Tang Zhuyun naturally refused.
Zhou Xu insisted, "Even if I am the prince's sister, I didn't rely on myself. I feel uneasy about it, Your Majesty. Please understand."
She still refuses to change her tune.
Tang Zhuyun shook her head with a wry smile, "It's not that I don't understand you, it's that I can't bear to part with you. You may have heard about my story. The day I finally realized my mistake, I didn't run away. My father and brothers have been good to me, so I'll be good to them in return. Stay."
If we don't leave them behind, who can feel at ease?
This silly girl is pushing herself too hard.
She's ruthless to others, but even more ruthless to herself.
Tang Zhuyun was worried that she had overworked herself physically and mentally.
"I'm actually pretty useless." Zhou Xu lowered her head, her hands unconsciously clenching the hem of her clothes. "Besides making people unhappy and going against them, I really can't do anything else properly."
She was panicked, more panicked than ever before.
All those past events turned her into a hedgehog.
If you hurt me, I will retaliate; even if it means injuring the enemy eight hundred while losing a thousand of my own, I am willing to do it.
Now someone is telling her to live a good life and love her family dearly...
I'm sorry, she really doesn't know how.
She was unlikable and universally disliked.
The mother liked her because of blood ties; the Old Cabbage Stalk was infatuated with her ridiculous background, her young body, and her easygoing nature.
--For men, it is more fulfilling to humiliate a woman of noble birth.
Of course, she didn't have any good intentions towards Wu Zhenhai either.
In short, she felt apprehensive about being asked to stay.
She believed that the princess was beautiful, kind-hearted, and good at comforting people, and would treat her well; but how could she repay her?
Having nothing to repay you with, I can only distance myself for now.
Only when she can help her elder brother, Prince of Jin, one day will she be able to enjoy the kindness of everyone in the Prince's mansion without feeling guilty.
Otherwise, how could she be worthy?
Zhou Xu didn't want Tang Zhuyun to overthink it, so she stammered out her thoughts.
"How could you be so foolish? We're kind to you because of your status, and even more so because we know what kind of person you are."
Zhou Xu gritted her teeth, tears welling up in her eyes.
Good heavens, if this is truly a dream, it's a beautiful dream that I don't want to wake up from.
Let me dream a little longer.
No one held her hand and told her, like a mother or a sister, that she was fine and deserved it.
"To be honest, if Zhou Fu were the prince's own sister, I would find it very difficult to be completely without reservations," Tang Zhuyun said truthfully.
"But she has a very good reputation." Zhou Xu said this with a heavy heart.
Yes, she always mocked Zhou Fu for being hypocritical and two-faced.
But given the choice, who wouldn't want to be the center of attention, a high-and-mighty beauty?
Who wouldn't want to be elegant and graceful, enjoying the praise of others?
As for her, simply surviving was an immense struggle; a wretched existence was the defining characteristic of her life.
She once thought it didn't matter; she was so capable that she could carve out a way to survive for her mother in such a difficult situation, which already made her proud.
But looking back now, does that infamous reputation match her background?
Indeed, people are responsible for everything they do.
There's no escaping it.
"Now that I'm the prince's sister, everything about my past will be exaggerated to an extreme," Zhou Xu said. "I don't want to become a stain on the prince's reputation."
Not at all.
"Your Majesty," Zhou Xu said firmly before Tang Zhuyun could speak again, "Actually, I'm very happy, very happy. With the Prince and you as my support and backup, I'm no longer struggling alone. I'm very happy."
But let this support remain a support.
She decided to leave the mountain as it was; she didn't want to go there, but she found solace in it.
Tang Zhuyun was somewhat perplexed.
A child who is too strong-willed is both heartbreaking and frustrating.
"Your Majesty, I always want to be a useful person; I beg Your Majesty to grant my wish."
Only when she is useful can I feel at ease.
"No one will dig up your past," Tang Zhuyun said. "I'll make sure things are settled for you. Listen carefully to what I have to say first..."
She recounted the story of changing her face and identity.
Zhou Xu listened with disbelief, and couldn't help but touch her face.
It's possible to change your face?
This is truly unbelievable.
"I've heard before that some people can turn a person's face black and change their eyebrows and eyes..." Zhou Xu asked tentatively, "Is this what Your Highness is talking about?"
"No, it's a real face transplant," Tang Zhuyun said. "But now that you mention it, I remember the Prince mentioned that he also used blackened skin to cover his tracks back then..."
She didn't ask any further questions afterward.
This is the originator of minimally invasive tanning!
Zhou Xu said, "I've heard of it before. There's a Master Huang's skilled in this, but I've never met him."
"If you wish to see him, I will ask the Prince later."
Zhou Xu said nervously, "No, no need. It was just something I mentioned casually when you brought it up."
She never imagined that one day, her casual remark would be taken to heart.
She dared not speak again, afraid that if she uttered a sound, tears would uncontrollably stream down her face.
"We'll talk about that later. I'm quite interested too," Tang Zhuyun said with a smile. "What I'm talking about is having someone give you a completely different face. I absolutely trust her, and you can do it too."
Zhou Xu was tempted.
How wonderful it is to completely break away from the past and start a new, happy life...
But reason quickly told her that it was too difficult.
She returned to the Prince's mansion, and then what?
What can she do to help at the Prince's residence?
She's getting old, shouldn't she get married?
The young men that the prince and princess found for her must all be excellent and talented.
But does she, someone who's been repeatedly manipulated and molded by that Old Cabbage Stalk, deserve it?
Becoming a resentful couple is secondary; what if they harbor resentment but dare not speak out, thus creating a rift with the Prince's Mansion?
However, if she doesn't marry, the Prince's mansion will have an old maid, which would only bring shame to the mansion.
Zhou Xu has made it a habit to think ten steps ahead before taking one.
Tang Zhuyun never imagined that this girl would think so far ahead.
"Your Highness, please let me go back first. I feel I can still be of some use, whether to the Zhou Family or Wu Zhenhai, perhaps I can help the Prince in some way."
Tang Zhuyun said seriously, "You may not understand the Prince, but that's alright, we'll take it slowly. I'll tell you what kind of person the Prince is."
The Prince of Jin did not look down on women, so he gladly accepted their help and was proud of it.
However, the Prince of Jin was a true man, so under no circumstances would he accept his own women sacrificing themselves for any benefit.
"... Do you understand? If you were still Zhou Xu, then everything you did would be fine."
"But you are not anymore. You are now the prince's sister. He will also miss you and hope that you can live a peaceful and happy life."
Zhou Xu remained silent for a long time.