Tang Mingfan happened to be home when he saw her and exclaimed, "A-Yun, what are you doing!"
Tang Zhuyun: "Father, you're back."
She had finally returned home to wait for her marriage into the royal family, Tang Mingfan couldn't bear to part with her, so he moved back in as well.
"Why are you bullying the prince again?" Tang Mingfan asked with a smile.
Tang Zhuyun: "... Father, why have you switched sides!"
Who's bullying whom?
That guy was secretly watching her, and then he tried to frame her! Is there no justice in this world?!
Tang Mingfan: "What a pair of bickering lovers. I was young once too, so I understand, but you have to be careful."
Tang Zhuyun: What do you know!
Your love for your mother is true and invincible, transcending life and death, making time bow down in submission, unwavering until death.
What are she and the Prince of Jin compared to each other!
Prince of Jin chuckled, his eyes already catching a glimpse of Tang Zhuyun's aggrieved expression.
Alright, a good man doesn't argue with a woman, let her off the hook.
The Prince of Jin jumped off the wall.
That evening, Tang Mingfan and Tang Zhuyun said that they should cook more food the next day and bring out the portion for the Prince of Jin, since they were going to cook it anyway.
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
How did her father suddenly become the father of the Prince of Prince of Jin?
Who is the biological child?
Wasn't it agreed that fathers-in-law and sons-in-law were enemies? His father betrayed his country at the last minute!
Fortunately, her elder brother remained steadfast in his stance, feeling that entering the Prince's mansion was beneath her; however, given how things had progressed to this point, this was the only option.
Tang Mingfan not only brought meals for the Prince of Jin, but also made him sit at the same table to eat every day.
The Prince of Jin's aloof aura made Tang Mingfan's former dining companions keep their distance, only able to watch the father-in-law and son-in-law feast while drooling.
"Your Highness, please try these ribs. They're stewed until tender and flavorful."
"Your Highness, this soup is delicious, please have some more."
"..."
Those who were on good terms with Tang Mingfan privately asked him, "Lord Tang, aren't you being a little too nice to the Prince of Jin? Aren't you afraid people will say you're being obsequious?"
Tang Mingfan glared and puffed out his beard. "That's my son-in-law, my son-in-law! If I don't treat him well, who should I treat well?"
It's utterly baffling.
"If I'm good to him, he naturally has to be good to my daughter."
Why are these idiots still arguing about such a simple truth? They must bite everyone they see and have turned their brains into mush!
When others described Prince of Jin as aloof and profound in front of Tang Mingfan, Tang Mingfan replied that it was composure and the ability to accomplish great things.
Others said that Prince of Jin was stern and rarely smiled, to which Tang Mingfan replied, "I'm not selling smiles. If I smile at you, won't you have a contest?"
Prince of Jin was impeached for condoning the Golden Scale Guard and for imposing excessive punishments. Tang Mingfan responded, "How else can we keep the villains in check? The Golden Scale Guard was established by the Emperor. It would be more effective for you to impeach the Emperor directly!"
In short, Tang Mingfan protected the Prince of Jin very well.
Privately, he said to the Prince of Jin, "I see that you act with discretion and are not the kind of person the rumors say you are. Believe me, time will tell, and others will eventually see the truth about you."
The Prince of Jin strongly disagreed with the latter half of the statement, but was moved by Tang Mingfan's comment, "Act with moderation."
He has never received a fair evaluation.
To receive such praise from someone as upright and selfless as Tang Mingfan made him feel that much of the depression he had been suppressing had been released.
If the Prince of Jin wanted to eat something, he could send Song Jingyang to find Xiu'er.
When Xiu'er is in a good mood, she'll mention it to Tang Zhuyun, and then when Tang Zhuyun is in a good mood, she might get "charity" from him.
When Xiu'er is in a bad mood, she won't pass on any messages at all; when Tang Zhuyun is in a bad mood, she simply won't listen to anything.
This life is so passive.
However, his children were all with Tang Zhuyun. Although they secretly helped him, it wasn't a long-term solution. Moreover, Tang Zhuyun was becoming increasingly cunning and wouldn't fall for their tricks.
The Prince of Jin decided to come up with a solution.
After the court session that day, Prince of Jin accompanied Tang Mingfan in a carriage to the Court of Judicial Review.
On the way, he said, "I heard that the manor is looking for a midwife and a wet nurse these days. If we don't move for the time being, won't it be a bit crowded?"
Tang Mingfan said, "That's true. After I find the right person, I'll stay at the yamen for a while."
"The government office isn't as convenient as home, and although I won't restrict A-Yun from going back to her parents' home after she leaves, it's still not as convenient as it is now."
"So what do you mean?" Tang Mingfan wasn't stupid; he realized that the Prince of Jin was deliberately steer the conversation toward this topic, so he went along with it and asked.
"Move in with me, it's right next door, so it'll be convenient. Besides, there's no rule that says a father-in-law and son-in-law can't live under the same roof before marriage, is there?"
Tang Mingfan: "How could I not have thought of that!"
That's a great idea!
"If you agree, I'll have Song Jingyang help me pack when I get back."
"OK!"
Tang Zhuyun was stunned when she heard the news.
Even with her confidence in her two lifetimes and her extensive knowledge, she had never seen such a shameless tactic before!
Xiu'er, while dusting off non-existent dust with a feather duster, clicked her tongue and exclaimed, "The Prince is indeed cunning and treacherous. You stole his children, and he got even more ruthless, stealing your father instead! The Prince is truly a master!"
When Linlin and Yanran returned to speak up for Prince of Jin, Tang Zhuyun could ignore them, or adopt an elder's airs and say, "Children shouldn't meddle in adult matters," thus evading the issue and leaving Prince of Jin embarrassed. But what her father said, did she have to obediently listen to him?
Tang Zhuyun gritted her teeth. This guy was using all his energy to deal with her; he was a coward who bullied his own kind!
Sure enough, after Tang Mingfan moved in, Tang Zhuyun had to cook for him, so Prince of Jin secretly ordered dishes on Tang Mingfan's behalf.
Tang Zhuyun glared at him angrily, while Tang Mingfan looked pleased with himself—"My daughter and son-in-law are flirting again; young people should be like this."
Tang Zhuyun felt like she was going to vomit.
When a man becomes shameless, it's truly astonishing.
That brat! Just wait! Pour a handful of salt into his soup right now! Make him choke to death so he can inherit his fortune!
Tang Zhuyun suddenly thought of the issue of the Prince of Jin's Residence's property and asked the Prince of Jin over the wall, "Your Highness, you said that we will be legally married in the future. Can I inquire about the property of the Prince's mansion?"
Legally married? That's a novel concept.
The Prince of Jin of Jin's pleasure lasted less than two seconds before he remembered her long-cherished dream of becoming a widow, and gritted his teeth, saying, "If I die before you, I won't leave you a single penny."
Tang Zhuyun: "So ruthless?"
"But as long as I live, you'll have more money than you can spend."
Tang Zhuyun: "Actually, I can support myself, there's no need for that."
Prince of Jin: "..."
The implication was that they didn't want him alive, not even for a single penny?
This woman is ruthless.
Tang Zhuyun: You were the one who started it all...
"Your Highness, I would like to ask you, is all that silver of yours obtained legitimately?"
If you do something wrong, let me know now. After all, even if we're sleeping in the same bed but dreaming different dreams in the future, we still have to share the risks, right?
Tang Zhuyun felt she had the right to know!