"A gift? What gift?" Song Jingyang was stunned.
Think about it, he and the prince were inseparable, yet the prince didn't prepare a gift for the princess at all.
Song Jingyang suspected that the prince's memory was distorted.
"It's that little lamb!" the Prince of Jin said matter-of-factly.
Song Jingyang: "..."
How could he tell the prince that it didn't even qualify as a gift?
A gift shouldn't be gone after just one meal.
If that's the case, wouldn't the Princess be sending gifts to all of them every single day?
But seeing the expectant look in his master's eyes, he lied and reluctantly said, "He'll like it..., won't he?"
The lamb was quite tender, especially when eaten in hot pot. The meat almost melted in your mouth, and you didn't need any dipping sauce; it was just pure, fresh flavor.
They passed through Hexi on their journey, a region abundant with this type of lamb.
After eating it, the Prince of Jin was deeply moved, and Tang Zhuyun was sure to like it.
So he had someone buy one and send it all the way back...
That's exactly what I'm thinking about right now!
"Your Highness, shouldn't we go inside?" Song Jingyang cautiously reminded him.
Today is the banquet hosted by the Governor of Gannan for the Prince of Jin, and it is inevitable that some beautiful women will be invited to accompany him.
The Prince of Jin was a man who rarely smiled, but upon seeing these women, his face hardened even further.
Upon seeing this, the governor of Gannan hurriedly ordered the prince to leave, but the Prince of Jin remained unmoved and now took the opportunity of relieving himself to come out.
"Wait a little longer, the smell of those vulgar women is pungent."
Song Jingyang: "..."
The beautiful woman before him was discarded like trash, yet the prince was here longing for his beloved. He was truly a devoted lover.
However, he also missed Xiu'er.
The master and servant, each lost in their own thoughts, remained silent.
Tang Zhuyun said that she did not receive your gift.
We didn't see a sheep, not even a single wool.
She did receive a "big gift" from someone else.
On the second day after the Empress's birthday, Tang Zhuyun was preparing a prescription for Kong Xiyou, weighing the herbs on a small scale, when Xiu'er suddenly screamed, startling her so much that her hand trembled and many of the herbs she had just weighed fell out.
Tang Zhuyun sighed, "Xiu'er!"
Xiu'er burst in. "What time is it? Why are you still fiddling with those lousy medicinal herbs!"
"What time is it?" Tang Zhuyun asked nonchalantly.
Xiu'er's loud and boisterous manner was something she was already used to.
But this time, something seems different.
Xiu'er snatched the weight from her, "Stop fussing about this, Your Majesty! I've rewarded you with two maids who will accompany you in your dowry!"
A maidservant who accompanied the bride?
Tang Zhuyun joked, "The kind of maid who serves in bed?"
"He stole your man!"
Seeing her eyes widen in anger, Tang Zhuyun couldn't help but tease her, "I think what you're worried about isn't them stealing my man, but rather them taking your position as the head maid."
"They don't deserve it! Bah!" Xiu'er spat. "What kind of Tom, Dick, or Harry can be your maids?"
Tang Zhuyun laughed loudly.
Xiu'er couldn't help but mutter, "How can you still laugh!"
Tang Zhuyun slowly stood up, stretched comfortably, and said, "You're even later than I expected."
Sending someone to the Prince of Jin would not only sow discord between them, but also annoy the Prince of Jin, who is indifferent to women, and also place spies around Prince of Jin... With so many benefits, it is indeed a bit late to act now.
But thinking about it, it makes sense. While it would be good to have spies around Prince of Jin, no one is stupid, especially the Emperor. Wouldn't he suspect that the Empress did it on purpose?
It's clear that the Empress was extremely angry yesterday, which is why she acted recklessly and indiscriminately.
"Your Majesty, what should we do?"
"Since you've given us two maids, then accept them," Tang Zhuyun said. "It's an honor to receive a gift from an elder."
If she refuses, she will be firmly labeled as jealous and unfilial.
Xiu'er was so angry that she stomped her feet.
"Can you be a little more proactive? Think of a solution!"
The emperor isn't worried, but the eunuchs are.
The master isn't in a hurry, but Xiu'er is dying of anxiety.
"This is what I think," Tang Zhuyun said slowly and deliberately, "I have my own family, and the prince has his own family too. Whether before or after marriage, each of us should handle our own family matters and not cause trouble for the other."
For example, the Xue Family family disliked Prince of Jin very much; she tried her best, didn't she?
The same logic applies to the Prince of Jin.
Xiu'er said fairly, "It might be harder for Your Highness to refuse than for you to refuse."
Tang Zhuyun said, "It's been difficult for me too, but it's settled then."
It wasn't that she didn't understand Prince of Jin, but in love, sacrifices should be equal.
Everyone is experiencing life for the first time, and it may be their only time (she is an exception). No one is obligated to unconditionally understand and give to another person.
That's not love, that's kidnapping.
Moreover, the Prince of Jin has been engaged in a battle of wits with the Empress for so many years. From being a fledgling prince to now being a thorn in the Empress's side, he can still act with impunity. This shows that he must have the ability to resolve the problems brought about by the Empress.
Xiu'er tentatively asked, "What if Your Highness said that for the sake of the greater good, you would have to make this sacrifice for the time being?"
Tang Zhuyun smiled and asked in return, "What do you think?"
"Impossible!"
"No," Tang Zhuyun said, "Maybe. Then what I'm considering is definitely Linlin's future."
To expect her to still consider the Prince of Jin as her man is wishful thinking.
Do you want a man just to wipe his butt?
She firmly believed that the Prince of Jin could handle the two maids.
This is nothing!
The female official beside the Empress led the two in to greet Tang Zhuyun and said bluntly, "This is the rule in the palace. Whether it's His Highness the Crown Prince or any other prince, Her Majesty has bestowed gifts upon them. Her Majesty said that we cannot show favoritism. Originally, the gifts should have been given after the marriage, but since you were frightened yesterday, she had them come to take care of you ahead of schedule."
Tsk tsk, I'm practically saying this outright: this is retribution for what you did yesterday—if I can't poison you, I'll block you up.
Tang Zhuyun gladly accepted, and solemnly said, "Please thank Her Majesty for her good intentions. I will definitely remember it and repay her kindness!"
The female official knew she was being sarcastic, but couldn't find fault with her, so she could only keep her there and leave dejectedly.
Tang Zhuyun, with her legs crossed, looked at the two women kneeling in front of her, took a sip of tea, and slowly asked, "What are your names? How old are you?"
"This servant Yingzhu, and I am fifteen years old."
"This servant Wanxiu, and I am sixteen years old."
"What's your name?" Tang Zhuyun asked again.
"Slave, slave, Wanxiu."
"No, change the name."
There's only one Xiu'er.
Xiu'er, standing behind Tang Zhuyun, listened with great delight.
She knew it; she treated the Empress differently.
"Please, Your Majesty, bestow a name upon me."
Tang Zhuyun said casually, "Let's call her Wan'er."
She doesn't have that many brain cells to die; they're just random passersby.
"Since you were bestowed upon the Prince by the Empress, and I am not yet officially married into the family, it would be impolite to assign you any tasks..."
Both of them quickly and humbly expressed that they were very willing to serve the Princess.
"Is that so--" Tang Zhuyun stroked her chin.
(To be continued~)