Tang Zhuyun: "..."
She didn't answer immediately; after thinking for a moment, she decided to tell the truth.
"Your Highness, do you remember that time we met at the Great Xiangguo Temple? That Jiang Zhazha was there too!"
"Jiang Zhazha? What kind of strange nickname is that?"
"He's such a jerk, he's scum." Tang Zhuyun rolled her eyes and said, "Where did all this curiosity come from?"
What kind of description is this? How does scum become bad? But the Prince of Jin had a wild imagination and thought that if there were scum in clean water, it would be really annoying.
Oh, that matches up.
"... I can tell that the Emperor has a heart ailment." Tang Zhuyun told the truth in detail.
After all, he was her son's biological father, so compared to the Crown Prince and Prince of Yong, and other princes she had never met, she still hoped that Prince of Jin would get what he wanted.
"However," Tang Zhuyun looked at Prince of Jin, "I cannot harm anyone, and I would never harm the Emperor."
Prince of Jin: "... That's my father!"
What image did he have in her heart? How could he have committed patricide?
Tang Zhuyun breathed a sigh of relief, "Alright, that's how it is. You don't need to be so petty and make wild guesses."
And never think that the emperor is no longer capable, so you can recklessly test him. Just do your job honestly, and after those people have beaten you to a pulp, you might even pick up a crown prince to be your successor!
"And what about Madam Wang's matter? Can I handle that? I hate people who use such methods to harm others!"
"Very well, I'd like to see who's so foolish." A cold glint flashed in the Prince of Jin's eyes.
If you want to curry favor with Wang Fu, then do it properly; if you fail, you won't make an enemy. Instead, you try to attack his weaknesses—isn't that just courting death?
"Actually, I think," Tang Zhuyun said, tired from rescuing people, resting her chin on her hand and leaning against the carved rosewood table, yawning, "Eunuch Wang won't have an easy time dealing with this person in the future."
Although everyone had to curry favor with him, the other party was the emperor's son, so taking revenge would still be very difficult.
"You care about that?" Prince of Jin said with a cold smile.
She never asks what her husband is doing or whether it's dangerous, but she's always busy worrying about others.
Tang Zhuyun: Heaven and earth bear witness, does she dare to ask?
"It's not concern, it's curiosity." Tang Zhuyun simply slumped onto the table. "I'm exhausted."
The Prince of Jin's lips moved, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped himself.
He wanted to say that if saving people takes too much of his time, some people might just give up.
For example, someone like Madam Wang... He had no intention of currying favor with Wang Fu.
But what she finally said was, "You should rest well."
Tang Zhuyun almost thought she had misheard.
Why is that scoundrel speaking to her so gently today? Did he remember she's Linlin's mother?
"I still need to go check on Eunuch Wang and Madam Wang. Given the situation tonight, they probably can't be moved," she said weakly.
"Let Xiu'er and Song Jingyang settle things in; we can discuss the rest tomorrow," Prince of Jin said forcefully.
Tang Zhuyun was indeed tired. After instructing Xiu'er, she washed up and climbed onto the kang (a heated brick bed) to fall fast asleep.
Xiu'er cooked porridge for Madam Wang, and after she finished drinking it, she cleaned up the dishes and tidied up the kitchen. Just as she was rubbing her back and preparing to leave, she suddenly heard the voice of Prince of Jin.
"Have someone buy some fish tomorrow, preferably sea fish. Shrimp and shellfish are also acceptable if you can find them!"
It's winter now, so we can still eat it; but once February comes and the snow melts, it won't be so easy to get it.
Tang Zhuyun needs some rest and improvement.
Xiu'er was startled and was about to complain, but then she remembered there were outsiders in the courtyard, so she could only mutter softly, "Your wound hasn't fully healed yet, you can't eat foods that might aggravate it."
"Buy it for the Princess."
"Your Highness? Why didn't Her Majesty tell me herself?" Xiu'er asked purely out of curiosity.
"She's tired." Only after saying this did the Prince of Jin realize his embarrassment, and he scolded in a low voice, "Just buy it when I tell you to!"
Xiu'er's eyes widened, her gaze seeming to say—Your Highness, what have you done to my lady!
The Prince of Jin ignored her and turned to go inside.
The next day, Tang Zhuyun got up, Xiu'er came in to help her wash up and comb her hair.
Tang Zhuyun said, "Why are you acting so strangely today?"
I have hands of my own, why do I need her help?
Xiu'er said, "Aren't you tired?"
Tang Zhuyun assumed she was referring to the rescue last night and smiled, saying, "You've worked hard too."
"I didn't!" Xiu'er exclaimed, her eyes wide. "If Song Jingyang dares to lay a hand on me, I'll kick him away!"
Tang Zhuyun was completely bewildered.
The Prince of Jin said, "Xiu'er, go and cook."
Xiu'er slapped her forehead. "I still have fish stewing in the pot!"
Tang Zhuyun was even more confused. Combing her hair, she muttered to herself, "Why are we eating fish so early in the morning? Xiu'er's acting strange today."
Prince of Jin: "..."
Tang Zhuyun went to see Madam Wang, who was lying down, but struggled to get up when she saw Tang Zhujun come in.
Wang Fu, who was originally sitting on the edge of the bed, also got up and cupped his hands in greeting to Tang Zhuyun.
Tang Zhuyun examined Madam Wang's pulse and said, "The arsenic poisoning has been neutralized, but she needs to recuperate for some time. As for her illness, she'll need to take medicine for several months; it won't be easy for her to recover."
"It can take any time, Your Highness," Wang Fu said.
Madam Wang looked at Tang Zhuyun with eyes full of gratitude.
Tang Zhuyun said a few words of modesty and then asked Wang Fu about his plans.
Wang Fu said, "This old servant will still have to trouble Your Highness for a few days. Could you please find her a place to stay in the Prince's mansion? It's not convenient for her to stay in your courtyard... I'll have someone bring all her servants here in a little while. After the matter is investigated, I'll take her back. I won't thank you enough. If Your Highness ever needs my help in the future, this old servant will do my utmost."
Tang Zhuyun said, "Eunuch Wang, you're too kind. It was no trouble at all."
Madam Wang, however, tugged at Wang Fu's sleeve and pleaded, "Sir, I miss Zhigao. Could you bring him along? I'm worried about him..."
Wang Fu agreed, and then explained to Tang Zhuyun that Zhigao was their adopted son.
Tang Zhuyun, who raised her own child, could understand her mother's feelings. After exchanging a few pleasantries, she went back to eat.
While eating the fish, Tang Zhuyun asked Xiu'er, "Why did you decide to cook fish so early this morning?"
"Isn't this what you wanted to eat?"
Tang Zhuyun: "When did I say I wanted to eat fish?"
"I had a dream the night before last," said the Prince of Jin.
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
However, the sea fish was really delicious. No one else ate it, but Tang Zhuyun ate the whole fish herself, even the fish eyes, before finally putting down her chopsticks with satisfaction.
Prince of Jin: Just as I thought!
Tang Zhuyun put down her chopsticks with satisfaction and said, "Your Highness, I have to go home today. My elder brother is leaving tomorrow, and I've prepared some food for him to take back."
The Prince of Jin said, "Give him two hundred taels of travel expenses."
"No need, my elder brother definitely can't accept it. After all, you're 'dead,' and he doesn't want to take advantage of the Prince's mansion."
"You didn't tell him the truth?" Prince of Jin was satisfied; she still knew whose family he was now.
Tang Zhuyun: "Isn't it enough that I jumped into the pit myself? I don't want to drag my older brother into this!"
Prince of Jin: As expected, he was just being delusional.