Nanxing went to find Tang Zhuyun and knelt down upon meeting her.
"What's wrong?" Tang Zhuyun helped her up.
For no other reason than that she had always followed Linlin and fulfilled her duties, Tang Zhuyun was grateful to her.
"Your Highness, this servant wishes to remain in the Prince's residence," Nanxing said.
Tang Zhuyun asked in surprise, "If you're not staying at the Prince's residence, where are you going? Has something happened that I don't know about?"
Nanxing breathed a sigh of relief.
As long as the princess doesn't mind her past and want to get rid of her, there's still room for things to turn around.
She lowered her head and said, "Your Highness, do you think this servant would favor Noble Consort Jia..."
Xiao Wu changed her background and was granted the title of Noble Consort Jia, becoming the most popular woman in the world for a time.
Tang Zhuyun asked, "You don't want to leave?"
"I don't want to," Nanxing said. "This servant is loyal to the Xiao Family, not to Noble Consort Jia."
After thinking for a moment, Tang Zhuyun said, "I can't say I know nothing about your past, but I know very little. Whether you stay or leave, you should ask the Prince."
Nanxing said, "If Your Highness believes in my loyalty, could you speak up for me?"
"Okay," Tang Zhuyun readily agreed.
What she was most worried about was Nanxing's loyalty.
This is the only issue of principle.
Nanxing thanked her and lowered her eyes, saying, "Your Majesty must be careful of Noble Consort Jia. She is extremely vengeful."
Tang Zhuyun asked, "Have I offended her?"
"If the prince doesn't give her face, who knows what she might do. She was spoiled rotten back in the Xiao Family."
Spoiled? Tang Zhuyun thought this assessment was very accurate.
However, considering that Nanxing was quite young when Xiao Wu was still in the Xiao Family, he probably only had a limited understanding of the situation, yet he still came to such a conclusion. This shows that Xiao Wu is really not a very good person.
Tang Zhuyun said, "I understand."
Nanxing was still uneasy. "She summoned you privately; you must not go."
Tang Zhuyun smiled and said, "Okay."
Just then, Xiu'er rushed in from outside, saying, "Master is finally feeling better. This Qiao Family is truly cursed; even their wedding banquet can go wrong like this. It's utterly shameful."
Qiao Qiao's wedding was two days ago. Noble Consort Jia had already "emerged out of nowhere," so Tang Zhuyun had nothing left to test and therefore did not attend.
--Recently, she turned down all social engagements she could to avoid any unforeseen complications before leaving.
Even when Xiao Wu was granted the title of Noble Consort Jia, she claimed to be ill and did not enter the palace.
So far, Tang Zhuyun has not confronted Xiao Wu directly.
However, the Tang Family was the in-laws of the Prince of Prince of Jin, and Qiao Geng was the Prince of Jin's recognized maternal uncle, so Qiao Family, Tang Mingfan also received an invitation.
Unexpectedly, things went wrong at the wedding banquet; many people got stomach aches after the meal.
Tang Mingfan also contracted the virus and stayed home for two days.
Xiu'er muttered again, "It's not even the coldest part of winter, what kind of preparations have they made that have knocked everyone out?"
Tang Zhuyun said, "The Qiao Family's marriage was arranged too hastily, and they don't have anyone capable of handling it properly. It's probably a mistake made in the rush."
Xiu'er said, "It's just that Master is too pitiful, suffering such an undeserved calamity."
"I'll go check on him in a bit and advise him to rest for another two days."
Tang Mingfan was somewhat exhausted, but he was always diligent and wanted to struggle to go to court this morning, but Tang Zhuyun stopped him.
Xiu'er said, "You don't need to go. Master doesn't listen at all. When I went to visit him just now, he was writing a memorial for tomorrow's court session!"
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
No wonder the emperor favors such a workaholic?
Her father is pushing her to the brink!
The next morning, just as Tang Zhuyun got up, Xiu'er Zhang Jin, saying, "Your Majesty, someone from the palace has come and said that Master fainted in the palace while attending court."
Tang Zhuyun became anxious upon hearing this.
But she still asked, "Who delivered the letter?"
Xiu'er said, "It's Zhang Zheng, otherwise I wouldn't be in such a hurry."
Zhang Zheng Wang Fu's apprentice, considered "one of their own."
While quickly tying her hair into a bun, Tang Zhuyun asked, "What did the imperial physician say?"
"The imperial physicians couldn't find anything wrong, so we'd like you to take a look. Do you think it might still be about the Qiao Family's wedding banquet?"
What bad luck! Attending a wedding banquet and having to suffer like this.
The master is the same; even the empress advised him to rest for two more days, but he stubbornly refused.
"Go and see for yourself."
Tang Zhuyun went outside and, as expected, saw Zhang Zheng for her.
After bowing Zhang Zheng said, "Your Majesty, we are not going to the inner palace, but to the outer court. Why don't you change your clothes and pretend to be a eunuch?"
"You've thought of everything."
Because of the previous events and the fact that it was Zhang Zheng who came, Tang Zhuyun didn't think much of it.
Xiu'er followed her into the palace in a carriage.
The carriage stopped at the palace gate. Tang Zhuyun told Xiu'er to stay behind, and she followed Zhang Zheng inside.
Tang Zhuyun hadn't gone far when she realized something was wrong.
This is not the road to the previous dynasty.
She stopped in her tracks and asked suspiciously, "Eunuch Zhang, where are we going?"
Zhang Zheng chuckled coldly twice and said in a shrill voice, "Your Highness, it is Noble Consort Jia who requests your presence."
"You--"
Tang Zhuyun punched him to the ground and then ran away.
Although she had gained such an advantage, how could Noble Consort Jia, who had gone to such lengths, even at the cost of making the Qiao Residence a laughingstock in the capital and ruining her own daughter's wedding, possibly fail at the last hurdle?
When Tang Zhuyun was restrained, her mouth covered, and dragged into the palace, she heard Zhang Zheng explaining to passersby that she was a runaway slave from the palace, which made her even more terrified.
Noble Consort Jia really went to great lengths.
Unexpectedly, their first meeting as mother-in-law and daughter-in-law would be like this.
Although Noble Consort Jia was already forty years old, she had been exceptionally kind to the years, with hardly any fine lines around her eyes.
She sat on the couch with Ruan in her arms, her bare feet on the white wool carpet, looking languid and relaxed. Her slender fingers, painted with nail polish, gently plucked and strummed, producing melodious music.
Her well-maintained face held an innocence that seemed untouched by the harsh realities of life, while her slightly upturned eyes possessed a subtle, alluring charm.
Pure yet alluring, such a bewitching beauty.
Tang Zhuyun was brought in, and after being kicked in the back of the knee, she knelt down and fell to her knees at the feet of Noble Consort Xi.
Nanny Rong was standing beside Noble Consort Xi, her face serious.
Tang Zhuyun: @#￥%...
Is destiny, though delayed, destined to arrive?
Is this poor little thing destined to be caught in Nanny Rong's needles?
Seeing that Noble Consort Jia did not speak, Tang Zhuyun also remained silent.
Whoever speaks first loses.
Tang Zhuyun stared at her intently.
Unexpectedly, she was wrong.
Because Noble Consort Jia spoke first, Tang Zhuyun lost.
Noble Consort Jia said, "Slap him!"
She spoke casually, her voice still ringing.
Then Tang Zhuyun received a solid slap across the face.
Tang Zhuyun's mind went blank.
In both her lives, she had never suffered such injustice!
Ruan Sheng continued, but Noble Consort Jia Zidu lift her eyelids, lazily saying, "Continue!"
"Smack--"
This sound came from Tang Zhuyun leaping up and slapping Noble Consort Jia hard.
Tang Zhuyun blew on her burning palms, glared at Noble Consort Jia was sprawled on the couch, and said, word by word, "It's not just you who's been spoiled by men!"
(The first map is about to end, and the Prince of Jin is about to lose his temper~)