Chapter 190

…

Wang Fu genuinely wanted to kill Cai You—this bastard was using all his own words!!!

Crucially, Wang Fu had been waiting a long time for this chance to step forward.

Who would have thought, just as success and reward seemed within reach, a rogue appeared out of nowhere.

Most crucially, this "rogue" was Cai Jing, Zhao Yu's most favored minister and Cai You's own father—Wang Fu could not possibly provoke him, not even dare to antagonize him.

"Cai Jing holds grudges over every slight; if I challenge Cai You, I'll earn their father-son hatred—it's not worth it!"

"Little patience disrupts great plans; if Your Majesty truly chooses Cai You, I should bide my time and wait for the right moment—never let fleeting anger ruin my future."

It was no wonder Wang Fu feared Cai You so much—Cai Jing, his father, now held overwhelming power in court, wielding authority nearly equal to that of a chancellor, though technically not one.

To be fair, Cai You had merely backed the wrong side, betting everything on Zhao Ji; otherwise, with Cai Jing's current power, Cai You would never have been stuck at the same low rank as Wang Fu—a mere secretary of military affairs.

Now, like Wang Fu, Cai You hoped to earn some merit by accompanying Zhao Yu on his personal campaign, so he could be promoted upon return.

Unfortunately, Cai You was neither skilled in literature nor martial arts; even after being placed beside Zhao Yu by Cai Jing, he had yet to achieve even the smallest accomplishment.

This Cai You had just stolen Wang Fu's opportunity.

Zhao Yu looked at Wang Fu and Cai You, the two dragon-and-phoenix talents, and considered: though Cai You had historically risen to become Chief of the Privy Council—just one step from chancellor—his position was utterly hollow; reviewing his entire historical record, aside from pleasing Zhao Ji to perfection, he had accomplished nothing beneficial to the Zhao Song dynasty; instead, his blunders grew larger with each passing day—he was the very definition of a useless courtier who achieved nothing but caused disaster. By comparison, Wang Fu, who had climbed to chancellor through his own efforts, was vastly superior in ability.

As for demanding Xiao Puxian and others, the matter was not enormous—but for the Zhao Song dynasty, it was still critically important; mishandle it, and the future recovery of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan-Yun could become far more difficult.

Thus, Zhao Yu ignored Cai You's eager request and told Wang Fu: "One matter need not trouble two masters; since this was your proposal, you shall go and bring back Xiao Puxian and…"

Here, Zhao Yu turned to Zhang Chun, feigning ignorance: "Who were those Liao talents you mentioned the other day…?"

Zhang Chun immediately listed them off like counting household treasures: "Yelu Dashi, styled Zhongde, eighth-generation descendant of Yelu Abaoji; Xiao Gan, childhood name Huilibao, descendant of the Xi King Tielin; Liu Yanzong, who previously served as envoy to our Great Song…"

Zhang Chun rattled off more than a dozen names—clearly, she intended to strip the Liao of every key talent, leaving not one for Liao or Jin.

After Zhang Chun finished listing these Liao talents, Zhao Yu said: "You've noted them well—bring back these people and their entire families. Exercise discretion."

Wang Fu was overjoyed and immediately knelt to the ground: "Your servant obeys the imperial decree!"

After Wang Fu departed to make preparations, Zhao Yu turned to Cai You and said: "This matter originated with Wang Fu; if I assign it to you, how would Wang Fu perceive me? Don't rush—work diligently, and there will surely come a day when you earn merit."

Though Cai You felt uneasy inside, he dared not show it on his face, and bowed deeply: "Your servant shall exhaust himself, even unto death, to serve Your Majesty with loyal devotion…"

…

The next day.

Wang Fu entered Yanjingcheng.

At first, Wang Fu did not directly demand the people—he quietly inquired about Yelu Dashi and others among the Liao.

He learned that Yelu Dashi and Xiao Gan had once planned to escort Yelu Yanxi out of Yanjingcheng.

Wang Fu also heard that Liu Yanzong, Shi Li'ai, Han Fang, and others had repeatedly submitted memorials hostile to the Zhao Song dynasty.

Wang Fu immediately devised a plan.

Then, carrying Zhao Yu's imperial edict, Wang Fu went to Xiao Fengxian and said: "Our Emperor has heard that Xiao Puxian, Yelu Dashi, Xiao Gan, Liu Yanzong, Shi Li'ai, Han Fang, and others have repeatedly harmed our Great Song and sought to undermine peace between our two states. For the sake of both nations, we request your court hand them over to us for punishment."

Xiao Fengxian immediately understood—his brother Xiao Baoxian's plan had succeeded.

Xiao Fengxian feigned great difficulty and truthfully replied: "The people you demand, especially their families, are not all in Yanjing—delivering them all is truly difficult."

Wang Fu said: "Send those currently in Yanjingcheng to our camp, one by one."

Xiao Fengxian still did not agree, only saying: "Let me return to court and consult with our Emperor before giving you a reply—is that acceptable?"

Seeing Xiao Fengxian's stalling, Wang Fu snapped: "Our Great Song can crush Yanjing at any moment; we refrain from storming the city only to preserve the Khitan state and spare the lives of its people. If your court refuses to hand them over, our Emperor will send troops to take them by force—this single city can be wiped out in one night! When that happens, the common folk inside will suffer the ravages of war. Do not bring ruin upon yourselves!"

Xiao Fengxian hastily replied: "How could our court not pity the people? I shall return to court and report this matter to our Emperor immediately."

Then Xiao Fengxian went to Yelu Yanxi and told him of the matter.

Seeing Xiao Fengxian had succeeded, Yelu Yanxi felt deeply conflicted.

On one hand, emotionally, he did not wish to sacrifice his beloved Xiao Puxian for peace;

on the other, rationally, handing Xiao Puxian to Zhao Yu was most advantageous for him.

Under Xiao Fengxian's persuasion, Yelu Yanxi did not hesitate long—he summoned Yelu Heluwa and Yelu Chun and told them of Zhao Yu's demand for Xiao Puxian and others.

Hearing Zhao Yu wanted his future daughter-in-law, Yelu Heluwa flew into a rage: "Our Great Liao has already agreed to annual tribute and interest payments—yet the Song Zhu still demands our future daughter-in-law and loyal ministers? This is an insult to our Great Liao! How outrageous!"

Xiao Fengxian sighed: "Yao Ge Niangzi is fiercely independent and has repeatedly criticized the Song Zhu—his wrath is already kindled, and he intends to deal with her personally; that's one reason. Second, the Song Zhu is insatiable in his lust for women—he cannot live without them, and Yao Ge Niangzi is our Great Liao's most beautiful woman—how could he not covet her beauty and seek to possess her? Thus, refusing to send Yao Ge Niangzi is no longer an option."

Xiao Fengxian then repeated Wang Fu's threats to Yelu Yanxi and his court.

This time, even Yelu Heluwa fell silent.

Originally, Yanjingcheng had abundant horses and complete armor and weapons—and still, it could not resist the Song army's assault. Now, with no horses, no armor, no weapons, Yanjingcheng stood no chance at all.

Yelu Yanxi wept bitterly: "All this is due to my ministers' betrayal—they trapped me in this city! Had I not been confined, how could I endure such humiliation?!"

Xiao Fengxian urged:

"Paying tribute and interest is not a peace treaty; when actual negotiations begin, the Southern Court may demand war reparations—or demand the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan-Yun and the Sanzhou of Ping-Luan-Ying. If so, how can our Great Liao survive?"

"Now, the Song Zhu desires Yao Ge Niangzi—misfortune may turn to fortune. If we marry Yao Ge Niangzi to him, once she becomes his consort, she may whisper sweet words in his ear—perhaps the Southern Court will forgo war reparations, abandon territorial demands, and even withdraw its troops sooner."

"I dare to speak boldly, though my words are crude—yet circumstances leave no choice. If peace talks fail and the Song army breaches Nanjingcheng, will Yao Ge Niangzi still be spared? The Southern Court is now overwhelmingly powerful; if the Song Zhu desires Yao Ge Niangzi, how could he let her go? Better to use her in marriage to secure our Great Liao's survival."

"Throughout history, many dynasties have chosen marriage alliances to defend against border threats. If this alliance succeeds, Liao and Song can turn enemies into kin, forge a bond like Qin and Jin, end war forever, and cultivate lasting friendship—truly a blessing for the people of both nations."

"This strategy is not merely a marriage rite—it is a plan for national security. Once the alliance is sealed, border fires will be extinguished, markets will reopen. Liao and Song will become brotherly states, each guarding their borders, exchanging envoys, trading goods. Thus, the people of both lands may live in peace, herds will graze within earshot, merchants will travel ceaselessly, Han and Hu cultures will blend—its benefits are immense."

What Xiao Fengxian said was objective, reasonable—every word struck the hearts of those present, slowly quelling their rage and resentment, replacing them with deep contemplation and helpless compromise.

Yelu Heluwa's clenched fists slowly uncurled; the fire in his eyes was doused by the clear water of reason. He knew Xiao Fengxian spoke truth—the Liao stood at the brink of annihilation; any impulsive decision could plunge the nation into irreversible ruin.

Yelu Yanxi declared grandly: "Chief of the Privy Council speaks wisely. For the sake of the state and its people, personal honor means nothing. Have I not already sent Lady Wen to the Song Zhu for punishment?"

Yelu Chun's expression grew bleak. Though his heart resisted utterly, he understood this was the only viable path. He spoke slowly: "The matter stands thus—we must prioritize the greater good. My fate with Puxian was simply not meant to be."

With Yelu Chun's words of statesmanship, both Yelu Yanxi and Xiao Fengxian achieved their goals—and the decision was settled.

Yet, though Xiao Puxian's status was noble, she was not of the imperial clan, nor even of the royal lineage.

Crucially, Xiao Puxian was effectively abandoned by the Liao court—this was no true marriage alliance. Whether she would speak on behalf of the Liao after marrying into Song remained uncertain.

They even had to guard against the possibility that Xiao Pu Xian Nü, driven by love into hatred, would not only refuse to speak for the Liao court but also incite the Zhao Song dynasty to attack Liao.

After deliberation, Emperor Yelu Yanxi and his ministers decided to marry three virtuous and beautiful princesses of the imperial clan to Zhao Yu under the title of Princess, and to send twenty-four women from the Jinzhi Sect, clan members, and noble relatives to serve as her attendants, tasked with whispering into Zhao Yu's ear.

As for Yelu Dashi, Xiao Qian, and others that Zhao Yu demanded, Yelu Yanxi wanted to kill them—how could he possibly spare them?

As for Liu Yanzong, Shi Li'ai, Han Fang, and other Han Chinese of Liao, Yelu Yanxi cared even less.

Thus, the Southern and Northern Courts of Liao acted simultaneously, detaining the families of Yelu Dashi and others in Yanjing City. Regardless of age, all were bound with ropes and lined up in the corridors of the government offices, then dispatched in batches to the Song army camps.

Some families remained in the corridors for one or two days without being sent away; Liao provided them neither food nor lodging, leaving them starving and freezing, their cries of hunger and cold echoing day and night.

This made them hate Liao with every fiber of their being.

Later, after these people defected to the Zhao Song dynasty, whenever they got the chance, they urged Zhao Yu to attack Liao and reclaim the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun and the Sanzhou of Pingluan.

These are matters for later; we set them aside for now.

As for Xiao Pu Xian Nü, who had already become a concubine to Yelu Chun before the Song-Liao war broke out, upon hearing that Yelu Yanxi, Yelu Chun, and others had sacrificed her for the sake of "the greater good," sending her to marry an enemy, her heart shattered like a blade had pierced it, and she was heartbroken beyond words.

Xiao Pu Xian Nü could not believe that the man she had longed for, the great hero of Liao, Yelu Chun, would agree to send her to a foreign land for temporary peace, thrusting her into an unknown abyss of fate for the sake of his nation.

Xiao Pu Xian Nü was no ordinary woman; she had long understood the cruelty and ruthlessness of court politics. Yet she had never imagined that one day she herself would become a pawn in the game of state survival, sacrificed upon the political chessboard.

Xiao Pu Xian Nü sat alone in her chamber, gazing at the bleak autumn scenery outside the window, her heart filled with conflicting emotions. She recalled every detail she had ever heard about Yelu Chun since childhood…

This was the husband she had chosen herself. Yet it was precisely this man who, at the critical moment, unhesitatingly gave her to another man.

"Yelu Chun is no suitable match for me, nor is he a hero. Giving me to Zhao Yu is his loss—not mine!"

Xiao Pu Xian Nü murmured to herself, her eyes gleaming with resolve. Though a woman, she possessed a pride and tenacity equal to any man's.

Xiao Pu Xian Nü rose and walked to the bronze mirror, gazing at her face—beautiful enough to topple cities—in the reflection. A cold smile curled her lips. This beauty, once her greatest pride, had now become the spark that drove her into the abyss. She gently touched her mirrored image, as if bidding farewell to her former self, yet also anticipating the fate that awaited her.

"Enough. If the Eternal Heaven has ordained this, then let me see what man the Eternal Heaven has chosen for me!"

Xiao Pu Xian Nü whispered softly, her eyes blazing with unyielding fire.

The next morning, Xiao Pu Xian Nü was summoned to the palace. Facing the cold faces of Yelu Yanxi and his ministers, she already knew there was no turning back.

Yelu Yanxi rebuked her with the weight of state duty, his words earnest, yet unable to conceal his inner selfishness and cowardice.

This made Xiao Pu Xian Nü, who had always despised Yelu Yanxi, despise him even more.

Such a man, Xiao Pu Xian Nü would not even look at, let alone speak to.

Moreover, Xiao Pu Xian Nü knew well: it was too late now; no matter what she said, it would mean nothing.

So Xiao Pu Xian Nü said nothing, gave no bow to Yelu Yanxi, and left. She did not believe that Yelu Yanxi, this coward, would dare punish Zhao Yu's woman for failing to bow.

The outcome unfolded exactly as Xiao Pu Xian Nü had predicted. Though she showed utter disrespect to Yelu Yanxi, he, though livid with rage, did not punish her. On the contrary, afterward, Yelu Yanxi promoted her father, Xiao Degong, ordering him to persuade her to do her utmost to mediate for Liao.

Notably, at the moment of parting, Xiao Pu Xian Nü gazed deeply at Yelu Chun—her eyes filled with contempt and finality.

—This was also why Xiao Pu Xian Nü came to meet Yelu Yanxi and his ministers.

As both expected and unexpected, Yelu Chun dared not meet Xiao Pu Xian Nü's gaze. His eyes, fixed on the ground, were filled with guilt and reluctance.

—Compared to Xiao Pu Xian Nü, Yelu Chun loved Liao more. So he had no choice but to harden his heart, bury his deep affection deep within, and transform it into boundless loyalty and protection for Liao. He silently swore: "When Great Liao rises again, I shall reclaim you and bring you home, to atone for my betrayal today!"

Xiao Pu Xian Nü felt no lingering attachment, nor did she contemplate suicide.

After returning home, Xiao Pu Xian Nü ordered her maids to pack their belongings in preparation for her wedding.

Notably, Xiao Pu Xian Nü did not wear the green wedding gown like the three Liao princesses sent to marry enemies or the accompanying brides. Instead, she donned a crimson wedding robe like blazing fire, painted her lips in fiery red, and set foot on the path to the Zhai Palace…

…

(End of Chapter)