It's fake, so fake.
Sometimes, overacting can be embarrassing.
Tang Zhuyun, at least, felt that the two sisters were overacting and their performances were very stiff.
Xiu'er didn't understand, but because there were so many people around, she didn't ask.
Yanran acted like the hostess, leading a group of girls around ten years old to play by the lake, where laughter and cheerful voices could be heard from time to time.
The older folks all sat around Tang Zhuyun's side.
Tang Zhuyun was all smiles and had no airs at all.
However, no one dared to relax and remained respectful.
Zhou Xu tried to cause trouble several times, but Zhou Fu suppressed her each time, and so all was well and peaceful.
Just as Tang Zhuyun was about to lead everyone to see the play, a commotion suddenly broke out on Yanran's side.
A moment later, an old woman rushed over. "Your Highness, Your Highness, a young maid has fainted and is convulsing uncontrollably. It seems she has an epileptic seizure... The girl says she's afraid to move her. Please go and take a look."
Those unaware of the situation couldn't help but wonder, why seek out the princess instead of a doctor?
Could it be that the princess can cure illnesses and save lives?
However, the Zhou Family family knew—they had found out about Tang Zhuyun much earlier.
A fleeting, almost imperceptible glint of anticipation flashed in Zhou Xu's eyes.
However, she quickly added, "She's just a little maid who's had epilepsy; just kick her out."
"Shut up!" Zhou Fu said, unable to bear it any longer. "Eighth Sister, watch your words!"
Her face was ashamed, and she knelt down to pay her respects, saying, "Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
Tang Zhuyun ignored her and led the group towards the lake.
The girl who fell ill was six or seven years old, one of the girls who had been rescued from Yangqu earlier.
Tang Zhuyun calmly dealt with the situation, examined the girl again, took the silver needles from Xiu'er, and inserted several needles into the girl's head and arms.
Everyone was somewhat frightened when they saw how long the silver needle was.
Seeing Tang Zhuyun calmly and methodically "make her move," they were even more dumbfounded.
The maid woke up quickly and turned pale with fright when she saw Tang Zhuyun.
"Mother, Your Majesty..."
What's wrong with her? Did she do something wrong?
Why did you alarm the Empress?
She didn't want to leave; she loved the Prince's Mansion.
Tang Zhuyun said gently, "It's nothing, you just fainted."
Everyone: "..."
They all saw that the child was foaming at the mouth, his face was turning purple, and he looked terrifying.
Why is it being spoken of so lightly when it comes to the Princess Consort?
"It's alright," Tang Zhuyun said with a smile. "Come to my room with Jiang'er later for some steamed buns."
The young maidservant didn't quite understand, but she still obediently nodded.
Tang Zhuyun was helped to her feet and said with a smile, "I'm alright now, let's go see a play."
After sitting down, Old Madam Zhou, "Your Highness, isn't it a bit inappropriate to keep this little maid in the manor?"
Tang Zhuyun smiled and said, "It's alright, they'll be fine when they grow a little older. I'm a doctor myself, I know what I'm doing."
Since she said that, no one else felt comfortable saying anything more.
At this moment, Zhou Xu quietly got up, found the maid beside her, asked for directions to the outhouse, and then left her seat.
Xiu'er secretly squeezed Tang Zhuyun's hand.
Tang Zhuyun nodded silently, but her expression remained unchanged, and she continued to chat and laugh with everyone.
Not long after, a cry of surprise suddenly came from afar.
Xiu'er said, "Someone, go and take a look!"
I knew something unexpected would happen today, but I didn't expect there to be so many.
Zhou Fu suddenly said, "I'll go take a look too. I hear that Eighth Sister's voice!"
Tang Zhuyun's mind raced.
Could it be that Zhou Xu went to stop the Prince of Jin?
It seemed the sound was coming from outside.
However, this time, she guessed wrong.
The crowd quickly gathered around Zhou Xu and her sister.
Zhou Xu's appearance shocked everyone.
She covered her forehead with a handkerchief, Zidu was stained red with blood.
"What's wrong?" Xiu'er asked.
Did he hit his head on a hard rock in the latrine?
Or perhaps she tried to seduce the prince and got beaten up by him?
Zhou Xu, however, was too preoccupied with crying to answer her.
"Grandma, Grandma, I'm disfigured! I'm disfigured!" she cried, her voice breaking with anguish.
Xiu'er thought to herself, "Stop wailing. Even if you're not disfigured, do you think the prince will give you a second glance?"
They're both equally ugly.
Zhou Xu's maid knelt on the ground and said, "Eighth Miss, you accidentally tripped and fell, hitting your forehead on a stone, that's why..."
Tang Zhuyun: You want to use this method to make the Prince's Mansion take responsibility?
If that's really the case, they've really gone all out!
How important appearance is to a woman.
Even if I'm not trying to please anyone, I feel comfortable just looking at myself!
Moreover, this was an era when men were superior to women, and women were expected to serve men with their beauty.
This Zhou Xu, Xu is either out of her mind or playing a grand game.
Tang Zhuyun said, "Someone, take Eighth Miss Zhou to the room next door. Xiu'er, have someone fetch my medicine box and prepare some warm water."
Although Xiu'er was reluctant and wished Zhou Xu would suffer more, she still ordered people to prepare.
Everyone followed them towards that room.
Zhou Xu suddenly said, "Go, all of you go. Don't think I don't know, you all can't stand to see me doing well..."
This is late-stage paranoia, and Tang Zhuyun says the disease is incurable.
Zhou Fu said, "Eighth Sister, please don't be like this. No one is laughing at you. Or, I'll stay with you and calm down, okay? The Princess Consort is pregnant and is helping you with your injury. You can't say such hurtful things..."
Tang Zhuyun remained silent.
Zhou Xu cried out, "Don't think I don't know! It must be you, afraid that I'd become the prince's concubine and surpass you. Maybe you even bribed my maid, wasn't you?"
Her maid knelt on the ground, repeatedly kowtowing and denying it.
Seeing this, Tang Zhuyun said, "Alright, don't delay the treatment. I'll take a look at her, you all wait outside."
Zhou Xu said, "You won't genuinely heal my injuries, so don't pretend."
Tang Zhuyun sneered, "I'm just afraid that you'll bring bad luck if you die in the Prince's mansion."
No one expected her to be so assertive, and for a moment they were speechless.
Zhou Xu was also pushed inside.
Tang Zhuyun led Xiu'er and two old women from the Prince's mansion inside.
Two old women were supporting, or rather, pressing down on, Zhou Xu.
However, after Zhou Xu entered the room, although she continued to curse, she did not put up a fierce resistance.
Tang Zhuyun had a vague guess in her heart.
She told the old woman to go out and prepare hot water and a change of clothes.
As soon as the two went outside, Zhou Xu grabbed her hand, her fierce expression vanishing and replaced by pleading eyes.
"Continue—" Tang Zhuyun said calmly.
Regardless of whether Zhou Xu was genuinely surrendering or had ulterior motives, she had to test him.
"Your Highness, if you harm me, the Prince will not be able to explain to my grandfather!"
"Your grandfather is a subordinate of the Prince," Tang Zhuyun said coldly. "For your own life, you'd better shut up now. Don't think that I, the Princess Consort, have a good temper!"