After hearing what Yanran said, Tang Zhuyun felt terrible.
Cui Xiaoqiu... he's so considerate of Yanran.
Like a scumbag, he used sweet words and flattery in the early stages.
Yanran laughed heartlessly, "Mother, he must have found out about this through a concubine and wanted to show off in front of me, but... it's hilarious!"
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
Suddenly, I felt a little sorry for Cui Xiaoqiu.
She also raised a son.
Imagine if Linlin liked such a clueless, straightforward girl; she would definitely say, "Son, how about we find someone else?"
I wonder what kind of woman Linlin will like in the future.
Is it really Lang Xuan, as Emperor Wen said?
If not, then what kind of woman would she be?
"Mother, Cui Xiaoqiu is very good to me." Unexpectedly, Yanran changed the subject, "So, Mother, if it really is targeting me, and if it really was Madam Cui's doing, then... spare her this time, just lock her up, so that at least Cui Xiaoqiu will still have someone to call 'Mother'."
She can't tolerate any flaws.
But if the sand were someone else, they would definitely have to knead it out with all their might; but if it were Cui Xiaoqiu, then crying it out would probably be enough.
After all, he was the person who had been kind to her throughout her childhood; he was family.
Tang Zhuyun patted Yanran's head. "Okay."
"But it can't be her." Yanran quickly dispelled the sadness in her voice. "She's so stupid. It must be that all her intelligence and wit were absorbed by Cui Xiaoqiu when she was pregnant, hehe."
Tang Zhuyun smiled and shook her head, saying, "Until the matter is investigated thoroughly, you are truly not allowed to leave the palace this time."
She could never bring herself to be harsh with this daughter.
I've said many times before that I'd keep her focused on her studies, but I can never bring myself to do it.
There's no other way; she's my only daughter, and even if she's a bit of a drafty damsel in distress, she's still my precious little darling.
"I'm not going. I'll stay in the palace and play with my younger brothers."
"And Wu Yu."
Yanran: "..."
My mother is quite the chatterbox; she killed the conversation in no time.
Thankfully it was her; she wasn't angry.
Yanran is indeed reliable when it comes to important matters; if she says she won't leave the palace, she really won't.
Of her younger brothers, Wuxian disliked her the most because he Wuxian, orderly, and tidy, but this older sister of his was just a thorn in his side.
My favorite character is Wuji, especially her golden bow.
Yanran teased him, "When your sister gets a big golden bow, I'll give you this little golden bow."
Wu Ji nodded Wuji, even though he could barely walk steadily at that moment.
Yanran then scolded Wu Yu, "Why don't you study? You have a younger brother now, aren't you setting a good example for him?"
Wu Yu: "I also have an older brother, and I'm more successful than him."
Yanran: "..."
Unable to argue further, she smacked Wu Yu on the head. "Starting tomorrow, you'll be going to the Imperial Academy!"
"The Imperial Academy won't accept someone as young as me." Wu Yu wasn't stupid.
"Then I'll find someone to teach you!"
"Cousin, please teach me. My teacher is too strict, I'm scared," Wu Yu said pitifully.
Yanran: Although I like to teach, my level of knowledge doesn't allow it!
"I'm bringing so many people," Yanran casually pointed to her younger siblings, feigning seriousness, "I don't have that much time. I can teach you riding and archery. After all, your father is a general, you can't be too weak, otherwise, how can you face me?"
Wu Yu: "I'll listen to my cousin."
So, Yanran became Wu Yu's Master Wu and immediately began to teach him.
Wu Yu squatted in a horse stance, his face flushed red, covered in sweat, and his legs trembling; Wuji followed along beside him, eagerly imitating him.
Guagua wanted to learn too, but Wuxian stopped her, saying, "It's ugly! Guagua won't go!"
"If you won't bring the melon, then come on over!" Yanran couldn't help but scold.
A boy with so many flaws just needs a good spanking.
Wuxian turned his head away and ignored her, but he held onto Guagua's hand tightly and wouldn't let go.
Wuji then teased Eighth Master, "Call me Dad."
Eighth Master: "Call me Dad!"
Wuji: "I am your father!"
Eighth Master: "I'm your father!"
"You always copy me, but you don't learn what you should!" Wuji furious.
Eighth Master: "You little brat, you're not even fully grown yet and you're already trying to flirt with your older sister!"
Yanran: "Eighth Master, do you want your feathers plucked?"
Eighth Master immediately deflated.
Wuji: "Hehe, thank you, big sister!"
Xiu'er, carrying the things, went to see Nanxing again. "This bird's nest porridge was cooked by Her Majesty herself, and the vegetable rolls were also made by Her Majesty. I heard you wanted to eat this yesterday, but it wasn't to your liking, so Her Majesty immediately arranged to make it for you..."
Nanxing said, "You shouldn't have mentioned it to the Empress. I was just appeasing Pei Shen; he always treats me like a pig. How about you?"
"It's nothing, I just dream about having a son."
"Why are you so obsessed with having a son?" Nanxing asked, puzzled.
"The Emperor bestowed the Earl of Liyang of Song Jingyang a couple of days ago, did you know that?"
"Oh dear, Auntie!" Nanxing joked, "But I really didn't know."
"I didn't let anyone make a fuss. So many eyes are on the Emperor! Besides, if we make too much noise, wouldn't we just get ourselves into trouble? Even so, so many people are still trying to take advantage of the fact that I don't have a son and want to send their daughters to my household!"
"Song Jingyang won't take it," Nanxing said. "Huaishang won't either. They've all followed the Emperor since childhood, and their hearts are pure."
"Huaishang is just reluctant to spend money. Our Song Jingyang is truly righteous, but he can't help it when people gossip behind his back, saying he has no son."
Song Jingyang didn't care, but she felt sorry for Song Jingyang!
"Don't bring this up," Nanxing said. "It's not worth wasting each other's time on mutual pity. Your children are all yours. Putting aside what others might say, isn't it better that your mother raised you than a son? You had eight daughters, and they all married like you. Do you still have any regrets?"
Xiu'er burst into laughter at her words, saying, "If you put it that way, I think having a daughter isn't so bad."
"It's already pretty good. If you have a daughter, we can become in-laws."
"Alright. But it's agreed that we need to find someone who can become the heir apparent, so that my daughter can become a marquis's wife in the future."
"Then I'll try to die sooner and give way to you?" Nanxing said expressionlessly.
Xiu'er burst into laughter again.
Suddenly, she felt very happy. The Empress gave birth to a bunch of sons, Nanxing gave birth to sons, and her daughter was just too good!
"Will everyone try to steal my melon then?" Xiu'er asked slyly.
Nanxing: "You forgot, there's also the Bai Jian."
Poor Bai Jiande, his real name became his nickname, and everyone Jinjin.
"Sigh, Xiaobai won't do. With her stingy nature, she'll definitely end up marrying into her family. Even a mouse that gets into her house will have to shed a layer of skin to get out."
Being stingy means being extremely stingy, even more so than one's teacher.
Nanxing was amused by her words and said, "Mianmian is pregnant too, a month ahead of you."
"Now we'll have to have a child as generous as Mianmian."
After chatting and laughing for a while, Nanxing finished her meal, and the wet nurse brought Pei Zheng over so Nanxing could breastfeed him.
Xiu'er's eyes widened. "You... you can do that too?"
"Why can't I? I'm just mixing in fakes, not replacing the real ones with fakes," Nanxing said seriously.
Xiu'er: "If I had known, I would have gotten it done too..."
It's not too late now.
"Forget it, I find it too cumbersome."
As the conversation went on, the topic turned back to the Yanran attempt on Yanran.
"Don't worry, Cui Xiaoqiu is very cunning. Not only will he be able to find out the truth about this, he might even be able to pull off some amazing schemes," Xiu'er said.
Nanxing looked incredulous.