The room was originally full of people, Yanran, a small child, wouldn't have stood out much when she came in. But when she brought Jiaojiao, the effect was immediately different.
First Madam Xue exclaimed in surprise, "That's... a tiger?"
Apart from the unseen Old Madam Xue, everyone else in the Xue Family also found it novel.
"It's a tiger," Tang Zhuyun said with a smile.
Yanran smiled and said, "Auntie, this is a pet that my father gave to my mother. It took him a lot of effort to get it."
Tang Zhuyun:???
Wasn't that a gift for the two children?
First Madam Xue, "It is indeed novel, but we should be careful when keeping such a ferocious beast at home. I remember when Lie'er was little, he insisted on keeping a leopard. He only released it after it grew very big, and it would come back on its own afterward."
Tang Zhuyun wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, but she felt that First Madam Xue's words sounded like a challenge—your family has a tiger, my Xue Family has a leopard, it's not a big deal.
"From now on, we're family. When is Leopard coming back? Auntie, I want to see him." Yanran said innocently.
Tang Zhuyun: Something's not right, something's very wrong.
Then Yanran came over, lifted her sleeve, revealed her chubby arm, and said coquettishly, "Mother, look, I've been bitten by mosquitoes again!"
"Let me see." Tang Zhuyun looked at the tiny red dot that was barely noticeable, unsure of what expression to make.
Yanran herself seemed a little guilty, and said, "Mother, it was very itchy, but I resisted the urge to scratch, so it didn't swell."
Tang Zhuyun called Xiu'er to fetch the medicine, applied it to her, and then patted her head, saying, "Go out and play."
"Mother, I want to stay with you." Yanran clung to her, unwilling to leave, then suddenly, as if discovering a new continent, she lifted her hand and exclaimed in amazement, "Mother, is this the ring made of the dragon pearl that Father gave you?"
Everyone's eyes immediately fell on Tang Zhuyun's little finger.
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
That was so embarrassing.
She did indeed favor that dragon ball, so she had a craftsman set it into a ring, which was actually quite inconspicuous.
But Yanran shouted that, everyone heard it was about the Dragon Ball and couldn't help but look over.
Yanran added, "Father said he'll take us horseback riding in a few days, and we'll also eat at Four Seas Tower... just like before."
Even Tang Zhuyun, who was usually quite naive, realized that this Little Lovely girl was trying her best to make her father, the Prince of Jin, feel valued and to prove that he treated her very well.
But even if she and Prince of Jin were truly in love, they wouldn't show it in public.
So she whispered, "Okay. We can talk about these things another day. Why don't you go out and play with your brother?"
Yanran nodded, stood up, and gracefully bowed to the women of the Xue Family family. Then she smiled and said, "Great-grandmother, aunt, maternal aunt, I will accompany my mother to visit you in a few days."
Although the Xue Family family had heard about the Prince of Jin's various "misdeeds" and were very dissatisfied with him, they would not go so far as to give a young girl a hard time.
The little girl, in particular, is charming, Lovely, and incredibly intelligent, making one want to get close to her.
Old Madam Xue gave Yanran a Yanran pendant as a reward, saying, "It's nothing special, just keep it for fun."
Thank you, Grandma Great-Grandma.
After Yanran, Yanran led Jiaojiao away.
A little girl and a little tiger, one in front of the other, were surprisingly harmonious.
After she left, she naturally wanted to curry favor with the Prince of Jin.
The Prince of Jin expressed his satisfaction.
I never imagined that one day I would have to rely on my daughter to gain attention.
Yanran asked, "Where did my brother go?"
"They've gone to take care of your maternal grandfather. Would you like to come and see him?"
"Okay." Yanran ran out.
Prince of Jin couldn't hear the voices inside the house, but he still had to wait there to help entertain the men of the Xue Family. He stood with his hands behind his back under the tree in the courtyard, noble and aloof, but his heart was not at peace—were they talking about his marriage to Tang Zhuyun?
The Xue Family family is probably unwilling, but Yanran just gave him positive reviews, so surely she can't hold out for even a little while?
Besides, their marriage was an imperial decree; wouldn't the Xue Family family have to be somewhat mindful of that?
As the Prince of Jin was consoling himself, he saw Xiu'er come out to add water to the teapot.
He didn't ask, but Xiu'er quietly ran over, acting furtively, as if she had something to say.
The Prince of Jin harbored resentment towards this nemesis and was mentally prepared for the impending blow.
Unexpectedly, Xiu'er stepped forward and said in a low voice, "Yanran has made a mess of things this time."
The Prince of Jin's heart skipped a beat. "What's going on?"
"Yanran went in to speak up for you just now. As soon as she left, Old Madam Xue took Your Highness's hand and said, 'This marriage is unacceptable!'"
Xiu'er perfectly imitated Old Madam Xue's tone, deeply hurting Prince of Jin.
Before he could ask why, Xiu'er continued, "How could a child this age, no matter how clever, say such a thing? When Lie'er was six or seven, he couldn't even speak clearly!"
Prince of Jin: It's Xue Lie again! How could he be so stupid? No wonder he talks so much now, he's just holding it in.
That Old Madam Xue is really unfair. Just because your grandson is stupid doesn't mean other people's children can't be smart!
"Someone must have instigated her to say that."
"Silly child, you're still young. If I'm nice to you, you might soften your heart..."
The Prince of Jin thought, "Tang Zhuyun is still young? Her Zidu has already become a student of a great Confucian scholar and started his serious studies. How can she be young?"
"What good can those shameless sycophants possibly have?"
"Whether it's your uncle or your brothers getting married, it's all out of mutual affection and genuine love."
Prince of Jin: Where have I been dishonest?
Besides, all the men in the Xue Family marry out of mutual affection. With Xue Lie's stupidity, if he were to have an arranged marriage without parental consent and a matchmaker's help, wouldn't he be a bachelor for life?
The women in the Xue Family are such gossips, always whispering behind people's backs. They're so annoying!
"Xiu'er, is the tea ready?" Tang Zhuyun called out from inside with a smile.
"Here I am, here I am."
Prince of Jin: You heartless wretch! People call your man a simp, and you can still laugh! It's infuriating!
When Tang Zhuyun came out, Prince of Jin, who really wanted to put on a stern face and settle accounts with her, couldn't help but smile and wave at her.
"Wait a minute." Tang Zhuyun noticed a bit of dust on the tip of her shoe, so she squatted down and wiped it with a handkerchief.
Prince of Jin: It's a pity she's not wearing a high-waisted ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) today.
Why didn't you use the good pearls I gave you?
It's obviously not perfectly round, and the color isn't good enough either; it's shabby.
Tang Zhuyun: "Sigh, it's such a waste to use that for making shoes. These look pretty good too."
She finished wiping her shoes and was about to stand up when she felt dizzy.
Prince of Jin sensed something was wrong and rushed forward to catch her Ruanruan body as she collapsed. "A-Yun!"
Tang Zhuyun's vision went black for a brief moment, but she quickly regained her senses; she had been so busy that she had forgotten to eat.
I didn't sleep well last night, and Tang Mingfan got sick when I was about to cook, so Xiu'er went out to buy steamed buns in the end.
She was so busy that she forgot to eat, and now she has low blood sugar.