The couple were chatting idly when Yanran burst in.
"It's snowing outside." She stood at the door, took off her cloak and draped it on the rack, shook the snow off her head, and said with a grin.
Seeing her relaxed demeanor, Tang Zhuyun guessed that she was unaware that the assassin was targeting Madam Cui.
Sure enough, Yanran rubbed her hands together and walked over, sitting down next to Emperor Wen. She asked, "Father, have you found out the truth?"
Emperor Wen said, "It is Madam Cui."
"Which Madam Cui? It can't be Cui Xiaoqiu's mother, can it?"
"It's her."
Yanran: "!!!"
"Father, how is that possible? How could Cui Xiaoqiu's mother have such a large sum of money? If you said it was Cui Xiaoqiu's grandmother, I would believe you. But his mother... really..."
Not convincing at all.
Yanran stated that she was impartial.
Don't mistake the suspect for someone else.
"There might be something wrong with the Cui Family, but this is something Cui Xiaoqiu's mother couldn't have done."
Emperor Wen said calmly, "I only look at the evidence."
"Alright then..."
Yanran felt a headache for Cui Xiaoqiu.
She stayed there for a while, then said she had a headache and needed to go back to rest.
Tang Zhuyun glanced at Emperor Wen, her eyes clearly saying, "Don't let her leave; she's definitely going to find Cui Xiaoqiu."
She can't always be the bad guy; her father should also speak up from time to time.
Emperor Wen said, "Go."
Yanran went outside and found a guard she had become familiar with. "Before the palace gates close, go and call Cui Xiaoqiu for me. Just tell him I'm waiting for him at the palace gate."
The guard obeyed and left.
Meanwhile, someone had already relayed these words to Emperor Wen and his wife.
Emperor Wen chuckled, "See, he's not entirely muddle-headed after all."
It has already been said that the matter points to the Cui Family. Before the truth comes out, going to the Cui Family is putting yourself in danger.
So calling Cui Xiaoqiu over was a good idea.
Tang Zhuyun replied, "The Cui Residence must be in chaos right now; Cui Xiaoqiu might not be able to get out."
He will definitely come.
He needed to find out my attitude and also to find out what evidence I had.
Tang Zhuyun thought about it and realized that was indeed the case.
However, she instructed her guards to simply follow from a distance and not to eavesdrop on their conversation.
These two are not children anymore.
Even Yanran has grown into a young woman.
Tang Zhuyun seemed to have an idea, so she had Emperor Wen coax the children while she went to her desk and began writing a "Reader on Adolescence".
She needs to provide Yanran with sufficient physiological and psychological education during puberty so that she can smoothly transition from a child to an adult.
As a mother, watching my daughter grow up fills me with joy and pride.
But the thought that growing up means independence or even leaving home always brings a touch of melancholy to a mother's heart.
Tang Zhuyun experiencing mixed emotions, writing intermittently.
Tang Zhuyun wrote in great detail about what daily life was like for Yanran and how to take care of herself, even including pictures to teach Yanran how to use the "little angel" (a type of baby care device).
The child his mother was worried about was sitting in the pavilion at the palace gate, talking to Cui Xiaoqiu.
"It's definitely not your mother. But... is it your family? But I haven't offended your family, have I?"
Cui Xiaoqiu's expression was unreadable; she said, "I don't know."
He didn't want to lie to Yanran.
He hasn't figured out the truth yet, which means the Cui Family is also a suspect, including his mother.
"Yanran, don't trust Cui Family, even if they come looking for you under my name."
"No way," Yanran said in disbelief. "I don't think your family would go so far as to do this... What good would it do? My father is already the Emperor, you can't possibly expect your grandfather to be loyal to my grandfather and want to support him again, can you?"
"I don't know, I'm investigating too." Cui Xiaoqiu looked at Yanran, finally showing a slight smile. "Luckily, you didn't suspect me."
"Fool, we grew up together, how could I doubt you? What good would it do you if I died?" Yanran rolled her eyes. "Hurry back and find a way to investigate and prove your innocence; as for Father Emperor, I'll try to stall him for a while."
If Madam Cui really did appear in court, would Cui Xiaoqiu be beaming with pride?
"Okay." Cui Xiaoqiu accepted her kindness.
Yanran, being a straightforward person, waved her hand and said, "Then you should hurry back; time is running out. I also need to go in; the palace gates will be closing soon."
The guards who were supposed to close the palace gates had already come over several times, looking rather mournful.
"Take it easy." Cui Xiaoqiu picked up the lantern from the table and handed it to her.
"No need, they're waiting for me. You still have a bit to walk before you can get on the carriage, so don't fall. I'm off!"
Cui Xiaoqiu watched Yanran leave.
Two eunuchs led the way for her, carrying lanterns; the two red lanterns gradually disappeared into the distance until they vanished behind the slowly closing palace gates...
In the darkness, Cui Xiaoqiu felt an unbearable stinging in her eyes.
Although he knew it was unlikely that the Cui Family was behind it, he couldn't afford the potential consequences.
Cui Xiaoqiu, who has always been full of confidence in herself and felt that her future was in her own hands, is now feeling unprecedented pressure and panic.
It turns out that if his family does anything, he will forever lose the right to stand by her side.
No way!
After a brief moment of disappointment, Cui Xiaoqiu rallied, regaining her usual mature and composed demeanor, and said to her attendant, "Let's go."
Yanran probably called him over just to tell him that she believed in him.
He will not betray this trust.
Even if things take the worst possible turn.
Yanran was indeed feeling down because she was worried about him, but when she returned to Tang Zhuyun, she was back to her carefree and optimistic self.
"Where is Father? Where are Guagua and the others?"
"Your father received your brother's letter and went to convene a meeting of the cabinet ministers overnight," Tang Zhuyun said. "Guagua others have been taken to bed by their wet nurse."
"Is something wrong in Liaodong?"
"Your father said it's not bad news, but I haven't had a chance to ask yet." Tang Zhuyun beckoned to Yanran, "Come here, your mother wants to show you something."
"What?" Yanran asked curiously.
Tang Zhuyun handed her the dozen or so pages of "teaching materials" she had written overnight, and solemnly said, "You're going to grow up now. There are some things your mother mentioned to you before, but you probably don't remember them. Go back and review them carefully. If you don't understand anything, come and ask me. Oh, and there's something else... wait a minute..."
Tang Zhuyun went to find the prepared "little angel," Yanran curiously watched during this time.
She reads very quickly, skimming through the text.
When her gaze fell on the page about daily life, her expression became very strange.
What did she see?!
Tang Zhuyun showed the item to Yanran: "Your mother taught you how to use it. If you suddenly start bleeding one day, don't worry... You'll be bleeding soon too, so it's best to carry it with you at all times..."
Yanran was completely devastated.
Cui Xiaoqiu...
You know too much!
No wonder she's had concubines before!