Xiu'er gave Pei Shen dressing-down in front of Tang Zhuyun and Meng Yulan, and walked out with a dry mouth.
She had to go back and continue listening to Nanxing's news.
Before they even left the Tang Family, they saw Yanran standing there, holding a few trinkets, looking somewhat bewildered.
"It's so cold, what are you standing here daydreaming about?" Xiu'er called out from afar.
Yanran was startled and instinctively hid her hands behind her back, forcing a smile as she looked at Xiu'er.
Xiu'er said irritably, "What are you hiding! Do you think I'd fight you for a few trinkets?"
She was busy looking for Nanxing and didn't have time to tease her.
Yanran an awkward smile.
Just then, Nanxing suddenly appeared at the door.
Xiu'er was about to run over when Nanxing scolded her, "Why are you running! If you let the child go, I'll beat you up for Song Jingyang!"
Xiu'er: "Pah! You're getting more and more impressive! You argued with Pei Shen, so you told him to get lost! Now you've made yourself homeless, how impressive!"
Nanxing: "... I didn't argue with him."
Besides, that's the Marquis's residence; she's the one who should get out.
So she left, no problem.
Yanran the two of them were talking and Nanxing was alright, Nanxing quietly left.
Xiu'er was too excited to notice Yanran's unusual behavior, but Nanxing, watching Yanran's retreating figure, asked, "What's wrong with Yanran?"
Xiu'er: "Everyone else is fine, but you're the one in trouble! Come on, come on, come in with me to see Her Majesty. Her Majesty is worried sick!"
The two went inside, while Yanran left dejectedly.
She needed to find a place to process her emotions.
Xiu'er pulled Nanxing into the house. "Where have you been all night? You didn't come back to the Marquis's mansion at all last night. Did you hide in that tree and cry?"
Nanxing: "I'm not a monkey, why would I climb a tree?"
"Those wall-climbing and scaling skills are all pretty much the same. Where did you go?"
"I'm in a bad mood, so I'm going to see Huaishang."
Tang Zhuyun: "... Come here, come here! Didn't I tell you not to keep going to Huaishang!"
This straight-talking girl is a total jerk!
Every time you and your spouse argue, you go to find someone who has a crush on you. What's the meaning of that?
If Pei Shen dared to do that, I'd smash his head in!
Nanxing: "You're both pregnant, and I don't want you to feel disgusted, so I have no choice but to go to Huaishang."
She doesn't know many people, and the only one she can find who doesn't flaunt their relationship or make others feel uncomfortable is Huaishang.
But to my utter surprise, despite all my precautions, I still couldn't avoid being fed dog food (a slang term for witnessing public displays of affection).
Xiu'er: "What? Who's blind enough to fall for that stingy guy! Aren't all the maids we bought looking down on him?"
"It's her."
"Who? Mianmian?" Tang Zhuyun also became curious.
"Hmm," Nanxing said, "They're back together. No, it's Mianmian who's fallen for Huaishang and is trying to win Huaishang."
Xiu'er: "Is there no justice in this world? Mianmian, that child, seems quite clever, how could she jump into this pit herself?"
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
"That's not entirely true," Nanxing said objectively. "Huaishang isn't that bad."
Being good-looking and capable is one thing, but being stingy is just a minor flaw; it won't cost you zero points.
The main thing is, Mianmian isn't short of money.
"... When I arrived, Huaishang hadn't returned yet. I overheard Madam Yao talking to Mianmian..." Nanxing said. "Mianmian wasn't actually a bought maid; she was a distant relative of Madam Yao, and her family were imperial merchants."
Tang Zhuyun: My goodness, so she's a powerful backer.
I didn't realize that Xiao Mianmian was so well-behaved and innocent.
"So what did you say to Huaishang?" Xiu'er asked.
Nanxing: "I didn't get a chance to speak with him. Later, I overheard him talking to Mianmian, and then I left in a hurry."
What's the rush?
"Huaishang is too foolish."
Mianmian was practically ready to speak her mind, but Huaishang still couldn't understand a word she said.
It seems that low emotional intelligence is indeed contagious.
"Where did you go after that?" Tang Zhuyun asked. "What exactly happened between you and Pei Shen?"
"I found an inn and slept there for the night. I arrived too late, so I overslept. I ate something and then came here," Nanxing said succinctly, before starting to talk about her relationship with Pei Shen.
Let's rewind to yesterday.
Nanxing returned from the Prince's mansion and went to Pei Shen's study first.
As a result, Mo Ting, who was guarding outside, felt guilty and tried to stop Nanxing by talking about other things.
Is Nanxing someone he can stop?
When she pushed open the door, she saw Pei Shen sitting expressionlessly in a chair, with the Ninth Princess crying her eyes out next to him.
This was the third time Nanxing had seen the Ninth Princess at the manor, so she recognized her easily.
The Ninth Princess's voice Ruanruan as she called out "Cousin," Nanxing felt his bones go weak.
"Cousin, you have to take responsibility for me."
It's unclear who the Ninth Princess was referring to with those words.
Nanxing entered, and the Ninth Princess looked at her with tears in her eyes. "You, why are you here?"
Nanxing stepped forward, pulled Pei Shen's handkerchief from its usual spot in his sleeve, and handed it to the Ninth Princess: "Wipe your tears, you don't look good crying."
The Ninth Princess's eyes welled up with even more tears.
But that was Pei Shen's handkerchief!
She reached out to take it, but unexpectedly a large, well-defined hand reached out from the side and snatched the handkerchief back.
Pei Shen gritted his teeth and said, "You're quite the chivalrous one!"
Nanxing: "You flatter me, Shang Ke."
Pei Shen was so angry he wanted to bite her twice.
"You should go back first," Pei Shen said. "We still have things to do..."
Nanxing turned and walked out.
"Vermilion Bird!" Pei Shen was unusually angry. "I didn't tell you to leave!"
He was telling the Ninth Princess to leave!
Those who should leave don't, while those who shouldn't leave leave very quickly.
"And then?" Xiu'er asked anxiously.
Getting Nanxing to tell a story is harder than climbing to heaven; it's driving her crazy.
I'm leaving now.
"Didn't we tell you not to leave?"
Why should I listen to him?
Xiu'er: "..."
Tang Zhuyun: "You made the right decision! A man and a woman alone together, don't you have any self-awareness?"
It was Pei Shen's fault for not avoiding suspicion, like a melon patch or a plum tree.
"Nanxing, you wait here. Don't go back with her until Pei Shen apologizes and makes a statement."
"I don't need his apology, I don't need his statement... I don't want it."
This man is tainted.
She witnessed the Ninth Princess trying to get close to him by pulling on his sleeve; it disgusted her.
Xiu'er: "Well, I think maybe washing it will help?"
Nanxing: "No, thank you."
If I say no, I mean no.
After this incident, Tang Zhuyun couldn't stay at her parents' home any longer; otherwise, would Pei Shen come to the Tang Family to ask for help?
So she took the two men back to the Prince's mansion and waited for Pei Shen to come.
Meanwhile, Yanran went to the Cui Family.
This was the first time she had ever paid a formal visit instead of sneaking over to play.
Cui Xiaoqiu was very surprised, but quickly led her to his yard.
"Cui Xiaoqiu, I..."