The Prince of Jin understood her meaning and sneered, "You don't deserve a memorial arch for chastity, but you Shang Ke as well be buried alive with the dead."
Tang Zhuyun: "Human sacrifice? Human sacrifice still exists now?"
How come she's never heard of it?
"Before I die, I will specifically ask for a favor for you."
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
How could it not hurt you to death!
"I have to cut this side of you open," she said, gesturing to the Prince of Prince of Jin's wound. "Otherwise, I can't remove the hidden weapon, and it will hurt a lot. Although I can give you some anesthetic to relieve the pain, it will still hurt a lot afterwards."
"No need for further explanation or anesthetic. I have to attend court; time is running out."
Tang Zhuyun: "Are you crazy?!"
"I said hurry!"
Tang Zhuyun's hands trembled for the first time, not because she lacked confidence, but because there was no anesthesia. She felt like an executioner with every cut she made.
The Prince of Jin bit down hard on the cotton handkerchief, large beads of sweat dripping down his face and into his hair, his veins throbbing, his appearance contorted in a ferocious grimace.
An hour later, both of them were soaked to the bone, as if they had been pulled out of the water.
This special wedding night was truly a bloody battle.
She's such a jinx.
Tang Zhuyun slumped onto the footstool, her voice weak and feeble. "You can't attend court, absolutely not today, unless you're courting death."
"I must go."
"No need." Tang Zhuyun leaned her head against the bedside. "If you choose this day to go out, won't everyone know that you've taken a concubine and had a drunken night with the Crown Prince and the others? Then, even if you have your wedding night and rest for two days, no one will suspect anything."
Although we don't know what Prince of Jin was doing outside that caused his injury, his failure to consult the imperial physician, and his attire, already speak volumes.
--The Prince of Jin is secretly doing something shady.
The Prince of Jin's voice was icy. "What do you know?"
Did Linlin tell her? No, Linlin wouldn't.
"I know nothing," Tang Zhuyun said. "I don't want to know. Just beg Your Highness not to involve me. I'm a concubine; if something happens, can I be dismissed?"
She was looking for a way out for herself.
She might not have realized it before, but after hearing what the Crown Prince and the other princes said, even she, slow to react, understood that the Prince of Jin and they were at odds.
The Prince of Jin ignored her, and after a while said, "Get ready and come to bed with me."
Tang Zhuyun: "You can't move your wound!"
I'll let you into my bed!
"Me, move? I can't..."
"Tang Zhuyun, I'll sew your mouth shut sooner or later."
Even sealing their mouths won't work!
Tang Zhuyun quickly washed herself, changed her clothes, changed the bedding for Prince of Jin, gritted her teeth and took off his clothes, made him lie down, and then crawled inside and lay obediently against the wall.
The Prince of Jin did not attend court and did not get out of bed all day; his meals were delivered to his room.
Tang Zhuyun felt like she was about to turn into a mummy.
She spoke with Prince of Jin about Linlin being beaten the day before, but Prince of Jin dismissed her with the words, "This is a matter between men."
Tang Zhuyun had a vague feeling that the two of them were hiding something from her, so she could only wait and ask Linlin again what he had said to the Prince of Jin.
Her back was really aching from lying down, so she tentatively said, "Your Highness, may I get up and sit up? I can rock the bed."
What's the point of a rocking bed?
"It makes the prince appear vigorous and powerful."
"You'd better lie still and behave yourself," the Prince of Jin gritted his teeth. "Otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite."
"Sigh, Your Highness, you've already had children, don't you understand?"
The Prince of Jin, fearing he would be angered to death by her, told her to get out.
Tang Zhuyun said, "Your Highness, I'm going home to take a look. I'll be back in less than a quarter of an hour."
Linlin and Yanran were sent there in the morning. She went to see the children and also to check on Meng Yulan.
"If you don't want anything to happen to your father and older brother, don't let anyone know I'm injured."
"I understand," Tang Zhuyun said listlessly, feeling like she'd been tricked.
But once she stepped out of that door and returned to the Tang Family, she immediately became happy.
Meng Yulan was feeding the chickens in the yard with her two children.
She had never done this before, and she seemed genuinely interested.
"Sister Meng, I'm back." Tang Zhuyun greeted her with a smile.
Meng Yulan quickly handed the basin of grain to Lüzhu, washed her hands, and asked, "How was it? Did the Prince give you any trouble?"
"No, how could that be!" Tang Zhuyun said, "The Prince and I have a history. Where are you staying? Are you settling in?"
"I... I'll be staying in your room for now." Meng Yulan her head, her face slightly flushed. "I didn't touch your things..."
Whether she was a concubine or a wife, she should have served her husband last night.
However, Tang Baixin did not mention this matter and had Xiu'er take her to Tang Zhuyun's room to rest.
"Sister Meng, please don't be shy, make yourself at home. This house is too small. We'll move to a bigger house someday, and you'll probably complain even if I invite you to stay!"
Seeing that she wasn't angry, Meng Yulan breathed a sigh of relief and said, "A-Yun, I have something to tell you. I left some things at the inn, and over the past few years, I've saved up some money in Shanxi and Suzhou. Could you find a way to help me get it back?"
Tang Zhuyun's mouth watered upon hearing this; Meng Yulan was so shrewd.
The silver I saved up before was definitely for Jiang Beihan, but unfortunately, that guy wasn't lucky enough to have it. He deserved it!
"We can go get the inn's money, but let's discuss the money from other places later."
"Okay, sure. And," Meng Yulan said eagerly as soon as she saw her, "I cooked for Master and Young Master this morning, but I don't know what they like. Can you teach me? Also, if I bring the money back, should I give it to Young Master or Master? Will Young Master be angry?"
Tang Zhuyun laughed and said, "They're all family here. Whatever you cook, they'll eat. You're in charge of the money, not only your own, but also my father's and my elder brother's salaries. Just don't give my father any money, remember that!"
Meng Yulan was confused, but she nodded nonetheless.
--The Tang Family rules rendered all her previous learning useless; she had to slowly relearn them.
"If you've been wronged, don't keep it to yourself. Remember to tell me, and I'll go settle the score with my older brother."
Meng Yulan shook her head. "No, the old man is a very good person. It's you who's difficult to deal with; the prince's hatred for me will likely fall on you as well. Are you alright?"
Today, the two children told me that Tang Zhuyun hasn't gotten up yet and is still in the prince's room. Her heart is constantly in turmoil.
It couldn't be easier for a man to torment a woman.
"I'm fine, perfectly fine. It's just that the Crown Prince and the others came over for drinks yesterday and stayed out too late, which is why the Prince didn't get up today. It has nothing to do with me," Tang Zhuyun said.
Just then, the sound of Tang Baixin arguing with someone came from outside.
Tang Zhuyun didn't recognize the words, but Meng Yulan's face turned pale.
Jiang Beihan.
The faint sound of a woman crying interspersed among the sounds—was it Yingxue?
"A-Yun, don't go. It's my business. I'll go," Meng Yulan, taking a deep breath.
"What do you mean 'yours' and 'mine'? Come on, let's go take a look." Tang Zhuyun rolled up her sleeves.
How dare they come knocking on their door? Are they taking advantage of their family's lack of connections?