The prince is more stable

Chapter 657 Returning in vain
The three women were a little awkward when they first met.

Yelü Nanxian's thought process seemed to be on a completely different level from that of Di Ying and the other woman, making Di Ying's visit today seem more like a joke.

Originally, Di Ying planned to give Yelü Nanxian a hard time. As Zhao Xiaoqian's wife, she would arrogantly give the concubine a spiritual baptism, and teach her about the princes and the rules. Isn't this what all the wives of noble families should do?

Why is the style completely different when it comes to her?

The Liao princess before her seemed to think differently from others, and even her relationship with Zhao Xiaoqian was beyond Di Ying's expectations.

She's a prisoner, not a concubine. How can she act so arrogantly afterward? The girl is pitiful enough. If Di Ying were to act like the wife of the principal wife and lecture her, what's the difference between that and kicking a cripple's only remaining good leg?

孽 孽!
Therefore, the kind-hearted Di Ying decided that the community's warmth delivery service must be carried out effectively today.

“Her Highness’s residence is rather simple. My husband is too careless and busy with important military and state affairs. Li Qingchen is also unreliable. Such a humble dwelling is really not befitting of Her Highness’s status…”

“Well then, I’ll give the order right away to find Her Highness a new residence in the city, at least a five-courtyard house, and also to increase the number of stewards, maids, and servants. We must make sure Her Highness is well taken care of,” Di Ying said with a smile.

Yelü Nanxian shook her head: "No need. I am a prisoner of the Song Kingdom and do not deserve such treatment. Princess Consort, please do not waste your money on me."

"Yes, yes," Di Ying said with a smile. "Your Highness is of noble status, and no amount of courtesy is too much. If Your Highness has any other requests, please tell me, and I will certainly do it for you."

Yelü Nanxian blinked and asked, "Can it really be done?"

"It's possible. It can be done throughout the entire Song Dynasty," Di Ying solemnly promised.

Yelü Nanxian thought for a moment and said, "Could the Princess Consort sever your husband's lustful thoughts towards me?"

Di Ying's pupils dilated in shock: "???"

The baby inside Niao Niao's belly kicked violently: "???"

Yelü Nanxian patiently explained, "Your husband, the Prince of Zhao, always stares at me with lustful eyes, harboring improper intentions towards me. He often flirts with me like a lecherous rogue. He is too strong and has 100,000 elite soldiers under his command. I'm afraid I can't resist him..."

Seeing that Di Ying's face turned greenish and her breathing became more rapid, Yelü Nanxian cautiously asked, "Princess Consort... can you handle your man?"

Di Ying took a deep breath, but the bluish-green color on her face wouldn't go away.

Niao Niao turned her head, cupping her bulging belly in her hands, her shoulders shrugging as if she had a stitch in her side.

After a long silence, Di Ying spat out three words through gritted teeth: "...Can handle it!"

Yelü Nanxian breathed a sigh of relief, revealing a rare smile of relief and liberation. This smile was like the first melting of ice and snow, bringing spring to the world, and the light in the front hall became brighter.

"Thank you, Princess Consort. I only wish to be a peaceful prisoner of the Song Kingdom, not a woman of the Prince of Zhao."

“…Okay, I promise you’ll be a prisoner for life,” Di Ying said through gritted teeth.

Yelü Nanxian frowned: "???"

Is that a kind remark?
Regardless, Yelü Nanxian found chatting with Di Ying very pleasant. Although the princess seemed fierce, she was actually very easy to talk to. Yelü Nanxian felt like she had met a relative, and she felt very comfortable.

Yelü Nanxian then turned her head and looked at the palace maid beside her with reproach.

"Who said the Princess Consort came with ill intentions? Isn't she very reasonable?"

The palace maid lowered her head and sighed.

Please, just pretend I'm dead.

The conversation couldn't go on any longer; Di Ying felt she should kowtow and apologize to the Liao princess if they continued talking.

What a terrible thing that scoundrel did!
Without hesitation, Di Ying helped up Niao Niao, who was laughing uncontrollably. Her face was ashen, and she gritted her teeth as she took her leave.

Yelü Nanxian got up to see the guests off, but as soon as she stood up, a dull thud came from the ground. The three of them looked down and saw a small flower hoe lying quietly on the ground.

Yelü Nanxian was also quite surprised. She bent down and picked up the small hoe, saying without changing her expression, "Don't be afraid. This is for self-defense. It makes perfect sense, doesn't it?"

After saying that, he calmly put the small hoe back into his belt.

Di Ying's expression froze, and Niao Niao, who was standing to the side, finally couldn't hold back and burst into laughter, laughing so hard that she was doubled over and staggered.

"No, I can't take it anymore... Goodbye, hahaha, goodbye..." Niao Niao rushed out first.

Yelü Nanxian seemed to have finally grasped the ways of the world, and actually personally saw Di Ying and the other two women out the door.

On the bustling street, Di Ying stood at the door of Yelü Nanxian's house, bowed respectfully to Yelü Nanxian, apologized, and turned away with a livid face.

They originally intended to visit Yelü Nanxian to cause trouble and give him a hard time.

Who could have predicted that, just before leaving, the Princess Consort would have to bow and apologize to Yelü Nanxian? Life is truly full of surprises.

Niao Niao was still laughing, her hands cradling her large belly as she laughed unrestrainedly. Her gait resembled a long, crooked worm, and Di Ying had to use all her strength to support her. "Sister, sister... hahahaha, I can't take it anymore, my stomach hurts, quickly find a doctor to prescribe medicine to help me with the pregnancy, hahahaha..." Niao Niao laughed so hard she was shaking.

Di Ying gritted her teeth and helped Niao Niao onto the carriage, instructing the driver to head to the clinic in the city.

Looking at Niao Niao laughing so hard she was practically oblivious to everything, and thinking about everything that had happened that day, Di Ying felt like crying.

Because of that jerk, she eventually had to apologize to him, and in the end, she even had to take Niao Niao to get medicine to prevent miscarriage...

She had never been so disheveled in her life.

In the end, she silently bore all of it.

Now, Di Ying's only wish is to kill her husband and prove her Dao.

…………

Hejian Mansion.

Zhao Xiaoqian, who was sitting in the main hall of the government office, suddenly felt an itch in his nose. He grimaced for a while, and then a sneeze reverberated throughout the hall, like a tiger roaring in the forest, causing all the beasts to tremble in fear.

Xu Jiang and Zhong Jianzhong, who were standing nearby, showed concern. Xu Jiang said with concern, "Zi'an, although it is now summer, the weather is still unpredictable, with sudden changes in temperature day and night. You must take care of your health. Ten thousand soldiers cannot be without their commander."

Zhao Xiaoqian rubbed his nose and said, "It's nothing. I don't think the sneeze was related to my body. I think I was caught in some kind of mysterious metaphysical ritual..."

Zhao Xiaoqian gestured with his chin, indicating for Zhong Jianzhong to continue.

Zhong Jianzhong said, "Hejian Prefecture has been under attack for several days. Order has been restored in the city. The bodies of the innocent civilians who died when the city was captured have been properly disposed of. Now the shops in the city have gradually opened. Of course, there are still a small number of shops that dare not open, and most people do not dare to go out on the streets."

Zhao Xiaoqian nodded and said, "Winning people's hearts is a long process, let's take it slowly. Later, I will submit a memorial to the court, asking the emperor to grant Hejian Prefecture some tax reduction policies. At the same time, the government and the garrison should strictly restrain their behavior and not allow any more incidents of harassing and oppressing the people to occur."

Zhong Jianzhong added, "Furthermore, according to reports from scouts, the Liao Kingdom has mobilized more than 200,000 Liao troops in Shangjing, and they are currently assembling in Shangjing. They will soon march to the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun. Clearly, the Liao Emperor will not abandon Yanyun and intends to fight our army to the death."

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled: "It is indeed a life-or-death struggle. These more than 200,000 Liao soldiers should be the last hope of the Liao Kingdom. If we annihilate them, the Liao Kingdom will have no power to fight back. The unification of China by our Great Song Emperor will be just around the corner."

The people in the hall immediately showed excitement.

From the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period to the present, the Song Dynasty originally only occupied half of China's territory and could not be considered a unified dynasty. To put it bluntly, the Song Dynasty could only be considered a local separatist regime.

Who could have imagined that a century after its founding, the Song Dynasty would have the strength to unify the country, and that the dawn of final victory was just around the corner?

Ten years ago, none of the people present would have dared to do something so extravagant.

Xu Jiang slowly said, "Zi'an, do you mean that after our army captures Hejian Prefecture, our 100,000 soldiers should remain stationary and wait for the Liao army of over 200,000 to attack? Wouldn't that be too passive?"

Zhao Xiaoqian nodded and said, "I feel that the Liao emperor may have other ideas, so there's no need to rush. The Liao state should be the one in a hurry now."

"Other thoughts?"

"Yes, we should prepare for both war and peace negotiations. The Liao Kingdom is now in decline and its weakness is becoming increasingly apparent. The Liao emperor may not have the courage to fight against our Great Song to the end, and there should be other voices in the court."

Xu Jiang's eyes flashed: "Zi'an means that the Liao Kingdom might take the initiative to negotiate peace, giving up the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun in exchange for a truce between the two countries?"

Zhao Xiaoqian looked at him and smiled, "If you were the Liao Emperor, would you dare to gamble your remaining 200,000 troops on the fate of the nation?"

Xu Jiang paused for a moment, then shook his head with a wry smile: "I don't have that much courage. After weighing the pros and cons, negotiating peace and maintaining a partial peace might be the only way to prolong the life of the country."

Zhao Xiaoqian nodded and said, "Therefore, the Liao emperor must be in even greater agony, filled with resentment yet powerless to do anything. If he still has any sense, I believe he will eventually choose to send envoys to negotiate peace."

"If the Liao emperor wishes to negotiate peace, what choice will Zi'an make?"

"Of course I'd agree! I'm not stupid. Who would refuse a victory in recapturing Yan and Yun without bloodshed and with fewer casualties?"

"But after the peace talks, the Song and Liao countries signed a peace treaty, ending the war forever. Our Great Song has no reason to send a royal army to destroy Liao anymore. What should we do?" General Xu pressed.

Zhao Xiaoqian sighed.

Although the top scholar was erudite and exceptionally talented, he was still too concerned with morality and too proud to let go of his pride.

"Mr. Chongyuan, between nations, what matters is strength and advantages, not the so-called spirit of contracts. After recovering Yan and Yun, our Great Song Dynasty can once again accumulate strength and easily find an excuse to continue the war against Liao. It's that simple, for example, if one of our soldiers goes missing within Liao territory..."

Xu Jiang was taken aback, but immediately understood the meaning behind Zhao Xiaoqian's words. His expression became complicated, revealing his inner struggle between morality and national achievements.

Zhong Jianzhong laughed: "Your Highness's words are very much to my liking. That's right, we have strong fists, and we can fight whenever we want. How can a piece of waste paper like a peace treaty bind us?"

Zhao Xiaoqian gave him an approving thumbs-up: "You understand me!"

(End of this chapter)