"Don't shake your head, you promised," Xiu'er said. "This matter definitely needs to go through the Crown Prince's wife."
Tang Zhuyun: "What's wrong with being the Crown Prince's wife? You're the wife of the General of Qingzhou, how could we not give you face if you went?"
Xiu'er: "..."
She wasn't used to assuming this identity, just as she never really thought of Song Jingyang as a general.
Isn't he just the prince's lackey...?
Her relationship with Song Jingyang is like the union of two lackeys...
"Let's wait and see after the New Year," Tang Zhuyun said after thinking for a moment. "The Crown Prince's wife isn't really a widow; she'll definitely be going out and about."
"Then we might be able to stay overnight during the New Year," Nanxing said. "I heard that Prince of Min has already started ordering coffins to be purchased."
This is something I heard from Pei Shen, so it's quite credible.
Tang Zhuyun sighed, "Prince of Min was also an only son."
She had just finished speaking with Lady Deng and was still immersed in her role as a mother.
Hopefully, Qu Nian can escape this calamity.
If she were to travel during the New Year period and happen to encounter the Crown Prince's wife, Tang Zhuyun planned to observe her character and see if they could become acquainted.
Xiu'er expressed pessimism.
"Why?" Tang Zhuyun, unconvinced.
"Because you're useless to her!" Xiu'er said. "She doesn't want children. If she wants to use you, I bet she's just trying to run away. You'd better stay away from her as soon as possible."
Tang Zhuyun was speechless.
"Never mind, let's see how it goes."
Two days later, Nanxing suddenly came to say that Zong Heng's trusted confidant had died.
Xiu'er asked curiously, "How did he die? Was he dealt with by the prince?"
The incident where Tang Zhuyun was assassinated during her last meeting with Zhou Yanhui at the restaurant hasn't been resolved yet!
Nanxing said, "On the night before the Lunar New Year, after leaving Zong Heng's place, he went home, got drunk, collapsed on the road, and froze to death."
Tang Zhuyun: Did he die so hastily?
Xiu'er: "I just don't believe it. If he's Zong Heng's trusted man, why doesn't he go out with a servant? Besides, what kind of happy occasion could he have to be so drunk? Isn't he afraid of losing face in front of his master?"
Nanxing said calmly, "The person who died didn't drink a drop of alcohol."
Xiu'er frowned. "One minute she says she's dead drunk, the next she says she doesn't drink a drop. Why is she contradicting herself like that?"
Tang Zhuyun said, "Someone got him drunk and made it look like he was about to freeze to death."
Before Xiu'er could react, she felt a surge of satisfaction and exclaimed, "Who did this good deed anonymously! Nanxing, is it Pei Shen?"
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
This was clearly done by the Prince of Jin.
That's a player who holds a grudge and seeks revenge.
Even if we have to spare Zong Heng's life for now, we can't let him off the hook.
Xiu'er disagreed. "What's the point of that! It's much more satisfying to deal with Zong Heng!"
Just then, the Prince of Jin sent someone to say that he would be returning late that night.
This has become the norm lately, and Tang Zhuyun didn't find it strange.
At night, the north wind howled and snowflakes fluttered down.
Zong Heng is gathering his staff to discuss the aftermath of his subordinate who "froze to death."
This is his trusted confidant, and his affairs after his death must be handled properly, otherwise it will discourage others.
"It's settled then." Zong Heng concluded the discussion, ordered a grand funeral for his subordinate, and gave the family a substantial sum of money.
His staff bid him farewell and went out.
Zong Heng was always good at winning people's hearts, so he personally saw them off and stood under the corridor watching them leave.
"Go to the kitchen and get some hot water; I want to take a bath," he instructed his personal servant, then returned to his room.
Zong Heng suddenly felt something was wrong. He looked up and saw the Prince of Jin sitting on the roof beam with one leg bent, the other long leg swinging and casting a swaying shadow on the ground. He looked very relaxed.
Zong Heng instinctively stepped back.
However, after taking two steps back, he stood still, his expression returned to calm, and he slowly stepped forward with a composed demeanor.
The Zong Residence was heavily guarded, yet the Prince of Jin managed to sneak in undetected—how could this not be terrifying?
But then he thought again, given that Prince of Jin and Noble Consort Jia are currently at odds, he wouldn't easily make a move against him.
After all, with the Prince of Jin away from the capital, they were hoping that the Zong Family and Noble Consort Jia could have some squabbles.
"Your Highness's presence is an honor to my humble abode..." Zong Heng said with a forced smile.
"It is truly an honor for you that I, the King, have come in person."
The Prince of Jin leaped down from the roof beam and landed almost silently in front of Zong Heng.
Zong Heng was certain that he wouldn't harm him, and asked, "May I ask what brings Your Highness here so late at night?"
"I heard you're interested in my queen?"
Zong Heng: "... A fair maiden is sought after by a gentleman, Your Highness, haven't you heard that?"
"I have never been to school; I only trust my own sword."
After saying this, the Prince of Jin drew his sword.
Zong Heng instinctively took two steps back. "No, no, you can't kill me..."
The Prince of Jin raised his sword and brought it down, Zong Heng let out a miserable scream.
The sound was shrill and piercing, echoing through the night sky; there was no trace of decorum left.
He fell to the ground, watching the blood gushing from his thigh, writhing in pain.
The Prince of Jin said coldly, "I will not kill you; I only want one of your legs."
He cut off Zong Heng's other leg.
From that moment on, Zong Heng could forget about ever getting back up.
"I can't kill you; I need you to keep Noble Consort Jia hooked. But..." Prince of Jin sneered, "Taking one of your legs would be effortless. If you're so capable, then kill yourself by banging your head against a wall, and don't serve me."
But Zong Heng wouldn't do that.
The more disabled he is, the harder he will strive to stand out, prove his worth, and avoid being abandoned by the Zong Family.
"Cutting off a leg will bring you to your senses," Prince of Jin sneered. "Zong Heng, no one has ever dared to covet my queen!"
He's just that arrogant and conceited.
The Prince of Jin turned and left, treating the guards of the Zong Residence as nothing.
Upon returning to the Prince's residence, Prince of Jin first went to the outer study to bathe and change clothes, washing away the stench of blood before returning to his bedroom.
"Why are you so late?" Tang Zhuyun was already in bed.
"Something came up, don't get up, I'm not hungry." Prince of Jin sat down by the bed and took off his boots. "Have you felt nauseous or lost your appetite today?"
"No," Tang Zhuyun said, "I'm fine!"
The Prince of Jin took off his clothes, slipped into the quilt, and held her close, saying, "Sleep."
Nothing happened, the sky was clear and the wind was calm.
Tang Zhuyun adjusted her position in his arms and said, "I just took a nap, and then I had a nightmare that woke me up."
The Prince of Jin laughed and said, "What dream? Tell me about it."
"It's nothing, I just dreamt that I gave birth to a baby, I don't know if it's a boy or a girl, and then suddenly a dog came, picked up the swaddled baby, and ran away..."
Prince of Jin: "... What kind of dog?"
"A little dog, a Shar Pei," Tang Zhuyun said. "Like that dog that used to always chase you, the same breed, but a little dog."
She felt that it must be because she had heard the Shar Pei dog too many times recently that she had this dream.
Others might switch the baby with a cat, but she's something else—she snatches the child from a Shar-Pei!