Tang Zhuyun asked, "Could it be that Qiao Qiao is dead?"
It doesn't seem like it!
If she were so concerned about her reputation, she wouldn't have gone so far as to climb into someone's bed, would she?
Was he dead?
Could Qiao Geng bear to part with it?
"Of course not," Xiu'er scoffed. "A scourge lives on for a thousand years. Besides, does she even have the integrity? She's engaged!"
Tang Zhuyun exclaimed in surprise, "So fast?"
While it's true that an engagement is the only way to make Qiao Qiao give up completely, that's a good idea. But Qiao Geng is also very capable of quickly choosing a partner!
And how could this news have spread so quickly?
"How did you know?" Tang Zhuyun asked again.
Xiu'er said smugly, "Didn't I know Qiao Qiao's maid? I tricked her out, and with a mix of coaxing and intimidation, she said it."
Tang Zhuyun gave her a genuine thumbs up and joked, "If things don't work out in the future, I'll take you with me to swindle and cheat people."
Xiu'er said, "You stay in front, and I'll keep you in check. You wouldn't believe how much your uncle wanted to dump her and marry her off to that kind of family."
What kind of family?
"Guang'an Gate Guardian."
"Shouzheng? Isn't that guarding the city gates?" Tang Zhuyun was very surprised.
She remembered this official position, thanks to the TV series from her previous life.
There was an official who was demoted from prime minister to a lowly gatekeeper, and he seemed quite happy about it at the time.
Xiu'er clapped her hands and said, "That's right! Qiao Qiao has such high aspirations, and now she can only marry a doorman. I guess she really wants to die now."
Tang Zhuyun had a vague feeling that something was amiss, so she said, "Could there be some other scheme involved?"
"What's there to scheme about?" Xiu'er said dismissively. "It's like trying to find a man on the spot, and then you're offering him a pair of worn-out shoes. You'd be lucky to even find someone who guards the city gate. If you ask me, he's an official, at least, and he's paid by the court. Can't he just find a decent girl?"
Marrying Qiao Qiao was the worst luck imaginable.
"But then again," Xiu'er muttered to herself, "Those who accept this marriage must have ulterior motives, thinking they can benefit from having a powerful backer, so there's nothing to sympathize with about them suffering losses."
Tang Zhuyun was thinking about something, so she didn't agree with her.
Guang'an Gate, that's the outer city gate.
There is a saying in Beijing that there are "nine inner gates, seven outer gates, and four gates within the imperial city".
The outer city gate was actually already in the outskirts of Beijing.
Guang'an Gate is one of them.
When Tang Zhuyun mentioned the outskirts of Beijing, she thought of Nanny Rong and Xiao Pang...
I wonder how close it is to Guang'an Gate?
If they're close, does that mean they have ulterior motives towards Nanny Rong or Xiao Pang?
Whoever this person is, it's clear that it couldn't be proposed immediately; there must have been prior contact with Qiao Geng.
Given Qiao Geng's status and position, why would he need to associate with someone who adheres to principles?
Tang Zhuyun has a conspiracy theory; she always feels there's something going on.
Xiu'er continued, talking to herself, "Your Majesty, do you think Qiao Qiao might run away from the wedding?"
"That depends on whether she can escape," Tang Zhuyun said. "She's caused such a huge disaster, Qiao Geng can't possibly not keep an eye on her."
Qiao Qiao married a virtuous man, so she probably won't have any contact with him anymore.
Therefore, Tang Zhuyun doesn't care about her now; he's still thinking about maintaining his official position.
"That would be for the best, so she won't ruin other people's lives." Xiu'er was still fuming when she thought about what had happened before. "Her days before marriage won't be easy either..."
Qiao Jiao now knows that Qiao Qiao stole her dowry and sold it, and she's reportedly trembling with anger. The two sisters are currently at each other's throats.
Yanran listened from the side, initially with a bit of gossip in mind, but she became somewhat annoyed as the conversation went on.
It's all the same old annoying cousin over and over again; she's not causing any more trouble now. Let's quickly change the subject to something more interesting.
However, Tang Zhuyun and Xiu'er did not hear her thoughts and continued to discuss Sun Jun.
"I heard from the maids in the Qiao Residence that she's beautiful, knowledgeable, and ambitious," Xiu'er said. "Qiao Jiao's brain isn't broken."
Everyone has good judgment when it comes to choosing a man, so she didn't find Qiao Jiao so repulsive anymore.
Yanran thought, "Who is this? How boring."
She stood up and said, "Mother, I'm going to find Cui Xiaoqiu."
It seems there's no turning back on the trip to Great Xiangguo Temple. She has to go and tell Cui Xiaoqiu this "bad news."
--My mother said that it was Father who firmly disagreed.
Hmph, you wicked father.
And what about the Empress Dowager? Why can't she make any decisions?
From now on, you can't be like your mother, you have to be like Xiu'er, and take charge of the household.
Tang Zhuyun said worriedly, "You absolutely mustn't agree to him going out, not anywhere."
"Okay," Yanran said listlessly. "Jiaojiao, let's go."
Jiaojiao, who was playing with a ball of yarn in the corner, slowly stood up and quietly followed her.
Looking at Jiaojiao's flabby body and then at the ball of yarn, Xiu'er muttered, "Your Highness, does Jiaojiao really think she's a cat?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Jiaojiao suddenly turned around and let out a long tiger roar.
Not only were Tang Zhuyun and Xiu'er startled, but even the drowsy Eighth Master was so frightened that he almost fell off the shelf.
"Jiaojiao!" Yanran scolded.
Jiaojiao then slowly followed her out.
Xiu'er stomped her foot angrily. "Just you wait, no tigress will follow you! You'll go and stay single with that stingy Huaishang!"
Tang Zhuyun chuckled, "Huaishang didn't do anything to you, why did you bring him along?"
Xiu'er said, "He even asked me to keep an eye on his wife, but his mother has given up. How could I possibly be more capable than his mother?"
Huaishang sneezed violently twice.
Song Jingyang reached into his pocket, "It's so easy to get headaches and fevers when the seasons change and it gets cold."
As he spoke, he took a piece of candy from his purse, put it in his mouth, and then carefully put the purse back.
Huaishang: "... What did you eat? Candy?"
"Throat lozenges, Xiu'er gave them to me. The Empress made them for the Prince, Xiu'er gave me her share."
Huaishang: "Let me try it."
"Dream on!"
Huaishang: "Did you do this on purpose?"
Song Jingyang: "You're only just realizing that?"
The air in the Huaishang is congested.
The two were standing at the entrance of the Prince's residence waiting for the Prince of Jin to return, so Huaishang said, "If it weren't for waiting for the Prince, believe me, I would have turned around and left right now."
"I was leaving anyway, so take care and see you next time. Feel free to draw your sword!"
Huaishang: "... Keep your voice down!"
At this point, he looked miserable.
In the past, because he had brought the prince onto the pleasure boat, which was an unreliable act, he accepted his bad luck.
But now, the prince and his family of three are reunited, enjoying a happy reunion. Isn't he the greatest contributor?
And the result?
The prince was used to it; he would be given all sorts of silly tricks like feigning injury.
He's just destined to get beaten up!
He's such a pitiful guy.