Tang Zhuyun knew that this scoundrel was in a bad mood today and was determined to get his revenge on her.
But those things were really terrifying. Mentally, she was an indomitable female warrior, but in practice, she was a cowardly girl who was afraid of pain.
She has no problem operating on others as a doctor; but when she cuts her own finger on a piece of paper, she winces in pain and almost wants to apply for workers' compensation.
"Your Highness—" Linlin suddenly spoke.
"Linlin!" The Prince of Jin's tone suddenly sharpened. "What did you promise before you came in?"
Linlin lowered her head, then suddenly picked up a long black whip from the ground, knelt before Prince of Jin, and raised the whip high. "I said I wouldn't cause trouble for Your Highness, and I wouldn't make a scene. I broke my promise, please punish me, Your Highness."
The implication was that he was willing to be punished in order to plead for Tang Zhuyun.
The Prince of Jin did not answer, but instead looked at him coldly. "Tang Duo, raise your head and look at me!"
Linlin tried hard to suppress her tears, but her eyes still Jingjing with tears as she looked at Prince of Jin as if she were saying her final goodbye.
This is the final farewell, and now Prince of Jin and Tang Zhuyun share the same feeling.
"Your Highness, don't let children interfere in adults' affairs." Tang Zhuyun was so anxious she was almost in tears. "I... it's all my fault."
"Your Highness, you see that Auntie knows she was wrong," Linlin said. "Please punish Tang Duo Tang Duo give him a chance to speak with you alone."
"Remember the punishment; I'll listen to your suggestion."
For the first time, the Prince of Jin felt a sense of panic, as if he might lose something at any moment. Although he did not show it, he had a vague feeling that something precious was about to leave him.
"Your Highness, please allow me a moment to speak."
The Prince of Jin stood up.
"Your Highness, I..." Tang Zhuyun said, "Please listen to me first. I'm useful; I can do many things for you. I can..."
"I don't need it," the Prince of Jin coldly refused. "Your Linlin punishment can be recorded; I never said I would spare you."
Linlin silently shook her head at Tang Zhuyun, her eyes conveying a sense of comfort, as if to say, "Aunt, I'll take care of everything."
Tang Zhuyun almost burst into tears.
If the price of Tang Baixin and Meng Yulan's relationship is that she suffers, then she can accept it. After all, her predecessor owed her father and brothers a great deal, and since she has taken over her predecessor's body, she should help her repay that debt.
But if the price is Linlin, sorry, she can't do it.
Linlin has already shouldered far too much that he shouldn't have to.
"Linlin, don't go."
"Aunt, I just had a few words with the Prince, I'll be fine soon," Linlin comforted her, her eyes still filled with tears, but a smile had already appeared on her lips.
Prince of Jin led Linlin to the next room, where he usually rested after interrogating prisoners.
The furnishings were simple, but very clean.
Linlin knelt down before Prince of Jin once more.
"Linlin, you know I have high hopes for you," said the Prince of Jin. "I haven't met many children, but without a doubt, you are the most outstanding."
"I know Your Highness is good to me. He taught me horseback riding and hunting, he taught me to read and write. Clearly, with your noble status, you didn't need to do any of those things..." Linlin tilted her head slightly, trying to hold back her tears. "I know Your Highness has raised and cherished me like a nephew, and I admire Your Highness very much..."
Unlike Prince of Jin and his son, Prince Tang Mingfan, every boy harbors a dream of becoming a hero, and Prince of Jin Linlin that dream as it becomes a reality.
"Linlin, tell me, should I be angry today?"
He was innocently implicated in this matter. If Linlin can't even see this, then she has truly let him down.
He allowed Linlin to side with her family, but at the very least, she should understand right and wrong.
"Your Highness has every right to be angry. Even if Miss Meng had her reasons, what she did hurt the innocent Your Highness and damaged the royal family's reputation. My father also acted without thinking, making Your Highness the laughingstock of others. Your Highness is justified in being angry."
The Prince of Jin breathed a sigh of relief.
There is never love or hate without a reason. He liked Linlin precisely because of her precocious wisdom and understanding beyond her years.
--A million times better than his biological mother.
Linlin, however, spoke up for Tang Zhuyun: "Your Highness, Aunt knows this too; but she had no choice. She sides with her relatives, not with what's right."
Prince of Jin: "..."
That's really true.
"Besides, my aunt never intended to marry you," Linlin said. "So please don't blame her for not treating you like royalty."
"She told you she didn't want to marry me?"
"She said so," Linlin said. "My aunt said she wouldn't marry anyone; she'd stay home and raise me."
You actually believed her nonsense?
What's Qingfeng? What's the Jiang Beihan?
She doesn't want to get married, but she's not short of men either!
Prince of Jin didn't want to speak because Linlin trusted Tang Zhuyun too much; he wanted to leave the child with some hope.
"Your Highness, I have a secret to tell you."
"What?"
"My aunt is actually my mother."
The Prince of Jin asked, "So that's why you've gone to such lengths to protect her?"
A child's protectiveness towards their mother, especially when they are very young, is instinctive and unbreakable.
"No, I thought it was because she was good to me," Linlin said. "When things weren't good before, I sometimes thought, 'If only she weren't here...' But not now, absolutely not now."
"Your Highness, I also want to tell you a secret." The moment Linlin said this, tears could no longer be held back and streamed down her face.
This time, the Prince of Jin was so moved by the sorrow emanating from him that he couldn't bear to reprimand him anymore.
"Your Highness, I overheard you talking to that subordinate named Huaishang yesterday."
The Prince of Jin's expression changed instantly.
"Are you threatening me?" He looked at the small child in front of him with a complicated expression.
The Prince of Jin was furious because Linlin dared to bring this matter up; if he were truly ruthless, he would never have let him leave this door!
"I won't tell anyone, not a single person." Linlin cried. "I won't tell anyone, I just beg you not to make things difficult for my mother, she's my mother!"
He cried very sadly, his little body trembling like a leaf swaying in the wind and rain.
The Prince of Jin helped him up and wiped away his tears. "Why are you crying? Is this how you should negotiate with me?"
Linlin choked back tears, "Your Highness, I don't want to cry. I know you don't like me crying. But, but I also know that from now on, you will never like me again."
He learned the Prince of Jin's deepest secret—a secret that could lead to the Prince of Jin's death.
If he doesn't say anything, he can continue to regard the Prince of Jin as a respected elder and receive his care.
But now, he had no choice but to speak.
He was well aware of what it meant to break through this barrier.
So today, he pathetically wanted to cry.
He is about to lose his hero.
The Prince of Jin was deeply shocked.
He never knew that such a young child could have such profound thoughts and such rich emotions.
He cherished and loved himself, but had to give up for his family, and suffered because of it.
Prince of Jin pulled Linlin into his arms, gently stroking his back, while mentally condemning the Tang Family once again.
Can't these people just give their kids a break?!