"Good."
Tang Zhuyun reheated the leftover chicken soup from yesterday and said, "Eat a few bites while it's hot. My father can't bring you lunch today, so eat first."
If you're going to argue, you need to have the right attitude.
Prince of Jin: I'll eat first, I'm the most important, I've won again.
He finished eating so quickly that Tang Zhuyun was dumbfounded.
The Prince of Jin laughed and said, "When we're marching and fighting, if we're slow, we'll go hungry."
After seeing him off, Tang Zhuyun was somewhat absent-minded.
Xiu'er watched her make the spring roll filling and couldn't help but remind her, "Your Highness, you added salt earlier."
"Oh, really?" Tang Zhuyun poured the salt in again.
Xiu'er: "..."
Tang Zhuyun then realized what was happening. "It's okay, I'll chop some more vegetables and put them in."
Xiu'er said, "I guess the whole family will have spring rolls for breakfast."
Tang Zhuyun smiled and said, "Then let's eat them all. Go chop some more minced meat."
"I won't chop anymore," Xiu'er said. "Don't wake Yanran up so early. Didn't you say it's good to eat more vegetables? Your Highness, what are you thinking about? You seem distracted."
Tang Zhuyun didn't hide anything from her, saying, "I don't know what's wrong with me, but today I suddenly felt that this might not have been planned by Qiao Geng."
"Why?" Xiu'er asked. "I think it's quite possible. Look at those two sisters, they're both so annoying."
"They're really annoying, but they're also brainless," Tang Zhuyun said. "And if the Qiao Family family had even one person who understood the infighting within the household, they wouldn't have raised two like these."
Qiao Geng, a grown man, didn't seem like someone who knew anything about the private affairs of the inner quarters.
But now the other party has set their sights on the backyard of the Prince's mansion, which Tang Zhuyun finds utterly incongruous.
"No, think about it, isn't Nanny Rong also in cahoots with him?"
"That may be true, but Qiao Geng shouldn't have wanted to deal with me first, unless..."
You're in my way!
"Yes," Tang Zhuyun said, "But how could I possibly get in his way?"
Aside from marrying off her daughter, a plan that had already been rejected, she couldn't think of any other option.
Xiu'er sat on a small stool tending a fire, her face glowing red in the firelight.
She rested her chin on her hand and said, "There are many possible reasons. For example, you might be preventing him from placing other people around the prince, or our master and eldest master might be in his way, or there might not be any reason at all, he might just dislike your medical treatment and saving lives, do you believe me?"
Tang Zhuyun: "... A letter."
You can never judge everyone by your own standards.
"Don't even think about it, it's no use," Xiu'er said. "We'll see how the Prince investigates. Song Jingyang just secretly told me that the Prince has gone mad lately."
"How so?" Tang Zhuyun suddenly became nervous.
Xiu'er's eyes darted around. "Anyway, in order to verify the truth, we did a lot of things we'd never done before."
For example?
"How could he possibly tell me such details?" Xiu'er said matter-of-factly. "If Song Jingyang were so incompetent, the Prince wouldn't dare to employ him, would he?"
Tang Zhuyun was speechless.
Forget it, I'll adjust my emotions and wait and see.
Let's focus on doing the things at hand first.
After the meal, Tang Zhuyun packed her things and took Yanran and Linlin out of the city by carriage.
At the Ten-Li Pavilion outside the city, Tang Zhuyun met with the Xue Family family.
Old Madam Xue was naturally reluctant to part with Tang Zhuyun, and she hugged her tightly, calling her her precious daughter, and cried again.
As Tang Zhuyun was in her arms, she thought that the innate superhuman strength of Old Madam Xue had finally been proven.
The first time they met, she felt sore all over from being hugged. She thought it was because the old man was too excited. Now that she thinks about it, she was truly blessed with good looks.
Everyone tried to persuade the old lady.
Tang Zhuyun also smiled and said, "Grandmother, the Prince always says he wants to take me to see the place where he grew up. Who knows, maybe one day I'll really go!"
"Don't come." Old Madam Xue wiped away her tears. "Your grandmother misses you. Just write to me often, but don't mention that you're going to visit me."
That's not a good place.
Prince of Jin is at the prime of his life; he should be making achievements in the capital and serving the emperor with filial piety.
What good thing could it be to go to such a desolate place?
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
Xue Shanting said, "Alright, let's go. Even a thousand-mile journey must end. A-Yun is doing well in the capital; don't make her cry."
No matter where we are, knowing that we are both doing well is better than anything else.
Old Madam Xue then wiped away her tears and instructed Tang Zhuyun, "When you have some free time, go see your mother and talk to her."
Seeing that she was about to cry again, Lady Deng quickly said, "Mother, I will go to see Shulan too, don't worry."
Shulan was the name of Tang Zhuyun's mother, while Huainiang was Tang Mingfan's private nickname for her.
Tang Mingfan had told Tang Zhuyun about this.
Back then, my family was poor in the village. Looking back now, it was Madam Song's mistreatment that made us go hungry.
Around the time of Qingming Festival, when the locust flowers bloom, Tang Zhuyun's mother would steam locust flower rice with coarse grains for him. Sometimes, when no one else was home, she would secretly cook special meals for Tang Mingfan.
Those were sweet memories between two young people, which is why they were affectionately called Huainiang.
Unfortunately...
Today, Tang Mingfan also specially sent a hundred taels of travel expenses, but he did not come.
Old Madam Xue accepted it, which could be considered a tacit reconciliation.
Tang Zhuyun also said, "Grandmother, don't worry, my father will never forget us during festivals."
Old Madam Xue didn't say anything more.
Xue Shanting said, "What else is there to say? Let's go. Our whole family is blocking the road."
Some regrets can only be taken to the grave.
I hope there is an afterlife so we can meet again.
Tang Zhuyun looked up and saw that there was only one narrow road left to enter and leave the city. Several carriages that had entered the city were now parked on the side of the road, and people in the carriages would occasionally lift the curtains to look out.
At this moment, Linlin, who hadn't said much, suddenly tugged at Tang Zhuyun's sleeve.
Tang Zhuyun lowered her head and asked gently, "What's wrong?"
Linlin said coldly, "It's nothing."
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
It's okay, she just twisted her head off.
She looked around but didn't find anything unusual.
Never mind, let's talk about it when we get home after we've seen them off.