And so, Zhou Xu temporarily settled in the Prince's residence.
Then, every day I watched Yanran walk the tiger and the gecko, catch koi and parrots... and Ren Yingying and Dog Meat, chasing each other... Xiu'er's mouth never spared anyone...
The entire palace was in chaos.
This is absolutely addictive!
The old lady was in a state of "seclusion" and rarely went out, but when she saw Zhou Xu, she felt as if she had found her pillar of support and was very happy.
No one told her anything unnecessary, lest she worry and be afraid.
After resting for four or five days, Zhou Xu was fully recovered. She told Tang Zhuyun that she would return to the Zhou Residence the next day.
The sun was warm, and she was sunbathing in the yard with two pregnant women. She felt that the sun had never been so bright.
A day in heaven is equivalent to a year on earth.
For her, a day in the Prince's mansion was half a lifetime of joy.
In just a few days, I developed a strong desire for it.
"What are you doing standing there?" Tang Zhuyun asked with a smile, "Sit down and have some snacks."
"Your Highness, you can't eat anymore!" Xiu'er noticed Tang Zhuyun picking up another piece. "Aren't you high on sugar?"
She remembered what Ren Yingying had found during her examination.
Tang Zhuyun said, "It's for her, I know what I'm doing!"
Xiu'er rolled her eyes.
Forget it, let's give the Empress some face in front of others and not expose her.
Zhou Xu smiled and said, "I'd like to see when the Crown Princess will arrive."
"She's still early," Tang Zhuyun said. "She's usually quite active at night, so she usually doesn't sleep until noon."
Once again, I envy Ren Yingying's carefree life.
The men are deeply in love, the children are well-behaved, yet I still envy the happiness of being single.
Qu Nian:???
"The Crown Princess's dog is quite interesting," Zhou Xu said with a smile. "I wonder if it's a male or a female?"
"A male dog," Tang Zhuyun said.
It was a male dog with boobs; she had learned something new, as she hadn't recognized one before.
Ren Yingying mentioned it in her letter, and then this time she even caught Dog Meat on the spot to show her...
Tang Zhuyun: It's plain and unremarkable; there's nothing interesting about it.
Qu Nian: If you mention it again, I'll kill myself.
Because of that Poisonous Woman Ren, his suicide threshold is getting higher and higher.
I reckon I'll develop an invulnerable skin by now.
"After mating, can I get a puppy?"
Zhou Xu spoke up because she felt she wouldn't be rejected.
After a few days, she observed their expressions and concluded that Tang Zhuyun and Ren Yingying were both extremely easygoing people.
"That probably won't work."
Zhou Xu suddenly felt nervous. Had she been too presumptuous?
Then Tang Zhuyun said, "Dog Meat is useless."
Zhou Xu:???
He doesn't look like it; he looks quite fierce.
"Yingying has tried many female dogs, but nothing works. Now we've given up on treatment."
Zhou Xu: "I just feel that Dog Meat is very spiritual. Could it be because it only likes its own kind?"
"The same kind?" Xiu'er said, "Isn't it a dog? Why is it being so picky?"
"Maybe they just want one breed of dog."
Tang Zhuyun said that Zhou Xu had provided an idea, which she would then share with Ren Yingying.
"If it really works out in the future, make her thank you with a dog!" Tang Zhuyun agreed on Ren Yingying's behalf.
Zhou Xu: The Princess Consort always speaks in such an interesting way.
Qu Nian: Give up, you foolish women! Absolutely not!
Just then, Yanran came in, covered in sweat from running.
After sending Lady Deng away, she felt she had done a great service and indulged herself for the past few days.
"My dear ancestor," Xiu'er stood up, took a handkerchief to wipe her sweat, and then complained that her clothes were dirty, "Where on the ground have you been rolling around this time?"
"Sanbao's cow is about to give birth!" Yanran exclaimed excitedly. "I'm going to watch the excitement; I should prepare some gifts first."
Sanbao is a friend she recently made.
It's funny, really. The Sanbao family was a well-known wealthy family in the area, which is why they could afford to live in such a large house.
But when they first met, Yanran asked Sanbao, "What does your family do?"
Sanbao: "A cowherd."
Yanran: I need to take extra care of this friend; she comes from a poor family.
It was only later that they discovered that Sanbao's family owned several hundred cows and a thousand horses.
Yanran: Please take care of my poor friend.
When they heard that she was going to give a gift to the calf, everyone was speechless.
Tang Zhuyun: "Never heard of it."
Yanran said matter-of-factly, "The cow gave birth, shouldn't I give a gift?"
Tang Zhuyun thought for a moment, "How about two catties of brown sugar?"
Xiu'er: "For ordinary families, having a baby isn't that expensive!"
Brown sugar is so expensive!
Yanran: "Okay, give me two catties of brown sugar!"
Then when the maid came out after finding the brown sugar, she went in and wrote a crooked word "hi" on the paper, then ran away happily carrying the brown sugar.
"I wonder if that cow is going to give birth or breed," Xiu'er complained.
Tang Zhuyun laughed loudly, and Zhou Xu laughed along with her.
She thought to herself, "The child in Tang Zhuyun's belly is so lucky."
To be born with such a tolerant and loving mother, and a harmonious and happy family, is something many people envy.
Ren Yingying arrived late for lunch as expected.
She caused a ruckus as soon as she arrived, and the whole Zidu became joyful.
However, Zhou Xu knew that Tang Zhuyun had a habit of taking a midday nap, so after finishing her meal, she got up to say goodbye and returned to her own courtyard.
She leaned against the table and thought about the Zhou Family for a while, only to feel her heart, which had gradually warmed over the past few days, slowly cooling down.
If you're not cold-hearted and ruthless, you can't deal with them!
"Miss, are you there?" The maid gently knocked on the courtyard gate.
Zhou Xu gathered her thoughts, looked in the mirror and smiled—she tried hard to fit in, and the masters in the Prince's mansion's backyard were never stern-faced.
After calming herself down, she let the person in.
The young maidservant, clutching a piece of silver, said cautiously, "Miss, there's a man outside who asked me to bring you a note."
Zhou Xu frowned immediately.
Does the Prince's mansion still have such unruly maids?
The maidservant continued, "I asked Xiu'er, and she told me to ask you what to do."
Zhou Xu was surprised, then asked, "What is Madam Song like usually?"
"Xiu'er Xiuer said," the little maid said, "As long as it's not about deceiving superiors or subordinates, we shouldn't refuse free money."
Zhou Xu chuckled to herself; these were indeed words that Xiu'er would say.
Give me the note, and you can keep the money.
The maid was immediately delighted and said repeatedly, "Thank you, Miss. That gentleman said he's waiting for you at the Dingfeng Teahouse by the back gate, and asked you to come out when it's convenient for you. Sister Xiu'er said it's up to you to decide on this matter."
"Okay, go ahead."
As the maidservant left, the smile on Zhou Xu's face gradually faded.
She opened the note in her hand; it contained a sentence.
--The flowers are blooming along the path; you may slowly return home.
The handwriting was neat and elegant, like a woman's.
Following behind was a name written in a crooked, illegible hand: Wu Zhenhai.
"Pah!" Zhou Xu spat.
The walls of the Prince's mansion were too high for him to jump over, and fearing his legs would be broken, Wu Zhenhai panicked.
However, she was also very clear-headed. Wu Zhenhai was thinking not only about her health, but probably more about how she had established a relationship with the Prince of Jin's Residence.
Haha, men.