Her peculiar sense of humor left the system dumbfounded.
It also made Baili Chongyan feel strange. He had initially thought she was an immortal from the heavens, but now, she didn't seem like one.
He wanted to ask her how she did it, but he couldn't speak. He could only have a guard relay the message, which would also reveal that she was the one who had caused the trouble earlier.
So, he shook his head, not responding.
Those brought by the Fourth Prince, having witnessed the scene, forgot what they were supposed to do. It took them a while to react, and they rushed to help the Fourth Prince up and carried him off to find a doctor.
Zhu Zhu was about to push someone away when she heard Madam Song's furious voice.
"Song Zhu!"
She turned to see Madam Song, her composure almost shattered. She strode towards Zhu Zhu and asked sternly, "Why did you sneak out? And this..."
Zhu Zhu introduced her, "Mother, I just came out to see. This is Baili Chongyan, my fiancé. Ah Yan, this is my mother."
Madam Song: "..."
Baili Chongyan, after his surprise, managed to catch up. He cupped his hands slightly towards Madam Song but remained silent.
A nearby guard, being quick-witted, respectfully said, "Greetings, Madam. My Prince is unable to speak. We hope for your understanding."
Madam Song didn't quite hear him. She looked at the person in the wheelchair before her. Just like the rumors outside, he couldn't speak, was unable to walk, had to sit in a wheelchair, his face was ugly, and he wore a mask to conceal it.
But it was slightly different from the rumors.
When he cupped his hands towards her earlier, she could see his eyes beneath the mask. They were as calm as a deep well, clear to the bottom, not like someone inherently cruel.
"Mother, what's wrong?"
Madam Song snapped back to attention, finally realizing her rudeness. She returned the greeting, "This humble subject greets Prince Yan."
Baili Chongyan slightly raised his hand, and the guard respectfully stepped forward, offering a light support, saying, "Please rise, Madam. You are Miss Song's mother and an elder. There is no need for such a grand gesture."
Madam Song's impression of them improved further.
If Prince Yan was a monstrous figure with fangs and claws, as the rumors claimed, then his subordinates would be the evil spirits who committed murder for him.
But these people were clearly young men in their prime, just like her own children, well-mannered and sensible, neither arrogant nor impatient.
"Mother, let's not stand here. Did you finish discussing with the shopkeeper? If so, let's go out together."
As she spoke, she moved behind Baili Chongyan's wheelchair, acting as if she wouldn't let anyone take that position. Madam Song didn't know what to do.
If they were elsewhere, and the person wasn't him, she would have scolded her long ago. But now, she was pushing Prince Yan, her future husband. If she spoke up, it would seem too unkind.
"It's done," Madam Song said with a sigh. "Does Your Highness have any other matters here? If Your Highness is busy, Zhu Zhu, please don't bother him. We should return to the manor."
"He's not busy," Zhu Zhu quickly interjected.
Madam Song: "..."
The guard, being perceptive, immediately added, "His Highness was also about to leave. Madam, the Zhenxiu Pavilion is just ahead. It's getting late, let's go there to sit and discuss the marriage between His Highness and Miss Song."
With that said, Madam Song had no reason to refuse.
Although this marriage was bestowed by the Emperor, its purpose was impure, and he didn't want them to have a good wedding. It was likely they were all waiting to see a spectacle, such as Baili Chongyan rejecting the bride, or the bride refusing to marry him to the point of death.
In short, they wanted to use Baili Chongyan to make a fool of themselves.
But the Song lady died by suicide, and in her place came this... demon girl, who seemed unlikely to grant them their wish.
The guard thought this and secretly glanced at Zhu Zhu, studying her for a long time, as if trying to discern her true nature.
Her appearance was radiant and dignified, charming but not coquettish, beautiful but not vulgar. She possessed the demeanor of a lady from a prominent family, yet with a hint of playful wickedness, as if she held nothing in contempt.
Except for the person in the wheelchair she was pushing.
The guard's mind raced with many possibilities, such as this demon girl having a love spanning three lifetimes with his Prince, and she was here to repay him, thus protecting him at every turn.
As he was lost in thought, he suddenly felt a gaze like a thorn in his back. He came back to his senses and saw Zhu Zhu looking at him with a smile that wasn't quite a smile, her eyes like ice, freezing him. He shivered and quickly averted his gaze.
A demon girl, she was definitely a demon girl!
"Heh."
Coward.
Madam Song turned back, "What are you laughing at?"
Zhu Zhu instantly composed herself and replied as if nothing had happened, "Nothing, Mother. Hurry up, I'm hungry."
"No manners."
Teaching her daughter such things could be done in private. Out in public, she could only say "no manners" and nothing more.
The group walked out of the Linglong Pavilion. Beside it was a medical clinic called Huichun Guan. The Fourth Prince who had been carried out earlier had gone into this clinic, and was now being carried out again.
"Quack doctors! I am perfectly fine, how dare you spout nonsense! Cursing me, I will never let you off!"
He lay on a makeshift stretcher, carried by four people, his body turned to the side, occasionally groaning and still shouting threats at the doctor of the clinic.
"Quack doctors!"
"I will have you all shut down!"
"Ah! Be gentler, do you want to kill me!"
"Ouch..."
Zhu Zhu stopped and leaned down to his ear, "Do you still want to watch a good show?"
Baili Chongyan blinked his eyes lightly. Even turning his head seemed difficult for him, and he couldn't respond.
Zhu Zhu decided for him.
The person at the front of the stretcher suddenly went weak at the knees and knelt on the ground. The sudden movement caught the people behind him off guard, and they all fell to the ground, the stretcher and the person on it being thrown aside, landing in a daze.
"Ah!" the Fourth Prince screamed, roaring furiously, "A bunch of good-for-nothings! You can't even carry someone properly, what use are you to me!"
"Your Highness, please forgive us. It was just... someone ambushed us and struck our legs, and we..."
"Who ambushed!" the Fourth Prince couldn't listen. "It's clearly you useless fools..."
"..."
Madam Song had witnessed quite a show. She shook her head and sighed inwardly.
In the past, the Fourth Prince had a decent reputation. After all, he was the son of the Empress, and even with the Crown Prince ahead of him, he hadn't been too obscure.
Now, it seemed, it would be better if he remained obscure.
Today's events would likely lead to a censor impeaching him at the morning court tomorrow. As a prince, causing a scene in the street regardless of royal dignity, and acting like this, what difference was there between him and those dissolute young nobles?
After those people regrouped and left, they also entered the Zhenxiu Pavilion.
One party was a reigning prince, and the other was the wife of the Minister of Rites. Naturally, they couldn't sit in the main hall, so they requested a private room.
As they went upstairs, Zhu Zhu once again left Madam Song dumbfounded.
In full view of everyone, she directly bent down, scooped up Baili Chongyan, and openly carried him upstairs.
Madam Song was so astonished that she forgot to question how she had such strength. She was too surprised to speak, staring blankly until the guard asked, "Madam, what's wrong?"
Madam Song: "..." This is a big problem!!!
Her daughter, how did she become like this!
In broad daylight, in front of everyone, ignoring all propriety, hugging and embracing, what kind of behavior was this!
Her face contorted, and she gritted her teeth, trying hard to control her emotions: "... No, it's nothing."
The guard felt she didn't look like she was fine.
But out of respect for her status, he didn't dare to ask further, so he pretended she was fine and followed them upstairs.
The guards behind them, not understanding what was happening, whispered, "Miss Song is so good to our Prince!"
Another guard chimed in, "Yes, she's very good. After all, she's the future Princess Consort. Who else would she be good to if not our Prince?"
Madam Song: "..."