Yanran took Wu Yu home.
Cui Xiaoqiu reminded him to have someone follow the direction Wu Zhenhai had left in and tell him the news.
Because Wu Yu had a fever, he was temporarily taken back to the Prince's Palace.
On the way back, Mingzhu asked Cui Run to take care of Wu Yu, but did not bring him to her carriage.
Cui Run readily agreed.
Mingzhu leaned against the side of the carriage, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
But she was adamant that just as a horse doesn't eat the grass it has already grazed, she wouldn't gnaw on leftover Old Cabbage Stalk either.
Although Wu Yu is pitiful, she wasn't the one who started it all, so she doesn't need to feel guilty or act like a saint.
As long as he is safely returned, he will be well taken care of by maids and servants.
Mingzhu kept her distance and did not have much contact with Wu Yu.
Wu Yu was frightened and couldn't speak clearly. No matter how you asked him what happened, he wouldn't say.
Yanran said, "I think he's delirious from the fever. Mother, let's give him some medicine and let him get some sleep."
"Food, food, food..." Wu Yu, like a newly hatched chick, treated Yanran like a mother hen, clinging to her and refusing to let go of her sleeve.
Yanran: "There's plenty of food, but could you please let go of me first?"
Wu Yu's eyes were filled with tears, his eyes were red, his lips trembled and he dared not speak. He looked at Yanran with pleading eyes, like an abandoned little lamb.
Yanran helplessly, "Alright, alright, I give up. I won't leave."
Seriously, she absolutely cannot let her two younger brothers grow up like this; she'd be furious.
"Sanbao, Cui Xiaoqiu, you two go back now. We'll play again another day."
Sanbao said naively, "Okay, you can come find me whenever you want to play, I'll leave."
Cui Xiaoqiu, however, did not leave.
Yanran: "Oh, you're staying at my place. Why don't you go back and rest?"
"No need, I think you're bored too, I'll sit with you for a while."
"Alright."
"Cui Xiaoqiu," Yanran couldn't help but complain, "I just wanted to ride a horse in peace, why is there so much trouble!"
Cui Xiaoqiu laughed and said, "Perhaps today has laid the groundwork for something good to come."
Yanran rolled her eyes. "I admire your ability to lie through your teeth and make a dead person sound alive."
He managed to make even the worst day sound wonderful.
Cui Xiaoqiu looked at Wu Yu and said, "Saving Wu Zhenhai's son is a good thing."
"Who knows? Anyway, I feel uncomfortable just thinking about him, ugh!"
Cui Xiaoqiu just smiled and remained silent.
Upon hearing his biological father's name, Wu Yu showed no excitement; instead, he gripped Yanran even tighter.
Yanran glared at him. "Don't try to pin this on me, I'm not your mother."
Wu Yu: "Mother--"
Yanran has gone mad.
Wu Yu went mad, and so did she.
Wu Zhenhai did come looking for him, but Wu Yu refused to go with him and seemed quite frightened.
Wu Zhenhai asked around but got no results. Finally, Prince of Jin came out and, after some discussion, told Wu Yu to stay for the time being until his fever subsided and he recovered before returning to the Wu Family.
Wu Zhenhai thanked the Prince of Jin sincerely and left without looking at his son for long.
Xiu'er and Tang Zhuyun whispered, "Your Majesty, do you think Wu Zhenhai is blind? Mingzhu is so good, yet he still flirts with other women; Wu Shao has shifty eyes, yet he's biased; Wu Yu is exactly like him, yet he acts like he doesn't have this son."
Tang Zhuyun said, "Why do you care what he does? He's not our son-in-law, and I don't think Mingzhu wants to get involved."
She expressed her relief.
A girl who is unusually clear-headed.
Xiu'er said, "We're just idling around anyway!"
"If you're free, keep an eye on Mingzhu and Cui Run, and see if those two are any good."
Xiu'er's eyes widened. "Cui Run?"
"Yeah, do you think he's suitable?"
"Suitable my foot!" Xiu'er said. "You don't want him to marry Mingzhu, do you?"
"What's wrong with him?" Tang Zhuyun asked, puzzled.
She watched coldly, thinking that Cui Run was quite nice.
Xiu'er asked, "Do you know him?"
"It's alright, I guess." Tang Zhuyun suddenly sounded a little unsure of herself.
"He went to live with his widowed mother in the Cui Family. His widowed mother was very competitive and had extremely high expectations of Cui Run."
Tang Zhuyun: "Uh..."
As expected, Xiu'er knew the most.
There's no gossip in the world that can escape Xiu'er's sharp tongue.
"Why doesn't he say it himself? His widowed mother is definitely counting on him to make something of himself."
Tang Zhuyun had some reservations, but she still said fairly, "There's nothing wrong with wanting to stand out from the crowd."
"There's nothing wrong with that, but this kind of person is very good at hiding their true nature," Xiu'er said. "It's not something you can see through in just a few days. It's fine if you have this thought, but you absolutely must help Mingzhu keep a close eye on things."
"What do you mean, 'helping Mingzhu keep an eye on things'?" Ren Yingying asked curiously as she brought in a plate of sliced, chilled watermelon. "Come on, have some watermelon."
Tang Zhuyun and Xiu'er each picked up a slice of watermelon and started eating and talking.
The watermelons here have a sandy texture and are exceptionally sweet.
Ren Yingying was also cracking a melon, listening to the two of them talking.
"You mean Cui Run?" Ren Yingying said. "I really like him. I was even thinking, maybe I could develop a relationship with him!"
Tang Zhuyun: "... You have a man!"
Qu, who was sweltering in the corridor, said, "It's numb."
He always thought dogs that stick their tongues out were incredibly stupid, but now he realizes that if they didn't stick their tongues out, they'd be hot in the summer!
As for Ren Yingying towards men, he was truly numb.
Anyway, it's just a matter of venting; it's not illegal or against the rules, and what's his will remain his.
"Hehe," Ren Yingying said, "I think the two of us standing together look like a perfect match!"
"I'll spit in your face!" Tang Zhuyun cursed. "Tell me the truth, do you really like Cui Run?"
"No," Ren Yingying said. "You understand appreciating handsome men, don't you?"
Tang Zhuyun: "... I don't understand. Okay, that's all for now."
"No, I want to get involved too," Ren Yingying said. "I think Cui Run is quite decisive, not like a mama's boy. Let's observe him. It's not his fault his father died, let's give him a chance."
Tang Zhuyun thought so too.
Xiu'er said, "It's not that we don't want to give him a chance, it's just that we should be on guard in advance. You can't be too careful!"
She'd rather be a villain than see those around her get hurt.
"Yes, Xiu'er is right, time will tell," Tang Zhuyun said. "Anyway, it's just the beginning, let's wait and see."
It's not even close to being done yet!
Ren Yingying said, "I heard Yanran picked up a little husband? I'm going to go see!"
Tang Zhuyun: "What's going on in your head?!"
"Beautiful love."
Qu Nian: I'm numb.
Wu Zhenhai left the Prince's Mansion but did not go home.
Finding Wu Yu brought him a great sense of relief.
Unexpectedly, Wu Yu actually liked the Prince's Mansion...
That's fine too.
He went to the home of a subordinate named Tao Ma.
This subordinate was his confidant. He originally had no name and was called Tao San. Later, because he was skilled at raising and training horses, he was called Tao Ma.
Tao Ma previously looked after Wu Zhenhai's stables, but was later promoted by Wu Zhenhai and became his confidant.
Tao Ma married a woman who was as beautiful as a flower and had a graceful figure. She was called Manniang. Rumors circulated that Wu Zhenhai and Manniang were having an affair.