Tang Zhuyun: "What are the arrangements, Your Highness?"
Song Jingyang pulled a slip of paper from his sleeve and said cheerfully, "Your Highness has written down the list. Let me see who I can win over."
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
Is this a solution?
What if no one helps?
She took the list and glanced at it; most of the names were unfamiliar to her.
Nanxing stood behind her and immediately spotted Pei Shen's name.
That name was like a hook to her, instantly drawing her in.
Thank goodness he was there.
Xiu'er winked at Nanxing, clearly having also seen Pei Shen's name.
What she meant was, "Nanxing, it's up to you!"
Song Jingyang said, "These dozen or so people are all influential figures with the Emperor. The Prince's idea is that four or five who can speak on his behalf will suffice."
Tang Zhuyun said, "I know about Prince of Yong. With Sangsang's previous help, he has no choice but to agree. What about the others?"
Song Jingyang: "I haven't tried it yet. We can always manage to put together a test when we have the time."
If one plan fails, another is devised; coercion and enticement are used in turn.
It's not like we're asking them to follow the prince; it's just about speaking up for him. It's not that difficult.
Tang Zhuyun felt that Song Jingyang was a bit too confident.
After thinking for a moment, she said, "You go and try it first, and report your progress to me daily. We'll figure out a solution together."
If all else fails, even resorting to underhanded or dirty tricks, she has to be involved.
Song Jingyang readily agreed.
He stared longingly at Xiu'er, but she didn't look at him.
Seeing that Song Jingyang's eyes were almost twitching, Tang Zhuyun smiled and said, "Xiu'er, see him out."
Xiu'er then got up.
The two went out one after the other— Xiu'er in front, and the sycophant behind, their faces beaming with undisguised smiles.
Song Jingyang said, "Xiu'er, you don't have to worry anymore, right?"
Xiu'er glanced at him, unusually refraining from mocking him, and asked, "Who's on the list?"
"There were more than a dozen people, including the Crown Prince, Prince of Yong, and Grand Secretary Cui from next door... You probably don't recognize the rest."
Why is the Crown Prince here too?
"If the Crown Prince speaks up, many people won't dare to kick him when he's down," Song Jingyang said truthfully. "Our Eastern Palace and the Prince's Mansion are irreconcilable enemies; adding the Crown Prince would just be filling a quota."
It's impossible for me to help.
Xiu'er muttered under her breath, "Grand Secretary Cui probably won't help either; that old fox is too cunning!"
After all, we live next door, so we should know a thing or two about each other.
"The further you go, the less hope you have... Don't worry, I'm here for you."
"Um."
Instead of worrying about the prince, Xiu'er was worried about herself.
She met with Nanny Jing today, and originally thought she could speak up, but she overestimated herself.
Now, even with Song Jingyang by my side, it's still difficult to speak.
"Xiu'er," Song Jingyang carefully observed Xiu'er's expression and said, "My mother's birthday is in a few days. Could you come with me to pick out a couple of pieces of jewelry for her?"
Actually, he also wanted to buy it for Xiu'er and discuss the wedding date with her at the same time.
After the prince's accident, everything became uncertain.
He wanted to move the wedding forward, but he was afraid of upsetting Xiu'er; he wanted to postpone it, but he was afraid that Xiu'er would feel wronged if she wasn't by the princess's side when they got married. It was a real headache to make such a choice.
Xiu'er agreed.
Give herself some more time and emotional preparation; she needs to make things clear today.
Dragging it out would be a waste of Song Jingyang's feelings, and also an unbearable torment for himself.
Song Jingyang exclaimed excitedly, "I'll have the carriage ready!"
Xiu'er said, "No need, I'm not an empress. The gold and silver shop isn't far, we can walk there."
"Okay, okay."
As long as Xiu'er asks, Song Jingyang will agree.
The better he was, the more upset Xiu'er felt.
The two left the palace and walked along the bustling street, talking as they went.
Xiu'er rarely feels sad, but now she can't help but think that she originally thought this kind of interaction would repeat countless times until the memories faded.
I've only just realized that this might be the last time, and it will be etched into my memory for a long, long time.
Song Jingyang: "Xiu'er, is something on your mind? The Prince is fine, and the Empress is fine too."
Xiu'er said, "Let's eat out later, and I can have a good talk with you while we eat."
"Sure, what do you want to eat? It's my treat!"
"Then we need to have a good meal."
You order!
As they were talking, a handkerchief suddenly floated down from the sky.
Song Jingyang, who was skilled in martial arts, reacted faster than ordinary people and instinctively reached out to catch it.
Then a woman exclaimed, "My veil!"
So it wasn't a handkerchief, but a veil?
Xiu'er clenched her fist and touched it; sure enough, it was inlaid with gemstones, and it wasn't a handkerchief but a veil.
Song Jingyang didn't even look up, simply shoving the item into Xiu'er: "Go return it to her."
woman. "..."
Xiu'er looked up at the people on the third floor of the restaurant facing the street.
The woman was very young, around fourteen or fifteen years old, with a beautiful face, and her head full of jewels indicated her extraordinary status.
At this moment, she was looking at Song Jingyang with a flushed face.
The maidservant beside her exclaimed in surprise, "Miss, why has your veil fallen down?"
Another maid said, "Miss, please stand back a bit, so that no one can see your face."
Xiu'er sneered and said coolly, "Shout louder, and everyone will hear you."
It seems that news of Song Jingyang's impending appointment as the General of Qingzhou has spread, and all sorts of shady characters are starting to cause trouble.
Xiu'er followed Song Jingyang out directly. She didn't change into any bright clothes; instead, she wore a set of ordinary, nearly new cotton clothes, making her look like a maid.
She really was just a maid.
"How dare you! Do you know who our young lady is?" the other party said rudely.
"Oh, I really didn't know." Xiu'er sneered, "You only need to know who we are. Those who want to extort money and become someone's concubine can find a place here."
Song Jingyang: "... Xiu'er, what nonsense are you talking about?"
"I'm practically ready to pounce on you, don't you think?"
Song Jingyang was very annoyed—he was happily taking his wife out to cultivate their relationship, but they had to be disturbed.
He snatched the veil from Xiu'er's hand and threw it on the ground. "Now that's settled, let's go."
It's true what they say, you can't be a good person.
Everyone was stunned. Such a thing was possible?
Song Jingyang pulled Xiu'er away, "This is really inexplicable. It seems we still have to go out with the Prince."
"What does this have to do with the prince?"
"The prince's face darkened, and no one dared to approach."
Xiu'er couldn't help but wonder if the prince had sneezed.
The two went to select jewelry.
Despite Xiu'er's refusals, Song Jingyang still bought her several items, saying, "Don't worry about the money, I can earn it back later. You won't remember the money I give you, but you should always remember how good I am to you when I buy you things."
You don't need to buy anything; I still appreciate your kindness.
Xiu'er's eyes welled up slightly. She turned her head away and, under the guise of tidying up the stray hairs at her temples, wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes with her little fingers.
"Master Song, we've investigated thoroughly." A guard appeared out of nowhere and reported in a low voice, "That woman just now, it turns out she was..."