Just now, when Tang Zhuyun said that she wanted to use a letter to save Prince of Jin, Tang Mingfan hesitated for a moment, which Tang Zhuyun keenly noticed.
She is a mother herself, and putting herself in her daughter's shoes, she felt sorry for her daughter who was giving the way out she had left for her daughter to her son-in-law. Although she couldn't say anything, she still felt sorry for and worried about her daughter.
That letter was a testament to the merits Tang Mingfan earned by risking his life alongside the emperor in his youth. But even the strongest bonds of friendship can eventually run out.
So he hasn't used it all these years.
But he didn't hesitate at all when it came to his daughter.
Tang Zhuyun felt her eyes welling up with tears at the thought.
She wiped her eyes. "If I can avoid using it, I won't. I'll think of another way."
She couldn't let her father worry anymore; she had received too much from Tang Mingfan, but had given back too little.
"Xiu'er, if I act so thoughtlessly again next time, be sure to scold me," Tang Zhuyun said again.
Unexpectedly, Xiu'er said, "Why are you forcing yourself like this? The prince has already caused a huge uproar, how can you possibly save him?"
Tang Zhuyun: "... Think about it again."
"Use it then," Xiu'er said in a muffled voice. "Master won't actually object. The Prince has gone to such lengths for you; if you hesitate even for a moment, you'll be letting him down."
Tang Zhuyun: "Changed your ways? You're actually speaking up for the prince."
"That's the truth," Xiu'er said. "He doesn't even want his own mother anymore, Your Majesty. I really never imagined he could go to such lengths for you."
Even the slightest hesitation or inner conflict?
No.
In the heart of the Prince of Jin, there was only Tang Zhuyun.
"It's not that I think Your Highness did the right thing, it's just that I can't find fault with what you did. You didn't marry the wrong person!"
Tang Zhuyun wiped her eyes again. "Why do you want me to cry? Crying won't help."
"Crying won't help, so you might as well cry for a while to feel better."
Tang Zhuyun: "... I think I'm alright."
After all, she knew a few people and had even treated the emperor's illness.
"You can, but the Prince won't let you move around unless he returns," Xiu'er said. "Song Jingyang is back and called Nanxing out to talk."
"Then what?"
"If this servant can't see through your man, can't she see through her own man?"
Tang Zhuyun: "... What have you seen through?"
I feel like Xiu'er is mocking me.
"Song Jingyang wasn't flustered at all," Xiu'er said. "Then I remembered what he said a few days ago, and I suspected that this time, the Prince was actually just using the situation as an excuse to back down, only it got a bit out of hand."
What did Song Jingyang say to you?
"A few days ago, he rushed over to give me a set of jewelry, saying that the gemstones were a little smaller than the one the prince had given you before, but the quality was just as good."
Tang Zhuyun said, "He is truly devoted to you."
"Then I said, 'You don't like dressing up, how can I wear this out?' I told him to return it, but he refused, saying that he would be the wife of a general in the future."
Tang Zhuyun was stunned.
The General's wife?
Based on the current distribution of official positions, the entire imperial court has only about seventy generals, scattered in various places. As military officers guarding a region, they are high-ranking officials of the second rank.
Is Song Jingyang about to be promoted?
"I laughed at him for bragging and told him to stop talking nonsense and return the items. But he just shoved the items at me and ran off, saying he'd need them soon."
Looking back now, it seems that Prince of Jin had arranged things for Song Jingyang in advance.
After a while, Song Jingyang arrived, stood at the door with his head down, and spoke.
Tang Zhuyun let him in and first asked about the general.
Song Jingyang glanced at Xiu'er and whispered, "That's how the Prince arranged it, General of Qingzhou."
Tang Zhuyun was stunned. "The General of Qingzhou? Isn't that within the Prince of Yong's sphere of influence?"
Because the Prince of Jin came from a military background, and the Xue Family was also a family of military generals, Tang Zhuyun studied very hard.
If she remembered correctly, the Prince of Yong's maternal family controlled the Qingzhou area.
Song Jingyang nodded. "Yes."
"What happened?" Tang Zhuyun asked in a deep voice.
Song Jingyang said, "Qin Sang is deeply favored by Prince of Yong and has obtained some evidence that Prince of Yong cannot be seen by others, so Prince of Yong has no choice but to compromise."
Before the incident, they had already used the power of Prince of Yong to remove Song Jingyang from Prince of Jin's command.
As expected, the Prince of Jin was well-prepared.
Song Jingyang did not deny it. "... Didn't His Highness tell you before that he was going to leave the capital? But His Highness certainly didn't expect that you would be punished, so His Highness certainly wouldn't agree to that."
Tang Zhuyun believed this.
Even the Prince of Jin would never have imagined that Xiao Wu would go so mad.
She couldn't help but wonder now, was Xiao Wu the Prince of Jin mother?
This matter can only be considered in more detail later.
However, the more she learned, the more relaxed Tang Zhuyun became.
The Prince of Jin was prepared, so the situation should Shang Ke under control.
Song Jingyang added, "The problem now is that both the Prince Nanxing brought weapons into the palace, which is a major taboo. I'm afraid someone might seize on this and make things difficult."
"What should we do about Nanxing?" Xiu'er couldn't help but ask.
She now realizes that Nanxing is incredibly important!
For example, when she could only cling to Prince of Jin's coattails, Nanxing could help her unleash a massacre—that was just too cool.
We must keep talents like Nanxing by the Princess's side from now on.
Song Jingyang said, "I originally planned to send her away first, but she refused to leave. Your Highness will have to speak to her about this."
Nanxing, if you stay, you'll face certain death.
Prince of Jin has the status of a prince, but Nanxing is barefoot.
"As for Your Highness, you need not worry," Song Jingyang said confidently. "You will be fine. If I am not mistaken, Your Highness will be temporarily detained in solitary confinement in the Imperial Prison. The conditions will be poor, but you will not be in a sorry state."
Royal efficiency is quite low... Apart from that unlucky Seventh Prince who caused trouble at the funeral hall and was dealt with on the same day, other matters take a month or two to handle, which is considered extremely efficient.
After thinking for a moment, Tang Zhuyun said, "Okay."
The most urgent task right now is to make arrangements for everyone around us, removing one person from the list at a time.
Nanxing's problem needs to be solved, and there's also Qin Sang to worry about!
Qin Sang obtained important intelligence from the Prince of Yong. The Prince of Yong had suffered such a great loss, he would certainly not let it go.
"Song Jingyang, go and find out about the situation on the Prince's side," Tang Zhuyun said. "Any news, good or bad, must be reported to me immediately."
Song Jingyang accepted the order and left.
Tang Zhuyun then said to Xiu'er, "Madam General, please call Nanxing for me."
She had expected Xiu'er to stomp her feet and blush, but to her surprise, Xiuer only said, "At a time like this, you can still be laughing for no reason," and then left.
Tang Zhuyun smiled bitterly. Crying would be useless; she would flood Jinshan Temple with water.
But it was no use; I could only find joy in the midst of suffering.
You scoundrel, you're really something!
Xiu'er returned after a while, flustered, and said, "Your Highness, I can't find Nanxing anywhere. Could she have gone to break her out of prison?!"
(I forgot about the extra chapter, it'll be here soon~)