Tang Zhuyun taught Meng Yulan how to make shumai, while Linlin and Yanran played with the dough nearby, getting flour all over their heads, faces, and clothes.
Xiu'er wiped this and that, stamping her feet in frustration.
"You've gotten your clothes dirty and are wasting things. You two little masters, come out and play with me!"
She was a diligent and clean maid.
Linlin laughed loudly and said to Yanran, "Let's go, we should go practice our calligraphy. My father will check my homework tonight, and the Prince will check yours."
Meng Yulan smiled and said, "Lüzhu, you should go help too."
After the group left, Tang Zhuyun secretly asked Meng Yulan, "Sister Meng, have you been adjusting well since you arrived?"
She had always assumed that their relationship was progressing rapidly, so she hadn't asked too many questions. Unexpectedly, nothing had happened, so she decided to check on Meng Yulan's adjustment.
Meng Yulan blushed slightly. "Everything is fine, the old man treats me very well."
"What should I do?" Tang Zhuyun asked with a smile.
Meng Yulan's face flushed even more. "In short, it's excellent, everything about it is wonderful."
"Oh my, tell me about it!"
After becoming a concubine, Meng Yulan lost all contact with her family and her former so-called sisters. Apart from Lüzhu, she had no one to share her life with. In addition, she got along well with Tang Zhuyun, who was also her sister-in-law. So, she blushed and told her some things.
It turns out that she did indeed go to find Tang Baixin on her own that day, and she did indeed do the things Xiu'er had described.
"... It's not that I'm shameless, but I was worried that Jiang Beihan would keep bothering me in the future, so I thought, if I gave myself to him and had a child, I could make him give up completely."
Meng Yulan had long known that there was no possibility between her and Jiang Beihan, and she didn't need him to beg for forgiveness.
Forgiving him is the cruelest thing you can do to yourself.
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
"Later, the old man talked to me, saying that I was already his, regardless of whether I gave him my Zidu or not. He wouldn't let anyone take me away, and he also said that he didn't want to force me, and that some things could be dealt with in the future."
Meng Yulan's face was flushed, but her eyes were filled with happiness and contentment.
Although life in the Tang Family was somewhat impoverished, and she had to do everything herself, everyone treated her with genuine kindness, and she lived a fulfilling and happy life.
"Later, I said I wanted to take out my own money, and the old man said it was up to me."
Tang Zhuyun: "What's so touching about this? You're giving money to help with household expenses, and my older brother accepts it. You're supposed to be grateful beyond words?"
"No," Meng Yulan said, "A-Yun, you don't understand. Many people want both a bride's dowry and face... The master truly considers me family."
Tang Zhuyun: "... I also consider you family. How about you give me some money to spend?"
As she spoke, she couldn't help but laugh and leaned against Meng Yulan's shoulder.
Meng Yulan scolded playfully, "You're bullying me..."
"I wouldn't dare. What if my older brother comes after me?"
After the banter, Meng Yulan said seriously, "There's something else I've been hesitant to mention to you."
"Sister Meng, you may speak."
"Yesterday, Linlin and Yanran were playing around, and one of my men lost his temper and pushed Yanran down. I scolded him..."
"Then what?"
"I've been thinking about this all night. I'm not qualified, but since he's the eldest son of the master, I can't just stand by and watch him do something wrong without reminding him; yet I'm also afraid he'll mind my status and feel that the master doesn't care about him..."
In short, being a stepmother is difficult.
This stepmother, whose position is neither legitimate nor rightful, faces even greater difficulties.
We can't ignore it, but we're also afraid that if we do manage it, it won't work.
Tang Zhuyun laughed and said, "You should take care of things. Linlin isn't a vengeful child. I'm not trying to criticize you, but I saw you standing there taking care of the two kids while we were eating. Don't do that again. My older brother said he treats you like his wife, but you don't put yourself in that position and give way. Don't cry if someone else takes your place later."
"I know what to do." Meng Yulan's eyes were calm and firm, revealing the same aura she had when they first met under the spotlight. "Thank you for your kindness, sir. I will do my duty."
"Including teaching your sister-in-law well." Tang Zhuyun laughed heartily.
Meng Yulan was amused by her. "How are things between you and the prince?"
"Just like you."
Nothing happened.
"That's good." A sweet smile appeared on Meng Yulan's face.
Tang Zhuyun: "Yeah, I think it's pretty good too."
We should not interfere with each other, be polite to each other, and ideally, this should continue forever.
Meng Yulan was never idle. After finishing cooking, she started making clothes for Tang Baixin. Now, all of Tang Baixin's clothes, shoes, and socks are made by her.
"Would you like to learn?" Meng Yulan asked with a smile when she saw Tang Zhuyun staring intently at her embroidering bamboo.
Tang Zhuyun: "I don't want to. Anyway, we already had Xiu'er, and now we have Sister Meng, so I'll just continue to be lazy."
"You must do some needlework for the prince."
Make it for him? Dream on.
She's never even done Linlin!
"You should at least give something for the Prince's birthday and the New Year," Meng Yulan said with a smile.
Tang Zhuyun: "I can cook!"
No matter how much Meng Yulan tried to persuade her, she just couldn't be bothered to learn.
"Oh, right," Meng Yulan said, "Someone from Four Seas Tower came yesterday and delivered one hundred and twenty taels of silver. The master asked me to give it to you today."
Tang Zhuyun only kept half, saying that this was a business done at her parents' home, and it would be fine for each of them to keep half.
"Then I'll talk to the master when he gets back and then we'll decide," Meng Yulan said.
After a while, Tang Baixin returned from the yamen. Meng Yulan and Lüzhu came forward to serve him. They helped him change his clothes, washed a warm towel to wipe him down, and then served him tea and snacks. Meng Yulan stood by his side and served him gently.
Tang Zhuyun was dumbfounded.
If she serves him like this, wouldn't the Prince of Jin be smiling in his grave?
My God, being a man in this era must be so awesome!
Why didn't she transmigrate into a man?
Tang Baixin for Meng Yulan to sit down, and the latter sat down at the lower end of the table, speaking gently about the day's events at home.
Tang Baixin heard that she had made some food, she smiled and said, "You're not good at these things, don't force yourself."
"You have to learn to do it gradually."
Tang Baixin asked Tang Zhuyun, "Why are you still sitting here?"
Tang Zhuyun: I'm leaving?
"I just came back with the prince."
Tang Zhuyun thought to herself that she wasn't deaf and had already heard Song Jingyang's loud voice.
Alright, I won't bother them anymore.
When she returned, she found many things in the courtyard and many eunuchs standing there. Wang Fu was talking to Prince of Jin.
"His Majesty has always remembered. Even before the Mid-Autumn Festival, he kept telling me not to forget his birthday. And today is only the third day of the month, yet His Majesty has already urged me to come quickly."
Is the Prince of Jin's birthday coming up?
For the sake of long-term peaceful coexistence, perhaps she should also give a gift.
What to give as a gift? That's the question.