The Emperor smiled and asked Yanran, "How old are you after the New Year?"
Yanran said loudly, "Reporting to Grandfather, it's past the eleventh of the new year."
"Time flies!" the Emperor exclaimed to Consort De beside him. "Children age us all. Yanran is already eleven years old. How can I not age?"
Yanran said in a clear, crisp voice, "May my imperial grandfather be as vigorous as a dragon and a horse, live a long and prosperous life, as enduring as the heavens, as blessed as the Eastern Sea, and as long-lived as the Southern Mountain..."
Everyone: "..."
Tang Zhuyun's stomach ached from trying to suppress her laughter.
This child is just so mischievous.
The Emperor laughed and scolded, "You little monkey! You're a princess now, you should be dignified and quiet. Look at you jumping around and talking nonsense, making yourself a laughingstock."
"Hehe, I'm so happy to have just become a princess. My grandfather doesn't know how much I admire and thank you, my heart is as boundless as a surging river..."
"What a lively child," Consort De said with a smile, her words carrying a deeper meaning.
However, beneath her sleeves, she clenched her fists so tightly that her nails almost crushed her palms.
For two or three decades, her nightmares have never stopped.
Xiao Wu, her ghost won't leave me!
With such a face, even if he were to ramble on, the Emperor would probably only find it Lovely.
The Emperor said, "I remember, Linlin is the same age as you. Speaking of which, she's almost eleven, the age to be engaged."
Tang Zhuyun's heart skipped a beat, the smile on her face vanished instantly, and her expression changed.
People keep bringing up her jealousy, but at the same time, her children's marriages are already being targeted.
The Prince of Jin held her hand under the table, without turning his head or moving his gaze, and said in a very soft voice, "The only constant in this world is change."
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
My prince is amazing!
Yeah, what's there to be afraid of?
The Emperor probably won't live another five years, but the marriage will definitely have to wait four or five years.
By then, once everything has settled, will breaking off the engagement still be a big deal?
The Emperor turned to Consort De and said, "You should also pay attention to the children's marriages."
Consort De graciously agreed.
Tang Zhuyun really wanted to curse the national essence.
Balance of power my ass! You old codger!
Yanran quickly sat back down, and asked Linlin triumphantly, "Brother, did I remain calm even if Mount Tai collapsed in front of me just now?"
"Yes." Linlin smiled meaningfully at Cui Xiaoqiu.
Some people must be feeling quite conflicted right now after hearing about the marriage.
He himself didn't care.
He would accept any marriage arranged by the emperor.
In matters of marriage, men still have too many dominant advantages.
Yanran seemed worried that Linlin was upset, and looked at him earnestly, saying, "Brother, good things come to those who wait; what's yours will always be yours, no one can take it away. If they do, I'll take it back for you!"
Her brother ruled the country, and she was the sharp sword in his hand!
One day, I will gallop freely on the battlefield, far away from these idiots in the imperial court.
Linlin smiled and said, "I haven't thought that much about it. I'll just let things take their course. Yanran, shouldn't Cui Ling be stepping down next year?"
"The outcome?" Yanran took a moment to realize what she meant. "Probably."
Cui Xiaoqiu will be fourteen after the New Year, it's time for him to try his hand at playing, otherwise he'll waste another three years.
"But actually I think he should have come later," Yanran muttered. "He's too proud. I'm afraid he'll get into trouble if he doesn't pass the exam."
My body was already weak, so... staying alive is the priority.
Linlin replied, "He'll definitely be playing."
Cui Xiaoqiu probably wishes he could get off the field right now.
He desperately needed leverage to match Yanran's.
Tang Zhuyun looked around and muttered, "Wait a minute, where's Nanxing? Why didn't she come tonight? I didn't see Pei Shen either."
Could it be that Pei Shen fell out of favor with the Emperor during the years they were away?
Tang Zhuyun was still worried about Nanxing's health!
After the palace banquet ended, the family returned home and discovered that Nanxing was waiting for them there!
Tang Zhuyun exclaimed in delight, "Come, come, let me see! You've even lost weight compared to before! Is Pei Shen doing any good?!"
Can you please take good care of the person?
Nanxing: "... Just make do with it."
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
Don't drive at night, especially today is the eve of the Lunar New Year, everyone has been drinking, and drunk driving is bad.
"Why are you here in the middle of the night?" Tang Zhuyun pulled her to sit down in front of the brazier, and called for someone to bring sweet potatoes and peanuts to roast, as if she wanted to talk all night long.
The Prince of Jin had already wisely gone to sleep in Linlin's room.
The father and son will probably have a lot to talk about tonight.
"I knocked Pei Shen unconscious before coming out," Nanxing said expressionlessly.
Tang Zhuyun: "... You two, you've still maintained this fine tradition!"
Pei Shen's head looks much thicker at the back now.
Nanxing said, "I wanted to leave early this morning, but he wouldn't let me."
The fact that she could hold out until evening means her temper has improved recently.
"Why can't you go out yet? Did you two have a fight?"
"No, I'm pregnant."
The person who used to vehemently say they didn't want children immediately changed their tune after finding out she was pregnant.
He didn't go anywhere else; he just stayed in the mansion every day, watching her and grinning foolishly.
He's not only stupid himself, but he also won't let Nanxing get out of bed.
Even when Nanxing just went to the outhouse, he was worried he might accidentally spill the baby...
How did he manage to hide his stupidity so well?
"... To be honest, so be it if he's a bit slow. I can't find a better man anyway, so I'll just make do with him," Nanxing said. "But the thought of having a son who's also a bit slow makes me really angry."
Tang Zhuyun was overjoyed.
"Now you're looking down on him? Who was it that was head over heels in love with him back then? Pei Shen's thirty years old, isn't he? At this age, to be a father, it's already a blessing if he doesn't treat you like a precious shrine."
Please be understanding of his excitement about becoming a father.
Tang Zhuyun then asked her if she had morning sickness.
Nanxing shook her head. "Nothing at all. If I hadn't suddenly started bleeding that night, I wouldn't have even known I was pregnant."
She had given up hope of getting pregnant, but unexpectedly, she became pregnant.
At this point, Nanxing said that she would have to thank Xiaobai properly later.
She and Huaishang had always been close, but later she became close to Mianmian.
After Xiaobai was born, she naturally had to go and give a gift.
She hugged Xiaobai, only to have the boy pee all over her.
But everyone joked that she would have good news too, and unexpectedly, she really got pregnant.
Tang Zhuyun said, "The bleeding at night means you two definitely didn't do anything good."
However, she could never keep up with Nanxing's driving speed, so she didn't tease her, but only took her pulse.
"It's been two months, it's very stable, no need to worry."
"Yes." Nanxing nodded. "Now that Her Majesty is back, I'm even less afraid."
Tang Zhuyun told her about what happened at the palace banquet that evening.
Nanxing sneered, "That old man always knows how to be disgusting. Your Highness, what exactly is the Prince's plan?"
"Whatever our plans, we have to wait until the Northwest is pacified."
Moreover, given the Emperor's health condition, his time is near; he has at most a few years left.
It would be a waste for the Prince of Jin to ascend the throne with a reputation for disloyalty and unfilial piety.
However, these matters should still be discussed and decided by the father and son.