The Song Dynasty was the king for thirteen years before he knew that he was Tianlong.

Chapter 324 Midnight (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Upon hearing Zhong Ling's words, Zhao Ti looked at the lightning sable in his hand and said, "Don't go out again tonight, or you'll make your master anxious."

The lightning ferret seemed to understand, nodding its head repeatedly with its two little paws clasped together.

Zhao Ti thought for a moment, then walked into the courtyard. A few moments later, he raised his hand and gently knocked on the door.

The figure inside paused slightly, and Zhong Ling asked with a hint of doubt, "Who is it? What brings you here so late?"

Zhao Ti coughed lightly: "Ling'er, it's me."

Upon hearing this, Zhong Ling exclaimed with delight, "Your Highness, what brings you here?"

Then light footsteps sounded, and a moment later they reached the door, which creaked open.

Zhao Ti shook the lightning ferret in his hand and said, "This little thing was wandering around outside, causing trouble. I caught it and brought it back to you, Ling'er."

The lightning ferret struggled in Zhao Ti's hand, squeaking twice as if it were arguing, but no one could understand it.

Zhong Ling blushed slightly, reached out and took the Lightning Sable, gently stroking it twice: "Sable, sable, you have to be good from now on, and you can't run around anymore."

The lightning ferret cried out again, waving its little paws at Zhao Ti.

Zhao Ti narrowed his eyes, and it was so frightened that it slipped out of Zhong Ling's grasp and darted into the house.

Zhong Ling blinked and whispered, "Your Highness, would you like to come in for tea?"

"Have some tea..." Zhao Ti turned around to look at the night sky. The moon was rising higher and higher, and it was already very close to midnight.

"It seems a bit late." Zhong Ling lowered her head. "Drinking tea at this time doesn't seem appropriate..."

“It’s alright.” Zhao Ti shook his head: “I’ll just have tea anyway, I can’t sleep anyway.”

As he stepped into the house, Zhong Ling looked delighted: "Then I'll go and make tea for Your Highness."

Zhao Ti smiled and said, "A small pot will suffice; we can't drink too much."

Zhong Ling responded and moved gracefully to a room on the side to tend to the fire.

Zhao Ti walked to the flower hall and saw that the decorations were very warm and inviting. In addition to the tea table, there was also a writing desk with writing brushes, ink, and Xuan paper, as well as some colorful paints.

Is this a painting? Curious, he went over and indeed saw an unfinished painting depicting camellias in Dali, blooming all over the mountains and fields, a riot of colors, like a world of flowers.

Although the brushwork is still somewhat raw, it reveals a genuine emotion in the painting, unlike some paintings that are deliberately crafted and full of artifice.

He sat behind his desk and flipped through the books again, finding some primers and storybooks. He picked one up at random and began to read it.

A moment later, Zhong Ling entered the flower hall carrying a small pot. Seeing Zhao Ti sitting behind the desk, she said shyly, "Your Highness, have you seen my painting?"

Zhao Ti looked at her shy and charming appearance and couldn't help but laugh, "The painting is very good, it really shows your true feelings, it's much better than some of the paintings by other artists."

Zhong Ling filled the teacup, placed the small teapot on the tea rack, and then came to the table: "Your Highness, my painting is only so-so. Sister Lan'er's painting is truly excellent. The orchids are just like the real ones, so lifelike."

"Lan'er can paint? Has she studied painting before?" Zhao Ti raised his eyebrows. He really didn't know that Lan Jian could paint.

"Neither of us knew how to draw originally; it was Sister A'Zhu who taught us. But Sister Lan'er is more talented than me; even Sister A'Zhu admires her skill after she finished drawing it," Zhong Ling said.

“It’s A’Zhu…” Zhao Ti smiled. A’Zhu was indeed skilled in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, and the art of disguise also required a foundation in painting. He wondered if she was asleep or not, or if she was practicing her skills.
“Yes, Your Highness.” Zhong Ling nodded. “Sister A’Zhu knows a lot, but I haven’t seen her these past few days. She’s probably busy practicing.”

“Practicing martial arts is good…” Zhao Ti nodded. Even if the people around him couldn’t help him, they should at least be able to protect themselves.

Mu Wanqing has the Kinnara lineage, A Zhu has the Gandharva lineage, and Wang Yuyan need not worry either, as Xiaoyaozi will surely impart all his knowledge to her.

Zhong Ling and Lan Jian, however, do not possess any special self-defense skills. It seems that I will need to find some suitable martial arts techniques to pass on to them in the future.

He glanced at the unfinished camellia painting on the table and asked, "Ling'er, are you homesick?"

Zhong Ling said, "Ling'er doesn't miss Dali too much. After all, Sister Wan'er is here, and Father and Mother are familiar with His Highness. In Ling'er's heart, they are all family. However, Sister Lan'er seems to miss Tianshan a bit."

"Does Lan'er miss Tianshan?" Zhao Ti pondered for a moment: "I remember she once wrote a letter to Tianshan."

Zhong Ling said, "She did write it, but Lingjiu Palace hasn't replied to her yet, and she seems rather depressed whenever the matter is brought up."

"You haven't returned to Lingjiu Palace?" Zhao Ti thought for a moment. It seemed that Tong Lao was still somewhat resentful about what happened last time.

It's understandable, though. He captured and imprisoned her, occupied Lingjiu Palace, interrogated her about her cultivation techniques, and finally coerced her to go south with him. It would be abnormal if he didn't harbor any resentment.

Although Lan Jian followed him away, nominally it was because he, the leader of the Xiaoyao Sect, had taken him away, it was in fact tantamount to betraying Lingjiu Palace.

As for Lan Jian's three sisters, they were probably also ordered by Tong Lao not to reply to her letters, and even to never have any contact with Lan Jian again. Zhao Ti stroked his chin. Tong Lao didn't dare to openly oppose him, so she could only resist passively, but it was a bit unfair to Lan Jian.

Whether or not one betrays Lingjiu Palace depends on one's perspective. If one sides with oneself, then it is right and correct. Conversely, if Lingjiu Palace goes against one's wishes, then it is naturally wrong.

It seems that Granny Tong is getting a little itchy; I'll have to go to Lingjiu Palace when I have time and give her a good talking-to.

Zhao Ti got up and walked towards the tea table, saying as he went, "When I see Lan'er, I will tell her that I will write to Tianshan to inquire, and when I have time, I will take her back to Lingjiu Palace for a visit."

"That would be wonderful," Zhong Ling said. "I've already told Sister Lan'er, and she'll be overjoyed."

Zhao Ti picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "When I went to Dali before, the Prince of Zhennan said he was going to the Central Plains on business. I wonder if he will come to the Northwest for a visit."

"Is Father going to the Central Plains?" Zhong Ling asked, puzzled. "I wonder what he's going there for."

Zhao Ti took another sip of tea but didn't say anything. Duan Zhengchun was going to Xiaojing Lake in Xinyang to find Ruan Xingzhu and see if Azi was there. Naturally, he couldn't tell Zhong Ling this.

“But the Central Plains and Xingzhou are not close, so they probably won’t come, right?” Zhong Ling continued.

Zhao Ti said, "If Ling'er also misses her family, she can write a letter to her mother and ask her to come and visit. She can stay in the city and see her often."

"Really?" Zhong Ling couldn't help but show her delight upon hearing this: "I'll write to my mother to ask if she's coming to the Northwest."

Zhao Ti nodded, finished his tea, and Zhong Ling filled his cup again. He smiled and said, "I'm a little tired, but I don't want to leave."

"Ah?" Upon hearing this, Zhong Ling's cheeks flushed. She lowered her head, her delicate embroidered shoes pressed together, and stammered, "Your Highness..."

Zhao Ti grabbed her hand, feeling its soft, warm texture against his palm. With a gentle pull, he drew her into his arms.

Zhong Ling was like a kitten, not daring to move an inch, her eyes closed, her long eyelashes trembling slightly.

Zhao Ti gently stroked her, the soft, fragrant skin causing Zhong Ling's body to tremble. She whispered, as if in a daze, "Your Highness, Ling'er, Ling'er..."

“I’m not going anywhere…” Zhao Ti got up, picked up Zhong Ling and walked towards the bed inside, only to see the Lightning Sable standing on the edge of the bed, looking at him curiously.

He pondered for a moment, then gently placed Zhong Ling on the couch. He then reached out and grabbed the lightning sable by the scruff of its neck, and walked straight to the window.

Reaching the window, he determined the direction, then tossed the sable fur coat far away, before flicking his sleeve to close the window tightly...

A few breaths later, the ferret landed at the edge of the garden, looked at the gray rat it had just caught, and then looked back at the distant courtyard, looking completely bewildered.

Why are you back again? Didn't we just say we weren't allowed to go out at night?
The sable's eyes darted around, a look of confusion on its face, as it fell into deep doubt about its owner...

The Mid-Autumn Festival arrived in the blink of an eye, and Xingzhou City was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, creating a lively atmosphere.

Although the Western Xia also celebrated this festival, it was not as lively as that of the Song Dynasty.

Although the cultural traditions of the Tanguts were influenced by the Central Plains to some extent, and many traditional Han festivals were also celebrated in the Western Xia, the ethnic groups here were too diverse to be valued as much as in the Central Plains.

However, things were different at this moment. After the Song Dynasty recovered the Hequ region, Zhao Xu left behind many officials, including those from various departments of the Ministry of Rites, who were determined to promote and spread the etiquette traditions of the Central Plains in Hequ.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a major festival, and these officials have spared no effort in promoting it since taking office. The previous Qixi Festival (Double Seventh Festival) had already created a wave of enthusiasm, and they even held a poetry gathering, inviting scholars from all ethnic groups to participate.

Although no poetry gathering was held this time, the government paid for red and green silk to wrap the trees and set up a stage in a prominent place in the city for the performance of variety shows. The liveliness was even comparable to some places in the Central Plains.

A stage was also set up inside the palace. No one practiced martial arts that day. Zhao Ti gathered everyone together to eat small moon dumplings and have a reunion dinner. After dark, they offered sacrifices to the moon and admired it together.

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the weather gradually turned cold. Xingzhou's first snow came earlier than Tokyo's. Just as October began, goose feathers began to fall from the sky.

Meanwhile, news arrived from the court that the Liao Kingdom had begun to make unusual moves, tentatively advancing into Daizhou in Hedong Road, as well as Xiongzhou and Bazhou in Hebei Road.

This is extremely strange, because since ancient times, even when war has broken out, there has been a truce during this season, in order to wait for the long, harsh winter to pass.

Starting a war in winter involves too many variables. Regardless of victory or defeat, it would be a Pyrrhic victory, resulting in a significant increase in military expenditures and a multiplied casualty rate compared to normal times.

Therefore, unless the Liao Kingdom had lost its mind, it would not have chosen to take action in winter.

At this moment, Zhao Ti was looking at Zhao Xu's letter in front of the stove. It was not an imperial edict, but a secret letter.

After reading it, he remained silent for a long time before starting to mobilize troops, drawing some soldiers from various prefectures, including Longyou, to gather in Xingqing Prefecture.

As orders were issued and left Xingzhou, things began to move quickly in various places.

Five days later, before all the troops had arrived, Zhao Ti mustered 30,000 soldiers and led 10,000 Dragon Elephant Army troops straight to the Weifu Military Command in the Black Mountain to the north.

(End of this chapter)