So Qu Nian accepted the task—to use the dog's position to supervise and investigate Cui Run.
Because Mingzhu's birthday was approaching, Tang Zhuyun, Xiu'er, and Ren Yingying discussed how to celebrate her birthday.
Ren Yingying said smugly, "I prepared the gift a long time ago."
She has many talented people around her, and they can easily prepare several congratulatory gifts.
Tang Zhuyun: "Then it's yours?"
"We're family!"
The family of wives and concubines lived in harmony.
Qu Nian, you can go in peace.
I heard that Qu Nian's condition hasn't improved much.
Xiu'er said, "I went to see Mingzhu yesterday and brought up this matter with her. From what I heard, she doesn't want to celebrate her birthday anymore."
"Why?" Tang Zhuyun asked, "Afraid that Wu Zhenhai will find out?"
Xiu'er nodded. "That's what I mean."
The fact that they share the same birthdate, and that Mingzhu appeared after Zhou Xu's death, really makes it easy to draw parallels...
After thinking for a moment, Tang Zhuyun had someone summon Mingzhu.
"Your brother and I have discussed it, and his opinion is that we should just do what needs to be done. We don't expect to hide it from him forever; he'll find out sooner or later anyway. Let's just let things take their course and do what we need to do. What do you think?"
Mingzhu said, "Sister-in-law, I dare not take the risk. Wu Zhenhai is a very stubborn person... I'm afraid he'll hold the Prince's Mansion responsible for the fact that I deceived him."
Tang Zhuyun calmly replied, "Even if it's within the Prince's household, this matter was originally something we were supposed to help you with."
Are we afraid of Wu Zhenhai?
Prince of Jin had already prepared for the worst; Wu Zhenhai was already on the "dead men's list."
--Once he resolutely defends the Zhou Family and opposes the Prince's Mansion, his death will be imminent.
Among the Prince of Jin, there were those specializing in assassinations.
In short, whether openly or covertly, if they want Wu Zhenhai dead, they will always do it.
After a moment's hesitation, Mingzhu said, "Sister-in-law, there are some things I might say that could make you think I still have feelings for Wu Zhenhai, and that it might cause you worry; but I still have to say them..."
"You said, 'We're family, there's no need to hide anything, just say whatever comes to mind.'"
"Sister-in-law, I think Wu Zhenhai is a good candidate," Mingzhu said. "We need to find a way to win him over."
Ren Yingying rolled her eyes at this.
My child, you understand men so little!
Can a man tolerate someone helping his woman run away from him?
That would be a humiliating disgrace; there's no way we could cooperate.
Mingzhu replied, "He's greedy and lustful. Since... since he's already let me go... then sending him silver and women is fine too."
She suggested sending Wu Zhenhai ten Yangzhou "slender horses" (a euphemism for prostitutes).
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
Okay, now she believes it; Mingzhu isn't after the Old Cabbage Stalk anymore.
But whether or not to do so depends on what the Prince of Prince of Jin thinks.
"Wu Zhenhai really controls a lot of things in the Zhou Family. Otherwise, the Zhou Family wouldn't have married Zhou Fu to him."
Zhou Fu was always the Zhou Family's darling.
What still stirred a ripple in Zhou Xu's heart, a slightly bitter feeling, was this matter.
Although she now knows why Zhou Yushan stayed with her mother in the first place, she still can't understand why she, who is also his biological child, was treated that way.
As for the Old Cabbage Stalk, that's a thing of the past.
Right now, Mingzhu only wants to live happily with Cui Run and doesn't think about anything else.
Of course, this is all predicated on maintaining the Prince's Mansion well.
"I'll talk to your brother later. As for your birthday, we'll stick to what we agreed on before," Tang Zhuyun said decisively. "We won't invite any outsiders; we'll just celebrate properly at home."
Everyone in the household will receive a month's salary as a reward, so let's have a good time.
Mingzhu nodded with a smile.
With the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, many people from all over the country are sending gifts to the Prince's Mansion.
Mingzhu and Tang Zhuyun worked together, reviewing the gift list daily and also drafting gift lists to send out gifts.
One of the gifts caught the attention of Tang Zhuyun and Mingzhu.
The person who gave the gift was Wu Zhenhai.
"What's in this huge box?" Tang Zhuyun was shocked as she looked at the large red-lacquered iron box in front of her, which was more than three feet long and nearly three feet wide and high.
Wu Zhenhai, what are you trying to do?
Xiu'er said, "Alas, Your Highness, this must be a ceremony to formally recognize your family."
"Recognizing relatives?"
"That's right," Xiu'er said matter-of-factly, "Wu Yu has recognized Yanran as his 'godmother,' how could he not send gifts? These days, Wu Yu has been staying at the Prince's mansion eating and drinking, isn't that all money he's spending!"
Tang Zhuyun was both amused and exasperated.
Mingzhu remained silent.
Tang Zhuyun had it opened and found a whole box inside, filled with gifts for Yanran.
From fine silks and satins to gold and silver jewelry, and all sorts of fresh and exquisite little toys, the selection is so abundant that it's dazzling.
Even Xiu'er couldn't help but say, "This is too much! They're planning to make Wu Yu stay in the Prince's mansion for the rest of his life!"
Ren Yingying picked up a jade pig and played with it in her hand. "This is nice, I'll ask Yanran for it later."
She was born in the Year of the Pig.
Qu Nian: What a disgrace!
"Go ask the person who received the gifts," Tang Zhuyun said, having only seen the thick list of gifts but not the invitation. "What did the Wu Family say when they sent the gifts?"
A moment later, the old woman came in and said it was a birthday gift for the young lady.
Everyone: "???"
The young lady celebrating her birthday in the manor is Mingzhu.
But the gift looks like it's for Yanran.
After all, there are also some ready-made clothes, shoes, and socks that are for children.
Xiu'er's imagination ran wild. "Could it be that she's using the gift to Yanran as a pretext to curry favor with Mingzhu?"
Old Cabbage Stalk, did you figure something out?
Yanran had already arrived upon hearing the news. After glancing at the items, she generously said, "I'm not particularly interested in anything. You can choose whatever you like. I'll keep the rest. Jiaojiao, let's go!"
She has to go back to see her children!
However, she was about to be liberated. These past few days, she took Wu Yu to listen to the lectures of the Great Confucian Scholar Kong. She decided that once Wu Yu had settled in, he could also learn from her, so that he wouldn't always bother her.
Yanran's current mindset is probably like that of an elderly mother eagerly awaiting her son's start of kindergarten...
I'm so tired, it's a complete tragedy.
Ren Yingying found a delicate little tag, patted Dog Meat's head, and said, "How about I make you a new dog tag?"
Qu Nian: Get out!
Mingzhu, who hadn't spoken for a while, said, "I guess Wu Zhenhai knew it was the princess's birthday, but he didn't guess it was me. He probably thought it was Yanran."
After all, in the eyes of those people, an outsider sister is not worth paying attention to at all; Yanran is the most important person to please.
Xiu'er stroked her chin and said, "I feel like something's not quite right! Old Cabbage Stalk has changed lately; I have a feeling he's plotting something bad."
Please, please, don't let him suddenly appear on Mingzhu's birthday.
Wu Zhenhai: Ruanruan, it turns out that the girl from the Prince's Mansion also shares the same birthday as you.
Aren't you envious of her receiving so many gifts?
It's alright, I've prepared something for you too, I'll bring it to you right away.