The Crown Princess had never encountered someone as ruthless as Tang Zhuyun before. Upon hearing that her beloved younger brother, on whom she had placed great hopes, had become entangled with her, she was so enraged that she nearly spat out blood.
Tang Zhuyun emerged victorious and left triumphantly with Nanxing.
The Prince of Jin watched her return, her face beaming, and a hint of amusement, unnoticed even to himself, appeared in his eyes as he asked, "You bullied someone again?"
"Sigh, there's no sense of accomplishment in bullying an idiot like her," Tang Zhuyun said, feigning nonchalance.
"Tell me how you bullied her." Prince of Jin poured her a cup of tea and handed it to her.
A look of surprise flashed in Nanxing's eyes—she never imagined that one day the Prince of Jin would also serve women.
It turns out, the princess really was the right person.
It has been said that if the Prince of Jin met someone he liked, even the hardest steel would melt into tenderness.
Now it seems that this was indeed the case.
Tang Zhuyun: You'll be terrified if I told you!
To avoid the Prince of Jin from overthinking and accusing her of being cuckolded, she vaguely said, "Anyway, I'll just say one thing and say another. You know I never lose an argument."
No, that's not right.
If it were truly fair and square, and she had won a great victory, she would have proudly boasted about it, perhaps even reenacting the entire event, and would never have been vague about it.
It wouldn't be easy for the Crown Princess, who is known for her vindictiveness, to let her go; Tang Zhuyun must have used some kind of "trump card."
When she went out to find the two children who had gone to play in the garden, the Prince of Jin left Nanxing behind.
What did the Princess Consort and the Crown Princess say?
Nanxing kept her head down and did not answer.
The Prince of Jin angrily retorted, "Didn't you hear me asking you a question?"
Nanxing knelt down and bowed her head, saying, "This servant didn't hear clearly."
"Then I will ask you one more time, what did the Princess Consort and the Crown Princess say?"
"What I meant was, I didn't quite hear what the Princess and the Crown Princess were saying..."
The Prince of Jin's eyes were deep and cold. "Do you intend to betray your master again?"
Nanxing kowtowed. "This servant dares not, this servant will certainly be loyal to Her Highness the Princess."
Prince of Jin: "... Are you trying to tell me that your current mistress is the Princess Consort, and that you want to help her keep it a secret?"
"This servant wouldn't dare," Nanxing said. "This servant... truly didn't hear clearly. You can ask Her Highness the Princess directly."
How could the Prince of Jin possibly admit that he would be rebuffed by Tang Zhuyun, which was why he thought of asking Nanxing?
He was the one who wanted Nanxing to acknowledge Tang Zhuyun as his master before; now that he thinks about it, he really shot himself in the foot.
It would be even better if Xiu'er went with her; at least he could still get some information out of Song Jingyang.
Nanxing didn't reveal the truth to Prince of Jin, which made Prince of Jin even more eager to know— Nanxing wouldn't have avoided the question in a normal conversation.
So how exactly did Tang Zhuyun manage to escape unscathed?
In the end, it was indeed Song Jingyang who helped with this matter.
When Tang Zhuyun and Xiu'er were talking about this, Song Jingyang was at the door, so he heard everything clearly.
Xiu'er laughed until tears streamed down her face, slapping her thigh and exclaiming, "Why didn't I go?! Your Highness, how can you be so clever? Other women are afraid of being spread rumors, but you're the opposite!"
Song Jingyang was Zidu —was this even possible?
But after laughing, Xiu'er began to worry. "Your Majesty, what if Zong Heng spreads rumors about you like this too?"
Nobody can take off their clothes and pants...
Tang Zhuyun said firmly, "He wouldn't dare."
"Why?"
"The prince is 'dead,' so at this critical juncture, if someone spreads rumors about me, will the Emperor let him off after investigating?"
Because a woman's reputation is so important, the consequences of being found to have spread rumors are very serious.
But men, isn't society more lenient towards them? So if a man has a little affair, who cares? Who thinks the man is at a disadvantage?
So if the news really got out, Zong Heng would become the subject of gossip, but no one would be genuinely indignant and investigate the truth.
Tang Zhuyun considers herself an expert at combating bad trends!
Song Jingyang found out, Prince of Jin found out as well.
The Prince of Jin was so angry that he couldn't utter a word for a long time.
This woman really dares to say anything!
Seeing his master's expression, Song Jingyang whispered, "Your Highness, should we still send the Golden Qilin Guard to investigate? It might not be easy to find out..."
Taking off Zong Heng's pants... requires careful observation; difficulty level: five stars.
Prince of Jin: "... No need!!!"
Song Jingyang hurriedly said, "I don't think that's necessary. Zong Heng isn't blind. Who would have liked the previous Princess Consort? It was only after she came with you that the Princess Consort underwent a complete transformation, like she became a different person."
"You're saying it's really because you followed me?" the Prince of Jin asked.
"That's for sure." Song Jingyang showed a deep, almost obsessive, adoration for his master.
Although the Prince of Jin felt this explanation was untenable—it was clearly a case of being possessed and then becoming a different person—the idea was still quite pleasing.
Tang Zhuyun's transformation began with the flower-viewing banquet.
On the day of the flower viewing party, he was the absolute star; now, she must have come for him.
Thinking this way, that little bit of unpleasantness vanished.
The thought that the Crown Princess was so easily frightened by Tang Zhuyun's petty tricks made Prince of Jin sneer inwardly.
His woman was a hundred times better than the Crown Prince's woman.
But he was still annoyed and wanted to castrate Zong Heng, regardless of whether he had a red birthmark or not; one cut would solve all his problems.
"Send people to keep an eye on Zong Heng and the Eastern Palace," the Prince of Jin said coldly.
Song Jingyang: "Yes!"
Tang Zhuyun felt that Prince of Jin was acting strangely today.
"How could I not know that you and Zong Heng were so close? It seems I've held you back?"
Although he believed that Tang Zhuyun wouldn't really have anything going on with Zong Heng —after all, Zong Heng looked down on the previous Tang Zhuyun, and now Zong Heng couldn't reach the level of the current Tang Zhuyun — Prince of Jin couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy.
Tang Zhuyun has a good temper, but only if she speaks politely and doesn't resort to sarcasm.
If you act so sarcastic and unfriendly, don't blame me for teaching you a lesson.
"Everything is predestined, and nothing is up to us." Tang Zhuyun sighed deeply, clearly showing her deep affection for Zong Heng.
The Prince of Jin was so angry he almost fell over backwards, and couldn't help but say, "Do you think Zong Heng would be interested in you?"
"If he's set his sights on someone, it's too late for the prince."
Tang Zhuyun grew angrier the more she thought about it. She had been Linlin a good life at home with her father and brothers, but the royal family had dragged her into this mess, and she was still furious!
Prince of Jin: "You..."
"I'm perfectly fine!" Tang Zhuyun glared at him. "Your Highness, either you'd better be quick about it... or you'd better come back to life quickly. Do you think I want to get involved in the Yuwen Family's mess?"
She thought the Prince of Jin was going to argue again, so she looked at him haughtily, ready to strike.
The Prince of Jin replied, "You have indeed been wronged."
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
My forty-meter-long sword, even after being drawn out, can't be sheathed back in a short time!
Are you starting to get into an argument?
She felt like she'd punched cotton; it was all so uninteresting.
"I will be leaving the capital in three days. After that, try to stay indoors as much as possible. If you feel wronged, I will stand up for you when I return."