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The Southern Song had submitted as a vassal to the Jin Empire, with the two sides agreeing to an uncle-nephew relationship. In theory, every time Jin sent an envoy to deliver a state letter, Zhao Gou should have bowed respectfully to receive the edict.
Of course, theory was one thing…practice was another. Over the years, whenever such occasions arose, Zhao Gou had feigned illness and hidden in the palace, sending ministers to perform the rites and receive the Jin envoys’ instructions on his behalf.
Though the Jin side was displeased, Zhao Gou was still an emperor after all, and there wasn’t much they could actually do to him. Thus, this set of conventions had been tacitly accepted. That was why, sensing the tide turning against him, Zhao Gou had immediately thrown Wan Qili under the cart.
Hearing the emperor’s words, Wan Qili’s old face flushed crimson. But since the emperor had spoken, how could he argue?
Han Dingxiao gloated from the side, barely suppressing a smile. “My condolences, Lord Wan.”
Wan Qili’s eyes darted about, and suddenly a smile spread across his face as he addressed Zhao Gou: “Your Majesty, since Young Master Song’s status is so distinguished, and he saved so many princesses and rendered great service to the court, it would hardly seem grand enough if only I knelt before him. As the head of all civil and military officials, I propose leading the entire court in saluting Young Master Song, to express the court’s gratitude. What does Your Majesty think?”
He saw the situation clearly. Jia Sidao and Han Dingxiao had never gotten along with him and would never pass up a chance to kick a man when he was down. With the emperor’s words already spoken, kneeling today was a foregone conclusion.
But he knew very well that as a Minister, a man of his age, kneeling before a young upstart would utterly destroy his reputation and authority. Since that was the case, why not drag everyone down with him? That way, no one could mock him afterward.
“Well…” Zhao Gou had spoken out of anger earlier. Now that he’d calmed down, he was already regretting it. He knew full well the consequences of Wan Qili kneeling…the delicate balance of power in the court that he’d painstakingly maintained over the years would be shattered in an instant.
Both Han Dingxiao and Jia Sidao had factions with deep, tangled roots. If either gained the upper hand, it would threaten the imperial power itself. That was why Zhao Gou needed a mad dog like Wan Qili to help deal with these two massive blocs.
Just as Zhao Gou was regretting his hasty words, Wan Qili’s proposal made his eyes light up. “Very well. You shall lead the officials in thanking Young Master Song on behalf of the court.” *This will also serve as a warning to Jia and Han,* he thought, *and give Song Qingshu face, so he won’t try to extort too much for the Laundry Bureau rescue.*
Zhao Gou responded so quickly that Jia Sidao and Han Dingxiao’s words were choked back before they could speak. Both turned grim. They were used to being at the top…how could they bow before a young junior?
Jia Sidao shot Han Dingxiao a vicious glare, as if blaming him for needlessly provoking Wan Qili and bringing disaster upon everyone.
Han Dingxiao was equally furious. If the emperor weren’t present, he looked ready to pounce and tear Wan Qili to pieces.
The rest of the court glared hatefully at the backs of the three giants. *You three fight among yourselves, and we all have to suffer for it,* they thought. *What did we do to deserve this?*
“Want to make me look bad? Fine…none of you are getting off easy either.” Wan Qili’s gaze swept the room, filled with malice. When it landed on Han Dingxiao and Jia Sidao, a cruel smile twisted his face. “Lord Jia, Lord Han, after you.”
With that, he walked up to Song Qingshu, shot him a venomous glare, then lowered his eyes and said coldly, “Wan Qili, Left Servant of the Imperial Secretariat and concurrently Vice Director of the Chancellery, pays respects to Young Master Song, and thanks him for rescuing the princesses from their suffering.” Titles like “Left Minister” and “Right Minister” were just convenient ways to refer to them…the official designations in formal documents were precisely what he’d just recited.
Knowing that kneeling was inevitable, Wan Qili didn’t hesitate, dropping to his knees crisply. The Right Minister, Zhang Jun, who had always been aligned with him, though furious, had no choice but to kneel as well. With these two leaders kneeling, the officials belonging to their faction followed suit.
About a third of the hall knelt. The rest remained standing, all eyes turning toward Jia Sidao and Han Dingxiao. Instantly, the two of them stood out like sore thumbs.
“What’s this, my lords? Are you unwilling to share the court’s burdens, or are you defying the imperial edict?” Wan Qili’s sardonic voice rang through the hall.
Song Qingshu watched coldly from the sidelines, sneaking a glance at Zhao Gou on the dragon throne. His face was extremely sour. Having been emperor of both Qing and Jin, Song Qingshu instantly understood Zhao Gou’s thoughts.
The court was clearly divided into three factions. Even though the emperor had issued an edict, the officials still instinctively looked to their faction leaders for direction…where did that leave the emperor’s authority?
In an emperor’s eyes, it never mattered whether you were a corrupt official or an incorruptible one, loyal or treacherous…what mattered was whether you threatened imperial power. Clearly, Jia Sidao and Han Dingxiao were now making Zhao Gou feel that very threat.
Jia Sidao and Han Dingxiao also caught Zhao Gou’s expression. Startled, they quickly realized the danger. Having navigated politics for years, their ability to read the emperor’s mind was second to none, and both arrived at the same conclusion.
Compared to saving face, the emperor’s attitude was far more important. Left with no choice, they knelt as well. “Paying respects to Young Master Song.” In their hearts, they simultaneously sent their most colorful curses to every female ancestor of Wan Qili’s for eighteen generations.
“Paying respects to Young Master Song…” Once they yielded, naturally no one in the court held out. One after another, they knelt, their voices echoing through the hall.
Watching the entire civil and military court kneel before him…including several figures famous in history as great traitors and powerful ministers…the moment was surreal and… exquisite. Song Qingshu deliberately let the silence stretch, letting them kneel for a while before speaking: “Rise…ahem, please rise, everyone.”
Having grown accustomed to being emperor of Qing and Jin, he’d almost slipped and said “Rise” in the imperial manner. That would have been embarrassing.
The officials rose awkwardly, the atmosphere in the hall thick with unease.
Zhao Gou cleared his throat, breaking the silence. “May I ask why Song Qing has traveled south in the midst of his busy affairs?” Though Han Dingxiao had already informed him via carrier pigeon of the purpose, the proper procedures still had to be followed.
Song Qingshu smiled slightly. “I have come for two reasons: first, to visit the princesses I rescued earlier; and second, to formally propose marriage.”
At these words, the court erupted in discussion. Only a handful had known in advance. To most, the Golden Serpent Camp and Southern Song were facing off across the river in a tense standoff…war could break out at any moment. They never expected a marriage proposal at such a time. The sharper minds already suspected this was a prelude to peace talks, but most were still confused, all eyes turning to Zhao Gou to see his reaction.
Zhao Gou replied amiably, “Thanks to Song Qing’s righteous deeds, the princesses were able to return home. They’ve spoken highly of you often in my presence…I can tell many of them hold you in great regard. Which princess do you wish to propose to?”
Most of the princesses rescued from the Laundry Bureau were daughters of Emperor Huizong…that is, Zhao Gou’s sisters. Zhao Gou had always valued his reputation for filial piety, yet his own father and elder brother had languished in Jin captivity without him lifting a finger to bring them back, which had already drawn much criticism among the people. Now, with an opportunity to show his concern through these sisters, he naturally appeared attentive.
“Your Majesty, I wish to propose marriage to Princess Chengde and Princess Roufu.” Princess Chengde was Zhao Huer’s title, and Princess Roufu was Zhao Yuanyuan’s. Back in the Jin imperial palace, the two young girls had already shared intimate encounters with Song Qingshu as part of Empress Pei Man’s plan. Though they hadn’t gone all the way, just about everything else had been done…both what should be done and what shouldn’t. The two maidens had invested so much of their hearts that Song Qingshu couldn’t bear to hurt either one. So, though he knew this would cause trouble, he still declared it without hesitation. Better to betray the world than betray a beauty.
As soon as he spoke, the hall erupted like a drop of water hitting hot oil. In any dynasty, marrying one princess was already a blessing of immense fortune…who would dare to ask for two at once?
Zhao Gou frowned as well, instinctively glaring at Han Dingxiao…*why didn’t you tell me this earlier?*
Han Dingxiao also groaned inwardly. When he’d spoken with Song Qingshu before, he’d known there was a proposal in the works, but who’d have thought he planned to marry two princesses? He hadn’t thought to ask, and now such a major oversight had occurred.
Wan Qili, already seething from earlier, seized the chance to strike: “Such audacity! Since when does a man marry two princesses at once? Song, do you realize those very words constitute the crime of lèse-majesté?”
Song Qingshu fixed him with a cold stare. “Wan Qili, watch your tone. Do you want to kneel again?”
Pfft…
Someone in the crowd couldn’t help but laugh. Clearly, watching Wan Qili’s earlier scheming backfire and land him on his knees had been too amusing for some to contain.
Wan Qili’s face turned purple, and for a moment he was speechless.
Song Qingshu continued, “I know it’s against convention to ask for two princesses at once…”
“It’s not just against convention; it’s sheer absurdity,” Han Dingxiao thought bitterly.
“…but our situation is special,” Song Qingshu declared. “In Jin, we faced danger at every step, and the two princesses and I went through so much together. We’ve grown deeply attached to each other…none of us can bear to part from the other two. If I were to choose one over the other, it would only hurt the one left behind. That’s why we’ve already pledged ourselves to each other, vowing to spend our lives together. If Your Majesty doesn’t believe me, you may send someone to ask the two princesses in the palace.”
Zhao Gou could tell from his certainty that this was likely true, and his brows furrowed deeply. What was he to do? Honestly, if it meant peace with the Golden Serpent Camp, he didn’t care whether Song Qingshu married one princess or two. They weren’t *his* daughters after all, and with them constantly pestering him to rescue their father and elder brother, he’d be thrilled to let Song Qingshu take the whole lot of them away and give his ears some peace. Still, the court had to maintain appearances. If they lost all imperial dignity and became a laughingstock among the people, the cost would outweigh the benefits.
Wan Qili seized the opportunity and sneered, “As far as I know, you already have a lawful wife…Zhou Zhiruo, the Emei Sect Leader. And now you come proposing to take princesses as concubines? Do you realize this is the crime of deceiving the sovereign?”