Song Jingyang stated that he was the prince's teammate... and he wouldn't marry into the family!
Tang Zhuyun: The prince is acting strangely!
Unfortunately, no one resonated with her. Sigh.
Yanran kept calling "Mother Consort" from inside the room, so Tang Zhuyun could only snatch the cherries from Xiu'er and pretend to serve them to her, saying, "Finished talking? Have some fuzzy cherries, they grew in the Prince's garden."
Yanran picked up a cherry and popped it into Prince of Jin's mouth, then gave one to Tang Zhuyun. She then picked up two cherries that were growing in a bunch from the plate by the stem and said with a smile, "Just like Father and Mother, kisses!"
Tang Zhuyun blushed.
--During the Prince of Jin's absence, she failed to properly educate Yanran; she was wrong.
The Prince of Jin blushed even more, but was very pleased.
A daughter is always so sweet!
However, his son was no less capable; he inquired about Linlin's studies under the tutelage of the Great Confucian Scholar Kong.
Unable to get a word in edgewise on the topic, Yanran jumped down from Prince of Jin's lap and sat down next to Tang Zhuyun. While eating cherries, she asked, "Mother, have you seen all the gifts? Which one is your favorite?"
The smile on Prince of Jin's face instantly froze.
I'm afraid he's already destroyed what she loved most.
But it's okay, he can afford to pay for it!
Thinking of this, the Prince of Prince of Jin's earlobes turned even redder.
Tang Zhuyun yawned and said, "I've seen them all, and I like them all, but my favorite is still the gift Yanran gave me!"
Anyway, the other two men in the room aren't comparable to Yanran.
Prince of Jin: She doesn't like any of the gifts he sent... I should have sent more. I'll remember that next year. If that doesn't work, I'll use her age as a criterion and prepare something every year.
Yanran giggled with delight, and after laughing, she continued, "What was Mother's wish? You said that if you make a wish on your birthday, it will definitely come true."
Tang Zhuyun: She's so busy all day, does she even have time to make a wish?
Besides, at her age, she no longer believes in dreams coming true.
It's more like dreams have turned to dust.
For example, in her past life, she only ever wished for peace and happiness, but a simple fall led her to time travel. Where could she go to seek justice?
Lost in thought, she heard Yanran urging her again. Looking up, she saw Prince of Jin talking to Linlin, and Tang Zhuyun had a sudden inspiration. "Then let's hope your father's wish comes true."
He'll let her go once he becomes emperor.
Since they can't get a divorce now, and they see each other every day, he's even started to have the illusion that he likes her.
Prince of Jin becomes emperor, then things will be much easier.
With three thousand beauties in his harem, some plump and some slender, he couldn't have gone so long without any contact with women that he could mistake her for Diaochan.
Joking around is one thing, but the truth is, she's not stupid; how could she not feel the Prince of Jin's burning passion?
But that really wasn't love!
It was habit, it was compromise—she was Linlin's birth mother, the Prince of Jin loved her because of her, and there was also... delusion.
There is no love or hate without a reason, and there is no love that is based on mere speculation.
The subject of love is so complex that she kept her distance in both her lives.
The Prince of Jin should have known sooner that other women were far more beautiful, truly!
So hurry up and make him emperor! Then he'll have three thousand beauties in his harem, and you'll see the difference!
Tang Zhuyun wasn't insecure, but she truly conceded defeat when it came to pleasing, appeasing, and serving men. She had studied for a full twenty-four years, from kindergarten to doctorate, and her education didn't allow her to blossom in humility. But women who were instilled with the three obediences and four virtues from childhood, and were expected to be good wives and mothers, could truly do it.
From privileged beauties like Meng Yulan to ordinary girls like Qin Sang, they are all gentle Xiaoyi towards the men they love.
Tang Zhuyun felt inferior to him.
The Prince of Jin is truly ignorant when it comes to women, which is why he developed feelings for her.
Your Highness, you must quickly "return to the right path"!
The Prince of Jin was deeply moved upon hearing her wish; she was truly wonderful. He knew he couldn't bear the days without her if he didn't leave this place.
Yanran said, "Mother, please grant me another one, one isn't enough."
Tang Zhuyun smiled and said, "One is enough."
She racks her brains over every single wish, and if she has to think of another one, she's afraid she'll grow gray hair prematurely.
Prince of Jin: He got what he wanted, and she asked for nothing more. How could this be so touching? I'm still moved!
Yanran muttered, "But it was my birthday a few days ago, how could I make so many wishes?"
"Because you are a child, and I am an adult, adults can't be greedy."
Yanran was delighted. "Then next time I'll give Mother two wishes!"
"Okay, it's a deal."
That night, both Zidu sleep with Prince of Jin, and Yanran was reluctant to part with Tang Zhuyun, so the family of four slept together on the kang (heated brick bed) again.
The two children quickly fell asleep, and Prince of Jin, speaking softly through the darkness to Yanran, said, "I heard everything."
Tang Zhuyun, who was just drifting off to sleep, was jolted awake by these words and asked in a low voice, "Your Highness, what did you hear?"
Was it an assassin? Or was something else at work?
It's really scary in the middle of the night!
The Prince of Jin said, "You said you hoped my wish would be fulfilled."
Tang Zhuyun: "... I was just saying it offhand."
"I understand your feelings."
Tang Zhuyun: You know nothing!
She hurriedly explained, "I just hope that you can become the emperor. It would be fine if you didn't have that desire..."
"I have it." The Prince of Jin did not want to hide it from Tang Zhuyun.
Tang Zhuyun wanted to die.
She knew there was no need to remind her so bluntly; she was afraid she wouldn't be able to sleep that night.
"Since you have it, then it's all or nothing; I don't want to die with you, so I hope you succeed."
The Prince of Jin was amused by her and jokingly scolded, "You cowardly bastard... Never mind, it's your birthday today, there are taboos to observe."
Tang Zhuyun: "It's alright, I don't mind."
Let's get down to the good stuff!
She's just afraid of dying, so please ask him to be careful.
In the darkness, the Prince of Jin smelled her fragrance and listened to the chirping of insects in the corner of the outer room, and suddenly felt a sense of peace and tranquility.
He said, "If one day my wish comes true, I will definitely share it with you."
Tang Zhuyun: "... Hehe, I'll just benefit a little bit."
The Prince of Jin asked, "What do you intend to do that day?"
Tang Zhuyun immediately perked up and declared in a strong voice, "To be a doctor!"
The Prince of Jin was so startled by her that he almost thought he had misheard.
Say it again.
"Be a doctor," Tang Zhuyun said, "Be a doctor with peace of mind, without fear of medical disputes or conspiracies against my father and brothers. If anyone causes trouble, just arrest them. It's simple and brutal, no explanation needed, how great is that!"
Prince of Jin: "That's it?"
Suddenly, I don't feel as motivated to be an emperor anymore.
"Yes," Tang Zhuyun said, "Being able to do what you want without being bothered by external things—this kind of happiness isn't something everyone can have."