While drinking her porridge, Tang Zhuyun was still thinking about what to bring.
"Oh, right, let's take Yanran with us," she said. "I'm just worried that if we're both gone, the neighbor's thief might sneak in."
She no longer has a high opinion of Cui Xiaoqiu.
The Prince of Jin said, "Very well."
"What about Linlin?" Tang Zhuyun was stumped.
It seems unfair not to bring him, but bringing him might interfere with his studies.
"No need," Prince of Jin said calmly. "He's studying at the Imperial Academy; we can't let that interfere with his studies."
"He's just a figurehead, let's ask him," Tang Zhuyun said. "We should go together."
He doesn't want to go.
"You asked?"
The Prince of Jin said, "These steamed buns are quite good today, you should try them."
Tang Zhuyun was interrupted by him, but subconsciously thought that the Prince of Jin had already given an affirmative answer.
"Hanxiang," Tang Zhuyun reached for a steamed bun, "Go tell the princess to pack her things; we're going to stay at the Great Xiangguo Temple for a few days."
"Yes!"
However, after a while, Hanxiang came to say that Yanran was not in the manor and must have gone out.
"Then let's leave her be," said Prince of Jin. "We'll have Linlin watch over her, and we'll go ourselves."
Tang Zhuyun felt an increasingly strange sensation in her heart.
Why did the Prince of Jin insist on going to the temple?
Does this mean I need to cram for some last-minute help and then... do something big?
"Should I pack all my medicinal herbs into the storeroom and lock them up?" Tang Zhuyun asked tentatively.
That's her precious treasure.
If things get messy, be careful not to damage the medicinal herbs.
"Need not."
Tang Zhuyun: Could she have guessed wrong?
Forget it, whatever, the Prince of Jin can't sell her anyway.
The Prince of Jin instructed Hanxiang, "Go and tell Zhao Kuo to have the carriage prepared and get ready to leave."
"Yes."
Tang Zhuyun opened the trunk and started looking for clothes. "Should I bring you this gray squirrel fur cloak? It must be quite cold up in the mountains."
"I don't need any. You should bring yourself some warm clothes, a few extra layers. We might be staying there for a few more days."
"Oh."
Tang Zhuyun had just finished packing a bundle when Hanxiang rushed in, her face panicked. "Your Highness, Your Highness, it's terrible! The manor is surrounded!"
Tang Zhuyun was greatly surprised.
"Who surrounded us?"
She dreamed that the Prince of Jin would kill the Prince of Ding, but she failed to kill anyone and is now trapped like a turtle in a jar?
Don't panic!
Don't panic!
Typical!
Oh, and there's a tunnel!
There is an underground passage between the Prince's Mansion and the Tang Residence.
It's impossible for the Tang Residence to be surrounded now.
The emperor has become senile, but he is still the same emperor. No matter how the situation changes, his feelings for Tang Mingfan have never changed.
In crucial moments, you still have to rely on your father's coattails!
"Hanxiang, go check if anything's wrong at the Tang Residence."
Hanxiang the order and left.
Tang Zhuyun was surprised to find that the Prince of Jin was in a daze.
Was he spacing out during this life-or-death situation?
Does he still harbor illusions about that father?
Tang Zhuyun didn't expose him, and gritted her teeth, saying, "We have to leave quickly! We can't let them trap us. We'll go through the tunnel to my parents' house, and then..."
The Prince of Jin suddenly laughed.
With relaxed eyebrows and eyes, thousands of pear trees bloom.
He said, "Silly Zhuzi, why go through all that trouble to get to the Tang Family? Wouldn't it be better to just jump over the wall?"
They could even jump to the Cui Family's house!
Tang Zhuyun was dumbfounded.
Her brainstorming session is worthless!
"Then, let's hide in the tunnel." She finally regained some of her senses.
"To prevent us from escaping, both the Tang Family and Cui Family must have heavy guards outside now."
"Could it be that this isn't targeting the Prince's Mansion, but rather my maternal family, or the Cui Family? Have we been implicated?"
What do you think?
"No." Tang Zhuyun said dejectedly.
Seeing the Prince of Jin smile, her heart instantly calmed down, and she even had time to wallow in despair.
"Is it the Emperor?" she asked softly.
Between the Emperor and the Prince of Jin, someone always has to make a decision.
If the emperor is truly eager to take action, perhaps it's a good thing?
The Prince of Jin said calmly, "I don't know."
Tang Zhuyun's eyes widened.
She might not know, but he can't!
He is the pillar of the family; the lives and fortunes of the entire household and even so many people outside depend on Prince of Jin!
"Let them surround it then," said the Prince of Jin. "Let them continue with their business as usual."
"Then, what should I do?" Tang Zhuyun felt like her brain wasn't working properly.
This was her bedmate; she heard every word the Prince of Jin said clearly, but she couldn't understand the meaning when they were put together.
"If there's really nothing to do, why don't we go take a nap?" the Prince of Jin said with a smile.
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
In broad daylight, with enemy troops at the gates, are you still thinking of taking a shot?
You really think your ammunition depot is that useful?
It only works well for me!
Wake up!
"Brother, can you tell me the truth?" Tang Zhuyun wiped the sweat from her forehead with her finger and showed it to Prince of Jin. "Look, look!"
I'm sweating!
The Prince of Jin examined her forehead. "Your forehead is quite broad; you are a blessed person."
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
Are you trying to force her to roar like a shrew?
"A-Yun, go inside and find my private seal for me," the Prince of Jin suddenly said.
Tang Zhuyun: "What are you doing?"
"Since people have come to our door, we can't just sit here and wait to die; we have to fight back."
"So you were prepared all along! You scared me to death!" Tang Zhuyun said. "Wait here, I'll go get it for you right away!"
Beat them! Beat them to death! Beat their Zidu out!
If this matter isn't resolved today, how can things be good in the future?
Even someone as peaceful as Tang Zhuyun was provoked into anger today.
I'd rather live standing than die kneeling.
If they're courting death, then let them die!
Prince of Jin calmly followed Tang Zhuyun inside.
Tang Zhuyun opened the chest and found the brocade box containing the Prince of Jin's private seal.
The brocade box was locked, so she crawled under the bed and pried the key off the bed frame from underneath.
Prince of Jin: "... You've kept it well hidden."
You can't guard against thieves within your own ranks.
Tang Zhuyun: "Nonsense, this is our lifeline, how can we not be careful?"
She got the key, crawled out from under the bed, and opened the brocade box.
Empty?
Empty!
Where the seal was placed, only the indentation remained; the personal seal had vanished without a trace.
Tang Zhuyun panicked.
How could she let us down at such a crucial moment!
Seeing her pale face, the Prince of Jin put his arm around her shoulder. "You've hidden yourself so well, and everyone around you has been carefully selected. There won't be any slip-ups. It could be Linlin or Yanran..."
"I didn't tell them!" Tang Zhuyun's face was deathly pale, and her whole body was ice cold.
"Perhaps I let it slip by accident."
Tang Zhuyun: "Who did you tell?"
"Linlin."
"Linlin stole it? What would he do with this?" Tang Zhuyun still didn't believe it.
"Perhaps it's just a loan, it's nothing." Prince of Jin remained very calm.
Tang Zhuyun finally realized something was wrong. "What kind of riddles are you playing on me? Tell the truth!"
You can't bully others just because you're smart!