"No, Your Highness, I've heard many people say this before, and they all ended up badly, so please don't say it. You are Yanran's biological father, and I really don't want anything to happen to you!" Tang Zhuyun felt that her feelings were sincere.
The two children were overjoyed to see the Prince of Jin return!
With the Prince of Jin agreeing to maintain a friendly distance, she now feels that the two of them are good comrades again!
The Prince of Jin, however, veered off-topic. "So many people have told you that? I had no idea you were so popular before."
Tang Zhuyun: "I heard... I heard, but it doesn't necessarily mean it was told to me, right?"
What an idiot.
The Prince of Jin saw through her disdain and said in a sinister tone, "You owe me a hundred recitations of the ' Hundred Family Surnames '!"
Tang Zhuyun feigned death.
"By the way, Your Highness, you're still a dead man, shouldn't you hurry up and hide? Why don't you go and give the two children some instructions? I'll tell Xiu'er!"
"Both Zidu you," said the Prince of Jin.
Tang Zhuyun exclaimed, "That bastard has killed the conversation again!"
Fortunately, Song Jingyang rushed in, said something to Prince of Jin, and then took the scoundrel away.
Xiu'er came in yawning and said, "Your Highness, I overslept today."
"Why are you being so proper today?" She even started referring to herself as a servant.
Xiu'er: "Don't even mention it, guess who I slept with last night?"
He immediately and effortlessly switched back to "me".
Tang Zhuyun exclaimed in shock, "Could it be Song Jingyang? Did he lose control after drinking?"
Xiu'er looked at him with disgust. "What are you thinking! Even if he wants to cause trouble, I can't make him do it even if I hold him down! Do you think everyone is like you, unable to handle even a man!"
Tang Zhuyun's sorrow flowed like a river.
She's incompetent, she's a useless person, she just can't beat the Prince of Jin.
"I slept with Nanny Rong yesterday."
Tang Zhuyun chuckled. "No wonder you suddenly became so polite. It's a pity you gave yourself away again after only three sentences. Why don't you go and learn some manners from Nanny Rong?"
"Please spare me," Xiu'er said. "Nanny Rong asked me so many strange questions yesterday..."
What's the problem?
When she asked about your past, I said I hadn't been with you for many years and didn't know. I guessed she was trying to get information out of me, to see what kind of person you were, but I didn't say anything.
Tang Zhuyun gave her a thumbs up.
However, Nanny Rong had always been kind to her, even giving her such an expensive bracelet. Only now did she remember to ask who she was?
Did she change her mind and want the bracelet back?
After a while, the two children woke up, Xiu'er ran out to help them get dressed and wash up.
Tang Zhuyun tasted the saltiness of the soup, then suddenly sensed someone behind her. She turned around abruptly, startling Huaishang.
"Your Highness, Princess Consort." Huaishang bowed her head in greeting.
Feeling guilty, Tang Zhuyun asked warily, "What are you doing in the kitchen?"
Of course, they're here to test the waters.
Huaishang said, "I saw Xiu'er is busy. Let me see if you need anyone to help you."
He then realized that the princess's attitude towards him seemed a bit off; she appeared quite wary and suspicious.
Is there a chance?
So before Tang Zhuyun could speak, he added, "I heard that Your Highness is from Jiangzhou?"
He's here, he really is here! This was the only thought in Tang Zhuyun's mind.
"Yes, my father is from Jiangzhou, many people know that." Tang Zhuyun added some more salt to the soup pot without making a sound, put the lid on, and squatted down to pretend to start a fire.
"Has the lady ever been to the Qinyang River?"
"No." Although Tang Zhuyun was flustered, her tone remained calm.
Although it's unclear why Huaishang suddenly "woke up," as long as she doesn't admit it, she can keep a low profile for a while.
"Before I went to the capital with my father and brothers, the farthest place I had ever been was the county town. Qinyang River was more than two hundred li away, which was too far."
"Oh, I see." Disappointment flashed in Huaishang's eyes. After exchanging a few more pleasantries, he walked away sheepishly.
Was he really going to let his one hundred taels, no, one thousand taels of silver slip through his fingers like this?
Tang Zhuyun became nervous.
Huaishang wouldn't ask such a question without a reason; he must have discovered something suspicious and begun to doubt.
His target is definitely Linlin!
Especially when she saw Huaishang taking Linlin to choose horses after dinner, his attitude was patient and meticulous, alarm bells rang in her mind.
If Huaishang knew what she was thinking, he would feel very wronged—shouldn't he take the task assigned by his master seriously?
Tang Zhuyun was restless, but she also knew that since Huaishang had already become suspicious of this matter, it was only a matter of time before they could follow the clues and find out the truth.
Perhaps Huaishang has already sent people to Jiangzhou and Qinyang River...
In fact, Huaishang did think that way, and he did do that.
However, he was still anxious, since Prince of Jin would have to set off after the Lantern Festival. Before the prince departed, both Nanny Rong and he hoped to give the prince a surprise.
It must be said that the driving force of loyalty (one thousand taels of silver) was very strong, Huaishang went to find Tang Baixin.
Since it was the second year of junior high school, Tang Baixin was still at home. When she saw Huaishang, although she had some doubts, she still treated him well.
During the meal, Huaishang said, "The thing is, Linlin was going to help the Prince break the basin, right? After all, the Prince is of noble status, so Linlin's background also needs to be investigated..."
Then he saw Tang Baixin's expression change instantly.
Huaishang continued, "I had the Golden Scale Guard investigate, and they said Linlin seems to be the Princess's child; moreover, the Princess visited the pleasure boat back then..."
Tang Baixin said coldly, "Linlin helped the Prince break the basin only out of respect and affection for him; if it's inappropriate, then there's no need to force it. The Tang Family doesn't expect to benefit from the Prince's influence!"
Huaishang: He didn't deny it after all!
That's probably true! He'll try to trick the Princess again!
Having confirmed this, he exchanged a few random words with Tang Baixin and left without even eating.
Meng Yulan came out and said, "Sir, something feels off. It seems like Huaishang is here to try and get information out of us."
Tang Baixin: "I feel the same way, but the Prince is gone, A-Yun is now the Princess. What does he want to do...?"
"Sir, please go and see A-Yun first, and talk to her about this so she's aware of the situation."
"Good!"
But before Tang Baixin arrived, Huaishang had already gone to find Tang Zhuyun.
"Your Highness, the person on the pleasure boat back then, it really was you! I know!" Huaishang, unable to hide her excitement.
Hahaha, look at the mess this has made! It was the only time in his life he didn't haggle, and he ended up getting a buy-one-get-one-free deal. The interest on that hundred taels of silver he earned is really worth it!
The prince went from being a bachelor to having a wife and children. He didn't even have to give a wedding gift, and he could even eat the matchmaker's pig's head and receive a big red envelope!
Tang Zhuyun gritted her teeth. "If you're smart enough, keep this to yourself, otherwise I'm afraid you won't even know how you died!"
Huaishang was stunned: Threaten him? Why would you threaten him?