"How is it different? Tell me." Tang Zhuyun was also very interested.
"As for me, I'm honest and hardworking, I love what I do, and I know my place; Hongfu, on the other hand, has lofty ambitions, wants both high position and low status, and always dreams of making a name for herself in the future."
Qin Sang sneered, "Those who can't see things clearly will suffer sooner or later. I don't believe the child in her belly is the prince's!"
Tang Zhuyun: "Do you know whose it is?"
"I'm not sure, but it's pretty close," Qin Sang said. "It should be a scholar traveling to the capital for the imperial examinations. I can't remember his name. I heard before that she and that scholar were having an affair, but nothing came of it later."
Xiu'er looked at Song Jingyang, who nodded calmly.
Qin Sang continued, "Actually, we people, without you laughing at us, have all had dreams. Take myself for example, I've sponsored at least eight or ten poor scholars..."
"Did you all pass the exam?" Xiu'er was very concerned about the results.
"Not a single one passed the imperial examination," Qin Sang said sarcastically. "Later I realized, even though I cast a wide net, it's no wonder that any man who comes to this brothel on his way to the capital for the examination has no chance of passing!"
"There are still some talented and romantic men among them," Tang Zhuyun corrected her.
To be fair, for example, she only knew Su Shi and Liu Sanbian...
"Well, I don't have that kind of luck. Even if I were lucky, could I have gotten into this building?" Qin Sang said. "Anyway, I've been confused before, but thankfully not for too long. Hongfu always thought she Mingzhu and that one day she'd rise to prominence. I think she'd never realize it until the day she died."
"By the way," Qin Sang asked, "Is Her Highness the Princess Consort very powerful?"
Tang Zhuyun mumbled, "It's alright, about the same as me."
"That princess is a very kind person..."
Tang Zhuyun blushed.
Xiu'er said, "Of course!"
"If we need to deal with Hongfu later, I can lend a hand. It's just that I'm afraid Her Highness the Princess will dislike me. Never mind, let's talk about it later." Qin Sang said, but then realized it wasn't appropriate.
Tang Zhuyun had no intention of dealing with Hongfu, so she changed the subject, saying, "You're a free person now, so where are you living?"
"Still in the building," Qin Sang said casually. "I'm used to it, I don't want to move. We're making money together now. I'll take on jobs I like, and my mother won't force me to take on jobs I don't."
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
"Actually, once you think about it, it's not certain who will be the one soliciting whom!" Qin Sang said.
Song Jingyang found an excuse to pull Xiu'er aside—he mustn't let Xiu'er be led astray!
As they were talking, a middle-aged woman walked over and sat down across the table from Tang Zhuyun.
Tang Zhuyun asked, "Where do you feel unwell?"
The woman suddenly raised her hand and attacked Tang Zhuyun...
Nanxing reacted quickly, grabbing the woman's hand and slapping her away.
Xiu'er cried out in alarm, ran over and kicked the woman lying on the ground, cursing, "Why did you have to learn to be an assassin? Of all people to mess with... young lady!"
The woman, kicked, covered her head and begged for mercy, "Spare me, spare me! I'm not an assassin, I'm not an assassin!"
"If you're not an assassin, why did you lay a hand on me? You deserved to get beaten!" Xiu'er was pulled back by Song Jingyang, but she was still not satisfied.
Song Jingyang said in a low voice, "I'll have someone take him away for questioning. It wouldn't be good if things got out of hand here."
The main concern was that Tang Zhuyun's identity would be exposed.
At this moment, the woman cried out, "I only accepted twenty taels of silver, and I wanted to lift the veil to see if she was really the Princess Consort!"
This shout drew the attention of many people, including Zong Heng.
Soon, Zong Heng walked over, attracting the attention of many noble ladies.
Tang Zhuyun suddenly lifted her veil, revealing a clean and pretty face, but her gaze was icy.
"So it was you." Zong Heng frowned.
Tang Zhuyun sneered, "Shouldn't you say, 'It really was you?'"
Prince of Jin told her about this matter this morning before he left home!
Prince of Jin said that the Golden Qilin Guard found out that the Crown Princess was furious when she received her reply last night, and Zong Heng happened to be visiting her and learned about it.
The Crown Princess had actually been keeping an eye on the activities of the Prince of Jin's Residence, so she knew about Tang Zhuyun's act of posing as a maid to provide disaster relief, and she had also told Zong Heng about it.
And that's how all these calculations came about today.
Therefore, when Tang Zhuyun sees Zong Heng now, she feels like she wants to bite a piece of his flesh—can't you do something decent? Interfering in women's affairs, do you even consider yourself a man?
Now they're trying to act all high and mighty in front of her, little do they know that Prince of Jin has already informed her of their plans.
Tang Zhuyun silently gave Prince of Jin a thumbs up in her heart.
Qin Sang was stunned. Her eyes darted around, clearly having something on her mind, but she didn't say a word.
The maid following behind Zong Heng suddenly said, "Isn't this the Princess Consort? The Crown Princess summoned you, but didn't you say you were seriously ill and bedridden?"
Tang Zhuyun gave a forced smile, "Wasn't she moved by the Crown Princess's kindness, which caused her to sit up in shock from her deathbed and take over from the palace's female physician to treat the disaster victims?"
Then she looked at Zong Heng and asked, "Lord Zong, are you deaf?"
This sudden attack startled Zong Heng, whose face darkened.
"What?" Tang Zhuyun adjusted her hair, "Your maidservant already said I am a princess. Am I, as a princess, not worthy of your courtesy?"
Zong Heng's expression turned even uglier, but he still bowed and paid his respects.
Tang Zhuyun slowly sat down and leaned back in her chair. "Xiu'er, bring tea, this princess is thirsty."
There was no intention to tell Zong Heng to dispense with the formalities.
Not only that, she stared straight at Zong Heng.
Zong Heng bent over, slightly raised his face, and cast his deep, cold gaze at her.
Tang Zhuyun smiled at him and said slowly, "Lord Zong, this is not a good idea. Although you once admired me, my determination to remain loyal to the Prince will not be easily shaken!"
Do they really Zong Family she's an easy target?
The Crown Princess was criticized, and she even brought in help?
Then don't blame her for targeting this rising star!
She's different from them. They care about both appearances and substance, gritting their teeth and pretending for world peace. She's different; she changes her mind faster than turning the pages of a book, doing whatever feels good.
Zong Heng straightened up, turned his head to look elsewhere, and said coldly, "Your Highness is probably overthinking things."
"I don't know if I've thought too much, but Lord Zong has done a lot to see me," Tang Zhuyun said, looking at the woman still sitting on the ground. "But why bother? Although you are deeply in love, my devotion to the Prince is unwavering."
Zong Heng was disgusted by her and left, looking extremely aggrieved.
Tang Zhuyun added insult to injury, "Lord Zong, there are plenty of fish in the sea, don't do anything rash."
After Zong Heng left, Tang Zhuyun, who had won a great victory, looked at Qin Sang, who was standing at a distance, and said, "What's wrong? I'm a princess, not a monster."
Qin Sang said, "That won't do. Your Highness cannot get too close to me; it would damage my reputation. Thank you for saving my life, Your Qin Sang. I will never forget it. If you ever need my help in the future, please have someone let me know. I... I can't come here again."