed angrily, staring intently at Qin Zhen. Suddenly, she heard a low laugh behind her and turned around. There, she saw Zhao Gou appear.

"It's freezing outside, but it's surprisingly lively. What are they all talking about?"

Qin Zhen's good intentions were met with hostility from Yi Ge, leaving him extremely displeased. Passing by Zhao Gou, he glanced back at Yi Ge indifferently, sighed softly, and said to Zhao Gou, "It's cold outside, I'll go inside first."

Zhao Gou took Qin Zhen's hand and held it in his palm, asking with concern, "Why are your hands so cold? Come inside and warm them up."

Watching the two figures, so affectionately entwined, Yi Ge pounded the pillar. When she looked up again, she met Zhao Gou's cold and contemptuous gaze, which sent a chill down her spine.

Yi Ge stood under the corridor, lost in thought for a long time, before leaving the Eastern Palace without saying goodbye. Walking through the vast snowfield, she thought bitterly: Zhao Gou, how dare you so disrespect this princess! You will regret this!

Qin Zhen and Zhao Gou sat in the carriage on their way back to the mansion. Qin Zhen said dejectedly, "It's really incomprehensible. I was just trying to be kind to her, but she acted like she wanted to eat me alive. What did I do to offend her?"

Seeing her pouting pink lips, Zhao Gou smiled and said, "Some people are not only stupid, but also overestimating themselves. Why bother getting angry with them?"

Seeing that Qin Zhen was still looking down in a sullen mood, Zhao Gou said, "The New Year is coming soon. Have you bought anything for your father and mother?"

Qin Zhen said, "I've been busy with things at the manor these days, I haven't had time to go shopping."

"How about I take you for a walk around town tomorrow?"

"Are you free tomorrow? That's great!"

In the study of the Eastern Palace, Qin Hui humbly reported to Crown Prince Zhao Huan. Zhao Huan was somewhat surprised and asked, "Has he been just going around having fun all this time?"