After finishing a day's official business, Tang Mingfan sat in a chair, rubbing his shoulders and staring into space.
Until recently, this would have been the time he most looked forward to-when he returned home, his daughter would have prepared a lavish meal, and Linlin and Yanran would be waiting at the door, hand in hand, craning their necks to welcome him...
But with his mother's arrival, he had begun to hesitate, and did not even want to go home.
"Lord Tang." The Prince of Jin walked in.
Tang Mingfan came back to his senses. "Your Highness, you haven't left yet?"
"I was waiting to go with you."
Tang Mingfan was surprised.
"Miss Tang said she made red-braised pork today and invited me over to eat."
Tang Mingfan wanted to slap his thigh when he heard that. Using another's strength to counter an opponent-how had he not thought of such a good idea?
Yesterday, he had simply mentioned it on the spur of the moment. He had not expected his daughter to put it into action today.
This was for the best. His mother would be awed and would not dare make trouble, and the family could live more comfortably.
So Tang Mingfan said warmly, "This way, Your Highness."
The Prince of Jin had a feeling something was going on, but he did not know what. He had intended to sound Tang Mingfan out, but now it seemed that would be useless, so he could only steel himself and follow him.
As it turned out, he received an unprecedentedly warm welcome.
From a distance, he saw Tang Zhuyun standing at the door and thought she would ignore him as she had before, or simply give a "hmph" and stare at him as if to say, "That freeloading glutton is here again."
But not today. Not at all!
As Tang Zhuyun saw it, all she lacked were two bunches of flowers to wave as she sang, "Welcome, welcome, a most enthusiastic welcome!"
Smiling, she came out to greet him and sank into a curtsy.
The Prince of Jin thought she was about to topple headfirst-mainly because he had truly never received such treatment before and was not used to it. He instinctively reached out to support her.
Then he heard Tang Zhuyun say coquettishly, "Your Highness, we can't dispense with the proper courtesies! Don't do that. Grandmother is here today!"
The Prince of Jin: "..."
What had he done?
"Speak properly to me! Untwist your tongue!"
"Your Highness!" Tang Zhuyun cursed him bloody in her heart. Give you an inch and you take a mile. Yet she placed a hand on his arm. "I made the red-braised pork especially for you. If you don't eat it soon, it'll get cold."
Even Tang Mingfan could hardly bear to watch. Acting to protect themselves was important, but daughter, wasn't this a little over the top?
Madam Song had been watching secretly through the crack in the door. Seeing that the two really were intimate, she could not help growing more wary.
But she had a very high opinion of herself and considered herself perfectly presentable, so she came out to greet them with a smile that, in her lackey Song Jingyang's eyes, resembled a brothel madam welcoming a customer. "So it's my eldest granddaughter's husband."
"How dare you!" Song Jingyang, who had long since reached the end of his patience but had not dared speak for fear of Tang Zhuyun's fighting prowess, finally found his chance.
The Prince of Jin's face was dark, like a storm brewing over the mountains.
Madam Song was a countrywoman, after all. She was badly startled and shrank back, not daring to make a sound.
Tang Mingfan was just about to speak when he heard Tang Zhuyun say sweetly, "Your Highness, Grandmother is from the countryside. Please don't bind her with all those rules. Surely you don't really mean to slap her mouth a hundred times? Your Highness, please, for my sake!"
If the Prince of Jin still could not see through this scheme, he might as well have lived his life in vain.
He had not come here today to stuff his face. He was a tool!
For all he knew, Tang Zhuyun was gloating to herself right now, Close the door and release the prince!
At that thought, he bent close to Tang Zhuyun's ear and said through gritted teeth, "For your sake, then. Otherwise, I'd like to slap you a hundred times right now."
Madam Song: They really are having an affair! This little hussy really is a seductive little slut, bewitching even the prince until his head spins and his eyes blur.
Tang Zhuyun said, "Your Highness, please don't!"
The Prince of Jin did not want to eat this meal anymore!
Not only did he not want to eat, he wanted to throw up yesterday's meal and give it to her.
Tang Zhuyun was no fool either. Sensing the fury blazing in the man beside her, she hurriedly called, "Yanran, your father is here. Come out and see him!"
Yanran came running out, holding Linlin's hand.
The Prince of Jin's expression softened somewhat.
Tang Zhuyun breathed a sigh of relief. You little rascal, did you think I couldn't handle you?
This was what she called "holding Yanran hostage to command the prince." She was so clever!
During the meal, Tang Zhuyun went out to serve the Prince of Jin food, nearly giving him indigestion. His expression remained sour the whole time.
Song Cui'er was at the table beside theirs, attending Madam Song as she ate. Every so often, she stole a glance their way, her face reddening.
Noticing her gaze, Tang Zhuyun deliberately went around to the other side, blocking Tang Baixin from view, seemingly without meaning to.
But Song Cui'er kept looking over, making Tang Zhuyun so angry she wanted to lash out.
When the Prince of Jin finished eating and prepared to leave, Tang Zhuyun saw him out. She chuckled and said, "Thank you, Your Highness. Come again tomorrow!"
With that, she started to slip back inside to eat. She was starving.
But an iron grip caught her arm, and she could not run.
"Your Highness?"
"Know when to stop," the Prince of Jin said coldly. "If there is a next time, you will be severely punished without exception!"
So that meant she was off the hook this time!
Tang Zhuyun was delighted. "Rest assured, Your Highness. Once is enough!"
You're just a disposable prince anyway. Goodbye!
Even if you want this kind of treatment tomorrow, I won't wait on you!
The Prince of Jin read those thoughts in her expressive face and swept away in anger.
The Prince of Jin's visit for that meal had an immediate effect. Madam Song became much more well-behaved; at the very least, she no longer dared order Tang Zhuyun around as she had before.
Out of sight, out of mind. Tang Zhuyun either took the two children out to play or stayed in her room teaching them things.
After that day, the Prince of Jin did not come for four or five days in a row.
When he missed Yanran, he sent Song Jingyang in to call her out, spoke a few words to her, gave her things, and then sent her back.
After Madam Song learned that Yanran was the Prince of Jin's daughter, she was even less inclined to step out of line. In private, she told Song Cui'er, "You must learn properly. The rules in the capital really are different. Don't shrink back or fumble about, or anyone can see you're from the countryside."
Just take giving your daughter to an unmarried woman to raise before getting married-that really did not happen in the countryside.
That day, Tang Zhuyun sent the two children next door to play and worked out her income for the month. Tang Mingfan and Tang Baixin's silver had been handed over to the old hag, which was terribly galling.
But she herself had brought in several dozen taels by selling seasonings, and Qingfeng had done even better, earning a full 150 taels. Together, that came to nearly 200 taels.
Back in the village, she would have been an absolute rich woman.
But that would not do in the capital. Even at her current rate of earning, it would take two years to pay off her debt to the Prince of Jin.
And that was without mentioning that she wanted to move to a bigger house, get Linlin a good horse, and give him a chance to travel and study under great scholars... In the capital, money was easy to earn, but it flowed away even faster.
"Are you in, Cousin?" Song Cui'er's voice sounded outside the door.
"I am. Come in." Tang Zhuyun put away her charcoal pencil and her "little black ledger."
Song Cui'er came in timidly and made conversation for the sake of it, praising Tang Zhuyun's clothes one moment and her looks the next.
Tang Zhuyun grew impatient listening to her and dug at her ear. "The children will be back soon. If you have something to say, say it."