Tang Zhuyun had almost forgotten who this person was.
"He's come to me again, begging me to treat his leg?"
"I guess so, otherwise what else could be so surprising?" Xiu'er muttered.
"It's annoying that he won't leave," Tang Zhuyun said after thinking for a moment. "Send someone to send him away, telling him to go see the Prince if he has something to discuss. What's the point of him coming to me?"
Xiu'er put down the rag, washed her hands, and was about to leave.
Tang Zhuyun said worriedly, "Don't go out yourself. Your status is different now."
"No, I won't go. I feel so restless."
He went out and gave Zong Heng a good scolding, feeling refreshed and invigorated.
Tang Zhuyun: "... Then how about this, you come with me out to the second gate and ask him what he's up to."
"Alright," Xiu'er said, "It's even safer if you go yourself."
We won't stop until we've thoroughly humiliated Zong Heng.
Zong Heng stood outside the second gate, dressed in a moon-white wide-sleeved robe and draped in a crane cloak, looking as handsome as an orchid and a jade tree (a man of refined appearance).
Upon seeing Tang Zhuyun emerge, he cupped his hands in greeting from afar, smiling as he looked at her.
"Your Highness, it's been a long time."
"It's been a long time," Tang Zhuyun said with a forced smile. "Looks like your leg is better?"
"No, not at all." Zong Heng smiled wryly.
Tang Zhuyun: "As expected, Heaven has eyes."
"Your Highness, you still possess the same charm as before."
"Young Master Zong is still lame."
Xiu'er burst out laughing.
She still has a lot to learn from the Empress.
Zong Heng only dared to visit the prince when he was away from home; otherwise, the prince would have broken his remaining legs sooner or later.
Tang Zhuyun said with a half-smile, "Young Master Zong, are you having people keep an eye on the Prince's residence every day? Otherwise, how come you were able to arrive so accurately when the Prince wasn't even there?"
Zong Heng said, "Your Majesty misunderstands. I admire Your Majesty, so..."
Tang Zhuyun: Yue.
No need for a male supporting character; don't create unnecessary scenes for yourself.
"... So I couldn't bear to see Her Highness kept in the dark by the Prince."
Tang Zhuyun: "My husband and I love each other hiding and searching for each other, what's it to you?"
Zong Heng said, "Your Majesty, please don't harbor such hostility towards me. The enemy of my enemy is my friend..."
Do I have enemies?
"Noble Consort Jia."
Oh, Noble Consort Jia and the Empress are indeed mortal enemies, irreconcilable.
"Men should stay out of women's business," Tang Zhuyun said coldly.
Zong Heng said, "Your Majesty, we can cooperate."
"I'm not interested in trying to negotiate with a tiger for its skin," Tang Zhuyun said slowly and deliberately. "Speak your mind directly, or else you'll have to leave."
"Exactly," Xiu'er chimed in. "Stop worrying about treating your leg. It's good that you're so determined despite your disability. Otherwise, where would we find any redeeming qualities in you?"
The master and servant gave the man a good dressing down.
"I saw the prince, with a woman, enter a private residence."
Zong Heng was also somewhat angry and immediately unleashed his ultimate move.
Xiu'er was stunned for a moment.
She felt that Zong Heng couldn't lie about this, since it would be too easy for him to be exposed.
No, could it be that Zong Heng is trying to lure the Empress away from her home?
No, she has to protect the Empress; she can't fall for it!
But Tang Zhuyun had already spoken.
She asked coolly, "Then tell me, do you know that woman?"
"I don't know him." Zong Heng told the truth.
However, he didn't say that she was a courtesan.
He felt that if he said that, Tang Zhuyun might forgive Prince of Jin for playing along.
Tang Zhuyun: "If you don't know him, you don't need to come all the way here to tell me. If he kidnapped your wife or your sister, tell me, and I will definitely help you get justice."
Zong Heng's face flushed red and then turned pale, and he was speechless.
Xiu'er clapped her hands and praised, "Your Majesty is right! Everyone should sweep the snow from their own doorstep and not worry about the frost on someone else's roof. Instead of wasting your time worrying about our Prince, why don't you take a look at your sister? Is she even human?"
She was referring to Zong Xueci, whom she met in the jewelry shop.
Zong Heng gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty, I misjudged you. I originally thought you possessed a strong sense of pride, but now it seems..."
"Maybe you're blind," Tang Zhuyun joked.
Are you trying to provoke me?
Okay, fine, I'm lying down, I'm making fun of myself, let's see what you do then?
Zong Heng: "..."
Tang Zhuyun said impatiently, "Alright, Young Master Zong, you don't need to keep staring at the Prince. Otherwise, I'll misunderstand and think you have ulterior motives towards him. Guards, show him out!"
That scoundrel Prince of Jin, who did he go to see without even reporting it? He sent Zong Heng over here to whine and complain, it's so annoying!
We'll settle the score with him when he gets back.
Zong Heng, however, was unwilling to give up this hard-won opportunity to meet Tang Zhuyun. "Your Highness, even if you don't care about the Prince's reputation, don't you care about the reputation of the Prince's Mansion? If you have children in the future, with a father like that, how will you be able to hold your heads high?"
Tang Zhuyun was amused by the situation.
"What? You want to be my son? You're putting on such a strong empathy, are you?"
Zong Heng's face turned red.
Every time, he felt he could handle Tang Zhuyun.
But each time, they were utterly defeated by her sharp tongue.
Then he continued to believe that he had just had an off night and that there would be another time.
The cycle repeated itself, resulting in repeated defeats.
Tang Zhuyun raised her hand to her temple. "I'm still young, I can still have children. When I want to adopt a son, I'll ask the Prince if someone of a different surname would be suitable! You'll be given priority then."
Zong Heng: "... Your Majesty, you don't need to use your words. One day, you will want to cooperate with me."
"And I," he said, adopting what he believed to be his most dignified and confident demeanor, "Am ready to serve you at any time."
Tang Zhuyun looked up at him, and the cold smile on her face slowly faded away.
Zong Heng thought she was interested and was about to say something when he heard the Prince of Jin's voice from behind, "Is that so?"
Zong Heng: "..."
Xiu'er: "Your Highness, you don't look well today! You're back so soon! Your Highness, should we have the kitchen roast two lamb kidneys for Your Highness?"
Zong Heng wanted to leave with dignity, but the Prince of Jin wouldn't grant him that.
So, a passerby who was hurrying home past the Prince of Jin's Residence heard a loud "thud" and then saw a person being thrown out by a guard.
Prince of Jin took Tang Zhuyun's hand and led her into the room to speak.
Xiu'er was indignant and went to the main kitchen outside to give the order, "Pig brains, sheep brains, deer brains, whatever's good for the brain!"
How could the prince be so stupid!
When you get back, you don't even bother to explain to the Empress, saying you have something important to tell her.
It's infuriating!
This is truly unfair to the Prince of Jin, because he explained the matter of taking women out with him in just one sentence.
He still had to go to the palace, and this time he came back only because he was eager to say a few words to Tang Zhuyun.
"Xiao Pang is delirious, so I found a woman to pretend to be Xiao Mo in an attempt to trick him into saying something."
It turned out that was where Xiao Pang was imprisoned.
However, Tang Zhuyun didn't understand why the Prince of Jin suddenly wanted to ask Xiao Pang what?