Qiao'er looked up and saw that it was actually Cui Ling, Nian Shi's maid.

"I lost something, so I'm looking for it around here! I'm the Fourth Prince's maid," Qiao'er said.

“Tell me what you’ve lost, and I’ll help you look for it,” Cui Ling said.

"No need! Thank you, sister. You should go ahead and do your work. I can find it myself!" Qiao'er said.

"Qiao'er, what are you doing here?" Hongshi appeared out of nowhere. Just as the two maids were talking, Hongshi suddenly appeared next to Cuiling.

Qiao'er stared wide-eyed at Hongshi, as if she had returned from hell to earth. She quickly stood up from the stone and said, "Fourth Prince, please forgive me. I lost one of your jade pendants. I've been searching for it for ages, but I still can't find it!"

"It's just an ordinary piece of goods, so be it. Come back with me quickly. Without your service, I can't even write properly!" the Fourth Prince said knowingly.

"Yes, this servant will go back to serve you right away! Fourth Prince, come back with this servant!" Qiao'er immediately stepped forward and took the Fourth Prince's hand.

Cui Ling watched helplessly as the master and servant walked away from her, but she felt something was off, though she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

After Qiao'er brought the Fourth Prince back, all those who had been searching for him returned. Seeing him safe and sound, they all breathed a sigh of relief. When Madam Song learned of his return, she rushed to his room to inquire about his well-being. The Fourth Prince explained that he had wandered aimlessly around the mansion and gotten lost. Madam Song reprimanded the maids serving him before leaving, relieved.

Meanwhile, Cui Ling returned and mentioned the matter to Madam Nian. Madam Nian was busy preparing to deal with the newcomer and didn't think much of it, considering it a trivial matter. The Fourth Master had already sent someone to inform Madam Nian that the newcomer would be brought in on the tenth of the third month, and instructed her to have someone renovate the room where Madam Yin used to live. Although a complete renovation was too late, and most of the renovation workers in the mansion were busy renovating the east courtyard, Madam Nian was even less willing to renovate the room for the newcomer. She simply sent someone to paint the peeling areas and move some furniture and belongings over.

"Mother actually assigned a woman to the master. She kept it a secret for those few days in the palace, without a single word. Now she's going to be brought in." Madam Nian said with a look of disgust.

“My lord, since everything is settled, there’s no need to overthink it. This lady’s identity hasn’t been confirmed yet, but the room she lives in isn’t bad; she must be a princess. Let’s provide her with some things according to a princess’s allowance. You’ve just taken power; we shouldn’t leave a bad impression on the master with these matters,” Bai Zhi advised.

"The message came from the master's side, but he didn't say who she was, he just pointed to that room. Then let's arrange it for her according to the princess's allowance," Madam Nian nodded and said.

“My lord, why don’t we go over to Consort Niu’s place together and sound her out? Maybe we’ll find out something,” Bai Zhi suggested.

"She...she actually knows this newcomer's identity?" Madam Nian looked incredulous, and even more so, jealous. If Lanqin knew more than her, could it be said that Fourth Master had already told her even more?

“My lady, we still need to find out the identity and background of this newcomer,” Bai Zhi said. “So for now, let’s stand with Nan Xiaoyuan and see if this newcomer will be of any advantage to the princess.”

After listening to Bai Zhi's advice, Lady Nian took her hand and went to the South Courtyard. It was almost noon, and Lan Qin was already hungry, so she was reclining on the couch having tea and snacks.

There was a maid's voice outside greeting her. Lanqin was slightly startled when she heard it. She sat up straight and watched as the curtain at the door was lifted from the outside and someone stepped in. Then, a pair of embroidered shoes with a magpie and plum blossom pattern stepped in. It was Nian Shi, dressed in a light purple cheongsam, with Baizhi and Cuiling behind her.

"How did you arrive, Consort Nian? Come, come, have a seat!" Lanqin hurriedly greeted her.

"I'm sorry to bother Consort Niu with tea and snacks. It seems the baby in her belly wants to eat!" Lady Nian glanced at Lanqin's belly and smiled faintly.

"Would you like to try these snacks, Consort Nian? They're delicious!" Lanqin said.

"No need, I'm not hungry yet. Consort Niu, please use it yourself." Ever since she had the tea served by the maids at Lanqin's place last time, Lady Nian refused to use anything from Lanqin's place again.

Lanqin didn't press the matter, and smiled slightly, saying, "Consort Nian, you must have come here for something, right?"

Seeing that Lanqin was no longer beating around the bush, Nian said straightforwardly, "I came here to ask you if you know who the newcomer is."

Lanqin had already guessed what was going on. She put down the half-eaten pastry in her hand, wiped her palms and the backs of her hands with a handkerchief, and then said, "She is Master's cousin, from the Wuya family. That's all I know. If Sister Nian wants to know more, why don't you ask Fourth Master?"

Lady Nian was startled and immediately understood why Consort De had sent someone over without letting a word out.

After Madam Nian left, Cui Niang directed the maids to put away all the pastries and then prepared to serve lunch.

"Master, Madam Nian is really upset this time. She knows that the new lady is Fourth Master's cousin, so naturally she doesn't dare to offend her, but she's also feeling uneasy." Cui Niang asked when she saw that Lan Qin hadn't spoken since Madam Nian left.

“Nian Shi isn’t stupid. She’ll weigh the pros and cons when she gets back. This time, it’s not like last time when they went together to deal with the Fujin. After all, this Wuya Shi hasn’t arrived yet. We don’t know what kind of person she is. Will Nian Shi come with her to harm the South Courtyard? It’s hard to say right now,” Lanqin said.

"Yes, Master, please prepare the meal," said Cui Niang. Lan Qin nodded and began to eat lunch.

Lanqin was already prepared for Wuya's arrival. No matter what kind of woman she was, she could never have a relationship with Lanqin like that of Song or Geng. Lanqin sensed that this cousin was not someone to be trifled with; the fact that she could return to become the Fourth Prince's concubine after marriage showed that she was a woman of considerable patience.

Lanqin had made up her mind: she would neither provoke nor fear Uya. Uya was, after all, a concubine, the lowest in rank, not even a princess, and would have to bow before her. Lanqin knew that if she didn't cause trouble for her, Uya currently had neither the right nor the status to do so. Lanqin decided to focus on nurturing her unborn child first; other matters could wait until after the birth. Lanqin carefully reviewed Yongzheng's birth chart and realized that her two pregnancies didn't seem to fit the description. Suddenly, she felt anxious and afraid—could these two pregnancies not survive?