When Wang Fu saw Tang Zhuyun, he actually bowed to her with his hands clasped in greeting.
This gift cannot be accepted casually; it is from one of the Emperor's trusted confidants.
Tang Zhuyun returned the greeting with grace and poise, saying, "Eunuch Wang, thank you for your trouble."
The Prince of Jin looked slightly surprised. She'd actually acted like a human being today?
Wang Fu smiled and said, "Before I came, my wife heard that I was coming to the Prince of Jin's Residence decree. She said she wanted me to ask you if it was convenient for her to come and see you. I also hope that she can learn a thing or two from you, Madam, and not be so foolish in the future."
Tang Zhuyun smiled and said, "Eunuch Wang, you're too kind Madam Wang, please feel free to come anytime. You're always welcome."
Song Jingyang slipped a thick red envelope to Wang Fu and sent him out.
Tang Zhuyun asked Prince of Jin, "Is Your Highness's birthday tomorrow?"
The Prince of Jin gave a curt "hmm".
He didn't have any expectations for his birthday.
Before he went to the capital, his whole family celebrated his birthday with great joy... But now he was all alone, and his birthday only made him feel sad.
"Then why didn't Your Highness tell me beforehand? I didn't even have time to prepare a gift," Tang Zhuyun muttered. "How about this, I'll prepare a feast for Your Highness's birthday tomorrow?"
The Prince of Jin grunted in acknowledgment and entered the study, instructing Song Jingyang to serve tea.
The next morning, Tang Zhuyun got up early and made longevity noodles, poached eggs, added some green vegetables as garnish, and carved the words "wise and mighty" on a carrot.
Look how loudly that flattery is delivered!
She had carefully considered those four words. She had originally wanted to make a little man urinating, but firstly, the technique didn't allow it, and secondly, she was afraid that the Prince of Jin wouldn't understand the humor, so she gave up on the idea.
The Prince of Jin said nothing and quickly finished the bowl of noodles.
Song Jingyang, who had already finished three large bowls of noodles, said with gusto, "I could have another bowl."
Tang Zhuyun: "That's all! When I get back tonight, I plan to cook sixteen dishes to celebrate for the Prince, and I'll invite Linlin and Yanran to come and eat together."
Let's not invite her father and brothers; it'll save us the trouble of giving them gifts.
However, seeing that the Prince of Jin had no such intention, Tang Zhuyun did not bring up the matter.
The Prince of Jin simply said that he had something to do today and would not be back until the evening, and told her not to bother with anything at noon.
Tang Zhuyun went shopping in the morning and started cooking in the afternoon.
"Xiu'er," she called from over the wall, "Check if you have any garlic left at home!"
She bought garlic today, but used a bit too much, so there wasn't enough for this garlic crayfish dish.
"That's all," Xiu'er said. "I'll go out and buy some."
Tang Zhuyun overheard her and Lüzhu playing hopscotch with two children—a game she had taught them—so she said, "No need, I'll go out and see if there's anything else for sale."
She took off her homemade apron, counted the dishes she had prepared, and made sure she didn't need anything before heading out.
When the Prince of Jin returned, he found the door ajar, but when he pushed it open, no one came out to greet him.
While the neighbors were filled with laughter and chatter, this courtyard was cold and deserted.
"Where are they?" asked the Prince of Jin.
Only Song Jingyang responded to him.
"Did Madam go next door? It smells so good! Did Madam cook something delicious?" Song Jingyang sniffed, lifted the kitchen curtain, and his eyes lit up. "Your Highness, so many dishes!"
The Prince of Jin also entered the kitchen and saw cold dishes on the table next to him. The firelight in the stove cast a red glow, and steam rose gently through the gaps in the pot lids, carrying a delicious aroma. Chicken soup simmered on a small charcoal stove nearby...
"And there's Yunying noodles too!" Song Jingyang was delighted.
Yunying noodles require a lot of ingredients and are very time-consuming, but they taste refreshing.
Tang Zhuyun rarely makes this unless it's for her two children; it seems that things are different because of the prince's birthday.
"Help me set the table." Even the Prince of Jin's usually stern expression seemed a little gentler today.
"Yes," Song Jingyang replied happily.
Perhaps hearing the commotion, Linlin and Yanran entered hand in hand. Together, they kowtowed to Prince of Jin to wish him a happy birthday. Linlin presented Prince of Jin with a piece of calligraphy she had written herself, while Yanran presented him with a handkerchief she had embroidered.
"Where is my sister?" Yanran looked around and, not seeing Tang Zhuyun, asked.
The Prince of Jin asked, "Isn't it next door?"
"No," Linlin said. "Hasn't Auntie come back from buying garlic yet?"
"Went to buy garlic? How long has it been?" For some reason, the Prince of Jin felt a sudden sinking feeling in his heart.
"About fifteen minutes." Linlin watched the sunset. "Perhaps because most of the vegetable vendors have left, and Auntie has gone far away."
"Then let's wait a little longer."
However, even though the food was laid out on the table and they were waiting for Tang Zhuyun, she did not return for a long time.
"Song Jingyang, send someone to look for him!"
"Yes!"
This table is full of food, why buy garlic!
Linlin and Yanran also went out and stood at the door, eagerly waiting.
Just then, Xiu'er's voice came from next door. "Does the young lady want more garlic? My mother just bought some back."
Upon hearing this, the Prince of Jin suddenly felt agitated.
Does it take this long to buy garlic?
Xiu'er, not hearing a reply, ran over and, seeing only Prince of Jin in the room, exclaimed, "Your Highness, you're here but you haven't said a word! Are you pretending? My young lady hasn't returned from buying garlic yet? The freshly planted garlic must have sprouted by now."
After muttering to herself, she followed them out to look for it.
Prince of Jin watched as the dishes on the table went from steaming hot to gradually cooling down, and the sky grew darker, yet Tang Zhuyun still hadn't returned.
The Prefect of the Capital, the Golden Scale Guard, and everyone else began searching for Tang Zhuyun.
Tang Zhuyun, however, seemed to have vanished into thin air; she could not be found anywhere.
Tang Zhuyun couldn't understand how she could have been ambushed while humming a little tune and laughing happily as she went out to buy garlic.
She was quite skilled, but her opponents overestimated her. Surrounded by a dozen burly men, and using Soft Bone Powder, who could withstand that?
A sharp pain in the back of her neck, then everything went black—she fainted...
She was awakened by a splash of cold water. She opened her eyes, rubbed her neck, and looked around blankly.
Who am I? Where am I? What am I supposed to do?
She was now in a very spacious and crude hall, surrounded by people, with torches burning brightly, creating a rather frightening atmosphere.
Seated in the main seat in the center of the hall was a woman around thirty years old, with a fleshy face and a sinister look in her eyes. Two gleaming long knives lay on the table in front of her...
Is this a female bandit leader?
"Ergou, did you catch the right person?" The woman sized up Tang Zhuyun with obvious disdain. "Is this the woman who bewitched the Prince of Jin?"
Tang Zhuyun: So it was because of the Prince of Jin!
"It's her, no doubt about it," said the man called Ergou.
The woman stepped down from the platform, squatted down, and pinched Tang Zhuyun's chin. "Just an ordinary piece of trash."
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
Compared to you, I'm miles ahead of you!
"It seems the Prince of Jin of Jin has rather strange tastes," the woman added. "Bring him paper and pen, let her write a letter to the Prince of Jin!"
Tang Zhuyun asked timidly, "What should I write?"