The Empress gave Tang Zhuyun her own sedan chair, so it was spacious and comfortable.
Yanran couldn't wait any longer, so she lay down next to Tang Zhuyun and whispered in her ear, "Mother, was I amazing just now?"
Tang Zhuyun:???
So, the little one isn't really sad, just pretending?
That's such a convincing act!
Yanran said softly, "I was worried because I thought my mother could save me if I was poisoned; but if my mother is poisoned, then things are really bad..."
"But then I realized, how could my mother, who was so powerful, have been poisoned?"
Tang Zhuyun pinched her little nose, then reached out and hugged her. "She truly is my daughter!"
Yanran smiled smugly and whispered close to her mother's face, "But I'm still a little worried about Mother."
"I know," Tang Zhuyun said.
Looking at the close mother and daughter, Meng Yulan thought of her own Sister Yuan, and her eyes softened.
In the future, she will be as close to me as Yanran was to Tang Zhuyun.
Back home, Tang Zhuyun burst into laughter and recounted the whole story.
"... She wanted to fake poisoning, didn't she? Then I'll grant her wish."
Xiu'er served her a cup of warm tea and said, "You can drink tea, can't you?"
Tang Zhuyun took the drink and drank a large gulp. The temperature was just right for her to drink. After drinking, she said, "I was so thirsty. Xiu'er is so good. Where was I again?"
Xiu'er said irritably, "Speaking of which, you foolishly poisoned yourself."
Tang Zhuyun: "Didn't you see the look on the Emperor's face when he looked at the Empress!"
She felt incredibly clever; this sudden inspiration, this clever use of a counter-strategy, was simply brilliant.
Xiu'er said, "But your stomach still hurts."
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
Meng Yulan smiled and said, "Xiu'er really feels sorry for you. But Xiu'er, you must know that some things are hard to escape unscathed. It's worth shedding some blood to take a piece of the other side's flesh."
Xiu'er said, "I know Madam is right, but I still feel sorry for Her Highness."
Tang Zhuyun said with a grin, "Anyway, we're just happy today, so let's have something nice to eat tonight!"
"You eat well every day," Xiu'er said.
"That's right. If I didn't even want to eat properly, I must not want to live anymore," Tang Zhuyun said with a smile.
Yanran sat beside her, plucking mint leaves from the flowerpot, her brows furrowed, mint leaves scattered on her dress and the ground.
Tang Zhuyun: "Yanran?"
What's wrong with this child? Why did he come back looking like a wilted eggplant?
Yanran hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.
Thinking that she was still there, Meng Yulan felt embarrassed to speak, so she stood up and said with a smile, "I should go back and see Sister Yuan."
After she left, Yanran whispered, "Mother, when we got off the sedan chair and got into our own carriage, I accidentally saw someone hiding behind the palace wall spying on us."
Tang Zhuyun was surprised, but quickly reassured her, "It's probably the Empress's people watching us secretly. It's nothing to be afraid of."
The reason why both Meng Yulan and she dared to be so assertive towards the Empress today is because they both clearly understand—
They were on different sides, and no matter what they did, they couldn't please the Queen.
Since that's the case, let's just tear it apart cleanly and decisively!
Yanran wasn't comforted much. "Mother, that was an old palace maid with white hair, and her eyes were a bit frightening. I... I don't dare to think about it now."
"Then don't even think about it." Tang Zhuyun pulled her into her arms and gently patted her back to comfort her. "Yanran, you're still a child. Your father and mother are there for you. You don't need to be the one to fight on the front lines."
"Of course, Mother is also very happy and proud that my Yanran can protect Mother now."
Upon hearing this, Yanran immediately cheered up, casting aside the gloom from before.
However, before going to bed that night, she secretly told Linlin about it again.
"Brother, it's really not that I'm a coward," Yanran emphasized, "But the way that palace maid looked at people was really frightening..."
Linlin asked calmly, "The kind of person who wants to kill?"
"No, I feel like they're trying to kidnap someone, like bandits."
Linlin seemed to be deep in thought, then offered her a few words of comfort.
Yanran was easygoing; once she said it, she forgot about it and happily went to sleep with her pillow in front of Tang Zhuyun.
Tang Mingfan and Tang Baixin also asked about Tang Zhuyun's poisoning, but Tang Zhuyun downplayed the matter to the two straight men and loyal minister.
Tang Mingfan said, "Tomorrow at court, I will remind the Emperor again that if this matter is not thoroughly investigated, it will be impossible to guard against anyone who tries to harm you in the future."
Tang Zhuyun: "Father, no need, really no need. I don't want my first formal meeting with the Empress to be a complete mess. Besides, I've noticed that the Emperor hasn't been looking well lately. Let's save him some trouble."
Sure enough, upon hearing that the emperor was unwell, Tang Mingfan's attention was diverted.
But Tang Baixin was not so easily fooled.
He summoned Tang Zhuyun to his study and first gave her a small box. "This is your dowry from your elder brother."
Tang Zhuyun took it with a grin and said, "Your Zidu a share, so why is your brother hiding some money?"
Upon opening it, it turned out to be a pair of Shoushan stone seals.
Tang Baixin said somewhat embarrassedly, "I carved them myself. You and the Prince can each have one and play with them."
Tang Zhuyun noticed the bandage wrapped around his right index finger and then remembered, "A few days ago, my sister-in-law knocked on the door at night asking me for wound medicine. Did you hurt your hand while using the carving knife?"
Tang Baixin put her hands behind her back. "It's just a minor injury, it's already healed."
Tang Zhuyun: "Let me see!"
"Fine!"
"Show me!"
The wound has indeed healed somewhat, but it's still noticeably deep.
"It's really nothing, I don't have anything to give you."
"With you as my older brother, what more could I want?" Tang Zhuyun felt her eyes welling up with tears.
"Your older brother will live up to your expectations and will be your support in the future, ensuring you never have to worry about food or clothing."
After a woman marries, her maternal family is her greatest support.
He is successful, otherwise Tang Zhuyun will not be bullied.
Then he inquired in detail about matters concerning the palace.
This time, Tang Zhuyun didn't hide it from him.
Tang Baixin himself, "You did very well. There's no reason for you to be mistreated. The Emperor is a wise ruler; he won't allow the Empress to do as she pleases."
Tang Zhuyun: I'm sorry, big brother, I misunderstood you as straight.
What a reasonable and understanding older brother!
However, Tang Baixin changed the subject. "Why is the Empress targeting you? Prince of Jin has neither the power nor the ambition to seize the throne..."
Tang Zhuyun: "... Maybe it's because he's hated. Big brother, if there's nothing else, I'll go back and check on the two children to sleep. Thank you for the gift, I love it so much."
Run! These people are shrewd; if we don't run now, we'll be in deep trouble!
She didn't know if the Prince of Jin had power, but he definitely had ambition!
The Prince of Jin, a thousand miles away, sneezed.
Song Jingyang: "Your Highness, since you wouldn't listen to advice and insisted on coming out, have you caught a cold?"
Prince of Jin: "Jingyang, do you think the Princess Consort has received my gift yet?"
(Two more chapters to come, I'll post them after 10 PM~)