Tang Zhuyun didn't really believe in these things, but she didn't object either.
After all, we're all just trying to make a living; as long as we don't harm others, that's fine.
However, upon hearing that the Daoist priest boasted that he had even treated Noble Consort Jia in the palace, Tang Zhuyun couldn't help but have second thoughts.
Since Wang Chunqiu and Qiao Geng died, Noble Consort Jia seems to have suddenly become deflated.
But this woman is like an unkillable cockroach; she won't be easily defeated.
So even though she's been completely silent lately, like she's dead, Tang Zhuyun has never let her guard down.
Men only behave when they become memorial tablets, but Xiao Wu is amazing; even after becoming a memorial tablet, she can still cause trouble.
Thinking about how many times Prince of Jin had paid homage to the memorial tablet over the years, and how she herself had respectfully kowtowed to it, Tang Zhuyun felt nauseous.
Madam Yan said, "... I already told him that while the Imperial Concubine is of noble status, does high status automatically equate to intelligence, or the absence of fools?"
However, Yan Ling had complete faith in Noble Consort Jia's abilities.
"At her age, for her to return to the palace as a concubine, I don't believe there isn't something fishy going on," Yan Ling. "I bet she had a Daoist priest perform some kind of ritual."
Otherwise, how could the emperor see Xi Shi in his lover's eyes?
In Yan Ling's view, even if the emperor wanted to take a new concubine, he should find someone who was fifteen or sixteen years old. What was the point of finding a middle-aged woman?
Anyway, if he has the chance, he'll find a girl in her late twenties or early thirties; that would be wonderful.
But he could only dream about it; Rouge Tiger was watching!
So Yan Ling Madam Yan to leave and coaxed Niuniu to drink the talisman water.
"... Luckily, Niuniu only had a stomachache for a short while, otherwise I would have been furious with him." Madam Yan said, wiping away tears again as she spoke. "Ever since he became an official, he's become so arrogant, and he won't listen to anything I say."
Life is full of troubles.
Tang Zhuyun couldn't very well say, "If we can't make it work, let's get a divorce."
Such words did not apply to women in ancient times.
Before she could figure out how to comfort Madam Yan, the latter had already soothed herself.
"I yelled at him and hit him a couple of times, but I'm not angry anymore."
Yan Ling saw that his daughter was also listless due to diarrhea, and allowed himself to be beaten and scolded.
"He only cares about Niuniu, but he suffered because he didn't go to school."
That's the absolute truth.
Life isn't perfect; it's full of ups and downs, and Madam Yan.
In her words, "It's not like we've cultivated ourselves for ten lifetimes and were just born into a bad family. We're content with where we are today."
She knew about the man's problems and managed them; after she died, there was nothing she could do, and Yan Ling him to do whatever he wanted.
She wouldn't bother with the children once they were older.
Tang Zhuyun herself couldn't do it, but she acknowledged the wisdom Tang Zhujun possessed in life.
Not everyone has the same level of confidence as her.
Wisdom lies in striving to live a comfortable life within one's means.
Madam Yan clearly thought so too.
It is precisely because we share the same values that we can become true friends.
She glanced at her daughter, who was being taught to write by Yanran on the kang (a heated brick bed), and whispered, "My Niuniu will definitely have a better life than me in the future."
Tang Zhuyun smiled and said, "That's for sure."
Niuniu wrote for a while, and Xiu'er brought over some snacks.
"Come on, wash your hands, you can write later."
Yanran helped Niuniu wash her hands and eat snacks.
The five-colored pastries were arranged in a box shaped like a begonia flower. Yanran tasted each one and then called Niuniu to eat.
Niuniu only ate four items and didn't touch the rose pastry.
"Niuniu, don't you like this?" Yanran smiled and turned the box around, picking up a rose pastry. "I quite like it, and my brother likes it too."
The food box wasn't very big to begin with, and the pastries it contained were of high quality rather than many, with only four or five items of each kind.
So Yanran one piece after another, and in no time there were only two rose pastries left.
Niuniu whispered, "Brother Linlin likes to eat this, I want to save it for him..."
Yanran laughed heartily, "No need to save any, there's plenty more! Eat up, eat up!"
Niuniu then picked up a rose pastry, feeling a little embarrassed.
"How come you're so obedient?" Yanran said, "When my brother came to see you last time, he said 'the rose pastry is delicious,' and you remembered that?"
Niuniu said shyly, "Brother Linlin even brought me a little clay doll. My mom said that if others are nice to me, I have to be nice to them too."
"Good boy/girl, have another piece!"
After seeing Madam Yan and her daughter off, Xiu'er said, "Your Majesty, I think we can invite Madam Yan, Madam Wang, and Madam Qin over for a visit during the first month of the lunar calendar."
Four Great Wicked Women sitting at one table—what a sight!
Tang Zhuyun: "I think that's fine. If we're not in a hurry to leave, please come and sit down."
Xiu'er counted on her fingers and said, "Back in the day, it was difficult for the Prince's mansion to even gather four people for a table. Now that I think about it, there were quite a few ladies who could come!"
Tang Zhuyun: "... You're implying again that the Prince isn't popular."
"Do we even need to allude to it?" Xiu'er said disdainfully. "Who doesn't know that?"
Nanxing was having a hard time suppressing her laughter.
"What are you laughing at?" Xiu'er said. "How far have you and Pei Shen progressed? Stop just munching on carrots all day and don't have any serious energy."
Nanxing: "What?"
"Imperial conferment of title! The marriage certificate is all ready, has Pei Shen requested the official conferment of title for you?"
Nanxing: "I don't know."
Xiu'er: "See? I told you you'd be doomed if you were ever serious! Without an imperial title, how will you accompany the Empress into the palace for the New Year and protect her?"
"I can pretend to be a maid."
Others will think you're a guard.
Tang Zhuyun burst into laughter, "Becoming an imperial consort isn't that quick. I've heard that if the Ministry of Rites doesn't have Ministry of Rites, it's normal to wait two or three years without making some connections."
Xiu'er: "This servant thinks it's unnecessary."
Putting everything else aside, just look at how decisively Pei Shen kills people—who would dare offend him?
Nanxing didn't have any particular expectations. "I'm too lazy to deal with people."
Xiu'er, hands on hips. "Who are you calling names!"
Tang Zhuyun burst into laughter at the two clowns.
That evening, when the Prince of Jin returned, she told him these jokes, but found that Prince of Jin somewhat distracted.
"What's wrong?" Tang Zhuyun asked.
The Prince of Jin hesitated, as if he wanted to speak.
"You came back so late, and you were stammering to me," Tang Zhuyun teased him deliberately, "I'll suspect you're up to no good outside."
The Prince of Jin said, "I meant no harm, but... I... I went to the Prince of Min's Residence."
Tang Zhuyun was stunned. "What are you doing at the Prince of Min's Residence?"
"I wasn't entirely comfortable with the Lady Ren, so I did some research... Please don't be angry."
"I'm not angry," Tang Zhuyun said. "I just want to know, what do you suspect about her?"
"You trust her too much," said the Prince of Jin. "Your eyes light up when you talk about her; you're completely unguarded with her. If she's not the friend you imagine, or if she's changed, then you..."
Tang Zhuyun: "No, we know each other too well. It's hard for others to pretend. Did you find something wrong?"
"A little..." Prince of Jin nodded.