As soon as the imperial edict was read, Zhang Zheng glanced at Prince of Jin's cold face and didn't dare to speak to him immediately. After a long while, he stood to the side with his hands at his sides and said with a forced smile, "Your Highness, do you think Nanny Rong can come to the palace with me to report now?"
The Prince of Jin stood with his hands behind his back, his face cold. "Today you're going to enter the palace?"
Zhang Zheng stammered, "This imperial edict... naturally, the sooner the better."
Prince of Jin coldly said, "Song Jingyang, take them to fetch Nanny Rong."
After everyone left, Prince of Jin went to find Tang Zhuyun.
Only in her presence could he find temporary peace of mind.
Tang Zhuyun asked him, "Is Xiao Pang there too? It's alright, isn't it?"
Tang Zhuyun sneered inwardly upon hearing this. Although it was an imperial edict, there was always some flexibility in how those below carried it out.
Such haste suggests either that the Emperor has given other instructions, or that the subordinates are trying to gain personal benefits.
Zhang Zheng Wang Fu's apprentice, so he shouldn't dare to take advantage of the situation.
So, that must be the Emperor's intention...
Tang Zhuyun felt a chill in her heart.
She didn't care that the emperor was abandoning her after using her, since she had no expectations of him anyway.
But is it really right to slap your own son in the face and directly issue an imperial edict to seize him?
"Xiao Pang is currently in the manor. I have already brought him back."
He can no longer see many things from back then clearly.
What I once thought was right or wrong has now been overturned.
Didn't you want me to go see him?
Prince of Jin had told Tang Zhuyun that Xiao Pang was currently under the influence of drugs and was not fully conscious.
Tang Zhuyun had a guess in her mind.
Although I felt she might not be able to help, since addictive drugs have been a persistent problem throughout history.
Once infected, it is an absolute test of one's willpower, and there is not much a doctor can do.
The Prince of Jin absolutely forbade any further contact with Xiao Pang.
However, Xiao Pang's health is deteriorating.
The Prince of Jin had reservations and wanted Tang Zhuyun to help him examine the body.
However, today is clearly not an appropriate day.
The Prince of Jin said, "Let's wait until tomorrow."
He needed to calm himself down and also needed someone to tidy up Xiao Pang.
Xiao Pang looks neither human nor ghost now, which might frighten Tang Zhuyun.
"Then let's talk about it again tomorrow after we return from the Great Xiangguo Temple."
"Good."
The next day, Tang Zhuyun and Meng Yulan, along with Yanran, took a carriage to Great Xiangguo Temple.
Linlin is at the Great Xiangguo Temple. Once we get there, we'll ask him to kowtow to his maternal grandmother's memorial tablet.
Yanran was very excited on the way.
However, with Meng Yulan present, she was more reserved and dared not lift the curtain to look outside, only listening to the adults talking.
Meng Yulan was discussing Xue Lie's marriage with Tang Zhuyun.
Today, Lady Deng will also be taking Xue Lie to offer incense, so this matter came up in conversation.
Things didn't go as Old Madam Xue had hoped. Lady Deng had no intention of remarrying; she only wanted to find a good daughter-in-law for her son.
"Actually, my second aunt went a bit too far in this matter," Tang Zhuyun said frankly.
The Xue Family has only been in the capital for a few months, but Lady Deng has already met and considered no fewer than ten women, none of whom she is satisfied with.
Meng Yulan laughed and said, "That's normal. My family picked out even more for me back then."
After all, this is a once-in-a-lifetime event, and it involves two families, so being cautious and picky is perfectly normal.
She can now speak frankly about what happened back then, showing that the old wounds have healed.
Love truly is a cure.
Just then, the road started to get congested—the incense at Great Xiangguo Temple was so popular that traffic jams began even two or three miles away.
Tang Zhuyun smiled and said, "Xiu'er, why don't you take Yanran to sit in the carriage at the back? Yanran is feeling awkward here."
She wanted to speak with Meng Yulan alone.
Yanran, who had been restless for some time, immediately agreed, "I'll go with Jiaojiao."
Meng Yulan asked in surprise, "You brought Jiaojiao with you? Like that big box that was put on the carriage this morning?"
She saw six guards carrying a large box out and assumed it was a special offering Tang Zhuyun had prepared for her mother, but she never expected it to contain Jiaojiao.
"I told him not to bring it, but the prince said that tigers always need to go out and run around, so they don't always think of themselves as cats."
Tang Zhuyun couldn't help but roll her eyes.
How dare you say she spoils her child? Doesn't Prince of Jin spoil his own child too?
Bringing Jiaojiao to the temple is outrageous.
Does this mean tigers also need to be bathed in Buddha's light and become vegetarians?
The horse was terrified of the tiger, so sending Jiaojiao on the road would likely have an even greater impact. Therefore, they finally came up with a plan to hide Jiaojiao in a box.
Meng Yulan laughed and said, "If I didn't know the inside story, I would also say that Your Highness spoils Yanran too much."
What's the inside story?
"Things haven't been peaceful lately," Meng Yulan said. "Didn't the Emperor summon Nanny Rong to the palace yesterday? I'm afraid it's not that simple."
The relationship between Nanny Rong and Prince of Jin was far too close.
The emperor summoned her to the palace, revealing an unusual message.
"Your sister-in-law heard about it too?"
Tang Zhuyun did not mention it to her.
"I understand, the news has spread." Meng Yulan asked tactfully, "Is there some misunderstanding between Your Highness and the Emperor?"
Now she even has a sense of crisis, like she's about to be purged.
Because this matter is truly extraordinary.
"Sister-in-law, do you think Consort De is acting strangely?"
Meng Yulan paused for a moment before saying, "Something's not right. I suspect she has a new concubine in the palace, trying to win over the Emperor. A-Yun, do you suspect that Nanny Rong's matter is related to Consort De?"
"Um."
"Then I'll go to the palace and test the waters."
"No need." Tang Zhuyun could already guess the gist of it. It wasn't exactly a life-or-death situation, but it was definitely not a pleasant one.
The Prince of Jin was already planning to retreat, so there was no need to involve his father and brothers.
"Sister-in-law, no matter what happens in the future, unless I actively ask the Tang Family for help, please don't get involved in the affairs of the Prince's Mansion."
Meng Yulan instantly became alert. "A-Yun, what exactly happened? You can't keep this from Father and Brother, you..."
"I don't know," Tang Zhuyun said, "But a storm is brewing, so let's wait and see."
Seeing Meng Yulan's worried expression, she couldn't help but smile, "Sister-in-law, the Prince is a prince; the worst outcome is that he will be imprisoned."
She thought to herself, trying to find a bit of humor in her misery.
Moreover, the Prince of Jin may not necessarily end up in that situation.
"Your Majesty, we have arrived."
The carriage stopped, and Tang Zhuyun and Meng Yulan got out one after the other.
Then she heard Yanran's excited voice. "Cui Xiaoqiu, what brings you here? Were you hiding in our carriage?"
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
Do you think everyone else is as unreliable as you?
Cui Xiaoqiu said, "My mother is coming to listen to Master Hong'en's lecture today, so I came with her."
Yanran patted his shoulder. "You little rascal, you didn't even tell me beforehand, so I was worried you wouldn't be coming the whole way here."
Cui Xiaoqiu smiled faintly, her demeanor reserved and obedient.
(I'm going out today because it's a holiday, so I'll probably update again around 10 pm~ Have a great holiday~)