Qingfeng collapsed to the ground, drenched in sweat as if he had been pulled from the water, his mind filled with only one thought— the Prince of Jin was too terrifying.
Even though he already suspected his master, he still dared to use such extreme measures.
The fact that the Prince of Jin was not afraid of the people behind him was what truly inspired fear.
Qingfeng was put back unharmed, but he felt as if he had been skinned alive and lay in bed for several days.
After seeing Madam Song off, Tang Zhuyun planned to deal with Ruan Anruo.
She had to act quickly. Tang Baixin told her that the investigation into the cheating in the imperial examinations had made some progress and was in its later stages. So, before her cousin Ruan Anruo fell into misfortune, she had to get Ruan Anruo on the same boat and suffer with him, so that she wouldn't be like a toad, always jumping around in front of her.
For something as shady as this, we need Qingfeng's help.
However, given that Prince of Jin is omnipresent, Tang Zhuyun sent Xiu'er to deliver a message to Qingfeng this time.
Xiu'er was quick on her feet; she returned soon after delivering the letter and said, "Miss, Qingfeng was so excited to see me."
Why are you so excited?
"Shaking all over."
Tang Zhuyun: "He was trembling all over! What an exaggeration. Did he read the letter and say anything?"
He said he would arrange it as soon as possible.
"That's fine."
Tang Zhuyun asked Qingfeng to check if Ruan Anruo's cousin frequented brothels, and to let her know if he found out.
"Girl, I also got a bag of candied hawthorn!" Xiu'er said happily. "I didn't know running errands had such benefits."
Tang Zhuyun smiled and said, "Since you're so willing, I'll send you somewhere else."
Xiu'er happily agreed.
This time, Tang Zhuyun sent her to the Duke Meng's Residence.
She repeatedly instructed, "You must say this only after you've met Miss Meng and are alone with her. And you mustn't mention this to anyone else, not even your mother, understand?"
Xiu'er replied, "Don't worry, I won't tell even if a knife is held to my throat! Which man have you taken a fancy to this time?"
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
She tapped Xiu'er on the head. "Can't I have something important to do? Go tell Miss Meng that Jiang Beihan is back."
Xiu'er muttered, "Isn't this a man's job? Don't lead Miss Meng astray..."
Tang Zhuyun really wanted to give her a good beating. "Go now!"
After Xiu'er left, Tang Zhuyun led her two children in practicing boxing and reading, enjoying the rare tranquility after Madam Song's departure.
During breaks, she led them to catch insects to feed the chickens. Linlin felt different after practicing martial arts, and she "showed off her skills" in the yard, chasing the rooster with the best-looking tail so hard that it ran away in a panic, its feathers flying everywhere.
Tang Zhuyun was speechless; a man's infatuation is always so fleeting.
Before, people were begging her to buy chickens; now, she's chasing chickens like crazy.
Yanran watched with a smile, clapping her hands and cheering from time to time. "Brother Linlin, over there, over there!"
If she hadn't been wearing new shoes today and was worried about stepping in chicken droppings, she would have gone along too.
Of course, the main reason was that Tang Zhuyun wouldn't allow it.
"Look at you, you've gotten so tanned!" Tang Zhuyun said truthfully. "Let's go play when the sun isn't so strong."
Yanran's health improved day by day, and her appetite increased, but as a girl, looking good is also important!
Yanran stayed obediently beside her, then suddenly asked, "Sister, when will you marry my father?"
Tang Zhuyun nearly choked while chewing on a hawthorn dumpling. After a long while, she said, "Didn't we agree on this?"
"But," Yanran said, feeling wronged, "It will be a long, long time before I grow up and marry Brother Linlin, while you can marry my father right now."
Tang Zhuyun: Although I like you very much, marrying your father is too much of a sacrifice!
But why did Yanran suddenly bring this up again?
The little guy hugged his knees, looking aggrieved. "Because my father asked me again yesterday when I planned to return to the palace, saying that it's inconvenient for him to be here..."
Although Tang Zhuyun was reluctant to part with it, she knew that all good things must come to an end.
Yanran is, after all, the daughter of the Prince of Jin; this doesn't make sense.
But when she tried to persuade Yanran to go back, no matter how much she promised to visit her in the future, Yanran would break down in tears.
Tang Zhuyun was heartbroken by her crying and had no choice but to compromise without any principles.
"Sister, please go and tell Father that I'm not leaving, okay?"
Tang Zhuyun: I don't want to deal with your father either...
"Okay."
After a while, Xiu'er returned and said as soon as she saw me, "Sister Lüzhu, who serves Miss Meng, gave me a huge handful of money, more than thirty pieces!"
"And Miss Meng? Is she very happy?"
After much anticipation, the person I've been longing for has finally returned, and even I, an outsider, am thrilled.
"Speaking of which, I'm puzzled," Xiu'er said, squatting down. "Miss Meng said she already knows, and her eyes are swollen from crying. Miss, what exactly happened? She's unhappy about it."
Tang Zhuyun: "You don't understand, this is called crying tears of joy."
"Oh," Xiu'er said, "Alright, whatever, as long as you're happy, I'm happy too. I'm going to give the money to my mother!"
Tang Zhuyun watched the two little ones running around in the yard, and thought to herself, "If Meng Yulan and Jiang Beihan want to be together in the end, they still have to dispel the Emperor's idea of bestowing a marriage upon them."
However, being with the one you love means facing even the most difficult challenges head-on.
She wished them well and cheered them on, hoping they would achieve a great victory against the Prince of Jin.
However, the thought of facing off against the Prince of Jin still made Tang Zhuyun's scalp tingle. She was worried about Meng Yulan, but also relieved that she didn't have to face the Great Demon King herself.
Unbeknownst to her, the Prince of Jin was currently looking at the letter she had written to Qingfeng, his face ashen.
Has she now set her sights on Ruan Anruo's cousin?
This woman truly lives up to her reputation as a lovesick fool!
Doesn't she like Qingfeng? Having her lover act as a pimp for her? Is her brain just full of tofu pudding?
Qingfeng's servant knelt on the ground, too intimidated by the Prince of Jin's imposing presence to utter a word.
"Go back and tell him to do as Tang Zhuyun said."
The servant, feeling as if he had been granted a pardon, repeatedly agreed and hurriedly left.
The Prince of Jin sneered; he wanted to see what Tang Zhuyun was up to.
During their time together, he hadn't actually noticed Tang Zhuyun's infatuation.
However, each and every one of the things she did solidified her reputation, proving that it was not unfounded.
Song Jingyang muttered from the side, "How can she fall in love with every guy she sees! But she hasn't succeeded with the prince either, so why is she just ignoring him?"
Prince of Jin: "... And what about the Huaishang?"
He hoped his trusted lieutenant would return as soon as possible, at least to advise Song Jingyang not to speak so recklessly.
Song Jingyang hurriedly replied, "Your Highness, we should arrive in the capital in the next couple of days."
"Um."
After two days of rain, the sun finally came out. Tang Zhuyun was buying groceries on the street when suddenly several people rode by on horseback. Their hooves splashed water, wetting her skirt and shoes.
"Are you in such a hurry to be reincarnated?" Tang Zhuyun retorted angrily.
Meanwhile, the rider probably realized his mistake, reined in his horse, and looked at Tang Zhuyun, asking, "Miss, are you alright?"