Song Jingyang said, "When it was your birthday, the Empress made noodles for you, right? Was it because she was buying garlic to make the feast for you that she was kidnapped by bandits?"
Prince of Jin: "..."
Do you know the Princess's birthday?
April 12th.
Prince of Jin really knew this, because he had heard Linlin mention it.
"So," Song Jingyang scratched his head, "Are you planning to give your wife a birthday gift?"
Prince of Jin: "Now the entire palace belongs to her. Can't she take whatever she wants?"
Song Jingyang looked at him with a "you're hopeless" expression, shook his head, and finally said, "Sigh, whatever. Anyway, your marriage to the Princess Consort was bestowed by the Emperor, you can't divorce, and the Emperor is still holding you back. So, just do as you please."
Is this human language?
Why couldn't Tang Zhuyun live with him without the emperor's supervision?
That seems to be true.
But without the emperor's approval, Prince of Jin indicated that he might not be so happy either!
Didn't Tang Zhuyun herself say that they'd each just make do?
Despite his resentment, Prince of Jin began to seriously consider what he should give Tang Zhuyun for her birthday.
At that time, he was no longer in the mansion. It seemed he should have prepared in advance to return the favor and give her a birthday banquet where she could only eat leftovers.
Giving gifts to women was a blind spot for the Prince of Prince of Jin.
He could only ask Song Jingyang.
The Prince of Jin cleared his throat and said, "You speak so eloquently, but let me ask you, has Xiu'er's birthday passed? Did you send her any gifts?"
"Yes, it's over. It was over before the New Year." Song Jingyang didn't keep her in suspense and said directly, "I gave her seventeen pieces of jewelry."
The Prince of Jin was shocked. "Why are there seventeen items?"
"Because she's seventeen, and she's now working for me, she's my person now. Shouldn't I make up for all the birthday gifts she received before?" Song Jingyang said matter-of-factly.
Prince of Jin: I never expected you to be like this, Song Jingyang.
He began to fall into self-doubt.
It seems that Song Jingyang is right. He and Tang Zhuyun were not meant to be; it was all because his father forced them together.
Does that mean he'll have to give away twenty-one items? Well, that's alright.
Then he heard Song Jingyang say, "You mustn't follow my example, otherwise Xiu'er will definitely criticize you for not knowing anything."
Prince of Jin: "..."
He felt an urge to curse. Why couldn't he learn? The ancients said to Jianxian, and this wasn't allowed?
Why do women have so many fuss!
Forget it, I'll just pretend I don't know.
However, this matter lingered in his mind, and after much thought, the Prince of Jin finally came up with a good idea.
He drew a blueprint and handed it to Song Jingyang: "Don't make a fuss. Have someone prepare it and bring it into the manor for the Princess Consort's birthday."
Looking at the blueprints, Song Jingyang hesitated and said, "This... is this really going to work? After all, you might not even be alive by then. Such a large-scale construction project... I'm afraid that's not a good idea."
After thinking for a moment, the Prince of Jin said, "Then have someone finish making the things first. We can wait and see about the pavilion for shade. Also, don't tell Xiu'er."
"Yes." Song Jingyang stared at the blueprints, stroking his chin, and said, "Your Highness, this gift of yours, while quite large, isn't it a bit too simple?"
"You don't understand. Just do as I say," Prince of Jin said arrogantly. "Tell them to make it as meticulous as possible. Don't skimp on the pearls and shells; we have plenty of money."
"Yes."
"Your Highness is really strange," Song Jingyang thought to himself. "What woman would like such a thing?"
Meanwhile, Tang Zhuyun was helping Madam Wang catch the "mole."
The maids who served Madam Wang closely were all fine, and according to Madam Wang, apart from them, almost no one else served her closely.
That's a bit strange.
Finally, even the person who sweeps the yard checked, but there was still no progress.
Of course, the servants were unaware of the reason during the investigation.
The old woman who threatened Madam Wang earlier was not arrested, it seems Wang Fu wanted to turn the tables on her.
"Perhaps we should just let it go," said Madam Wang, who was frail but still held her "son" with obvious affection. "As long as my illness is treatable and my husband can protect himself from bad people, there's no need to trouble Your Highness any further."
Wang Fu has been with her for three days already, how can this be? He has to hurry back to the palace to continue his duties; she also doesn't want to keep bothering Tang Zhuyun and wants to go back to her own home.
Tang Zhuyun suddenly noticed that Zhigao nurse looked somewhat nervous, with her head down, not daring to look at anyone, and had been like this ever since she came in.
Her gaze lingered on the wet nurse for a few seconds, Wang Fu immediately pointed at her and said, "You come here!"
Unexpectedly, the wet nurse knelt down with a thud. "Master, Madam, please don't send me away, I, I..."
Wang Fu waved his hand, and everyone else withdrew.
Tang Zhuyun stepped forward to take her pulse, then nodded solemnly to Wang Fu.
Madam Wang understood immediately and exclaimed in horror, "She... she's sick! Then what about Zhigao? Zhigao n't that mean he...?"
The wet nurse kowtowed repeatedly, sobbing uncontrollably, "This servant doesn't know, this servant has always been dutiful and devoted to serving the young master, this servant doesn't know why I've fallen ill..."
Wang Fu said coldly, "Even if you don't talk, I'll find a way to make you speak. Guards—"
"Wait!" Tang Zhuyun said, "Eunuch Wang, there's something I don't understand."
"Your Highness, please speak." Wang Fu immediately became respectful.
"Eunuch Wang is extremely careful in choosing the people around Madam. That wet nurse must have had her body checked before entering the mansion, right?"
"Yes," Wang Fu nodded, "This old servant even had the imperial physician examine me."
"Hmm," Tang Zhuyun said, "That's right. My pulse diagnosis revealed that she hasn't been infected for very long, probably around the same time as Madam Wang. That's not right, because in the early stages of an illness, it's not easily contagious."
Not to mention Madam Wang, even Wang Fu was stunned and stared blankly at Tang Zhuyun.
"Madam Wang," Tang Zhuyun said calmly, already having a guess in mind, "Let me examine your son."
Wang Fu's expression changed drastically in an instant.
Tang Zhuyun meant that Zhigao might be carrying a disease and had infected Madam Wang and the wet nurse!
Because the wet nurse and Madam Wang were Zhigao's close companions.
Zhigao is only six or seven months old, and he bites and scratches people...
Wang Fu dared not think any further.
A moment later, Tang Zhuyun took Zhigao's pulse, then nodded gravely to Wang Fu and said, "If I'm not mistaken, Zhigao's biological mother contracted the disease and passed it on to him..."
Then someone deliberately brought Zhigao, the infant, to Madam Wang.
Wang Fu was cautious and careful his whole life. Even if he would be wary of his own children, he would never be wary of a baby nursing in swaddling clothes.
How insidious is the person who plotted all this!
Madam Wang was utterly shocked.