Who wouldn't find it absurd that the Prince of Jin allowed his concubines to choose a wife for him?
Tang Zhuyun could foresee that after returning home tonight, the censors would write impeachment memorials overnight, and the court would be embroiled in bloodshed again tomorrow morning.
Should she persuade her father to ask for leave tomorrow and not go?
Or should we let her father join the crowd in criticizing the Prince of Jin? After all, a lot of lice won't itch, the important thing is to protect our own father.
In short, after paying his respects to the Grand Princess, Prince of Jin carried Yanran in one arm and held Tang Zhuyun's hand in the other, and the three of them strode away.
Back at the manor, Yanran was already asleep from exhaustion.
The Prince of Jin put her down and told Tang Zhuyun to wait in his study. He himself went out and didn't return until half an hour later.
"Your Highness, I have never mentioned Linlin's biological father to Ruan Anruo," Tang Zhuyun quickly explained. "You probably haven't told her either."
"It was Ruan Anruo sent someone to ask your grandmother."
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
She had considered this possibility earlier, because Madam Song only knew that she had gone out and brought back ten taels of silver, but did not know that she had gone to a pleasure boat. Madam Song only cared about the silver.
Later, when her belly grew bigger, she couldn't hide it anymore, and she never dared to mention the pleasure boat again. Later, her elder brother pressed her for answers, and she finally told the truth, but he Yan Ling forbade her to tell anyone else.
Therefore, Madam Song knew was also the peddler...
"How do you wish me to deal with him? He's currently in the Golden Scale Guard Prison." Prince of Jin leaned back in his chair. "Unfortunately, he's a spineless coward. He confessed as soon as he was tortured, and—denied any affair with you."
The implication is that you have terrible taste.
Tang Zhuyun: There was nothing to begin with, why should I make him admit to anything?
"Do whatever you want with him. He's fake anyway; he can't possibly be Linlin's biological father."
How could a peddler have the money to board a pleasure boat and find a courtesan? It's impossible even for a fool to think of one, yet they actually managed to find a peddler.
"You've never even seen him, how do you know it isn't him?" The Prince of Jin narrowed his long, narrow eyes.
Because the peddler story is just a fabrication.
"Your Highness, let me tell you this: anyone who claims to be Linlin's biological father is lying."
"Where is the real person? Is he already dead?"
"I don't remember what he looks like, and he himself has no idea that Linlin exists," Tang Zhuyun said seriously. "Now, don't many people know that Linlin is actually my son?"
"Don't even think about getting your son back."
Tang Zhuyun's sorrow flowed like a river: I wanted to give the prince a son for free, but the prince only wanted to be my in-law.
"Then forget it. Linlin is doing well at the Tang Family, and Sister Meng doesn't mind anyway." She said defiantly, "Let's not dwell on this anymore. Let's leave it at that."
She had to write to Jiahong, telling her to keep a close eye on Madam Song and make sure she didn't cause any trouble.
However, seeing the suspicious look in Prince of Jin's eyes, Tang Zhuyun decided to partially confess. "Your Highness, let's not waste time on internal strife. I'll put aside my shame today..."
What do you want to do?
Seeing his wary look, Tang Zhuyun: What's there to be nervous about? I'm not doing it anyway!
"Actually, back then, when I was in the countryside, my grandmother was harsh on me, and I wasn't a very likable person. I saw the girl next door had a beaded hairpin, but I didn't have one... In a moment of confusion, I followed a man I didn't know for ten taels of silver, and I still don't know who he is. All those things I said later were lies."
As for Huaishang, that's something you absolutely must never mention.
Prince of Jin: "You! You actually! You sold yourself for a single pearl hairpin! You, you're really something!"
"It's quite embarrassing," Tang Zhuyun said with a wry smile, "But that's how it is... so Your Highness, please don't doubt me about this anymore. I've told you everything today."
She never got that beaded flower.
Although saying these things was embarrassing and made me blush, I also felt a great sense of relief.
"Your Highness," she added, "After all this commotion today, won't the Emperor be angry tomorrow?"
"What do you think?" the Prince of Jin sneered.
Tang Zhuyun: "Will you still punish me?"
Prince of Jin: "What do you think?"
I said you #￥%...
Tang Zhuyun felt a headache coming on just thinking about copying "Admonitions for Women".
"Did you teach Yanran her fighting skills?"
"Hmm," Tang Zhuyun said listlessly.
"You've taught well; continue in the future," said the Prince of Jin.
"Oh, okay," Tang Zhuyun said. "This won't implicate my father, will it? After all, I'm now the prince's woman."
The Prince of Jin sneered, "Now you remember you're one of my people?"
Tang Zhuyun: "My father..."
"He's lost all face; you two siblings have completely disgraced him."
The truth was too hurtful, Tang Zhuyun subconsciously said, "The things the Prince did... well, it's just that no one dared to laugh at the Emperor."
They're evenly matched; neither of them needs to say anything to the other.
The Prince of Jin told her to get out.
Tang Zhuyun rolled to the doorway, then suddenly remembered something and whispered, "Your Highness, is Yanran's birth mother surnamed Xiao?"
The Prince of Jin's expression changed instantly. He stood up abruptly and strode over, his voice filled with thunderous fury. "Who told you that!"
Tang Zhuyun: The truth is out...
She replied honestly, "Your Highness, please don't be anxious. Didn't Yanran help me beat up Ruan Anruo today? When you went in to pay your respects, I heard people around me talking, saying that Yanran looks a lot like Xiao something from back then. I didn't hear what it was because the person stopped talking."
Because this matter was quite important, she remembered it and, regardless of whether it was useful or not, told the Prince of Jin.
Now it seems, it was useful.
"You may leave," the Prince of Jin said, his expression gradually calming down before returning to its inscrutable state.
Just as Tang Zhuyun was about to leave, she heard him say again, "Nanny Rong will be coming today."
Tang Zhuyun's eyes widened instantly. Was this her "good fortune"?
"Oh."
After she left, she went to find Meng Yulan and told her what had happened that day.
Seeing her worry, Meng Yulan smiled and said, "What are you afraid of? The prince has always been unconventional, it's not like he only became like this after you came into his life. You're just a concubine, what can you do to the prince? Besides, concubines aren't considered proper relatives, no one can find the master."
Tang Zhuyun breathed a sigh of relief, "So being a concubine has its advantages after all!"
As for taking the blame, Prince of Jin can take it himself; after all, it was his idea anyway.
Meng Yulan was more worried about the peddler's matter.
"... If this gets out, it'll be difficult for Linlin to face people in the future."
"I'm not worried about that," Tang Zhuyun said. "Since His Highness has already brought the man to the Golden Scale Guard, he'll surely be able to cover this up."
The final result will inevitably be a false accusation, and she can be convicted now.
Xiu'er called from outside, "Miss, Nanny Rong is here. Song Jingyang wants you to go back."
Song Jingyang stamped his foot anxiously, "Little Miss, it's the Prince, it's the Prince!"
"Who's your great-aunt? You just want to ask for lucky money since it's almost Chinese New Year, don't you?" Xiu'er rolled her eyes at him.
Song Jingyang: "..."