After a while, Linlin and Yanran returned with Jiaojiao. The two little ones had rosy cheeks and proud, excited eyes.
"Jiaojiao really scare Zong Heng away?" Tang Zhuyun asked.
"It was the dog that ran away," Yanran said happily. "Mother, you should go and see. That big dog saw Jiaojiao and took off running. We couldn't hold it back, and it almost tripped Zong Heng. It was so funny, I laughed so hard."
Tang Zhuyun glanced at Prince of Jin with a mournful look—look what a wonderful thing you made me miss!
"Zong Heng left too?" she asked, forcing herself to stay alert.
"He's gone," Linlin said. "He was driven away by Yanran."
Tang Zhuyun was pleasantly surprised. Looking at Yanran, who was standing tall and waiting to be praised, Yanran said, "Yanran is really amazing! Tell me, how did you manage to get rid of Zong Heng?"
"I asked him," Yanran said, not without a hint of smugness, "why is the jade pendant so important? He said it was a gift from his mother. I asked him, 'Is your mother dead?'"
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
The student surpasses the teacher, and she didn't even dare to greet the other person's mother. Yanran, "Wuji," came up with a knife right away, but Zong Heng couldn't lash out at a child.
Especially this child, whose father just "died".
"... Since he's not dead, he can just ask his mother for another jade pendant. If his mother can't afford it, I'll give it to him."
Tang Zhuyun laughed heartily, "Am I a grandmother so early? Tsk tsk."
The Prince of Jin couldn't hide his smile as he looked at Linlin and asked, "What did you say to him?"
Zong Heng a man of deep cunning. He was initially overwhelmed by Tang Zhuyun's flurry of punches, but he should not be underestimated.
Yanran's fighting style, which is exactly the same as Tang Zhuyun's, will embarrass Zong Heng, but it won't force him to back down.
Especially today, since he brought so many people and surrounded the Prince's mansion, how will he explain himself tomorrow if he hasn't found anything?
Therefore, the Prince of Jin believed that Zong Heng's retreat must have been due to something Linlin had said to him.
Tang Zhuyun: "Hey, why are you asking Linlin about our argument?"
Linlin retorted, "I told Zong Heng that the prince's body hadn't been found, and it was the Emperor who ordered that his body be laid to rest in his official robes. He can't even understand that; he's utterly foolish."
The Prince of Jin's eyes gleamed with admiration. His son was truly worthy of his reputation, subduing the enemy without a fight.
Tang Zhuyun took a moment to react before tentatively asking, "Is Linlin telling him that even if it's found out the prince isn't dead, it doesn't count as deceiving the emperor? Is it that he meant the emperor was the one who died?"
Linlin nodded.
"But," Tang Zhuyun said, "Won't saying that make him suspicious? Won't he suspect that the prince isn't dead?"
"Aunt, he's already suspicious, otherwise he wouldn't have acted like this today. He must have had such suspicions before, but I don't know what he saw at the manor today, so he's even more convinced that the Prince is not dead," Linlin said.
"What should we do then?"
Linlin arrogantly said, "The Prince said that faking his death was only to let the Emperor see the true colors of some people, not because he was truly afraid of anyone. So what if Zong Heng knows? We were always sworn enemies."
Tang Zhuyun was taken aback by his choice of words. Had the Prince of Jin and Linlin really talked about so much?
It turned out that Linlin made Zong Heng understand that even if they found Prince of Jin today, they couldn't use that as an excuse to bring Prince of Jin down, which is why the latter withdrew.
Linlin added, "... Zong Heng should go back and write a letter of apology now."
Yanran: "Serves you right!"
"However," Linlin's eyes revealed a hint of wariness, "After I reminded him, Zong Heng didn't linger. He remained calm and restrained, immediately going back to figure out how to handle the situation. He's also an opponent not to be underestimated."
The Prince of Jin nodded approvingly.
Tang Zhuyun yawned. "Whatever, as long as we won. You two, go wash up, chat with the prince for a while, and then go to bed early."
The Prince of Jin will be leaving early tomorrow morning, so tonight should be the time for him and his son, and father and daughter, to say goodbye.
Seeing her walk out, Yanran asked, "Mother, where are you going?"
"Make some dry rations for your father to take on the road."
"I'll go with you!" Yanran skipped and hopped after her.
Linlin then spoke with the Prince of Jin.
"Take good care of the Prince's residence while I'm away."
"Yes, Your Highness, you must be very careful."
"Yes, call me 'Father'."
"Father."
"Good boy."
The intimate atmosphere between father and son didn't last long. Song Jingyang came in, but seemed hesitant to speak.
Seeing this, Linlin stood up and said, "I'll go to the small kitchen to help Auntie."
Prince of Jin grabbed his hand and said coldly, "When I'm not here, everything in the palace must be decided by the Princess and Linlin. There's nothing Linlin can't do."
Song Jingyang: "Actually, it's nothing."
Important matters certainly cannot be kept from the young master, but after all, he is the young master. If he dared to speak of matters between men and women in front of the young master, wouldn't the prince rip out his tongue?
Linlin said coldly, "Your Highness, I need to use the restroom."
What a clever child!
The Prince of Jin had no choice but to let him go.
Song Jingyang hurriedly stepped forward and asked, "Your Highness, you're leaving tomorrow. Have things been settled between you and the Princess?"
The Prince of Jin frowned. "What has been decided?"
The Emperor's decree, written in black and white, declared Tang Zhuyun to be his princess consort. What else was left unsettled between them?
"That doesn't count. Isn't that what happens after you're gone? Can a person be the same whether they're alive or dead?" Song Jingyang said. "Although the imperial decree has been issued and there's no room for change, there's something I want to say, but I don't know if I should..."
"Think for yourself, and shut up if you shouldn't say it." The Prince of Jin had a vague feeling that the content might not please him.
"Then I'll speak, even if it's hard to hear honest advice," Song Jingyang said, seemingly ready to take the plunge.
Prince of Jin: "Speak quickly if you have something to say!"
"Your Highness, let's be honest, without an imperial decree, do you think the Princess Consort would have married you?"
That's definitely not possible. Even now, even though they have a biological son, if it weren't for the imperial decree, Tang Zhuyun would probably have run away immediately, and Prince of Jin had no doubt about that.
But is it possible for him to admit defeat?
"Without an imperial decree, I will not marry."
"That's right, you probably won't find it on your own," Song Jingyang said.
The Prince of Jin nearly coughed up blood.
"You can't do this," Song Jingyang said earnestly. "You've developed feelings for the Princess, but..."
"Who said that?" The Prince of Jin's face flushed instantly, showing annoyance and embarrassment at having his most secret thoughts exposed.
"Is that even a question?" Song Jingyang said, "We all know that!"
Who are you?
"Your subordinate, Xiu'er, and those you sent to Huaishang Jiangzhou," Song Jingyang said, "And possibly Linlin and Yanran, too. Aside from the Emperor, most people who know you're alive probably already know."
Prince of Jin: "Then it seems that I am the only one who doesn't know."
It's impossible to admit it.