"So surprised?" The Prince of Jin chuckled at her adorable expression. "What, can't I have a close friend?"
"Honest and frank? You and Yuan Fang are that close?"
"Mutual appreciation."
"Oh," Tang Zhuyun said, "No wonder you were worried about the Prince of Min's Residence and then the Prince of Liaodong's Residence's Mansion, but not the Prince Who Guards the South's Residence."
Turns out, he has a good buddy.
"I have no relation to Yuan Yi whatsoever," the Prince of Jin said solemnly. "I am not her father or brother, and I cannot control whether she marries or not, but I do not want to take the blame for this."
It has nothing to do with him.
"I know." Tang Zhuyun reached out and hooked her arm around his neck. "You two knew each other first. If you really wanted something to happen, what would I have to do with it?"
"It tastes sour." Prince of Jin lifted her up, supporting her by her hips, and hoisted her onto his waist. "Give me one, so you won't overthink things."
Tang Zhuyun: "I didn't! Don't slander me!"
This guy seizes every opportunity to get into bed, has no shame!
"That was my petty thinking; punish me."
Tang Zhuyun wanted to cry but had no tears.
She never said he was too old again...
If she made a mistake, can't we just let her reflect on it herself? There's no need for this kind of physical "punishment."
The next day, when Ren Yingying came over for a casual visit, she noticed Tang Zhuyun wearing a high-necked top and clicked her tongue, saying, "It's obvious she was seduced!"
There's no conflict between loving couples that can't be resolved with a good night's sleep.
If one nap doesn't work, take another.
"Yes, I slept with him and got him," Tang Zhuyun said shamelessly.
Ren Yingying didn't tease her, but instead leaned closer and asked mischievously, "What kind of feeling is that?"
"Why don't you try and see?" Tang Zhuyun mocked her. "You call yourself a modern person? What are you dawdling for? Are you afraid Qu Nian will abandon you after starting something?"
I doubt Qu Nian's abilities.
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
"Isn't it said that men are like wolves and tigers?" Ren Yingying snorted. "We've been sleeping in the same bed for quite a while now."
"Oh, so Qu Nian is just a hypocrite," Tang Zhuyun said. "It's alright, anyway, you two are truly in love, and I think you're doing just fine as you are."
"Pah! A full stomach doesn't know the hunger of an empty one." Ren Yingying spat at her. "Find a chance to show it to Qu Nian."
"I've already shown it to him."
"When?"
"Back when he fell ill and then came to the border town to find you," Tang Zhuyun said. "Have you forgotten? I took his pulse. He was perfectly fine, not at all."
Ren Yingying: "Maybe it got frozen when they were looking for Dog Meat later?"
Tang Zhuyun: "You're asking me?"
Ren Yingying stroked her chin. "Let me think about how to try..."
I wonder if one injection will work?
After discussing topics unsuitable for children, Ren Yingying asked Tang Zhuyun, "Did Yuan Yi send an invitation to see you?"
"No."
"She has no manners," Ren Yingying couldn't help but say. "Yesterday, her brother was so rude, even making a scene so everyone knew she wouldn't marry for the sake of the Prince of Jin. Shouldn't he have come to your door to explain?"
Tang Zhuyun replied, "What did she say when she came to explain?"
It's awkward either way, so it's better not to come.
Her consistent attitude towards "love rivals" is: don't bother them, it's best not to see them.
If a meeting is unavoidable, it will either lead to a tense standoff or each person harboring their own agendas. Why bother?
Unexpectedly, Yanran saw it first.
Jiang Ruo dragged Yanran to deliver meals to Linlin and Cui Xiaoqiu every day, hoping to "bump into" Wen Heng.
Linlin didn't actually like eating alone, and subtly hinted to Yanran not to bring her food anymore.
He also disliked the way people stared at Yanran with curious eyes.
Yanran's reputation is much greater than his.
Everyone wanted to see what kind of charm this woman, who could wield a golden bow and shoot an arrow through a willow leaf from a hundred paces away, possessed.
But Yanran was always smiling, like a cheerful girl next door, without any airs.
Everyone was somewhat dazed.
Is this really the legendary woman?
"He's out, he's out, Wen Heng is out!" Jiang Ruo nervously tugged at Yanran's sleeve, her voice trembling slightly, but she didn't dare look directly at him. She could only pretend to talk to Cui Xiaoqiu in front of her, "Cui Xiaoqiu, eat more, eat more to grow taller."
Cui Xiaoqiu: "..."
Being around people like that all the time will lower Yanran's IQ...
Wen Heng, carrying his books, walked past them without glancing to the side. The wind lifted the corner of his starched, faded robe, revealing glimpses of his equally faded black trousers underneath.
Jiang Ruo was on the verge of tears.
When Wen Heng entered the princess's residence, he was dressed in such humble clothes, yet still clean and tidy.
She felt sorry for him and made him more than a dozen sets of clothes, from the inside out.
But now, he's back to how he was before...
He clearly saw himself, but pretended not to.
Jiang Ruo's eyes were swollen from crying.
On the way back, Yanran said, "We really can't bring food anymore. I feel like our coming here is disturbing Cui Xiaoqiu's studies."
Linlin didn't care and didn't participate; but Cui Xiaoqiu had exams coming up in the fall.
"Can't even a Juren pass the provincial examination?" Jiang Ruo asked. "Wen Heng was the top scholar in the examination, and then the Jieyuan, almost achieving the triple crown. He could definitely have been the Zhuangyuan, but the Emperor only made him the Tanhua because he was young and handsome."
"What's it to you?"
Jiang Ruo so angry that she cried.
How can it be unrelated?
Wen Heng isn't outstanding; would she even notice him?
But later...
Forced relationships are never sweet.
Yanran said, "Besides, Cui Xiaoqiu was only thirteen, while Wen Heng was already quite old back then."
Seventeen.
"Not by much," Yanran said truthfully. "But even if Cui Xiaoqiu doesn't pass, she can only take the exam again in three years at sixteen."
Okay, that's settled then. If Cui Xiaoqiu doesn't get in, that's how she'll comfort him.
I'm young, so I'm not afraid.
The carriage suddenly stopped, Jiang Ruo, who was sobbing, was almost thrown forward.
Yanran reached out and pulled her along, while simultaneously lifting the curtain with her other hand to look ahead.
It turned out that this was an intersection, and another carriage was speeding past from the opposite direction, nearly causing a collision between the two vehicles.
The coachman went down to check, then returned to report, "Princess, it's the carriage of the Princess of Prince Who Guards the South's Residence."
Yanran's eyes lit up.
Isn't this the woman who refused to marry because of her father?
"Go now, I'll come back to apologize later." A clear and decisive female voice suddenly came from the other end of the line.