Chapter 17

By the Cai River, there was a lush meadow. At this moment, Zhao Fukin was running while holding the string of her kite, and amidst the spring breeze, one could still hear her laughter like silver bells.

"Brother Ling, look, my kite is flying so high!"

Zhao Fukin was really happy, and only when she was with Zhao Yougong, the rascal, could she play without any reservations. Whether it was because the wind was too strong or because Zhao Fukin's laughter had made the heavens jealous, the thin string suddenly snapped, and the poor kite flew farther and farther away. Watching the kite gradually turn into a black dot, Zhao Fukin's face tightened with anger, but Zhao Yougong laughed happily.

"Ha ha, Fourth Sister, now there's nothing to play with, let's go back?"

"Hey, Brother Ling, you're so annoying!" Zhao Fukin squatted down, picked up a piece of grass, and threw it at Zhao Yougong without even looking. Although it hit Zhao Yougong's forehead, Zhao Fukin was still not calmed down. She ran over and pushed Zhao Yougong's shoulder, pouting and saying, "Quick, go chase it!"

"Chase? Fourth Sister, you want me to chase the kite?"

"Yes, unless you want to chase people instead of the kite, hurry up, if we can't find the kite, no one is allowed to go back!"

At Zhao Fukin's command, Prince Zhao and his lackeys all put on bitter faces. They knew it was a laborious task, but they had no choice but to follow orders. Fortunately, Zhao Yougong was used to showing off, so he could let his lackeys do the chasing.

Little San, Little Cheng, and the others panted as they crossed the Cai River, while Zhao Yougong strolled slowly with Zhao Fukin. In fact, Zhao Yougong could sense that Zhao Fukin did not want to return to the palace, and chasing the kite was just a way to pass the time.

"Brother Ling, I don't want to go back to the palace, can you help me find a place?"

Zhao Yougong didn't even think before he said, "Xie Fanglou!"

"You, Brother Ling, you really make me angry!" Zhao Fukin was really angry, her face flushed, her big eyes wide open, and her cute eyelashes fluttering, "Do you know any other place besides Xie Fanglou and De Yue Lou?"

"Sure, Chu Wangfu!"

Zhao Fukin immediately lost her temper. It seemed that Brother Ling was really a bit stupid. Going to Chu Wangfu would be like walking into a trap.

Seeing Zhao Fukin walk forward alone with a somewhat dejected look, Zhao Yougong felt a bit sorry for her. He caught up and asked in a low voice, "Fourth Sister, why don't you want to go back to the palace? Can you tell me? Maybe I can help you."

"Brother Ling, you can't help!"

"How can you know I can't help if you don't tell me?"

Hearing Zhao Yougong say this, Zhao Fukin felt a bit happier, regardless of the outcome. Although Brother Ling was foolish and dissolute, he was really good to her. In the palace, who among her father and siblings truly cared for her?

Finding a clean spot, Zhao Fukin curled her legs and sat down. She rested her chin and gazed at the distant scenery, "Brother Ling, you don't know, after this year, I will be given in marriage!"

"To whom?"

"To Cai Xiang's fifth son, Cai Zhen!"

"Him? How can that be? That guy is proficient in drinking, gambling, and whoring, no different from me. Absolutely not!"

In fact, Zhao Yougong was deeply shocked. This late Northern Song was already unrecognizable, with many differences from the late Song he knew. He thought Zhao Fukin could avoid marrying Cai Zhen, but in this different late Song, the fate could not be avoided. Marrying Cai Zhen would mean her life would follow the same path.

In this world, although the Liao Empire was weakening, it was still strong. More importantly, in this world, the Jurchens were developing more rapidly, meaning the fall of Bianliang was inevitable. Even if the Jurchens didn't come, the Song Empire couldn't resist the Liao's iron hooves. Once Bianliang fell, what fate would await Zhao Fukin? With her beauty, she would likely become a plaything for the nobles.

Of course, Zhao Fukin couldn't know that Zhao Yougong had thought so much in such a short time. She saw Zhao Yougong squatting on the grass, waving his hands like a monkey, and laughed. Her laughter was like a hundred flowers blooming, overwhelming everything. She stretched out her finger and giggled, "Brother Ling, you shouldn't talk like that, saying he's as bad as you? Ha ha, it seems you know your own bad reputation!"

"Fourth Sister, you're still laughing. My bad reputation won't harm you, but Cai Zhen's behavior will definitely not be good for you!" Zhao Yougong said seriously, and at that moment, even Zhao Fukin was a bit taken aback. When had she ever seen Brother Ling so serious?

Brother Ling's reputation was indeed bad, but he was good to her. If he wasn't good to her, why would he say such things?

In fact, Zhao Fukin was very innocent. Perhaps in her eyes, there were only good and bad people. Was Zhao Yougong really as she thought? Of course not. All his actions were to win Zhao Fukin's favor, to use her for some purposes in the future. Zhao Yougong was very calculating, and he was using Zhao Fukin. This might be unfair to the innocent Zhao Fukin, but was there true fairness in the world? At least he, Zhao Yougong, would never deliberately harm Zhao Fukin.

"Hehe, Brother Ling, don't be angry, I won't laugh anymore. Everyone knows what you're saying, but who can defy Father's will? Alas, I know you're trying to help me, but you really can't do much about this."

"Why be so discouraged, Fourth Sister? After the flower queen contest, watch me deal with Cai Zhen!"

Hearing Zhao Yougong's bold words, Zhao Fukin was startled. She sat up straight and said urgently, "Brother Ling, what are you going to do? Don't cause trouble, the Cai family is not someone you can deal with!"

Although not interested in politics, Zhao Fukin still knew a bit. Without an uncle, the Chu Wangfu had no support. As a powerless prince, Zhao Yougong could not oppose the Cai family.

"Where are you going with your thoughts? Would I cause trouble?"

"Hmph, if you don't cause trouble, you wouldn't be you!"

"...... Uh, Fourth Sister, you really know how to打击人 (discourage people). Let's go, or it will be noon!"

Saying this, Zhao Yougong got up, patted the grass off his buttocks, and swaggered toward the Zhuque Gate. As for the poor kite, he left it to his lackeys and the guards to chase. Zhao Fukin quickly got up and followed, walking beside him and tilting her head, smiling, "Where are you going, Brother Ling?"

Patting the paper in his chest, Zhao Yougong laughed without any restraint, "Xie Fanglou!"

"You, beyond saving!" She waved her hand, and the two parted ways. Zhao Yougong didn't know where Zhao Fukin went, but she definitely didn't return to the palace.

It was noon, and Zhao Yougong was very hungry. Entering Xie Fanglou, he went straight upstairs. Most people in the building knew that this young prince was a key supporter of Nian Nu's bid for the flower queen, so no one stopped him. Pushing the door open, a fragrant breeze greeted him. Zhao Yougong squinted and enjoyed it before looking around the room. At that moment, Xiao Tan was holding a red-tasseled spear, and Nian Nu was unfastening her chainmail armor.

Seeing Zhao Yougong, Nian Nu gave him a coquettish, reproachful look, but the look lacked killing power and was quite charming.

Xiao Tan coughed a bit unhappily. How could the young prince just walk in without knocking? Even the most frivolous person would at least pretend to be polite.

Living for so long, Zhao Yougong had long forgotten what a face was. He smiled awkwardly and took out a stack of paper from his chest, trying to please her, "Nian Nu, look, this is the new poetry I just got from the students at the Imperial Academy, pick some!"

"Prince, you've worked hard, but there's no need to look at these poems!" Nian Nu pursed her lips and drew a beautiful circle on her forehead with her finger.

Zhao Yougong looked puzzled, and before he could ask, Xiao Tan, holding the red-tasseled spear, whispered in his ear, "Prince, Sister Cui has already found suitable poems!"

"Ah?" Prince Zhao immediately became agitated. He took a step back, puffed out his chest, and shouted, "Why didn't you say so earlier? For these poems, I spent nearly 1,500 guan!"

Nian Nu sneered inwardly. Pretend, keep pretending, but you're really good at it. As if to match Zhao Yougong, Nian Nu pouted, folded her hands on her stomach, and said in a resentful tone, "Prince, you're so annoying. You didn't tell me where you were going to buy the poems from the Imperial Academy."

Xiao Tan also had a look that said, "Obviously, the young prince is the one who's enthusiastic, and now he's blaming others for his wasted money."

Seeing the coquettish beauty, Zhao Yougong couldn't say anything. Sigh, meeting Nian Nu, the versatile enchantress, really left him speechless.

"Hmph, I'm unlucky, but who wrote the poem? Was it Old He or Old Zhou?" The two old men Zhao Yougong mentioned were Zhou Bangyan and He Zhu.

Nian Nu didn't answer immediately. She walked around the table and lightly came to Zhao Yougong's front. Her cherry lips opened, and her breath was fragrant, "Prince, do you really want to know?"

"Um!"

"Hehe, the poem was written by me, isn't that impressive?"

Nian Nu's smile was like a blooming flower, but Zhao Yougong's heart was already racing, and his brows subtly furrowed. Of course, Xiao Tan didn't see this, but it didn't escape Nian Nu's eyes.

"Really? That's great!"

"Prince, you're so funny, of course it's not true. I don't have that kind of talent. The 'Ding Feng Bo' was given to me by someone else."

Nian Nu turned lightly, leaving her smooth back to Zhao Yougong.

At that moment, countless thoughts flashed through Zhao Yougong's mind, all about Nian Nu. Was this a joke she made unintentionally, or had she already seen through something?