Linlin smiled and said, "I'll listen to you. But next time, you'll have to listen to me."
Lang Xuan nodded, watching him leave in a daze.
She suddenly realized that she couldn't help but "use her wits" against Yuwen Duo.
She blurted out "I'll feel uneasy" without thinking, subconsciously believing that saying it would prevent him from rejecting her.
Indeed, that's exactly what happened.
But when did she come to know him so well?
Let alone past lives, which were merely humble observations in past lives, when have we ever had such a calm and even joyful exchange?
The rice in her bowl no longer tasted good; Lang Xuan rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought.
Furthermore, his initial defense might just be something he's saying to himself, but he also cares a lot about his own feelings.
He's such a nice person.
Lang Xuan spent the whole morning lost in thought.
At lunchtime, Yanran came running over, drenched in sweat. While asking for water to wash up, she said casually, "Sister-in-law, my brother asked me to have lunch with you. I'm not late, am I?"
She went horseback riding with Qu Hua, listened to the latter cursing her mother all morning—of course, she was cursing Mu Ziyu's stepmother—and then hurriedly returned.
This was a task her older brother had assigned her early this morning, asking her to spend more time with her sister-in-law today.
Did Yuwen Duo send her?
Lang Xuan quickly replied, "It's not late, and I'm not hungry yet. What are you doing...?"
"She went riding a horse," Yanran said. "Sister-in-law, don't hold it against Qu Hua. I've already given her a good scolding."
Lang Xuan smiled and shook her head.
Her family all defends her, so why doesn't she care about their opinions and instead focuses on the opinions of complete strangers?
Although Lang Xuan had seen Yanran eat before, she was still shocked when she saw her again.
--She can eat so much!
It seems she was practically licking the plate clean at home, not because she was particularly impressed with her mother's cooking, but because the portion sizes at home were simply not enough.
Lang Xuan stared in disbelief as Yanran devoured the entire table of dishes.
After finishing her meal, Yanran asked for more fruit. She sat cross-legged on the couch, eating fruit while introducing her family to Lang Xuan.
Of course, this was also a task given to her by Linlin.
My older brother said that since it's a family reunion, we should get to know everyone in the family.
Yanran counted on her fingers. "Let's start with Father Emperor. Don't worry, he doesn't like to smile, except for my mother and me. Well, Little Tangyuan can get half a smile from him. Oh well, I'm missing out on that..."
Lang Xuan: "..."
Is criticizing the emperor a capital offense?
However, now that she has married into the royal family, her entire extended family cannot be implicated, which is a good thing.
"But my father is not harsh on people, so you don't need to be afraid of him; if you're really nervous... just stay away from him, since you won't see him often anyway."
Lang Xuan could only nod; she didn't know what to say.
"And then there's my mother," Yanran said, taking a bite of her apple, "She's incredibly easygoing, seeing everyone as a good child. She doesn't like people kneeling and kowtowing to her, and she's extremely reluctant to get involved in complicated matters."
She herself said that she had done three things well in her life—being a doctor, cooking, and having children; her fourth wish was to establish girls' schools.
"By the way, if you have any special skills, you could teach at the girls' academy. My mother would definitely be happy."
Lang Xuan: "I..."
Special skills...
Does being a particularly good crybaby count?
Lang Xuan felt ashamed.
"Next up is Xiu'er. Let me tell you, she's the one you absolutely mustn't offend. She can curse people for three days and three nights without repeating herself."
Lang Xuan looked terrified.
"But she's a very nice person, she rarely scolds anyone. And she listens to my mother, she likes everything my mother likes; and I'll teach you a trick, you must praise her husband, hehe."
Lang Xuan: I don't think I'm up to it, why are there so many strange things...?
Yanran: "Alright, let me tell you how to deal with my three younger brothers. Wuji for Wuji, don't believe anything he says. If he smiles at you, he's definitely plotting against you. Wuxian, whatever he says goes. Don't argue with him, and don't take it to heart, or you'll be in trouble. Wuji, well, he's the most normal. Just treat him like a normal child."
Lang Xuan: It's making me less and less capable.
It's so hard for her.
"Next, let me tell you about my maternal grandfather's family..."
Yanran did her job conscientiously, introducing everyone she could think of.
Lang Xuan didn't know if she was tired or not; her own brain was completely muddled.
She thought, she might not even be able to hold on until the day she returned to Beijing to see them...
This somber topic has now become her only solace.
"Finally, let me tell you about my future family!" Yanran said with a smile.
Lang Xuan thought for a moment, "Cui Ling?"
"Hehe, it's him. Just call him Cui Xiaoqiu. I've already led his mother astray!"
Lang Xuan sincerely said, "He is a very good person."
She had seen them together in her past life; it was a love she had always envied.
"You will be very happy."
"Haha, I think so too. I'm quite happy now." Yanran smiled broadly as she mentioned Cui Xiaoqiu. "He's so clever. You know what happened yesterday? He single-handedly got a bunch of people drunk. Later I found out he'd tampered with the wine jug."
He spilled some wine on himself and then pretended to be drunk to fool himself.
However, when she tried to take off his clothes, he couldn't keep up the act anymore and insisted on walking on his own, still wrapped in the blanket.
Yanran still smiles foolishly when she thinks about it now.
She knew Cui Xiaoqiu's secret, but she didn't tell anyone.
"By the way, sister-in-law, you're going back to your parents' home tomorrow, and I'd like to go hunting the day after. Would you like to come with me?"
"I won't."
"It's okay, I'll teach you if you don't know how. You've got nothing else to do at home anyway."
She needs to create more opportunities for her older brother and sister-in-law to spend time together.
Relationships develop through interaction; with one student in the inner courtyard and another in the outer courtyard every day, how can feelings possibly grow?
Lang Xuan still did not agree.
She felt that this matter needed Yuwen Duo's approval.
"My older brother naturally agrees; he'll go too."
"Let's talk about it later."
The two continued chatting, but it was mostly Yanran who did the talking.
"I'll take you to the outer courtyard to peek, do you dare?" Yanran asked mischievously.
Lang Xuan shook her head honestly. "I dare not."
Yanran: "..."
This attempt to provoke her had absolutely no effect on my sister-in-law.
"Come on, come on!" Yanran urged her, "Have you ever seen Goryeo?"
Lang Xuan was taken aback.
Goryeo?
Could Yanran be referring to Zhao Yingzhu?
"Sister-in-law, I'll tell you a secret. The Queen of Goryeo mingled with the delegation and secretly went to see my brother today. I heard she has many male lovers..."
Qu Hua said that this empress was very much to her liking.
If Mu Ziyu hadn't suddenly interfered, she would be living the carefree life that Zhao Yingzhu is enjoying now.
Lang Xuan was lost in thought.
Rumors from her past life suggest that Zhao Yingzhu indeed had a great many suitors.
In her past life Zhao Yingzhu went to the Eastern Palace to pay her respects to Yuwen Duo. Legend has it that she stayed Eastern Palace overnight, then returned with the support of the Central Plains, and ascended the throne as Empress six months later...