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

Chapter 354 Little Mirror Lake (Seeking monthly votes)
“Let’s go to Xiaojing Lake in Xinyang,” Zhao Ti said calmly. “Wanqing and Ling’er don’t know about Azi’s situation and are unaware of its dangers, so we can’t have the Prince of Zhennan take her directly to Xingzhou.”

"Your Highness, but..." A hint of surprise appeared on A'Zhu's face, but there was also a hint of hesitation.

“You’ve never met your parents before, so this is a good opportunity for you to meet them. Whether you acknowledge them or not is up to you, but if you acknowledge Azi in person at Xiaojing Lake, it won’t be right for you to deny Duan Zhengchun and Ruan Xingzhu,” Zhao Ti said.

“This servant…” A’Zhu’s eyelashes drooped, a hint of sadness in her expression.

“But if you really don’t want to acknowledge them both yet, it’s not impossible to acknowledge Azi separately later,” Zhao Ti said. “However, I still think it’s best not to acknowledge her as your sister first, otherwise it may bring endless troubles.”

“Your Highness, my sister is so pitiful…” A’Zhu said, bowing her head.

"Is she pitiful? But her personality has already been formed, and it's too late to change it now." Zhao Ti said slowly, "As for what to do with her, should I scare her and make her go back to Dali with the Prince of Zhennan, or should I take this troublesome girl to Xingzhou and discipline her strictly? We'll decide when we get there."

Azhu looked up, her eyes sparkling: "This servant will obey Your Highness's will, so I will not acknowledge my sister for now."

Zhao Ti glanced at her: "That's for the best. Otherwise, she's best at using others' power and influence to make a big deal out of things, then causing trouble everywhere, hurting people and things, and she never learns from her mistakes."

“Your Highness, but Your Highness has military matters to attend to at the moment. How can you go to the Central Plains?” A’Zhu said, “Please do not delay military and political affairs because of my family matters. If that happens, I will be guilty of a thousand deaths. I will not leave the military headquarters with Your Highness.”

“It’s alright.” Zhao Ti waved his hand and said, “There is an opening right now. It is said that we will launch a surprise attack on several major cities in the northwest of the grasslands. How can we send troops there immediately? We must make proper plans and arrangements. Let Zhe Keshi and the others revise the plan before we proceed. I can’t do everything myself. After the matter at Xiaojing Lake is settled, we can come back and check if there are any errors in the plan before we take military action.”

A'Zhu said, "It's always my family affairs that cause Your Highness trouble and worry..."

Zhao Ti smiled and said, "What does it have to do with you? Duan Zhengchun doesn't even know you exist. No matter how much you do or how much you sacrifice for Azi and the Duan family behind their backs, no one will know."

"This servant, this servant..." A'Zhu said softly, hesitating to speak.

"The Prince of Zhennan only used this scheme against me because of Wanqing and Ling'er. After all, Azi is their sister, a very close relative, so it's hard for them to refuse. As for me... well, hehe." Zhao Ti looked displeased.

“Yes, since they are the sisters of the two princesses, how could Your Highness refuse?” A’Zhu gently shook Zhao Ti’s clothes and said softly, “Sister Wan’er also said in her letter that the Prince of Zhennan was worried that Your Highness would refuse, so he asked her and Sister Ling’er to persuade him.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ti looked at A Zhu, shook his head, and laughed, "That's exactly the kind of scheme they have. They can't control their own daughter, so they try every means to get her into my care. It's truly a ridiculous situation!"

A'Zhu said, "Then Your Highness..."

Zhao Ti said, "After we finish eating, I will write a letter to Wanqing, explaining the whole story of Azi, so that she and Ling'er can be fully informed. Then we can head directly from Junzhou to the Central Plains."

A'Zhu said, "Your Highness, I'm sorry to trouble you. It is Your Highness who should take care of the Duan family's affairs."

Zhao Ti thought for a moment and said, "To be on the safe side, I won't reveal your identity to Wanqing and Ling'er for now. Let's talk about it when the time is right."

A'Zhu said, "I will obey Your Highness."

Zhao Ti said, "Since you're listening to me, then let's eat. I don't want to see my head maid looking so worried and thin from hunger."

A'Zhu laughed and said, "Isn't it alright if this servant eats it?"

After the two finished their meal, they rested separately. The next morning, Zhao Ti held another meeting in the hall, gave some instructions, and then, around noon, led A Zhu, Zhou Tong, Wei Hanchen, and a dozen others out of the city, heading southeast.

This time, Zhao Ti did not bring Kumārajīva. Wulahai needed someone skilled in magic to oversee things, and Huo Linglong alone was not enough.

Huo Linglong is usually busy training the Dragon Elephant Army. Now all 10,000 members of the Dragon Elephant Army have entered the sect and have mastered the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill. Most of them are at the first level, while a few with extremely high talent have already reached the second level.

It can be said that, with an equal number of troops, in a head-on confrontation, no army can defeat the Dragon Elephant Army.

Even if their numbers are two or three times greater than the Dragon Elephant Army, the Dragon Elephant Army still has a very high probability of winning.

Zhao Ti valued this team highly. Huo Linglong led them to a secluded spot outside the city to train diligently, leaving them little time for military affairs in the city. Therefore, he left Kumārajīva in the military headquarters to deal with matters involving gods and ghosts.

The group left the city and headed towards the Central Plains. As the season grew warmer, the landscape became increasingly prosperous.

However, because of the war in the north, which involved the Yan-Yun war, the people along the way had heard about it and their expressions were somewhat heavy.

Unlike previous dynasties, the Song Dynasty popularized education, built schools, and taught people to read and write. As a result, the common people paid more attention to politics, observed the imperial and local announcements, and learned a lot about military affairs and battles.

The checks in various places were also more stringent than before, precisely to prevent the Khitan from infiltrating with spies, taking the opportunity to sabotage, and causing unrest among the people.

To avoid trouble, Zhao Ti did not enter any cities along the way, but camped out in the open, traveling at dawn and resting at dusk.

This would save a lot of time, since he was worried that Duan Zhengchun might not receive a reply from Mu Wanqing and might take Azi directly to Xingzhou on his own initiative, which would be troublesome.

Ruan Xingzhu lived in a place called Xiaojinghu, which was located more than 20 miles northwest of Xinyang City. Opposite it was a mountain called Yunwang. The lake and the mountain reflected each other, the temperature was pleasant, and the scenery was very beautiful.

The group traveled for an unknown number of days until they arrived at Xinyang City. However, they did not enter the city but instead left the official road and headed west.

Along the way, one can see verdant mountains and fields, fragrant flowers and grasses, and birdsong and the scent of blossoms—it is the best time of year.

Zhao Ti rode his horse, admiring the scenery as he went. Just then, Wei Hanchen returned with his men who had scouted ahead. He approached and said, "Young master, we've found the place. Little Mirror Lake is only five or six miles away. We'll arrive in a short while."

Zhao Ti asked, "Is there anything unusual?"

Wei Hanchen's lips twitched: "There is indeed something strange there. The place is nestled against the mountains and beside the lake, with beautiful scenery, like a fairyland. However, the several rows of pavilions and houses built along the lake are badly damaged and look quite out of place."

"Oh?" Zhao Ti asked, "The houses by the lake are destroyed? How are they destroyed?"

Wei Han said in a deep voice, "It seems to have been burned by fire and then rescued. Half of the ruins are blackened and it's a terrible sight."

Zhao Ti nodded: "Is there anything else that's different from normal?"

Wei Han said in a deep voice, "I saw someone patrolling in front of the house from afar, seemingly on guard against something. The person leading the patrol looked familiar, like Chu Wanli, a retainer of the Prince of Zhennan of Dali, but because the distance was too far, I couldn't be sure."

Zhao Ti laughed and said, "That's it. Since the Prince of Zhennan is here, it must be Chu Wanli. As for what to guard against... who else can we guard against besides Azi?"

He looked at A'Zhu and said, "A'Zi burned down all the houses here. It seems she has a very unpleasant relationship with her mother." A'Zhu asked, "Young master, could it really have been my sister who did it?"

Zhao Ti nodded and said, "There's no need for interrogation. It must be her. She burned down the Jade Void Temple where the Princess of Zhennan was practicing in Dali, and now she's burning down the lakeside houses. The methods are exactly the same. How could she be wrong?"

Azhu said, "My sister is really... really too immature."

Zhao Ti sneered, "This can't be explained by ignorance. Let's go and see what kind of trouble they're up to, that they actually made Chu Wanli lead people on patrol and guard duty in broad daylight."

As they continued forward, the group came into view after a while and saw a series of beautiful hills with a clear and beautiful lake at their foot.

The small lake has a mirror-like surface with gentle ripples, reflecting light and sparkling, making it look like a piece of jade mirror laid on the ground.

On the opposite bank of the small lake, there is a pavilion built over the water, behind which are several rows of exquisite houses. Unfortunately, half of the houses are burned and destroyed, leaving a blackened area that greatly spoils the landscape.

In front of those houses, people were patrolling back and forth, their demeanor extremely cautious.

Zhao Ti nodded: "It's Chu Wanli and the others, let's go over there."

“Young Master…” A’Zhu whispered from the side.

Zhao Ti glanced at her, gently took her slender hand, and smiled, "As the saying goes, one becomes timid when near home. It's inevitable to feel flustered and nervous when you see your parents and sister whom you've never met before."

Azhu nodded vigorously, her usual mischievous and clever expression vanishing, replaced by an unprecedented fragility and helplessness.

"It's alright. We won't be recognizing each other right now, and they won't know it's you. Besides, I'm here with you. There's nothing to worry about or be afraid of," Zhao Ti said, shaking his head.

"I understand..." A'Zhu took a breath, her beautiful face slightly pale: "Then, let's go now."

Zhao Ti smiled and said, "Let's go."

As the group walked around the lake and approached the houses by the lake, Chu Wanli rubbed his eyes, ran over with a look of surprise, and bowed, saying, "Why has Your Highness come in person?"

Zhao Ti said, "Let's still call you Young Master. Where is the Prince of Zhennan?"

Chu Wanli said, "I'm talking to my wife in the room. I'll go and inform her to welcome... young master."

Zhao Ti said, "Don't reveal my identity, and Ruan Xingzhu shouldn't know either."

Chu Wanli said, "I understand!"

After saying that, he turned and left, while Zhao Ti and the others continued on their way.

Just as they approached the lakeside houses, Duan Zhengchun hurriedly walked out of one of the rooms, looking quite embarrassed. He said, "Young Master, why did you come in person? I am so sorry to trouble you. I have no face to face you."

Zhao Ti reached out to the side, and A'Zhu handed him a gilded folding fan. He took it, tapped his palm, and said calmly, "The Prince of Zhennan used a trick to escape, giving me a big problem. If I don't come here in person, how can I solve it?"

Duan Zhengchun's face was grim, and he pounded his chest and sighed, "Young Master, Azi, Azi... Alas, what a misfortune for our family, what a misfortune for our family."

Zhao Ti said calmly, "It is the father's fault for not teaching his son properly, which is why our family has suffered such misfortune."

Duan Zhengchun sighed again: "What you say is true, sir. I naturally bear the primary responsibility."

Just as Zhao Ti was about to say a few more words to him, a woman came out of the house behind them.

The woman wore a light green fitted long dress that accentuated her slender waist. Her large, dark eyes sparkled like stars, their gentle movements seeming to speak volumes.

She had a half-smile on her lips, but her eyes were full of laughter. She was charming and lively, and her face was extremely beautiful. Although she looked older than her age, she gave people the feeling of a young girl in terms of both figure and expression.

“Young master, this is… Xingzhu, who is Azi’s mother,” Duan Zhengchun hurriedly introduced.

Ruan Xingzhu performed a deep curtsy and said, "Ruan Xingzhu greets the young master and pays her respects."

Zhao Ti said, "Madam, you are too polite."

Ruan Xingzhu then stood up and immediately saw A'Zhu behind Zhao Ti. She was stunned and couldn't take her eyes off her.

A'Zhu's heart pounded with panic. She quickly lowered her head and moved to the side, hiding her entire body behind Zhao Ti.

Ruan Xingzhu said, "Young master, please forgive my rudeness, but may I ask who this young lady is...?"

Duan Zhengchun had actually seen A'Zhu earlier and felt a vague sense of familiarity, but he didn't want to ask about it. However, for some reason, Ruan Xingzhu suddenly spoke up, and he immediately said, "Sister Zhu, you..."

Ruan Xingzhu also felt she had been impolite and quickly said, "This humble woman only thought this young lady looked familiar, so I spoke rashly. Please forgive me, sir."

Zhao Ti smiled and said, "It's alright. This is my personal maid, named Yu'er. It's impossible for Madam Ruan to say that she is familiar with her. Yu'er has never been to Xinyang before and has always lived with me in Tokyo."

A'Zhu remained motionless and silent behind Zhao Ti, afraid that if she opened her mouth, the two would recognize her.

Ruan Xingzhu was stunned upon hearing this: "I see. I was mistaken. Please forgive me, sir."

Zhao Ti laughed and said, "It's nothing, it's nothing."

Duan Zhengchun hurriedly said, "Young master, please come inside for tea..."

Before he could finish speaking, a loud "boom" suddenly came from a house not far away, with grass and trees flying everywhere, dust billowing, and a large hole appearing in the roof.

Then a slender figure in purple leaped out of the room and landed steadily on the roof like a swallow.

The slender figure in purple stood with her hands on her hips amidst the dust and smoke, her voice clear and melodious as she shouted, "Trying to trap me? Dream on! You think locking the door will work? I'll come out from above!"

(End of this chapter)