Before Tang Zhuyun could ask, Xiu'er said excitedly, "I don't know what methods Zong Xueci used to get the Crown Prince to agree to let her into the Eastern Palace."
Tang Zhuyun looked at Meng Yulan and saw that the latter also had a look of shock on her face, which made her feel better.
It seems that it wasn't that she was too stupid, but rather that her actions were too outrageous.
Even my Zidu expect this.
"Did the Zong Family agree?" Meng Yulan asked.
How could Zong Family of such high standing allow its "dishonored" daughter to live, let alone be by the Crown Prince's side?
Every time Zong Xueci appeared afterward, people would point fingers and dredge up old stories.
"That should be agreed to," Xiu'er said. "How about we secretly carry it into the Eastern Palace in a small sedan chair today?"
Meng Yulan said, "That's true. As long as the Crown Prince agrees, the Zong Family is like the Crown Prince's dog; they can't refuse."
Tang Zhuyun stroked her chin and winked, saying, "It seems Zong Xueci's studies haven't been in vain."
See? In critical moments, you still need a "special skill" to save your life; even last-minute sparring can be useful!
Meng Yulan blushed slightly and did not respond.
Xiu'er blinked her eyes. "Your Highness, if you also want to learn, Sangsang will definitely teach you wholeheartedly."
Tang Zhuyun: "... Before you get married, I'll send you to study."
Xiu'er put her hands on her hips and said, "We'll send Song Jingyang to Qingfeng's place to learn from him!"
Tang Zhuyun nearly spat out her tea. "Aren't you afraid of throwing a meat bun to a dog, never to return?"
"What's there to be afraid of? Out with the old, in with the new. What's not mine, I don't care for. The next one will be better."
The Lüzhu behind Meng Yulan was flushed and looked incredibly alluring—the two of them, mistress and servant, were poisonous! The kind of poison that's addictive.
Meng Yulan said softly, "Lüzhu, you may leave."
After all, she was a young, unmarried girl, and she was easily embarrassed.
The Lüzhu murmured as softly as a mosquito's buzz, "This servant would like to hear what happens next, Sister Xiu'er..."
Xiu'er glared at her. "Why are you blushing? Do you think those men don't talk about us behind our backs?"
Tang Zhuyun: "Get to the point!"
"Hey, what's going on?" Xiu'er said. "We were just talking about how the Zong Family wanted to secretly send Zong Xueci to the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace. Guess what happened?"
"Don't guess, just hurry up."
"The Crown Princess is outraged!" Xiu'er said triumphantly. "The Crown Princess is blocking the doorway, saying she will never let anyone of questionable character into the house."
Tang Zhuyun: "She's gone mad."
You can't write two clans in one stroke. If things continue like this, will she still want the Zong Family as her backer?
Moreover, the Crown Prince was also unhappy, having offended two of his biggest backers at once. The Crown Princess is truly formidable.
"The situation is at a stalemate right now; I wonder if it's been resolved yet," Xiu'er said. "The Princess Consort's words are blessed; if she says she wants to see dogs fight, she'll come right away!"
Tang Zhuyun asked Meng Yulan, "Sister-in-law, how do you think this matter will end?"
Meng Yulan said, "Zong Xueci was able to enter the Eastern Palace. The Crown Princess is foolish and impulsive; she is no match for Zong Xueci."
"Is this all acceptable after today's commotion?"
"There's nothing wrong with it," Meng Yulan said. "Since Zong Xueci has already convinced the Crown Prince to bring her into the Eastern Palace, this little matter, aside from making a spectacle of herself, will still achieve her goal."
When a man loses his mind, he goes mad, worse than a dog.
"What does the Zong Family think?" To be precise, Zong Heng must be feeling uncomfortable right now.
The thought of him being bad made Tang Zhuyun overjoyed.
"The Zong Family?" Meng Yulan said indifferently, "They've already lost face, so why would they let go without getting some benefits? The Crown Princess's surname is Zong, Zong Xueci's surname is also Zong. As long as they can control the Crown Prince, they're all daughters of the Zong Family; there's no difference between them."
"Tsk tsk," Tang Zhuyun said, "I really didn't understand."
After a while, Song Jingyang returned and said that, as expected, the farce had come to an end and Zong Xueci had entered the Eastern Palace.
Tang Zhuyun said that opportunity really does favor the prepared mind, Zong Xueci is a remarkable person!
In the afternoon, Qin Sang disguised herself as a vegetable vendor and scurried in.
Tang Zhuyun burst into laughter upon seeing her attire. "Sangsang, you're really good at disguising yourself!"
The scene where Nanxing disguised herself as Tang Zhuyun and broke into the inn was also helped by Sangsang, who could give her all-round guidance on posture and walking style.
Qin Sang smiled and said, "I came today to talk to you about Zong Xueci."
"Is it about her entering the Eastern Palace?"
"Yes," Qin Sang said, "You probably only know about today's events; you probably don't know how she seduced the Crown Prince before."
Tang Zhuyun: Hurry up and bring the melon!
"Zong Xueci managed to escape from home and go to see the Crown Prince," Qin Sang said. "She told the Crown Prince that if she couldn't be his person in life, she would be his ghost in death, and she wanted to serve him one last time before she died."
Xiu'er: "It's over, they've definitely taken the bait! What dog wouldn't eat a meat bun delivered to its door?"
Qin Sang suppressed a laugh and said, "I must say that Zong Xueci is quite perceptive. She served the Crown Prince very well, and she was even more humble than us... So the Crown Prince agreed to let her serve in the Eastern Palace, but without any official title."
Tang Zhuyun could only tsk-tsk in praise.
Wow! I'm totally impressed!
This person is absolutely ruthless.
"Sangsang, how did you know?" Xiu'er asked.
Qin Sang covered her mouth and laughed, "My sister, who's been with her, just came back and said goodbye to me..."
"Farewell?" Tang Zhuyun asked in surprise.
"Zong Xueci redeemed her from her servitude, and she will stay with Zong Xueci from now on."
Tang Zhuyun: That's amazing!
Lifelong learning, who can disagree? The gossip from the Eastern Palace is going to be delicious from now on.
Qin Sang added, "Your Majesty, you should be more careful in the future. Zong Heng suffered a loss, and I'm afraid he'll have to get his revenge."
"I know."
Tang Zhuyun asked Meng Yulan in the morning how she knew that the Prince of Jin was not dead.
Meng Yulan said, "Because you dared to directly confront the Zong Family. You are not a reckless person. If the prince were not here, you would most likely have swallowed your anger and waited for an opportunity to retaliate, rather than resorting to such drastic measures as you have now."
Oh dear, so they've figured out she's just using someone else's power?
It has to be said, those who are potential champions in palace intrigue are truly exceptional.
Meng Yulan said something similar to Qin Sang, telling her to be careful of the Zong Family, and that she wouldn't cause trouble and had been staying indoors recently.
Tang Zhuyun smiled and said, "Don't worry, sister-in-law. We'll try our best to avoid trouble, but we're not afraid of trouble either. The Golden Scale Guard are protecting us, so we have nothing to fear."
Qin Sang is now also reminding her to be careful of Zong Heng.
"I know."
Tang Mingfan hurriedly returned after seeing Qin Sang off.
Qin Sang quickly avoided the question.
"Father, what brings you here?"
"Where's Linlin?" Tang Mingfan asked anxiously.
Tang Zhuyun exclaimed in surprise, "He's reading inside!"
"Go inside quickly and change his clothes. I need to take him to Master Hong'en."
Tang Zhuyun asked in surprise, "Master wants to see Linlin?"
"It's not that the master wants to see me, it's that the Great Confucian Scholar Kong, whom both the master and I know, has come to the capital and is currently at the Great Xiangguo Temple. I'd like to take Linlin there and give it a try; perhaps the Great Confucian Scholar Kong can accept Linlin."
Great Confucian Scholar Kong? Never heard of him.
But someone who could earn the respect of her father, a top scholar, by addressing her as a great Confucian scholar must be a very remarkable person.
Just then, Linlin heard the commotion inside and excitedly ran out. "Grandfather, is it the Great Confucian Scholar Kong from the Wang Family of Langya?"