"I'm fine," said Prince of Jin. "Xiao Pang's matter... is a bit tricky, I'll tell you later. Have dinner with me first, there are more important things to do right now."
More important things?
It's already the middle of the night, what important thing could I possibly need to do?
If it weren't for the Ghost Festival, Tang Zhuyun would have suspected that he wanted to make pancakes again.
"Let's eat."
Prince of Jin: "My right hand hurts so much I can't move it."
Tang Zhuyun: "Is it that serious? I didn't feel anything?"
"My injury is like this; it will take time to heal."
"Then eat with your left hand."
"Won't."
Tang Zhuyun asked suspiciously, "Really? I seem to remember you can use a sword with your left hand?"
The Prince of Jin lied without batting an eye. "Using a sword is fine, but using something as delicate as chopsticks is unacceptable. Never mind, I won't eat."
He said it in a deliberately pitiful way.
To cooperate, the Prince of Jin focused his energy into his dantian, and then his empty stomach began to protest, rumbling loudly.
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
Okay, she can feed him, alright?
It's like raising a son ahead of schedule.
Linlin hadn't worried about it back then, but she never expected that Prince of Jin would find everything for his son.
Fortunately, this "eldest son" is easy to eat and not picky. Apart from constantly staring at her with a crazy smile, he is relatively easy to take care of.
"He wouldn't let me see it when he came back, and nothing happened, right?" Tang Zhuyun couldn't help but complain as she served food to Prince of Jin. "Why are you afraid to touch it now just because I glanced at it?"
The Prince of Jin, having succeeded in his scheme, said with a straight face, "Perhaps the wound has been moved by you and dares not move."
"Your Highness, eat slowly, don't bite your tongue," Tang Zhuyun said irritably. "Otherwise, I'm afraid I'll have to feed you mouth-to-mouth."
"Ouch—it really bit me."
"Roll!"
The Prince of Jin laughed heartily, as if all the heaviness of the afternoon had been dispelled.
The Prince of Jin of Jin's injury was very capricious; it could flare up whenever it wanted and heal whenever it wanted.
Sure enough, after the meal, he dutifully helped Tang Zhuyun clear the dishes.
Tang Zhuyun was too lazy to expose him.
However, when the Prince of Jin refused to let her wash the dishes, she still said, "Your hand is injured, I'll do it."
These bowls are very expensive; it would be a shame to break one and ruin the set.
The Prince of Jin said, "Leave it there. Xiu'er will wash it tomorrow, and I'll take you to the garden."
Tang Zhuyun said warily, "It's so late, I'm not going to play in the water!"
It's almost midnight now. This guy isn't planning to wait until midnight, turn it into the next day, and then do something inappropriate for children with her, is he?
The Prince of Jin helplessly, "It's late and the water is cold. I won't agree to you playing around. Come with me."
The Prince of Jin led her to the riverbank in the backyard, as he had instructed beforehand that lanterns be hung on the trees on both sides to illuminate the riverbank.
Tang Zhuyun saw prayer cushions, a brazier, incense, candles, paper money, and river lanterns on the ground.
She couldn't help but turn her head to look at the Prince of Jin.
The night breeze was slightly cool. Prince of Jin took off his cloak and draped it over her, then pulled her to kneel down on the prayer mat. He found a tinderbox from somewhere, lit the paper money, and threw it into the brazier.
The full moon cast a cold, clear light, illuminating the wound on the back of his hand, making it appear exceptionally gruesome.
"A-Yun," the Prince of Jin spoke slowly, his voice soft yet exceptionally clear, "You also have relatives you wish to pay respects to but cannot. I'll accompany you to burn some paper money for them."
Tang Zhuyun was easily moved to tears, and her eyes instantly filled with tears.
Grandma, Dad, Mom...
They no longer appear in her dreams often, but each time they do, they bring a long and unsettling feeling.
The loss of many loved ones in this world is heartbreaking.
But those are wounds that time can heal.
However, the loss of a loved one leaves an indelible mark that lasts a lifetime.
It was a wound that would bleed profusely whenever it was mentioned.
Grandma, Dad, Mom, is it because you are watching over Yunbao from heaven that I was able to be reborn twice?
Her name in her previous life also contained the character "Yun," and her family called her Yunbao.
The Prince of Jin put his arm around her shoulder, and with his other hand kept adding paper money to the brazier, watching the flames lick past and turn into grayish-white ash that was blown away by the wind.
He said, "Dear elders, I have been negligent. Please rest assured, I will take good care of you..."
He turned to look at Tang Zhuyun.
"Yunbao."
"I will take good care of Yunbao. Please bless her from heaven, so that she may live a life of joy and happiness."
Tang Zhuyun choked up, unable to speak.
After burning paper money, the two kowtowed together and released river lanterns.
"Shall we go back now or stay a little longer?" the Prince of Jin asked.
"Let's go back." Tang Zhuyun was overwhelmed with too many emotions and couldn't say anything.
Throughout the entire ordeal, the Prince of Jin never inquired about her background.
But it was clear that he was certain she was not the original.
He did a lot, but he didn't make things difficult for her, nor did he ask about her past.
This alone was enough to move Tang Zhuyun.
That night, the two slept in each other's arms.
This position felt a little awkward for Tang Zhuyun, who was used to sleeping alone.
But his broad arms and the profound sense of security he exudes are also incredibly alluring.
Tang Zhuyun thought, she understood why so many women are willing to be like moths to a flame for men.
The emotion and sense of peace felt in that moment can linger for a long time.
The next day, Prince of Jin went to court, and Tang Zhuyun prepared a meal for him before taking a nap.
I didn't sleep well last night, so I slept for a bit longer this time.
Xiu'er: "Your Majesty, you've gone too far!"
Tang Zhuyun rubbed her sleepy eyes and yawned, "What's wrong? Did Song Jingyang go looking for a young lady?"
Xiu'er: "Let him go find it! Nobody stopped him, humph!"
"Tsk tsk, you didn't stop him, but you look so fierce." Tang Zhuyun slowly sat up and teased.
Xiu'er lifted the curtain and hung it on the gold hook. Seeing that the bed sheet under Tang Zhuyun was wrinkled, she couldn't help but reach out and tug it.
"I just went out to buy you some snacks, and guess what I heard!"
"It can't be anything good. Are you talking about me? Do you mean I overslept?" Tang Zhuyun laughed it off.
"No, no, I'm not saying you're shameless and insatiable, that you're clinging to the prince in broad daylight."
Tang Zhuyun expressed feeling extremely wronged.
Let's figure out who's clinging to whom before we speak!
"Actually, it's partly my fault," Xiu'er said apologetically. "My voice was probably a bit too loud yesterday..."
Tang Zhuyun waved her hand. "The prince and I are the kind of people who don't mind having too many lice, it won't bother us."
Xiu'er: "This matter is quite serious. You're now ranked among the Four Great Wicked Wives of the Capital."
Tang Zhuyun became interested. "That's exciting! Tell me quickly, who are the other three?"
Let's get to know each other; maybe we can even become sworn sisters.
Xiu'er: "... You're really not in a hurry! There's someone you know."
"Who?"
"Madam Wang."
Tang Zhuyun: "Huh?"
With Madam Wang's pitiful appearance, she couldn't possibly be associated with a wicked woman.
If that's the case, wouldn't she be the worst of the Four Great Wicked Women?