The Prince of Jin reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, smiling as he said, "Don't worry so much. By the time I come back, I'm afraid you'll be an old lady."
"Pah, pah, pah!" Tang Zhuyun glared at him, her clear, bright eyes sparkling like water. "Say something nice!"
"A-Yun is the prettiest."
Tang Zhuyun: "... That's just stating the facts, it's not exactly a nice way to put it."
The Prince of Jin almost burst his wounds with laughter again.
The two laughed and joked, and the sadness of parting seemed to be greatly reduced.
After laughing, Tang Zhuyun spoke.
"Don't be reckless after you return to the capital," Tang Zhuyun said. "Your safety is paramount."
Living is the most important thing; everything else is secondary.
"I know." The Prince of Jin smiled and looked at her.
"Have you planned how to sneak into the capital? Won't you be noticed?"
"No, Qiao Jiao is there."
"Qiao Jiao?"
"She married into the Guo Family, who guard the city gates, have you forgotten?"
Tang Zhuyun said, "I haven't forgotten, but she and you are still corresponding?"
"Yes," said the Prince of Jin. "She's been doing quite well with that Guo Family boy these past two years."
Tang Zhuyun was somewhat surprised.
Even twin sisters are always different.
Others might not notice, but how could your spouse be completely oblivious?
Either the person surnamed Guo is stupid, or he's pretending to be ignorant when he knows the truth, and he's not complaining about the benefits he's gained.
Although Qiao Jiao was somewhat aloof, she was far better than the arrogant and ignorant Qiao Qiao.
"I'm glad I could help," Tang Zhuyun said.
She didn't ask anything else.
Everyone has their own destiny.
"Please don't act impulsively. When you're about to risk your life, think of me and the children."
At their age, they can't even afford to die.
"Don't worry, the one I'll miss the most is you."
Yanran, who was eavesdropping at the door, pouted.
Father, that's so cheesy.
"Aren't you coming in?" the Prince of Jin said with a smile.
Yanran: Father knows she's there, yet he still acts like that, hmph!
Tang Zhuyun was somewhat embarrassed. Seeing Yanran push the door open and enter, she turned her face away to wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes, stood up, and smiled, "Come here."
Yanran said in a muffled voice, "Mother, Wuji is looking for you, he's crying, please go and see him."
Tang Zhuyun asked, "Didn't the wet nurse soothe him properly?"
"No, please go quickly, I'll take care of Father for you."
"Oh." Tang Zhuyun understood. "You want to whisper something to Father? Okay, I'm coming."
Don't hold your little lover back.
The Prince of Jin is in a hurry to leave, so he probably won't be in the mansion for much longer.
She planned to bring the children over to see them later.
Tang Zhuyun returned to her courtyard.
Xiu'er came forward and said, "Your Highness, what is the background of that Leertai? His brow bone looks more like that of someone from the Central Plains!"
It's driving the onlookers crazy!
Tang Zhuyun laughed and said, "You even saw the person?"
"I saw him," Xiu'er said. "I happened to be passing by with Mingzhu when he left, and we bumped into each other."
Tang Zhuyun briefly explained his background.
Xiu'er muttered, "Some people won't settle down even after they're dead."
Tang Zhuyun joked, "Who wouldn't envy that kind of charm?"
"I'm not envious at all," Xiu'er said. "No matter how charming she is, can she marry several men? In the end, won't she still end up with just one? It's meaningless."
All emperors and crown princes combined are no match for Song Jingyang.
Tang Zhuyun covered her mouth and laughed, while simultaneously considering what medicine and food to bring for the Prince of Jin.
Xiu'er glanced outside and, seeing no one was around, whispered, "Your Majesty, something's not right with that Leertai."
Tang Zhuyun laughed and asked, "What's wrong?"
Did Yingying and Xiu'er exchange information? They both think there's something wrong with Leertai.
Xiu'er said, "He didn't even glance at Mingzhu twice. That's not right."
This is not in a man's nature.
Just as Tang Zhuyun was speechless, she heard her suddenly ask, "Your Majesty, do you think he might be... a woman disguised as a man?"
How could any man resist Mingzhu's beauty?
Tang Zhuyun remained silent.
"If that's how you see it, then he's not even human. Don't women ever give Mingzhu a second glance?"
"Your Majesty, you are right!"
Tang Zhuyun laughed and scolded, "Stop interrupting. Who cares if he's a man or a woman, human or demon, as long as he can help us."
Xiu'er stroked her chin and said, "Actually, there's another possibility: he already has a woman he likes."
What can resist the allure of beauty?
She has someone else she loves.
This matter was originally unrelated, but it reminded Tang Zhuyun of something else.
What happened to the woman who warned them when Yanran and Cui Xiaoqiu went out?
Since Leertai knew his true identity, he wouldn't marry casually.
That woman was probably not his wife.
Her warning was noticed, and she's probably been silenced by now.
Tang Zhuyun rubbed her temples.
These things are really too painful to think about.
Tang Zhuyun said, "Xiu'er, help me think of something to pack for the Prince. I need to go find Yingying."
She needs to ask Ren Yingying if she is willing to follow Qu Nian to attack the Northern Yi.
She already knew the answer and agreed with it, but she was afraid that Ren Yingying would force herself because of her.
"He went to attack the Northern Yi?" Ren Yingying's eyes widened after hearing Tang Zhuyun's words.
"Um."
"That won't do! He's unreliable." Ren Yingying peeked at Qu Nian through the crack in the door and looked down on him.
Tang Zhuyun said, "Since the Prince said he can do it, there shouldn't be any problem. You can stay at the Prince's residence without worry. If Qu Nian wants you to go with him, just say you don't want to go. He has already promised the Prince and won't go back on his word just because you don't want to go."
Qu Nian is unreliable in front of Ren Yingying, and she leads him down a silly path from which there is no turning back.
However, in front of others, he remained a noble and proud prince, with his own principles and pride.
Ren Yingying's eyes darted around. "Is it really him? Is there no one else?"
"That's all."
"Well... that's fine too."
Tang Zhuyun said, "Just stay in the Prince's residence without worry."
"No, I want to go with him."
Tang Zhuyun was greatly surprised. "He's going to war, what are you going to do there? That's not something to be taken lightly."
Ren Yingying declared confidently, "Enjoy it while you can! My journey through time isn't complete without participating in a battle, is it? That's the decision!"
Tang Zhuyun: "... Yingying, stop fooling around."
"No fuss, it's settled then." Ren Yingying pushed him away. "Won't the Prince of Jin have to sneak away? You'll go with him."
"No, Yingying, you need to think this through."
"I've thought it through. I'll follow my husband wherever he goes, even if he's a blockhead!"
"That's like marrying a bench that you have to drag around on."
"He's a complete idiot!"
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
Ren Yingying, however, had made up her mind.
She didn't say the real reason.
She was worried about Qu Nian.
What if Qu Nian harbors ill intentions towards the Prince's Mansion and harms Tangbao?
She had to go along to supervise the army.