Xiu'er brought over some sweet soup and said, "Your Highness, please come inside and rest. I'll call you if Madam needs anything."
Tang Zhuyun yawned and said, "It's alright, I'll just wait here."
If she goes inside, Prince of Jin will definitely follow her in; how ambiguous would that be!
She didn't want to stare at Prince of Jin, and she was even more afraid that if she fell asleep, he would be staring intently at her—the thought alone was terrifying.
Xiu'er said, "This servant will go in and see if it's all ready."
Tang Zhuyun nodded, and after finishing the sugar water, she still didn't want to move.
Her period should be due in a couple of days. She was already feeling a bit unwell, and the tension from last night made her even lazier.
The Prince of Jin had never seen her so listless. Even when she was kidnapped by bandits, she returned full of energy, unlike now, when she lay limply on the table like a pitiful kitten.
"Why don't you go inside and rest for a while?"
Tang Zhuyun yawned again, tears welling up in her eyes. "No need, Your Highness, don't you need to attend court?"
Prince of Jin: "No need, I'm taking leave."
"Are you asking for leave?"
As expected of the emperor's favorite son, he lives in his own family's empire, so he's willful and pretentious.
Unlike her father, who was like an exploited ox, working himself to the bone even when the sky was falling.
The Prince of Jin asked tentatively, "What's wrong? I feel like something's not right with you."
It was Meng Yulan gave birth, not her; although staying up all night is indeed tiring, Tang Zhuyun's current state cannot be explained by simply staying up all night.
Tang Zhuyun: My relatives are coming, do you have a problem with that?
Inside the house, Tang Baixin was comforting Meng Yulan: "Did you hear what Xiu'er said? Father is so happy, he's already chosen a name for the child. I know you have reservations about this date, but we all love her."
"The master's affection for her is the greatest blessing for Sister Yuan," Meng Yulan said with a smile.
She hadn't expected that Tang Mingfan genuinely liked his granddaughter.
This realization truly put her mind at ease.
For a girl, a strong maternal family and the love and care from her family are the most precious treasures.
Ultimately, what Meng Yulan fears is that the head of the family will not be happy.
"I also instructed everyone to announce the good news everywhere that she gave birth last night." Tang Baixin touched her forehead. "Thank you, Qingqing, you've worked so hard."
"It's not hard work. I want to have many, many children for you." Meng Yulan held his hand and rested it against her face, her long eyelashes wet with tears.
Childbirth made her more tender and sensitive.
"Silly Qingqing," Tang Baixin smile, "Quickly close your eyes and rest for a while, I'll stay with you."
The midwife had almost finished tidying up, but Xiu'er, a germaphobe, came in and found fault with everything. She tidied up herself and then muttered, "She didn't even pour out the water used to bathe Sister Yuan, really, what a waste of money!"
Lüzhu, standing nearby, quickly said, "Xiu'er, there's a specific way to pour this water; it should be poured under the peach tree outside, because we're adding it for a young lady."
If the child is a son, the water should be poured under the mulberry tree.
Xiu'er muttered, "Why are there so many rules?"
But despite her words, she still picked up the wooden basin and walked outside.
Seeing her come out, Tang Zhuyun stood up and said, "Is everything ready? I'll go check on my sister-in-law... um..."
Blood is flowing like a river, my period came two days early!
Luckily, I was wearing a skirt over my pants, so it probably didn't get dirty.
But when the Prince of Jin saw her gripping the table, too afraid to move, he immediately felt a pang of anxiety and came over to support her. "What's wrong?"
Tang Zhuyun: "It's alright. Your Highness, would you like to go check on the two children?"
Xiu'er continued talking to herself, "Why are there so many rules in the capital? I never knew that even the water for bathing after childbirth is particular."
The Prince of Jin was greatly alarmed.
He'd heard of that!
Newborns are believed to have the strongest yang energy, so people traditionally believe that bathwater from them can ward off evil spirits, and therefore the water should be poured under the nearest tree near their home.
Tang Zhuyun's discomfort must be due to being disturbed by the newborn Sister Yuan!
That idiot Meng Yulan couldn't give birth even after trying from dusk till dawn. Did Tang Zhuyun use her own energy to help her?
Absolutely!
The Tang Family is truly a burden to Tang Zhuyun.
Prince of Jin dared not leave. He stepped forward and reached out to hug Tang Zhuyun without saying a word, but she pushed him away.
--Are you crazy? If I hold him on my forearm like I'm holding my daughter, won't I smear his arm with dirt?
Tang Zhuyun really had no face to live on.
"A-Yun, you--"
"Your Highness," Tang Zhuyun blinked, "I suddenly remembered that today is the Dragon Boat Festival, and I've placed a large bet. Could you please keep an eye on whether Prince of Yong will win?"
Prince of Jin: "He can't lose. Even if he does, I'll still give you silver!"
He just couldn't understand why a mere demon like her would be so obsessed with money.
Fortunately, Linlin brought Yanran to see the little girl. When she received Tang Zhuyun's pleading look, although she didn't understand why, she still helped her hold off Prince of Jin, giving her a chance to escape back to her room to change her clothes.
The Prince of Jin stood outside the door. "A-Yun..."
Tang Zhuyun: She's already dead!
Do you want to live or die?!
What's wrong with this person today? He's like a persistent leech!
Yanran called out to her, "Mother, are you alright? I want to see my little sister!"
Although it wasn't the little brother she had expected, Yanran was still very excited that there was finally someone younger than her in the family.
"They've arrived."
Tang Zhuyun came out, and the family of four went to see Sister Yuan, who had finished her milk and was sleeping in the cradle next door.
It's a tiny, red, wrinkled little thing that's absolutely adorable.
Yanran carefully touched Sister Yuan's little hand with her finger, her eyes filled with surprise. "Mother, her hands are so small!"
Tang Zhuyun smiled and nodded, but her gaze unexpectedly met that of the Prince of Jin.
Why is that jerk staring at her with that frown? Is she prettier than a child?
Prince of Jin: "Have you finished reading? If you're done, then leave."
Tang Zhuyun looked completely bewildered. "Your Highness, perhaps you would like to leave first?"
She still wants to enjoy her newborn niece!
Prince of Jin: "I need something from you."
"What is that?" Tang Zhuyun was confused.
"I'll tell you once you're out."
Tang Zhuyun followed Prince of Jin out, who said, "I remember Master Hong'en gave you a string of Buddhist prayer beads. Where are they?"
No wonder Master Hong'en gave her Buddhist prayer beads upon meeting her; he must have felt that her spirit was unstable and gave them to calm her mind and ward off evil.
That was a highly accomplished monk; his level of cultivation was naturally different.
Tang Zhuyun: "The prayer beads... those are for me!"
The implication is clear: I can't give it to you!
The Prince of Prince of Jin gritted his teeth and said, "I don't want to!"
Tang Zhuyun: "Sometimes I want it, sometimes I don't, fine, whatever you say."
She was in a good mood today and wasn't going to argue with the man who was acting strangely.
"I want you to wear it!"
"Why?" Tang Zhuyun wasn't used to wearing things on her wrist, so she put it away after a few days. "By the way, could I give it to Sister Yuan as a gift?"
Meng Yulan herself had a generous dowry, so gold and silver were certainly not a big deal to her, but she must have really liked Master Hong'en prayer beads.
Prince of Jin: "No!"
Tang Zhuyun gave her a look that said, "Are you crazy?"
The Prince of Jin took a deep breath. "You must wear it yourself! You are not allowed to take it off, and you are not allowed to give it away!"
"Could you please explain yourself clearly?" Tang Zhuyun helplessly.
"Soul Suppressor!"
Tang Zhuyun's hand trembled, and she almost dropped the prayer beads.
Did the Prince of Jin know she was a time traveler?