For the next few days, the Second Princess went out every day with the servants who went out to purchase vegetables for the manor. Lanqin also specially arranged for two guards to accompany the Second Princess, so that nothing could happen to her.

Lanqin specifically arranged for one of her favored purchasing agents to accompany the Second Princess on the trip, genuinely intending to teach her some skills. These noble ladies, born with silver spoons in their mouths, rarely left their homes; if the Second Princess were allowed to go out into the world like this, who knew what would become of her? Moreover, Lanqin discovered that aside from being somewhat cunning, the Second Princess was truly intellectually challenged, meaning she knew nothing. Lanqin thought of all the Qing princesses and noblewomen who married out, most of whom died within a few years, truly victims of political marriages. Lanqin concluded that it was largely because these princesses and noblewomen were too pampered. The Qing court was strange; they were quite good at educating their sons, hiring renowned teachers to instruct them in riding, archery, mathematics, etiquette, and civility, but they neglected their daughters' upbringing considerably. They were extremely well-off materially, but their spiritual and self-development was severely neglected. The governesses who disciplined the princesses had practically become their spokespeople, to the point that some princesses had to consult their governesses before deciding whether or not to share a bed with their husbands after marriage. Lanqin vowed that she would never allow Ushiha and Bechuk to be raised by a mere servant governess.

These past few days, summer has entered its peak, and the Yellow River and the Yangtze River, two places that are prone to flooding several times a year, have begun to send out summer reports. Fourth Master has not returned to the mansion for several days in a row, as he has been busy with flood prevention and disaster relief.

Lanqin sent people to the palace to deliver clothes every day, because the Fourth Prince did not take any clothes with him when he left, and he refused to wear clothes made by others or those not made by the embroiderers in the mansion.

"Master, the food you ordered is ready. Shall we send it in now?" Following Lanqin's instructions, Cui Niang asked the head kitchen to prepare some water with honeysuckle and orange peel, saying it could prevent heatstroke.

"Yes, go ahead, and tell Fourth Master to drink more. The others should drink too," Lanqin said.

“There’s no such thing in the palace, Your Majesty has really gone to great lengths,” said Xicha, who was standing to the side.

“Nothing in the palace is as good as mine. Besides, with so many people, who knows how long it will take for the Fourth Prince and the others to get their share. It’s better for me to send it over. In this heat, the clothes he brings back every day are soaked through. You can imagine how hot it is inside,” Lanqin said.

Just then, Jinju lifted the curtain and came in, saying to Lanqin, "Master, the maid from the Fourth Prince's side says that the Fourth Prince has a fever and asks Doctor Lin to go and take a look as soon as possible."

Lanqin looked at Jinju in surprise and quickly said, "Tell Grape to go and call Doctor Lin. Cui Niang, come with me to see the Fourth Prince."

Lanqin supported Cui Niang's hand as they walked towards the front yard, the bright sun overhead causing them to immediately break out in a layer of sweat.

"My lady, please slow down!" Seeing that Lanqin had remained silent the whole way, Cui Niang was afraid that she was too worried, so she advised her. After all, the Fourth Prince had now entrusted almost all the affairs of the Fourth Prince's mansion, big and small, to Lanqin. If any of the children in the mansion had any problems, it would all be Lanqin's fault! Although the Fourth Prince had never said this, Lanqin was now exercising the rights of a Fujin (principal wife), and although no one said anything to her face, there was still a lot of gossip behind her back.

Lanqin nodded. When she and her maids entered the room where Hongshi lived, they saw that Hongshi's governess, Madam Xia, was guarding Hongshi's bedside, and the maids all hung their heads dejectedly and dared not make a sound.

"How is Hongshi?" Lanqin hurriedly went to Hongshi's bedside and immediately saw the lampshade with the rock and grasshopper picture that she had given to Hongjun on the lamp in front of the bed.

"Reporting to Consort Xia, Hongshi was perfectly fine this morning, but after attending two lessons with his tutor, he started acting strangely. When I touched his head, I discovered that the Fourth Prince had a fever," Xia said, wiping away her tears.

"It's so hot, why are you covering him with such a thick blanket? Open it all up! Quick, he needs to cool down when he has a fever, not be covered up." Lanqin said hurriedly when she saw Hongshi covered with a blanket. What kind of weather is this, covering a three-year-old child with so much, it's making his body temperature rise.

Xia Shi had always only known that a child with a fever should be covered up, and she didn't understand the principle of heat dissipation. She quickly said, "Consort, this is how I have always taken care of the Fourth Prince. There is no reason not to change the blankets when he has a fever!"

"What are you saying? Are you implying that the concubine is inferior to you?" Cui Niang rebuked Xia Shi for her rude words.

As expected, Madam Xia glanced at Cui Niang warily, then immediately said, "Consort, that's not what I meant. What I meant was..."

"Alright, remove the blankets and clothes from the Fourth Prince's body. He needs to cool down!" Lanqin ignored Xia Shi's explanation and immediately instructed the two maids standing to the side.

The two maids immediately did as Lanqin instructed, removing the blanket from the Fourth Prince and rolling up his legs. Lanqin then ordered the two maids to wipe the Fourth Prince's legs and forehead with a damp cloth.

When Xia saw Lanqin doing these strange things to the Fourth Prince, she stared dumbfounded at the two maids. However, seeing Lanqin's unquestionable demeanor, she dared not step forward and say anything rashly.

When Doctor Lin arrived, he immediately took Hongshi's pulse, then asked Xia Shi and several maids who were serving him, and then checked Hongshi's pulse from both sides, but still could not diagnose what was wrong with him.

"Dr. Lin, what's wrong with the Fourth Prince?" Lanqin asked.

"Judging from the Fourth Prince's pulse, it's still unclear why he has a fever. I can only prescribe some fever-reducing medicine for now; we can't discern any specific symptoms at this stage."

Lanqin knew that fever, a common symptom in children, was difficult to diagnose. It was very likely that the child had been infected with some kind of bacteria, and the body's antibodies were fighting the bacteria, causing the fever. But she couldn't say that to these ancient people, so she could only say to Doctor Lin, "Thank you for your trouble. Please go and prepare some fever-reducing medicine for the Fourth Prince."

After Xia went with Doctor Lin to get the medicine, Lanqin pulled over a maid and asked, "Why did the Fourth Prince suddenly develop a fever? What has he been eating these past few days? Tell me in detail."

The maidservant lowered her head nervously and said, "These past few days, the Fourth Prince's appetite has not been very good, so Granny Xia gave him some iced food."