Chapter 66

Standing outside the Zhu family’s gate, Zhao Yougong, for once, put on a bit of a refined air. Although he was there to extort money, it was better to be a bit more elegant, after all, Zhu Guina was the Deputy Commander of the Hall of Ceremonial Guards.

“Head Constable Ma, knock on the door, don’t lose your manners, we are the officials of the Kaifeng Prefecture!”

“Ah, Your Highness, rest assured, we won’t lose our manners, we won’t disgrace you!”

Ma Rulong talked well, but his actions were far from refined. He raised his big fist and pounded on the door, shouting, “Is anyone home? This is the Kaifeng Prefecture inspection, come quickly!”

After a long while, an old servant finally opened the door. Seeing a group of fierce-looking officials standing at the door, the old servant’s legs trembled with fear.

“T-this... this official, what is it?”

“You old man, are you blind? The official is right there, can’t you see? That’s the new Prefect of Kaifeng, the Prince of Yongning!”

The old servant was even more flustered and hurriedly bowed, “This humble servant greets the Prince...”

“Uh, old man, don’t be afraid. Today, I am here to tell you one thing: tear down the western wall as soon as possible!”

“Tear down the wall?” The old man’s eyes clouded with confusion. What was Prince Zhao Xiao up to? The wall was fine, why tear it down?

“Didn’t you hear me clearly? I said tear down the wall. Your Zhu family’s wall takes up three inches of the street. Everyone else’s walls are neat and tidy, but yours protrude by three inches!”

“...”

The old servant was speechless. What three inches? Wasn’t this nonsense? The others just moved their walls back a bit to plant some trees in front. The Zhu family didn’t do that; they just planted the trees inside the wall. How did it become the Zhu family encroaching on the street in the Prince’s mouth?

The old servant, lacking education, didn’t know how to argue. After his face trembled for a while, he finally replied with some resentment, “This... this humble servant can’t decide. Can we wait for my master to return and discuss it?”

“Hmm, that’s fine. You go to the Hall of Ceremonial Guards first, I’ll wait inside!”

Zhao Yougong didn’t hesitate. After signaling the five brave warriors to guard outside, he walked into the Zhu family’s gate. The old servant had no choice but to grudgingly send someone to the Hall of Ceremonial Guards.

Despite his low rank, Zhu Guina’s residence was grand and elegant. The front courtyard was spacious, with a small training ground in the middle. A few weeping willows stood by the path, and to the west, there was a small archway. Even before reaching it, a faint fragrance of peonies could be smelled.

The Zhu family, indeed, lived up to their reputation, being very wealthy. If he didn’t take the opportunity to extort more, he would be doing himself a disservice.

Zhao Yougong had no interest in the main hall. With Zhu Guina not around, what was the point of sitting alone in the hall? He might as well take a walk in the garden. As he walked, the old servant followed closely. After a few steps, Zhao Yougong turned back helplessly, “Old man, I’m just taking a walk in the garden, why are you following me?”

In fact, Zhao Yougong was really speechless. If it were a maid, it would be fine, but an old man following him made him uncomfortable.

“Uh... Your Highness, do as you please. If you need anything, just call, I’ll be waiting in the front hall!”

“Alright, go away. Really, you have no sense at all!”

After a few complaints, Zhao Yougong entered the garden on his own. He knew the Zhu family’s garden wouldn’t be small, but when he saw the vast artificial lake, he couldn’t help but admire it. The lake was surrounded by a latticed walkway, with an elegant pavilion in the middle. A path of green stones wound around the lake, lined with flower beds. Climbing ivy and morning glories covered the walls. Peonies, roses, and cockscombs bloomed in competition, and butterflies danced in the breeze. Such a beautiful scene, how could one not be captivated?

Envy and jealousy filled his heart. A small deputy commander’s residence was far better than his own princely mansion. This was a kind of sorrow.

In other dynasties, a minister’s residence being more magnificent than a prince’s would be considered a breach of protocol, and the court could easily punish them for it. But in Emperor Huizong’s reign, no one cared about such things. The current emperor was still competing with Wang Fu and others to build mansions, so who cared about breaches of protocol?

The spring breeze had long faded, and the coolness was gone. Only the warm breeze remained, signaling the approach of summer. Would people’s hearts also become agitated?

Leaning against a spruce tree, Zhao Yougong gazed intently at the pavilion in the middle of the lake. A woman was bending over, painting. She was so focused that she didn’t even notice someone had entered the garden.

The woman’s face was delicate, her skin like congealed fat. Her purple gauze robe was perfectly fitting. The gentle breeze made the gauze flutter, like a fairy in the wind. Her eyebrows were like mountains, her hair as black as ink, elegantly tied into a bun, with a peacock feather hairpin hanging a string of white jade beads.

Was the woman extremely beautiful? Perhaps not, but her气质 was outstanding. Her every movement was graceful, as if she didn’t belong to this world.

A woman who seemed to have no connection with the mundane world, her beauty couldn’t be described in words. Only by seeing her could one understand what attraction truly meant.

Zhao Yougong thought of someone, Zhao Yaqi from the future. This woman was so similar to Zhao Yaqi. Neither of them was breathtakingly beautiful, but standing in front of them, one couldn’t help but be captivated and unwilling to harm them.

Was she Zhu Lian? The strong woman who defended the dignity of the Song Dynasty with her life.

Once living in the heavens, in a palace of pearls and jade; now living in the wilderness, with tears wetting her blue robe. Humiliated and disgraced, how can this hatred be avenged? Vowing to return to the underworld, this sorrow can be ended.

What kind of woman could write such verses? Looking at her, Zhao Yougong’s heart stirred. It was only because of admiration and respect, not a hint of lust.

“The capital has fallen, I cannot sacrifice myself for the state.” The words echoed in his ears. Zhao Yougong saw a woman in a white dress, ready to face death with dignity.

If someone thought these words should be passed down through the ages, Zhao Yougong would find it tragic. When the glory of the Song Dynasty needed to be defended by a woman’s death, all the men of the Song should die, and the corrupt Song Dynasty should fall.

What a noble and elegant woman. If she still had to marry Emperor Huizong, her fate would remain unchanged. The corrupt Bianliang could not withstand the iron hooves of the Jurchens, and this noble woman would still be subjected to the “sheep-herding ceremony.”

He had known many women in his life, but how many had truly moved his heart? For Ying Ruonuo, he felt respect; for Wan’er, he felt gratitude. But for Zhu Lian, what did he feel?

Even Zhao Yougong couldn’t understand why his heart was beating so fast. Looking at her, he wanted to embrace her and protect her for life. If the Jurchens still invaded, he would rise with a sword to break through the darkness, rather than let her bear the last dignity of the Song alone.

Emperor Huizong should die, and Emperor Qinzong even more so. Since they couldn’t protect her, why harm her?

A wave of hatred surged, like a celestial sword cutting through the Milky Way.

Zhu Lian was focused on her painting, but for some reason, her hand trembled, and the ink splashed, ruining the painting. Why did she feel a strange stirring in her heart, as if something was disturbing her?

Turning her head, Zhu Lian was entranced. She saw a man standing by the lake, tall and handsome, with a face like jade. He was very elegant, but what Zhu Lian cared about was not that. The man’s eyes were complex and sharp, and in them, she saw compassion, cruelty, pity, pain, love, and slaughter.

What kind of eyes were these, and what had he experienced?

Zhao Yougong was a realist. Since Zhao Si’s death, he had closed himself off. If he were to believe in love at first sight, he would laugh it off. Was there really such a thing as love at first sight? It was really laughable. Emotions only came from experience.

For Ying Ruonuo, it was the little things in life. For Wan’er, it was the trust formed in life and death.

But for Zhu Lian, it was just a glance.

In that moment, his heart was stirred, and Zhu Lian’s heart burned even more. She wanted to walk over and say something. She understood that look, and she understood the man’s heart.

A rustling sound caught her ear, and Zhao Yougong smiled, his eyes changing to a fiery passion.

Hearing that the Prince of Yongning wanted to tear down the wall, Zhu Guina hurried back. Others might not fear the young prince, but Zhu Guina was truly afraid. In fact, he was really scared because he lacked political acumen and couldn’t see through the court’s complexities. He even thought the emperor’s appointment of Zhao Yougong to the Kaifeng Prefecture was a sign of trust.

If he knew what Zhu Guina was thinking, Zhao Yougong would have laughed out loud.

“Your Highness, why are you here alone? Please come to the hall with me!”

Zhu Guina had already arrived and had seen the deep gaze between his daughter and the prince.

The sudden appearance of her father didn’t affect Zhu Lian’s mood. She took a few steps forward and bowed slightly, “May I ask the gentleman’s name?”

The woman spoke with grace and dignity, direct yet not rude. Her gaze was deep, bold yet gentle.

Zhao Yougong smiled, his eyes filled with passion, “Remember, I am Zhao Yougong.”

Not a prince, not a highness, just a man. This answer was vulgar and domineering, yet full of meaning.

Just a name, but the shock in her heart was indescribable. Zhu Lian stared at the complex man as he slowly walked away. He was the Prince of Yongning, the royal wastrel who had made a name in the capital?

No, it couldn’t be. In that moment, she saw so much. He was not a wastrel. The pity and the domineering nature in his eyes, how could a wastrel possess such qualities?

The early summer breeze blew, and for years she had waited, waiting for a love that would stir her heart. Now, her heart was moved, but the man was so distant.