The Emperor's expression changed.
Tang Zhuyun heard her own heart pounding.
It must be said that Consort De went to great lengths to help.
If we were to investigate such words seriously, it would be a grave disrespect—daring to slander the imperial palace? That is the emperor's stronghold!
What the Emperor wants to hear is a harmonious family life filled with filial piety and love. Who gave you the right to speak such blunt truths?
Nanny Rong slowly spoke, "Your Majesty, do you still remember what happened back then?"
Tang Zhuyun immediately saw the Emperor's face turn to grief.
There's a story behind this! Like Xia Yuhe by Daming Lake?
She felt that Nanny Rong was referring to the Prince of Prince of Jin's birth mother. Although there was no evidence, she had a very strong feeling about it.
Tang Zhuyun spoke up at the opportune moment, "Your Majesty, you bestowed me upon the Prince. I was once a concubine, but later lost my title, yet I have always been willing. To marry such a noble man as the Prince is a blessing I earned in my past life. I do not believe the Prince is gone; I would rather believe that the Prince is recuperating somewhere and will surely return! I want nothing more than to protect the Prince's residence and the young lady, and wait for the Prince's return."
"What if he never comes back?" the Emperor asked.
Tang Zhuyun kowtowed, her voice firm and unwavering. "Then I will wait until the next life, so that when I see Your Highness again, I can tell you with a clear conscience that I have always been waiting for you."
The Emperor said, "You don't need to do this. Your father has hesitated to speak before me several times, and I know what he's thinking. That old man has no other weaknesses, except that he dotes on his children. I know what he wants... In two years, you can go home."
"No, Your Majesty!" Tang Zhuyun said, "I belong to the Prince in life and in death! I will protect the Prince's mansion and the young lady, and wait for the Prince to return!"
"Are you sure?"
"Sure."
Absolutely!
With this one-shot deal, there's hope for the rest of my life.
"Good, good, good. Qi'er has not spoiled you in vain! Guards, convey my decree: Tang Zhuyun is hereby conferred the title of Consort of Prince of Jin, and shall enjoy the same treatment as the Prince of Jin's principal wife. She shall also be buried with Prince of Jin after her death!"
Tang Zhuyun breathed a long sigh of relief; it was done.
She saved Yanran.
As expected, the Emperor asked Consort De to rise and said that Tang Zhuyun would take care of Yanran from now on.
"When Yanran grows up, let's find her a husband who will live with her in the family," the Emperor said.
Tang Zhuyun's heart suddenly jumped again.
She was afraid the emperor would arrange Yuanyang for her without proper consent.
Fortunately, the Emperor was not ill like the Prince of Jin. He only told her that he would send people to handle the Prince of Jin's funeral and that she would be in charge of the Prince's mansion in the future.
Just as Tang Zhuyun expressed her gratitude, the Emperor said again, "Qi'er dotes on Linlin very much, so let Linlin break the basin for Qi'er."
How could Tang Zhuyun possibly object?
But what exactly does the Emperor mean? Does he want Linlin to be adopted by Prince of Jin, or even become his son-in-law?
For a moment, her heart pounded like a drum.
After returning from the palace, she told Linlin about it.
Linlin said coldly, "Auntie, I begged for this."
Tang Zhuyun:???
"The Prince has treated me very well, and he has no sons after his death. After discussing it with my grandfather and father, I asked my grandfather to inform the Emperor on my behalf; I will not take anything from the Prince's mansion, I am only doing my best for the Prince in his final moments."
Seeing his gloomy face and sorrowful eyes, Tang Zhuyun held him in her arms, offering silent comfort.
The trauma left to the two children can only be healed by time.
"Sister, what should we do next?" Yanran looked at Tang Zhuyun, tears welling up in her eyes.
She was finally free from worrying about her future, but after this matter was settled, she was reminded of the grief of losing her father.
"Next, we'll return to the Prince's residence." Tang Zhuyun's gaze was firm.
With Prince of Jin gone for so many days, the Prince's residence must be in complete chaos.
She had to go back and guard it; it was where she would live in the future. The Prince's estate was Yanran's future dowry, and no one else was allowed to touch it.
A look of relief appeared in Nanny Rong's eyes.
She had wanted to speak for a long time, but without the Emperor's approval, she couldn't bring herself to do so.
Unexpectedly, Tang Zhuyun had the same idea as her.
"Your father's funeral will certainly be held at the Prince's residence," Tang Zhuyun said. "Although he didn't care about other people's opinions while he was alive, we want him to have a grand send-off after his death, so that he will never be inferior to others again."
May the Prince of Jin be reborn into a good family in his next life, with both parents alive, a loving and fulfilling relationship, and a happy family.
She had already planned it all out; everything would be done to the highest standards, in a grand and spectacular manner.
Everyone must know that even in death, Prince of Jin is still the Emperor's beloved son and will not be wronged.
Only then will her and Yanran's lives be a little easier.
Prince of Jin, don't think I'm using you. For your daughter's sake, and given my selfish desire for peace and stability, just this once in a while, go ahead and make a big splash.
Song Jingyang ran around taking care of everything. He was the one who couldn't accept this fact the most. Later, Tang Zhuyun had a deep talk with him and told him that even if they believed the prince could live, the best choice at the moment was to properly handle the funeral arrangements.
She said more than just that.
She made Song Jingyang firmly grasp the power possessed by the Prince of Jin, such as the Golden Scale Guard.
She told Song Jingyang that she couldn't lose everything just because Prince of Jin was back; but her own goal was to live one day at a time, and as long as she was still Prince of Jin's, she was Yanran's.
Then Song Jingyang rallied—he was determined to defend all the prince's rights!
When Tang Zhuyun heard him say that he was going to discuss things with Huaishang, she subtly probed his opinion of Huaishang.
But Song Jingyang was adamant. "Huaishang would never betray Your Highness!"
"He only came to the prince's side later, didn't he?"
"That was ten years ago, and the Prince gave him a lot... You don't understand, but he won't. If he betrays the Prince, I'll twist my head off and let you kick it around like a ball."
Perhaps those directly involved are the most clear-headed? Or are they simply blinded by their own perspective?
Tang Zhuyun couldn't tell the difference for a moment.
Let them do whatever they want. Like I said, she has no confidence in the Prince of Jin's external forces; she'll just live one day at a time.
All she could do was protect what was currently in the Prince's mansion.
On the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, every household was cooking eight-treasure porridge. Tang Zhuyun, holding Yanran's hand and accompanied by Nanny Rong, stepped into the Prince of Jin's Residence for the first time as the mistress of the house.
She was dressed in mourning clothes, with a white flower in her hair, her expression solemn, and her steps steady.
She knew that once she stepped inside, this would be the place where she would spend the rest of her life.
However, she never regretted her decision.
There are no such things in life that can have all the advantages. What lies before her is a certainty for the rest of her life, and that's what she chose.
At the entrance of the Prince's Mansion, she looked up at the three golden characters "Prince of Jin's Residence" on the black plaque, and the image of Prince of Jin's aloof face appeared before her eyes.
Your Highness, I know you would never love me, even if it meant death; and so would I.
However, for Yanran's sake, please bless us even in death.
"Hurry up, hurry up! If we don't move now, that old woman surnamed Rong will come back and we won't be able to take it away!"