After the brother and sister exchanged a few words, someone came from outside to ask about Linlin's matter.
Yanran quickly said, "Big brother, you go ahead and get busy. I'm not an outsider."
"Okay, let's have dinner together tonight."
Linlin hurriedly left.
Zhao Qing took Yanran and Cui Xiaoqiu to see their respective residences.
On the way Yanran secretly asked Cui Xiaoqiu, "Was my older brother doing this on purpose?"
"Um?"
I don't think my grandfather could have held on until now.
She suspected that her elder brother had already received news of the death but was keeping it from her.
Cui Xiaoqiu: Yanran has grown up too, she's not so easy to fool anymore...
"Perhaps."
"That's it." Yanran blinked. "But I don't really understand why Big Brother is in such a hurry."
Actually, they're both quite young. Wouldn't it be perfect if they got married in three years?
If someone changes their mind during this period, is it really necessary to make such a big fuss?
Cui Xiaoqiu said meaningfully, "Some things are better decided early on, to avoid any unforeseen changes."
"The way you put it," Yanran pouted, "It makes me feel like my brother is determined to marry her."
She couldn't talk about Lang Xuan in front of her older brother, since the marriage was already arranged, but she felt no such burden in front of Cui Xiaoqiu.
Cui Xiaoqiu thought to herself, "That's just how it is."
You see it as Lang Xuan trying to force a marriage, but if Lin Lin hadn't Linlin agreed, or even enjoyed the outcome, would it have gone so smoothly?
Let alone Linlin, even he himself would have many ways to solve the same situation.
He and Linlin are very similar in some ways.
Even if there's no conflict of interest, I might agree to it, but if I'm coerced, I absolutely cannot agree.
However, Linlin could have refused, but she still agreed, which means that she herself approved of it.
Perhaps, this is still a story of luring someone into a trap.
At worst, it's going with the flow.
What Cui Xiaoqiu didn't understand was, why Lang Xuan?
He was powerful and admired strength, and Yanran was undoubtedly the brightest star in the crowd.
Where is Lang Xuan?
vase?
She has nothing but beauty.
However, in front of Yanran, he only vaguely said, "Perhaps the Prince has other plans."
"Definitely, that's what I think too," Yanran said. "But I don't think that's a good idea."
"Um?"
"Getting married is such an important thing, and Lang Xuan isn't as shameless as me. Life won't be easy after a divorce."
Cui Xiaoqiu: "..."
I'm the one who's hurt now.
You're doing well after the divorce, aren't you?
She'll drive me crazy sooner or later.
You chose this path yourself, so just bear with it.
Cui Xiaoqiu realized that her mindset had changed somewhat; for example, she now felt clearly uncomfortable listening to her carefree words.
He already considers people as his own.
"Cui Xiaoqiu, say something!"
"Lang Xuan is willing," Cui Xiaoqiu squeezed out the words through gritted teeth.
"She was drugged by my brother."
Despite the long journey, Yanran wasn't tired at all.
"Go with Zhao Qing to your courtyard to rest. I'll hurry and write a letter to the Empress Dowager."
Because the mail delivery locations were not fixed, or perhaps because she was too busy in the capital, she had not received any letters from her mother.
"Mother, this letter is as if I were here in person." Yanran chewed on her pen, forcing out the words, "I've arrived in Liaodong..."
At the same time, Tang Zhuyun was talking to Xiu'er.
Little Tangyuan and Guagua were playing with a few other boys on the felt mat on the ground.
Tang Mingfan was still unwell, so Meng Yulan couldn't take care of Little Tangyuan and sent her to the palace.
"Master's health is still not good," Xiu'er said worriedly. "I heard from my mother that he only drinks one bowl of porridge a day. Even a person made of iron couldn't stand that."
Tang Zhuyun was also worried.
"If you ask me, we should send Zidu over there. Let them make a fuss, and the master won't be in the mood to be upset."
Tang Zhuyun hesitated. "That wouldn't be a good idea."
She was afraid that if the children started making a fuss, it would only make things worse.
"It would have been fine at the beginning. But a month has passed, and the master still can't muster any enthusiasm; this definitely won't do."
"If it doesn't work, we'll give it a try," Tang Zhuyun said.
There really was no other way.
"Give it a try. The master is the pillar of the family; if he's not well, everyone suffers. My aunt has been taking medicine for so long to prepare her body and hoping to get pregnant, and now, sigh..."
During the period of national mourning, it would be a grave disrespect to cause someone's death.
Emperor Wen, considering the need for recuperation and restoration, withstood pressure from his ministers and set the period of national mourning at three months, rather than longer.
At this point, Xiu'er quietly asked Tang Zhuyun, "Your Majesty, the Emperor must observe three years of mourning. What do you plan to do?"
Generally speaking, nine months is considered a year, so that would take more than two years.
Preventing people from making pancakes is really going against human nature.
Tang Zhuyun: "What?"
"So-and-so!" Xiu'er blinked.
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
She had never thought about that.
What has been troubling her lately is whether her academy can open on schedule.
Will I be impeached by the censors if the national mourning period begins three months later?
Although she was now used to being riddled with arrows, she still had to give it a second thought to show respect.
As for making pancakes... given Emperor Wen's situation, she wasn't in the mood for it anymore.
However, he is clearly in much better condition now.
It's remarkable that the sadness from that impure father-son relationship has lingered for so long.
"I haven't thought about it," Tang Zhuyun said honestly. "I'm so busy I barely have time to breathe, and so tired I fall asleep the moment my head hits the pillow. Who has time to think about those things?"
"Things have been hectic these past few days. Please wait another half month and see."
It's impossible for a man not to think about those things!
"I'm just reminding you, you can't stop taking your medication."
Please, please, don't let anyone die.
"The medication was stopped a long time ago," Tang Zhuyun said.
She has Ren Yingying now, with subdermal contraceptive pills implanted, which are safe and long-lasting.
After Tang Zhuyun explained, Xiu'er breathed a sigh of relief, "I was wondering why you hadn't taken your medicine in so long. That's why I thought I'd remind you..."
Tang Zhuyun laughed and said, "I already have someone better, so of course I don't need to. If you don't want to have any more after you give birth, I..."
"No, I want to keep having children!"
Tang Zhuyun was amused by her.
As they were talking, the conversation somehow drifted back to Nanxing.
Tang Zhuyun mentioned that she had been suffering from anemia since giving birth. Remembering this, she said, "Hanxiang, take some medicine and tonics and go check on the Lady of the Marquis Champion for me."
Hanxiang was trained and recommended by Nanxing. Although they didn't have a formal master-disciple relationship, their bond was still special.
"Yes," Hanxiang agreed and quickly left.
She walked for a while, and then Jinse came to the door.
"Jinse, is something the matter?" Tang Zhuyun asked with a smile.
"Um."