However, upon further reflection, Song Jingyang remembered the Prince of Prince of Jin's injury. No, the Prince is not fit now; repaying his debt of gratitude with his own body is a matter for the future.
He cleared his throat and bowed his head to serve the tea.
"Hold down your prince!" Tang Zhuyun said fiercely.
Song Jingyang now views Tang Zhuyun with newfound respect, his admiration flowing like a mighty river.
--No one but Tang Zhuyun would dare to smash the Seventh Prince into a turtle's shell.
However, while admiration is admirable, helping her win over the prince is inappropriate in this situation.
"Aunt..."
"Who's your aunt! Quickly check if your prince's wound has reopened. I'm going to get the medicine box."
She lifted her skirt and ran out.
Song Jingyang: "Oh, Your Highness, shall I help you take it off, or will you take it off yourself?"
Prince of Jin: "Did you see clearly how skillfully she took down the Seventh Prince?"
Song Jingyang: "No, I didn't see it clearly..."
At the time, he was busy being indignant and cursing Tang Zhuyun for being fickle and incorrigible. He never imagined that he would feel so good about it later.
It was so exhilarating that Song Jingyang felt it would be worth it for the prince to sacrifice himself tonight.
"I think Miss Tang is quite nice."
Your Highness, please give in.
Who has such a fierce concubine! Coupled with her sharp tongue that can sweep away a thousand armies, who can stop her!
Although Your Highness may feel wronged, we are currently facing internal and external troubles and numerous threats, and we need your help!
Your Highness, please bear with this! These were Song Jingyang's true feelings.
Tang Zhuyun rushed back with her medicine kit.
"You take this with you when you go out?"
The straw curtains around the pergola were Zidu lowered, so people outside couldn't see clearly what was happening inside; they could only vaguely make out the figures of the two people.
"Of course, taking a child out, especially on horseback, what if the child gets scraped or hurt?" Tang Zhuyun said, "Oh, I knew it, look, isn't it cracked?"
The lighting was poor, but fortunately Tang Zhuyun was skilled enough to quickly reapply the medicine and bandage the Prince of Jin.
She wisely refrained from asking about his assassination attempt on the crown prince.
However, Tang Zhuyun had a vague feeling that her father and brother had probably misjudged him.
The man who could assassinate the crown prince is said to be indifferent to worldly affairs and therefore unfit to be emperor?
"Why did you help me today?" the Prince of Jin asked slowly.
"I tolerated his arrogance, but bringing up things that upset the two children is shameless!" Tang Zhuyun said angrily. "Let him suffer this injustice today! I don't believe he'll have the face to go out and say he was taken down by a woman."
"Didn't you ever think about what would happen if you couldn't beat him?"
"If we can't beat them, we still have the Prince, right?"
"So you trust me?" The Prince of Jin's voice held a hint of amusement.
"Of course! Song Jingyang has caused you so much trouble, yet he's still staying by your side, isn't he?" Tang Zhuyun said. "Besides, the Seventh Prince is obviously just a figurehead."
The Prince of Jin said, "No matter what, you did today to protect me. Tell me, what do you want? I will grant your wish!"
Tang Zhuyun felt that his switching between "I" and "this king" was so smooth and natural that it was breathtaking.
Even if you want me to let go, you can't make that decision!
"After you marry the princess, will you put me in a quiet courtyard, provide me with food and lodging, and leave me alone?"
If you can run, great; if you can't, prioritize your own safety. You'll get out eventually!
Prince of Jin: "Are you worried about being bullied in the future? With me here, no one will dare to bully you!"
"No, no," Tang Zhuyun. "They have a perfectly legitimate reason, and I'm just an inconvenience... Never mind, let's not talk about that anymore, we'll talk about it later."
A man's promise lasts no more than seven seconds; she's dreaming!
"If Your Highness feels bad about it, how about forgiving the money my brother owes you?"
"Wasn't it already exempted?"
"Then my dad thinks we have to pay you back," Tang Zhuyun said dejectedly. "What happened to my brother's matter? Why is there no news about it anymore? Did they not find out, or were they keeping it from me?"
"I kept it from you."
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
Then tell me!
However, the Prince of Jin refused to speak.
"Take a look at my leg, my right calf," the Prince of Jin suddenly said.
"Oh, what's wrong?" Tang Zhuyun naturally squatted down in front of him, lifted his robe, and rolled up his trouser legs.
This is a habit I've developed over many years as a doctor; it's become instinctive.
"It's been itchy and painful for several days," said the Prince of Jin. "At first, I thought I'd just bumped into something and didn't think much of it."
The light was too dim, and Tang Zhuyun was almost pressed against his leg. She couldn't help but think of the time she pulled down his pants, and she struggled to hold back her laughter.
For the Prince of Jin, however, looking at her disheveled hair, her black hair like clouds, and the warm breath she exhaled onto his legs, he couldn't help but stiffen.
"Hahaha, I never expected to meet the Prince here..." Chang Zhi lifted the straw curtain and entered, laughing loudly.
He had just returned from escorting the Madam Song when he passed by Song Jingyang in the outskirts of the capital. Hearing that Prince of Jin was also there, and that Tang Zhuyun had accompanied Prince of Jin, he came over to say hello, but unexpectedly...
His laughter stopped abruptly when he saw the scene before him, and he retreated hastily, exclaiming, "My goodness! In broad daylight, are you playing such a big game?"
Tang Zhuyun: "I'm not playing for a very big budget."
Prince of Jin: "..."
She stood up. "His Highness is alright. He was just bitten by a poisonous insect. He'll apply some medicine and be fine in a couple of days."
Chang Zhi: "Your Highness, so you were just testing me by acting as my matchmaker!"
Prince of Jin: "..."
Tang Zhuyun ignored them and went out to check on the two children.
The incident of the Seventh Prince being thrown passed by quietly, without causing any ripples.
Tang Zhuyun continued as before, making seasonings, preparing medicine, taking care of the children, cooking... her days were simple yet fulfilling.
The Prince of Jin brought her things almost every day, either jewelry or food. Once, he went so far as to call the snack vendor to his door and have him make something for her to eat while it was hot.
Unaware of the inside story, onlookers all assumed that Tang Zhuyun had given Prince of Jin some kind of spell, bewitching even the cold-hearted Prince Jin to the point of losing his bearings.
Only Tang Zhuyun taught Prince of Jin every day as if he were her own son.
"Buy one of each, Madam loves them." Tang Zhuyun pretended to be sitting on her horse, her face as arrogant as a dead man. "I'll take them all, let Madam choose. Understand? You understand!"
The prince's concubines had a rank of "Madam," so now that she had promoted herself, she couldn't very well say, "This lowly concubine," would that still be considered affection?
The Prince of Jin: "Affected and pretentious."
Tang Zhuyun: "!"
Do you know why you've lived to such an old age and are still waiting for the emperor to bestow a marriage upon you?
Because you're stupid!
However, despite his disobedience, Prince of Jin could at least imitate the way they displayed affection, which probably fooled quite a few people and allowed them to carry out their plans for the Mid-Autumn Festival as scheduled.