Tang Zhuyun was still in a daze for three days after becoming a princess.
Fortunately, there were no major losses, and that Seventh Prince was dealt with, so we should have some peace and quiet from now on.
The Lunar New Year is just a few days away, which is also Linlin's birthday—his birthday is the most important, on the first day of the Lunar New Year.
Looking back six years ago, while everyone else was joyfully celebrating the New Year with their families, the Tang Family was shrouded in gloom, awaiting the birth of a child whose father was unknown and who could not be aborted...
Thankfully, everything is alright now.
"Actually, life is much better now than it was back then," Tang Zhuyun said to Meng Yulan, who came to visit her. "Sister-in-law, don't worry about me. In this cold weather, please don't go out."
Meng Yulan said, "My grandfather was worried about you, so he sent me to come and comfort you, to offer my condolences."
Tang Zhuyun: "I'm fine."
Meng Yulan hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.
Tang Zhuyun asked curiously, "Sister-in-law, has something happened at home?"
Meng Yulan sighed and said, "I didn't want to trouble you, but I'm worried about Master and Uncle... they're both not well."
What happened to my dad and my older brother?
It turned out that both the Tang Family father and son felt that this princess had completely ruined Tang Zhuyun's future, and they sighed and lamented about it, almost to the point of heartache.
Tang Zhuyun: "... No, I'm doing very well now!"
Meng Yulan, "I've tried to persuade the old man like this, but he's a little unhappy, so I don't dare say anything more. You can talk to him about it next time he comes to see you."
"Okay," Tang Zhuyun agreed, both amused and exasperated.
She never expected that her beating of the Seventh Prince would be seen by the father and son as evidence of her unwavering loyalty to the Prince of Jin.
"My husband says at home, 'Extreme intelligence is often harmful, and deep affection is short-lived'... In short, he's worried about you."
"Okay, I understand," Tang Zhuyun said. "I can't go out in my current condition. I'll have Father come after the New Year, and I'll talk to him."
She prepared gifts for her family, but Meng Yulan refused them all.
"Before I came, the master repeatedly warned me not to take your things."
Tang Zhuyun knew that her father was a strong-willed person and was afraid that people would say he was taking advantage of the Prince's mansion, so she could only give up. However, she did not ask Meng Yulan for the money to pay for the cold dish recipe she brought.
She's a princess now, with a stipend from the court, so she's not short of money.
Tang Mingfan also allowed Linlin to stay at the Prince's Mansion for the New Year, to keep Tang Zhuyun.
Tang Zhuyun readily accepted this.
Both children are still in a bad mood, and being together might make it easier for them to recover.
After seeing Meng Yulan off, Yanran arrived.
"Mother," she cried out.
She had always dreamed of calling Tang Zhuyun that, but she only got the chance after her father left, and the thought of it made her feel unbearably sad.
Tang Zhuyun's heart ached at her crying, and she hugged her tightly, saying, "Yanran, don't cry, don't cry. Mother saw that the manor has running water, shall we go there and release river lanterns later?"
She strolled around these past few days and discovered that the Prince's Mansion was exquisitely designed and ingeniously crafted; in addition to the entire lake behind the garden, a river was also channeled through the mansion.
Even more strangely, the river water not only didn't freeze, but was also slightly warm.
Tang Zhuyun suspected there was a hot spring there, but she didn't know where it was.
Yanran agreed, and a little while later Linlin came over too. The three of them then leaned over the table to "write a letter" to Prince of Jin.
However, Tang Zhuyun didn't waste her feelings this time—the dead can't see these things, they're all stolen by the living, so there's no need.
But she still pretended to be serious, and out of boredom, she drew a row of cartoon figures lining up to urinate, with a line of words next to the one whose parabola was furthest away. "My mighty Great Prince."
Honestly, she studied hard this time, and she can write it now!
Others really can't understand this painting, so she's not afraid of it being stolen.
As she released the river lanterns and watched them drift away, Tang Zhuyun silently thought to herself, "Your Highness, look, I helped you deal with that arrogant Seventh Prince, and tomorrow I'm even planning to teach that unruly servant a lesson before the New Year... If I have to apologize to you, it's that I added a little meat to the children's food, but the children are still growing, so you won't blame me, right?"
Perhaps she had been silent for too long, for Linlin said sensibly, "Auntie, don't be too sad. Prince of Ding is alright. I even dreamed yesterday that the Prince came back..."
Upon hearing this, Tang Zhuyun was so startled that her hand trembled, and she almost dropped the lantern she was holding into the river.
Good heavens, how could she not have thought of that?
What if the Prince of Jin is still alive?
She's already a princess...
Although it feels a bit cruel, I'd rather die than see my fellow Daoist die. Perhaps, Your Highness, you shouldn't come back at all?
I don't want you to die, but you can lose your memory, waste a few years or something... just live one day at a time.
Just as Tang Zhuyun was about to get up, she suddenly saw a human face float by across from her.
Yes, it was a fleeting glimpse, and it was even the face of the Prince of Jin of Jin, with a resentful expression, looking as if he had died with his eyes wide open.
Things seemed to be getting stranger and stranger. Tang Zhuyun's legs went weak, and she fell into the water with a "plop".
Linlin and Yanran panicked. Tang Zhuyun took a couple of sips of water and stood up from the river. "It's alright, don't panic."
The river isn't deep at all.
It's so cold when I stand up, I just want to stay in the river forever.
Tang Zhuyun couldn't help but look back at the spot where she had just been, but the Prince of Prince of Jin's face had vanished.
As expected, one should not do anything that goes against one's conscience. She thought about the Prince of Jin not returning, and immediately felt guilty and began to hallucinate.
Because they had fallen into the water, Tang Zhuyun hurriedly took the two children back home and changed their clothes.
Linlin suddenly exclaimed, "Auntie, something's wrong!"
Tang Zhuyun asked, "What's wrong, Linlin?"
"Mother," Yanran called out, pointing to the bowl on the offering table, "Didn't you just put nine dumplings in there?"
Because both Zidu thinking about Prince of Jin, even during meals, Tang Zhuyun could only comfort them by turning the nearby table into an offering table and giving Prince of Jin a share of everything.
Tonight they ate dumplings, and Tang Zhuyun served nine to Prince of Jin.
She herself didn't know, but Yanran and Linlin counted them, Yanran still felt it wasn't enough, thinking that her father wasn't getting enough to eat.
Tang Zhuyun then tricked her, saying that nine lives represent countless lives, so nine can represent countless lives.
The Lovely Yanran was completely fooled by her.
But when they went to release a river lantern and came back, there were eight dumplings!
Tang Zhuyun's heart trembled.
She was such a fine young materialist, how come she's so easily frightened now, and strange thoughts keep flashing through her mind? It's really not right of her.
But who can come into this house?
Who's coming in and only want one dumpling?
"Is it Father returning?" Yanran, her eyes brimming with tears, looking up at the surroundings.
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
Please, stop scaring me, okay?