The Prince of Jin smiled and looked at Linlin, saying, "What you said is also very important to my father."
"But you would be even happier if it were your mother who said it."
The Prince of Jin's smile deepened.
That's absolutely true.
If many things had happened two years ago, before he had Tang Zhuyun or Linlin, he doesn't know if he would have given up on himself now.
But now, even if he was caught off guard by the storm, even if he was soaked to the bone and looked disheveled, he knew that there was still a warm light waiting for him at home.
Prince of Jin stood in Tang Zhuyun's courtyard for half an hour, getting soaked in the rain, watching her shadow reflected on the window, thinking about things that no one else would ever know.
"Father," Linlin said slowly, "Has the Emperor changed his arrangements for you?"
Prince of Jin lowered his head and gently stirred the tea leaves floating in his teacup with the lid. After a while, he said, "Why did you think of the Emperor?"
Lin Lin said Linlin, "Father doesn't care about many people or things."
The Prince of Jin smiled.
With a son like this, what more could a husband ask for?
He realized his past shallowness.
He once thought that a person's life is nothing more than that of an ant being pushed forward; what joy is there in living, and what fear is there in dying?
Living is already full of suffering, why add to the burden of having children and creating more trouble?
Now he understands how wonderful it is to get married, have children, and have a soulmate and a smart, well-behaved child.
It turns out that all the suffering that fate has given us has also secretly provided sufficient compensation.
Although late, I was not absent.
"Father, has your important matter been affected?" Linlin asked again, mustering her courage.
He had known about the Prince of Prince of Jin's ambitions for a long time.
After a long silence, the Prince of Jin finally spoke, "I suppose so. But Father's frustration isn't just about the matter itself; it's that he feels he's lived a ridiculous life all these years."
Linlin didn't understand, but he knew that his father was in a terrible mood.
"Father, the chess pieces that the Master gave to Mother are with me. Would you like to play chess?"
"I don't really want to, but I can't sleep either. If you can stay up with Father for a while, let's play a game."
No wonder people say that after many years, father and son become like brothers.
He and Linlin had only known each other for a short time, yet Linlin was already able to stay by his side and listen to the bitterness that he couldn't even express to Tang Zhuyun.
"... So, Father," Linlin, playing black, picked up a piece and placed it on the board, asking, "When shall we depart?"
The Prince of Jin had mostly recovered his composure—even if the whole world abandoned them, their family of four could still be together, so what was there to be discouraged about?
He chuckled and said, "It won't be that fast. Don't mention it to your mother yet. You know women are easily frightened; don't scare her so much she can't sleep."
Linlin said calmly, "Cowardly? Does Mother know if you say that?"
"If I knew, would I still dare to say it?" the Prince of Jin joked.
Outside, the wind and rain were bitter, but inside, the father and son were filled with warmth.
The negative and sorrowful emotions that the Prince of Jin had felt when he arrived seemed to have vanished without a trace.
Linlin didn't ask any more questions, Jingjing staring at the chessboard, resting her chin on her hand in deep thought.
The next morning, Tang Zhuyun opened her eyes, yawned, and lifted the curtain, only to be startled.
--The Prince of Jin was sitting at the table, toying with the pestle she hadn't had time to put away yesterday.
"You gave me quite a fright," Tang Zhuyun said reproachfully, sitting up and putting on her clothes as she spoke.
The Prince of Jin said, "I just entered the door, and I figured you'd be up soon, so I didn't want to disturb you."
As he spoke, he stood up and walked towards the bedside.
Tang Zhuyun instantly became alert, clutching her clothes tightly, and said, "Don't do anything rash, we won't make it to court in time."
Prince of Jin: "... I'm taking leave today."
But he didn't mean it that way!
Tang Zhuyun glared at him. "That won't do either, I still have to cook for my father."
She's finally able to go back to her parents' home for a while, shouldn't she take good care of her father?
The Prince of Jin opened his arms and hugged her. "I didn't mean to tease you, I just wanted to hug you."
Tang Zhuyun inexplicably softened and let him hold her.
He was only gone for one night.
She was thinking to herself.
But for some reason, she wanted to indulge Prince of Jin, and felt that this hug seemed very important to him.
His embrace was broad and warm, yet Tang Zhuyun inexplicably felt a slight tremor.
"Xiu'er is here." Prince of Jin reluctantly pushed her away, then sat down on the edge of the bed as if nothing had happened.
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
Sure enough, as soon as she finished speaking, Xiu'er's footsteps rang out.
She brought in a bowl of water, and upon seeing the Prince of Jin, she paused. "Should I go out first?"
Tang Zhuyun chuckled and said, "Stop making a scene."
Xiu'er brought in the water and put it down, muttering under her breath, "Why is it like a nursing baby, unable to be separated from its mother even for a night?"
Tang Zhuyun blushed.
No.
They are innocent!
The Prince of Jin turned his face away, pretending not to hear.
He doesn't argue with Xiu'er, mainly because he can't win the argument.
While Tang Zhuyun was washing up, she suddenly realized something and asked Prince of Jin, "Why did you ask for leave today? Aren't you going to court?"
"I'm not going. I didn't come back last night. I'm taking the day off to be with you."
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
Xiu'er pouted and left.
The Empress actually believed it, and couldn't stand it anymore.
He didn't come back last night because of the strong winds and heavy rain; something urgent must have happened.
Even the Empress couldn't hold it back, and neither could the wind and rain; this matter could lead to catastrophic consequences.
Never mind, she has to go out and make a pot of ginger soup for Song Jingyang.
"What happened yesterday?" Tang Zhuyun asked, looking at the Prince of Jin combing her hair in the bronze mirror.
She wasn't stupid; the Prince of Jin hadn't returned last night and had only informed her later, so something urgent must have happened.
"There was a Xiaoyi," said the Prince of Jin. "A-Yun, what if I did something wrong?"
Tang Zhuyun said seriously, "You know, after staying out all night, you can't tell me you did something wrong, or I'll misunderstand."
The Prince of Jin chuckled in disbelief.
"Speak quickly!" Tang Zhuyun said fiercely, "Don't keep me in suspense. I'll assess the severity of the crime before determining the sentence."
"I'm back from Qingfeng's place..."
What?
Did she go find a man?
Even finding a man won't work!