Tang Zhuyun went inside, and Prince of Jin stared intently at her.
Tang Zhuyun: Goodbye!
Please, be normal.
The Prince of Jin probably realized he had been too blatant, so he said, "Come and sit down. I have important business to discuss with you."
Tang Zhuyun sat down far away from him.
Prince of Jin: "... Go to the Xue Family, but don't easily reveal your medical skills."
Old Madam Xue's watchful eye, Tang Zhuyun certainly wouldn't stand idly by.
But that's enough; don't worry about anything else.
"Also, why did you suddenly feel dizzy today?"
He had never known that sugar could cure diseases.
Tang Zhuyun said helplessly, "Your Highness, you don't think I'm a horse demon now, do you?"
She remembered the time she ate the Racing Thunder Honey...
The Prince of Jin chuckled at her words and said, "I'll find out eventually! Anyway, while I'm not around, keep a close eye on things. Don't let a pot of dog blood ruin everything one day."
Tang Zhuyun rolled her eyes at this.
"With so much going on at home, I'll be back in two or three days at most." After thinking it over, she decided to tell him anyway, so he wouldn't make it sound like they didn't know when they'd see each other again.
However, later events proved that she had said those words in vain.
Meanwhile, Xiu'er and Qin Sang were talking in the teahouse.
"Sangsang, why haven't you come for so long?" Xiu'er said, wiping the table with a handkerchief. "Tsk tsk, there's enough oil on this table to scrape off two ounces."
Qin Sang had lost some weight, making her eyes appear larger, and she looked... somewhat haggard.
"I was sick a few days ago," Qin Sang said, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear—even this ordinary gesture carried a certain charm on her. "And I also bought a shop..."
"Trade the shop?" Xiu'er's eyes lit up. "Sangsang, you're the boss now!"
Qin Sang smiled and said, "It's just a small cosmetics shop."
"And what about your mother...?"
"I'm not going anymore."
Xiu'er said, "Alright, anyway, that kind of thing gets boring after a while, we've seen everything we needed to see."
Qin Sang smiled but remained silent.
Xiu'er whispered, "Sangsang, Master is sick."
The smile on Qin Sang's face vanished instantly, "What's wrong, Lord Tang?"
"You probably don't know, but a lot has happened in our manor these past two days..."
Xiu'er told the whole story in detail.
Qin Sang's hand, hidden under the table, gripped the handkerchief tightly. She held her breath, listening intently to her words.
"Then tomorrow our lady will have to go to the Xue Family."
"Lord Tang, are you alright?"
"It's nothing," Xiu'er said. "She's just not feeling well. I guess this won't be over for a while."
"That's natural," Qin Sang said. "After all, Madam Tang is someone Lord Tang has been thinking of for decades."
Xiu'er suddenly leaned forward and whispered, "Sangsang, do you want to go with Master?"
Qin Sang was taken aback, then said, "How could that be? What is Lord Tang's status, and what am I? I would be ashamed even to carry his shoes."
But in reality, she has had this kind of dream before.
She even considered that she didn't want any official title; she could just be a maidservant to him.
She was willing to give everything to stay with the Tang Family, regardless of personal gain or loss.
However, reason ultimately prevailed.
"It's not that you're unwilling, it's that you feel unworthy?" Xiu'er asked.
"Yes." Qin Sang smiled bitterly, "I've also had daydreams, but then I woke up on my own. Xiu'er, I grew up in a brothel, I've seen all kinds of human warmth and coldness, the fickleness of the world..."
She was sincere, but to Tang Mingfan, it was like a bucket of dirty water being poured on him.
People will say he's a hypocrite, a beast in human clothing, and that he's ruined his reputation in his later years...
"I truly only admire you, but others won't believe me," Qin Sang said, bowing her head.
In fact, after so many years in the entertainment industry, she has developed a lot of cunning and skill, which is why she has made a name for herself.
If she really wanted to get into the Tang Residence, whether by feigning helplessness or using other means, she could easily become a maid.
But she couldn't.
She couldn't ruin Lord Tang's illustrious reputation with her admiration.
Now, after listening to Xiu'er's words, I have another reason to back down.
She couldn't destroy his deep affection for his deceased wife.
She had been a top courtesan, a shame she could never wash away in her lifetime.
She should bear this shame herself.
So today, she didn't even step into the Tang Family's house.
She didn't give Sister Yuan any gifts, but simply gave her silver.
--Any gift from her would likely be criticized.
Xiu'er said, "It's good that you've figured it out yourself. I originally wanted to advise you today, but now that the Xue Family has come and given the adults a good scolding, I'm afraid of the adults and won't have any other thoughts in the future. Don't delay you."
Qin Sang smiled and said, "I know you mean well, but it's ultimately just wishful thinking on my part."
She has now figured it out: she can't get close to him, but she can become the kind of person he likes—even if his expectations of her are only those of a junior.
So she decided to leave her profession and open a small shop, which would allow her to support herself well.
"And you'll marry a good man!" Xiu'er added, "Sigh, you're just blinded by admiration."
How so?
"If you're looking at it from a man's perspective, isn't the master... just a decrepit old man?" Xiu'er muttered. "I wouldn't be surprised if you took a fancy to him..."
Qin Sang said, "Xiu'er, Lord Tang saved me."
"Ah?"
"When I was fifteen, a client died in my bed. His body was all blue, and everyone said I had drugged him..."
"Has the master cleared your name?"
"Yes, although I've never actually met Lord Tang."
The Court of Judicial Review was responsible for the final review and sent the case back for retrial, which ultimately proved her innocence.
Therefore, she had long admired Tang Mingfan.
So she thought, "Like a moth drawn to a flame."
However, they ultimately retreated.
It's because the moth thinks it will dirty the lampshade.
"Sangsang, don't think about it anymore," Xiu'er said. "My mother and I also received great kindness from the master back then, but there's no need for us to repay him with our bodies..."
"Yes, I understand."
She hoped Tang Mingfan would be well, and she watched silently; if he was not, she was willing to give anything.
Having witnessed men's fickleness and indifference so often, she should have been the most composed; however, it turned out she was the most impulsive.
"Perhaps you'll meet your Mr. Right soon," Xiu'er comforted her. "Where do you live? I'll come visit you sometime."
"I'd better not worry about my reputation."
"It's alright, Her Highness is about to enter the Prince's residence. The Prince's reputation is bad enough, he doesn't care."
Qin Sang chuckled at her words: "If you talk like that, do you think the Prince won't beat you?"
"He wouldn't!" Xiu'er said proudly. "I'm the Empress's woman! Even when beating a dog, you have to consider its owner!"
"Really, Sangsang," Xiu'er grabbed her hand under the table, "We'll be alright, we'll all be alright."
Qin Sang nodded and smiled, but then she started to cry.
She told herself that she wasn't suffering from unrequited love; she was painfully letting go of what she loved.
But in the end, she didn't get it, and she was in great pain.
"What an idiot, cry all you want, I know you're telling me this to finally cut off all hope in your heart."
Qin Sang hugged Xiu'er and burst into tears.
Song Jingyang was stunned when he entered.
--What, did he arrive at the wrong time?
Is Qin Sang going to steal him away?