Третий брак - Глава 29
"Don't you dare hurt my older brother!"
Qin Zhen, pressed close to Yue Fei, called out to the surrounding crowd. Yelü Chun looked at Yue Fei and Qin Zhen, utterly bewildered. "Big Brother?" Did he have another grandson? But at this age…
"Grandfather, please don't kill my sworn brother! He saved my life and was the best to me!"
It turns out he was a "sworn brother".
Seeing Qin Zhen's aggrieved expression, with tears welling up in her eyes, Yelü Chun felt extremely sorry for her and hurriedly scolded the people around her: "How dare you! All of you, get out of here!"
The guards sheathed their swords and retreated, and Qin Zhen's expression improved slightly.
Yelü Chun asked her cautiously, "You just said you were leaving. Where are you going?"
“My father doesn’t want me anymore, so I’m traveling the world with my older brother.”
"Nonsense!"
How could the granddaughter of the King of Wei, a princess of the Liao Kingdom, run around with a wild boy?
“Your father doesn’t want you, but your royal father does. The world is in chaos now, so you can’t run around. You’ll stay in the royal palace. If you want to go out and play, just tell your royal father, and I’ll send someone to take you out.”
Before Qin Zhen could reply, he had already instructed the surrounding eunuchs, "Hurry up and pay your respects to the princess!"
The crowd immediately knelt down and shouted, "Welcome back to the Princess!"
Yelü Chun laughed heartily, pulled Qin Zhen up, and led Yue Fei toward the back of the palace. This palace had been quiet for too many years and desperately needed the sound of children playing.
The older servants in the Prince's mansion might remember that many years ago, this desolate residence had once been bustling with activity. Although it was fleeting, it had existed nonetheless.
“Your father took you to see your mother. We are all family. If your father can come back, our family will be truly reunited.”
Qin Zhen felt uncomfortable hearing this and awkwardly replied, "My father said my grandmother died a long time ago, I don't want to see any Queen Mother!"
Yelü Chun paused, thinking that Qin Zhen was influenced by Yelü Huan, which was why she had such a strong aversion to Princess De. He couldn't help but sigh. After all these years, Huan'er's hatred had not diminished at all.
He said with a hint of sadness, "Alright, then let me take you to your place first. We, grandfather and grandson, can have a good chat. I wonder how you and Huan'er have managed all these years."
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Volume Two: Eagle Soars Through the Sky 059 Reunited After a Short Separation
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The Song Dynasty envoy's post station, located on Nanjing's main street, had been filled with a strong smell of medicine for several days, and the atmosphere was so somber that it was almost suffocating.
Zhao Gou leaned against the headboard, wearing only a thin white silk robe, his eyes fixed on the military book in his hands, but he didn't turn a single page even after half an hour.
These neat characters, however, transformed into vivid images in Zhao Gou's eyes: sometimes Qin Zhen and he were bickering and arguing, sometimes the two of them were engrossed in studying, and then the scene shifted to only the surging Yellow River...
Whenever his mind was filled with images of the river, he could only close his eyes tightly and try to convince himself that Qin Zhen was still alive somewhere in the world, and that he just hadn't found her yet!
"Your Highness."
Zhao Yong pushed open the door and entered the room. He put down the medicine bowl in his hand, first gave Zhao Gou an extra piece of clothing, and then delivered the medicine to him.
Zhao Gou glanced at the medicine bowl with annoyance and said coldly, "I'm not sick, take it away."
As usual, Zhao Gou refused to take his medicine today. Zhao Yong did not try to persuade him as he had in the past, but instead withdrew the medicine directly, because he already knew that Zhao Gou's illness was not physical, but mental.
Since failing to meet Qin Zhen in Daming Prefecture as expected, Zhao Gou had been distracted. While everyone was pondering how to persuade him to prioritize state affairs, Zhao Gou calmly issued the order to advance. However, a few days later, he fell ill on the road, and this remains the case.
Looking at Zhao Gou's cold profile, Zhao Yong felt a pang of sorrow. He had watched this child grow up, and he had been by Zhao Gou's side ever since Zhao Yong entered the palace as a guard. Zhao Gou was very sensible on important matters, but perhaps too sensible, which ultimately caused him distress.
Before meeting Qin Zhen, Zhao Gou was low-key and patient. He was well aware of the power dynamics in the palace. Without a strong background, he could only constantly endure and make concessions, trying his best to provide himself and his mother with an easy living environment.
However, Qin Zhen's appearance disrupted this pattern. Zhao Gou always unconsciously wanted to compete with Qin Zhen, which gradually revealed his hidden abilities. Moreover, Qin Zhen made him realize that concessions were not enough, and only by taking the initiative could he achieve true victory.
Unbeknownst to him, Qin Zhen had become the driving force behind his actions, but now that driving force had suddenly disappeared... Zhao Gou knew that he would encounter setbacks on his way to Liao, but he never expected that the first blow he would suffer would be the loss of Qin Zhen. He chuckled to himself, thinking that Heaven really knew how to strike people down most effectively.
Seeing that Zhao Gou was growing increasingly haggard due to his mental illness, Zhao Yong comforted him, saying, "Your Highness, the court has already sent people along the route to search for him. Please put your mind at ease."
Zhao Gou said defiantly, "I have not worried about this matter. Tell the officials that I am in good health and do not need to recuperate in Nanjing for so long. Arrange for me to depart for Zhongjing as soon as possible."
"Yes." Zhao Yong reluctantly withdrew. Although he was worried about Zhao Gou's health, given the overall situation, Zhao Gou had simply made the right choice.
Zhao Gou closed his eyes, exhausted, and leaned against the headboard, trying to ignore the faint pain in his heart.
"snort!"
The spoiled humming reached Zhao Gou's ears. Zhao Gou suddenly opened his eyes, quickly scanned his surroundings, and then lay back down on the bed with a wry smile.
"He's even starting to hallucinate. He must be really quite ill," Zhao Gou thought.
"Why……"
The familiar voice rang out again. Zhao Gou threw off the covers and hurried out of bed, rushing to check each window, but he still couldn't find the figure he longed for.
He stood disappointed by the window, his fingers digging into the wooden frame, his head bowed and eyes downcast. It was just a fantasy after all; there was no one else in the courtyard.
As he had just hurried off the bed, the outer robe that Zhao Yong had put on him earlier fell to the side of the bed. A delicate hand picked up the robe and walked over to Zhao Gou, who was only wearing a single garment, and gently draped the robe over his body.
Zhao Gou trembled, quickly pulling his hand back from the window frame and grabbing the hand on his shoulder, but he hesitated to turn around.
"Ouch...it hurts..."
Qin Zhen, gripped by Zhao Gou in unbearable pain, couldn't help but cry out. Upon hearing that sound again, Zhao Gou's lips twitched, and finally, he laughed.
"It's you... I didn't hear wrong, I didn't hear wrong..."
"Yes, yes!" Qin Zhen angrily shook Zhao Gou's hand, but she couldn't shake it off no matter what she did, which forced Zhao Gou to turn around and look at Qin Zhen.
Qin Zhen rolled her eyes at him, annoyed, and said, "Girl, you really are a cheapskate. No one will care if you die!"
"No, I have been looking for you!" Zhao Gou retorted.
"I wonder who just told Brother Zhao Yong that they didn't take this matter to heart!"
Zhao Gou was speechless after Qin Zhen's sharp retort. He lowered his head in guilt and bit his pale lips until they were bloody.
"sorry."
Qin Zhen was only joking to break the somber atmosphere, but she didn't expect Zhao Gou to actually feel guilty. When Qin Zhen secretly sneaked into the embassy, especially when she saw Zhao Gou's pale and sickly appearance, she had already put aside any previous grudges and would never really blame Zhao Gou.
"Go back to bed now. Springtime in the north is quite chilly. Do you think this is Bianjing?"
Zhao Gou was pushed back to bed by Qin Zhen, but he held Qin Zhen's hand tightly and refused to let go.
"Are you...are you really alright?" he asked, looking Qin Zhen up and down as if afraid she might have lost an arm or a leg.
Qin Zhen laughed and said, "Who am I? How could anything happen to me? Don't worry, I just drank a few more mouthfuls of water and swallowed a few more grains of sand."
Zhao Gou smiled with relief. Although Qin Zhen's words were simple, he felt heartbroken that she had suffered so much.
"I heard about you in Tangyin before, so I immediately went to Daming Prefecture to find you as the news said, but I couldn't find you. I thought the villagers had lied to me, and then I didn't know where to look for you."
“They didn’t lie to you. I was indeed rescued by Yue’s mother and son in Tangyin, but I ran into a little trouble on the way and missed you.”
Zhao Gou stared intently at Qin Zhen, as if afraid she would disappear at any moment. As he watched, he suddenly noticed something different about Qin Zhen…
"Why are you dressed like this?"
Qin Zhen glanced back at her clothes, then awkwardly touched her hair and said, "I had no choice, let me tell you..."
She had snuck out of the Prince of Wei's residence today, and was forced to dress up this morning out of sheer desperation. Her attire was extremely luxurious; although it was just a simple purple jacket with a white shimmering brocade skirt, the fabric was of exceptionally high quality, easily recognizable at a glance.
Moreover, her hairstyle was that of Liao Dynasty women, with several thin braids adorned with colorful silk ribbons hanging down her shoulders, appearing and disappearing among her long, flowing hair. If she were to walk down the street looking like this, the other Song Dynasty officials accompanying her would probably not dare to recognize her.
After listening to Qin Zhen recount her experiences after their separation, including her relationships with Yue Fei and Yelü Huan, Zhao Gou said with some surprise, "Princess Mingzhen? What if someone finds out you're acting so recklessly?"
Qin Zhen said nonchalantly, "Don't be afraid. If something really happens, my sixth senior brother will definitely save me!"
She spoke so naturally and confidently, yet it made Zhao Gou feel a pang of unease. Why was it that whenever she was in danger, it wasn't him who saved her?
Unaware of Zhao Gou's hidden thoughts, Qin Zhen hurriedly said, "I should go back now. If I don't go back soon, I'm afraid my elder brother won't be able to hold on."
Zhao Gou was somewhat reluctant, but Qin Zhen had already told him about his plans, so he could only say, "Be careful and contact me anytime."
Qin Zhen nodded and was about to go out through the back window when he turned back and pointed to the bowl of medicine on the table: "Remember to take your medicine. Next time I see you, you can't be as weak as you are today."
Zhao Gou felt a warmth in his heart and nodded vigorously. He would take good care of his health and work hard to become stronger. He vowed in his heart that he must become strong enough to protect her!
Volume Two: Eagle Soars Through the Sky 060 Seeing the Military Seal Makes Me Uneasy
Hurriedly returning to the Prince of Wei's residence, Qin Zhen nimbly slipped back into her own quarters. Fortunately, her lightness skill was quite good, and she didn't disturb anyone.
Yue Fei had been pacing anxiously under the eaves until Qin Zhen poked his head out of the house and called to him, at which point he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"You're finally back! Several groups of people have come, and I've used up all the excuses I could think of. If you hadn't come back, I wouldn't have known what to say!"
Seeing the embarrassment on his face, Qin Zhen secretly laughed to herself. The number of lies Yue Fei told today was probably more than all his previous lies combined. He must have really had a hard time.
"Thank you, brother! Who came? Is there anything important?"
Yue Fei walked into Qin Zhen's room and pointed to a pile of items on the table, saying, "These were all sent by your grandfather, as were the things over there."
Qin Zhen fiddled with her long braid, then walked around the piles of clothes and jewelry with a sigh. So many good things were wasted here.
The Liao Kingdom is now in a state of misery and turmoil, and only the royal family can live such a comfortable life. But how long can this life last?
Qin Zhen frowned as he fiddled with the jewelry, then heard Yue Fei say, "The maid from Princess De's side has also come by, saying that Princess De would like to invite you to dinner tonight."
Princess of De?