"You're always being thought of, don't you ever sneeze? If you don't want to give it to me, I will," Xiu'er said.
Tang Zhuyun didn't understand why Xiu'er insisted on taking the lead. She thought that a hundred taels wasn't much, but in Huaishang, it was a crushing thought.
"Alright then." Tang Zhuyun snorted, went inside to get a hundred-tael silver note and gave it to Huaishang. "It's the New Year, don't worry about it."
Xiu'er snatched the silver note, leaving Huaishang's outstretched hand, which he had been saying "no," empty.
The group looked at Xiu'er in confusion.
Xiu'er took a small silver ingot from her purse and placed it on the silver note. "This is one tael of silver, I'll give it to you along with the note!"
Huaishang: "Interest?"
"It's from the Princess Consort to the Prince!" Xiu'er said, holding her head high.
It's obvious who patronized whom.
Tang Zhuyun couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Xiu'er, you're really something!"
She pulled Xiu'er, who was about to speak, aside and said with a smile in a low voice, "That's enough, the Prince must have heard you."
"I want him to hear it. I've been angry for a long time because the prince bosses you around like that every day," Xiu'er muttered.
Tang Zhuyun smiled and said, "It's alright, just don't provoke him. I know what I'm doing if I do. If you accidentally anger him, he might think he's someone to be trifled with!"
"You're such a coward!" Xiu'er stamped her foot.
Tang Zhuyun: "Compared to you, everyone else is a coward. The past is a mess. Right now, he's our master, but we haven't sold ourselves to him, so we have to listen to him, but we can't listen to everything he says... In short, we just need to get along well."
Xiu'er said, "What can I say! I can't think about it these past few days. Just thinking about that pregnant Hongfu outside makes me so nauseous I can't eat. Girl, you're only twenty-one, what are you afraid of not getting married? Why are you trying to help people now!"
Tang Zhuyun: "... Is that because you're afraid you won't be able to get married? Isn't that like being forced into a marriage? Imperial decree! Your head!"
There are some things I need to make clear to Xiu'er. A boss is a boss. You should fight for your interests, but you can't just target her all the time.
A harmonious society depends on everyone!
Xiu'er was loyal to her predecessor. No matter how absurd her predecessor was, she would persuade him and act as his henchman without ever complaining. She was also devoted to herself, diligent and capable. It was just that her mouth was really unforgiving.
"Okay, okay," Xiu'er said. "From now on, even if I'm not satisfied, I'll just have to keep it to myself!"
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
The Prince of Jin, listening from inside the room, was nearly vomiting blood. He was determined to find an excuse to give Huaishang a good beating.
For the sake of one hundred taels of silver, he handed over his secret to Tang Zhuyun and her servant.
Those two are probably thinking something about him behind his back!
Nanxing's injuries were severe, and he was still unable to get out of bed, but Prince of Jin was able to walk on his own, though he was still mainly resting in bed.
His "death" must have affected the two children too much, because now those two little ones are sticking to him like glue.
Tang Zhuyun was forced to stay behind; she had to take care of Yanran.
The Prince of Jin was in bed, while she and her two children slept on the kang (a heated brick bed).
That evening, Yanran pestered her to tell her the unfinished story of the Little Mermaid.
The story was somewhat sad, and after finishing it, Yanran choked up and said, "Mother, the little mermaid is so pitiful."
Tang Zhuyun patiently and persuasively asked, "Why is she pitiful?"
"Because, because the prince didn't like her and married someone else, and she couldn't bear to kill the prince, she's so pitiful," Yanran sobbed.
Prince of Jin: "Could you tell me a different story?"
He thought Snow White was pretty good; after going through many hardships, the lovers finally got together. Although there was a suspicion of illicit relations, it was still a good story overall.
What I'm talking about now is utter nonsense.
"They can't live without killing a man, what rubbish!"
Tang Zhuyun: "No, Your Highness should refrain from interfering in women's affairs."
Yanran chuckled, "Mother, we are all under Father's jurisdiction."
Tang Zhuyun snorted and said, "Yanran, what would you do if it were you?"
This question was clearly too difficult for Yanran; it was beyond her scope.
Tang Zhuyun wasn't in a hurry and patiently waited for her answer.
After biting her finger and thinking for a while, Yanran said, "Then, how about we find a way to get rid of the other women and make the prince marry me?"
Tang Zhuyun reached out and tapped her little head. "Aren't you silly! That prince is so blind he can't even recognize his own savior, and he just randomly married someone else. What's the point of having a man like that?"
Yanran: "Then let's kill them."
Tang Zhuyun clapped her hands. "Yes!"
Prince of Jin: "..."
He has an irregular heartbeat and needs to cover his ears for treatment, otherwise he will eventually be driven to his death by Tang Zhuyun's anger.
"Listen to me," Tang Zhuyun said, "First, you must not be fooled by a man's appearance. Keep your eyes wide open, and don't be blind to his true nature."
"Secondly, no matter how good a man is, don't give up on yourself. Why be a fish on a knife's edge when you're already a fish? Don't abandon your family; they are your solid support. Don't sacrifice too much; you are also loved by others."
"Third, even if you're blinded by greed and make the wrong choice, remember to look back. Your mother, your father, and your brother will all help you make amends, just like the little mermaid's sisters. At this point, don't continue to be blind. It's okay to take the wrong path; just find another one."
Fourth, there are countless men in the world; if one doesn't work out, there's always another. Don't believe in that nonsense about men staying together until death; living is more important than anything else.
Fifth, don't give silently. It's useless except for moving yourself and getting a few comments from others. Speak up when you do something; being reserved and modest will only cause you to miss opportunities.
Yanran listened in a daze, and after a long while, she said, "Mother, this is too difficult. I think I'd better not get married."
Prince of Jin: "..."
"Don't speak too soon. Maybe you'll meet someone you like when you grow up," Tang Zhuyun said with a smile.
Yanran is seven years old (by Chinese reckoning), which is the age when, according to the ancients, "One should not sit at the same table with others after the age of seven." Therefore, there are some things that need to be introduced to her properly.
Yanran: "I love you, brother. Why don't I marry you?"
Tang Zhuyun was startled; orthopedics was definitely not an option.
She looked at the Prince of Jin, who seemed to be deep in thought.
Tang Zhuyun: What are you thinking?! Come quick, put out the fire!
Then Linlin said, "Don't think like that. Then you'll have one less person who treats you well. I'll help you find a husband who's as good as me, and then you'll have two people spoiling you, right?"
Yanran clapped her hands. "Brother is right! I'll listen to you, brother."
Tang Zhuyun gave Linlin a thumbs up.
Prince of Jin wondered, when Tang Zhuyun was telling her story, she described the wonderful life underwater as if she had experienced it herself. Could she be a princess of the mermaid race?
For whom did she become human? She never seemed to truly love anyone; she seemed to have given up on everything before. Could it be that the man she loved had already been killed by her?
The Prince of Jin felt a chill on his neck.