Tian Yu and Xu Ri were locked in the woodshed. As it got dark, their stomachs were growling with hunger. Luckily, Tang Yuan secretly brought them a lot of food. Tang Yuan kept apologizing to her. How could Tian Yu bear to blame this sensible child? She could only comfort her, saying, "It's not your fault. This is an adult matter. Besides, it's your father who's in charge of me, not you."
"But it's all because of me. If I hadn't insisted on bringing Mother back, Father wouldn't have locked her up." Tangyuan still called her "Mother" all the time, and Tianyu felt like she was really becoming his mother after being called that for a whole day.
"Tangyuan, be good, I'm really fine. Your dad is probably just angry for a moment. Maybe he'll let us out at dawn!"
"Why are you making up these relationships out of thin air! You've ruined us!" Xu Ri said unhappily while eating.
“Rising Sun!” Tian Yu glared at him.
"Mother, wait for me! I'll make sure Father lets you go!" Tangyuan said and ran off.
Tian Yu leaned over the door and called out, "Tang Yuan, don't make your dad angry. He'll let us go once he's in a better mood." But as soon as she finished speaking, she realized how strange she knew he was angry.
In another courtyard, Xiao Tian was writing poetry in her room when Zhao Moyan walked in. Xiao Tian quickly put down her pen, stood up, and bowed. Zhao Moyan saw that she was writing a poem that Tian Yu had written before, and said coldly, "I allow you to stay, but without my permission, you'd better stay here and not go anywhere!"
"Yes, Your Highness! Has Your Highness had dinner? Would you like me to make you something?"
"No need!" Zhao Moyan said and turned to leave, still feeling a little reluctant to leave a face so similar to Tian Yu's.
On his way back, he remembered that there were still two people locked up in the woodshed, so he changed his route and went to the woodshed. But before he even got close, he heard the laughter of the two people inside. Instantly, Zhao Moyan was furious. He heard Tian Yu laugh loudly and say, "Xuri! You're really something! You don't even spare dogs!"
"It bit me, so I had no choice but to bite it back! Honey, when are we going to get married?"
"I've already told you, you're not allowed to call me 'wife.' I'm almost a full twelve years older than you. You should call me 'sister,' understand?"
"Didn't you promise to marry me?"
"You're so young, how can I marry you? Stop thinking nonsense and go to sleep!"
"No, we had an agreement."
“Xuri, we can only be siblings. I thought you were joking at the time, so I went along with you. Who knew you would actually want to marry me? You're only a few years old. What would you do with me? By the time you grow up, I'll be old!” Tian Yu scolded.
"I don't care, you're my wife, and I'm going to marry you. I'm not young anymore. If my parents were still alive, I could get married in two years."
"Hey buddy, stop joking around and go to sleep!"
"Tian Yu!"
Zhao Moyan, who was standing outside, was shocked by the sound. Tian Yu quickly covered Xu Ri's mouth and said, "Shh! Shh! Keep your voice down! Don't let anyone hear you. From now on, you can only call me Xiao Dong."
Realizing he was getting too excited, Xu Ri quickly nodded. Tian Yu let go of him and whispered, "I heard their queen is also named Tian Yu. You mustn't let it slip. If they find out I'm also named Tian Yu, Xiao Ming will be finished!"
"I've heard about it too. What a coincidence that you look alike and have the same name," Xu Ri muttered.
"I find that strange too!"
Zhao Moyan stood in front of the courtyard gate. It was dark, so his facial expression was not visible, but his tightly clenched hands showed that he was very unsettled.
Early the next morning, Tian Yu was taken to the front hall alone, leaving Xuri alone in the woodshed. Zhao Moyan and Tangyuan were having breakfast. When Tangyuan saw Tian Yu, she happily said, "Mother!"
Seeing Zhao Moyan, he realized something was amiss and quickly changed his words, saying, "Xiao Dong! Are you hungry?"
Tian Yu glanced at Zhao Moyan, who was eating elegantly with proper posture, swallowed hard, and said, "I'm not hungry! You guys eat!"
Tangyuan looked at Zhao Moyan, who nodded without saying a word. Tangyuan said happily, "Xiaodong, come and eat with us!"
Seeing their hesitation, Tian Yu wondered if they were going to let her go or if they were going to let her eat her fill and then let her die. Tang Yuan couldn't wait any longer and tugged at Tian Yu's sleeve, saying, "Sit down quickly!"
Tian Yuxiao was about to sit down to eat when she looked at her hands and said hesitantly, "Could I wash my hands first?"
Qiuju had been watching Tianyu ever since she came in. Hearing that she needed to wash her hands, she quickly fetched water. Tianyu carefully washed her face and hands before sitting down and picking up her chopsticks to eat. Zhao Moyan had already put down his chopsticks and was watching Tianyu's every move. When Tianyu washed her face, he was surprised, but still couldn't believe that the person in front of him was Tianyu. Why were their habits so similar? Tangyuan noticed that Zhao Moyan was starting to waver and was very happy. It seemed his tears last night hadn't been in vain. He thought that sooner or later he would find out that this was his mother.
Tian Yu had already reached for her chopsticks, but remembering that this was the Prince's residence, she quickly withdrew them and looked at Zhao Moyan. Zhao Moyan said softly, "Eat!"
Tian Yu then began to eat, enjoying a hearty meal. Zhao Moyan looked disgusted, remembering that Tian Yu had acted the same way back in Lao Zhao Village, and had even accused him of pretending to eat.
Tian Yu glanced at the half-eaten bowl of rice left in Zhao Moyan's bowl and asked him, "Why aren't you eating?"
"I'm full!"
"What a waste! Don't you know that wasting food is a shameful act?" After saying this, Tian Yu looked at the two people, one big and one small, who were staring at her without moving, and then, remembering that this was their territory, she asked weakly, "Did I say something wrong?"
"No!" they both said in unison.
Tangyuan explained, "My mother used to talk about my father like that too."
Tian Yu was somewhat surprised but smiled and said, "Then your mother is a thrifty person just like me, and knows that food is hard to come by."
"Yes, I'm very frugal, look!" Tangyuan said, holding up her empty bowl.
After dinner, Zhao Moyan wanted them to stay in his mansion as servants. Tian Yu naturally refused, but faced with his cold gaze, she could only lower her head and emphasize that she would absolutely not sign a contract of servitude, and that she would only work for two months, earning five taels of silver per person per month. After two months, if Tian Yu wanted to leave, they could not force her to stay. After stating her conditions, Tian Yu looked uncertainly at the father and son sitting opposite her. Tang Yuan was very happy, but still looked at Zhao Moyan first. Zhao Moyan stared at Tian Yu for a long time, and Tian Yu stood awkwardly, feeling as if he could see right through her.
"Okay! You can leave on your own two months from now."
"Great! Daddy, can I have Xiaodong?" Tangyuan said happily.
"Why?" Zhao Moyan asked.
"I happen to need a maid, so Xiao Dong can take care of me!" Tangyuan said earnestly.
"Okay! Okay!" Tian Yu nodded in agreement immediately, thinking that it couldn't be better.
"Okay! As you wish."
Having reached an agreement, Tangyuan took Tianyu's hand and prepared to leave. Zhao Moyan watched the two leave and softly called out, "Tianyu!"
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