The two women, aunt and sister-in-law, walked slowly. Tang Zhuyun asked softly, "Sister-in-law, is Purple Tenuity Palace far from here?"
Yanran was taken by Huaishang to see the Emperor, who said she would come and join them later.
Tang Zhuyun couldn't help but feel uneasy as they hadn't arrived yet.
She didn't want to stay in this wretched place, the palace, for even a second longer.
Fortunately, she didn't have to engage in palace intrigue; otherwise, she would either have been killed by others or suffocated by the pressure.
Can't everyone just live a good life?
They fought like cockfighting, battling to the death.
Now Tang Zhuyun understood why Huaishang was an imperial bodyguard.
--It was very convenient for him to move around in the palace.
The Emperor has considered the Prince of Jin of Jin's situation quite a bit; could it be that he actually favors the Prince of Jin?
Holy crap!
I really want to back out and refuse to participate in palace intrigue!
No way, are you a coward or not?!
I'm a coward!
Tang Zhuyun was torn between heaven and man.
"Not far," Meng Yulan said. "Yesterday I specifically asked your elder brother to find and look at the blueprints of the palace layout."
Tang Zhuyun's admiration for her surged like a mighty river.
A top student with an all-around talent for palace intrigue.
"Yanran will be here soon. The Emperor only needs to glance at Yanran a few times and bestow some gifts, and that's considered the height of his affection."
The Emperor didn't have the same patience as the Prince of Jin with children.
To be fair, among all the men Meng Yulan had ever met, the Prince of Jin's patience in caring for his child was unparalleled.
Tang Zhuyun thought about it and realized it was true.
It's not easy for this grandfather to even know of their existence.
Was the Emperor's special treatment of Yanran due to his guilt towards the Xiao Family?
For some reason, she felt something was off.
But something's wrong, though I can't quite put my finger on it.
Perhaps she's just overthinking things?
Meng Yulan lowered her voice again and said, "A-Yun, be careful no matter what. That situation just now..."
Tang Zhuyun sneered, "Tailor-made for me."
"Hmm," Meng Yulan said, "No need to be nervous. Even the Empress wouldn't dare to go too far."
Tang Zhuyun smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'm a tough nut to crack."
She embarrassed her, and she also embarrassed the other person.
Let's all die together.
Whoever has the highest status is the one who's afraid.
As they were talking, Yanran followed Huaishang over.
When she saw Tang Zhuyun, a bright smile instantly appeared in her eyes.
Her lips moved, but she swallowed the words that were about to come out and instead came over to give a proper bow.
"Mother, Aunt."
Tang Zhuyun smiled and took her hand, "Let's go."
Upon arriving at the Weiyang Palace, they met the Empress and all the concubines.
Tang Zhuyun kept her eyes lowered, behaving like a quail, and remained unusually low-key.
Since entering Weiyang Palace, Meng Yulan has been following her around.
After all, there's a difference in status.
The Empress, however, clearly didn't want her to keep a low profile, and said with a smile, "Little Six's wife has arrived?"
Tang Zhuyun feigned death.
Who is Little Six? I don't know him.
Whose wife? She's not married yet, it has nothing to do with her.
Silence, an awkward silence.
Tang Zhuyun remained calm and composed under the gazes of the crowd, feeling that her thick skin had reached a new level.
Yanran nervously grasped her hand.
At this moment, a palace maid from the Empress's side came over to remind Tang Zhuyun, "Her Majesty is asking you a question!"
There was no form of address, and it was clear that she didn't know what form of address would be most appropriate for her at this moment.
After all, she was already the emperor's acknowledged princess, but now she's back to being unmarried, which is indeed a difficult situation.
Tang Zhuyun looked bewildered. "Little Six is...?"
"Your Highness," the palace maid whispered.
"Which prince?" Tang Zhuyun continued to feign ignorance.
Palace maid. "Prince of Jin."
Tang Zhuyun feigned surprise. "Is Your Highness speaking to me?"
Her face showed shock, utter shock.
Then she gracefully bowed and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. This is the first time I've seen such a grand occasion, and I'm so flustered that I can't say a word."
The Empress showed no displeasure whatsoever; on the contrary, she appeared very kind and beckoned to her, saying, "Come, come to me."
Tang Zhuyun stepped forward calmly.
The Empress seemed to sized her up for a moment, then said to the concubines beside her, "What a beautiful girl. Little Six, after much deliberation, finally chose the best one."
Tang Zhuyun: Isn't the point to satirize Prince of Jin for only having a decent face, while actually being a disgraced womanizer?
She feigned shyness and said, "Your Majesty is too kind; you are truly a woman of divine beauty."
Everyone: What an idiot.
The Crown Princess Lady Zong, who sat below the Empress, had a grim expression, as if someone owed her eight hundred taels of silver.
Upon hearing Tang Zhuyun's reply, the sarcasm on her face was impossible to hide.
Tang Zhuyun: You idiot! The women of the Zong Family are getting worse with each generation. They're doomed.
The Empress had a seat offered to her and then asked her in detail about things such as her age and dowry.
Tang Zhuyun answered them one by one.
The Empress's gaze then fell on Yanran, and she smiled, "Yanran has grown taller and a little plumper."
Yanran said in a clear, sweet voice, "My mother is good to me."
The Queen smiled, and everyone else smiled too.
The Empress said, "Your father and mother's relationship was also thanks to you as a matchmaker."
Yanran said proudly, "It's all thanks to my thick skin; once I set my sights on Mother Consort, I wouldn't let go."
The Empress laughed and said, "What a clever little devil!"
She took off a full-green jade bracelet from her wrist and gave it to Tang Zhuyun, saying, "You have done a good job taking care of Yanran. Prince of Jin remembers your kindness, and so do I."
Tang Zhuyun accepted it with a sense of "flattery and surprise".
No matter how she tries to sow discord—she's implying that the Prince of Jin is with her simply because she's suitable to be a stepmother—it doesn't matter. The most important thing is that this bracelet looks very valuable.
The Empress also had gifts given to Yanran.
Just then, the palace maid beside her suddenly spoke up, "Your Highness, the peanut milk is ready. Should we serve it now or later?"
The Empress smiled and said, "Peanut milk is best enjoyed hot; have them bring it to us."
Then she asked Tang Zhuyun kindly, "Have you ever drunk the peanut milk from the palace?"
Tang Zhuyun shook her head.
Consort De said, "This peanut jelly is Her Majesty the Empress's own recipe; it's fragrant and delicious."
Tang Zhuyun smiled and said, "Then this humble woman is truly fortunate to have such a delicious meal today."
The palace maids quickly filed in, placing boxes of snacks on small tables in front of each person, and then giving each person a bowl of peanut milk.
The palace maid who was serving Tang Zhuyun peanut milk initially picked up another bowl, but quickly and hurriedly switched to another one.
Tang Zhuyun laughed and said, "I'm not a man-eating tiger, don't panic."
The Empress laughed and said, "A-Yun, you mischievous one, who said you were a tiger?"
Tang Zhuyun: "I noticed this older sister gets nervous around me, so I just joked with her."
The palace maid put down the bowl, bowed, and hurriedly withdrew.
Yanran noticed with her sharp eyes that Tang Zhuyun's bowl was somewhat different from the other bowls.
Although both are small blue and white porcelain bowls decorated with five-colored flowers, Tang Zhuyun's bowl, upon closer inspection, has a light blue morning glory flower.
Morning glories, because they bloom in the morning and wither in the evening, have a short lifespan and are therefore considered unlucky; vessels used in the palace should avoid using them.
No, that's definitely wrong.
Yanran tugged at Tang Zhuyun's sleeve under the table.