My father Zhao Kuangyin

The young woman's almond-shaped eyebrows arched high as she looked on in surprise.

"Huh? Ah Lang doesn't recognize me?"

To be honest, Zhao Dezhao was really curious about how many people in her nine generations of relatives she had, especially since she dared to flirt with the groom on the wedding day and secretly criticize him behind his back, all in front of the Emperor, the Empress, and all the civil and military officials.

But the result was unexpected. Shi Shouxin and his brothers-in-law all looked on with smiles, not feeling that they had overstepped their bounds at all.

Zhao Dezhao pursed his lips and began to try his best to recall.

After a long while, he still couldn't recognize it.

Seeing this, the young woman seemed to be shocked. She turned and ran back to the princess's side, saying aggrievedly, "Mother, my brother doesn't recognize me!"

"Sigh, Rixin hasn't seen you much in the first place, and now you've grown up so much, you've changed so much, how could he possibly recognize you?"

Although Zhao Dezhao was completely confused, he had already figured it out.

She must be his aunt's daughter.

"No, Mother, listen to me. My brother wasn't like this before. I guess he's even forgotten my name."

"How could that be?"

The eldest princess affectionately patted her, glanced at Zhao Dezhao, then looked at her capable husband playing music at the banquet, and said earnestly, "It's one thing for a man to resemble his father, but Wanling, you are a woman, you must not be as flamboyant as your father..."

This move seemed clever, but it was deliberate. He spoke loudly just now, clearly wanting to attract everyone's attention.

"Mother, my brother really doesn't know my name. If you don't believe me, I'll go ask him."

After Gao Wanling ran away, she came to Zhao Dezhao's side, her eyes crinkling with a sweet smile, and asked, "Brother, do you still remember your sister?"

Zhao Dezhao had been listening intently, and upon hearing this, he smiled calmly and said, "How could I forget Wanling?"

"Then...why didn't you recognize me just now?"

Zhao Dezhao tucked in his sleeves and patted his knee.

"I was just joking with you."

"..."

Gao Wanling frowned and blinked as she watched him for a while, but then she argued with him, sat down beside him, and started reminiscing about their childhood.

I held you in my arms when you were little.

"No way!"

"How could you remember anything while you were still in swaddling clothes?"

Zhao Dezhao treated it as if he were teasing a child, and chatted away to appease him.

Unbeknownst to him, he noticed that his cousin was overly curious. Even about trivial matters, she would pry into them, as if she wanted to interrogate him to prove herself. Her tone was unlike that of people from both sides of the Yellow River; it was more like that of someone from Taiwan.

In addition, the girl was indeed beautiful, so Zhao Dezhao let it go and didn't bother to argue with her.

But for no reason, he thought of Emperor Wu of Han, the so-called story of keeping a beauty in a golden house, which seemed to be... also a princess, a distant relative of three generations.

As a result, Zhao Dezhao glanced at his elderly father, who was sitting on the upper floor, and cold sweat immediately appeared on his forehead. He stopped thinking about it and silently apologized in his heart while reciting the principles of a gentleman.

His legs were strong, but even the strongest legs couldn't withstand the powerful orthopedic surgeon of his time, the old man's dragon-shaped staff.

However, the dragon-coiled staff is fake, but the iron chain clamp is real, and it was not made by Emperor Taizu of Song, but by the Western Rong people.

It was originally designed for use on horseback to counter the heavily armored infantry of the Han people.

However, because it resembled a threshing hoe used by farmers and was decorated with iron, making it easier to strike from above, the Han people were more adept at using it than the Rong people.

Legends like these abound. After Zhao Dezhao had been in the Song Dynasty for several months, things had changed dramatically.

Of course, this is mainly due to the contributions of the Song Dynasty to the development and dissemination of novels.

After several rounds of drinks, Zhao Dezhao, who was always spitting out a cup after each sip, arrived at the decorated bridal chamber and pushed open the door to enter.

Just as he was about to go inside to complete the three rites, he saw Mi Jifeng rush over and whisper something in his ear with a solemn expression.

Zhao Dezhao listened silently, his heartstrings taut with each passing moment.

As expected, Lei Jun is about to make trouble.

In short, the people of the Prime Minister's residence followed in the footsteps of the Kaifeng Prefecture and failed to capture Lei Youlin.

"Where did they go?"

"The petition drum, Ah Lang... he's going to beat the drum to appeal for justice."

The Dengwen Drum originated from the Lu Drum of the Zhou Dynasty and was renamed Dengwen during the Jin Dynasty.

The purpose of this drum is to allow people to beat it and voice their grievances.

That's what they say, but the Dengwen Drum is usually guarded by officials and soldiers. Only those who are "permitted" to beat the drum can do so, and even after dusk, someone should be on duty...

As for the officials and soldiers on duty, it goes without saying that they must belong to the Kaifeng Prefecture's municipal bureau.

To be honest, when it comes to matters of national importance, his good third uncle's status is average, and he doesn't have much say. But when it comes to matters of Kaifeng, he, as the mayor of Jingzhou, has a lot of power.

Simply put, it means focusing on the grassroots level and supporting close relatives and officials, rather than relying on the prime minister's office.

"Tell my husband to delay as much as possible."

Lei Jifeng said urgently, "Sir, what's the use of the pipe...?"

"Just do as I say."

"...Here you go."

The room was brightly lit by candlelight, but Zhao Dezhao was in a state of unease.

On a spring night, is this guy even human?!

While he was deep in thought and angry, the concubine Wang, who had been waiting for a long time, opened the door and went out to invite the groom. When she looked up, her face immediately changed color.

"Ah Lang..."

Sensing something amiss in his tone, Chen Niangzi, his close friend, frowned and walked over from the side of the courtyard.

"Even if Ah Lang dislikes Yun'er, after all this time for the wedding ceremony, how could he possibly back down because he despises his wife?"

Zhao Dezhao's breathing became heavier, and he remained silent.

Chen Mi, who had already mustered up her courage, became even more furious upon seeing the concubine's appearance. She stepped forward and stood beside the concubine, speaking to her in a domineering manner.

"Neither advancing nor retreating, what exactly is Ah Lang trying to do?"

What are you doing?

Zhao Dezhao stared intently, then looked towards the brightly lit courtyard. After hesitating for a while, he finally spread his arms wide and pulled the two women into the courtyard...

"what!"

"Don't shout."

"Mmm~"

With a creak, Zhao Dezhao closed the door tightly and immediately looked at Wang Zhaoyun sitting upright at the table.

Lady Wang was unfazed by her concubine, Zongmei, but her face darkened and her chest heaved as she saw her close friend Chen Mi's flushed and alluring appearance.

Well, it was just a joke about becoming a concubine, but she actually disregarded all propriety and shame... and... snatched her husband in the dead of night!

Wang Zhaoyun stood up instantly, her imposing manner causing the hills to tremble as she strode forward.

"If you dare touch her, I'll hang myself right here and watch!"

After he finished speaking, the room fell silent for a moment, and all four of them remained silent.

At this moment, it was truly remarkable that Zhao Dezhao was able to maintain his composure.

In a few moments, his face looked even more miserable than that of Lady Wang, the one who was suffering the most.

"Zhaoyun, I didn't..."

"Shut up."

Despite her angry glare, Wang Zhaoyun couldn't help but burst into tears.

"We've been friends for five years, considered each other close friends, and this is how you treat me... huh?!"

She said this with a sob in her voice.

In an instant, Zhao Dezhao and Chen Mi were repeatedly interrupted and their explanations were interrupted, making them feel suffocated.

"My lady, please hear me out."

"What are you listening to? Listening to you two whispering sweet nothings and making love day and night?!"

At this moment, Concubine Wang stepped forward, helped the young Grand Tutor sit down, and comforted and explained.

"It's not what you think, madam. Just now, the young master refused to enter the courtyard because Madam Chen was pointing and glaring at him angrily..."

After saying this, Wang Zhaoyun frowned, and Zhao Dezhao was able to catch his breath again.

"I'll explain the reason later. Tonight, someone wants to beat the drum to appeal their grievances. I don't have time to stay here right now, so I need the three of you to put on a play."

Zhao Dezhao spoke clearly and quickly, and the three of them were immediately stunned, all in disbelief, thinking he was making it up.

"How could Prefect Zhao be...?"

"Yuehua, stop talking."

The two women are clueless; how could Lady Wang not know?

She had long been mentally prepared for her husband to lose the battle for the crown prince position when she married into the family. She listened to the story with such conviction that she had no choice but to believe it, whether it was true or not.

"Take off your clothes."

"Um?"

Seeing the three women's astonishment, Zhao Dezhao dared not delay any longer. He quickly took off his clothes and threw them to Chen Mi.

The latter looked flustered and dared not accept it.

"What does Ah Lang mean by this?"

"Put on this red robe, or wear a single garment, and wait here, showing mutual respect."

Zhao Dezhao didn't have time to explain further. He walked to the bedside and took out the clerk's clothes and inner soft armor that he had prepared in advance from a corner.

After dressing properly, he opened the window and, somewhat awkwardly, leaped through, entering the dazzling light.

Lady Wang was stunned. After a moment, she quickly walked to the windowsill, looked at the clerk outside, and her chest remained unsettled for a long time.