Several old women ran out, some carrying vases, others holding screens, scrambling to escape through the small side door next to the main gate.
They were stunned when they saw Tang Zhuyun and her group.
Nanny Rong said sternly, "Outrageous! What you're doing is no different from robbery!"
"This... this was a gift from the Prince to me when he was alive."
"This servant is one too."
"This servant is one too!"
Before Nanny Rong could speak, Tang Zhuyun slowly said, "Nanny Rong, let them go. They're all gone..."
Nanny Rong said, "Madam, you mustn't do this."
With the prince gone, we must protect our family business even more!
Tang Zhuyun waved her hand and led them inside.
The old women looked at each other and laughed.
Unexpectedly, such a bodhisattva-like master has arrived. It seems we need to act quickly, or the things will all be taken away by others.
Aside from things like vases, it seems they could be even bolder.
The royal palace's storerooms hold countless treasures.
Tang Zhuyun first took the two children to the mourning hall.
The mourning hall has just been set up; people will start coming to pay their respects tomorrow.
The funeral banner in front of the door fluttered in the cold wind. It was the first time Tang Zhuyun had seen such a tall and heavy coffin, and it weighed heavily on her heart.
Even a hero like the Prince of Jin met a tragic end, disappearing without a trace, his coffin containing only his old clothes—a truly lamentable fate.
Tang Zhuyun led the two children in kowtowing, Yanran in tears, while Linlin was trying hard to hold back her tears.
"Cry, cry your heart out before the Prince. From tomorrow onwards, there will be no more time to cry."
The ceremony for the prince's passing was solemn and elaborate. Linlin and Yanran would also act as the Prince of Jin sons and daughters, expressing their gratitude to the guests who came to pay their respects.
The two children leaned on Tang Zhuyun, one on each side, and wept bitterly.
Tang Zhuyun's eyes were filled with tears, and she had to tilt her head back slightly to prevent the tears from falling.
Your Highness, as strong as you are, you still died in the end because of your scheming and plotting. Thank you for the tolerance you once showed me, thank you for the support you once gave to Linlin. I am powerless to change your legacy or your hatred. But I will take good care of Yanran, do my best to relieve her of worries and fears, and become her support.
Your Highness, may you rest in peace.
"She entered the Prince's residence?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"She turns a blind eye to thieves?"
This isn't like her; she's usually so intolerant of injustice.
"Yes... perhaps they're new here and can't manage it."
She's not that kind of person.
Huaishang didn't understand the meaning of those words, but he didn't dare to say anything more.
"Is Tang Mingfan still keeping an eye on you?"
"Yes, I've already sent my subordinates to the Court of Judicial Review to inquire several times, and I feel there have been no oversights; but for some reason, I always feel uneasy when I'm in front of Lord Tang."
"That's normal. There's only one Tang Mingfan in the world. Don't assume he's easy to fool just because he's kind and gentle to his children."
Those who could sit in that position and be highly favored by the emperor were definitely not ordinary people.
Huaishang was a little nervous. "Then..."
"It's alright, we can delay it for as many days as we can."
Huaishang nodded and said, "Is there anything else you need? If not, I..."
"I want to go back to the Prince's Palace."
Huaishang was greatly alarmed, but faced with his master's unwavering expression, he could only swallow his words of advice and console himself, "The most dangerous place is also the safest place."
"Yes, I will arrange it."
"It's alright, you can leave now. Staying too long will be difficult for you to explain."
"Yes. But there's one more thing, Nanxing, she..."
"Casual, self-righteous people, regardless of life or death."
"... yes!"
"Wait, how has Madam been lately?"
"Madam... Yesterday, after I told Jingyang everything, he said that Madam was overwhelmed with grief, her mind was in a daze, and she had suffered a great blow."
Really? Why doesn't he believe it?
Huaishang sincerely remarked, "I always thought that Madam was respectful but indifferent to you, but after this incident, I realized that she was simply not good at expressing herself, and that she actually has deep feelings for you."
Is she bad at expressing herself? Or is she deeply affectionate and loyal?
Huaishang accepted the gift.
But he really didn't expect that even knowing he was "dead," Tang Zhuyun would still be willing to enter the Prince's mansion and continue to protect Yanran.
Because of this, he will treat her well in the future.
"By the way, she's no longer the Madam, she's now a Consort."
"... knew."
He "died," but she was promoted; was it his death that brought her this honor?
Even in death, he was contributing to her...
A moment later, Huaishang came down from the second floor, and a waiter approached him eagerly. "Sir, have you found a book you like?"
This is a two-story used bookstore, piled high with old books, dust dancing in the sunlight, and rarely visited by ordinary people.
Huaishang Shang waved the old book in his hand. "This one Shang Ke, how much?"
The shopkeeper said, "You have excellent taste; this book is from the previous dynasty..."
"How much?"
Ten taels of silver.
"I don't want it anymore, I'll get a cheaper one." Huaishang threw the book aside.
The man was stunned.
I don't want five taels of silver, I don't want three taels of silver, I don't want one tael of silver...
The shop assistant was almost in tears. "Sir, even if it's an old book, it's still a valuable one! This one is 500 coins, and that's the cheapest I can find! Why don't you look somewhere else?"
Huaishang: "Two hundred and fifty!"
Shop assistant. "Sir, you can buy it or leave, but swearing is not right."
"Two hundred and forty coins!"
When bargaining, you have to cut the price in half; he definitely misunderstood the situation by asking for 250.
The waiter was both amused and exasperated. "No, no..."
"That's two hundred and forty-one!"
Finally, Huaishang negotiated the price down to 251 coins, which broke the shopkeeper's spirit and the deal was successfully made.
After buying the books, Huaishang went straight to the Court of Judicial Review Temple.
He was going to see Tang Mingfan. The book was a gift he bought for Tang Mingfan. Whether Tang Mingfan accepted it or not didn't matter. What mattered was clearing his name by going to the bookstore.
Linlin and Yanran were both exhausted from crying, so Tang Zhuyun took them back to rest.
She did not enter the Prince of Prince of Jin's courtyard, but instead moved into the Wutong Residence next to the main courtyard.
After having lunch with the two children and putting them down for a nap, Tang Zhuyun finally got up and went out.
Nanny Rong was standing in the courtyard waiting for her.
"Madam, the manor is in such chaos right now. You are now a concubine personally appointed by the Emperor, a proper mistress, and you must take charge!"
Tang Zhuyun said, "Let things be chaotic for now. Many distinguished guests will be arriving starting tomorrow. We'll deal with this situation first."
If the space isn't wide enough, how can you see through their true colors?
"This old servant can roughly understand Madam's thoughts, but I'm worried that this process might cause others to look down on the Prince's Mansion."
"Isn't that a good opportunity to see who we can befriend in the future and who we should stay away from?" Tang Zhuyun retorted. "The prince will be laid to rest in the manor for eighty-one days. There's enough time to pack up, and then we'll certainly make sure the prince goes up the mountain in style."
To show his deep affection for his son, the emperor specially ordered that the funeral be suspended for eighty-one days.
Tang Zhuyun found it extremely ironic.
It's all just for show, they don't even think about seeking justice for the dead.
"Who's there?" Tang Zhuyun suddenly asked.