"Mother, Mother!" Yanran's cheerful voice interrupted Tang Zhuyun's reverie, "Can I go with my brother?"
What my brother and father were saying was that there was internal strife in Goryeo, Tatars in the north were also making moves—ultimately, it was because the Prince of Liaodong was becoming increasingly incompetent that these people thought they had an opportunity to take advantage of the situation.
The specific details remained unknown to Yanran.
But she knew a war was about to break out!
Tang Zhuyun, seeing the little flames burning in her eyes, was exasperated and couldn't help but tap her forehead with her index finger, saying, "Why are you acting like a warmonger? Can't you behave yourself?"
"Mother, you're wrong," Yanran retorted indignantly. "They're the ones who started the war; I'm the one protecting our country, a woman who's just as capable as any man."
"No." Tang Zhuyun refused without hesitation.
Yanran is too impulsive and brave, always taking the lead. If she were to go, Tang Zhuyun would probably lose sleep over it.
Yanran: "... Mother, Mother..."
"Nothing I say will change anything. You need to give up on this idea," Tang Zhuyun said. "There are many people over there; they won't miss you. Your brother is going too; aren't you going to stay and keep me company?"
"But," Yanran hesitated, but still said, "Xiu'er will definitely bring Wuji Guagua back... You'll probably find it troublesome then."
"You're not a fish, how can you know the joy of a fish? I just enjoy being bothered by kids." Tang Zhuyun lied through her teeth. "Anyway, don't even think about it, there's no door, no window!"
Yanran: "... Or, I won't go to war, I'll go, I'll go..."
"You're going to be a strategist? Hah." Tang Zhuyun rolled her eyes.
Yanran: "I'm going to be a pimp!"
Tang Zhuyun gritted her teeth. "Say that again!"
This child, who spends her days mingling in the streets, knows everything and dares to say anything. Tang Zhuyun was so angry with her that her head was throbbing.
"No, Mother, it's Xiao Ye!" Yanran said matter-of-factly, "I'll go catch a female eagle for Xiao Ye! What if Xiao Ye has no descendants?"
The gyrfalcon originates from Liaodong, but it is extremely difficult to find and tame.
Tang Zhuyun: "You're meddling too much. Do you think Xiao Ye, kept in a cage, won't go find it himself? From now on, you're not allowed to run away. You'll study in the palace for three months first."
The new emperor has just ascended the throne, and the retired emperor has abdicated. It's still unknown what rumors are circulating about him.
If Yanran to kill Prince of Ding, the Zidu probably drown her in their spittle.
Moreover, even a centipede with a hundred legs will not fall down after it dies; in recent years, with the support of Consort De and the Lang Family, Prince of Ding has recruited quite a few talented people.
Among those people, there are always those who have received kindness and support, and are devoted to them wholeheartedly.
It's difficult to catch them all at once; it takes time for the damage to be done, so the outside world is still very dangerous.
Yanran slapped her thigh and sighed, "That's what they call trying to steal a chicken but losing the rice instead!"
She couldn't go, and was even grounded; she's so pitiful.
Tang Zhuyun glared at her. "You better behave yourself and stop causing trouble. I'm having a headache thinking about your brother. If you stir things up again, your father will give you a beating, and you'll be stuck in bed all the time."
"If you'd just give me a beating, I'd be willing to go to Liaodong."
Tang Zhuyun laughed in exasperation, "You're really something, aren't you? Are you going to crawl there?"
Yanran: "... Hmph!"
The concubine became the empress and started bullying people.
"Your brother," Tang Zhuyun said after a moment's thought, "I'm afraid we can't stop him."
Linlin has been determined since childhood. Once she has made up her mind, she has thought out most of the details, leaving no room for negotiation.
"Why did you stop me?" Yanran asked. "I think my brother is absolutely right!"
Tang Zhuyun: "Going to Liaodong is fine..."
A mother worries when her son travels a thousand miles, especially when the situation there is complicated.
"... I refuse to let the Court of Judicial Review interrogate and investigate him."
"I don't want to either!"
"But," Tang Zhuyun said, her heart filled with mixed emotions, "We don't have the final say."
The child is so opinionated.
"Our word doesn't count, Father Emperor's word does!" Yanran said. "You should try to persuade him!"
Tang Zhuyun was so angry that she looked everywhere for something to hit her.
These kids are getting more and more unruly!
How come I never realized she was so outrageous before?
They were all promoted by Cui Xiaoqiu.
No matter what Yanran did, Cui Xiaoqiu would only clap and cheer, then quietly clean up the mess.
Yanran pierced the sky; he was Nuwa, the Nüwa who mended it.
Yanran wants the sun, he can become Kuafu the sun.
Unbelievable! Are all kids these days so capable?
When she was that age, all she did was outsmart her parents, just to get a few more glimpses of TV.
Yanran laughed loudly and jumped away, "Mother, everyone says you've bewitched Father, you must live up to this honor!"
"Shut up right now!" Tang Zhuyun was so angry her heart was pounding.
She's so useless.
She couldn't handle either of her two children, one obedient and one disobedient.
But she thought she would have a good talk with the man when he came back.
Linlin wanted to go and gain experience, and she was reluctant to let her go, but she didn't want to hold her back. However, she absolutely couldn't let the child bear the brunt of this terrible crime on her own.
Otherwise, what's the point of keeping those two useless parents around?
Yanran said, "Since you dislike me so much, just let me out quickly so I can go and annoy someone else."
Thinking of the troublesome Cui Family, Tang Zhuyun blurted out, "If you can still be this scrambling around when you encounter a strict mother-in-law in the future, then you'll be considered successful."
Never be a bully at home and then swallow your pride and become so humble for the sake of a man.
If that were to happen, she might die young from resentment.
"Hahaha," Yanran as if she had heard a funny joke, "Don't worry about that, I definitely won't cause you any trouble. I'm not getting married, so where would I get a mother-in-law? But you are, you'll be a mother-in-law in the future, and a mother-in-law of four daughters-in-law at that, tsk tsk, you'd better treat them all equally and not be a wicked mother-in-law."
This little gadget always manages to confuse people without them even realizing it.
Tang Zhuyun's head started to ache at the thought of being dragged over the wall by her four daughters-in-law.
But what's remarkable about Yanran is that she can pretend to be clueless and steer the conversation back to the topic she wants to discuss.
"Mother, I can go protect my brother. Look how far away it is, are you sure you'll trust him to go alone? I always listen to him. If you're worried, let him watch over me!"
Clearly, she hadn't given up.
Tang Zhuyun: "Don't even think about it. For the next three months, you'll stay in the palace to cultivate your character. If you're really lonely, you can invite your friends to come and play, but you're not allowed to go out."
Yanran is a social butterfly and can't live without excitement, so Tang Zhuyun gave in as well.
"Okay, fine," Yanran pouted, reluctantly agreeing.
She had already seen through this family long ago.
Other people's decisions can be negotiated, including those of the emperor who has the final say; but once the empress dowager makes a decision, there's no going back.
Who can blame Father for being susceptible to pillow talk!
"What happened to the people from the Prince of Ding's Residence's residence?" Tang Zhuyun asked again.