What are you stammering about with me?
Wang Fu said, "Marriage is a major event, and it's important to be well-matched in terms of social standing... There's naturally no one who's a good match for you, but the Tang Residence, as I've often delivered imperial decrees to, is truly rather poor. Lord Tang Qingfeng and lives a frugal life, yet he pities the poor and weak; I'm afraid he can't afford a dowry..."
The Emperor laughed heartily, "Wang Fu, tell me honestly, what kind of bewitching drug did Tang Mingfan give you? You always side with him, is it because you received some benefits from him?"
"Whatever the Emperor likes, this servant must naturally serve well."
The Emperor was delighted by his flattery and said, "I heard he's about to become a grandfather, and that house is indeed a bit too small. He should have been given a larger mansion long ago, but he always refused, saying he couldn't afford to maintain a garden..."
Wang Fu hurriedly said, "If you were to offer Lord Tang a mansion with pavilions, terraces, carved beams, and painted rafters, I'm afraid he would firmly decline. In my humble opinion, it would be better to offer Lord Tang a three- or four-courtyard residence next to the Prince of Prince of Jin's Residence."
"Next to the Prince of Jin's Residence?"
"Yes, if Your Majesty has a grandson born to the Prince's residence, being close by will ensure a good upbringing. Mencius' mother moved three times to find the right environment for her son's education, but that was hindsight. Your foresight in planning ahead is true vision."
The emperor laughed heartily.
"Then proceed as you say. As for the princess's dowry, it will come from my private funds. I have been Tang Mingfan's subject and ruler for so many years, and he didn't have the money to marry off his daughter, so I paid for it for him."
"Your Majesty, aren't you just making things worse by going from one end to the other? Lord Tang has ended up with a sweet and filial daughter!"
The Emperor was even more delighted. "Back then, I was disappointed when I knew his daughter wasn't very successful. I never imagined that, after all these years, they would become in-laws. I'm happy, I'm truly happy!"
Wang Fu breathed a sigh of relief.
It always reminds the Emperor of the past and evokes various feelings about Prince of Jin, which does nothing to benefit Prince of Jin.
The Emperor's sense of guilt will not last long. He has been used to being fawned over for so many years, and he has always sought forgiveness from Prince of Jin but has never received it. He will probably become annoyed.
That won't do.
Prince of Jin is well, then the Consort of the Prince of Jin will be well; Consort of the Prince of Jin is well, then his fool will be happy and will have a true friend to associate with.
After laughing, the Emperor continued, "Good things come in pairs. Since Prince of Jin cares so much about A-Yun now, and Tang Baixin is about to become a father, let's forget about the past."
Wang Fu hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty's magnanimity is something I have never heard of or seen before."
"Stop flattering me. I think you've been bewitched by Tang Mingfan," the Emperor said with a laugh. "Remember to remind me tomorrow to keep Tang Mingfan behind after court. Tang Baixin has indeed rendered meritorious service this time. I offered him a reward, but he refused, saying he only asked for the status of a principal wife for Madam Meng. Well, I'll just go along with it."
If the Tang Family wants to hold another wedding, then the wedding and the ceremony can be held simultaneously, which would also be a lively affair.
Wang Fu said, "Your Majesty, Madam Meng is about to give birth, I'm afraid..."
"Indeed, then so be it." The Emperor waved his hand and said, "Let them reconcile with the Duke Meng's Residence in private and become proper in-laws."
By a twist of fate, Prince of Jin found someone he liked, and the Emperor's anger dissipated.
After returning home, the Prince of Jin immediately told Tang Zhuyun the good news.
Tang Zhuyun felt as if she had been struck by lightning.
She thought the Prince of Jin was just talking, but she didn't expect this man to be so decisive.
"Is this really settled?" she asked incredulously.
Seeing her shocked expression, the Prince of Jin was even more delighted—this huge surprise must have thrilled her.
He is too.
"My father has personally promised; his word is law and cannot be changed," Prince of Jin said solemnly.
He would send a grand wedding procession to her, proclaiming to the world that they were a match made in heaven, and all the other suitors would have to give way!
Or else, break their legs! See Zong Heng!
Yanran rushed in from outside, her face flushed and beads of sweat on her nose. "Father, Father, I heard you're getting married? You already have a mother!"
The Prince of Jin teased her deliberately, "You're getting married soon, and you found out quite quickly."
Yanran was on the verge of tears, stamping her feet and saying, "I don't want anyone but my mother! Father, others will mistreat me, have you forgotten?"
Tang Zhuyun: "... Yanran, that's not true."
This Little Lovely even deliberately exposed her own scars to protect her.
Seeing the tears welling in her eyes, the Prince of Jin realized he had gone too far with his joke. He picked her up and said, "The one your father wants to marry is naturally your mother. From now on, the whole world will know that she is your mother, okay?"
Tang Zhuyun: What a load of rubbish.
She needs Jingjing.
No, Jingjing won't help; she needs Xiu'er!
"Xiu'er, do you think the prince wants to take back the money we gave out as wedding gifts?" Tang Zhuyun asked listlessly as she picked vegetables.
When you're feeling down, going to the kitchen is a great way to relieve stress.
Xiu'er, who was wiping the oil can with a rag, rolled her eyes upon hearing this and said, "Are you sure the Prince has ever given any money as a gift before?"
Aside from death, when people can comfort themselves with excuses like "respect for the dead" or "the person is dead," and then enter the Prince's mansion to offer condolences, who would ever set foot in the Prince's mansion at any other time?
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
Xiu'er added, "Don't deny it, the Prince likes you, is that wrong? Can't he have something new to try?"
Tang Zhuyun sharpened her knife, "Xiu'er, you've changed. Have you been led to the Prince's side by Song Jingyang? I originally had high hopes for you, hoping you could 'turn' Song Jingyang."
Xiu'er: "I haven't finished speaking, why are you in such a hurry! The prince likes you, what's there to be afraid of admitting?"
"It's not that I'm afraid to admit he likes me," Tang Zhuyun sighed, "It's that I'm afraid you all will think that because he likes me, I should like him back."
Xiu'er: "I'm not that kind of person. If that's the case, then you'd have to like everyone who likes you, like Zhang San, Li Si, or Wang Ermazi? How could you possibly like them all? You admit it, but that doesn't mean you have to like the Prince."
Tang Zhuyun: "Isn't that being a coward?"
The Prince of Jin likes her, treats the children well, and is now treating her well as well, which she acknowledges; however, this does not mean that she has to like the Prince of Jin.
If that were the case, would she be single for thirty years in modern times?
She gets confessed to all the time, you know...
However, this logic is understandable to modern people; after all, just because someone is nice to me doesn't mean I have to accept it. But in this era, people would just think she's being pretentious—the prince is treating you so well, why don't you hurry up and throw yourself into his arms and live happily ever after?
No, she doesn't want to.
A common-law marriage not based on mutual understanding and love between two people is irresponsible to oneself.
Even on the day of Qixi Festival, seeing other people's flowers, she remained clear-headed.
Love is a luxury; she'd rather not have it than buy a fake and brainwash herself into believing it.
Xiu'er said, "Hey, don't think about those things. Anyway, you're already a princess. Just be happy as you were before. When the prince gets married, you get in the sedan chair. What do others know about your true feelings? The prince is good to you because he wants to. What business is it of yours? Confused people can't even manage their own thoughts, yet they want to compare themselves to you? Let those kinds of people compare themselves. Do they think they can fly to the sky?"