"What are you trying to do?" Linlin asked. "There's hardly any silver left in the house. Trying to butter me up won't do you any good!"
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
Fine. Her predecessor had committed the sins, and she was left to suffer the consequences.
She applied medicine to Linlin's wounds, then teased him with a smile. "Actually, I lied about calling your father. He went to fetch my father, hee hee hee."
The child was so rigid and serious. She hoped he could relax a little.
Linlin: "..."
He was just about to drive Tang Zhuyun out when she spoke. "I know our family has no money. You must have suffered plenty of grievances because of it at the prince's household school."
Who said the world of children was pure and innocent?
Those children had been born with silver spoons in their mouths and steeped in wealth and luxury since birth. How could they know the hardships of ordinary people?
All their families were well-off, and every one of them had far better food, clothing, and daily necessities than Linlin. Yet Linlin was the best at his studies, so they were jealous and surely ostracized him.
"Actually, I don't think that school is a good fit for you," Tang Zhuyun said. "But I can't bring it up rashly. Give me some time to think about how to speak to your grandfather and father. We also need to find something for you to do..."
Although she had never been a mother, she thought a child's healthy physical and mental development was the most important thing.
Being bullied right now was a very serious matter.
When she saw Linlin lower his eyes without saying a word, Tang Zhuyun knew he really didn't want to go back.
Otherwise, given how much he disliked her, he would certainly have refused her.
His tacit agreement now showed that the situation he faced was truly far from reassuring.
"How about this?" Tang Zhuyun said. "Tomorrow, I'll say you're sick and let you rest at home for a few days. Then the two of us can discuss what to do. All right?"
Linlin hesitated for a long while. "All right."
He really didn't want to go tomorrow, because there would be a riding lesson. Everyone else's family had horses, so they all knew how to ride. He alone didn't know how at all, and he performed poorly every time. That was hard for him to accept, as he had always been determined to excel.
"Don't tell my father or grandfather. I don't want them to have to worry about me too," Linlin said with a hint of pleading. Then he felt that he might sound as though he was making peace with her, so he continued fiercely, "They've already worried themselves sick over you!"
"I know. I won't make them worry anymore." Tang Zhuyun patted his head. "Hurry up and practice your calligraphy, and eat the strawberries. I'll go see if the meat is done stewing."
Through the swaying grass-bead curtain, Linlin watched her indistinct figure, his brows knitted and confusion on his face.
What on earth is she trying to do?
By the time Tang Baixin returned with Tang Mingfan, dusk had fallen.
Tang Zhuyun brought out the warm food and got everyone settled down to eat.
To tend to Linlin's hurt feelings, she had also cooked and served a little under half the red-braised pork she had originally planned to make the next day.
Throughout the meal, Linlin kept looking at Tang Zhuyun, but she simply wouldn't bring it up.
Miserable, Linlin turned his grief and anger into an appetite, eating two flatbreads and half a bowl of red-braised pork, as well as plenty of the cold dishes.
She had clearly promised to ask for leave on his behalf, but now she was playing dumb. He would never trust this woman again!
Tang Mingfan couldn't stop praising the cold dishes.
Tang Baixin suddenly said, "Father, we should tell A-Yun about the Prince of Jin."
Tang Mingfan looked at his son in surprise.
Tang Baixin lowered his eyes, his long lashes hiding the emotions in them, and said mildly, "A-Yun has grown sensible now. We should tell her, so she doesn't overthink things when she finds out later."
"Father, what is it?" Tang Zhuyun asked curiously.
Tang Mingfan looked a little awkward. He cleared his throat before saying, "It's nothing serious, and it doesn't have much to do with you. It's just that at court today, the emperor said the Prince of Jin would be coming to the Court of Judicial Review from now on."
What he didn't say was that the Prince of Jin had come that very afternoon, and that he and his son had only returned home after saying goodbye to the prince.
Tang Zhuyun said, "Huh? The emperor... does the emperor know what happened at the flower-viewing banquet yesterday?"
What kind of stupid arrangement is that, you damned emperor? If my predecessor were still here, wouldn't she be hanging around the Court of Judicial Review every day, making a laughingstock of herself?
Tang Mingfan grew even more embarrassed and looked to his son for help.
Tang Baixin said, "Someone impeached Father today, saying he hadn't kept you under proper control. They were talking about what happened yesterday."
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
Which bigmouthed man is so obnoxious?
"But the emperor was wise and did not blame him. Instead, he praised Father and said he might as well let the Prince of Jin train under him."
Fuck, here comes that black-bellied man!
He clearly wanted to get involved with me, yet he lay there playing dumb, waiting for me to sleep with him. Pah!
"Um, did you tell Father about what I suspected before?" Tang Zhuyun asked.
"Father knows too," Tang Baixin said. "You and the Prince of Jin won't have many chances to meet in the future, so there's no need to be nervous."
"I'm not nervous. I just hate him," Tang Zhuyun muttered. "Forget it, forget it. Let's not talk about such irritating people while we're eating. If I run into him in the future, I'll just avoid him."
Seeing only distaste in her, with no sign of any lingering infatuation, father and son both breathed a sigh of relief.
Tang Mingfan even said with a smile, "That dish yesterday was good too. A-Yun, make it again sometime."
"It's too spicy. We can't eat it all the time, or we might suffer from internal heat. Father, big brother, do you think these cold dishes taste good? I think I could even sell the recipes for money!"
"They're delicious, delicious!" Tang Mingfan readily played along. He glanced at his son and saw that he was actually smiling, which made him very happy.
His son and daughter were finally getting along, and the whole family was gathered around the table for a lively meal. He couldn't have been more content.
Linlin had never been talkative, so Tang Mingfan noticed nothing amiss.
"Linlin, help me clear the dishes!" Tang Zhuyun called after the meal.
Water had to be heated for bathing that evening, and the three men's clothes had to be washed and ironed for them to wear the next day, so Old Madam He and Xiu'er were both busy.
Once they were in the kitchen, Tang Zhuyun pinched Linlin's nose. "You little rascal, are you angry?"
Linlin haughtily turned his head away. "You broke your word. I hate you!"
"Silly, if I said you were sick now, wouldn't your father go out and fetch a doctor? Then we'd be found out. Let's wait until tomorrow. You can fall sick just as it's time to leave, and your father will be in a hurry to go out, so he'll leave you at home."
Only then did Linlin's expression soften a little. He lowered his head and said, "I've thought it over. I'll still have to go in the future, or Grandfather and Father will worry. But I don't want to go tomorrow, just for that one day."
Seeing how he forced himself despite clearly not wanting to go, Tang Zhuyun felt he was so sensible that it made her heart ache.
"All right, we'll see about the rest later. Tomorrow I'll take you out to have fun."
Tang Zhuyun actually felt that her father and older brother were both very good people, but the way they raised Linlin wasn't necessarily good. For example, after choosing someone else's household school for him, they might have paid more attention to his studies and neglected everything else.
She couldn't blame them, either. They were two grown men, each busy with his own affairs, and it was already commendable that they had cared for the child this well.
The one most deserving of criticism was her predecessor.
She had come to repay that debt, and she would make sure Linlin grew up happy and healthy.