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

Chapter 335 Always uphold the faith of holding onto the pillar, why climb the Waiting-for-Husband Terrace?

After a while, bowls, plates, and dishes were placed on the large table.

A pot of mutton, a pot of vegetable soup, a plate of chicken breast, and several steaming hot flatbreads on another plate.

Yuan Xiaoxian took a bite of the steamed bun and then drank a small sip of the vegetable soup, her expression one of utter satisfaction.

Zhao Ti sat behind the table, squinting his eyes, quietly watching Yuan Xiaoxian eat and drink.

"Husband, why aren't you eating?" Yuan Xiaoxian said indistinctly, her mouth stuffed full of steamed buns.

"I..." Zhao Ti shook his head, no longer in the mood to eat, and still hadn't figured out a way to settle the other party.

It wouldn't be good to kill or imprison them, but there's nowhere to send them, and they can't just stay in his tent like this.

As for Yuan Xiaoxian's identity as a princess of the Liao Kingdom, he was not afraid that the military generals and the court would find out.

The saying goes that when two countries are at war, envoys are not to be killed, let alone princesses. Even if a country is destroyed, princesses and princes are usually taken to the capital as hostages.

Moreover, since its founding, the Song Dynasty had always practiced giving nominal but ineffective official positions to captured members of the royal families of enemy states and supporting them. This was also the case with the royal captives of Western Xia and Qinghai, and the Liao Dynasty would naturally be no exception.

As for the preferential treatment Yuan Xiaoxian received here, he didn't care if the court found out. Back then, the poem "Green Jade Table on the Lantern Festival" was widely circulated, and all the ministers knew about the Lantern Festival market. Even Zhao Xu knew about it and had once asked him about it with a smile.

We just can't let those scheming bigwigs treat this as entertainment, then embellish it and pass it around, who knows what kind of story it will become.

"Husband, you...you should eat something." Yuan Xiaoxian said softly, "It would be impolite for me to eat if you don't eat, so...maybe I'll feed you?"

As she spoke, her face flushed, and she was about to get up and go to Zhao Ti's side.

Seeing this, Zhao Ti reached out and grabbed a steamed bun, saying casually, "I'll eat it."

Yuan Xiaoxian showed a slight look of disappointment, but then smiled and said, "My mother said that once you get married, you should take good care of your husband. That is the virtue of a woman. Only when your husband is happy can you fulfill your responsibility as a wife."

Zhao Ti glanced at her and said, "Princess Cheng'an, I am not your husband, and you are not married. At this time, our two countries are at war, and as a princess of Liao, you are a prisoner of our Great Song."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Xiaoxian blinked and shook her head vigorously: "No, no, I remember you as my husband in my heart, there is no mistake. Even if the two countries are at war now, I will definitely marry my husband before the war."

Zhao Ti sneered, "You say you only remember things from your childhood, and you also say you remember me. You only recognized me three years ago, not when I was a child. The contradiction is obvious. Princess Cheng'an, are you going to continue pretending?"

"When my hair first covered my forehead, I played with flowers in front of the door. My love rode a bamboo horse and played with green plums around the bed. We lived together in Changgan, two little ones without suspicion." Yuan Xiaoxian put down her spoon, rested her chin on her hands, looked at Zhao Ti, and murmured.

"At fourteen I became your wife, my face never showing a smile. I bowed my head to the dark wall, a thousand calls went unanswered. At fifteen I finally smiled, willing to become dust and ashes with you. I always held onto my faith in the pillar, never climbing the Waiting-for-Husband Terrace. At sixteen you went on a long journey..."

“Princess Cheng’an.” Zhao Ti put the steamed bun back on the plate, his face grim, and said, “I told you, I only met you three years ago. Where did this childhood sweetheart come from? If you have amnesia, how can you remember things from when you were an adult!”

"Perhaps my husband has left such a deep impression on me that even if I forget everything else, I will never forget him," Yuan Xiaoxian said softly.

Zhao Ti remained expressionless for a long time before asking, "What is the last thing you remember experiencing?"

Yuan Xiaoxian said, "It was springtime when I was nine years old. The sky was cloudless and the sun was shining brightly. I was flying a kite in the garden. It was a swallow kite, which the envoy had bought back from Tokyo in the Song Dynasty. It was painted in color and flew very high. I could barely hold on to it and was pulled forward. I was so happy, so very happy..."

Zhao Ti said, "You don't remember anything after that?"

Yuan Xiaoxian nodded: "That's right. Apart from... apart from my husband, I've forgotten everything else. I'm really only nine years old."

Zhao Ti said coldly, "Princess Cheng'an, you are already nineteen years old. Don't mention nine years old anymore. After you finish eating, think carefully about where you want to go. I will send someone to take you there."

Yuan Xiaoxian was stunned and said, "Husband, I am only nine years old, where can I go? Besides, if you drive me away, it is the same as divorcing me. The world is so big, where can I find a place to stay? I can't even go back to my parents' home..."

As she spoke, her eyes reddened, and she murmured, "At fifteen, I finally smiled, willing to be dust and ashes with you, always keeping my faith in you, how could I climb the Waiting-for-Husband Terrace? I have only death to atone for my sins to my husband."

Zhao Ti's face twitched, and without saying a word, he stood up and walked out of the tent.

The snow was still falling outside, but it was already evening. Winter days are dark early, but the snow made the distance look like a vast expanse of white, with a hint of bright white amidst the twilight.

He stood with his hands behind his back, snowflakes falling, and silkworms slipped out of his collar to play. In a moment, he was covered in white snow.

"Husband, my lord..." Yuan Xiaoxian's voice came out as the tent door opened slightly.

Zhao Ti slowly moved his body and looked back. He saw a pair of eyes as clear as water, staring at him expectantly.

He turned around and went back towards the tent flap. The little silkworm darted back into the collar with a "whoosh" and disappeared.

Upon entering the room, he looked at Yuan Xiaoxian and said, "I'll arrange a tent for the princess. Please go and rest there."

Yuan Xiaoxian immediately looked panicked: "Husband, I won't go. I don't want to sleep alone. I want to stay with you."

Zhao Ti looked at her for a few moments: "Men and women should not touch each other; this would damage the princess's reputation."

Yuan Xiaoxian shook her head desperately: "I, I always had maids with me before. I'm afraid to sleep alone. I, I'm scared."

Zhao Ti remained silent for a long time before saying, "Then let's set up another bed in this tent for the princess to rest on."

Yuan Xiaoxian's bright eyes sparkled: "Husband, why don't you sleep in the same bed with me? Shouldn't husband and wife share the same bed?"

Zhao Ti said calmly, "But I am not the princess's husband. It is inappropriate for us to even share a room, let alone sleep in the same bed."

He then went outside the tent and ordered the soldiers to bring materials to build beds inside the main tent.

Yuan Xiaoxian looked at the tent flap, gently bit her lip, and murmured softly in a childlike voice, "That's right, that's right..."

After a while, the bed was set up. Behind the curtain, opposite Zhao Ti's bed, there was a new quilt and a large sheepskin rug.

Zhao Ti looked at it and said, "Let's make the bed."

"Oh." Yuan Xiaoxian responded, walked over slowly, and began to lay out the sheepskin rug, but she did it crookedly. Then she opened the quilt without tidying the edges and placed it directly on the rug.

Zhao Ti frowned: "How come you don't even know how to make a bed?"

Yuan Xiaoxian whispered, "I've never done that before."

Zhao Ti sneered: "Whether you were handling intelligence in Tokyo or hunting on the grasslands, no one served you. Wasn't that something you did yourself?"

Yuan Xiaoxian looked at Zhao Ti: "What are you saying, husband? I don't know, I've forgotten everything, I'm only nine years old..."

Zhao Ti snorted, went over and tidied the bedding, then said, "Go to sleep."

Yuan Xiaoxian said, "I, I..."

Zhao Ti asked, "What is it now?"

Yuan Xiaoxian's eyes suddenly lit up: "I want to hear a story." Zhao Ti looked at her for a few moments: "If you don't sleep, throw you out and walk back to the capital by yourself."

Yuan Xiaoxian's expression darkened: "Husband, I'm going to sleep now."

As she spoke, she sat down on the edge of the couch, took off her little leather boots and socks, revealing her snow-white and delicate feet. She was only wearing a moon-white undershirt, and sat on the mattress with her hands embracing her knees.

Zhao Ti said, "What are you doing? Lie down now, I'm turning off the lights."

"Oh..." Yuan Xiaoxian responded, crawled under the covers, covered her face so that only her eyes were visible, and looked at Zhao Ti.

Zhao Ti didn't even glance at her. He raised his hand and flicked out several finger strikes, extinguishing the lights in the tent. Then he went to bed and closed his eyes.

There was no sound inside the tent, except for the faint whooshing sound of the wind outside. The charcoal stove glowed red, and the surroundings were warm and cozy, without a trace of cold.

"Husband..." After a while, Yuan Xiaoxian asked softly, "Are you asleep?"

Zhao Ti ignored her and turned away. Yuan Xiaoxian called out again, but Zhao Ti still didn't speak. She then muttered something under her breath and then fell silent.

I don't know how much time passed, but the wind and snow outside seemed to get stronger, banging against the tent with a "bang bang" sound. The firelight in the charcoal brazier inside gradually dimmed, and the temperature dropped a bit.

Then came a rustling sound, followed by the sound of blankets being pulled back and people getting out of bed. Zhao Ti said calmly, "What are you doing?"

"I, I'm scared..." Yuan Xiaoxian ran barefoot to Zhao Ti's side, then climbed onto the bed and slipped into Zhao Ti's quilt in a flash.

In the darkness, their eyes met, and Yuan Xiaoxian's gaze revealed nervousness, panic, and shyness.

"I...I'm really scared..." Yuan Xiaoxian said softly.

Zhao Ti remained silent, then felt a warm body suddenly squeeze in and hug him tightly.

He swallowed hard and said in a deep voice, "Go to sleep."

"Mmm..." Yuan Xiaoxian nodded vigorously and hugged him tightly again.

"Husband..." After a moment, Yuan Xiaoxian suddenly asked in a low voice, "Wh-what is that?"

Zhao Ti was silent for a few moments, then said, "Take your hand away and go to sleep!"

“Okay…” Yuan Xiaoxian responded, continued to hug Zhao Ti, and then closed her eyes.

The next morning, Zhao Ti removed Yuan Xiaoxian from his arms, then looked at the top of the tent and fell into deep thought.

After getting up and washing up, he returned to his tent and saw that Yuan Xiaoxian was already sitting up, rubbing her sleepy eyes, looking at him and saying, "Husband, my body hurts so much, I don't know what happened last night..."

Zhao Ti's face darkened, and he interrupted her, saying, "Get up and tidy up, then eat."

After breakfast, the generals came over to report on the military situation as usual. Zhao Ti told Yuan Xiaoxian to stay behind and not come out. If she dared to come out again, she would be thrown out of the camp.

Yuan Xiaoxian agreed, and Zhao Ti gave her another instruction before she went to sit down at the front desk.

A moment later, the generals entered in turn and reported on the major and minor events. Just then, a messenger entered from outside: "Your Highness, the supplies from Wulahai City have arrived."

Zhao Ti nodded upon hearing this, stood up, and said, "Follow me to see."

Then they walked out of the main tent together and headed south. The camp of 80,000 to 90,000 people was very large, with two gates, one in the north and one in the south. The north gate faced the Mie River.

Upon reaching the south gate, they saw approximately several thousand soldiers escorting several hundred carriages, each carriage fully loaded with goods and covered with burlap.

"Your Highness, what is this?" Zhe Keshi asked in confusion.

“Father, I know what it is,” Zhe Yanzhi said.

Zhao Ti smiled and said, "Tell me about it."

Zhe Yanzhi said, "This must be ice. His Highness has long ordered Wulahai to speed up the excavation of the Yellow River ice, saying that it was to be transported here."

Zhao Ti asked, "What are you doing bringing ice here?"

Zhe Yanzhi pondered for a moment, then his eyes lit up: "Your Highness intends to use ice towers to attack the city?"

Zhao Ti nodded: "You guessed right. The city of Miechuan is not high or steep, so building towers to attack it is the best way."

At this moment, Zhou Tong, who was escorting the ice cart, stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, all of these ice pieces were carved exactly according to the blueprints Your Highness sent back, with no difference in quantity or shape."

Zhao Ti said, "That's good, let's open it and take a look."

Zhe Yanzhi walked quickly to the front of the cart, lifted the burlap on top, and saw that the cart was covered with ice, but it was not transparent. There were some straw or similar things frozen inside, so it looked rough and the surface felt rather unsmooth.

These ice blocks appear neat at first glance, but upon closer inspection, many have unusual shapes, with angular protrusions and other irregularities.

"This is..." Zhe Yanzhi looked at it for a long time, then asked in bewilderment, "Your Highness, how come these come in all sorts of shapes? How are they supposed to be stacked together?"

Zhao Ti smiled and said, "Let me think about it some more."

Yao Youzhong suddenly exclaimed from the side, "Could it be like making wooden furniture, where the raised edges can be combined and wedged together to directly form a tower?"

“That’s for sure!” Zhe Yanzhi also said, “This way, not only is it time-saving and labor-saving, but it also won’t collapse when piled up. Just like building a wooden house, it’s sturdy and reliable when it’s all interlocked.”

Zhao Ti said, "It can't be compared to the complexity of a wooden building. It's just that the iceberg won't fall off, and it's stable enough for military purposes."

The generals had now understood, and they all showed expressions of amazement, exclaiming in unison, "Your Highness's ideas are ingenious and your plans are unparalleled! The Mi'e River will be captured in no time!"

Zhao Ti nodded: "Now that the goods have been transported here, we will advance under cover today. There are still seven days until the New Year. We should try to take this city within seven days."

Zhe Yanzhi said excitedly, "Mi'e River is not a formidable pass. With this, we will surely capture it within three to five days."

Zhao Ti said, "Don't underestimate the enemy. The city won't just sit idly by and wait to die. General Zhe, let's make the arrangements now."

Zhe Keshi clasped his hands in agreement and then began to deploy troops. Zhao Ti returned to his command tent with his hands behind his back.

In the following days, the army, under the cover of crossbow cavalry, gradually advanced in front of Miachuan City and built ice towers.

It's called a tower, but it's actually like another city wall. The top is flat and has shelters where troops can be stationed. Moreover, because the ice blocks were already carved out, there are roads for vehicles to travel on, so ballistae can be transported up there.

At first, the city of Miechuan did not know what the Song army was up to. By the time they realized that the Song army was harassing the city, it was already too late. The Song army set up various obstacles under the city and desperately covered the city. Three days later, the ice tower was completed and began to move gradually from the back to the front.

On the fifth day, as the distance drew ever closer, the ballistae and crossbows fired indiscriminately from the tower, and with a deafening roar, half of the southern city wall of Miachuan Castle collapsed...

(End of this chapter)