The palace banquet on the fifteenth of August arrived as scheduled.
Someone of Tang Zhuyun's rank would normally only be able to follow behind like a maid, but now she's favored—even the Emperor joked with Prince of Jin, implying that he was initially unwilling, but now he's changed his mind.
The Prince of Jin, whose face was always expressionless, did not notice anything unusual.
Yanran followed closely behind Tang Zhuyun, afraid that others would upset her.
Everyone knows that although Yanran does not have the title of princess, she is the most favored among the emperor's many granddaughters.
For example, today, the Emperor also called her over for a private talk and gave her some gifts.
The emperor couldn't even recall the names of many of his other granddaughters.
"Sister, look at my father!" Yanran excitedly as she saw Prince of Jin riding in. Her hands were practically red from clapping. "I'm going to tell Brother Linlin when we get back!"
Today is a palace banquet, so not many people are attending. Only Tang Mingfan from the Tang Family came.
"I saw it, I saw it," Tang Zhuyun said.
The Prince of Jin, dressed in black, sat upright on his horse, holding the reins, his expression arrogant and disdainful.
However, compared to the other seven princes, he truly stood out with his exceptional bearing, like a crane among chickens.
Not every Zidu participated in Cuju (ancient Chinese football). For example, the Crown Prince and the Eighth Prince did not participate; only six princes participated.
But the most awkward thing was that Prince of Jin led one group of his subordinates, while the other princes led another group, and Tang Zhuyun felt that, apart from her, no one seemed to think there was anything abnormal about this.
The match was very exciting, and Tang Zhuyun watched it intently, as if she were reading a thrilling novel.
The Prince of Jin played as if he had a cheat code, showing no mercy as he utterly defeated his opponents, ultimately winning by a score of 18-0.
Tang Zhuyun immediately understood why no prince was on his team; wasn't that offending someone?
I'd rather suffer a humiliating defeat with my brothers than win a victory with that opportunistic Prince of Jin.
The audience was completely silent; almost everyone was so embarrassed they were digging their feet into the ground. Conservatively speaking, if they pooled their wisdom and effort, they could dig out a palace with just a few more tries.
Yanran: "Father is so amazing!"
Tang Zhuyun seconded, "Your Highness is mighty!"
It seems like everyone around me has gotten sick? Why are they all gone?
Well, it's good to have some peace and quiet.
It's so cool following the prince.
A little while later, the princes, led by the Emperor, went to bathe in Mingze Lake. Tang Zhuyun knew this beforehand and had already asked Tang Mingfan to tell the Emperor that the water temperature was too low and that he had a heart condition and was not suitable to go into the water.
Tang Zhuyun wanted to go with Prince of Jin, but Tang Mingfan hurriedly came over to stop her.
"What are you going to do? You're not the prince's maid!"
Although others viewed Tang Zhuyun as a concubine of Prince of Jin, Tang Mingfan considered his daughter to be a secondary consort.
How could a concubine visit other princes?
Tang Zhuyun said in a low voice, "No, I have to go. You'll find out soon enough."
Although the emperor couldn't go into the water, he still watched his sons go down with Yingying.
Tang Zhuyun understood this mentality; it was probably like an old duck leading its ducklings into the water.
"Your Highness, please don't go." She held onto Prince of Jin's belt tightly, refusing to let go, while Prince of Jin's face remained ashen.
The Seventh Prince, still waiting to see Prince of Jin, certainly wouldn't let the opportunity pass. He leaned over and said loudly, "Little sister-in-law, are you reluctant to part with Sixth Brother? Why don't you let Sixth Brother take you along?"
Tang Zhuyun narrowed her eyes and smiled slightly, then threatened in a very low voice, "Seventh Master, aren't you afraid I'll be like that female water ghost and drown you?"
The Seventh Prince shuddered at the thought of that scene.
The Emperor noticed the commotion and chuckled, "What are you two brothers whispering about?"
The Seventh Prince immediately replied, "Father, Sixth Brother doesn't want to go into the water. I'll try to persuade him again, but he shouldn't break the rules set by our ancestors."
The Emperor frowned. "What's going on?"
Tang Zhuyun: "Your Majesty, this matter was indeed due to some reason. It's all my fault for being ignorant and not knowing that there was such a ceremony today, so... so I acted recklessly."
"What kind of nonsense is this?"
"Actually, it's nothing," Tang Zhuyun said shyly, "It's just that we were fooling around a bit in our bedroom."
Prince of Jin: "You may leave."
He strode up to the emperor, knelt on one knee, and then loosened his clothes.
The Emperor looked down and saw a rough, lifelike drawing of a large cleaver on the left chest of the Prince of Jin, with a few words scrawled beside it. "Owned by Tang Zhuyun, unauthorized use will result in dismemberment."
"This, this..." The Emperor was both amused and annoyed.
Tang Zhuyun knelt respectfully beside Prince of Jin: "I was just fooling around, mixing some paint—the kind that's hard to fade and wash off, the kind used when repairing palaces... I never expected this to happen today..."
The Emperor couldn't help but chuckle, but he still had to put on a stern face and say, "A woman should be virtuous and magnanimous. Do you know your mistake by being so jealous?"
Tang Zhuyun obediently admitted her mistake.
The Emperor couldn't help but scold again, "Look at your handwriting, it's like a dog's scrawle, it's a disgrace to your father's prestige! And you, Qi'er, a prince, how dare you... even your antics have limits!"
Finally, the Prince of Jin was fined three months' salary, Tang Zhuyun was punished by having to write "Admonitions for Women" one hundred times.
Although only a handful of people, including the Emperor, saw it, the news spread like wildfire, becoming the latest topic of conversation both inside and outside the court.
Tang Zhuyun has become accustomed to frequently trending on social media, and even ate an extra half bowl of rice as a result.
Now she can act with even more impunity in the capital.
Besides his father and brother being helpful, there was another man who was also helpful—although he was a fake, his influence was enough.
The only downside was that her hands ached from writing "Admonitions for Women," and she couldn't help but complain about the content while writing it.
The daily routine consisted of Prince of Jin having his two children practice calligraphy at a large table, with Tang Zhuyun muttering complaints as she wrote.
The most interesting thing was the reaction of the Tang Family father and son.
Tang Mingfan, his face flushed, spoke to his daughter, "Although this matter is indeed laughable, it's a matter between husband and wife. Whatever happens behind closed doors is fine, as long as the relationship is good. Don't let gossip from others make you forget your original intentions."
Original intention...? Continue to torment Prince of Jin? My dear father, he truly is my dear father.
Tang Zhuyun rubbed her hands together, indicating that she had remembered and would carry on with her fierceness to the very end.
Tang Mingfan: "You're maintaining a good balance. I see you're getting along very well with the Prince right now. A-Yun, you need to secure your position as a concubine first. As for more... we don't have high hopes, but your father and elder brother will keep trying."
Tang Zhuyun was startled. What? They wanted her to be their primary wife?
"It's not necessarily impossible," Tang Mingfan said. "With the right timing, location, and people, you should give birth to a son first, and then leave the rest to your father and elder brother..."
Tang Zhuyun looked down at her flat stomach: She's giving birth to a crap!
Now, all sorts of things are piling up at once, leaving her no chance to struggle; but she hasn't given up, and if she tries hard, it's still possible for her to leave Prince of Jin.
Tang Baixin then came to ask Tang Zhuyun for advice, "A-Yun, your relationship with the Prince is progressing so rapidly, it's truly wonderful... Yulan and me..."
"You've already consummated your marriage, what else is there to say?"
"No, how could I do such a thing!" Tang Baixin with a serious expression.
Another piece of fake news spread by Xiu'er!
Tang Zhuyun advised her elder brother that there was plenty of time ahead and he shouldn't let things get disrupted. They were making rapid progress because they were fake!
As the saying goes, "People fear becoming famous, just as pigs fear growing fat." Tang Zhuyun flaunted her affections even in front of the emperor, and her own father and brothers believed it, so naturally others believed it without a doubt.
Then, the nail that sticks out gets hammered down, Tang Zhuyun was spectacularly shot...