Galloping on horseback, the wind and snow were magnified many times over, and Tang Zhuyun could barely open her eyes.
Fortunately, the large hand around her waist was strong and gripped her so tightly it felt like it was about to break, which convinced her that she wouldn't be thrown off.
When the Racing Thunder stopped, she felt her face was frozen stiff, and her body was as stiff as a stick, unable to move.
The Prince of Jin lifted her down, and Tang Zhuyun only came back to life when her feet touched the ground.
She rubbed her face, stamped her feet, looked up at the high walls and courtyards, the eaves reaching for the sky, and exclaimed in surprise, "Your Highness, are you taking me into the palace?"
Is this person crazy? It's the middle of the night.
"This is the Great Xiangguo Temple," Prince of Jin said expressionlessly, leading his horse forward.
Great Xiangguo Temple?
The only thing Tang Zhuyun could think of was that her birth mother's memorial tablet was kept here, and hadn't she bumped into the Emperor here last time?
The Emperor? Could the Emperor be inside too?
No, this is the Lunar New Year. The Emperor should be in the palace with his vast family of concubines, celebrating the New Year in a lively atmosphere!
Surrounded by lush pine and cypress trees, with the faint scent of sandalwood in the air, the temple exudes a solemn and dignified atmosphere—truly Great Xiangguo Temple.
Why did the Prince of Jin bring her here?
With this question in mind, Tang Zhuyun followed him nervously, winding around and around until she finally arrived at a small courtyard before she got completely dizzy.
Prince of Jin first led Racing Thunder into the side room, then pushed open the main door and said to Tang Zhuyun, "Come in."
Tang Zhuyun followed them inside with some doubts.
For some reason, she always felt a chill in the air, as if the Prince of Jin was up to no good.
The room was lit by candlelight, and inside was a heavy, dark altar table with incense, candles, and offerings on it. There seemed to be a memorial tablet behind it.
The reason I say "seems" is because it's covered by a red cloth, so I can't see what it actually is.
Tang Zhuyun wanted to roll her eyes: You really overestimate her. Even if you showed it to her directly, there's no guarantee she could recognize the words.
Many of her names are so uncommon that she really has a hard time recognizing them.
Two prayer mats were placed side by side on the ground. The Prince of Jin said, "Kneel down."
Just as Tang Zhuyun was expressing her indignation at his imperious attitude and thinking about how to refuse, she saw that Prince of Jin had already lifted his robe and knelt down first.
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
She knelt down too, wondering if this was the start of a wedding ceremony.
She lowered her head and stared at her knees, then heard the Prince of Jin say, "Mother, I've brought my daughter-in-law to see you."
Tang Zhuyun looked miserable. She was doomed; how could she possibly know the Prince of Jin's secrets?
The more you know, the faster you die.
She desperately wanted to run away, but she knew the Prince of Jin would kill her if she did.
Why did the Prince of Jin bring her along?
To comfort the spirit of my birth mother in heaven?
But the two of them have nothing but titles; Your Highness, you even lied to your deceased mother, aren't you afraid that she will crawl out in the middle of the night and beat you to death, you unfilial son?
The Prince of Jin was also speechless when facing his mother's memorial tablet. After saying those words, he remained silent, then kowtowed three times with a series of loud thuds.
Tang Zhuyun also kowtowed three times to ask for water.
Prince of Jin suddenly turned to look at the miserable-looking Tang Zhuyun: "What, you're unwilling?"
Tang Zhuyun: How could she dare!
"No, no, it's just that since you brought me here, I didn't prepare to bring any gifts... I was afraid it would be impolite to bring incense, candles, or paper money."
It's true, she's very afraid of ghosts and spirits now, so she definitely has to burn paper money properly.
The Prince of Jin ignored her.
Does that mean you believe it?
He stood up, and Tang Zhuyun followed suit.
The door suddenly creaked open, and Tang Zhuyun turned around to see Nanny Rong carrying in two cups of tea.
"Your Highness, Your Highness the Princess." Nanny Rong curtsied.
Nanny Rong was there too?
After setting down the tray, she looked at the memorial tablet and said, "Young lady, you've waited so many years, and finally, the Princess Consort has arrived."
Tang Zhuyun felt a chill run down her spine. Although she knew that this might be Nanny Rong's loyalty to her former master, treating the dead as if they were alive, she still couldn't help but feel a little horrified.
Worried that she might reveal her true emotions and show disrespect to Nanny Rong, she turned her head to look in the direction of the memorial tablet.
As a result, she watched helplessly as the wind blowing through the hall blew the red cloth off the memorial tablet.
It was blown away...
Tang Zhuyun turned her head back with lightning speed.
She didn't see it; she really didn't see that the memorial tablet read "December, Madam Lady Xiao"!
She swears to the light, she didn't see it!
Your Highness, I'm truly blind!
Then she heard the Prince of Jin ask in a sinister tone, "Did you see that?"
"No..." Tang Zhuyun said, "What did you see?"
"What if they gouge out my eyes and pull out my tongue if I see this?!" Tang Zhuyun was already starting to panic.
"Your Highness, as you know, I'm not very literate. You still remember ooxx, don't you!"
Prince of Jin: "I'll ask you one more time, you really don't recognize me?"
Tang Zhuyun shook her head so hard it almost fell off. "I don't know her, I really don't know her!"
If we got to know each other, I'd be dead. Who would dare get to know someone like that?
Granny Nanny Rong smile, "Your Highness, you've misunderstood. Originally..."
"After returning to your residence, copy the ' Hundred Family Surnames ' one hundred times," Prince of Jin said coldly.
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
Then, the Prince of Jin used his hand—a hand capable of dislocating someone's jaw at any moment—to lift her chin, forcing her to look towards the memorial tablet, and said, word by word, "My late mother, Lady Xiao!"
Tang Zhuyun: "Am I going to die?"
The Prince of Jin, "It's not too late to die after you've finished copying the ' Hundred Family Surnames '."
Nanny Rong wiped away her tears and said, "Miss, how happy you would be to see such a delightful couple!"
The Prince of Jin and Tang Zhuyun simultaneously revealed a look of disdain for each other—who was this supposed to be a bickering couple?
The Lady Xiao... Xiao... that surname sounds familiar.
In a flash, Tang Zhuyun suddenly remembered that at the second flower-viewing banquet at the Grand Princess's residence, someone hesitated before speaking, saying that Yanran looked like Xiao...
She understood!
"Your Highness, does Yanran resemble her grandmother?"
The Prince of Prince of Jin's expression was clearly complicated.
Nanny Rong was taken aback for a moment, then lowered her head.
Tang Zhuyun: Did she guess right or wrong?
If I'm right, then Lady Xiao is a noblewoman from the capital, and many people know her. So why is there now talk of the Prince of Jin mother being unknown?
Good heavens, have mercy on this average person with barely passing intelligence; she just can't understand it.
Nanny Rong said, "Your Highness, don't panic. Today, I originally wanted you to know the truth, which is why I only partially covered the memorial tablet. This old servant originally thought that His Highness would personally uncover it for you to see, but unexpectedly, Qingfeng beat me to it."
Hey Qingfeng, did you sneeze?
The Prince of Prince of Jin and Tang Zhuyun both had strange expressions.
"Now that you are a princess, you will need to be more understanding of the prince in many matters from now on," said Nanny Rong.
Who understands her? Everyone's experiencing life for the first time; who owes whom anything?
However, Nanny Rong had always been good to her, and from the perspective of the values here, there was nothing wrong with what she said, so Tang Zhuyun remained silent.
"Your Highness has suffered so much, Your Highness..."
"Granny, you should get some rest." Prince of Jin clearly didn't want to play the victim and interrupted her.
Nanny Rong nodded. "Alright, alright, I'm getting old and talkative. Please forgive me, Your Highness."
Tang Zhuyun exchanged a few polite words, then looked at Prince of Jin.
Prince of Jin said, "Granny, if there's nothing else, I'll take her back first. The two children are still at the manor..."
"Wait a minute—" Nanny Rong hurried towards the chest in the corner.