"Your Majesty," Zong Heng said with a smile, as if they were old friends, "It's been a long time."
"Speak your mind quickly," Tang Zhuyun said bluntly.
"Spit it out," Xiu'er added.
"Your Majesty can heal my leg," Zong Heng said. "After all, back then, the Prince was seriously injured, and everyone thought he was beyond saving, yet he miraculously survived."
"The other party?" Tang Zhuyun sneered, "Young Master Zong seems to know quite a lot."
It was clearly them who did it.
With both old and new grudges, you still want to beg her? Dream on!
"Those things actually have nothing to do with Your Highness," Zong Heng said. "Your Highness is a bit forgetful. It was probably about a year ago when the Prince forced you to run alongside a horse in the street..."
Tsk tsk, they've come here to sow discord.
Tang Zhuyun smiled slightly, "How could I forget that? I just love men like Your Highness, so majestic and imposing."
I'm a masochist, so what!
Zong Heng's smile froze on his face, and he was speechless for a moment.
Tang Zhuyun, refreshed and invigorated, asked, "Does Young Master Zong have anything else to say?"
Zong Heng quickly regained his composure and cupped his hands, saying, "I didn't expect Your Majesty to have such unusual tastes; I was simply too naive."
Tang Zhuyun adjusted her temples. "Knowing your own limitations, you should learn more. A man can't just be good at playing the flute."
Zong Heng laughed and said, "Your Majesty is as sharp-tongued as ever. There's really no need for that. I'm here today to help Your Majesty."
"Speak," Tang Zhuyun said with a half-smile, "I'm giving you a chance to spout your nonsense."
"Your Majesty, someone is trying to harm you."
"Oh? When will no one try to harm me?" Tang Zhuyun said, "When someone is too outstanding, they always attract jealousy."
Zong Heng smiled, "Your Majesty, I'll help you, and you help me. It's a gentleman's agreement, how about it?"
"You need my help, but I don't need your help," Tang Zhuyun sneered. "So our negotiations broke down."
Zong Heng wasn't in a hurry, and said calmly, "Your Majesty, please take good care of your belongings. This is my sincerity. I've been waiting for Your Majesty!"
"It seems you don't want your other two legs either," the Prince of Jin's domineering voice rang out.
The person who's been waiting for him? He's asking for it!
Tang Zhuyun: Also... two legs...
That's ruthless.
"Aren't you coming over?" the Prince of Jin asked, looking at her.
Tang Zhuyun obediently went over and stood beside him.
The Prince of Jin looked down at Zong Heng and said, "You're still a man even if you lose one leg, but if you lose another, you won't be a man anymore."
Tang Zhuyun chuckled.
"Let's go." Prince of Jin glared at her and pulled her inside.
If you don't keep a close eye on things for a moment, they almost got led astray. You really have to teach them by example.
Zong Heng watched the two figures disappear, the smile on his face gradually fading.
He has plenty of patience; he can wait.
Do these two really think they can maintain a perfect relationship forever?
What did he say to you?
After the two sat down again, Prince of Jin asked Tang Zhuyun through gritted teeth.
"She didn't say anything, just said she'd let me think about it..." Tang Zhuyun explained everything.
Prince of Jin: "What do you mean by 'looking at good things'?"
Tang Zhuyun said dismissively, "He's just being deliberately mysterious!"
The Prince of Jin seemed to be deep in thought.
The tedious Mid-Autumn Festival banquet has finally come to an end.
After leaving the palace, Tang Zhuyun breathed a long sigh of relief, feeling extremely happy.
If you feel unhappy with your life in the future, just go to the palace for a visit, and you'll probably cherish life more.
Song Jingyang and Chang Zhi were waiting outside the palace. They were talking when they saw that the palace had dispersed, so they came to greet them.
"Elder Brother Chang," Tang Zhuyun said with a smile, "I just saw my father talking to Lord Zuo. He'll probably be out a little later."
Chang Zhi smiled and said, "No rush, I'm fine."
Even after Tang Zhuyun became a princess, she treated him the same as before, which made Chang Zhi feel very proud.
He's now a man even the Princess Consort calls "Big Brother"!
Anyone who dares to expose his past as a bandit will face his wrath.
These were the sources of confidence he received from his parents and the Empress.
Tang Zhuyun waved to him and then boarded the carriage.
Prince of Jin whispered to Song Jingyang, "Go find a parrot or a myna bird, one that's talkative and can mimic speech, the Empress will like that."
Song Jingyang: "... When does Your Highness need it?"
"The sooner the better."
Song Jingyang was speechless.
He's just making things up on a whim; how fast can that be? Do you expect him to solve it overnight?
Chang Zhi was delighted to hear this and readily agreed, "Leave this to me, Old Chang."
Song Jingyang: "Really?"
These are brothers!
"Don't worry, I have a myna bird that can talk," Chang Zhi said. "It caws all the time."
"That would be wonderful. I'll treat Elder Brother Chang to drinks another day," Song Jingyang said. "When can it be delivered? I'll give the Prince a definite answer then."
"Tomorrow," Chang Zhi assured him, "After I take the official to the yamen tomorrow, I'll take care of this for you."
Since it's something the Empress likes, he has to do it immediately.
The next day, around noon, Huaishang, carrying a myna bird.
Chang Zhi came to deliver the myna bird, but Song Jingyang had gone out with Prince of Jin, so he brought it in instead.
"Where did it come from?" Tang Zhuyun asked, feeling a little pleased with herself.
Last night she casually remarked that it was interesting for parrots to mimic speech, and today the Prince of Jin sent her a myna bird. Who wouldn't be overjoyed in that situation?
Remembering Chang Zhi's instructions, Huaishang lowered his head and said, "It was a gift from the Prince."
"Hang it there," Tang Zhuyun said.
Huaishang quickly hung the cage up and said, "This myna likes to eat raw eel paste, which you have to remove the bones from; it also likes raw meatballs and egg yolks, and it can eat some rice too."
Tang Zhuyun rolled her eyes. "Another tyrant to serve."
Huaishang withdrew.
Xiu'er said excitedly, "Your Highness, let's see if it's as clever-tongued as that parrot from last night."
Tang Zhuyun: "Ask it."
But no matter how much Xiu'er tried to coerce or entice him, the myna bird just wouldn't open its mouth.
"This is Eighth Master." Xiu'er was completely defeated.
Tang Zhuyun said, "Perhaps it's new here and not familiar with the place yet. I think it's sleepy, so let it rest for a while before we talk."
Xiu'er muttered, "This servant also thinks the myna bird looks listless. Could it be sick? Your Highness, could you please take a look at it?"
Tang Zhuyun: "... I don't know how to watch it, you watch it."
"You're so listless in broad daylight, you look like an owl," Xiu'er said disdainfully. "Has Your Highness been tricked?"
Tang Zhuyun remained silent.
Her consistent attitude towards receiving gifts is that she may not like them, but she cannot dampen her enthusiasm.
"No!" Xiu'er suddenly slapped her thigh. "It's not necessarily that the Prince made the wrong choice. In my opinion, the Prince must have instructed Huaishang that he couldn't bear to spend money, so he bought a broken myna bird that nobody wanted!"
Yes, that must be it!
Tang Zhuyun laughed and said, "Alright, maybe our Eighth Master has been accumulating knowledge and experience for a long time, and when he does speak, he'll amaze everyone! Let's get to know him better before we start labeling people."
(One more chapter to come~)