Zhou Xu's attitude left Tang Zhuyun speechless.
However, the matter was not yet confirmed. She couldn't very well say, "You are the prince's half-sister, so you must maintain your status and not make things difficult for yourself."
Difficult, it's really difficult.
But thinking about it, the investigation shouldn't take long, so she stopped trying to persuade her and just told her to be careful.
After Zhou Xu left, Xiu'er said, "Your Majesty, I can't look her in the eye now."
"What's wrong?"
"If she were the prince's sister, and she were to seduce some old geezer... Good heavens, that's absolutely outrageous."
Tang Zhuyun sighed, "Regardless of whether she is the prince's sister or not, she has truly suffered for many years."
Let's not dwell on the past; the most urgent task is to find out Concubine Yu's identity as soon as possible.
Xiu'er sat on her chair, resting her chin on her hand, and said, "I don't know if it's because I keep thinking about that, but I'm starting to feel that Zhou Xu is more and more like a prince?"
How is it similar?
"Ruthless."
"No, I didn't," Tang Zhuyun denied. "The Prince is very well."
"That's not a fair assessment," Xiu'er said. "Anyway, I think it does look somewhat like it."
Tang Zhuyun pouted. "If we're talking about resemblance, they all look like their own fathers, and have nothing to do with Concubine Yu."
Xiu'er: "... It seems so."
Just then, Linlin entered.
Tang Zhuyun tentatively asked him, "Linlin, do you... know?"
Linlin: "I've guessed a little. Mother, she knew. Her reaction to us shows that she knew, but she just wanted to keep it a secret."
Tang Zhuyun nodded. "It doesn't seem like she's playing hard to get, but we can't let our guard down. I'll test her a bit these next few days."
"No," Linlin volunteered, "I'll go. I'm still a child; she won't be as wary of me."
Tang Zhuyun thought for a moment and then nodded, "That's fine."
Linlin then asked, "Mother, do you intend to tell Father about this?"
"I won't tell him for now," Tang Zhuyun said. "Let's wait until the truth comes out before telling him, so he doesn't get his hopes up for nothing."
Xiu'er muttered softly, "Are you sure that even if the truth comes out, it will make the prince happy?"
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
How sad he must be to know the suffering and humiliation his birth mother endured.
Linlin replied, "That's all temporary. It would be good if we could be reunited for a long time in the future."
Just like back then, didn't he also have many grievances against his mother?
But later, my mother changed, and everything was fine.
First, you need people; only then can you have hope.
"Linlin is right," Tang Zhuyun said, "I feel guilty because I still have to keep it from your father."
Xiu'er: "I think they'll be exposed sooner or later."
"You talk too much." Tang Zhuyun glared at her. "If you give yourself away, I'll deduct your monthly salary."
Linlin laughed beside her.
Xiu'er: "You should quickly think about the important matter at hand, how to investigate without being discovered by the Prince or the Zhou Family."
Tang Zhuyun said, "I'll cover for Your Highness, but investigating without leaving a trace will definitely require some effort."
Lin Lin said Linlin, "Didn't the Zhou Family invite you to go on a spring outing?"
Two days ago, Old Madam Zhou sent out invitations, inviting people from the Prince's Mansion to go on a spring outing together.
It is said that this is a tradition of the Zhou Family in recent years; every spring and summer, they organize a grand spring outing.
However, the difference is that in the past, the Zhou Family was in charge, but now they have to be mindful of the Prince's wishes.
"If you can make contact, you can leave this matter to Sister Xiu'er and Yanran."
A top-tier social genius has spawned a younger generation of social geniuses who are constantly surpassing their predecessors.
Xiu'er immediately agreed, "Okay, watch me!"
She'll take care of it as long as there's an opportunity to make contact.
"I'll go talk to Yanran," Linlin said. "I'll give her all the necessary instructions, Mother, please don't worry."
Tang Zhuyun was pleased, but then she wondered—what was she doing?
It feels so good to be useless.
Meanwhile, Concubine Yu's suicide attempt made Zhou Xu realize that there wasn't much time left.
She needs to hurry.
Late at night, Zhou Xu, dressed in a light gauze, leaned against the headboard, idly filing her nails. Her two long, white, and straight legs were crossed over the edge of the bed, exuding a seductive and alluring charm.
Wu Zhenhai pushed open the door and entered, only to be met with this scene that made one's blood boil.
He slammed the door shut behind him, his voice hoarse. "You little vixen, causing trouble again!"
"Who caused trouble?" Zhou Xu asked. "Didn't I invite you to come find me?"
Wu Zhenhai's rationality was instantly shattered.
Zhou Xu deliberately provoked him, pulling the negligible red veil closer and saying, "Oh, I forgot, this is my boudoir. You wouldn't dare."
Bullshit, what is he afraid of?
Wu Zhenhai, loosening his belt, pounced on him.
Zhou Xu tried to speak, but he covered her mouth.
Zhou Xu's eyes were filled with mockery, which deeply provoked Wu Zhenhai...
Even the moon in the sky was shy, and it pulled a wisp of cloud aside to hide.
The branches swayed gently, and the large red lantern at the entrance flickered, casting dappled light and shadow.
--This was just hung up by Zhou Xu today.
If you want to seduce someone, then you need to do all the homework from beginning to end.
This tactic, at least against Wu Zhenhai, has proven effective time and again.
"What did you call me here for?" Wu Zhenhai, fastening his belt, glanced at Zhou Xu, who lay sprawled on the ground seemingly oblivious, and said irritably, "I'll die on you sooner or later."
"I heard that Her Highness the Princess has a very popular kidney-tonifying pill in the capital. I'll try to get some for you another day."
Wu Zhenhai: "Shut up, let's get down to business!"
"Nothing important, I just want it." Zhou Xu bent her right knee and scratched it.
Wu Zhenhai: "... What kind of person do you take me for!"
"Uncle Wu, if you can't afford it, just say so. It's easier for me to find someone else inside or outside the courtyard."
"Are you looking for a beating?" Wu Zhenhai approached, making a move as if to hit her.
However, his gaze gradually shifted, settling on her bluish knees.
He didn't make her kneel just now...
"You got punished again?" Wu Zhenhai sat down by the bed and gently rubbed her skin with his large hands.
No wonder she suddenly wanted to find me; it turns out she had been wronged, but she was too stubborn to say anything.
They're such a pitiful little thing.
What kind of person is her stepmother?!
Wu Zhenhai felt that his decision to remain unmarried all these years, preventing his children from falling into the hands of other women, was truly brilliant.
"It's nothing, I'm used to it," Zhou Xu said. "Luckily, I only knelt for two hours, and the sun wasn't too strong today. Otherwise, I would have gotten a tan, and I wouldn't have liked it."
Wu Zhenhai: "..."
Your knees are so swollen, and you're still worried about getting a tan.
"What did you do to offend those women?"
"Do they need a reason to punish me?" Zhou Xu said. "Forget it, let's not talk about them, it's bad luck. I'm hungry."
If she were to cry and complain, Wu Zhenhai would surely think she was feigning sympathy; but her nonchalant attitude only made him feel uneasy.
"Would you like some snacks?"
"Yes, but I don't want to eat that. I want your clear broth noodles."
Old Cabbage Stalk, has excellent cooking skills.
These are traces left by his humble origins—he had previously worked as a kitchen helper in a restaurant for several years.
"I can't do it, this is your home," Wu Zhenhai said irritably.
Zhou Xu: "Never mind then, let's just go hungry."
Wu Zhenhai: "..."
Seriously, did he dig up her family's ancestral grave in his past life? He's destined to be tormented by her like this in this life.