Lanqin returned to the main room and quickly took off her flowerpot-shaped cloak, heading towards the warm pavilion. Even though she was wearing a cloak, it was still very cold in the dead of winter. The winters in northern China three hundred years ago during the Qing Dynasty were vastly different from those in later generations. Although Lanqin didn't have a thermometer, she sensed it was roughly minus ten degrees Celsius. Stepping outside, she immediately felt a sharp pain, as if knives were scraping her face.

Xi Cha and Si Hua quickly served Lan Qin warm tea and turned the charcoal in the room even brighter.

“Master, would you like some milk buns? Master Niu came to ask what we’re having for today,” Xicha asked.

"It's cold, so let's have some mutton hot pot. Oh, and send some hot pots to Ushiha and Bechuk's wet nurses and maids too, and also to Second Princess's." Lanqin didn't forget to show concern for her three daughters. Ever since Second Princess became friends with Lanqin, she hadn't gone to the main kitchen to get meals anymore, and had been eating in Lanqin's small kitchen.

Xi Cha immediately agreed, lifted the curtain, and went out to have the maids relay the message.

“Master, you are kind-hearted and refuse to torture her, but she refuses to reveal the jade mark. So, is there really nothing we can do about the Yehe clan?” Cui Niang said while wiping Lanqin’s hair.

"Let me think about it, there must be other ways." Lanqin ate two pieces of milk buns and then drank milk.

Outside, both Song and Geng, wearing cloaks and carrying gilded flat-bottomed hand warmers, entered the south courtyard one after the other.

Shui Ling lifted the curtain for the two people outside, and then they heard Madam Song ask, "Where is my sister?"

"Reporting to Consort Song, our master is in the warm pavilion!" Shui Ling said with a smile.

Lanqin quickly replied, "I'm here!"

Song and Geng went to the warm pavilion, and with the help of their maids, they took off their cloaks and sat down next to Lanqin.

"It's much better now that there are more people here, little sister. Before, Nianxue and the others had to take care of your daily life, entertain guests, and do some chores. Now, at least they don't have to do those things anymore," Madam Song said with a smile.

“Yes, it’s my fault for not liking too many people in the house before, which made them tired!” Lanqin said.

At this moment, Shui Ling came in with two cups of tea and quickly served one cup to each of Song Shi and Geng Shi.

“We’re not tired,” Xicha said with a smile, leading Qingping and Lülan to hang their master’s cloak on the clothes rack outside.

"Sister, I heard someone died on the Yehe clan's side? And they say this girl didn't hang herself." Geng Shi picked up her teacup and said.

“Yes, I’ve heard about it too. Why would someone suddenly become so depressed? This peach blossom doesn’t seem like someone who’s depressed,” said Madam Song.

Lanqin chuckled and asked, "What do you two sisters think happened to Peach Blossom?"

Fourth Master did not tell Lanqin that she could tell others about her "illness," so Lanqin did not mention it to Song or Geng.

“My maid Cuiyun is acquainted with Lotus in the house across the street. It’s said that Peach Blossom stole something from her master and was imprisoned by the Yehe clan several times. But stealing something shouldn’t lead to such a desperate act,” said Madam Song.

“Peach Blossom didn’t hang herself; I suspect it was Yehe Clan who did it. We’re currently struggling with how to get Yehe Clan to confess. Do you two sisters have any ideas?” Lanqin asked.

Both Madam Geng and Madam Song looked surprised. Madam Geng asked, "Why did she kill Peach Blossom?"

Song Shi also had the same puzzled look on her face.

Lanqin picked up the embroidery pattern from the couch and said softly, "There must be a reason why she had to be killed."

For a moment, the only sound in the room was the crackling of burning silver charcoal.

"Master, the pot is ready," came Jinju's voice from outside.

“Move the table over here, sisters, let’s have a meal together,” Lanqin said.

So Song and Geng stayed to have a meal with Lanqin. Only then did Song remember that she had come here to talk to Lanqin about something.

"Sister, I want to ask you for a favor. Mo Yaqi is already nine months pregnant, and I... I want to go see her!" Song Shi was thinking about the eldest princess, and she had made no less than a dozen sets of children's clothes.

"What kind of favor is this? The eldest princess is about to give birth! Of course, I, as her sister, must go and see her," Lanqin said, picking up a piece of tofu.

"Then I thank you very much, sister." Song Shi naturally knew that Lan Qin would agree, and smiled as she served Lan Qin some food.

The following days were peaceful in the inner quarters. Nian Shi remained silent, and Lanqin knew that what Song Shi and Geng Shi had heard was what she had relayed, naturally to put pressure on Lanqin.

Song Shi boarded the carriage at the gate of the Fourth Prince's mansion with two boxes of clothes and toys for the children. In addition to what Song Shi had prepared, there were also things added by Lan Qin and Geng Shi.

The Xu family had been notified early on. Although Song was a princess, her status was still more noble than that of the Xu family. When Song arrived at the Xu residence, the Xu father and son were already standing at the gate.

With the help of Qingping and Cuiyun, Madam Song got off the carriage. After exchanging pleasantries with the Xu family father and son for a while, she followed them into the mansion.

The Xu family mansion wasn't located in a particularly prime area of ​​the capital, roughly equivalent to the current Third Ring Road. However, it was quite large, consisting of three courtyards with a garden at the back. The eldest princess married Xu Shaowen, the second son of Lord Xu. He was currently a probationary official in the Hanlin Academy and a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) in the same year as Lanqin's elder brother. Since entering the mansion, Madam Song hadn't seen the eldest princess's mother-in-law, Madam Xu Meng, and a thought began to linger in her mind.

Lord Xu, accompanied by his son, led Madam Song to a house behind a rockery. He then cupped his hands and said to Madam Song, "My dear in-law, my wife and I have prepared a banquet for you. We will come to invite your wife, Shaowen, to come over shortly. Shaowen, take your mother-in-law and meet your wife."

Madam Song curtsied and then followed Xu Shaowen into the house with the three-panel door. Upon entering, there was a courtyard, and further inside, a heavily pregnant woman stood at the entrance to the inner room, attended by two maids.

"Mother!" the eldest princess called out. She was wearing a light green satin robe, with a cotton overcoat of the same color, slightly darker.

"Mo Yaqi!" Madam Song took two steps at a time and hurriedly went to greet her.

The mother and daughter hadn't seen each other for almost a year. As a concubine, Song Shi wasn't allowed to leave the manor at will. And the eldest princess was already married, so unless there was a special reason, she couldn't easily return to the Fourth Prince's manor. Therefore, although the mother and daughter lived not far apart—one within the inner ring road and the other within the third ring road—they simply couldn't see each other often.

"Mother, you look well, it seems you're doing well." When the eldest princess got married, she was quite worried about Song Shi and even went to Lan Qin to ask her to take good care of Song Shi.

“What’s wrong with your mother? It’s you, though, your belly is so big, it looks like you’re twins!” Madam Song said, weeping with joy.