Tang Zhuyun didn't ask in front of the two children, but when they took a bath together that evening, she started talking.
Since it involved the Prince of Prince of Jin's mother, Tang Zhuyun couldn't speak too directly.
She tentatively asked, "The Emperor is unaware of the engagement, isn't he?"
"My mother was my maternal grandmother's only legitimate daughter. From a young age, she was the Mingzhu of the entire Prince of Zhenbei's Residence. She was the only princess in the mansion with a title."
The Prince of Jin splashed water onto her fair neck.
The implication is that such a significant matter as the princess's engagement cannot be kept secret.
The Emperor knows!
Tang Zhuyun silently cursed him in her heart, "Scumbag!"
They're already engaged, how dare the Emperor ask for more money?
As for the mother-in-law, she is pampered by everyone in the family, and they don't expect her to repay them, but at least she shouldn't openly challenge public order and good morals.
Thinking about it carefully, not only did she break off the engagement, but she also gave birth to a child out of wedlock, making her even more absurd than her predecessor.
Even if she wanted to side with Prince of Jin, it would be difficult for her to honestly say that love is innocent.
Oh, how foolish of me.
Tang Zhuyun dared not think any further. She didn't know if Xiao Wu had anything to do with the Xiao Family's downfall and the execution of the entire clan.
Based on what she knows now, it's not unrelated to the Crown Prince's faction and the Zong Family.
But in a sense, the Empress's actions could be considered a form of retaliation...
These grudges and entanglements are really too much to ponder.
The question Tang Zhuyun couldn't understand was, if the Emperor also liked Xiao Wu, why was he now transferring Xiao Wu's former fiancé to the capital?
"Perhaps even Father Emperor feels guilty towards Uncle," Prince of Jin said calmly.
If he hadn't gone to live far away, Qiao Geng would likely have achieved even greater success by now.
Of course, it's also possible that they will perish along with the Xiao Family.
Tang Zhuyun silently calculated the timeline in her mind. When the Xiao Family had their accident, Prince of Jin was already seventeen or eighteen years old. At that time, Qiao Geng should have been gone for more than ten years.
Then, seven or eight years after Xiao Wu's death, did the Emperor suddenly feel guilty towards Qiao Geng?
No matter how I think about it, I just can't understand it.
The Prince of Jin said, "From beginning to end, my uncle did nothing wrong. My father is getting old; perhaps he has come to terms with some things."
As people grow old, reflecting on the past half of their lives, they may regret some of the mistakes they made.
Tang Zhuyun said, "You said before that your uncle was promoted to the rank of Second-Rank Palace Guard Commander?"
The Prince of Jin nodded.
Tang Zhuyun thought to herself, "Won't I be walking in front of the Emperor quite often from now on?"
Even if the emperor regrets it, he wouldn't need to constantly remind himself of it, would he?
In short, she found this whole thing very strange.
The Prince of Jin, however, was reminded of something else when the Emperor's age was mentioned.
"A-Yun, when I went to Gannan before, I obtained a snow lotus on the summit of a snow-capped mountain."
Tang Zhuyun was surprised.
Prince of Jin laughed and said, "What's wrong? I know snow lotus is rare. Maybe my luck has improved since I met you..."
"No, what surprises me is, why would you be climbing a snow-capped mountain out of the blue? I had no idea about this."
"Go find evidence of the Gannan governor's illegal actions," said Prince of Jin. "Snow lotus is precious. I had it processed locally after picking it, and it was only recently sent back to the capital. You can keep it for medicinal use."
Tang Zhuyun said, "Snow lotus is excellent for heart ailments; we'll keep it to prepare medicine for the Emperor."
She didn't say anything.
Like her father, she was utterly loyal to the Emperor and would never reveal his illness.
What the Prince of Jin knew was purely due to his intelligence.
Tang Zhuyun was worried that the person whose Zidu full of erotic thoughts lately wouldn't understand, so she winked at him.
The Prince of Jin of Jin chuckled, "I understand. But with you here, I'm not worried."
Oh, so this is some kind of blind worship?
Those lips must be coated with honey.
"I don't want to talk about those things anymore." Prince of Jin buried his head in the crook of her neck, hugged her tightly against his chest, and said, "I missed you."
Who wanted to?
The Prince of Jin expressed that he very much wanted to.
After the two came out of the bathroom, Prince of Jin steadily carried Tang Zhuyun, who was as limp as a noodle, with his two strong and straight long legs, stepping on the cobblestone floor that Tang Zhuyun had requested, and placed her on the recliner next to him that had been covered with a large towel.
This bathroom was designed by Tang Zhuyun. It seemed a bit strange to the Prince of Jin, but it was indeed very practical.
--Perfect for two people to splash around in.
Tang Zhuyun's fair skin was tinged with a light pink as she curled up on the recliner and fell asleep, completely oblivious to the fact that her beautiful body was on full display.
The Prince of Jin picked up another towel and gently wiped her body clean, inch by inch, his movements tender, while the fire in his eyes burned ever brighter...
Tang Zhuyun had a long, bizarre dream.
She dreamt that she was captured by a monster, which pressed down on her, bit her, and she couldn't push it away or escape...
"A-Yun, do you know you were wrong?" the Prince of Jin's voice rang out.
"I know I was wrong, I know I was wrong."
She'll surrender unconditionally as long as you let her sleep.
Now, even if he said one plus one equals three, Tang Zhuyun could agree against her conscience.
She's going to die.
Tomorrow, news will spread throughout the capital that the Consort of the Prince of Jin has died suddenly in her bed, adding the charge of adultery to her already notorious reputation as a wicked woman.
"What will we do in the future?" Prince of Jin asked with a satisfied smile, wiping her face with a warm towel.
"Change, be obedient," Tang Zhuyun mumbled, still half asleep.
"No, you have to do it knowingly, otherwise how can I punish you to my heart's content?"
Tang Zhuyun, with her eyes closed, grabbed the pillow next to her and threw it at him. "Get out!"
She knows what she's doing; she doesn't use porcelain pillows, her regular pillows are soft enough!
"Dare to tell me to get lost?" The Prince of Jin laughed.
Tang Zhuyun decided to give Prince of Jin some medicine to treat his kidney deficiency tomorrow.
"This won't do." Prince of Jin covered her with the blanket, his eyes clear, still wide awake.
The sound of a rooster crowing came from outside the window; it was time to go to court.
Prince of Jin went to take a bath, and Song Jingyang knocked on the courtyard gate outside, calling him to get up and go to court.
As he was leaving, Prince of Jin instructed Xiu'er, "Don't call the Empress for dinner; let her sleep until she wakes up on her own. Don't go in; wait for her to call you."
Tang Zhuyun was shy, and she would definitely tidy herself up after getting up, otherwise she would feel embarrassed.
Xiu'er agreed and handed the food box prepared in the kitchen to Song Jingyang.
Tang Zhuyun slept until noon, her whole body ached, and even moving her hands felt like pulling on her whole body.
Is this definitely not torture?
She didn't even want to walk, let alone do any work.
I managed to eat a little lunch, but then I started feeling sleepy again.
Fortunately, Yanran went to see Little Tangyuan today and didn't bother her, so Tang Zhuyun shamelessly slept all afternoon again.
When the Prince of Jin returned and went inside to change his clothes, Tang Zhuyun woke up.
The lights were already on inside, and the sunset glow streamed in through the window, painting half the room red.
"Still not getting up? Should we put the food on the bed?" asked the Prince of Jin.
Tang Zhuyun: "... Your Highness, let me teach you what sustainable development is."
"Sustainable development? That's interesting. Tell me about it."
"Your Highness cannot exhaust the resources of a resource-intensive state, understand?" Tang Zhuyun said angrily.
"Draining the pond to catch all the fish?" The Prince of Jin smiled enigmatically. "Then you should drink more water, and then, well, you can achieve sustainable development."
What inhuman and lewd words!