Chapter 7 Princess Xinde
In early summer, the sky is clear, the air is fresh, and the breeze is gentle. The morning glow gradually fades to reveal a clear blue sky. Looking up, the blue sky is light and the clouds are thin. Looking down, the stream is green and the garden is fragrant. Willows are swaying on the green bank, and ripples are dotted on the riverside pavilion. It is the beautiful scenery of Lin'an in the morning.

Liu Xunyi stood in the Wangjiang Pavilion, leaning against the railing and looking into the distance, feeling the intoxicating natural fragrance in his mouth and nose. The fatigue from the trip to the Western Regions had long since disappeared, and now he felt refreshed, with clear eyes and a clear mind. From a distance, Liu Xunyi's white shirt moved with the wind, matched with his upright posture and handsome profile, he was also suave and unrestrained.

"Looking for clothes!"

Suddenly, a soft voice sounded from not far away, and a graceful woman slowly walked into the pavilion. The age of 14 is the most beautiful time for a woman. Although this woman has a slender figure, she is still graceful. Her hands are as soft as catkins, her skin is as white as cream, her neck is as white as a cicada, her teeth are as white as a gourd, her eyebrows are as beautiful as moths, and her lips are as beautiful as cherry blossoms. Her black hair seems to be tied up casually, but it is not messy at all. The hair accessories she wears are very unique, especially the red gem on her white forehead, which is obviously extraordinary. She is wearing a moon-white long skirt, which is noble, and the light yellow gauze dress is not without a bit of agility. The phoenix satin shoes are spotless, which wraps the slender jade feet. She is delicate and exquisite from top to bottom. The elegance exuded by her gestures is not comparable to ordinary women. It is difficult to train such a beauty without being rich and noble.

Her appearance made the beautiful scenery around Wangjiang Pavilion pale in comparison, and the soft and clear sound of nature made Liu Xunyi's heart tremble, and then a very gentle smile appeared on his face. Liu Xunyi turned his head when he heard the voice, and saw that the woman was followed by four maids holding swords.

"Liu Xunyi pays his respects to the princess!" Liu Xunyi's expression straightened and he quickly knelt down to pay his respects to the woman.

This woman was none other than Princess Xinde of the Song Dynasty, Zhao Xin, whom Qin Wei had joked about yesterday and whom Liu Xunyi had been obsessed with and vowed to marry.

Zhao Xin was the daughter of Prince Yu of the Song Dynasty. Her father had unfortunately passed away due to injuries sustained in the war. In order to praise his war exploits, the emperor conferred the title of Princess Xinde on his daughter Zhao Xin as a token of his favor.

Seeing Liu Xunyi, Zhao Xin's eyes lit up with joy, but she soon realized the entourage behind her, so she coughed twice and said, "Lord Liu, there is no need to be so polite."

"Thank you, Princess!" Liu Xunyi didn't dare to act rashly and stood aside in an orderly manner. But his eyes, as bright as stars, could not hide his longing for Zhao Xin at this moment. He watched Zhao Xin's every move without blinking, unable to move even a little. Zhao Xin's cheeks were slightly red, and she dismissed the people around her. Only Liu Xunyi and Zhao Xin were left in the Wangjiang Pavilion.

"Xun Yi." Without the maid by her side, the cold expression on Zhao Xin's face disappeared in an instant. She took two steps forward and threw herself into Liu Xun Yi's arms, saying softly, "I haven't seen you for two months. I almost lost my appetite and couldn't sleep at night. I prayed for you in front of the Buddha all day long. Fortunately, with the Buddha's blessing, you finally came back safely."

Feeling the intoxicating fragrance of Zhao Xin, Liu Xunyi couldn't help himself either. He held Zhao Xin's soft body tightly with his strong arms, wishing he could rub the beauty into his body. He stroked Zhao Xin's hair with his fingers and said softly, "Xin'er, I made you worry!"

"Xunyi" and "Xin'er" are what they call each other privately. Liu Xunyi and Zhao Xin have very different statuses, so it should be impossible for them to fall in love. However, fate plays tricks on them. At that time, Liu Xunyi, who was only ten years old, was sent by Zhao Yuan to the Rong Palace to accompany the frail and sickly young prince Zhao Yu to practice martial arts and strengthen his body. Zhao Xin, who lost her father at a young age, happened to be fostered in the Rong Palace at that time. So the six-year-old Zhao Xin met Liu Xunyi for the first time in the Rong Palace.

From then on, Liu Xunyi often went in and out of Prince Rong's Mansion as the young prince's tutor. Over time, the three people of similar age became friends who could talk about anything. Liu Xunyi and Zhao Xin were childhood sweethearts. The former "Brother Liu" and "Little Princess" gradually fell in love as they grew older and evolved into today's "Xunyi" and "Xiner".

As the saying goes, there is no wall that is impenetrable. Prince Rong and Zhao Yuan learned about this incident soon after. Zhao Yuan punished Liu Xunyi severely and almost took his life. This incident caused a sensation in the Tianji Pavilion at that time, and the secret between Liu Xunyi and Zhao Xin was also spread at that time.

The ending of forcibly breaking up a couple often makes them more affectionate. Due to the overall situation, Liu Xunyi and Zhao Xin can no longer meet as casually as before, but fortunately, the young prince Zhao He sympathizes with this pair of unfortunate lovers. Not only did he not listen to the orders of Prince Rong to monitor them, but he also deceived the superiors and the subordinates and secretly helped the two meet, and covered up for them in front of Prince Rong. The four maids accompanying them today are Zhao He and Zhao Xin's "own people".

"The young prince often sends people to Tianji Pavilion to inquire about you for me. In the past two years, Marquis Tianji has asked you to do more and more things. This time you have no news for two months, and I thought Marquis Tianji knew that we were still in contact, so he was making things difficult for you again." Zhao Xin's personality is gentle and reserved. Even if she is excited, she still speaks softly, with affection hidden in her heart. Although her relationship with Liu Xunyi lacks the thrilling love that lasts forever, it has more of a long-lasting and unswerving love.

"No." Liu Xunyi smiled, "The Marquis treats me like a son. Even when Prince Rong was furious and wanted to kill me, he was willing to plead for me, exchanging a living sentence for a death sentence. Now that it's been a long time, how could he embarrass me again? What's more, the Marquis knows my feelings for you very well. Now that he has given me more and more errands, it's nothing more than wanting to give me more opportunities to make meritorious contributions and be valued by the emperor as soon as possible. In fact, these are enough to show his good intentions."

Zhao Xin said softly, "I am the princess of the Song Dynasty. If you want to marry me legitimately, you must ask the emperor for marriage. The marriage partners of us royal children are all descendants of the powerful in the court, or meritorious officials who have worked hard for the Song Dynasty. Xunyi, since you are not a descendant of the powerful, you must have made great contributions. Every time I think about it, I will speak up for you. If I were not the princess and you were not Lord Liu, how great would it be?"

Liu Xunyi was quite carefree about Zhao Xin's pessimism. He gently took Zhao Xin's hand and walked slowly to the riverside, saying in high spirits: "How can I, Liu Xunyi, be afraid of hardships? Xin'er, let alone you are a county lady, even if you are a princess, I, Liu Xunyi, will marry you. Most of what I have done in Tianji Pavilion over the years are trivial matters. Even if I went to Yanmen Pass to rescue the Minister of the Central Secretariat this time, it is far from an unprecedented achievement. In fact, I had already thought about it on the way back. Now that the Mongolian army is waiting for an opportunity to invade our Song Dynasty from the south, it is a good opportunity to make achievements."

Liu Xunyi's words startled Zhao Xin, and she asked hurriedly, "Do you want to serve in the battlefield?"

"The battlefield is a dangerous place, but it is also the easiest place to make great achievements." Liu Xunyi nodded and said, "There is a saying in the martial arts world that wealth and honor are sought in danger. I think the same is true in the court." "No, no!" Zhao Xin shook her head repeatedly, "I heard that the battlefield is like a sea of ​​blood. No matter how good your martial arts are, once you are involved in the fight between tens of thousands of people, you will become a lamb to be slaughtered. I don't want you to take risks, and I don't want to see you make any mistakes. What's more, you are from the Tianji Pavilion of the East Palace. The deployment of troops and the dispatch of troops are the business of the West Palace and the Three Yamen. The East and West Palaces have always been at odds with each other. Therefore, even if you want to go, I guess Tianji Hou will definitely not agree!" The West Palace mentioned by Zhao Xin is none other than the Privy Council, which holds the power over the army of the Song Dynasty.

"With foreign enemies at hand, how can the two mansions of the East and West be divided into you and me?" Liu Xunyi said solemnly, "As the saying goes, defending the country is the duty of men of the Song Dynasty. The old man, the Marquis, is also concerned about the safety of the Song Dynasty. If I ask the Marquis to serve on the battlefield, he will not stop me, on the contrary, he will definitely do his best to fulfill my wish. As for my life and death... I can guarantee that I will never die on the battlefield, and I will definitely make military achievements and come back alive, because I said I must marry you!"

Zhao Xin was moved by Liu Xunyi's words, but the more moved she was, the more hesitant she became. The two of them were silent for a long time before Zhao Xin looked at Liu Xunyi affectionately and said, "Xunyi, I want to hear your true feelings. Do you really want to leave Tianji Pavilion and serve in the battlefield?"

Liu Xunyi was stunned. He wanted to agree without hesitation, but under the gaze of Zhao Xin's charming eyes, he swallowed back the words that were on the tip of his tongue. Facing such a pair of affectionate eyes, how could he bear to lie to her? After hesitating for a long time, Liu Xunyi finally spoke softly: "Xin'er, if I stay in Tianji Pavilion, I'm afraid I will never have the opportunity to achieve success in my life." Liu Xunyi's words were sonorous and powerful. "Now you are old enough to get married. The longer I delay, the more anxious I will be. Now I am just a young guard in the East Palace Wu Pavilion. I have little influence. How can I ask the emperor for marriage? How can I marry the princess of the Song Dynasty?"

Liu Xunyi's words pierced Zhao Xin's heart like a sharp sword. In fact, how could she not understand the worries Liu Xunyi was talking about? Zhao Xin was well-read and well-versed in ancient and modern times. Naturally, she knew that a man should serve his country with his life, which was the right way to establish a career. However, she also knew the cruelty of "Don't laugh at me sleeping drunk on the battlefield. How many people have ever returned from the battles in history?"

Zhao Xin has known Liu Xunyi since childhood. Although Liu Xunyi is in the government, he always yearns for the rivers and lakes. He is a bohemian by nature and yearns for the freedom and ease of the people in the rivers and lakes, rather than seeking fame and fortune. The real reason why Liu Xunyi has stayed in Tianji Pavilion for so many years and refused to leave is nothing more than two. One is to repay Zhao Yuan for his upbringing and cultivation, and the other is Princess Xinde.

Liu Xunyi's intention to serve in the battlefield was not what he really wanted, and the reason for his idea was actually the disparity in status between him and Zhao Xin. Everything was just as Zhao Xin said. If she was not the princess of the Song Dynasty, and Liu Xunyi was not an orphan adopted by Zhao Yuan, then the two of them would definitely not stay in the scheming Lin'an City. I'm afraid they would have wandered around the world and lived freely.

"Xun Yi, I can't let you go against your own will for me." Zhao Xin cried silently, and said silently, "Do you still remember that three years ago, you accidentally killed a thief who stole government silver. After that incident, you didn't eat or drink for three days, and just locked yourself in the room to repent. You said that the thief was guilty but not guilty of death. You are so kind when you work for Tianji Pavilion, so how can you be willing to go to a place like a battlefield and fight with thousands of strangers? You can't kill people indifferently, even if they are foreigners, you will think of their wives and children when you kill them. You can't treat human life as worthless. This is your kindness, but also your weakness. So once people like you go to the battlefield, there is only one way to get rid of it, and that is to be killed."

"Xin'er, I..."

"Let's get out of here, the farther the better!"

Before Liu Xunyi could open her mouth to explain, Zhao Xin suddenly changed her expression and said a bold idea. Liu Xunyi was shocked when she heard it, and hurriedly looked around. After confirming that there was no one around, she whispered: "Xin'er, are you crazy? Do you know what you are talking about?"

"I'm not crazy. This is the only way to stop you from going to the battlefield to die!" Zhao Xin said stubbornly, "Xun Yi, I know very well that what you wish for is a free life. Even the cruel environment of Tianji Pavilion has not changed your nature. I have seen your desire and yearning for the free and unrestrained world from your eyes more than once. Once upon a time, when you mentioned the Central Plains martial arts and the heroes of the world, your eyes sparkled. You knew everything that happened in the world, and you talked about it endlessly. Since your heart does not belong to Tianji Pavilion or the court, I am willing to give up my identity as the princess of the Great Song Dynasty and everything I have for you. Take me away! Let's go where you want to go and live the life you want, okay?"

Liu Xunyi frowned as he looked at Zhao Xin, who was looking serious, and said to himself, "Of course I am willing to take you away, but this matter involves a lot of people. If we just leave like this, what will happen to the little prince who secretly arranged for you to come out to see me? As the junior protector of the Tianji Pavilion, I took away the Princess of Dasong without permission. What should the Marquis do as the head of the Tianji Pavilion? I can not care about anything, but I can't repay kindness with enmity because of my own selfishness. If I leave, how will those who have done me a favor deal with it?"

Zhao Xin looked at the hesitant Liu Xunyi, suddenly took a step forward and grabbed Liu Xunyi's hand, and said seriously: "Xunyi, have you thought it through? Will you take me away from Lin'an or not?"

"Have we... come to the point where we have to do this?" Liu Xunyi didn't dare to answer Zhao Xin directly, so he had to change the subject, "Now that no one is forcing you to get married, do we... really have to leave?"

Hearing this, the look in Zhao Xin's eyes became a little strange. Gradually, the solemn look on her face faded, and a faint smile emerged from the corner of her mouth. Before the confused Liu Xunyi could ask, Zhao Xin spoke first: "That's right. We are not at the point where we have to leave, and you are not at the point where you have to go to the battlefield. I believe that God will be moved by our sincerity and will definitely fulfill our wishes in the end. So none of us should act rashly, and we should not underestimate ourselves. I believe that everything has already been determined in the dark."

After saying that, Zhao Xin leaned forward and gently leaned into Liu Xunyi's arms. Although Liu Xunyi didn't say anything more, he felt as if a huge rock was pressing on his heart, which became heavier and heavier.

"I hope... everything will go as we wish."

……

(End of this chapter)