The Prince of Jin scolded Tang Zhuyun for being foolish, for using methods that harmed herself to frame the Empress.
There are countless ways to get revenge, but she chose the dumbest one.
Tang Zhuyun retorted, "Isn't that like losing eighty percent of your own strength to inflict a thousand percent damage on the enemy?"
But that scoundrel of a man has really unlocked his full potential; how come he's so eloquent now?
He scolded her, and she actually found it sweet.
The Prince of Jin's rank has increased.
Next, Prince of Jin brought up Xiao Pang's matter, saying that the situation was rather complicated and that he would explain it to her in detail when he returned. He also told her not to get involved in the matter and that he had Yanran.
The implication was that he had no intention of having Yanran acknowledge her family.
Tang Zhuyun thought this was a good idea.
Yanran is too young; the impact of this incident on her is unpredictable.
Moreover, after Xiao Pang was found, he was hidden away by the Prince of Jin and looked so disheveled that Tang Zhuyun subconsciously felt that he was not a good person.
At some point, she and the Prince of Jin developed a sense of shared hatred for a common enemy.
At the end of the letter, the Prince of Jin vaguely indicated that he had been unable to sleep lately, perhaps because of the excessive mosquitoes in Gannan.
When Tang Zhuyun replied to Xiao Ye's letter, she also tied a small bottle of medicine to his leg, specifically for treating mosquito bites and relieving itching.
After returning the letter, Tang Zhuyun suddenly remembered something very serious—
Why did the Prince of Jin not mention a word about the Empress bestowing a maidservant upon her?
Does he not know, or does he simply think it's not worth mentioning?
That jerk makes me uncomfortable.
No, I'll have to teach him a lesson when I get back.
The Prince of Jin is now extremely anxious.
He had just received Tang Zhuyun's letter when he saw her smugly boasting about using herself as bait, and he immediately wrote back, telling her not to be so careless with herself in the future.
Along with the half-written letter explaining Xiao Pang's situation, Xiao Ye sent it back overnight.
Tang Zhuyun thought Huai Huaishang about being given a maid, Huaishang thought she would tell her, so they miraculously missed their chance...
Prince of Jin figured that since he had said he was bitten by mosquitoes, Tang Zhuyun would definitely bring him medicine.
"Your Highness!" Song Jingyang said as he swatted at mosquitoes as he entered, "The mosquitoes here are extremely vicious."
"Has Xiao Ye returned?"
"No..." Song Jingyang said.
The Prince of Jin has asked this question many times today; I wonder what he's hoping for.
Did he really expect someone as oblivious as the Princess Consort to praise him to the skies?
As an outsider, Song Jingyang saw things very clearly.
In his letters to his mother, he would say, "Mother, the Prince already has a son, he's grown up so much and is very successful, so you can rest assured..."
However, let's stop here and not think about anything else for now.
Song Jingyang felt he had been very kind and hadn't upset the prince, although he himself was feeling a bit upset now.
The Prince of Jin clearly didn't appreciate the gesture, and said dismissively, "What is it?"
Song Jingyang: "..."
I know I'll get criticized if I say anything, but I still have to bite the bullet and give a reply.
"Governor Sun sent over a young woman from Yangzhou, saying that he was inadequate in his hospitality at the last banquet, and that her vulgarity had spoiled your enjoyment. This one is definitely a pure courtesan..."
He regretted it, regretted why he had to come with the prince.
Why not give Huaishang the opportunity? Wouldn't it be better for him to stay at home and take care of Xiu'er?
He's quite adept at sending young men to courtesans on the Huaishang; he's never quite gotten the hang of it!
As a newbie, I'm bound to get scolded.
Sure enough, the Prince of Jin frowned so deeply it could almost trap a fly, and said, "Don't you know how to handle this matter?"
Song Jingyang said, "Isn't this the place to investigate Governor Sun? Perhaps this could be a breakthrough?"
What do you take me for?
Is he going to sell his body to please a lowly woman?
And knowing full well it was a trap, why did he still walk into it?
"A clean rejection will let him know that I am not someone who can be pleased by women."
"Unless she's a princess," Song Jingyang said seriously.
The Prince of Jin actually hummed in response.
Song Jingyang chuckled and said, "That's not right either. It's not the princess who tries to please you. It's you who tries to please the princess!"
The Prince of Jin told him to get lost.
Song Jingyang grinned.
"If you bother me with such matters again, I will reward you handsomely."
Song Jingyang's smile vanished instantly.
Xiu'er could chop him up if she did that.
He quickly "got out" and chased them away.
Both he and his master must remain chaste!
That evening, Prince of Jin received Tang Zhuyun's letter and medicine as he had hoped. He pretended to be calm and dismissed Song Jingyang, then read the letter over and over again, a smile creeping onto his lips as he read, like a madman.
Song Jingyang was actually quite pleased with himself.
Since it was inconvenient for Xiu'er to communicate with Xiu'er, they made a pact that tying a letter to Xiao Ye's leg with a red string would signify that everything was fine.
Seeing the red string, he felt that all his longing had been answered.
Tang Zhuyun waited and waited, but the Prince of Jin never mentioned the two maids, and his replies were all perfunctory.
However, the Prince of Jin was in a hurry to return and busy with official business, so he did not notice anything unusual.
"Your Highness, are these coats enough?" Song Jingyang asked, sweating profusely as he carried two large bundles on his back.
It's not from being tired, it's from being hot.
The Golden Scale Guard discovered that Governor Sun had hidden some evidence of his crimes in the mountains, so Prince of Jin wanted to personally lead a team to find it.
Down the mountain it's still so hot and swarming with mosquitoes, so you need a fur coat to go up the mountain?
The Prince of Jin said, "That's enough, let's go!"
The higher they went, the colder it got. Prince of Jin stayed on the snow-capped mountain for three days and three nights. When he came down, he was unshaven and looked like a wild man.
But he got what he wanted.
"Song Jingyang, follow me to arrest them!"
The Golden Scale Guard, who were prepared in advance, surrounded the Sun residence and ransacked it!
Chaos erupted at the Sun residence.
Prince of Jin stood on the steps of the main courtyard, looking down at the people from the Sun family who were being brought in one after another.
Those who can enter this courtyard are all masters.
The Prince of Jin stared expressionlessly at the kneeling crowd, numbly listening to the woman's cries, screams, and pleas for mercy...
He stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes filled with indifference.
Knowing that all was lost, Governor Sun knelt there, silent.
He foresaw this day might come from the moment he committed treason and collusion with the enemy.
The victor is king, the loser is villain; there's nothing more to say.
"Your Highness," he looked up at Prince of Jin, "I did all of this myself; it has nothing to do with my family..."
"When you did these things, you should have thought that you were betting your entire fortune, including theirs," the Prince of Jin said coldly.
He had been thinking about Tang Zhuyun the whole time, and his desire to succeed was stronger than ever before.
Because he would never allow Tang Zhuyun and his children to ever fall into such a vulnerable state!
"Third Young Master, Third Young Master, where are you?" a maid-like woman suddenly shouted.