"Miss Ruoxi, I heard you were ill, so I came to see you."
Zhang Ruoxi blushed. "Your Majesty, please take care of me. I am deeply grateful to you for saving my father."
Zhao Huan laughed heartily. "Let me introduce you to someone, Linghu Yunlong. He's my personal guard, and he's a skilled martial artist, capable of leaping over eaves and walls."
Zhao Huan pushed him as he spoke, and Linghu Yunlong hurriedly saluted: "I am Linghu Yunlong, nice to meet you, young lady."
Zhang Ruoxi returned the greeting: "Brother Linghu has become Your Majesty's personal guard at such a young age. He must be an exceptional martial artist."
"Miss, you are too kind. I am just temporarily..."
Zhao Huan interrupted him: "Linghu Yunlong is quite skilled in martial arts, especially with a brick, and he specializes in beating the elderly, the weak, the sick, the pregnant, and the disabled."
"Ah?" Zhang Ruoxi and Linghu Yunlong looked at Zhao Huan in confusion.
Zhao Huan laughed heartily. "I was just joking. Since Miss Ruoxi has nothing else to do, I'm going to talk to Grand Secretary Zhang about some confidential matters. I'm leaving now."
Zhang Ruoxi bowed: "Farewell, Your Majesty."
Linghu Yunlong followed reluctantly. Zhao Huan turned around and glared at him: "I am discussing important military matters with Zhang Han. What are you doing following me? You stay here with Miss Ruoxi. You are not allowed to leave without my order."
Linghu Yunlong was overjoyed: "Your Majesty, I obey your order."
"My dear Zhang, I have decided to arrange a marriage for your beloved daughter." Zhao Huan said as he entered the room.
Zhang Han was overjoyed: "I thank your Majesty. It is truly an honor for my daughter to be your concubine. I thank your Majesty for your mercy."
Zhao Huan waved his hand and said, "She is not marrying me. I have chosen another suitable match for her."
Zhang Han was shocked: "My daughter has a strong character. If Your Majesty betroths her to someone else, I am afraid, afraid..."
"Don't worry, your daughter is overjoyed at the marriage I've arranged. Cao Dongsheng, call Linghu Yunlong and return to the palace!"
Returning to Wende Hall, Zhao Huan said to Linghu Yunlong, "Linghu Yunlong, I know you wish to be a guard in front of the emperor. And you, like Zhan Yunpeng, enjoy the free and unrestrained life of the Jianghu. I will grant your wish. If you wish to leave the capital, go ahead."
Linghu Yunlong seemed to be hesitant to speak, and seemed quite reluctant to leave. Zhao Huan smiled in his heart.
Linghu Yunlong said dejectedly: "Thank you, thank you, Your Majesty." Then he turned and was about to leave.
"I have decided to take Zhang Ruoxi as my concubine. How about Linghu Daxie stay and drink my wedding wine before leaving?" Zhao Huan said behind him.
Linghu Yunlong shuddered, his tone hoarse: "Thank you, Your Majesty. I, I don't need it."
"If I am willing to give this beauty to you, will you be willing to assist me?" Zhao Huan finally got to the point.
Linghu Yunlong turned around and knelt on the ground in surprise, kowtowed. Zhao Huan and Cao Dongsheng smiled at each other.
Zhang Han didn't understand. His own daughter was risking her life for the emperor, but suddenly the emperor issued an imperial decree for Ruoxi to marry that guard.
Seeing his daughter not only not sad, but also beaming with joy and surprise, the emperor's actions were truly unfathomable, and he was extremely impressed by Zhao Huan.
The wedding is tomorrow, and the Zhang family is decorated with lights and is filled with joy.
Zhao Huan felt guilty towards Zhan Yunpeng, so he personally attended Linghu Yunlong's wedding. This was considered a supreme honor for a minister.
All the ministers came to congratulate him, saying that Zhang Han had chosen a perfect son-in-law, and the Zhang family was bustling with activity.
Linghu Yunlong couldn't stop smiling, and was completely loyal to Zhao Huan.
It was really a double blessing. On the third day, the postman came to report that Yu Bu Tong, the envoy sent to Mengxia, had returned.
Zhao Huan was overjoyed and personally summoned him to the Purple Palace in front of all the civil and military officials.
Yu Bu Tong was beaming. "Your Majesty, the Song, Xia, and Mongolian alliance has been reached. Here is the signing document between Xixia and Mongolia."
Zhao Huan was overjoyed: "Present it quickly!"
Cao Dongsheng hurried down, took the alliance signed by the three families and sent it to Zhao Huan.
When Zhao Huan saw the Xixia jade seal and gold seal and the Mongolian Khan seal on the contract, he was overjoyed.
"I am different. You have made great contributions in your mission to Xia Meng. I will definitely reward you handsomely!"
Yu Bu Tong said, "Your Majesty, this mission to Mongolia was successful thanks to my wife. If it weren't for her, I would have been buried in the Gobi Desert long ago."
Zhao Huan asked, "Oh, what happened? Tell me."
So Yu Bu Tong told him everything that happened along the way from beginning to end.
When the topic of shocking things was brought up, all the ministers were shocked. When it came to the Great Khan Kublai Khan, Zhao Huan asked, "Are you saying that Kublai Khan only knocked on the table ten times and his army was assembled?"
Yu Bu Tong nodded and said, "Indeed, the Mongolian army is very powerful. When the Jin army besieged the city, Lord Li Gang and I climbed the city walls to observe. Compared to the ferocity of the Jin army, the Mongols are several times stronger."
Zhao Huan was secretly shocked. No wonder the Mongols were so good at fighting. It seemed that after the destruction of the Jin Dynasty, Mongolia would be the biggest threat.
"You said that the Mongolian Mei Duoer became your wife?" Zhao Huan asked.
Yu Bu Tong bowed and said, "I am ashamed."
Zhao Huan laughed heartily: "This is a happy occasion, why should I be ashamed? Mei Duoer gave you a horse so that you could reach the Mongol Kingdom safely. This woman is as brave as any man. Pass on my decree and reward her with 100 taels of gold."
Yu Bu Tong was overjoyed: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!"
"Are you married?" Zhao Huan asked.
Yu Bu Tong answered honestly: "Not yet, but in my heart she is already my wife."
When these words were spoken, the ministers were in an uproar. In the Song Dynasty, where rites and morals were strictly enforced, marrying someone without a formal marriage purportedly was considered adultery, but this incident did not seem to be a crime of adultery.
Zhao Huan didn't care about that. "But you didn't marry her formally, which is unfair to her. So, I'll take charge of the matter and give you a grand wedding."
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
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