Xiu'er, ever outspoken, asked, "Does Your Highness think the Princess Consort is a goldfish?"
Song Jingyang hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.
He really didn't know why the prince would have such a strange idea. What noble lady would go swimming for no reason? It wouldn't look good!
But when he tried to voice his objections, his master remained strangely confident. "Just go as I say! Do as I say! The Princess will surely like it!"
Looking back now, it's possible that the princess named "Dingran" liked it, but the current Princess Consort Tang really didn't.
Why would someone who managed to win over Xiu'er believe the words of a prince who couldn't even touch the hem of the princess's dress when it comes to pursuing women?
But that's all. Right now, he has an even more arduous task ahead of him!
"Your Majesty, I will have men keep watch for you from a distance. Please give it a try."
Tang Zhuyun: "???"
It's only April, which is mid-May in the Gregorian calendar. She went swimming in the river?
This is Beijing, not Sanya!
Xiu'er: "Try what? You think you're trying on clothes? Song Jingyang, I think you've lost your mind. In this weather, who can go into the water?"
Yanran said, "It's alright to sit on the side and wash my feet."
There are also places to sit along the edge of Damuhai Lake. On a hot summer day, if there is some shade, it is very comfortable to soak your feet or swim.
But definitely not now!
Tang Zhuyun looked at Song Jingyang: "Is this also what the Prince said, that he wanted me to give it a try?"
Song Jingyang nodded.
Tang Zhuyun: What did she say again? She said that without a twenty-year history of mental illness, one could never have done what the Prince of Jin did.
"Actually, Your Highness," Song Jingyang said softly, "You really should try it; the water won't be cold once you move around."
Xiu'er, hands on her hips, snapped, "Then go down and stretch your legs for me to see!"
Song Jingyang muttered under his breath, "That prince, he doesn't want me! Otherwise, wouldn't you consider me worthy of his attention?"
He was exhausted from arguing so much here.
Tang Zhuyun laughed and said, "Alright, alright, let's ignore it. Song Jingyang, if the Prince sends Xiao Ye to ask you, just say I went down to try it out and really liked it!"
The last sentence, "I like it," sounds almost like a gritted-teeth resentment.
Song Jingyang: "... You, really don't want to give it a try?"
How could he deceive the prince?
The main problem is that I can't fool them!
The prince is still waiting!
Xiu'er couldn't stand it anymore. "Song Jingyang, if you keep this up, I'll kick you away! What are you trying to do?! I think you're trying to give the Princess a cold, aren't you? Tell me, is the Prince doing this on purpose?"
Yanran couldn't help but retort, "No way! My father wouldn't bear to part with that! Alright, Xiu'er, let's not talk about that anymore. Let's see if there are any fish here."
Tang Zhuyun also looked over. "Logically speaking, this is river water that has been released, so there must be a lot of small fish in it. But how do we change the water?"
"It's all planned out. Once it's full, we'll stop drawing water and release it back into the river at night, then use bamboo to bring in fresh water," Song Jingyang said hurriedly.
Tang Zhuyun: I must say, it sounds quite advanced, not a stagnant pool at all.
She looked at the bamboo grove beside her that drew water, winding its way to a point a short distance away where a waterwheel-like device was connected to pump water...
"Mother, a big fish! I saw a big fish!" Yanran, standing on a chair, suddenly exclaimed excitedly, gesturing in a large circle. "It's so big! So big!"
Xiu'er quickly steadied her. "My dear girl, don't jump like that! If you fall, the Empress will become a stepmother."
Tang Zhuyun laughed loudly, and looked in the direction Yanran pointing, only to vaguely see something whitish.
She thought it might be due to the light.
"It couldn't be a big fish," Tang Zhuyun patiently explained to Yanran. "Look how narrow the bamboo trough for collecting water is; a big fish couldn't get in."
Judging by her estimation, even a fish the size of her palm would be unlikely...
"No, Mother, I saw it, it must be!" Yanran said firmly, her little face flushed with excitement, determined to make Tang Zhuyun believe her.
Tang Zhuyun said, "I believe you!"
"If only we could catch it," she said with a smile, "Then we'd have fish stew in an iron pot tonight."
Song Jingyang wiped his sweat. "Your Majesty, the sun is too strong, shall we go back first?"
He was afraid the prince would be stewed in a moment.
That's right, the "big white fish" in the water is none other than Prince of Jin, who has been working day and night to finally return to his residence today to celebrate Tang Zhuyun's birthday.
The Prince of Jin said he wanted to give Tang Zhuyun a surprise.
However, after hearing his idea, Song Jingyang felt that it would be a shock, but since his master was determined to do it his way, he could only try his best to cooperate.
He really did his best.
But in April, making the birthday person jump into the river—is that really a celebration or just causing trouble?
Xiu'er frowned and looked at Song Jingyang, "You're not right today, you're very wrong today."
Song Jingyang: "I, I'm so happy! I'm so happy for Her Majesty's birthday!"
"Even though you're happy, I haven't seen you give a gift."
Song Jingyang: "..."
It's unreasonable for him to give a gift!
"Didn't you already deliver it? We're practically family, no need for formalities."
"Shameless!"
Just then, a maid from the manor came to report that Madam Wang had arrived.
Tang Zhuyun hurried to greet her.
It wasn't out of concern, but rather out of fear that Madam Wang would feel uncomfortable. She rarely went out, and it was understandable that she would feel awkward coming to the Prince's residence.
Madam Wang said apologetically, "I originally thought you were staying over there, but I heard you went back to the Prince's Mansion..."
"I'll return it in a bit, I just wanted to come and check..."
Tang Zhuyun was too embarrassed to say anything, but she came back to see the Prince of Jin's ridiculous gift.
Madam Wang gave her a white jade Buddha statue, and one look at its color made it clear that it was of excellent quality.
Tang Zhuyun knew that she rarely went out and didn't have many friends, and since she herself had nothing else to do, she invited her to have a meal at the Prince's residence.
However, because of that large "swimming pool," she felt embarrassed to take Madam Wang for a stroll in the garden.
After seeing Madam Wang off in the afternoon, Tang Zhuyun took Yanran back home.
Xiu'er saw her rush into the kitchen as soon as she got home and stopped her, saying, "You forgot, you haven't finished looking at the gift Sangsang gave you yet!"
Sangsang gave Tang Zhuyun a double-layered box; the top layer contained rose water, and there should be something else underneath.
Xiu'er thought Sangsang was a wonderful person, so she was very curious about the other gift Sangsang gave her.
Tang Zhuyun laughed, "That gift isn't a ginseng doll, it's not going to grow legs and run away, is it? I want to eat fish stewed in an iron pot. My dad might be back tonight, so I'll cook a few more dishes. I'll start simmering the chicken soup first..."
That evening, Tang Mingfan did not return because of business at the yamen. Tang Zhuyun was not annoyed—she was long past the age where she needed someone to accompany her on her birthday. She had someone send the prepared food to the yamen.
After having dinner with the two children, Xiu'er said, "Come on, Linlin, Yanran, I'll take you out for a walk to digest your food!"
Tang Zhuyun: "I'm going too!"
"You shouldn't go," Xiu'er said. "The birthday celebrant shouldn't go out, or his good fortune will run away."
Tang Zhuyun said she had never heard of such a claim, but Xiu'er said it existed, it must exist, so she compromised!