"Let's talk about it later, Your Highness," Xiu'er said. "Prince of Ding won't even let you go back!"
"I have to go back," Tang Zhuyun said. "My family is all in the capital, and there are some matters concerning the women in the inner quarters that Your Highness cannot handle himself; he needs me."
Moreover, she had a feeling that this trip would take a long time.
To put it more bluntly, if the emperor doesn't die, it's hard to say whether they'll ever reunite.
Tang Zhuyun lost sleep for two nights because of this, and then she came to terms with it.
This is probably the last darkness before dawn.
Although they were both reluctant to part, both Xiu'er and Mingzhu understood that Tang Zhuyun had made the best arrangements.
Upon receiving the boxes sent by Qu Hua, Tang Zhuyun assumed it was Qu Nian's doing and remarked with emotion, "Indeed, siblings are the best friends."
Despite his fierce fighting skills, he still relies on his older brother for support when it matters most.
At that moment, she also received a letter from Ren Yingying, along with pomegranates sent with it.
Then Tang Zhuyun was also dazzled by those gold bars.
The ancestors of the Prince of Min's Residence's Mansion were truly kind to their descendants, hiding so many treasures.
Xiu'er was also dumbfounded when she saw the gold.
"My goodness, I've truly broadened my horizons today."
The room was filled with chests, all of which, when opened, were gleaming, shiny gold.
Her ideas differed from Tang Zhuyun's.
"Your Highness, you must have thought the ancestors of the Prince of Min's Residence's Mansion were incredibly wealthy. They died and still had so much money left behind."
Tang Zhuyun teased, "There's another possibility..."
"Um?"
"The ancestors of the Prince of Min's Residence were the same as those of Huaishang."
This remark sounded like it was exposing someone's shortcomings, which made everyone laugh.
Mingzhu laughed and said, "I really want to meet Huaishang and see if you're exaggerating or if he really is like that."
"You'll see how reserved we are once you meet us," Xiu'er teased.
"There will always be other opportunities," Tang Zhuyun said with a smile. "Let's put this gold away for now. This is what we borrowed from the Prince of Min's Residence."
A best friend lending money is a favor.
But that's her mother-in-law's money; she can't make things difficult for her.
This money, with interest, will eventually have to be returned to the Prince of Min's Residence.
The Prince of Jin replied soon after, essentially telling them to stay in the border town, and if Tang Zhuyun wanted to go to the capital, then Linlin should accompany her.
He understood Tang Zhuyun's personality very well and worried that if he forced her to stay in the border town, she would be even more distressed because of her longing for him.
Tang Zhuyun didn't want to bring Linlin.
The children must be so tired.
Don't treat children like children.
Even if a child is sensible, you can't always treat him like an adult.
So she simply kept it a secret and packed her bags to leave.
Since the Prince of Jin should be in the border town, they still have to pretend to be husband and wife and travel together.
"Linlin, your mother is going to the capital now. You stay in the border town and help your mother take care of your three younger brothers."
Worried that Linlin might disagree, Tang Zhuyun prepared a whole set of compliments.
"... My mother doesn't trust anyone else with her three younger brothers, but the thought of you makes her feel at ease."
Linlin listened to her with a smile, without refuting her, and then said something that made Tang Zhuyun freeze.
He said, "Mother, Father has asked me to accompany you to the capital."
Tang Zhuyun: "... Your father wrote you a letter too!"
What should she say?
She really didn't want Linlin to go through so much hardship.
The young boy was wearing a royal blue round-necked robe embroidered with cloud patterns. He stood backlit in the shadows, bathed in the warm winter sun, yet the thoughts in his eyes remained unseen.
"No, my father didn't write to me."
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
Good lad, you've really made something of yourself, even bluffing your own mother.
"I knew my father would give this order," Linlin said.
Fine, people say that fathers and sons are of one heart, what can she say?
"Are you really going?" Tang Zhuyun asked, her tone hesitant.
"Yes." He nodded firmly.
"Then... let's go."
What should I do if my son is too successful?
Tang Zhuyun: Listen to your son, don't make him sad.
"Mother, I'd like to bring someone else back with me."
Who should I bring?
Tang Zhuyun subconsciously misunderstood.
Does Linlin have someone she likes?
Wen Heng.
"Who?" Tang Zhuyun hadn't reacted immediately. "Oh, it's Wen Heng from the capital. If you want to bring him along, then bring him along."
Anyway, both father and son have their own ideas, so she can just listen to them.
If they have differing opinions, let the father and son have their debate.
Hearing her words, Linlin couldn't help but smile, and explained carefully, "Wen Heng came to see me; he wants to go back. He must still have ties to him in the capital. You can't force someone like that to stay."
"He's also more familiar with the capital, so taking him back will be helpful to us."
"Mother, I admire this person very much."
Tang Zhuyun said, "I won't interfere in outside affairs. Since you value him, then arrange things according to your own ideas. If it's right, it's a help; if it's wrong, it's a lesson learned, so there's no need to be upset."
As a mother, my biggest worry is my child's growth.
We can afford to try and fail.
"Thank you, Mother." Linlin smiled sincerely. "He talked to me until midnight yesterday, going around in circles, and I was completely confused. I thought he didn't want to leave, but I finally realized that he wanted to go to the capital."
Wen Heng is a good person, but he is just too reserved.
"No need to thank me. Go back and pack your things. We'll be leaving in a couple of days. By the time we get to the capital, it'll probably be the New Year."
This time, her mindset was different. She wanted to spend more time with her children and Prince of Jin, and didn't want to waste time on the road, so the journey would definitely be quick.
Xiu'er brought a quilt to Tang Zhuyun's room that night, spread the quilt out on the footstool, and wouldn't let Tang Zhuyun speak.
She burst into tears as soon as Tang Zhuyun opened her mouth.
Tang Zhuyun: "... Xiu'er, can I just say one thing?"
"No." Xiu'er choked back tears, her tone fierce.
Tang Zhuyun: "You can sleep in the bed and sleep with me."
I just love sleeping by myself.
"Then you can sleep on the bed, it won't interrupt our conversation. I'm afraid I might step on you in my sleep..."
I love sleeping here.
Tang Zhuyun had no choice but to have two hot water bottles sent to her.
Xiu'er extinguished the candle, and the two, mistress and servant, remained silent for a long time, one on the bed and the other on the footstool.
"Now that you're in the capital, don't think about any more nonsense," Xiu'er finally spoke, her voice thick with a nasal tone.
Tang Zhuyun laughed and said, "What nonsense could I possibly be thinking? Would I look for another young and handsome one?"
"You can't be like that; your heart and eyes have long been blinded by the prince."
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
Is your description friendly?
"What I'm saying is, leave the children to me, so please stop overthinking," Xiu'er said. "They're all still young. With Mingzhu and me here, we won't mistreat them, we won't spoil them, and we won't let them forget you, nor will we interfere with your mother-child relationship... In short, please don't worry about it."
Wherever you are, keep your heart at ease there, so you don't suffer.
Tang Zhuyun was deeply moved, and tears welled up in her eyes.
In this world, the one who understands her best has always been Xiu'er.
Even without being mentioned, Xiu'er clearly understood the reluctance and inner turmoil in her heart.