Tang Zhuyun smiled and said, "It's alright, don't worry."
The baby in her womb was her greatest protection.
The Emperor was displeased with Prince of Jin, but he couldn't afford to completely sever ties with Prince of Jin.
Between father and son, there is both fatherly affection and the relationship between ruler and subject, with mutual distrust and suspicion.
This conflict will permeate all their time together for the rest of their lives.
Linlin nodded, clearly understanding the implications.
Xiu'er didn't care; she was stupid, she couldn't understand, she just wanted to follow the Empress.
If the Empress is in danger, she will be the first to rush to her aid.
Hearing about the thrilling events that happened in the palace, she was filled with regret—why didn't she go with them!
On the carriage heading to the palace, Xiu'er whispered to Tang Zhuyun, "Your Majesty, do you regret it?"
"What?"
"Strangle Xiao Wu."
"Why regret it?" Tang Zhuyun asked with a smile.
The four Mingzhu emitted a soft light, shining on her face and giving her a faint halo.
"I... I just felt it was quite sudden," Xiu'er said. "I was afraid you might act impulsively and regret it later."
Tang Zhuyun: "No regrets. I was indeed worried after considering all the possibilities, but now that I've taken action, there's no need to regret it. I just have to bear the consequences."
It's not like we can't afford it.
"If I have any regrets," she said softly but firmly, "It's that I regret acting too late."
How she wished she could travel back to when Prince of Jin was a child, preferably at birth, so she could kill Xiao Wu and then take Prince of Jin away from the Xiao Family...
That way, the Prince of Jin wouldn't have had such painful memories of those twenty-odd years.
But then I thought, wouldn't that mean I'm a generation below the Prince of Jin?
Thinking of this, Tang Zhuyun couldn't help but smile.
She didn't understand what love was before, but this time she did.
The Emperor summoned Tang Zhuyun privately.
Tang Zhuyun also shared this understanding with him.
"... I would give it my all, even if it meant bearing a mountain of pressure myself, rather than letting a single feather weigh down his back."
Moreover, Noble Consort Jia is an insurmountable mountain in front of Prince of Jin.
Tang Zhuyun was foolish, so for so long, she worked like a fool to move mountains, opposing Noble Consort Jia in an attempt to seek justice for Prince of Jin.
Now, she finally glimpsed the secret of heaven, had an epiphany, and decisively took action to completely move the mountain.
The emperor remained silent for a long time, his eyes somewhat unfocused.
He thought to himself that he had been with countless women in his life and had once been proud of himself; but now he realized that they didn't love him.
Instead, it refers to his former identities as the Prince of Qi, the Crown Prince, and the Emperor.
The only woman he ever truly cared about was Xiao Wu.
However, Xiao Wu had no heart.
He knew; he knew everything.
However, those who love deeply are always the ones who lose first.
Even someone as noble as the emperor could not escape this calamity.
"Your Majesty, I have no regrets," Tang Zhuyun said. "You are so wise; how could you not know what Noble Consort Jia had done? But you loved her, loved her to the point of being unable to extricate yourself... I once resented you, but now I thank you, thank you for always maintaining your clear-headedness and preventing Noble Consort Jia from harming the Prince..."
No one dislikes flattery, especially the emperor.
Tang Zhuyun was well-versed in the art of speaking.
If we're talking about the truth, it's probably only a fraction of it.
As a family member of the victim, she found it difficult to understand the Emperor's position.
Although she might have advised the Prince of Jin in that way.
"Your Majesty, if Noble Consort Jia is not removed, there will be endless chaos. You should know her abilities better than we do."
"All my hatred for her stems from her cruelty towards the prince."
"Look at Nanny Rong, she hesitated between Noble Consort Jia and the Prince, and I never blamed her," Tang Zhuyun said. "Because she couldn't forget her former master, but she was also extremely kind to the Prince. But what about Noble Consort Jia?"
That was the Prince of Jin's complete enemy!
"Your Majesty, I know I was wrong, and I will accept whatever punishment you deem fit. But I still want to say, if you can't bring yourself to be ruthless, I will do it for you!"
The Emperor sneered, "So, I should thank you? Tang Zhuyun, who gave you the audacity!"
Tang Zhuyun: "You! My father always told me that you are a wise ruler..."
"You weren't by your father's side since you were little." The Emperor ruthlessly exposed Tang Zhuyun's lie.
Tang Zhuyun remained calm and composed. "A letter from home is worth a fortune. Although I cannot teach by words and deeds, I dare not forget the earnest teachings contained in those letters."
When did you learn to read?
Tang Zhuyun: Holy crap, can we even have a chat today?
I feel like the emperor could live another five hundred years.
That's it, your mind isn't muddled at all!
Who knows, she and Prince of Jin might both be dead, while the Emperor is still full of energy!
Don't panic, she handles small situations with ease.
"Although I was illiterate as a child, fortunately my mind is sharp enough that I can still remember what the old scholar read in the letter, and I will always remember Your Majesty's wisdom."
She's getting better and better at lying through her teeth.
The Emperor let out another cold laugh.
Tang Zhuyun knew that she had probably passed the test.
If the emperor wants to kill someone, there's no need for further words.
After a long pause, the Emperor said, "You should try to persuade Qi'er more in the future; his temperament is too cold and stubborn..."
Tang Zhuyun felt wronged on behalf of the Prince of Jin.
Has anyone ever shown him kindness, yet demanded that he be full of enthusiasm for the world?
However, these words could only be swallowed.
Her arrogance and unrestrained behavior could only be tolerated by the Prince of Jin.
There wasn't much genuine emotion involved in the power struggle between her and the emperor.
They were just testing each other.
"Girl Yun, tell me the truth, what did she say before she died?"
Tang Zhuyun: I didn't give her a chance to speak.
After thinking for a moment, she said, "Although Noble Consort Jia didn't leave any last words, I think she must have left behind many clues."
What she really wanted to say was, "Your Majesty, I have spared you some dignity."
If Noble Consort Jia had had the chance to speak before her death, she would have been utterly depraved.
The emperor remained silent for a long time, appearing to have aged considerably.
Finally, he waved his hand weakly and said, "Step back, go back."
Tang Zhuyun bowed and slowly walked out.
The Prince of Jin and others were waiting outside. When they saw her come out, they quickly stepped forward and took her hand.
Tang Zhuyun smiled at him, indicating that she was fine.
"Let's go home," said the Prince of Jin.
Tang Zhuyun nodded and asked softly, "Where is Nanny Rong?"
That was a concern that the Prince of Jin could not completely let go of.
"I've arranged for her to be properly taken care of, don't worry."
Tang Zhuyun's only worry was actually the Prince of Jin.
He's happy, then she's happy.
The two tacitly agreed not to mention the deceased Noble Consort Jia, as if it had nothing to do with them.
However, on the way back, Tang Zhuyun still reminded Prince of Jin, "I'm worried that some people on Noble Consort Jia's side are still unwilling to give up..."
Even a centipede, though dead, does not stiffen.
Noble Consort Jia always had some unexpected sycophants among her followers.
Qiao Geng and Doctor Wang are not the only two.
The Prince of Jin indicated that he was aware of this.
But the couple thought a lot, yet none of them expected such a change to happen later.