Only then did Song Cui'er say, "I, I think the prince is rather good..."
Tang Zhuyun thought, Good? What's so good about him?
But she kept her face impassive and said with feigned shyness, "I suppose he's all right."
Song Cui'er blushed.
Tang Zhuyun thought, Nani?
I praised "my man," so why are you blushing?
Song Cui'er stammered, "I, I heard that when you marry the prince, you have to bring a dowry maid with you. Cousin, have you made preparations? Is it Xiu'er? Is one enough?"
If she isn't, are you going to fill the gap?
And sure enough, Tang Zhuyun could see a hint of that very intention on Song Cui'er's face.
Things were getting interesting.
Hadn't she come for Tang Zhuyun's brother? For the past few days, Tang Zhuyun had been thinking about how to deal with the matter. There was absolutely no way she could let Song Cui'er become her sister-in-law.
But before she could come up with a plan, Song Cui'er had transferred her affections to someone else?
Well done, girl!
Excellent taste!
She had taken one look and fallen for the Prince of Jin, who... could pee a long way. (From Tang Zhuzi, who was truly at a loss for anything to praise about the Prince of Jin.)
"One really isn't quite enough," Tang Zhuyun said, putting on an act. "But the family is poor, and we can't afford to buy another maid. Just between us, a maid of a good age costs dozens of taels of silver!"
Song Cui'er said, "Then, cousin, do you think I... I could do it? I'd definitely be obedient, and I wouldn't compete with you for his favor. I..."
Tang Zhuyun could hardly keep from laughing. She said solemnly, "No, cousin, that won't do. You see how well the prince treats me, but he actually has a terrible temper. One glare from him, and I start trembling."
When it came to this sort of thing, if she wanted someone else to be interested, she had to put a high price on it first.
Something cheap and shoddy, nobody would want even for free.
She was deliberately whetting Song Cui'er's appetite.
Sure enough, Song Cui'er said, "Actually, I noticed. When we ate together that day, the prince bristled and glared at you."
Tang Zhuyun said, "..."
"But, but I think that's what makes the prince so manly."
Tang Zhuyun thought, I'll give you two little leather whips. Take them and go find the Prince of Jin!
"You think so too?" Tang Zhuyun said. "Honestly, speaking from the bottom of my heart, how could my brother possibly compare to the prince? My brother earns a salary of a dozen-odd taels a month. Did you know the prince gets twelve hundred taels a month?"
Song Cui'er's mouth fell open. "Then the prince must slaughter a chicken every day!"
Sis, say chicken, not cock, and keep things civilized for everyone!
When you put it like that, I can't help thinking too much-the prince castrates himself every day.
"That wouldn't be enough to eat." Tang Zhuyun shook all over as she held back her laughter.
Song Cui'er said, "Good heavens, what a life that must be. Cousin, take me with you to enjoy the good life. I promise I'll do everything you say, really. I'm very obedient, and I'm capable too!"
Capable of taking on the Prince of Jin? Tang Zhuyun asked the question from the depths of her soul.
If Song Cui'er could take on the Prince of Jin, Tang Zhuyun would send her over even if she had to pay her dowry herself.
But she didn't dare promise Song Cui'er anything. After all, she couldn't deliver, and as things stood, Song Cui'er wasn't a thoroughly wicked person.
There was nothing wrong with a girl making plans for herself and hoping to marry into a good family.
"I can't make that decision," Tang Zhuyun said seriously. For the sake of Song Cui'er's honesty, she would go easy on her for now.
To her surprise, Song Cui'er looked unconvinced. "Cousin, you're afraid I'll compete with you for his favor, aren't you?"
Tang Zhuyun said, "...How about this? If you really want to, ask the prince. If he agrees, I can bring you along as easily as anyone else. All right?"
She didn't believe Song Cui'er would have the nerve to approach the Prince of Jin.
After all, even a flourishing white lotus like Ruan Anruo had wilted on the spot when faced with the Prince of Jin's murderous gaze, which rivaled paraquat.
But she had overlooked the power of love.
One day, the Prince of Jin returned to find Song Cui'er pacing back and forth outside his door, looking anxious and nervous.
"What are you doing here?" Song Jingyang stepped forward and asked.
Song Cui'er said, "You're Brother Song, right? We even share a surname!"
Song Jingyang said, "...Tell me what you're doing here!"
Song Cui'er looked up and cast a shy glance at the Prince of Jin. "I'm looking for the prince."
The Prince of Jin was cloaked in the setting sun and its rosy glow, like a heavenly god descending to earth. She thought that Erlang Shen in heaven was probably just as handsome.
Erlang Shen paid her no attention, but the Heavenly Hound took issue.
"What do you want with the prince?"
Song Cui'er was displeased too. "I'm looking for the prince. Why do you keep getting in my way? I'm not looking for you."
Seeing that she didn't seem quite right in the head, the Prince of Jin stepped toward the door, with no intention of paying her any mind.
Song Cui'er grew anxious. "Your Highness, I came to ask whether you'd mind my cousin having an extra dowry maid. Not replacing one, but adding another. Would that be all right with you?"
She was clever!
The Prince of Jin might be picky about a replacement, but only a fool would turn down an extra one!
Song Jingyang's knees buckled, and he nearly fell.
The Prince of Jin reached the doorway and turned back. Looking at her, he said, enunciating every word, "Say that again!"
Intimidated by his imposing manner, Song Cui'er hesitated for a long while before stammering, "I, I'm h-helping my c-cousin ask..."
She was so frightened she was about to wet herself, so she could only bring up Tang Zhuyun.
"What else did that good cousin of yours say?" A layer of frost was practically about to flake off the Prince of Jin's face.
"C-Cousin said that if you a-agreed, she'd take me to the prince's residence."
"What else did she say?" The Prince of Jin clenched his hands at his sides, the veins at his temples throbbing.
Song Jingyang thought, Quick, go drag Tang Zhuyun here and give her a beating! Not beating her over this really wouldn't be manly. She's trying to palm off any crooked melon or cracked date on him. Who's she trying to insult?
Song Cui'er thought about it. Tang Zhuyun didn't seem to have said anything else.
But that wouldn't do. The Prince of Jin was so angry; she had to say something pleasant.
An idea struck her. "C-Cousin said they slaughter a chicken at the prince's residence every day."
The Prince of Jin gestured for Song Jingyang to send her away.
A short while later, Song Jingyang returned, rubbing his fists. "Your Highness, let's go settle accounts with Tang Zhuyun now!"
The Prince of Jin sneered. "There's no rush. Let her have a good rest. We'll go tomorrow!"
Tang Zhuyun, who was telling the two children a story, sneezed twice in a row and cursed inwardly that the old hag must be badmouthing her again.
Linlin said, "Auntie, when is Great-grandmother leaving? I hate her!"
Yanran said, "Big Sister, I don't like her either. She's always bullying you."
"It's all right. Let her stay a few more days."
Tang Zhuyun couldn't act yet. She had to consider Tang Mingfan's feelings. She had to put up with the old hag for a month, at least. Once the old hag's antics gave Tang Mingfan such a headache that it outweighed his filial piety, Tang Zhuyun would make her move.
"Big Sister, why don't you move in with Father? She's afraid of him," Yanran said.
But Linlin objected. "No, Auntie isn't going to marry your father!"
Yanran was on the verge of tears.
Tang Zhuyun was wondering how to comfort her when Linlin took Yanran's hand and said very seriously, "Don't be afraid. My auntie won't marry anyone. When you grow up, you can marry me, and then we'll be family with Auntie."
Tang Zhuyun said, "..."
Good lad, you've got a bright future!