However, Nanxing's physical condition was really too poor.
"I won't say anything nice to you either," Tang Zhuyun said, "With your health, it'll be hard to see any improvement without three years of taking bitter medicine."
Nanxing said, "Then forget it."
She's suffered so much; now all she wants is sweetness.
She didn't want to have children either; she and Pei Shen didn't know what the future held.
"Isn't it difficult to separate after having a child?" Xiu'er asked.
Nanxing nodded.
Tang Zhuyun remained silent.
"Are you stupid!" Xiu'er slapped Nanxing on the shoulder. "We're having children for ourselves, not for men! Men can run away, but can children run away?"
If a man's heart changes, let him change.
Although it's still quite painful to think about, especially since Song Jingyang just left, just thinking about him makes me want to cry.
But objectively speaking, that's the principle.
Can a child have a different mother? No.
Children are more important than men!
"Don't do anything foolish," Xiu'er said. "What, do you want to grow old alone? Raise more sons so they can help you get revenge in the future; raise more daughters so they can keep you company when you're old!"
With the Empress by my side, how could I possibly be afraid of not being able to raise my children?
If a man is truly despicable, then consider it borrowing a seed.
After all, the quality of Pei Shen's products is something most people can't even buy!
We should not only have children, but also both sons and daughters; the more the merrier!
"Eat it, you must take this medicine!" Xiu'er said.
Nanxing: "I don't have your skills. If we really break up, I can't win him over."
Xiu'er: "Look at your pathetic self!"
"I'm just a loser. If I were, I'd find someone like Song Jingyang."
Simp.
It's impossible for Pei Shen in this lifetime.
Xiu'er: "..."
Tang Zhuyun, who was listening nearby, burst into laughter.
After laughing, she said to Nanxing, "Having children is your decision. But I think you can choose not to have children, but you still need to have the ability to have them."
She wrote out the prescription and handed it to Nanxing: "I've written the prescription; it's up to you whether you use it or not. It won't be very bitter; I know you hate bitterness."
"Your Majesty..."
"If I am no longer here, you should have the imperial physician examine your pulse every three months, and then send me the pulse diagnosis record so I can adjust the prescription accordingly."
Xiu'er said, "See? When has Her Majesty ever been so attentive to others? Putting aside everything else, just take this formula for improving health and fertility, do you think the threshold of the Prince's mansion would be worn down by the ladies if Her Majesty sold this formula?"
Nanxing respectfully accepted the prescription. "This servant thanks Your Highness."
"Before we leave the capital, I'll have to urge you to eat every day!" Xiu'er said, hands on her hips.
Nanxing smiled too.
"What time is it?" Xiu'er asked again. "Why are the prince and the others still talking? This servant will go and see!"
"Pei Shen is here too," Tang Zhuyun said.
The implication is that there's no need to worry about Zhou Yanhui doing anything to the Prince of Jin.
Xiu'er said angrily, "Pei Shen can't be taken advantage of either! I'm off!"
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
Nanxing burst out laughing.
Xiu'er went out, Tang Zhuyun got up, opened the trunk, took out a small box, and pushed it to Nanxing, jokingly saying, "Pei Shen is keeping a close watch on you, so I'm afraid you won't be able to go out easily anymore. I don't know when I'll have to leave the capital, so I'll give you your dowry first."
Nanxing hurriedly shook her head, "Your Majesty, this servant doesn't want to, this servant..."
"Fool, just take what's given to you," Tang Zhuyun said.
"Your Highness has many expenses; you should take plenty of money with you when you leave the capital..."
"It's not a big deal," Tang Zhuyun said. "There are ten thousand taels of silver notes here, as well as five thousand, one thousand, one hundred, and ten taels notes. Keep them for yourself. You can't always ask a man for money; it makes you feel uncomfortable."
"Your Majesty, I feel perfectly comfortable spending Pei Shen's money."
I'd like to spend a little more.
Tang Zhuyun smiled and said, "Then consider this my token of appreciation. Besides the silver, there's a shop that doesn't require any management; you can just live off the rent, which is five hundred taels a year. There's also a hundred mu of land; the income from that is even less, but at least there's some income every year."
Seeing that Nanxing was about to refuse, Tang Zhuyun added, "You know the situation of the Prince's Mansion; their property might be confiscated. Just consider it as safeguarding it for the Prince's Mansion."
Nanxing then accepted it.
To refuse again would be to let them down.
She wanted to deeply imprint the Empress's kindness on her heart.
Men may change their hearts, but the empress will not.
Therefore, the empress is more important than men.
"Today is Pei Shen's first visit, so I'll prepare a meal to entertain this 'new son-in-law'," Tang Zhuyun said with a smile. "Come on, you can help me."
Nanxing did not refuse her kindness.
She knew that the Empress was telling her that the Prince's Mansion would always be her maternal home.
But actually, Your Majesty, I've always known this.
Nanxing lowered her head, tiny droplets of mist clinging to her long eyelashes.
After a while, Prince of Jin entered, followed by Pei Shen and Xiu'er.
"Are you feeling unwell?" the Prince of Jin asked Tang Zhuyun.
Tang Zhuyun, holding a shovel, exclaimed, "No!"
Xiu'er raised an eyebrow smugly. "That's what I said! I saw Zhou Yanhui was going to stay for a free meal, so I deliberately said that."
Unexpectedly, Zhou Yanhui and even tried to take advantage of the chaos to follow them into the inner courtyard.
Prince of Jin: As expected, he has designs on my queen.
The Prince of Jin glared at Zhou Yanhui and said, "This is the Central Plains; there are rules here."
Zhou Yanhui left.
Prince of Jin breathed a sigh of relief. He also felt that Xiu'er was lying, but he couldn't rest easy until he confirmed it.
After the meal, Pei Shen left with Nanxing, Xiu'er also went down to rest.
The Prince of Jin and Tang Zhuyun discussed Zhou Yanhui.
"A-Yun, don't worry, everything has been discussed and agreed upon."
Tang Zhuyun nodded. "I've packed everything, and I'm just waiting to leave the capital."
However, she secretly hoped to leave later, at least after the New Year.
Spending the Lunar New Year on the road is really tough.
The Prince of Jin tentatively asked, "A-Yun, there's something I'd like to ask you..."
Tang Zhuyun chuckled, "Why are you being so polite with me?"
The Prince of Jin said that this matter was somewhat difficult to talk about.
"Go ahead and say it."
"So you're a doctor, and..." and possess some unknown supernatural abilities, including his own, "Have you ever seen a man who might also be a woman?"
The Prince of Jin felt that his idea was incredibly imaginative, but there seemed to be no other explanation for it.
Tang Zhuyun immediately realized that he was referring to Zhou Yanhui.
But she pretended not to know and said seriously, "There might be people who possess both male and female characteristics, but they are very rare. There are also people who may have the body of a man or a woman, but whose mind is split... Which one are you referring to?"
The Prince of Jin said, "I can't quite put my finger on it... but do you know what? Today, I suddenly feel that Zhou Yanhui might be one of the two types of people you've mentioned?"
Is there a woman hidden in her body or in her mind?
Tang Zhuyun said calmly, "Haven't you known each other for a long time? Why did you suddenly think of this today?"
The Prince of Jin said, "In the past, I had never been close to a woman. But now it's different. Having spent so much time with you, I understand women better. Today, I felt that Zhou Yanhui was a bit... I can't quite explain it, it's just a feeling."
He'd seen homosexuals before, like Qingfeng! But Zhou Yanhui was clearly more feminine.
Tang Zhuyun: Congratulations, you got the feeling right.