"A-Yun, I'm hungry."
"Don't even think about dying. I'm staying here with you, I'm not going anywhere." Tang Zhuyun wasn't fooled. "What did you do wrong? You think you deserve to die just because you misjudged someone?"
Meng Yulan smiled bitterly, "A-Yun, my existence is a disgrace to the Duke's Mansion and the Prince's Mansion."
"Come on, you're not that important." Tang Zhuyun rolled her eyes. "Do you believe that if something else happens now, no one will talk about you anymore?"
Don't think of yourself as the center of the earth. Others are just taking a bite of the melon, eating it and then running away. If you meet them again, they'll be like, "Who the hell are you?!"
"Let me tell you, before doing anything stupid, you should at least stab that scumbag and bitch a couple of times, and take a few of them down with you when you die," Tang Zhuyun said hatefully. "But don't do that now. You owe my brother such a huge favor, you have to pay it back!"
Meng Yulan lowered her eyes and remained silent.
She can't repay the debt; her staying will only bring more trouble to the Tang Family.
She knew the brother and sister meant well, but she also had her pride.
"Alright, just stay put."
Since Tang Baixin likes it, then they are truly family.
Tang Zhuyun said, "Don't just sit there. Since you're not resting, think with me about how we should proceed if we want to stay in the Tang Family smoothly and avoid being made difficult."
Meng Yulan: "I really can't stay, A-Yun, I..."
"Since you're already here, if something happens to you, wouldn't my brother's efforts to save you today have been for nothing? His reputation is already bad; if people start pointing fingers at him, will he ever be able to get married again?"
Meng Yulan gripped the bed sheet, veins bulging on the back of her hand.
She never thought about the future, or what future she might have.
But Tang Zhuyun and her brother refused. They clung tightly to her as she fell off the cliff, trying to save her. No matter how much she begged them to let go, they wouldn't budge.
She couldn't possibly drag her savior into an abyss as well.
Meng Yulan remained silent for a long while, and when she spoke again, her eyes were clear.
She said, "I will go to see the Emperor and apologize to him; then, if possible, I will kneel before Prince of Jin and beg for his forgiveness."
Whether he met the Emperor or the Prince of Jin, his purpose was not to survive, but to avoid implicating the Tang Family siblings.
This happy family shouldn't be dragged into this mess.
"Alright." Tang Zhuyun clapped her hands. "That's settled then. Let my father and elder brother go see the Emperor, and I'll go see Prince of Jin."
The Prince of Jin still needs this wicked woman to torment him.
"No, what I mean is..." Meng Yulan anxiously.
"What you mean isn't important. The most important thing now is to recover well," Tang Zhuyun said.
Her older brother had taken a liking to her, so it was his duty to solve the problem.
As for herself, she'll just consider it a gift.
Although this gift was given, it already made her feel uneasy.
Prince of Jin, oh Prince of Jin...
Tang Mingfan took Tang Baixin to request an audience with the Emperor. The father and son knelt outside the Imperial Study for several hours, but the Emperor still refused to see them.
The Emperor was indeed angered by this matter.
Like father and son, they value face above all else.
"Your Highness, Tang Zhuyun advised Meng Yulan to make do with you!" Song Jingyang said angrily, his lungs about to explode.
How dare they scheme against the prince like this? Do they think he's some kind of junk collector?
Given Meng Yulan's current reputation, it's no wonder that no one in the capital would want her!
The Prince of Jin sat behind his desk, his face ashen.
He had guessed a little about the situation between Jiang Beihan and Meng Yulan before, but he didn't expect Meng Yulan to make such a big fuss.
Even if Meng Yulan hadn't made a fuss, he would have found a way to break off the engagement anyway.
He wouldn't stoop so low as to marry a woman who doesn't want to marry him; his pride wouldn't allow him to do that.
Now, he's become a laughingstock of the whole world.
His woman loved another man and even banged her head against a wall for him; then his other woman's brother, his future brother-in-law, rescued her...
Is Prince of Jin just a bucket of dog blood, open to judgment by the world?
He has always been low-key and reserved, but he suddenly became "famous throughout the world" in this way. The Prince of Jin can still sit still shows that he has exhausted all his patience.
Is Tang Zhuyun still trying to force him into her relationship because she thinks he's not cuckolded enough?
"Your Highness, Miss Tang requests an audience."
Tang Zhuyun is extremely anxious. She heard that her father and brothers are still kneeling in the palace—this is what Madam Wang told her. Madam Wang also said that she should go and beg Prince of Jin, because only if Prince of Jin, the "victim," is willing to forgive her, will the Emperor possibly show leniency.
So she didn't hesitate any longer, told Xiu'er and Lüzhu to look after Meng Yulan and the two children, and hurriedly went out.
Only after she went outside did she realize that there was a little tail following her.
It was Linlin.
"Linlin, go back. Your aunt has important business to attend to."
"Auntie, are you going to see the Prince? I want to go too, I miss the Prince."
Tang Zhuyun: "No way!"
Today, she was prepared to be scolded by the Prince of Jin, and decided to sew her mouth shut. No matter how foul-mouthed the Prince of Jin, she would never talk back.
However, this humble posture must not be seen by Linlin.
She has her pride too!
But Linlin insisted on going, her lips tightly pursed, her brows furrowed, looking determined not to give up until she achieved her goal.
Tang Zhuyun thought she might be seeing things, because when Linlin was being obnoxious, he looked a bit like Prince of Jin.
"Alright, alright, let's go then." Tang Zhuyun was really anxious, so she grabbed his hand and started to leave.
Upon hearing that Tang Zhuyun had arrived, Song Jingyang practically jumped up. "Your Highness, she's here!"
She's here to have you collect the junk!
The Prince of Jin said coldly, "Make her kneel outside."
He knew Tang Zhuyun's purpose: to force him to back down.
He did nothing and yet he became the talk of the town. And you expect him to back down?
Song Jingyang: Yes, make her kneel!
But the guard who came to report said, "Miss Tang, she... she also has a child with her."
How despicable! He actually brought Yanran along, using the child to plead for mercy. He's still too easy to talk to.
The Prince of Jin rose and strode out, his robes billowing in the wind as he walked, a testament to his genuine anger.
However, when he saw Linlin, he was somewhat surprised. "It's you?"
Tang Zhuyun forced a smile and bowed obsequiously, "Greetings to Your Highness. Is it convenient for Your Highness to speak with me in private?"
Linlin also respectfully greeted Prince of Jin.
Out of Linlin Lin, the Prince of Jin did not immediately lash out, but coldly said, "Go back and reflect on your actions. Mind your own business."
Tang Zhuyun: "Your Highness, my father and elder brother are still kneeling in the palace. I... I know this is an undeserved misfortune for you, and I can do everything I can to make amends..."
Her medical skills could be used by him.
"You'll make it up to me?" Prince of Jin sneered. "Have you ever heard of using someone else's things to make up for someone else's shortcomings?"
The implication is clear: you're already one of my people, so why are you trying to compete with me?
Tang Zhuyun: Endure, endure, you must endure.
"Your Highness, may we speak in private?"
"Alright, of course." Prince of Jin's voice was as cold as ice as he reached out and pinched Tang Zhuyun's chin. "I'll take you somewhere so I can hear what you have to say."
This man is capable of dislocating someone's jaw.
Tang Zhuyun dared not move despite her anger, "Your Highness, please—"
"Song Jingyang, lead the way to the Golden Scale Guard Prison."