Niohuru Lanqin only woke up groggily when she heard a noisy commotion around her.

"Sister Qin, wake up! Wake up!" Dong's thick Sichuan accent made Lanqin think she was dreaming, dreaming that she had traveled back in time. Half-opening her eyes, she saw Dong's little tiger teeth pointing at her and saying something!

"Sister Qin, the Emperor bumped into Sister Holland!!" Madam Dong threw off her blanket and shouted loudly.

What? You knocked over the Emperor?

Lanqin opened her eyes wide, sat up abruptly, and asked loudly, "What did you say? She bumped into the Emperor?"

Damn it, Niohuru Holland, how dare you! What do we do, what do we do?

"No, no, it was my sister Holland and I who met the Emperor in the Imperial Garden, and the Emperor had her taken away." Seeing that she had misunderstood, Madam Dong had no choice but to reorganize her words.

"What? Second Sister has been taken away by the Emperor!!" Lanqin asked in surprise, and quickly lifted the quilt, fastening a few buttons on her collar. She had loosened a few buttons earlier because she thought they were too tight.

At this moment, other young women from the other rooms also came over and began to discuss Lanqin.

"What a vixen! She fawned over the Emperor the moment she saw him," Guarjia muttered to Fucha, who was standing beside her, covering her mouth with her handkerchief.

Although her voice was very low, Lanqin still heard it.

"Are you saying the Emperor favors a vixen?" Niohuru Lanqin couldn't stand people gossiping behind people's backs. No, it should be Lin Mengyao who hated people who were just sour grapes.

Although Holland was no benevolent being and had even harmed the original owner of this body, the sisters were still united as one. When the Guarjia clan spoke of Holland, they were referring to their Niohuru clan!

“I, I didn’t mean that.” Guarjia was choked by Niohuru Lanqin and started to stutter.

Just then, Aunt Dai came in with her entourage.

Seeing a group of people gathered in Lanqin's room discussing amongst themselves, she scolded them, "Holland has just encountered His Majesty in the Imperial Garden and has already reserved his nameplate. Go back to your own rooms and carefully review what the matrons who taught you manners said. When you meet His Majesty tomorrow, don't do anything that will disgrace your family."

After hearing these words, no one dared to utter another word.

Aunt Dai glanced at Lanqin with a complicated expression. She had initially thought this daughter of the Niohuru family would be kept, but now her half-sister had beaten her to it. Granny Zhuang had probably already received the news, but it wasn't her fault; she had only said it was a daughter of the Niohuru family, without specifying which one. As for Consort De? That was easy enough. This Niohuru Lanqin could be betrothed to one of the princes. The Emperor had already taken in one daughter of the Niohuru family; he probably wouldn't take in two more.

The Tong family, the Guarjia family, the Ulanara family, the Hesheli family... they're all watching! Even the four concubines are watching!

Who says an emperor can do whatever he wants? When choosing women for himself, he has to consider the opinions of various powerful families and the need to maintain a balance.

After being reprimanded by Aunt Dai, the young ladies dared not gossip anymore. After having their evening meal, they went back to their rooms to rest.

Lanqin couldn't fall back asleep after taking a nap that afternoon. She lay in bed with her eyes open, her mind completely overwhelmed by what had just happened.

The Netherlands has already caught the eye of Emperor Kangxi. So, am I truly the luckiest person in history...?

Although Niohuru Holland was stunned to become Kangxi's woman, with nothing certain yet, she felt that anything was possible and unbelievable in this deep palace.

What did Emperor Yongzheng actually look like? Was he fat or thin? Handsome or ugly? Did he have a pockmarked face or a bulbous nose?

Lanqin's own thoughts made it even harder for her to sleep.

...

The Fourth Prince emerged from the palace with a dark expression.

Su Peisheng could tell from his gait and demeanor that his master was sulking and quite unhappy, so he carefully ran to the Fourth Master's side, bowed, and said, "Master, hurry up and get in the carriage. There's mutton soup inside."

This is why Su Peisheng was able to stay by the Fourth Prince's side for over a decade. He was a few years older than the Fourth Prince and had been serving him since the time of the princes. Every time he accompanied the Fourth Prince to the palace, he could only stand guard at the gate with the groom. Seeing that the Fourth Prince was always starving when he came out, Su Peisheng took it upon himself to bring dry rations and mutton soup. In early spring, the weather was still quite cold, and drinking some mutton soup at this time was very warming.

Fourth Master did not answer, but he did not get angry at him either. He simply walked quickly to his own carriage.

Su Peisheng hurriedly ran ahead of Fourth Master, to the carriage, and immediately knelt down. He wanted Fourth Master to use him as a bench.

The Fourth Prince glanced at the servant, then kicked him onto the horse before getting into the carriage.

Su Peisheng immediately got up and followed him into the car. Seeing that Fourth Master's face was not so dark, he dared to pick up the mutton soup that had been prepared in the car and bring it to Fourth Master.

Fourth Master held the mutton soup, but his mind was no longer in the car.

He spent the entire day in the Imperial Study with the Crown Prince, reviewing memorials sent from various regions. He could have avoided going to the palace, but today was the second round of the imperial concubine selection, and he had inquired and learned that the daughter of the Niohuru family was entering the palace today.

He knew he wouldn't see her even if he went to the palace, but he just couldn't sit still at home, so he came in.

When she came out, she was summoned to Yonghe Palace by Consort De's nanny.

News came from Chuxiu Palace that the emperor had directly reserved a place for the daughter of the Niohuru family.

When the Fourth Prince heard this, his heart sank. He didn't have much to say to Consort De to begin with, and now he felt even more depressed.

When Consort De saw that the Fourth Prince had a sullen face, she thought that he was blaming her for not helping him keep Niohuru, and she also began to feel depressed.

For a moment, the mother and son were at an impasse. Fortunately, the nanny beside Consort De made a fuss, saying that the Fourteenth Prince would be coming to dine with Consort De later, which allowed the Fourth Prince to leave first. Because the Fourth Prince would never voluntarily stay to dine with the Empress and his fourteenth brother.

"Your Highness, let me serve you another bowl." Su Peisheng had no idea what had happened to the Fourth Prince in the palace, so he served him even more attentively.

The Fourth Master was awakened by his shout.

"Tell me, how come when you meet someone you want, you often can't have them?" Fourth Master suddenly said.

Su Peisheng was completely confused and naturally didn't know who the Fourth Master was referring to.

The Fourth Prince rolled down the car window, glanced at the Forbidden City gradually receding into the distance, and a hint of inexplicable anger appeared in his eyes.

The woman I wanted, I couldn't have; the mother I wanted, I couldn't have; the brother I wanted, I still couldn't have. My life was born in the hands of others.

He finally sighed and lowered the car curtains.