Tang Zhuyun rushed to the Prince's Mansion, but the Cui Family had not yet arrived.
Although Cui Xiaoqiu was soaking wet, she was fully conscious.
The servants of the Prince's mansion brought him a cotton quilt and wrapped him up.
His face was deathly pale, and his lips were white; he looked utterly disheveled.
Yanran, standing beside her, said, "Cui Xiaoqiu, are you alright? I was just joking with you, I..."
Cui Xiaoqiu shook her head, stopping her from continuing, but then broke free from the quilt and bowed to Tang Zhuyun, saying, "Your Highness, I was playing and accidentally fell into the sea of wood. I'm afraid my family will worry when I get back. Could you let me rest in the palace for a while and have my clothes dried before I go back?"
Tang Zhuyun quickly said, "Okay, wrap yourself in the blanket."
Xiu'er glared at the servants watching and snapped, "Hurry up and carry Young Master Cui into his room to rest! Go make some ginger soup!"
With the Empress not in the palace, all these people are now dead.
Everyone hurriedly carried Cui Xiaoqiu to her room. Tang Zhuyun had a brazier brought over and found Linlin's clothes for Cui Xiaoqiu to change into.
Cui Xiaoqiu insisted on changing it herself, without needing anyone's help.
Tang Zhuyun could only lead everyone to the corridor.
Xiu'er laughed, "This Young Master Cui is quite amusing. How old is he, yet so shy?"
Tang Zhuyun then asked Yanran seriously, "What happened?"
Yanran lowered her head, not daring to speak. After a while, she timidly raised her head again, only to find that Tang Zhuyun's gaze was sharp, deep, and serious, showing no sign of letting her off the hook.
"I... I came to Cui Xiaoqiu to play. I was swimming, and he was sitting next to me. I wanted to teach him how to swim, so I pulled him down, but... But Mother, I saved him! I lifted him up first!"
Tang Zhuyun: "You wanted to teach him, did he agree?"
Yanran's face turned purplish-red, tears welled up in her eyes but she dared not cry out, fidgeting with the hem of her clothes, looking pitiful.
She had just changed her clothes; her hair was still wet, and her eyes and nose were red, clearly indicating that she knew she had done something wrong.
"Mother, I was wrong," Yanran sobbed. "Please punish me."
Tang Zhuyun patted her head. "Go inside with Xiu'er and have some ginger soup first. We can talk about it when we get back tonight."
Yanran nodded and looked up at her. "Mother, will Cui Xiaoqiu be alright?"
"It's alright, Mother is here, go ahead."
Yanran bit her lip and said, "Can I have ginger soup with Cui Xiaoqiu in a little while?"
"Good."
A moment later, Cui Xiaoqiu changed her clothes, and Tang Zhuyun led Xiu'er and Yanran inside.
The ginger soup was hot and spicy, Yanran frowned as she drank it, sipping it slowly in small sips, her eyes darting around, trying to find a chance not to drink it.
Then look at Cui Xiaoqiu, who picked up the bowl and gulped it down without showing any sign of pain.
Yanran stared in disbelief.
"The medicine I used to take was much more bitter than this," Cui Xiaoqiu explained casually.
Yanran immediately became sympathetic. "That's right, you've taken a lot of medicine. But you should still have a piece of candy to sweeten your mouth."
As she spoke, she picked up a piece of candy from the small dish and put it in Cui Xiaoqiu's mouth.
Tang Zhuyun: "Yanran, didn't you even ask... what flavor does Xiao Cui like to eat?"
She made these hard candies; they're all in various fruit flavors.
"He likes orange flavor, I already picked it out," Yanran said. "Isn't that right?"
Cui Xiaoqiu nodded.
Having changed his clothes, he resembled a composed young man again, bowing to Tang Zhuyun and saying, "Thank you, Your Highness. Cui Ling's behavior was inappropriate and caused you concern."
His name was Cui Ling.
Tang Zhuyun instantly took a liking to this reserved and sensible young boy.
After a few polite words, she smiled and said, "I should have told your parents about what happened today; I should have gone to apologize."
"No need," Cui Xiaoqiu said. "My mother has been worried about my health. Now that I'm fine, there's no need to trouble her. Your Majesty, thank you for your concern."
Yanran rested her chin on her hand, leaning against the bedside. "You and my mother are talking so strangely these days."
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
You brat, don't forget you remember the beating you gave me.
Cui Xiaoqiu smiled but remained silent.
Tang Zhuyun smiled and said, "You two talk, I'm in the next room."
Cui Xiaoqiu was clearly a little uncomfortable with her presence.
After they went outside, Xiu'er whispered, "Your Highness, don't you think that Young Master Cui looks a bit like our Linlin?"
Does it look like it? Where?
"Cunning."
Tang Zhuyun was amused by her. "Where? I think she's quite nice."
"Are you saying Linlin isn't good?"
Tang Zhuyun: "Each has its own merits."
"This servant thinks that Young Master Cui is cunning and shrewd; Yanran will be completely under his control in the future. This childhood betrothal is a bad idea, a bad idea."
Tang Zhuyun: "When did you start talking about a childhood betrothal?"
"It was my own idea."
Tang Zhuyun: "Nonsense."
Inside the room, Yanran was tilting her head and talking to Cui Xiaoqiu.
"Cui Xiaoqiu, how are you feeling?"
"Shang Ke."
"Speak properly."
"I have a slight headache, but it's bearable."
"Let my mother take a look at you in a bit," Yanran said. "My mother is very capable! Weren't you always in poor health? Maybe she can cure all your old ailments!"
Cui Xiaoqiu said, "I'm not sick."
"It's wrong to avoid seeking medical treatment when you're sick." Yanran said seriously.
Cui Xiaoqiu: "I'm not sick. Being weak isn't a disease."
Yanran: "Being stubborn is a disease too."
Cui Xiaoqiu: "... I wasn't being stubborn."
So you're still not sick?
"Hmm." Cui Xiaoqiu actually nodded seriously.
Yanran suddenly turned fierce, put her hands on her hips, and said, "If I say you're sick, then you're sick!"
Cui Xiaoqiu still insisted, "I'm not sick."
After he finished speaking, he suddenly started coughing violently.
Yanran helped him catch his breath, and after he stopped, she looked at his flushed face and said, "... Never mind then, maybe I'm sick."
What was she arguing about with a patient?
Moreover, she was in the wrong today.
"Cui Xiaoqiu, what happened today was my fault."
Cui Xiaoqiu lowered her eyes. "I'm not blaming you, it's just that I'm too weak."
"You really don't blame me?"
"Yes." Cui Xiaoqiu nodded affirmatively.
Yanran: "Then could you talk to my mother and plead for me?"
Will your mother punish you?
Yanran made a face. "Definitely."
Will I get beaten up?
"How could that be? My mother said it's illegal to hit children." Yanran's eyes widened in disbelief.
Cui Xiaoqiu said, "Your mother is lying to you. There is no such law. Otherwise, all the adults on the street would have been arrested long ago."
Yanran was speechless.
"My mother will definitely not let me go out, or she'll make me practice calligraphy," Yanran worried again. "Since hitting children isn't illegal, she can just give me a beating."
This time, Cui Xiaoqiu was speechless.
"I'll teach you how to avoid punishment." He paused, then spoke slowly, his gaze calm and composed.