Nanny Rong rummaged through the trunks for a while, and with some difficulty, took out a palm-sized brocade box from the bottom. She smiled and walked towards Tang Zhuyun.
The Prince of Jin recognized what it was and exclaimed, "Granny!"
Nanny Rong opened the brocade box, revealing a red coral bracelet on a black velvet surface, vibrant and dazzling.
Tang Zhuyun, a country bumpkin, was deeply amazed by the pure red color she had never seen before.
The beads are of uniform size, with a few pendants in the middle, also made of the same material, but carved into the shape of swords, looking like tassels from a distance.
"This is what the young lady left for you." Nanny Rong's eyes seemed to hold a myriad of emotions—longing, sorrow, and relief... "The young lady said back then that if the prince met a woman he liked, he would give her this bracelet."
Tang Zhuyun immediately tucked her hands tightly behind her back.
Nanny Rong wouldn't be trying to give it to her, would she? That would be a huge misunderstanding!
She looked pleadingly at the Prince of Jin —the item was nice, but it was too hot to handle; it wasn't hers, and she didn't want it.
Prince of Jin did not disappoint her. His Adam's apple bobbed, and he finally spoke, "Granny, please put it away. It's something Mother left behind; keep it as a memento."
"Yes, yes, yes," Tang Zhuyun echoed repeatedly, fearing that she would be given gifts.
Without a word, Nanny Rong shoved the brocade box into her hands, then looked at her and at Prince of Jin, saying, "The Prince is a reserved person; he won't say what he likes. This old servant will take the liberty of giving you this bracelet today."
Tang Zhuyun's eyes widened.
Prince of Jin didn't confess his feelings, but Nanny Rong did for him?
Is she really a friend of middle-aged and elderly people, just like in her previous life?
While in the hospital, because she was raised by her grandmother, she paid extra attention to the elderly, which won her the affection of many seniors.
Her aura can't be changed even in two lifetimes!
"No, no, no... Nanny Rong, I can't accept this."
Nanny Rong looked at Prince of Jin, her gaze gentle yet firm.
The Prince of Jin said calmly, "Since that's the case, then accept it."
Tang Zhuyun: No, Nanny Rong, please don't misunderstand. I'm not refusing it because the Prince forbids it; it's because I can't accept it!
Just as she was thinking about how to refuse, she heard Nanny Rong say, "Your Highness, please accept it. However, you cannot wear this out."
Tang Zhuyun:???
Why? Is the Xiao Family taboo? Is it because of the Prince of Prince of Jin's birth mother? Why can't her jewelry ever see the light of day again?
The Prince of Jin said, "Take it."
After thinking for a moment, Tang Zhuyun said, "Then how about this, I'll keep it for now, and give it to Yanran when Yanran grows up or gets married."
She was only keeping it temporarily in her possession; she wouldn't keep it for herself, and she certainly didn't want to be someone the Prince of Jin liked—she wasn't worthy, truly.
The sparrow doesn't want to fly to the sky; it just wants to chirp and chatter its way through life.
Nanny Rong hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped herself.
The Prince of Jin said, "Then let it be so."
Just as they were about to leave, there was a sudden knock on the courtyard gate, and then a bald little novice monk who looked about five or six years old came in, saying that Master Hong'en invited Tang Zhuyun to come and sit down.
"Just me?" Tang Zhuyun looked at the little novice monk, really wanting to touch his bald head.
The young novice nodded. "The abbot said he only requests your presence."
She's so straightforward, she doesn't even respect the prince, and she likes that!
Her father and Master Hong'en were also on good terms, so she had to give him face.
The Prince of Jin said, "Since that's the case, you may go ahead."
Tang Zhuyun followed the young novice monk out, took out some candy from her purse and gave it to him, making him so happy that his eyes disappeared from his grin.
Tang Zhuyun also got to touch the round, bald head as she wished; it felt so good!
Tang Zhuyun entered Master Hong'en's meditation room, where the latter was sitting on a futon, turning prayer beads and chanting sutras with his eyes closed.
She stood there dumbfounded, secretly glancing around.
This meditation room was far too rudimentary. How few things were there? If she didn't stare at the meditation cushion, she could only look at the walls, which were so bare that her eyes would slip.
Fortunately, her embarrassment didn't last long. Master Hong'en quickly opened his eyes, his face kind and gentle, and said very casually, "Your Highness, please sit down."
A young monk served tea, Master Hong'en said "Please" to Tang Zhuyun.
Tang Zhuyun picked up her teacup and drank half of it.
"Does Your Highness find this tea good?" Master Hong'en asked with a smile.
Tang Zhuyun: "Well... can I tell the truth?"
This master is really kind, just like the bald security guard grandpa who guarded the gate when she was in elementary school, you can't get nervous at all.
Master Hong'en smiled and nodded.
"To be honest, I can't taste the difference," Tang Zhuyun said embarrassedly. "Even the best tea would be like a cow chewing on a peony if I drank it."
Master Hong'en's smile widened, "Your Highness is truly a woman of deep feeling."
Tang Zhuyun: "You flatter me. Master, is there something you need?"
She couldn't stop worrying about it if she didn't say it.
"It's nothing, I just feel that Your Highness is a person I have a special connection with, and I would like to invite you for a cup of tea."
Tang Zhuyun: "If you put it that way, I don't know how to respond."
Master Hong'en suddenly laughed out loud, and pulled out a string of Buddhist prayer beads from somewhere, handing it to her. "To bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new, Your Highness, please take this and have some fun."
Tang Zhuyun accepted it with both hands, and asked somewhat guiltily, "Master, is this... valuable?"
Master Hong'en smiled and said, "It's just ordinary wood, nothing valuable."
"Then I'll accept it without worry, thank you!" Tang Zhuyun smiled broadly. "I didn't know I was coming here beforehand, so I didn't prepare anything for you. Here's a packet of candy for you to try, or you can save it for the little novice monk."
She smiled and took the candy out of her purse and poured it on the table.
"Please try it, it's really delicious, I made it myself." Tang Zhuyun put the Buddhist prayer beads on her wrist. "I'll have someone send you some vegetarian food another day, thank you!"
In modern times, wouldn't wealthy people and celebrities be scrambling to acquire Buddhist prayer beads blessed by highly accomplished monks?
She didn't give anything and people gave it to her willingly; isn't she just picking up a gold mine?
Master Hong'en smiled and said, "Thank you very much, Your Highness. You are blessed with great fortune."
During the Lunar New Year, who doesn't want to hear nice things?
Tang Zhuyun said, "Master, I wish you..."
May you enjoy good health, have a good appetite, and live a long and healthy life!
Master Hong'en's wrinkles around his eyes appeared when he smiled, making him seem even more kind and gentle.
At the same time, Nanny Rong was also talking to Prince of Jin.
"Your Highness, you won't blame this old servant for taking it upon myself to give the bracelet to the Princess Consort, will you?"
"No," said the Prince of Jin.
He had never thought about women, but Tang Zhuyun stumbled into his presence, and by some twist of fate, the two were tied together.
If I absolutely have to have a woman, then I'll just go with the flow; this is the one.
"Your Highness," Nanny Rong said with a smile, "You treat the Princess Consort differently."
She had initially thought the Prince of Jin would deny it, but to her surprise, he nodded.
"She is indeed different..."
Nanny Rong was overjoyed; had the iron tree finally blossomed?
Girl, you can rest assured!