Chapter 148 - Is It Called Sister-in-law?
Crown Prince Zhao had harbored a persistent doubt in his heart, one that seemed increasingly plausible the more he interacted with Tang Yue.
However, he had no intention of unveiling the truth. In fact, he was inclined to conceal certain conspicuous clues for Tang Yue, just as he had hidden his name and the last dozen years of his life, which bore no connection to his medical skills.
“Please check if Master Hou has concluded his meeting. It's getting late, and dinner should be served.”
The housekeeper offered an awkward smile and hurried off. As the host, it was impolite to leave guests unattended without providing a meal.
Crown Prince Zhao strolled along a narrow path in the courtyard, and the sounds of laughter reached his ears from outside the compound. Just as he was about to turn and leave, a ball the size of his head collided with him.
A young maid, clutching a skirt, dashed out in pursuit of the ball. Seeing Crown Prince Zhao's startled expression, she knelt down and greeted, “Forgive me, my lord. I came out to retrieve the ball.”
The young maid was clearly unaware of Crown Prince Zhao's identity. He bent down, picked up the ball, and squeezed it. It was soft and encased in a layer of silk embroidered with delicate flowers, unmistakably a woman's plaything.
Just as he was about to return the ball, a little girl's head popped up from behind the wall and inquired, “Who are you? This is the backyard. You're not supposed to be here.”
Crown Prince Zhao gazed up at the young and adorable girl and inquired, “Is this yours?”
“Yes, it's a gift from my brother to Yun Er.”
“Oh? Tang Yue made it?” Crown Prince Zhao was taken aback. “Did he embroider the flowers on the silk cloth?”
Tang Yun tilted her head, eyeing him curiously. “You're so strange. My brother is a man. How could he embroider?”
Crown Prince Zhao's expression froze momentarily. It was a rare occurrence for him to be challenged by a three or four-year-old girl. He countered, “Why do you think he can't?”
“Well,” Tang Yun began, counting on her tiny fingers. “Brother knows how to cook. He can create beautiful hairpins and craft lovely clothing. It's not that strange for him to know embroidery…”
Crown Prince Zhao silently acknowledged, “She has indeed become an excellent wife. Both her inner qualities and appearance are commendable.”
His gaze drifted to the hairpin adorning Tang Yun's hair and the distinctive attire she wore. It was evident that she had upgraded her wardrobe, distinct from the clothing he had seen her in previously. However, since their marriage, Tang Yue had never done something like this for him.
Crown Prince Zhao's expression darkened as he tossed the ball he held to a kneeling servant girl nearby. “Very well, take that and amuse yourself. And you,” he pointed at Tang Yun on the wall, “Descend quickly and be cautious not to fall.”
He inquired, “You still haven't revealed your identity to Yun Er?”
“Haven't you recognized me?” Crown Prince Zhao was taken aback by Tang Yun's apparent lack of recognition. They had, after all, met before. He was her brother. It never occurred to him that a child's memory could be so unreliable.
Tang Yun inched closer to the edge, prompting a worried exclamation from someone in the courtyard, “Be careful, Lady Yun!”
Just as the warning was uttered, Tang Yun's leg brushed against the wall, causing her to lose her balance and tumble down.
“Ah…” Several gasps of alarm rang out simultaneously. Crown Prince Zhao swiftly approached, tapping his feet against the wall to propel himself upward, reaching out to catch Tang Yun in his arms.
Within moments, a crowd had gathered around Tang Yun in the courtyard. They anxiously inquired, “Lady Yun, are you alright? … Were you frightened? … Do you feel any discomfort?”
Tang Yun was still in a daze but displayed no signs of fear. Instead, she gazed at Crown Prince Zhao in astonishment.
Crown Prince Zhao entrusted her to an elderly woman, instructing, “Take good care of her and ensure such incidents do not recur.”
The elderly woman, recognizing Crown Prince Zhao, hastily knelt down and expressed her gratitude to Tang Yun, saying, “Thank you for saving me, Your Highness.”
Tang Yun clapped her hands and exclaimed, “Ah, I remember who you are!”
Tang Ya, upon hearing the commotion, rushed to the scene. She also thanked Crown Prince Zhao for saving her life once more. Had she fallen from that height, she might have sustained severe injuries, if not worse.
“Sister, Yun Er doesn't know how to address him. Should she call him sister-in-law?” Tang Yun asked innocently.
Crown Prince Zhao's mouth twitched slightly, and Tang Ya couldn't help but feel exasperated. She hurriedly covered her mouth and said, “My sister is still young and straightforward. I hope Your Highness can forgive her.”
“We're all family here. Her choice of address… it's not incorrect. Big sister, you're being too formal.”
Tang Ya's cheeks turned rosy instantly. She bowed and responded, “Yes… yes, we'll take our leave now, Your Highness.”
At that moment, the butler also arrived, saying, “Your Highness, dinner is ready in the main hall. Please proceed!”
Crown Prince Zhao nodded and removed the jade pendant hanging from his belt, placing it into Tang Yun's small hand. “A small trinket can't compare to your brother's craftsmanship. Let Yun Er play with it.”
The jade pendant worn by Crown Prince Zhao was, of course, no ordinary item. Tang Yun, at her tender age, didn't comprehend its value. Tang Ya, however, understood it clearly. Since it was a gift from her “sister-in-law,” there was no reason to decline.
“Yun Er, be sure to thank His Highness for his kindness.”
“Oh, thank you, sister-in-law,” Tang Yun grinned, revealing her adorable little rabbit teeth.
Crown Prince Zhao couldn't help but pat her head, thinking to himself, No wonder Tang Yue adored his sisters at home. Girls aren't all bothersome.
As they made their way from the backyard to the main hall, Crown Prince Zhao's mood shifted. In the past, he had only felt a familial connection with Tang Yue. Today, he realized he had grown close to the entire Yueyang Marquis's Mansion.
He had grown up in the imperial court. Although the Queen loved him dearly, they couldn't meet every day, and even when they did, they had to adhere to strict etiquette. It wasn't as comfortable as it was in the Marquis's Mansion.
“Haha… Your Highness, please take a seat!” Yueyang Marquis personally greeted him at the door. When Crown Prince Zhao sat down, the Marquis raised his wine cup and said, “I have been neglecting Your Highness. Let me make amends with three cups!”
Crown Prince Zhao raised his hand to stop him. “Father-in-law, you are too courteous. This is a family gathering; there's no need for excessive formality.”
Yueyang Marquis cast a glance at Tang Yue, who was diligently peeling prawns for Crown Prince Zhao. He wore a smile as he spoke, “Ya'er's marriage has been set. It will take place on the first day of April when the weather is warmer.”
“Very well. Just let me know if you need my assistance.”
“I wouldn't dare trouble His Highness,” he replied, cautious not to inconvenience Crown Prince Zhao.
“What do you mean?” Crown Prince Zhao's expression remained unperturbed as he accepted the shrimp meat Tang Yue handed to him and took a bite.
Tang Yue seized the moment while Crown Prince Zhao was eating and couldn't speak. He interjected, “Let's not discuss this during dinner. We should focus on our meal.” He looked up at both of them and resumed eating in earnest.
Crown Prince Zhao wiped his hands with a towel. “Agreed,” he said.
Yueyang Marquis noted that the weight on their hearts had lightened. He glanced at Crown Prince Zhao and confirmed that there was no lingering resentment due to his earlier oversight. His opinion of him improved slightly.
Marquis's Wife sensed the tension and decided to tease, “Since Yue'er left the mansion, the chef at Yueyang Marquis's Mansion has lost his edge. I really miss the days when Yue'er used to cook exquisite dishes for us every day.”
“Those were truly wonderful times,” Crown Prince Zhao reminisced, sharing the sentiment. Regrettably, their busy lives after marriage had left little room for Tang Yue's culinary delights.
Tang Yue raised his head and proposed, “Tomorrow, I can prepare some snacks and have them delivered to you. They'll stay fresh even if not consumed immediately.”
“Oh, no, I was just speaking casually. Yue'er is now an esteemed Crown Princess. It wouldn't be fitting for her to personally cook,” Marquis's Wife was the first to object.
Though she had harbored ill feelings toward Tang Yue, he now held the noble title of Crown Princess. Marquis's Wife dared not ridicule him any further. Her countenance was adorned with a gentle and gracious smile, no different from her usual demeanor.
“Don't worry. When I have some free time, I'll prepare some dishes to lift everyone's spirits.”
“Haha…” Marquis's Wife couldn't quite comprehend Tang Yue's intentions, but since the other two gentlemen didn't object, she refrained from further comment.
After the meal, Tang Yue returned to the carriage, contemplating the new papermaking technique he hadn't yet shared with Crown Prince Zhao. He was about to broach the subject when Crown Prince Zhao cornered him against the carriage wall.
“What's the matter?” Tang Yue arched his chin slightly, half-expecting a storm of kisses to ensue.
He waited in anticipation, but there was no immediate response. Embarrassment crept in. “Why is His Highness staring at me?”
Crown Prince Zhao slowly raised his hands and inspected them, one by one. “Do these hands seem familiar? How do they possess such knowledge?”
Tang Yue's hands had significantly improved after six months of care. His skin was fair and delicate, and his nails were smooth and shiny. However, the calluses from years of hard work couldn't be completely erased.
“You only know how to prepare a few dishes. There's no need for such praise,” Tang Yue commented.
“No, I heard you're skilled in clothing-making…” Crown Prince Zhao's expression was expectant as he awaited Tang Yue's reply.
Unfortunately, Tang Yue seemed completely out of sync with the conversation. “Where did you hear that from? I can only draw a few sketches.”
After arriving in this era, Tang Yue had discovered that the colorful and innovative clothing he had seen on television didn't exist here. The printing technology was quite primitive, and embroidery predominantly featured dark patterns. The clothing's overall color palette adhered to conventional standards of aesthetics.
Contemporary men favored immaculate white attire, which posed a real challenge for their laundry attendants.
“Could you perhaps sketch a few for me?”
Tang Yue thought for a moment, then smiled. “Of course, how about we design matching outfits?”
“Matching outfits?” Crown Prince Zhao was perplexed by the concept.
Tang Yue chose to keep him guessing. “You'll understand when the outfits are ready.” In reality, he was referring to wedding attire, but the traditional red color made it impractical for regular wear.
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