The Prince of Jin returned with two bags of hot, roasted chestnuts to curry favor.
However, as they walked through the mansion, they heard the sounds of swords clashing.
The Prince of Jin immediately became alert, stopped and carefully listened before realizing that the sound seemed to be coming from the Cui Family next door.
Has an assassin come to the Cui Family?
From this location, it seems like Cui Xiaoqiu's yard is right next door.
Because Yanran often talked to Cui Xiaoqiu across the courtyard wall or by climbing over the wall, Prince of Jin found out about it.
He silently leaped onto the wall and, through the branches of the sycamore tree, saw Cui Xiaoqiu practicing swordsmanship with Master Wu.
Judging from his skilled stance and the speed and precision of his sword strikes, he must have been practicing for some time.
Master Wu advised him, "You've been practicing for a long time, why don't you go back and rest?"
Cui Xiaoqiu refused, saying in a deep voice, "A little longer."
Master Wu said, "I vaguely heard that Madam came with her maids?"
Indeed, the Prince of Jin also heard the footsteps.
Cui Xiaoqiu immediately handed him the sword, saying, "Don't let this get out. You leave first, don't let my mother see!"
"Yes!"
Master Wu sheathed his sword and hurried out.
Cui Xiaoqiu quickly returned to her room.
A moment later, Madam Cui indeed entered with her maid.
"Why is there still snow? They're deducting the cleaning lady's monthly pay!" Madam Cui said unhappily, but her voice was very low.
The maidservant hurriedly agreed.
The Prince of Jin originally intended to leave, but for some reason, he lingered for a moment.
Madam Cui's exaggerated voice quickly rang out. "My child, what's wrong! So much cold sweat! Someone, quickly go and fetch the old master!"
"Mom, no need, I'm fine, I just feel a little unwell..."
The Prince of Jin thought to himself, "This young man is quite cunning despite his young age."
It turns out that Cui Xiaoqiu was secretly practicing martial arts.
He's a very ambitious child.
However, the road to becoming proficient in both academics and martial arts is still long.
The Prince of Jin did not linger any longer and quietly returned to his room.
Tang Zhuyun was still awake, sitting at her desk, biting her pen and lost in thought.
Seeing the Prince of Jin return, she smiled and said, "Xue Lie invited you for drinks, he wouldn't be planning to get you drunk and beat you up, would he?"
"Do you think he can beat me?" Prince of Jin took out some roasted chestnuts and placed them on the table, glancing at the paper in front of her at the same time.
--It's completely empty.
Tang Zhuyun didn't really want to eat the roasted chestnuts, finding them too sweet.
But she still picked one up.
But the Prince of Jin had already seen through it all. "What, you don't want anything sweet?"
Tang Zhuyun nodded.
The Prince of Jin sighed, "It looks like it's another son."
How could a daughter not like sweet things?
Tang Zhuyun: "That's not necessarily true. It's me eating it, not him."
It seems the Prince of Jin is still harboring treacherous intentions and has his eye on his daughter!
Preferring girls to boys is also a problem, and it needs to be addressed.
The Prince of Jin picked up a few chestnuts and offered the chestnut kernels to her.
Tang Zhuyun: "You eat, I'll just watch."
While eating chestnuts, the Prince of Jin relayed Xue Lie's request.
"Think it over carefully, and decide whether you should agree to his proposal."
Tang Zhuyun looked completely bewildered. "Why should it be me who has to consider it?"
Shouldn't the Prince of Jin consider the bigger picture and whether Liaodong needs capable personnel, and whether Xue Lie is competent for the position?
"It's more about your relationship with your second aunt." Prince of Jin patted her head.
Tang Zhuyun: "You didn't wash your hands!"
Prince of Jin: "... I wiped it."
Tang Zhuyun glared at him, then rested her chin on her hand and twirled her pen, saying, "Why don't we agree to his offer? He himself said that his second aunt also hopes he will achieve great things..."
Regardless of the purpose, if the process involves achieving success and establishing a career, Lady Deng should be happy.
As for the marriage... we'll talk about it later.
The Prince of Jin nodded. "That's what I was thinking too. I'll have someone give him a reply tomorrow."
He then asked Tang Zhuyun, "Why are you writing here in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?"
Tang Zhuyun said irritably, "A wordless book!"
Prince of Jin: "..."
"... I'm thinking about Niuniu's condition, trying to figure out if there's a better treatment."
In their past lives, they were used to Western medicine and antibiotics, but now that they don't have them, they find it very difficult to adapt.
Especially when fighting inflammation, without antibiotics, it's as difficult as starting a fire by rubbing sticks together.
Tang Zhuyun thought about it all night, but couldn't come up with a better prescription.
The Prince of Jin said, "Without you, we wouldn't be where we are today. So A-Yun, don't be too hard on yourself; you've already done very well."
Tang Zhuyun said, "It's not that I'm being hard on myself, I just want to do better. I'm not thinking about it anymore, I'm going to wash up and go to sleep!"
These things can't be rushed; she still needs to figure them out slowly.
Once again, I greedily ask the great time-travel author: is it difficult to grant me a spatial dimension?
The next day, Nanxing came again and asked Tang Zhuyun about the assassination attempt at the restaurant.
"Your Highness, what did the Prince say? Was it Zong Heng who orchestrated this?"
Tang Zhuyun slapped her forehead. "I forgot to ask, and the Prince didn't mention it either."
As Xiu'er wiped the table with a rag, she said, "You think you're so carefree? If you're not thinking about this, what are you thinking about!"
Tang Zhuyun: I'm thinking of a prescription.
"No need to even think about it," Xiu'er said, "It must have been Zong Heng who did it. He's just taking advantage of the fact that he's still useful, so he's allowed to act so arrogantly."
Tang Zhuyun laughed and said, "See, you understand the principle, yet you keep rambling on."
"I just feel uneasy," Xiu'er muttered. "Speaking of this, Pei Shen did a good job. He dealt with Wang Chunqiu and Qiao Geng like cutting cabbage, decisive and clean, eliminating any future troubles."
If the Prince of Jin were alive, he would surely cry foul.
He had everything prepared, but then Pei Shen, the unexpected Cheng Yaojin, came along and stole the prize. He was so angry he could die.
Nanxing said, "He's not good for that now either."
"Huh?" Xiu'er's eyes widened. "Can't you eat radishes anymore?"
This radish is a bit pithy!
It doesn't last long at all.
Nanxing: "I originally planned to finish off Zong Heng last night, but he absolutely refused to let me."
Therefore, Xiu'er said he was decisive and efficient, and Pei Shen should feel ashamed now.
The man slowed down her speed in drawing her sword.
Xiu'er: "I've noticed, men become so fussy and indecisive once they get married, ugh!"
Tang Zhuyun: So, who exactly affected whose speed of drawing their sword?
Nanxing said, "You miss Song Jingyang."
Tang Zhuyun:???
Where did you get this conclusion?
But she noticed that Xiu'er's eyes were slightly red.
"Didn't I just receive his letter yesterday?" Tang Zhuyun said, feigning nonchalance.
"Yes," Xiu'er said, "We're well-fed and warmly dressed, everything's fine. It's just that we can't come back for the New Year, that's a bit sad."
This is their first New Year after marriage, and not being able to be together is always a little sad.
"But it's alright," Xiu'er looked up, "Just hang in there for two more years, and everything will be fine."
Tang Zhuyun also hoped for this, but in her heart she wondered, would two years be enough?
She was prepared to stay at the border for five, six, or seven years...