"Auntie, you have to stay." Zhou Xu hardened her heart, raised her sleeve, revealing the marks left on her wrists from being tied up by Wu Zhenhai last night.
Concubine Yu was terrified.
"Xu'er, is Madam making things difficult for you again?"
Zhou Xu nodded. "She wants to marry me off to a decrepit old man, a peasant, and a fierce one who'll beat you up at the slightest disagreement."
"This won't do, this won't do!" Concubine Yu cried anxiously.
If it weren't for her daughter, she would have died long ago.
The Zhou Family is pushing their daughter into a fire pit!
But this is Zhou Yushan's own flesh and blood, how could he be so heartless!
Xiu'er relayed the message back and was also discussing this matter with Tang Zhuyun.
"Even tigers don't eat their cubs. I've seen plenty of stepmothers who are harsh on their illegitimate daughters, but none this blatant. I think Zhou Yushan definitely doesn't like Zhou Xu either."
Tang Zhuyun said, "That's for sure."
Yanran had already gotten the money from her and happily went to buy koi fish.
"Something's not right, something's just not right," Xiu'er muttered.
"What's wrong?" Linlin as she entered.
Tang Zhuyun smiled and said, "We were talking about the Zhou Family! What brings you here?"
Isn't this the perfect time for him to work hard?
Linlin raised her hand. "I just suffered a minor injury, please give me some medicine, Mother."
There was a cut on the back of his hand, and although it was wrapped in a handkerchief, blood still seeped out.
Tang Zhuyun was startled.
Xiu'er was even more direct. "My goodness, how did this happen!"
"It's nothing, I just suffered a minor injury while sparring with a guard during sword practice recently."
Xiu'er: "You guys are really fighting! A peach wood sword would have been fine!"
Linlin laughed coldly, "Fighting isn't about warding off evil spirits."
Tang Zhuyun examined him and, seeing that the wound wasn't deep, breathed a sigh of relief. She carefully bandaged it and instructed him, "You're not allowed to write or practice swordsmanship for the next few days. We'll talk about it again once the wound has healed."
Linlin nodded. "I'll listen to my mother."
Xiu'er asked, "Does Linlin think that all she can do now is read books?"
Linlin:"..."
"Reading too much will ruin your eyes. Come on, you finally get a break, I need to ask you for a favor."
Linlin: "You say so, no need to beg."
"Help me come up with a few names," Xiu'er muttered. "I can't count on Pei Shen."
Originally, Nanxing was thinking of winning over Pei Shen so that Pei Shen could name their child, since the name Pei Ban was quite sophisticated.
Who knew that what was supposed to be Nanxing bait Nanxing out to be a trap, fed to the dogs, and never to return.
Unreliable!
She couldn't count on this woman whose brain had been ruined by eating carrots.
Tang Zhuyun: "And the ones in my belly, boys and girls, several more, Xiu'er and I will choose."
Linlin: "... Let me go back and think about it carefully."
This is such a serious matter, yet they talk about it like it's nothing, like buying cabbage.
Xiu'er said, "I have many requirements, mainly because the surname is Song, which is too much of a loss for me. You help me think of something that will make others happy without me losing out!"
It's truly good when everyone is happy.
Tang Zhuyun: Sending love! Song Aixin?
Giving roses to others leaves a lingering fragrance on your own hands.
However, knowing that Xiu'er wanted a more cultured name, she silently swallowed her words.
Linlin laughed and said, "You can't say that. If you did, wouldn't people with the surname Wu be unable to come up with names?"
Tang Zhuyun: Acquitted!
She's such a little genius.
"Wu Zhenhai is a decent name," Xiu'er said, "But it's a bit too grand; I'm afraid it won't be able to hold its weight."
Tang Zhuyun felt that Linlin's task would probably not be easy.
Xiu'er said, "Actually, it's alright, just don't be as Xiu'er as me."
Linlin nodded in agreement. "I'll go back and think about it slowly, and then I'll pick a few names for you to choose from."
Speaking of Wu Zhenhai, Tang Zhuyun thought of Zhou Xu.
She asked Linlin, "Have you ever heard of Wu Zhenhai?"
"I've heard of him. He's served the Zhou Residence for many years, always at their beck and call, and is highly valued by Governor-General Zhou."
"I wonder if it's possible to win him over."
Tang Zhuyun had already gotten used to the fact that women here had no say and had almost no influence on men.
But for some reason, she always felt that Zhou Xu was different.
"It probably won't be easy."
Tang Zhuyun didn't hide anything from him and told him about Zhou Xu.
"Well then," Linlin said, "When I have some free time, I'll go visit Concubine Yu first."
Although the relationship seems complicated, it is actually quite easy to sort out.
Zhou Xu wanted to protect Concubine Yu and ensure her own safety, so she chose to attach herself to Wu Zhenhai; while Wu Zhenhai was loyal to Governor-General Zhou, he also had an affair with his granddaughter.
Following the clues, he planned to first determine Concubine Yu was truly insane or feigning madness, whether she was genuinely weak and desperate, or whether she had ulterior motives and had infiltrated the Prince's mansion.
Linlin stayed at Tang Zhuyun's place for a meal, and she even got to eat... grilled koi.
Tang Zhuyun and Xiu'er both felt the taste was not good and only took a small bite.
Yanran sighed as she ate.
Xiu'er said, "Why are you sighing? You've eaten Zidu!"
"One minute I'm heartbroken about losing twenty taels of silver, the next I'm heartbroken about my stomach."
This is absolutely awful!
Linlin replied, "I think it tastes Shang Ke. If you don't like it, you can save it for your brother."
Yanran: "Eat up, we'll share the hardships!"
Tang Zhuyun was amused.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, something terrible has happened!"
Xiu'er put down her chopsticks. "These people, no matter how you teach them, they're hopeless!"
Your mother is the one who's not doing well!
I really want to swear.
"The guest in the manor has hanged himself. Nanny Jing requests your presence."
Tang Zhuyun put down her chopsticks, got up, and walked out.
Just before lunch, the maidservant came to say that Zhou Xu had left the Prince's residence.
Did Concubine Yu hang herself right after she left?
What kind of mess is this?!
Yanran felt a huge weight lifted off her shoulders; at least she wouldn't have to eat that awful fish.
She tugged at Linlin's sleeve and followed her out.
Concubine Yu was discovered shortly after she attempted suicide by hanging, so she was physically unharmed, but her mental state was poor.
She sat on the bed, hugging her pillow, her head bowed, remaining silent no matter what Nanny Jing and the maid beside her said.
She suddenly understood.
Why does she want to live?
She was worried about her daughter, but she had already become a burden to her; she was alive but couldn't help her daughter in any way.
If she were to die, her daughter might be free from the burden and escape that unpleasant marriage.
If she couldn't get rid of it... she felt extremely distressed, but there was nothing she could do to help.
So she chose this path, not wanting to be a burden to her daughter any longer.
As for the rest, no one needs her, and she doesn't want to be a burden to anyone.
Nanny Jing was very upset; she was the one who had been watching over the person, and yet this had happened.
Xiu'er came in and took her hand. "Mother, it's so lucky you were here. If it were someone else, something terrible might have happened."
Linlin knew what she was thinking, and since Nanny Jing treated him with great care, he said, "It's all thanks to you, sir."
Concubine Yu hearing the clear voice.
Linlin felt her intense gaze and looked back calmly.
Concubine Yu seemed startled, but quickly lowered her gaze.
Linlin, being exceptionally intelligent, immediately sensed the difference.
It doesn't make sense; she's so sensitive about herself.
Tang Zhuyun didn't speak, because the moment Concubine Yu looked up, her eyes widened suddenly.
Although she was disfigured, and although her hair had turned gray prematurely and her face was full of suffering, for that brief moment, her expression... was very familiar.
Tang Zhuyun looked at Yanran, who was curiously examining the strips of cloth fluttering from the beam—the bedsheets that Concubine Yu had torn.
"Yanran, you're going to be punished again," Tang Zhuyun said.
Yanran "Ah!" and widened her eyes. "Why?"
She didn't do anything!
Tang Zhuyun clenched her hands at her sides!