The Prince of Jin said, "You should study with her too, and keep her Yanran. Only through studying can one understand principles!"
"I know quite a few words!" Tang Zhuyun retorted, unconvinced.
The Prince of Jin sneered, "You have the nerve to say that with all those circles in your book?"
Tang Zhuyun: "How did you know!"
That's just fooling the bandits!
The Prince of Jin said, "Sit down."
Tang Zhuyun sat down next to Yanran, winking at her and saying, "Come on, let's have a competition. Whoever learns faster and better today will get a prize, okay?"
"What award?" Yanran asked.
Tang Zhuyun's eyes darted around. "Well..."
"Whoever wins, I will grant her one request, one that is not excessive," said the Prince of Jin.
Before Tang Zhuyun could even get excited about the first half of the sentence, her enthusiasm was quickly dampened by the second half.
That scoundrel, he always knows he won't suffer any loss.
How could someone as sensible as her make such an unreasonable request? He's really going too far!
Besides, she had no chance of winning; she was just trying to spark Yanran's interest in learning.
In the end, Tang Zhuyun indeed "lost".
Yanran was very excited, her little face flushed, "Father, may I make a request?"
The Prince of Jin nodded.
He also admitted that Tang Zhuyun had a way of dealing with Yanran, much better than he did; he was also very good at teaching Linlin, the two were in sync, and many times Linlin could understand him without him saying a word.
Sometimes, the Prince of Jin even fantasized that if his future son could be half as good as Linlin, he would be content.
Tang Zhuyun also got excited and said, "Think it over carefully. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so you must make a good request."
It would be best to give Prince of Jin a good beating.
Yanran blinked her small eyes. "Let me think."
Prince of Jin seemed to suddenly remember something, and turned to Linlin, saying, "Linlin, you also have a request."
Linlin smiled and said, "I don't need it."
The Prince of Jin insisted, "You have also been very diligent and hardworking today."
Linlin said, "Then let Yanran come first, and I'll think about it some more."
Yanran suddenly clapped her hands and exclaimed, "I've got it!"
"What?" Tang Zhuyun asked expectantly, rubbing her hands together. "Tell me quickly."
Yanran smiled mischievously, "I want Father to kiss my sister."
Tang Zhuyun almost fell off the chair.
What did she hear?
She's being dragged into this even though she's lying down!
Besides, what kissing? When did she ever teach Yanran that?
Tang Zhuyun could already sense the Prince of Jin's suppressed anger and scrutinizing gaze.
Tang Zhuyun: "Yanran, you..."
"I saw Lord Tang secretly kiss Concubine Meng. Concubine Meng laughed for a long time, and I think my sister laughed too."
Tang Zhuyun: I'm being kissed by the Prince of Jin, how can I still laugh? I'll cry for you.
"This matter... well, how should I put it," she struggled to find the words, "Was about two people who had a very good relationship..."
"Aren't my sister and father good enough?"
"Well..."
That's a good size.
"... But it's not that good, is it?" Tang Zhuyun said. "Look, isn't Lord Tang sleeping with Concubine Meng now?"
"Then I'll change my wish: that my sister and father can sleep together too."
Tang Zhuyun felt like she had dug herself a huge pit, jumped in, and died.
"And then, Brother Linlin, your wish is just to kiss me, wouldn't that give you everything?" Yanran said.
Although she was young, she felt that Tang Baixin and Meng Yulan seemed closer to her, and that her father and sister always seemed to be lacking something.
"Father, you can't go back on your word! Your word is as good as gold!" The little one dragged the words he had just written in front of the Prince of Jin. "This request isn't unreasonable, is it?"
It's definitely not excessive. What's excessive about a kiss?
Tang Zhuyun tried to run away, but Prince of Jin pulled her into his arms.
Then she watched as the Prince of Jin's face grew larger and larger, finally brushing against her lips with a light touch...
Tang Zhuyun: Holy crap! That was my first kiss!
The Prince of Jin pushed her away, turning his face away, revealing his bright red earlobes, and said, "Stop looking at me like that."
He didn't know what it felt like for others to kiss, but he saw Tang Zhuyun's unseeing, dying gaze.
He desperately wanted to gouge out her eyes; that was all the Prince of Jin remembered about his first kiss!
Tang Zhuyun: What are you blushing for! You old hag, pretending to be innocent! If you're so innocent, how did Yanran come to be here?
She really is innocent... even though the child is her own.
Yanran was stunned. After a long while, she whispered, "Father, you kissed him incorrectly. Lord Tang kisses the forehead..."
Tang Zhuyun: I want to kill the Prince of Jin!
Prince of Jin: Isn't a kiss on the lips?
Linlin laughed loudly, "They're all the same."
They're all the same... Are you the Prince of Jin's biological son? Your mother got taken advantage of!
If it weren't for the fact that Prince of Jin had been working like a slave for Linlin today, she would have flipped the table long ago, hmph!
Before going to sleep that night, the shameful scene kept replaying in Tang Zhuyun's mind. Finally, she grabbed a pillow and pressed it against her face, wishing she could smother herself, before she finally fell asleep without realizing it.
She couldn't help but think about it when she got up in the morning to prepare the meals for Tang Mingfan and Prince of Jin to take to the palace, but she calmed down after seeing that Prince of Jin's expression had returned to normal.
It's just coaxing a child, don't take it seriously. Why is she overthinking things?
Anyway, we didn't actually sleep together!
She greeted the Prince of Jin in a generous manner, only to be met with a cold response from him.
Tang Zhuyun: I @#￥%...
What's with the attitude? It's like she took advantage of him yesterday.
Prince of Jin: I feel very uneasy, but even if Mount Tai collapses before me, I must remain calm and composed. Remember this!
Nanxing came out of his room and almost bumped into Prince of Jin when he opened the door. He quickly bowed his head and apologized.
The Prince of Jin said coldly, "Serve your master well!"
"Yes!"
He didn't know why, but seeing Nanxing felt like seeing an enemy.
Tang Zhuyun felt that Nanxing, though not very talkative, was very well-behaved after arriving, so she spoke up to help her out of the predicament.
"Nanxing, come help me start the fire."
"Yes."
Prince of Jin gave Tang Zhuyun a deep look.
Tang Zhuyun puffed out her chest: What are you looking at? Haven't you ever seen a beauty before?
The Prince of Jin, too lazy to pay her any more attention, turned around and went back to his room.
Tang Zhuyun was too lazy to pay him any attention. She went inside to cook, fuming, and muttered to herself, "I think he'll only be able to find a man in the future. No woman can stand him."
Nanxing, who was usually silent, suddenly spoke up, "That's because you're not the right person."
Tang Zhuyun asked instinctively, "Who are you?"
Nanxing lowered her head.
Tang Zhuyun: Hey, I was just saying it casually, I didn't mean to argue. Can't you give me some more gossip? She's just a little weasel jumping around, crying for food.
After preparing the meal, Tang Zhuyun called Xiu'er over to fetch the food box, and then handed another food box to Song Jingyang.
However, just as they were about to leave, Huaishang suddenly arrived.
Tang Zhuyun wanted to dodge, but she resisted the urge—making it too obvious would only arouse suspicion.
Huaishang said to Song Jingyang, who was carrying a food box, "Give me the food box. I'll serve the Prince to court today. Didn't you have an upset stomach yesterday?"
Song Jingyang retorted angrily, "Isn't it because you treated me to that shoddy noodle soup? You really can't take advantage of me."
Huaishang an awkward laugh.
Prince of Jin came out, the two dared not fight anymore.
The Prince of Jin went to court with Huaishang. Song Jingyang begged Tang Zhuyun to prescribe some medicine for him and then asked Xiu'er to help him decoct the medicine.
Before the medicine was even ready, Tang Zhuyun was cooking and talking to Xiu'er when a shrill scream suddenly came from outside, "His Highness Prince of Jin is gone!"