Tang Zhuyun was somewhat worried that getting too close to the Prince of Jin would arouse the emperor's suspicions, but neither her father nor her brother was worried. Both were very polite, even warm, toward the prince.
"Father, is this all right?" At last, unable to hold back, she privately told Tang Mingfan about her concerns.
Tang Mingfan stroked his beard, looking gratified. "A-Yun really has grown up. You even thought of that."
Tang Zhuyun: That's because I don't want to die!
Who knew whether the Prince of Jin might go crazy and challenge the crown prince for his position? If he really did, it wouldn't matter if he died, but what if he dragged her down with him?
"Don't worry. I've already mentioned this matter to the emperor."
So he had brought it out into the open before the emperor. That was her father, all right.
"What did you say? And what did the emperor say?"
Tang Mingfan said, "I told the emperor that the Prince of Jin getting too close to you was bad for your reputation."
Tang Zhuyun couldn't help recalling how she had climbed into the prince's bed before. She thought her father had a very good point.
Anyone who didn't know better might think her wiles were so formidable that the Prince of Jin couldn't tear himself away from her!
In reality, they couldn't stand the sight of each other and looked down on each other.
What made Tang Zhuyun angry was that she clearly hadn't gotten any meat, so why did everyone think her lips were glistening with grease?
She wouldn't have minded a purely physical relationship with the Prince of Jin, without involving her heart. After all, she was a sucker for a pretty face.
But now she had taken a dislike to him. Being brain-dead and blind might well be contagious.
"What did the emperor say?" Tang Zhuyun was very curious.
"I saw that the emperor looked somewhat wistful. After a long while, he finally told me he would have to trouble you to help take good care of Yanran."
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
So thick skin ran in the imperial family.
They were treating her like a nanny!
"Oh, right, the emperor also said he wanted to reward you with some things, but I turned him down," Tang Mingfan said. "She's just a child. How much could she possibly eat or use? Besides, the Prince of Jin often buys things for her too."
Tang Zhuyun was speechless. She seemed to understand what Tang Baixin had meant by what he'd told her before.
Her father was generous despite being poor. Though he had little money, he didn't feel at all that they were struggling to get by, and he even wanted to help support the emperor's granddaughter.
But he had already turned the offer down. Whatever she said now, it was too late.
Suppressing the ache in her heart, Tang Zhuyun asked, "Why does the emperor care so much about Yanran? Does he lack granddaughters?"
Had he had eighteen grandsons before finally getting a granddaughter?
Tang Mingfan said, "He certainly doesn't lack them. The emperor has fourteen sons, eight of whom are still alive. He must have more than a dozen granddaughters by now."
Tang Zhuyun said, "Then he must love the crow on the roof for the sake of the house. Father, do you know how the Prince of Jin ended up living among the common people back then?"
People in the capital knew only that the Prince of Jin had been brought back from among the common people and acknowledged as a member of the imperial family. There was all sorts of speculation about his identity, but no one had any reliable information.
Tang Mingfan said, "That... I don't know either."
"You really don't?" Tang Zhuyun was skeptical.
Tang Mingfan smiled. "All right, stop asking. Go outside and keep an eye on Linlin and Yanran. I need to write a few letters to some old friends."
So it looked like he did know. Hmph!
Linlin had taken Yanran out to let the chicks roam. The fluffy yellow chicks were round and roly-poly, wandering all over the courtyard. They were adorable.
"All right, time to read and practice writing!" Tang Zhuyun said with a smile.
Teacher Linlin was very happy. Besides Tang Zhuyun, he had now taken on Yanran as another "pupil," and he was conscientious in teaching them both to read.
Tang Zhuyun had, after all, earned a doctorate in medicine in the modern world, so she learned quickly. She just couldn't get used to holding a limp writing brush, and her characters looked like a dog had crawled across the page.
She had finally managed to write one character that was presentable when Xiu'er suddenly rushed in. "Miss, please come outside for a moment."
Tang Zhuyun said, "Wait. Let me show Linlin first."
"No!" Xiu'er stamped her foot. "Please come out quickly."
Tang Zhuyun put down her brush. "What is it?" she asked, puzzled.
As she spoke, she walked outside.
Only then did Xiu'er lean close to her ear and say mysteriously, "Miss, Qingfeng is here. I think he's changed his mind, so you must make the most of this chance. I've already tidied your room, and I'll take the young master and young miss out right away."
Before Tang Zhuyun could react, Xiu'er had swept into the room. There was no telling what she said to the two little ones, but she soon led them both out the door as if she were riding wind-and-fire wheels.
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
What was Xiu'er up to?!
Once Xiu'er had left, a man walked in from outside.
The man was tall and slender, dressed in a white, wide-sleeved robe embroidered with a subtle bamboo pattern. His handsome features had a touch of delicacy, his skin was fair, and his beautiful eyes moved with a flirtatious glimmer. He was even prettier than a woman.
As soon as Tang Zhuyun saw him, she remembered: this was the male courtesan her predecessor had pursued in vain, only to be mocked and ridiculed by him!
What had he come for?
Could word have gotten out that she had earned silver by selling a recipe?
The man bowed to her and slowly spoke, his voice like the chime of shattered jade. "Miss Tang, it has been a long time. Qingfeng pays his respects."
Qingfeng? Where's Vinda?
I never buy without comparing first!
"What do you want with me?" Tang Zhuyun asked, getting straight to the point.
She finally understood Xiu'er's reaction. That fool had been making room for her and Qingfeng.
But was she that kind of person?!
"I offended you before, Miss Tang, and have felt guilty ever since. So I came especially to apologize today." As Qingfeng spoke, his lovely peach-blossom eyes kept sending flirtatious looks Tang Zhuyun's way.
Tang Zhuyun folded her arms. "Speak human!"
Qingfeng was a snob. When someone offered favors for no reason, they were up to no good.
"Miss Tang," Qingfeng said with a smile, "I came today to apologize to you. Whatever you choose to do with me, I won't utter a word of protest."
"Then I'm telling you to get lost."
"Miss Tang, could you bear to?"
But the next moment, before Tang Zhuyun could retort, he suddenly pulled open his sash. There was no telling what clever trick his clothes concealed, but they all came loose and fell to the floor.
There wasn't a scrap of fabric left on him.
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
Holy crap! Did people in ancient times really know how to play like this?!
"Miss Tang, Qingfeng is yours today. You may do whatever you like to me."
Qingfeng had no large muscles, but his skin was so fair and delicate that it looked as though a puff of breath or a touch could break it, enough to make women feel ashamed of themselves.
That would probably arouse many men's desire to conquer him... Every profession did have its specialty. This male courtesan was good.
Tang Zhuyun didn't like this type, though. He was too much of a pretty boy. She liked big muscles, rock-hard firmness, and a body brimming with hormones.
She wanted something physical, but the man before her could only make her feel kidney-deficient.
"Miss Tang, are you satisfied?" Qingfeng stepped on his clothes as he slowly approached.
"Wait, wait!" Tang Zhuyun held out a hand to stop him.
Seeing that she neither blushed nor panicked and that, after a brief moment of surprise, her expression returned to normal, Qingfeng couldn't help secretly rejoicing.
It seemed this Tang lovestruck fool really was shameless, refusing no man who came her way.
With his looks and bearing, winning her over would be as easy as lifting a hand. What he had come to do today would most likely succeed.
Though he despised her deeply, he showed none of it on his face. Striking what he considered his most alluring pose, he said, "Miss Tang, Qingfeng will do whatever you say."