Suddenly, the deposed crown prince picked up his wine cup and stood up. He walked to Kangxi and said, "Your subject wishes Father Emperor eternal health and the Qing Dynasty prosperity and glory!"

Instantly, all eyes were drawn to the father and son. Lanqin glanced at the deposed crown prince, then at the former crown princess and Consort Li, and could tell at a glance which woman harbored more ambitions for the crown prince. Crown Princess Shi's face was ashen, and she appeared indifferent, while Consort Li looked at the crown prince's profile with anticipation.

Emperor Kangxi was probably surprised that the Crown Prince would suddenly come to toast him. He showed a slight look of surprise on his face, but he quickly covered it up and even smiled as he picked up the wine cup in front of him and said, "Well, the Second Prince has been different these past few months."

Having said that, Kangxi raised the wine cup to his lips and actually drank the entire cup of wine. Lanqin sighed inwardly: Kangxi still has feelings for the Crown Prince, otherwise why would he only offer a perfunctory toast to others, but drink the Crown Prince's wine completely?

“Your Highness, the Second Prince’s behavior is really outrageous. We should go over and offer him a toast.” Lanqin, who was sitting behind the Fourth Prince, stood up and walked to his side, whispering in his ear.

The Fourth Prince glanced at Lanqin a few times, nodded, and said, "I was just about to go over there. Why don't you go and congratulate the Second Prince's wife, Lady Li?"

Lanqin smiled and walked with the Fourth Prince to the deposed Crown Prince's table. While one of them spoke to the deposed Crown Prince, Lanqin went around to Li Shi and said a few auspicious words to her. The deposed Crown Princess looked disdainful of Lanqin's words, so Lanqin didn't bother to speak to her either. After exchanging a few more words with Li Shi about the children, she returned to her seat.

"Hmph, what a flatterer. It's a pity he's already a deposed crown prince. What good is flattery?" Just as Lanqin sat down, Nian Shi, who was beside her, suddenly said.

"What's wrong with exchanging New Year's greetings and a few words with your second brother? Don't be a sour grapes!" Lanqin knew that Madam Nian was unhappy that she had gone with the Fourth Prince to toast the deposed Crown Prince's family, which was why she said those words earlier.

"You!" Madam Nian was so anxious that she almost glared at Lanqin's profile, but she didn't dare to say anything.

At this moment, Kangxi sent a eunuch to tell Lanqin that he wanted her to go and serve him.

"Huh? Me?" Lanqin looked at the little eunuch in surprise, but in her heart she was thinking: Why did Kangxi remember me again? When Lady Nian heard that the emperor wanted to summon Lanqin to serve him, her jealousy intensified, but she couldn't say anything!

The Fourth Prince had just returned from the deposed Crown Prince's place when he saw Lanqin getting up and walking towards Kangxi with a young eunuch. He was a little worried, but he didn't dare to go up and ask, since Kangxi hadn't asked him to serve him.

Lanqin followed the young eunuch to the Emperor Kangxi's table, and quickly bowed to Kangxi, then to the Empress Dowager, and finally to the four concubines and all the nobles present.

After all that, Lanqin felt like her head was about to spin.

"Just now, Consort De said that you are quite good at telling jokes, which made me curious. Why don't you tell one to amuse the Empress Dowager and to amuse me?" Kangxi naturally remembered this concubine of the fourth prince's family.

Lanqin smiled and agreed, but inwardly she felt a pang of resentment towards Consort De. She was practically giving herself a chance to embarrass herself, Mother-in-law!

"Your Majesty, I am not good at telling jokes, but I happened to come across one or two. I will tell the Empress Dowager and Your Majesty a joke, hoping to bring a smile to your face." Lanqin racked her brains for a while, then suddenly remembered the joke and decided to tell it.

"Speak!" Kangxi said, staring at Lanqin with great interest.

Seeing Lanqin standing before Kangxi, answering questions with composure, the Fourth Prince finally felt a little relieved. He knew that Lanqin's every word and action represented the Fourth Prince's household. He knew that the young woman sometimes uttered strange things, but Kangxi's intentions were unpredictable at this moment, and he feared that Lanqin might say something that would offend Kangxi without her realizing it.

"Your Highness, it seems that Sister Niu is quite familiar with the Emperor? Why would the Emperor send her over to speak?" Seeing that the Fourth Prince was frowning and staring at Kangxi, Madam Nian assumed that he did not like Lanqin going out to deal with the situation.

“Qin’er accompanied the Emperor before, and Father Emperor said she resembled the Third Princess,” the Fourth Prince said. Lady Nian was startled, and her jealousy intensified.

Meanwhile, Lanqin was telling a joke: "A man went to Antarctica and met a group of penguins. He asked one of them, 'What do you do every day?' The penguin said, 'Eat, sleep, and play with beans.' He asked another, 'What do you do every day?' That penguin also said, 'Eat, sleep, and play with beans.' He asked many, many penguins, and they all said, 'Eat, sleep, and play with beans.' Later, he met a little penguin, who looked very cute, and asked it, 'Little friend, what do you do every day?' The little penguin said, 'Eat and sleep.' The man was taken aback, and then asked, 'Why don't you play with beans?' The little penguin said with a helpless expression, 'Because I am a bean.'"

"Is it over?" Kangxi asked. Everyone else looked bewildered, except for a few minor nobles who began to cover their mouths and chuckle.

"It's over. My joke was bad." Seeing that neither Emperor Kangxi nor the Empress Dowager reacted, Lanqin had no choice but to quickly admit her mistake.

"Hahaha!" Kangxi suddenly burst into laughter. The Empress Dowager and the four consorts also began to cover their mouths and laugh.

Liang Jiugong, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but smile, thinking to himself that the Fourth Prince's concubine was really fearless, actually able to tell such a joke in front of the Emperor.

When the Fourth Prince saw the laughter coming from Kangxi's side, he was a little confused. He wondered what this little woman had said that had made Kangxi and the Empress Dowager laugh.

Lady Nian felt uneasy seeing that Lanqin seemed to have won favor with him again. Not only her, but the other wives and concubines present also felt a little smug seeing a concubine able to please the Emperor.

"You're a very good little girl! I'm very pleased. Tell me, what reward do you want?" Kangxi seemed to be in a really good mood and actually wanted to reward Lanqin.

"I don't want any reward, I only have one wish," Lanqin said.

"What is your wish? Just tell me, and I will grant it." Kangxi said, narrowing his eyes.

Hearing this, one of the four concubines said with a hint of sourness, "The Fourth Prince's concubine is so lucky to receive such a reward from the Emperor!"

"I only hope that Father Emperor, Empress Dowager and all the ladies can enjoy peace, wealth and health forever! Only in this way can our Great Qing Dynasty have eternal prosperity and stability, and only then can we follow Father Emperor to have meat to eat, soup to drink and a good life!" Lanqin said bravely.