Tang Zhuyun looked at Prince of Jin: "Your Highness, shall I take Yanran out first?"
Tang Zhuyun decided to stay away from her two cousins Qiao Family, one aloof and the other lively, who were neither particularly friendly nor distant towards her.
The older generation's relationships only extended as far as Qiao Geng's.
Further on, there was never any interaction; it was fine as long as we didn't click.
The Prince of Jin nodded. "Go ahead, my uncle and I will talk here for a while."
Qiao Jiao pulled Qiao Qiao along, saying, "Qiaoqiao, let's go get a good luck charm. I heard the charms here are very effective."
"Do you have any Buddhist prayer beads?" Qiao Qiao asked. "Like the ones my cousin-in-law wears, I really like them. Cousin-in-law, could you give them to me?"
As they were talking, the two of them came out, but the people inside probably didn't hear them.
Tang Zhuyun almost laughed in anger upon hearing this.
Is your dad starving you or dressing you? You're so easily swayed, asking for things on the first meeting?
Unfortunately, she wouldn't give it to me.
Tang Zhuyun didn't show any anger. Instead, she deliberately smiled and shook her wrist, saying, "This was a gift from Master Hong'en, so I can't give it away. Why don't you try it out later, cousin, and see if Master Hong'en can give you one?"
"Oh, and this too." Tang Zhuyun held up another glass bead on her wrist. "This was a gift from the Prince. I could have given it to you, but since you and Jiaojiao are both here, and I only have one, it wouldn't be fair to favor one over the other."
I'll let you see it but not touch it, just to make you furious!
Qiao Jiao said stiffly, "Sister-in-law, you're overthinking it. Qiaoqiao is just curious; she has no intention of stealing someone else's love."
Tang Zhuyun said "Oh," too lazy to argue with them, and took Yanran's hand and went out.
She concluded in her heart that these two people were not to be associated with, and that she should keep her distance from them in the future.
It wasn't that she didn't want to give Prince of Jin face, but rather that some people, no matter how much face you offered, she wouldn't accept it.
Yanran was unhappy; she disliked Qiao Qiao from the first moment she saw her.
She exclaimed, "Mother, you taught me that a gentleman does not take what others cherish. So I never accept things from others, lest I be accused of being impolite!"
Tang Zhuyun smiled and patted her head. "Let's go find my brother."
There's no point in arguing when you don't see eye to eye; she's already been very restrained today.
Xiu'er remained silent.
Qiao Qiao seemed to want to say something, but was stopped by Qiao Jiao.
After shaking off the two sisters, Yanran said, "Xiu'er Xiuer, why didn't you speak up for me today? It's so boring arguing with them all by myself."
Xiu'er said, "I won't make a fuss if the prince isn't here! What if we really start arguing and the prince comes out, not knowing the truth, and says something about me?"
Tang Zhuyun actually found it to make a lot of sense.
"Your Majesty, I told you," Xiu'er said, "Just look at Miss Qiao Er, you can tell at a glance that she's no pushover."
As Tang Zhuyun walked, she said, "You said it was our first meeting, why didn't she behave herself a little better?"
"She might have taken a liking to the prince."
Tang Zhuyun: "That's not right. If you want to keep an eye on the prince, shouldn't you first try to please me?"
"You're blocking their way; they'd rather get rid of you."
Tang Zhuyun exclaimed, "So fierce?"
Her background wasn't bad either. Although her past was somewhat absurd and detracted from her overall image, her path to becoming a princess was full of twists and turns. Fortunately, Prince of Jin died, and she took the opportunity to rise in rank.
If Qiao Qiao really wants to become a princess, her ambitions are far too great.
Okay, come on.
She doesn't discriminate between near and far enemies, or between friends and strangers; she'll fight anyone who dares to come.
However, these are all just speculations.
They haven't confessed their feelings yet, have they?
Tang Zhuyun went to find Linlin. When Great Confucian Scholar Kong heard that she had arrived, he personally came out to greet her and expressed his warm welcome.
Tang Zhuyun was flattered and grateful, and said that it was just a small favor, a doctor's duty.
Great Confucian Scholar Kong was a very Lovely old man. He invited Tang Zhuyun to taste the tea and asked with a smile, "What does Your Highness think of this tea?"
Tang Zhuyun: "Sir, to be honest, my knowledge of tea is limited to distinguishing between black tea, green tea, and white tea."
Great Confucian Scholar Kong laughed heartily, "Then Your Majesty can just memorize a bit of the * the Classic of Tea * next time and slip it on."
"Been taught a lesson."
The Great Confucian Scholar Kong stroked his beard and said, "Your Majesty is truly an interesting person. I was entertaining an old friend who is devoted to medicine. Upon hearing that Your Majesty had cured Xiyou, he rushed all the way from Langya to ask me for an introduction. Before I could make the introduction, he had to leave the capital in haste, which is a pity."
Tang Zhuyun said that this matches what Linlin said before.
In front of one's son and teacher, one still has to maintain the proper decorum.
Tang Zhuyun smiled gently and said, "If there is an opportunity in the future, I hope you will introduce me to you, Master. I also hope to learn from you, senior."
"In terms of medical skills, you might actually be the senior."
Tang Zhuyun said a few words of modesty.
The Great Confucian Scholar Kong then invited Tang Zhuyun to play chess.
Tang Zhuyun: "Well, I'm really terrible at chess, I'm afraid it will make you depressed."
"Your Majesty need not be modest. In chess, there is only knowing how or not knowing how; winning or losing is not important."
Alright, let's just bite the bullet and go for it.
When the Prince of Jin came to fetch her, Tang Zhuyun had probably already lost eighteen rounds.
Honestly, by the end, she was really embarrassed, but Great Confucian Scholar Kong still seemed very interested, making it hard for her to refuse.
She strongly suspected that Great Confucian Scholar Kong's chess skills were also poor, and that he derived unprecedented satisfaction from tormenting her.
Upon hearing that the Prince of Jin had arrived, Tang Zhuyun immediately offered her seat. "Sir, let the Prince play a few games with you."
Great Confucian Scholar Kong said, "It's too late today, we shouldn't keep Your Highness and Empress any longer."
The Prince of Jin glanced at the chessboard, his expression indescribable.
Tang Zhuyun: Could it be that Great Confucian Scholar Kong's chess skills were really not that good?
As he was leaving, the Great Confucian Scholar Kong said with a smile, "Since Your Majesty enjoys chess so much, we are kindred spirits. This chess set is a gift for Your Majesty."
Tang Zhuyun quickly declined.
The Prince of Jin replied, "Since you are willing to give it to me, sir, please accept it."
Tang Zhuyun could only thank the Great Confucian Scholar Kong and was "forced" to accept this chess piece that had left her with a great psychological shadow.
Losing eighteen games and still keeping it as a souvenir—that's too cruel.
On the way back, Linlin also rode in the carriage and said with a smile, "I heard that the Master gave you his most treasured set of Yunzi?"
"Yunzi?"
"Yes, the chess pieces produced by Yongchang are the best, made from precious materials such as jade, agate, and amber."
Tang Zhuyun: "So much material?"
Xiu'er quickly took out the chess pieces and handed them to Linlin: "Is this it?"
Linlin nodded and explained, "Look at these black pieces. When held up to the light, they're as black as a raven's feather; the white pieces are as white and lustrous as ivory. They feel warm and smooth like jade, and when you place a piece on them, the sound is crisp and pleasant, yet not sharp..."
Tang Zhuyun: "Oh."
She might really be blind; she just thinks black is black and white is white, but aren't all chess pieces like that?
However, it feels quite comfortable to the touch.
Seeing something on a black chess piece, Tang Zhuyun instinctively reached for her handkerchief to wipe it, but then realized she had given her handkerchief to Nanny Rong.
But Xiu'er, with her sharp eyes and obsessive-compulsive nature, had already gone to wipe it first.
"Huh, I can't rub it off?" Xiu'er used even more force.
(These are just foreshadowing; the scene with the handkerchief is the beginning, and the real show is about to begin!)