However, Nanny Jing was honest and dutiful, unlike Tang Zhuyun and Xiu'er who were always jumping around and loved gossiping. She devoted herself to Prince of Jin and paid no attention to anything else.
Oh, what a pity.
However, Nanny Jing also helped her rule out some absurd ideas.
For example, sisters swapping partners.
--Not to mention twin sisters, Xiao Wu has no sisters of similar age in the Xiao Family, and she is the youngest, so she is very favored.
It seems that melodramatic novels can't always provide inspiration; Tang Zhuyun felt she needed to think about it some more.
When Nanny Jing left, Xiu'er went to see her off.
Both were preoccupied with their own thoughts, and both hesitated to speak.
Nanny Jing: Never mind, let's talk about it when Jingyang comes back.
Xiu'er: Never mind, she'll think about it again when Song Jingyang comes back.
And so, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law parted amicably.
Several more groups of people from the Prince's Mansion came to search for Nanxing, but they found nothing.
Nanxing remained very calm.
Tang Zhuyun wanted to say a few words of comfort to her, but realized it was completely unnecessary.
When Song Jingyang returned from visiting the prison, he had a serious expression outside, but his face lit up with a smile as soon as he entered the room.
Xiu'er: "What, has the prince promised you another wife?"
Song Jingyang chuckled, "How could I possibly laugh? I'd have to kneel down when I see you."
Standing beside Tang Zhuyun, Nanxing sighed softly.
If these two people cannot end up together, what kind of love in this world is worth looking forward to?
"Stop being so glib! Her Majesty is anxiously awaiting your reply!"
However, seeing Song Jingyang's expression, everyone in the room breathed a sigh of relief.
Song Jingyang pulled Xiu'er down to sit on the small stool and said, "Your Highness, the Prince said he's fine and doesn't want you to visit him, so he didn't drink the soup."
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
That's outrageous!
Is her word no longer effective?
"The prince said the imperial prison is a filthy place, not a good place," Song Jingyang continued, "He's made all the arrangements."
"What arrangements have been made?"
"Your Majesty, please don't worry, I'll explain it to you slowly."
The order had to be perfect; he had carefully considered it repeatedly on the way back.
The prince is not here, so he wants to help the prince improve his favorability.
He had finally gotten his chance.
--Heaven knows how frustrated he felt, someone whose talent for romance was off the charts since birth, looking at the prince who was born with a talent for romance that was inherently lacking.
There was nothing he could do; he was of low status and had no say. The prince wouldn't listen to him, which infuriated him!
"Actually," Song Jingyang said, "His Highness had made arrangements in advance, but the conflict between you and Noble Consort Jia came so suddenly that he didn't have time to tell you."
It's not that I don't want to tell you, it's that I haven't had the time.
Tang Zhuyun waved her hand and said, "You pick the important part."
She wasn't falling for Song Jingyang's tricks.
She's completely swayed by the Prince of Jin's rhetoric.
Song Jingyang then said, "Some arrangements are no longer needed. However, His Highness said that in November, envoys from several countries will come to deliver gifts."
Tang Zhuyun looked bewildered. Had something important happened?
"Your Majesty, it's a New Year's gift," Song Jingyang explained. "Actually, it's just some poor countries coming to beg for money."
They could just take some random junk and then use it to make a fortune through imperial rewards, returning home with their spoils.
There's no way around it; in this great nation, a little bit slipping through our fingers is enough.
"It's also a form of bribery," Song Jingyang continued. "Using it as a passage during battles, or as a buffer against attacks from powerful nations, it will always be useful."
If we don't have it, that's fine. We're a large family with a lot of assets; we can afford to throw money down the drain.
Tang Zhuyun: I learned a lesson, and then what?
I really don't know how Xiu'er usually puts up with Song Jingyang.
Finding the key point is like finding a needle in a haystack.
Song Jingyang remarked, "Your Majesty, you are not studious!"
If it were Xiu'er, she would definitely think her subordinate knew a lot and would admire them immensely.
"What does it have to do with us that the envoys are coming to the capital?" Tang Zhuyun asked patiently.
"I also thought it wasn't there, but..."
Tang Zhuyun is going crazy.
Honestly, if it weren't for Xiu'er's sake, she would have already roared.
Get to the point!
"When the time comes, the number one warrior of the Xia Kingdom will provoke us, and the prince will need to save the day, which will be your chance to make a name for yourself."
Why did Tang Zhuyun feel so uneasy?
Song Jingyang continued smugly, "Then we'll ask some people to plead for him, and the prince's exoneration will be a sure thing."
Tang Zhuyun felt a chill run down her spine upon hearing this. Besides her own father, who else could plead for her?
She needs to quickly sift through the candidates.
Qin Li? Wei Xuan?
It's about seeking help from the Prince of Jin's "love rival," okay?
Xiu'er asked, "Don't we need to leave the capital?"
Song Jingyang scratched his head. "Well, I guess we still have to leave. The Prince said he wants to leave with the Empress; he wants to reinvestigate many things from back then."
Xiu'er lowered her eyes and remained silent, while Nanxing looked at her with a hint of pity.
Song Jingyang, that fool, still knows nothing.
Tang Zhuyun was preoccupied with the matter of the Prince of Jin and did not notice anything amiss.
She asked, "Is the number one warrior of the Xia Kingdom very powerful?"
Don't send a charlatan; he'll be utterly defeated before the Prince of Jin even makes an appearance.
"That's for sure," Song Jingyang said. "He's a once-in-a-century talent. You'll see when you meet him; he's almost as big as a bear, no exaggeration."
Tang Zhuyun immediately pictured a well-built, muscular man.
But being too powerful isn't good either!
What if—she meant— the Prince of Jin failed?
Even though one's man is the best in the world, there's always an element of improvisation in martial arts competitions.
Xiu'er was even more direct.
"So powerful, can Your Highness defeat him?"
Yanran: "How about we each bring our pets into battle? I'll lend Jiaojiao to Father!"
Let the tiger fight the bear, and let the king fight the cats and dogs.
Song Jingyang: "Yanran, aren't you going to find Cui Xiaoqiu?"
Don't cause trouble.
The two children were talking at the door when they saw him come back. Yanran, without any sense of loyalty, abandoned Cui Xiaoqiu and followed him inside.
Yanran retorted, unconvinced, "Isn't my idea good? It's foolproof. Besides, it's fair!"
Tang Zhuyun: "Okay, let's hear what Song Jingyang has to say first."
She pretended to be calm, but was actually extremely anxious.
"Your Highness will not lose," Song Jingyang said.
"Blind confidence is no good," Tang Zhuyun said. "How about we give that Xia Kingdom warrior a little something extra?"
For example, croton seeds?
If winning is dishonorable, then so be it; preserving one's life is paramount.
Song Jingyang said smugly, "No need, he won't win. He and the Prince are old acquaintances, and I'm worried that his loss won't be convincing enough."
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
You rigged dragon boat races, you rigged martial arts competitions, will you rig football next year too?
The bad habits started from here.
But it's so bad... it's almost too good!
Tang Zhuyun didn't care about the cause; she only cared about the result.
It's impressive that they were able to bring in foreign aid.
So, who should we ask next to plead on behalf of the Prince of Jin?
My own father and brothers are relatives, so I'm always a little less persuasive.
Are you really going to find Qin Li and Wei Xuan?
Qin Li might be able to help, since he owes her a favor; but as for Wei Xuan, didn't the Prince of Jin fail to act as matchmaker?
Song Jingyang said, "You don't need to worry about that."