Tang Zhuyun asked, "Has the Prince returned?"
Xiu'er: "..."
Tang Zhuyun knew she had guessed wrong from her expression, and said with a smile, "Since you let me guess, I'll naturally guess the best one."
"Your Highness, is there no one else in your heart but the Prince?" Xiu'er pouted.
"I'll definitely be one of them."
A familiar voice rang out, the cotton curtain swayed, and Tang Zhuyun's eyes lit up instantly.
It's Linlin!
Linlin is back!
Tang Zhuyun was so excited that tears welled up in her eyes.
Linlin, who had grown much taller, wore a royal blue brocade robe embroidered with cloud patterns and a jade crown, which made him look even more upright and majestic. He lifted his robe and knelt down at Tang Zhuyun's feet.
Tang Zhuyun handed Wuji nurse, then reached out to help Linlin up, holding her in her arms. "Good child, good child, you're finally back."
Xiu'er asked mischievously, "Your Majesty, who's the best one to have returned?"
"Of course it's Linlin." Tang Zhuyun laughed and reached out to touch Linlin's face. "You've lost weight. Your mother will make you something delicious to nourish you."
"My mother didn't even ask me how the war was going in the Xia Kingdom," Linlin said with a smile.
"With you here, do I still need to worry?" Tang Zhuyun said, feigning exaggeration. "Winning is normal, losing is an accident."
Besides, given Linlin's tenacity—she's determined to achieve her goal no matter what—would she really come back after failing?
Linlin smiled, pursing her lips.
He looked at Wuji with gentle and loving eyes.
This is his youngest brother.
"Mother, may I hold Wuji? I just bathed and changed before coming here."
"Why not?"
The wet nurse came over and carefully handed Wuji to Linlin, reaching out to protect her, afraid that the little master might fall.
However, Linlin skillfully picked up the little bundle of flesh, let his head rest on her shoulder, and gently patted him to help him burp.
The wet nurse was dumbfounded.
That move is so practiced!
Linlin held the tiny bundle of flesh, smelling his milky scent, feeling his softness, and even sensing drool dripping onto his neck...
But what does it matter?
They are brothers, bound by blood, brothers for life.
He adored his younger brother—a gentle, warm, obedient brother who needed his protection and guidance.
Wuji leaned on his shoulder, her eyes darting around to take in the scenery, without uttering a sound.
The wet nurse flattered him, saying, "The young master is usually unhappy when he sees outsiders; but it's different when the eldest young master comes back."
Tang Zhuyun laughed and said, "Who says otherwise? Wuji, Wuxian, aren't you going to call him big brother?"
Wuji's eyes darted around, glancing at the Linlin attire before settling on the sword at his waist. He called out in a clear, crisp voice, "Big Brother!"
Wuxian didn't even raise his head.
The nine-linked rings puzzle remains unsolved; please do not disturb.
Linlin carried Wuji over, patted her two younger brothers on the head, and said gently, "I brought you gifts; I'll have someone bring them in later."
Wuji any prompting, Wuji sweetly said, "Thank you, big brother."
Linlin smiled and said to Wuxian, "Solve the third one from the top."
Wuxian looked up at him, a hint of disbelief in his eyes, then reached out and touched the thing Linlin had mentioned.
Hmm, no.
Linlin held Wuji in one arm and picked up the nine-linked rings on the kang with the other. She fiddled with them for a few moments and the rings opened with a click.
Throughout this process, Wuji's eyes showed disdain—why does his older brother also like such boring things?
Wuxian was first shocked, then overjoyed.
He understood!
However, when Linlin returned the nine-linked rings to him, he actually pulled a handkerchief from his sleeve and wiped them again and again.
Xiu'er laughed and scolded, "You Xiaobai! Big brother just helped you, and you turn your back on him in the blink of an eye."
Linlin's eyes, however, remained full of affection as he praised, "Wuxian possesses inner talent; he will surely become a master in the future."
Guagua, who was putting her doll to sleep, came over when she saw this and shook Linlin's sleeve, saying, "Big brother."
Linlin smiled and picked her up as well.
Guagua's eyes narrowed into slits with laughter as she obediently nestled on Linlin's shoulder.
Tang Zhuyun looked at the children with a smile, and couldn't help but think how wonderful it would be if the Prince of Jin also came back.
"Where is Song Jingyang?" she asked Xiu'er.
Xiu'er said, "He hasn't come back yet, but he'll be back soon."
Tang Zhuyun nodded.
It seems that the situation in the Xia Kingdom has stabilized after the Northern Yi withdrew their troops.
Linlin said that Zhou Yanhui was already pregnant, and after she gave birth, Song Jingyang would withdraw completely with his men.
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
This is such a commotion! Anyone who didn't know better would think the baby was Song Jingyang's!
Xiu'er said, "She's already six months pregnant, and it'll only be a few days left."
Song Jingyang wrote to her about everything.
Tang Zhuyun asked curiously, "Has she completely revealed that she is a woman?"
Or should they have the baby secretly?
Lin Lin said Linlin, "She has revealed her true identity as a woman, and is now the Queen of the Xia Kingdom."
"She became queen and married the king?"
What should I do if I feel a little happy inside?
Although I knew that the Prince of Jin would definitely not accept Zhou Yanhui, I still felt a little uncomfortable every time I thought about it. I guess that's just a woman's little thought.
She became queen, but did not marry a king.
Tang Zhuyun was taken aback. "Whose child is that?"
"Have no idea."
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
Xiu'er said, "Let me speak."
How could someone as Linlin and unattainable as Linlin possibly utter such trivialities?
It turns out that Zhou Yanhui had suffered a setback with the Prince of Jin and returned home dejectedly, having completely given up hope.
But having loved a man like Prince of Jin, who else could possibly catch my eye?
Zhou Yanhui knew this in her heart, so she gave up the idea of finding a man and chose a five-year-old boy from the clan to adopt as her godson and raise him by her side.
However, after raising them for several years, I found that they could never be tamed.
That adopted son was still closer to his original family; when the Xia Kingdom was in trouble this time, he ran straight home.
Zhou Yanhui did not punish him; he simply sent him back.
Once the situation stabilized somewhat, Zhou Yanhui began to consider having children, and thus selected several men.
Tang Zhuyun: Wow, that's some serious stamina.
She couldn't even handle Prince of Jin alone; she wished she could get him something to play with herself.
Xiu'er said, "Song Jingyang said that she wants this child to only have a mother and no father."
The matter of her adopted son made Zhou Yanhui reflect deeply and decide that she only wanted the person with whom she had the closest relationship.
Moreover, the man was too ambitious, and she feared that the imperial power would be overthrown in the future.
Tang Zhuyun couldn't help but say, "I can't even begin to match their cunning, skill, and execution."
"You have a prince, why are you flattering me? If Zhou Yanhui had a prince, he would hand over the entire country without hesitation."
Tang Zhuyun laughed loudly, "Then am I, who am penniless and have no kingdom, still failing Your Highness?"
"With your four sons here, who dares to say they've wronged the Prince?"
How many of the Noble Lady in the capital are so capable of bearing sons?
These are all legitimate sons, brothers who fight tigers together, how amazing!