Water Margin: From a White-Robed Scholar to Donning the Yellow Robe

Chapter 60: Setting Off to Suppress the Bandits

Upon hearing the word "Father Emperor," everyone knew who had arrived.

Princess Zhao Yupan, one of the two most beloved daughters of the current emperor.

Zhao Yupan threw herself into Zhao Ji's arms, crying out, "I won't marry him! I won't marry him!"

Cai Jing quickly waved to the crowd, and they bowed and left Chongzheng Hall.

Upon hearing what Zhao Yupan said, Zhao Ji laughed and said, "You were supposed to get married last May, but you ran away and wandered the world with your guards for three months. Now that you've finally returned, your heart is even wilder, and you're even less willing to get married."

Zhao Yupan ran away from her arranged marriage last year and traveled around until she arrived in Jeju, where she met Wang Lun.

She also saw the "Jianghu Daily" published by Liangshan and was very happy to learn that Wang Lun had done such an extraordinary thing, so she was even less willing to get married.

Although she knew perfectly well that there was absolutely no future for her and Wang Lun, one was Princess Jiade, the eldest daughter of the Song Dynasty emperor, and the other was a bandit who killed officials and rebelled.

"The husband your mother chose for you is Zeng Yin, the Left Guard General. He is skilled in both literature and martial arts, and his appearance is also quite decent. He is not treating you badly as your husband."

Emperor Huizong gently stroked Zhao Yupan's long, beautiful hair and patiently explained, "You've already run away from your wedding once. You've already lost face once, so you'll be in for a world of hurt. Besides, your mother's health is deteriorating, and we can't go against her wishes and upset her."

"I am Princess Jiade, the eldest daughter of my father, the Emperor. How dare he bully me?"

Zhao Yupan clung to Zhao Ji's arm and said coquettishly, "Father, I don't want to get married yet. I haven't had enough fun. Please give me a little more time."

Emperor Huizong smiled helplessly and said, "You child, you're already sixteen, why aren't you married yet?"

Upon seeing Zhao Ji smile, Zhao Yupan knew that things had taken a turn for the better. She said, "I just want to play around for a few more years, serve Father and Mother well for a few more years, and then get married. That General Zeng Yin of the Left Guard can wait if he wants, or break off the engagement if he doesn't. I will find a husband myself."

Zhao Ji smiled wryly and said, "What kind of good husband can you find yourself? Now is not the time to play around. Look, even the Liangshan bandits have rebelled."

He pointed to the "Jianghu Daily" on the table and said loudly, "Look at this, that so-called white-robed scholar Wang Lun even wrote a few lines of poetry, saying he wanted to fight the west wind and wear golden armor all over his body. What kind of lousy poem is this?"

Zhao Yupan's heart stirred, and he shook his head, saying, "This poem is indeed not very good, but it has quite a momentum. I traveled around the world some time ago and met someone who wrote a poem. Father, your poetry, calligraphy and painting are unparalleled in the world. Why don't you take a look?"

Emperor Huizong became interested and asked with a smile, "Oh? Which young master have you taken a fancy to?"

Zhao Yupan ignored him, rose and slowly paced around the hall, reciting:

"The moon in the sky suffers the most; it is full of hardship one night, but becomes crescent moon every night."

"If you are like the moon, forever bright and pure, I would brave ice and snow to warm you."

"Alas, worldly ties are easily severed, yet the swallows still tread softly on the curtain hooks."

"The autumn wind has ceased its song, but sorrow has not subsided; in the spring thicket, I recognize the butterflies that mate in pairs."

After reciting the poem, Zhao Ji's eyes lit up, and he exclaimed, "What a wonderful poem! Who is this person who could write such a beautiful poem? It's far superior to Zhou Bangyan's work."

Everyone in Kaifeng now says that Zhou Bangyan is the best poet, but Emperor Huizong of Tang has long disagreed.

"Father, although this man comes from humble origins, he is a man of both literary and martial talents, and is also very intelligent and righteous. If Father is interested, I may go out again and bring him to you for a meeting."

Emperor Huizong was tempted.

Zhao Yupan quickly replied, "It just so happens that this person is also in the east. I just heard clearly that Zhang Shuye and Huyan Zhuo are going to attack the Liangshan bandits. Why don't I go with them and leave on my own halfway? With their protection, I will be safe."

Emperor Huizong knew that his daughter was playful by nature, and even if he forcibly confined her to the palace, she would have many ways to escape.

Her suggestion was excellent; following Huyan Zhuo's army eastward would naturally eliminate any danger.

He thought for a moment and then instructed, "You must bring your guard along, the one who's known as the best fighter in the palace, whatever his name is."

"His name is Qin He. He used to be a wandering swordsman who came to Tokyo to perform. I happened to see him and took him in as a guard. As for what he means by being called the number one expert, I have already had the palace guards spar with him, and none of them were his match."

Zhao Yupan was very proud of his guard's martial arts skills and said, "Father, please rest assured, I will take him with me wherever I go now. With him, I can go to any dangerous place."

Emperor Huizong nodded in agreement: "Then go ahead and travel the world again, and return as soon as possible. As for the marriage, I will have to postpone it for a while longer."

Zhao Yupan was overjoyed and said, "Thank you, Father Emperor."

She stuck out her tongue and whispered, "You should also avoid going to see that Li Shishi. She has a close relationship with Zhou Bangyan. You are the Emperor of the Song Dynasty, and it's not good for you to compete with a subject for her... uh... anyway."

Zhao Ji blushed and waved his hand, saying, "Where did you hear these rumors? They're pure nonsense. I've never heard of any Li Shishi."

Zhao Yupan didn't expose him, and after joking around with Zhao Ji for a while, he left happily.

Two days later, Zhang Shuye and Huyan Zhuo led 10,000 soldiers and troops, leaving Tokyo in a grand procession and heading towards Jeju.

When they left Tokyo, Tong Guan, the Grand Councilor of the Song Dynasty, personally saw them off and presented them with a jade plate from Princess Jiade, Zhao Yupan.

Zhao Yupan, disguised as a man, and accompanied by her guard Qin He, blended into the group.

Zhang Shuye and Huyan Zhuo became nervous. This was a princess, after all. If anything happened to her on the way, how could they explain it to the emperor?

He served Zhao Yupan attentively throughout the journey, letting her rest whenever she wanted and set off whenever she wished.

Even if she suddenly wanted to take a detour to see the scenery, Zhang Shuye and Huyan Zhuo dared not say anything and led their army to accompany her on her excursion.

It would take about ten days to travel from Tokyo to Jeju Island at a normal marching speed.

It was because of Zhao Yupan that they still hadn't arrived in Jizhou by the fifteenth day, while news of their expedition to quell the bandits had already spread throughout the land.

Faced with the living ancestor Zhao Yupan, Zhang Shuye and Huyan Zhuo dared not provoke him and had no choice but to adjust their strategic deployment.

They originally planned to rely on the power of the government troops, to press on with overwhelming momentum, and quickly reach Jizhou to fight the Liangshan bandits head-on.

But now that the news had already spread, the Liangshan bandits must have been prepared. After several discussions, Zhang Shuye and Huyan Zhuo decided to proceed slowly and steadily.

Princess Jiade seemed to be very interested in military affairs. Whenever Zhang Shuye and Huyan Zhuo discussed matters, she would always bring her guards to listen in.

This gave Zhang Shuye a lot of headaches. He wanted to remind Zhao Yupan not to participate in important military matters, but he was often met with her cold stares.

The two had no choice but to discuss the matter with the generals in front of Zhao Yupan, and occasionally listen to Zhao Yupan's "strategies".

On the twentieth day, they finally saw Jeju Island in the distance, and Zhang Shuye and Huyan Zhuo set up camp there.

Zhao Yupan, however, led his guards out of the military camp, galloped away on horseback, and disappeared from Zhang Shuye's sight in the blink of an eye.