"Your Highness..." Nanxing said.
"Never mind, let's go." Tang Zhuyun said calmly, and led Nanxing away.
She ignored the cries of pain behind her.
She didn't know if it was a coincidence or a trap, but she wouldn't let her saintly heart get the better of her and deliberately invite trouble.
As for others trying to pin the blame on her, they'd better think twice before doing so.
Tang Zhuyun calmly sat down after returning home.
Prince of Jin couldn't discern anything from her face, but he sensed something was amiss from Nanxing's hesitant manner and her subsequent initiative to speak to Pei Shen.
--If Nanxing ignores Pei Shen and takes the initiative to speak, then there's probably something on her mind.
Prince of Jin asked Tang Zhuyun in a low voice, "Did something happen when you went out just now?"
Tang Zhuyun said, "The Crown Princess is trying to smear me, but I'm pregnant now, so no one will side with her."
Everyone's pregnant with children, so your belly is precious, but mine isn't?
Nobody's stupid; why would she joke about her own child?
Therefore, the Crown Princess's claim that she wanted to frame her was not very convincing.
The Prince of Jin said, "She has always been foolish and self-righteous. Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, but she seemed really angry," Tang Zhuyun said gloatingly. "I just don't quite understand what Zong Xueci is trying to do."
The Prince of Jin said, "Ignore her."
After a while, the Crown Princess was helped in.
Her hair was disheveled, and her face was streaked with tears. Anyone who didn't know her would think she had been assaulted!
Tang Zhuyun remained very calm.
Behind them, Ren Yingying, like a bobblehead, eagerly awaited the gossip, occasionally tugging at Nanxing's sleeve.
Pei Shen: What should I do if I really want to chop off her hand?
It was rare for Nanxing to proactively ask him for help when she didn't understand something. This was a perfect time for the couple to nurture their relationship, but she was interrupted. How could she not be annoyed?
He glared at her, hoping Ren Yingying would think twice before acting.
Ren Yingying shrugged. "Nobody's asking me anymore."
If she had a man with her, would she need to ask Nanxing, this fake man?
Nanxing seemed to have been reassured by Pei Shen, and her expression was no longer so serious. She turned around and spoke to Ren Yingying.
Pei Shen: Sure enough, once you're no longer useful, you'll be immediately discarded.
Meanwhile, the Crown Princess, with tears streaming down her face, was accusing Tang Zhuyun Noble Consort Jia Zhujun of pushing her.
The emperor frowned as he listened, clearly displeased with this daughter-in-law who was not presentable.
However, the Crown Princess herself clearly lacked that awareness, remaining trapped in her own emotions and unable to extricate herself, constantly weeping and complaining...
She single-handedly transformed the entire hall into a bustling marketplace.
Even in the vegetable market, Noble Consort Jia Xi Shi.
With a perfectly timed smile, she said to the Crown Princess, her "daughter-in-law" who wasn't much younger than her, "Don't cry, there must be some misunderstanding."
Tang Zhuyun spoke to Prince of Jin as if no one else was there, as if the person being repeatedly accused by the Crown Princess was someone else entirely.
Seeing this, Noble Consort Jia said, "Consort of the Prince of Jin, I know there may be some misunderstanding. But today is New Year's Eve, and it's also a palace banquet. His Majesty is not in good health, so please don't let him worry..."
"So," Tang Zhuyun interrupted her with a half-smile, "Does Your Highness intend for the Crown Princess to apologize to me? There's no need for that."
Noble Consort Jia: "..."
Ren Yingying clapped.
Noble Consort Jia looked over, her eyes filled with warning.
Ren Yingying, on the other hand, not only failed to "pull back from the brink," but instead, she defiantly thumped the drum a few more times.
I'm not afraid of you, you old hag!
Just you wait and see after tonight!
Hehe, I'm not going to remind you.
Noble Consort Jia's smile could barely hold on as she gritted her teeth and said, "Consort of the Prince of Jin, don't be willful. The Crown Princess is of utmost importance; how can she apologize to you? Besides, she is six months pregnant."
"Unfortunately, I'm pregnant too," Tang Zhuyun said. "And I might be carrying twins. So am I out of my mind to risk two children, harming others and myself? The Crown Princess has already had several children; what harm would it do to me to have another one?"
Tang Mingfan was initially a little nervous, but after hearing Tang Zhuyun's words, he stroked his beard and nodded repeatedly.
Noble Consort Jia said, "Perhaps there really is some misunderstanding, but it's the New Year, and as your sister-in-law, you should take the initiative to speak to the Crown Princess. After all, she's your sister-in-law, and she became pregnant before you..."
Tang Zhuyun: "I think that for brothers to be friendly and respectful to each other, the elder brother and sister-in-law must first set an example so that the younger brother and sister-in-law can follow suit. How about the Empress Dowager gives me a way out first, so I can learn how to give others a way out?"
If she is reasonable, she is unmatched in the world.
Noble Consort Jia was speechless, choked by the words.
Tang Zhuyun smiled slightly, concealing her merits and fame.
--This Noble Consort Jia really went to great lengths to disgust herself.
The Emperor said, "Alright, that's enough. Stop making a scene. It's the New Year, and this is unseemly and will make us a laughingstock. The Crown Princess and the Consort of the Prince of Jin will each have their salary reduced by three months as a warning to others. This matter ends here; don't mention it again!"
During the Lunar New Year, making a ruckus would be a laughing stock, not just in the royal family, but even in an ordinary household.
Tang Zhuyun obediently accepted the punishment, but in her heart she wondered, "Is the Emperor fining me because I didn't meet my KPI? Is he still working diligently on the last day?"
She wanted to complain to the Prince of Jin, but when she sat down, she found that the man was gone.
Holy crap!
In the blink of an eye, where did the Prince of Jin go?
They wouldn't be going to draw lots from the prince, would they?
However, that didn't happen.
However, Tang Zhuyun noticed that the Crown Prince's expression was also quite unpleasant, not much better than if he had been whipped.
Huh? What's going on?
The Crown Prince has always been subservient to the Emperor, but now that it's the New Year and he's a year older, has his courage started to grow?
The Crown Prince suddenly stood up, angrily saying, "Father, your blatant favoritism towards Prince of Jin is something I must say."
Tang Zhuyun: If you have something to say, then say it already!
The Emperor is angry too. Hasn't his daughter-in-law made enough of a scene? Now his son is also acting out of line. Is he even allowed to celebrate the New Year?!
Do these unfilial descendants want to leave him forever in the old year?
Ren Yingying had secretly slipped over to Tang Zhuyun's side at some point and sat down behind her, saying, "The show is about to begin."
Tang Zhuyun asked blankly, "What good show?"
Your man has a surprise for you.
Tang Zhuyun: "My man surprised me, how did you know?"
Ren Yingying: "..."
At this moment, the Prince of Jin entered from outside, and everyone couldn't help but look at him.
Yes, as always, keep strangers at bay; you'd be lucky to detect any emotion in someone's expression.
The Crown Prince was still blabbing about how the Emperor favored Prince of Jin, and of course, Noble Consort Jia, the "femme fatale who brought ruin to the country," could not escape the accusations either.
Tang Zhuyun listened and couldn't help but pick at her ears.
How come she hadn't noticed before that the Crown Prince was so noisy?
Prince of Jin sat down next to Tang Zhuyun, ignoring the Crown Prince's words, and leaned closer to Tang Zhuyun, saying, "I have something to tell you. Don't worry, no one is hurt..."
Tang Zhuyun's heart sank upon hearing this. "What is it?"
The Prince of Jin whispered in her ear and told her the whole story.
No wonder he went out just now.
Tang Zhuyun clenched her fists in anger, afraid that she would overturn the table.
Someone actually dared to set their sights on the Prince's residence.
What, taking advantage of her and Prince of Jin's trip to the palace, are you trying to bully Xiu'er and the two children who stayed behind in the mansion?
They're so blind!
Who gave the Crown Prince the courage to launch such an attack?
For Linlin and Yanran, this year will be unforgettable.
Yanran and Cui Xiaoqiu watched the fireworks from the rooftop, enjoying the cool breeze.
Yanran sniffled, her eyes stinging from the cold, and rubbed them, saying, "My eyes are getting blurry from watching, I'm not watching anymore. If you want to watch a little longer, you can watch a little longer yourself, I'm going home to sleep."
Tonight is Lunar New Year's Eve.
Yanran: "I know, but I'm sleepy on New Year's Eve too."
Her mother said that she was really growing and getting enough sleep was very important.
"Etc..."
"I'm not waiting anymore, I'm not waiting anymore no matter what --"
She was exhausted.
Cui Xiaoqiu suddenly covered Yanran's mouth.
Yanran: "Mmm, mmm... I'll bite you..."
The sudden sealing of the gate left her feeling bewildered.
Originally, Cui Xiaoqiu was no match for her, but on the rooftop, Yanran couldn't use her skills effectively.
She dared not use her full power, fearing she could easily kick Cui Xiaoqiu, that weakling, to the ground.
"Yanran, there's someone here. Don't alert them." Cui Xiaoqiu said this before letting go of her hand.
Yanran muttered under her breath, "How could the Prince's Mansion and the Cui Family be without anyone?"
They could also see the Tang Family next door.
Tang Baixin carried Sister Yuan out to watch the fireworks, and secretly kissed Meng Yulan beside him when no one was looking. He really showed off his love.
The servants in the courtyard pretended not to see anything and looked away.
But there are always people there!
Cui Xiaoqiu's sudden remark about "someone" is hard to understand.
"Fire!" Cui Xiaoqiu's voice was urgent. "They're going to set fire to the Heavenly Unity Pavilion!"
Heavenly Unity Pavilion was the Cui Family's library, housing tens of thousands of books, and was the most prized possession of Old Master Cui.
Cui Xiaoqiu had just seen two people acting suspiciously, but she never expected that they were planning to commit arson.