They had anticipated the emperor's actions, but they hadn't expected the imperial edict to arrive so quickly.
Just as winter began, the eunuch delivering the imperial edict arrived at the border city and read out the decree: the emperor summoned Prince of Jin back to the capital, and appointed Zeng Xiang, a minister trusted and favored by the emperor, as the new governor of the border city.
Zeng Xiang is the kind of person who doesn't take sides.
At least on the surface, he was only loyal to the emperor.
"Zeng Xiang, a man from Shanxi, is forty-two years old," Xiu'er learned again. "He has one wife, one concubine, three sons, and two daughters. The Zidu born to the concubine and raised under the name of the principal wife. The principal wife couldn't have children, so she chose a maid to have her virginity slapped, and after she gave birth to children, she was promoted to concubine."
Tang Zhuyun asked, "Can't you give birth?"
"Yes, she was a child bride. She worked herself to the bone as a child, and she's eight years older than Master Zeng. She's fifty now and can't have any more children."
Oh, so many child brides! This wicked old society.
What kind of person is Zeng Xiang?
"Amazing, incredibly amazing."
"Um?"
It's not easy to get such high praise from Xiu'er.
"A poor but gifted child, he encountered cheating during an exam and, in anger, exposed it..."
Tang Zhuyun said, "Another young genius? Why do I feel like there are so many young geniuses around me?"
This is just me venting, nothing more.
Xiu'er snorted and said, "Your Highness, don't you even consider this? If I weren't a young genius, would you even know my name now?"
They have long been lost in the crowd, unknown to anyone.
"The Emperor praised him, saying that although he was a scholar, he had an unyielding spirit. Speaking of which, the Emperor had previously wanted to marry the Third Princess, Jiang Ruo's biological mother, to him, but he refused."
From the perspective of the values of this era, he is an exceptionally good man.
Tang Zhuyun said, "I'd feel a little better if someone like that took over the border town."
Regardless of his stance, he's at least a good person.
It's somewhat like a repeat of Tang Mingfan's story, and of course, this is a common experience for many children from poor families.
Xiu'er continued, "His two daughters are already married, and he has three sons. One passed the imperial examination the year before last and was sent to a county to serve as a magistrate; the second stayed in the capital and is studying at the Imperial Academy, and is said to be quite talented. The third son is six or seven years old and should be coming to the border town with him."
Tang Zhuyun gave her a thumbs up.
This intelligence work is spot on.
"Your Highness," Xiu'er asked, "What are your plans now?"
To defy the imperial decree?
She rolled up her sleeves, sharpening her knife with eager anticipation.
Damn it, I've put up with this for so long, I might as well rebel! I'm not going to put up with this bullshit every day!
What kind of clown is this, Consort De Prince of Ding? They dare to show their faces like that?
Tang Zhuyun said, "I sent a letter to the Prince as soon as I received the imperial edict yesterday. Let's see what he says."
Have you discussed this with Linlin?
"Not yet, I'm thinking of turning back..."
"My lady, why look back! You have to rely on Linlin now, but with your brain and mine, are we even capable of handling it?"
Tang Zhuyun: "It does seem so, not quite enough."
"Your Majesty, be more confident. Please remove the word 'seems'."
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
Xiu'er is getting more and more arrogant; she even dares to speak the truth now.
"Linlin talked with Great Confucian Scholar Kong until midnight yesterday; I suspect it was mostly about this," Tang Zhuyun said. "Once he's made up his mind, he'll definitely come looking for me."
"That's true."
Like them, no, there was someone even more anxious than them.
Wu Zhenhai.
Wu Zhenhai had Mingzhu invited to the second gate to speak.
"Lord Wu said that if you don't go out, he'll have to force his way in."
Upon hearing the maid's words, Mingzhu's expression turned sour.
"What? Did I burn your house down?"
Wu Zhenhai pulled her aside. "Don't talk about that, what are your plans?"
Mingzhu asked, "What?"
"Stop pretending to be ignorant! I'm asking about the imperial edict; are you going to the capital too?"
"I don't know, my sister-in-law hasn't mentioned it yet," Mingzhu said calmly. "But even if she goes back, isn't that normal?"
Wu Zhenhai wanted to swear.
Normal my ass!
What should he do?
"I cannot go," Wu Zhenhai said. "I cannot leave this place. If I leave, everything will fall into other people's hands, which would not be good for me, and especially for the Prince."
He was a veteran of the border region, and in order to stabilize the overall situation, he had to stay.
He could wait for her, protect her, make up for what he had to do with her, and indulge her, but that didn't include watching her leave.
That made him very anxious.
Not to mention that she now possesses a beauty that would make all women pale in comparison, she was also a dazzling presence in any crowd in the past.
Once he's in the capital, what business does he have left?
Mingzhu said, "Then you can stay."
Wu Zhenhai: "What are you saying?"
"Human language."
Wu Zhenhai was so angry he was practically fuming. "No, you're not allowed to go!"
"By what right do you interfere with me?" Mingzhu retorted.
Stumped by the question, Wu Zhenhai resorted to shamelessness, "You're not allowed to leave. You stay... Trust me, after Your Highness achieves great things, I'll go wherever you want."
He is still very clear-headed.
He could abandon everything and go to the capital, but then what value would he have?
What qualifications did he have to become the Prince of Jin's brother-in-law?
Everything he cultivated was in the border town; it was here that he was most useful.
He could give up everything for Mingzhu, provided that Mingzhu were in his arms.
Mingzhu: "Don't I have servants? Why do I need you to accompany me?"
Wu Zhenhai: "... Can I be compared to others?"
"They're not even as good as others!" Mingzhu said. "Alright, I have to go back and pack my things. You go home and take care of the children."
I didn't have the heart to say it directly: the eldest brother has been raised like that, and now we're taking good care of Wu Yu, and we'll have to make sure he's old and sees us off when he dies!
The two of them tacitly agreed not to bring up the past, but maintaining harmony was difficult.
Wu Zhenhai gritted his teeth and said, "You have no conscience."
When the earthquake struck, he stayed by her side every step of the way, afraid that something might happen to her; she was busy helping others, and he was busy helping her.
"Thank you for the compliment." Mingzhu raised her hand to smooth her hair. "Take care, and don't bother seeing me out."
Being friends is fine, helping each other is fine, but don't even think about tricking her into marriage.
Mingzhu is now the steward of the Prince's mansion. Only by actually doing these things does she realize how trivial and tedious they are.
Even so, her sister-in-law delegated all the authority to her, and she didn't have to maintain any balance in the relationship, so she could just go ahead and do it!
The thought of getting married and having to serve the man and his family, managing all that household affairs, is something I don't even want to think about.
Life is short, so make the most of a few more years of happiness.
Wu Zhenhai: "Don't go! Give me a straight answer! You're not going to the capital! You have to help me, otherwise how can I wholeheartedly help the Prince?"
What can I do for you?
Wu Zhenhai looked at her, gritted his teeth, and said, "Watch the child!"
He wanted to suggest having a child, but Mingzhu would definitely turn on him without hesitation.
"Isn't Wu Yu also studying with Xiyou at the Prince's residence now?"
"Xiyou? You call her that so affectionately!"
Mingzhu flung her hand away. "You're sick!"
She's sick too, yet she told him so much.
She turned and walked inside.
Wu Zhenhai grabbed her sleeve. "My illness is because of you. It's been so long, give me an answer, am I... still capable or not?"
He felt his performance was alright.
(Jiaojiao everyone a Happy New Year and a prosperous Year of the Tiger!)