"Then go help prepare the dowry."
This is indeed what a maidservant should do during her dowry.
The two of them had gotten into character and were secretly delighted, so they readily agreed.
Tang Zhuyun asked Xiu'er to arrange for the two women to stay in a secluded courtyard, and then asked them to help make bedding.
Tang Zhuyun never understood why so many beddings needed to be prepared for a wedding. Were they preparing bedding for a lifetime?
Now it's all good, someone is helping us.
Xiu'er muttered, "Aren't you afraid they'll hide needles under the covers and prick you?"
Tang Zhuyun laughed heartily, "I might really want to prick you, but I can't bear to, and I wouldn't dare to prick Your Highness!"
Xiu'er was speechless.
"You really have no worries at all."
"The matter will be resolved once the prince returns."
If he doesn't deal with them, then she'll have to deal with him.
Letting him handle it is giving him face and asking him to cherish the opportunity.
Xiu'er said, "I'll keep a close eye on them these days and make sure they don't cause any trouble!"
"I believe you!" Tang Zhuyun said seriously, then couldn't help but laugh.
However, the Prince of Jin of Jin who solved the problem did not arrive as expected; instead, Prince of Jin "gift" came first.
Tang Zhuyun stared at the snow-white lamb with a large red flower tied around its neck, feeling puzzled.
What does this mean?
The Prince of Jin sent it to her, but what was it? Why? What should she do?
Xiu'er: "This is a sheep!"
Tang Zhuyun: "Sending sheep all the way from Hexi, do you think that's normal?"
Xiu'er: "I didn't think so at first, but now that you mention it, it does seem a bit silly. Could there be some hidden meaning?"
Tang Zhuyun: "I don't know."
The person delivered the gift without saying a single word.
And what's the meaning of this big red flower?
She knew the Prince of Jin was obsessed with horses; could it be that now he had such a widespread love for horses that he even loved sheep?
The horse is his concubine, and the sheep is his mistress?
The little lamb wearing a big red flower has traveled a long way to the capital; is it going to receive a reward?
"Xiu'er, do you think it's possible that the prince encountered some difficulties on the road and was helped by this little sheep?" Tang Zhuyun asked, her imagination running wild.
Xiu'er: "But, is the prince even less capable than a sheep? Is he expecting a sheep to help him?"
Tang Zhuyun: "... You can't say that. Everyone has their own expertise! Sheep have their strengths too."
"For example?" Xiu'er said she couldn't imagine it.
Tang Zhuyun couldn't imagine it either, and waved her hand, saying, "Forget it, I don't want to think about it anymore. Just have someone take good care of the lamb."
She didn't mistreat his young wife.
But the little lamb, in its new place, became very restless and refused to eat when locked up.
Left with no other option, Tang Zhuyun agreed to release it, letting it roam freely throughout the mansion.
What kind of mess is this?!
The two children were very interested in the lamb, and even insisted that Jiaojiao feed it.
Jiaojiao was Jiaojiao and always wanted to find an opportunity to eat the lamb, so the servants in the mansion were all on edge, fearing that a "tragedy" might really happen.
In no time, this little lamb became the most talked-about animal in the mansion.
A few days later, a letter from the Prince of Prince of Jin arrived.
"... The lamb is delicious, and I hope you can taste it too..."
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
"I also felt the gift was too crude, so I decorated it a little."
Oh, I see. The prince gave the lamb a "makeover."
Haha, this is really tough on this stupid straight guy!
It's even more difficult for her; this little rascal has been giving her a headache these past few days!
"Xiu'er, close the door, slaughter the sheep! We'll be grilling lamb skewers tonight!"
Tang Zhuyun didn't keep it all to herself; she had half of the mutton sent to the Xue Family.
I must say, the sheep from Hexi are really delicious.
Tang Mingfan ate mutton dumplings and mutton skewers that evening, and said contentedly, "This mutton is excellent; I'll buy some more to cook tomorrow."
Tang Zhuyun: "... That's all."
Hearing that they had killed the sheep in the manor, Tang Mingfan said, "Then shall we buy another one?"
Now that the household is much better off, slaughtering a couple of sheep is no problem at all.
Tang Zhuyun: "We couldn't buy them; the Prince of Jin had them sent back from Hexi."
Tang Mingfan: "That would be too wasteful of manpower and resources... But occasionally, especially for you, it will become a beautiful memory between you two in the future."
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
Indeed, this memory is "wonderful"—the Xiaobai with the big red flower tied around its neck; she will never forget it in her Zidu.
In Xiu'er, Zhuge Liang, "At first I thought it might be a gift for you, but you led me astray."
Tang Zhuyun: "No one would do something like sending sheep a thousand miles away if they weren't mentally ill."
I was touched; he even remembered me when he ate something delicious.
But why didn't you just explain things clearly? You made her do something stupid.
Who would have thought he would do something like that!
But I was still very happy inside. Lamb, so delicious!
She decided to write a letter back to the Prince of Jin.
The letter should express the joy of receiving the gift, but also criticize him for not being clear in his words; it should not be too harsh, lest it discourage him from giving gifts, nor should it be too lenient, lest he think that he is being hypocritical.
Sigh, this is too difficult.
Just as Tang Zhuyun was biting her pen, struggling with how to write this letter, the Prince of Prince of Jin's second letter arrived a few days later.
Tang Zhuyun felt sorry for Xiao Ye, who was delivering the letter, so she asked Xiu'er to feed him a lot of meat.
"What are they up to now..." Tang Zhuyun muttered to herself, but a sense of joy welled up inside her as she quickly opened the letter.
Uh, the Prince of Jin has come to interrogate us.