Just as I chased those two sworn enemies away, Yanran arrived.
"Didn't you go to deliver food to your brother and Cui Xiaoqiu?" Tang Zhuyun asked with a smile, looking at her sullen expression.
Is today a national day for getting angry?
Why do they all look so miserable and resentful?
She put down the sketchbook in her hand—a "masterpiece" by Xiu'er, depicting the daily lives of Wuji and his brothers, and including their "doodles" at the end, to ease her longing.
Tang Zhuyun misses her child very much, and she also misses Xiu'er and Mingzhu.
But Mingzhu probably won't go to the capital. She and Old Cabbage Stalk will likely just stay in the border town, their relationship remaining in a tangled mess.
However, Song Jingyang and Xiu'er stayed there to look after the three children and to have a backup plan.
If the country is at peace, they will take their three children back to the capital.
That day shouldn't be too far away.
As for Jiang Ruo and Wen Heng, it's unclear how their relationship is progressing, but since Jiang Ruo hasn't been showing up lately, no one's been clamoring to go to the academy anymore.
However, with the autumn imperial examinations approaching, Yanran is now thinking about Cui Xiaoqiu, Cui Xiaoqiu caught a cold a few days ago. So now she goes to deliver food to him every day, while counting down the remaining days on her fingers.
One, two, three, four, five... only five days left.
Whether it's a mule or a horse, we'll have to put it to the test.
"I went to deliver food, but guess who I saw?"
"Who?"
"Lang Jiu!"
Tang Zhuyun hadn't reacted yet. "Who?"
What is Langjiu?
"That Lang Jiu whom my grandfather betrothed to my brother!" Yanran stomped her feet in anger.
Tang Zhuyun: "Oh, so it's Lang Xuan."
Although she hated the Lang Family, Lang Xuan was only eleven years old and had never met her, so Tang Zhuyun couldn't feel much love or hatred for him.
But judging from Yanran's appearance, Lang Xuan might not be a likable person.
Yanran confirmed, "That's true!"
"She actually went to peep at my brother."
"Peep?"
"Yes." Yanran nodded. "Mother, we can't let her in. That Lang Xuan is too cunning."
How so?
She was secretly watching my older brother from the side, her eyes filled with tears, as if she were seeing her long-lost parents.
Yanran felt at a loss for words, unable to even describe that feeling.
Anyway, they pretended to be very sincere.
If she didn't know it was Lang Xuan, she would have thought that Lang Xuan and her older brother were childhood sweethearts, like herself and Cui Xiaoqiu, who had been reunited after a long separation!
The green tea is too green.
What if you manage to fool your own family?
Tang Zhuyun and Yanran were always worried that the other was naive.
Yanran was still thinking, what experience does her older brother have with women? She hoped he wouldn't be fooled by Lang Xuan's innocent face.
To be fair, Lang Xuan is quite pretty.
With a small face, skin as white as snow, eyebrows like distant mountains, and eyes as black as lacquer, she was a beauty that was unforgettable at first glance.
Tang Zhuyun frowned upon hearing this.
But she still voiced her doubts.
How did you recognize Lang Xuan?
In Tang Zhuyun's memory, this Lang Xuan seemed to have never socialized.
Yanran blushed.
Seeing this, Tang Zhuyun straightened her face. "Tell the truth!"
Yanran looked down at the tips of her shoes and stammered, "I must meet the person my grandfather arranged the marriage for my elder brother."
"So, when and where did you see her?" Tang Zhuyun had a bad feeling.
Sure enough, Yanran's voice was barely audible. "I haven't been able to sleep at night lately, so I go for a walk tonight..."
"Then, by accident, he wandered onto the roof of the Lang Family's house, and happened to wander into Lang Xuan's residence?"
"Mother is wise! That's exactly it! Mother, I need to be more careful..."
Tang Zhuyun: "Shut up right now."
Sooner or later, this troublesome child will give me a heart attack.
What if I go there in the middle of the night and get caught? How can I save face?
"Mother," Yanran quickly changed the subject, "Really, listen to me, Lang Jiu is absolutely out of the question!"
"What's wrong with her?" Tang Zhuyun asked with a stern face, though she was also curious.
"She's two-faced!"
"Um?"
Is such a judgment necessary for an eleven-year-old girl?
"It really is my mother," Yanran said confidently, "I went to the Lang Family the very night the imperial decree arrived. She made a scene in front of everyone, threatening to kill herself and even trying to hang herself!"
It made her so angry she wanted to tie an unsolvable knot in Lang Jiu's hair!
What happened next?
"When I went to see her again later, she didn't say she didn't want to get married anymore; she said she was sick." Yanran rolled her eyes as she spoke.
She'd never seen anyone so dramatic!
What's even more outrageous is that she's now followed him all the way to the Imperial Academy.
Isn't the Lang Family known for its strict rules and regulations?
Are you blushing or not?
Tang Zhuyun asked, "Does your older brother know her?"
"You don't know her, do you?" Yanran said after thinking for a moment.
Although Lang Xuan was there, Linlin didn't even glance at her.
"She was raised in seclusion, so how did she know your elder brother?"
Yanran: "... I found out by asking around."
Besides, Linlin is so outstanding; she stands out in a crowd.
What was her purpose in going to see your older brother?
If it were a public refusal of marriage, Tang Zhuyun would find this young girl rather interesting.
"Who knows? Fang Zheng isn't a good thing," Yanran said. "When my brother gets back today, I'll tell him he has to be careful."
Tang Zhuyun rested her chin on her hand and pondered, "I still feel something is strange. Lang Xuan's actions are rather out of line."
Of course, this kind of unconventionality is relative to the refined ladies of wealthy families, not to Yanran.
"We've really committed a grave offense against the Lang Family," Yanran muttered. "They didn't get a single good item; it's so annoying."
Tang Zhuyun said, "Just remind your elder brother, but under no circumstances is he allowed to make a move."
If they strike first, they will easily be criticized.
"I'm not that stupid," Yanran said. "I'll definitely deal with her behind her back."
"If you dare to sneak into the Lang Family at night again, I'll confine you to your quarters!"
Yanran: "... Mother."
"A promise is a promise, no discussion."
Yanran's lips were pouting so much they could practically hold an oil bottle.
When Linlin returned that evening, she embellished the story and told Linlin about it.
"Brother, boys need to take care of themselves when they're out in the world!"
What if Lang Xuan, in a despicable manner, uses some underhanded means to cling to her elder brother and ruin his lifelong reputation?
She'd better be careful.
Linlin smiled and said, "I understand."
"Mother Consort is still criticizing me," Yanran snorted. "I did this all for you. Really, Big Brother, Lang Xuan is no good. The first time I went there, she not only pretended to be dead to scare people, but she also berated the maidservants around her."
Seriously, without exaggeration, it just happens suddenly.
The maid hadn't done anything, yet she was chased out.
If someone like that entered the Prince's mansion, wouldn't he cause utter chaos?
With Yanran around, Lang Xuan can forget about getting into this door!
She's definitely going to be that wicked sister-in-law!