"I don't know much about what happened back then. The only thing I'm certain of is that the Xiao Family and the Northern Yi did have dealings."
If Prince of Jin knew the truth beforehand, why would he be so eager to seek "justice" for the Xiao Family?
Tang Zhuyun let her imagination run wild and began to suspect that it was related to the deceased Xiao Wu.
There is truly no man in this world she cannot win over.
Even if it were said now that she had a son with the Northern Yi Emperor, Tang Zhuyun wouldn't be surprised.
There's nothing we can do but look up to that level.
We've gone off on a tangent.
Tang Zhuyun snapped out of her thoughts and asked, "Did you ask Wu Zhenhai to turn the tables on you?"
The Prince of Jin smiled and nodded, "I gave him a chance to gain the trust of the Northern Yi spies."
Tang Zhuyun: "Then I understand. His approach to Mingzhu now can also be described as 'bringing shame upon himself,' making the Northern Yi spies believe that he desperately wants Mingzhu, while at the same time being very angry?"
This emotional level is off the charts!
At the same time, we can openly and honestly view the Mingzhu; how wonderful!
No wonder Old Cabbage Stalk agreed; it must have all been planned in advance.
This is truly a thousand-year-old fox.
"Don't let your Mingzhu be wasted later."
Prince of Jin said, "That's entirely up to Mingzhu's own wishes. I've already spoken with Wu Zhenhai about it."
Tang Zhuyun then remained silent.
A few days later, Ren Yingying started shouting that she was going out to make a fortune.
"What kind of fortune are you making?" Tang Zhuyun stood in the courtyard, collecting the peach blossom petals she had picked, washed, and dried, preparing to brew peach blossom wine.
Spring comes later in the Northwest, but it's already time for peach blossoms to bloom.
A huge red orangutan blanket was laid out in the yard, and Wuji and Guagua were already able to climb it very quickly.
Wuxian was still in a daze, climbing rather awkwardly, lying there looking at the leaves, probably contemplating life again.
Ren Yingying said, "Recently, a reward has been offered in the city for catching spies. Anyone who provides clues and leads to their capture will be rewarded with a thousand taels of silver! Don't you think that's the key to wealth!"
Tang Zhuyun rolled her eyes at her. "I think Qu Nian is the key to wealth. You should go and swindle money from him; I guarantee you'll get it easily."
Ren Yingying declared with unwavering righteousness, "I sell my body, not my smiles!"
She's not going to try to coax Qu Nian!
Tang Zhuyun: "Perhaps even selling myself into Qu Nian could buy it."
"Pah! Who would sell to him!"
"Then who will you sell it to?"
"I'd like to sell it to you, do you want it?"
"No, they're lazy and good-for-nothing; it'll be a waste of money if I buy it."
Ren Yingying burst into laughter.
Xiu'er, who was sitting to the side watching the children, said upon hearing this, "The Prince has been cracking down on spies very hard lately!"
Tang Zhuyun sighed inwardly.
The Prince of Jin is preparing to personally lead his troops to attack the Northern Yi. Before setting out, shouldn't he remove some obstacles first?
Otherwise, how could he leave with peace of mind?
Prince of Jin rarely kept his plans from Tang Zhuyun.
The couple had been having heart-to-heart talks for quite some time, so Tang Zhuyun had a clear vision of the future.
Just then, Mingzhu walked in, smiling, and said, "You're all here. I just made some peach blossom pastries, let's have a taste."
Ren Yingying pinched a piece first, then looked at the bloodshot eyes in Mingzhu's eyes and said, "Tsk tsk, learning to cook isn't easy, is it? Judging from your eyes, you definitely didn't sleep much last night."
Mingzhu laughed and said, "You've seen through me. I really didn't sleep much. Cooking requires some talent, which I obviously don't have. I just hope that hard work can make up for it."
Xiu'er replied, "It's all because the rats are too big; they're interfering with your dessert-making."
Mingzhu blushed.
How could Xiu'er know that Wu Zhenhai went to see her last night?
Wu Zhenhai went to see her last night and hasn't left.
--The two of them didn't do anything. Wu Zhenhai had drunk some wine and kept talking to her, and she wouldn't leave no matter how hard they tried to get rid of him.
He said he was drunk and told her about his childhood, and about his children's failures... In short, he just wouldn't leave until he fell asleep on the table.
Mingzhu didn't know how he got into the Prince's mansion, but it wasn't appropriate to call for help in the middle of the night.
So she went out and, with the help of her maid, made snacks for most of the night in the kitchen.
Sister-in-law is right. In this Prince's mansion, Xiu'er knows exactly which mouse hole has been infested with a baby mouse.
When Wu Zhenhai woke up, he helped her prepare the food, and then shamelessly tasted two pieces of pastry before leaving, saying that he would consider it as if she had made it for him.
Ugh, he has such a big face!
However, Wu Zhenhai is truly an amazing cook.
"The pastries are quite good." Ren Yingying picked up another one.
"It's not difficult at all. Shall I teach you?" Mingzhu said.
She has already learned it.
"I'm not learning, I'll just wait to eat." Ren Yingying said matter-of-factly.
Yanran came to deliver chicks to her younger siblings and also ate some snacks.
Meanwhile, the little guys started crawling around chasing the chicks, making them chirp and squawk – it was quite a lively scene.
Tang Zhuyun ate a pastry, and amidst laughter, walked to the winnowing baskets for drying medicinal herbs and began to sort them.
"Your Majesty, are you preparing medicine for the Emperor again? Let me help you," Xiu'er said, rolling up her sleeves.
"Don't hit them, just watch the child."
Tang Zhuyun had just received the Emperor's medical records a few days ago, so she needed to adjust his prescription.
Ren Yingying leaned closer and said, "Do you still need any more medicine from me? We can't use it all anyway, just let me know. Qu Nian told me that the Emperor also favors Prince of Jin, so we absolutely have to stick close to the Emperor's powerful backer!"
"Qu Nian tell you that?"
"Yes," Ren Yingying said, "What, is it fake?"
She was sharpening her knives, ready to confront Qu Nian the moment Tang Zhuyun uttered a single word of "false."
--Qu Nian tricked her into spending a meal on this message.
If he dares to cheat, give him his food!
"Who knows if it's true or not?" Tang Zhuyun didn't hide anything from her. "He's unpredictable; he might change his mind any day. I don't expect him to show favoritism at all; I just hope he doesn't cause any trouble."
"That can't be right, they're still my biological children," Ren Yingying said.
"I suspect there's something wrong with him," Tang Zhuyun said, pointing to her head. "You can tell by how much reward Wuji receives during holidays, far exceeding that of the other children."
However, the Emperor's "good intentions" will likely be disappointed.
With her seniority and exceptional abilities, Linlin is undoubtedly the most suitable candidate.
Wuji cheerful and Wuxian, while Wuxian is adorably naive; neither of them seems inclined to compete with Linlin for anything.
"If he's really that twisted, you might as well send him on his way." Ren Yingying rolled her eyes.
Tang Zhuyun: "... Don't talk nonsense."
"Don't tell me you can't do it," Ren Yingying said. "If you wanted to, you could change the medicine, and the imperial physician definitely wouldn't notice, right?"
"That's true, but I don't plan to do that right now."
"If we're forced into a corner in the future, we might have no choice but to do that."
"Ren Yingying, can you please stop jinxing things?"
That's her father-in-law! He's the Prince of Prince of Jin's biological father.
Even though his manipulation of imperial power was disgusting, he still had fatherly love for the Prince of Jin.