Qu Nian gritted her teeth: She just wanted to see other dogs!
He was so frustrated!
That night, Ren Yingying knelt by candlelight and wrote a letter to Tang Zhuyun.
Tangbao, did you know? Male dogs can have little nipples too! And the number can vary, making them hard to spot!
Tangbao, I am a woman who inherited the moon.
Do you think I'm Chang'e?
No, I mean, this place is full of huge pits!
But she kept reading aloud as she wrote, and Qu Nian, who was recuperating in bed, was furious but helpless.
He wondered, wasn't she a fairy?
Why didn't the melodramatic events of the daytime expose her true colors?
Ren Yingying: Tangbao, I'm ready to make a strategic retreat at any time. I'll bring Dog Meat and come to you then!
Tangbao, I've given up hope for love.
Tell me, how did you manage to attack the Prince of Jin?
Why do I feel like I'm stuck with a paramecium whenever I think about being with Qu Nian?
They are highly educated!
Ren Yingying felt that the men of this era were just simple-celled, primitive creatures, whose minds were probably filled with nothing but the dregs of having multiple wives and concubines.
Qu Nian: What is a paramecium?
Ren Yingying continued her rambling: I've noticed that lately my wishes are coming true. I thought about destruction, and the incense burner exploded.
Qu Nian: "..."
Ren Yingying: Sigh, I still have to outwit and outmaneuver people, I'm not writing anymore. Don't worry, the Fighting Buddha is invincible!
However, just as she put down her pen and stood up, she suddenly remembered something and came back to add a few more words.
"I'm not familiar with the palace. A few days ago, when I went to pay my respects to Consort De, who was acting as the Consort De Dowager, I felt like someone was spying on me. Tangbao, if you have anyone in the palace, please ask them for me. My life is at stake."
Qu Nian: It's rare that she still knows my life is more important.
No, that's not the case.
She only loves her dog.
In her heart, this dog's life was far more valuable than her man's.
Tang Zhuyun received this letter as soon as she arrived in the border town.
She first laughed until her stomach hurt – sure enough, wherever Ren Yingying Ren Yingying was, there was laughter, especially that paramecium analogy, which cracked her up.
Then, when her gaze fell on the last sentence, the smile on her face gradually faded.
Consort De, acting as regent for the Phoenix Seal?
What gives Consort De the right to take over the Phoenix Seal again?
Was it not she who recruited Xiao Wu, but rather the Emperor who placed Xiao Wu with her?
Tang Zhuyun had always thought that Consort De had "invited the wolf into the house," but now it seems there might be other possibilities?
Unexpectedly, both the Empress and Xiao Wu died, and the one who had the last laugh was Consort De.
Consort De was born into the Duke Meng's Residence's family and was Meng Yulan's aunt. Her maternal family had declined and she had no support... Moreover, she was old and her beauty had faded. So how did she manage to climb to the top?
In terms of seniority, there are even Imperial Noble Consorts and Virtuous Consorts ahead of her!
Also, although Ren Yingying is silly, she's not really stupid.
Since she said someone was secretly spying on her, she certainly wasn't just making it up.
And who is that? Whose person is it?
Tang Zhuyun felt as if she had overlooked something.
"Your Highness," Xiu'er, lifting the curtain and patting her cloak as she entered, "The wind and sand are really strong here. I just went out for a walk, and it's quite bustling."
Tang Zhuyun put down the letter, looked at her slightly protruding belly, and said, "Be careful, don't let anyone bump into you."
"It's alright," Xiu'er said. "There's a mutton soup and pancake shop next door; it smells amazing. Would you like to try some?"
Tang Zhuyun and she immediately agreed, and Tang Zhujun stood up and said, "Let's go."
After the morning sickness subsided, both of them became big eaters and had to remind each other to control their appetites.
"Yanran, are you coming or not?" Yanran's place wasn't ready yet, so she was temporarily staying in Tang Zhuyun's courtyard.
Yanran yawned and said, "I'm not going, I want to sleep. Just bring me some good food when Mother returns."
Xiu'er blurted out, "Did you go steal chickens last night?"
How did you know?
Xiu'er: "... Really stealing chickens?"
"Really? But I stole our own chickens; I was just practicing!"
Jiang'er, standing beside Tang Zhuyun, glanced at her timidly.
Tang Zhuyun: "Your hobby is quite unique. Did you succeed?"
"It's done! Have the kitchen prepare chicken soup! Mother, please have a taste when you return."
Tang Zhuyun: You're so filial you'll kill your mother.
You stole your mother's things, and now you're being filial to her? Thank you.
The mutton soup and pancake shop is thriving. It has a three-story building and is always packed with people during mealtimes.
Since there were no private rooms, a screen was used to separate Tang Zhuyun and Xiu'er on the third floor near the window.
The steaming, milky-white mutton soup is filled with fragrant mutton and offal, sprinkled with cilantro, and its aroma alone is enough to make your mouth water.
The master and servant ate without even looking up.
"This mutton is delicious, it's a bit like the one that the Prince had sent all the way back to the capital," Xiu'er said, puffing out her cheeks.
"Yeah, I think so too. Xiu'er, don't you think the local customs and culture are very pleasant since we came to the Northwest?"
"The people here are rough and tough, without so many hidden agendas," Xiu'er said. "They're easy to get along with, it's really comfortable."
For example, if she goes out to ask for directions, people will take her there directly; they're incredibly hospitable.
"However," Xiu'er changed the subject, "You won't have it easy either. Those who can deal with the prince are all shrewd and calculating."
Tang Zhuyun: "I'm too lazy to deal with officials' wives; I'm planning to establish a medical school."
She's decided she'll only accept girls.
The world is harsh on them, and she does her best to be kinder to them.
Even a small contribution is a token of goodwill.
"If you don't interact with others, will all the suitors stop swarming around you?" Xiu'er pouted, then poured herself another half bowl of soup and slowly sipped it.
"Whoever has the ability should go," Tang Zhuyun said.
She is not afraid.
Can't you find the unparalleled composure of Dugu Qiubai swordsman in your own man?
"Are you full?" Xiu'er suddenly asked.
Tang Zhuyun was a little confused by her question, "Are you full and ready to pay the bill? Do you need to pee?"
Xiu'er: "No, I was afraid you wouldn't be able to eat if I told you. Since you've finished eating, then I'm going to upset you."
Tang Zhuyun: "... You can't solve this? I'm giving you full authority!"
"Your Majesty, I can do it, but you must also prove yourself! Do you know that after the Xiao Family fell from grace, the Emperor established a governor's office in the border city..."
Tang Zhuyun nodded.
She did know that the current governor of the border city was Zhou Jiyin, an old man in his fifties or sixties, who had come to greet them yesterday.
"Zhou Jiyin has a granddaughter named Zhou Xu. While we were still on our way, Zhou Xu had already declared that she wanted to marry the prince as a concubine."
Tang Zhuyun put down her spoon.
First Zhou Yanhui, then came Zhou Xu.
What? Did she plunder the Zhou Family graves or something? Why are all these people with the surname Zhou coming out to steal her man?
"Is Zhou Yanhui related to Zhou Xu?"
"No, it's just a coincidence that we all have the surname Zhou," Xiu'er said. "I've already inquired about it."
Tang Zhuyun gave her a thumbs up and continued drinking her soup, "I think her vision is a bit limited... Since she's so ambitious, wouldn't it be better to just become a secondary consort? Why bother with being a concubine? It's pathetic."
A barking dog doesn't bite; this kind of idiot is not worth mentioning.
She had some doubts: could the governor's mansion have raised such a daughter?
It just feels out of place.