Lanqin nodded as if she understood, and continued to pick up the memorials on the table to read. As she read, she suddenly came to a memorial that was no longer about someone's resume, but about the tribute from all nations.

"Father, these people are here to pay tribute to you. Why do you look so frowning?" Lanqin said, carefully observing Kangxi's expression as she read.

"These barbarian scoundrels all covet the beautiful lands of my Great Qing. What nonsense about the English Catholics, asking my Great Qing to build churches, recruit priests, and spread their Catholic ideas—it's utterly unreasonable!" Kangxi said displeased. He still vividly remembered the conflict with the British Catholic Church a few years prior.

Looking at this emperor who has been famous throughout history, Lanqin sighed inwardly: No wonder the Qing Dynasty declined later; it all started with Kangxi's policy of closing the country off from the world. He ignored the merits of others, held himself in high esteem, and ultimately caused the Opium Wars, the burning of the Old Summer Palace, and other calamities.

"Father, I believe our Great Qing is powerful, abundant, and possesses countless treasures. It wouldn't be unreasonable to let these foreign vassal states witness the might of the Qing. Furthermore, Father could also see what valuable items they possess, and perhaps even send an envoy to investigate," Lanqin said cautiously. She knew she couldn't single-handedly change the course of history, but perhaps there was a butterfly effect; maybe her words could create a small ripple. Who knows?

Kangxi glanced at Lanqin, and Lanqin felt a chill run down her spine. Then he said in an extremely majestic voice, "You little country, my Great Qing is vast and rich in resources. There's nothing we don't have. You don't need to go and see."

Lanqin sighed silently in her heart. She decided not to dwell on this topic anymore. Kangxi had always considered himself extraordinary and was indeed a man of great talent and ambition. How could he possibly listen to the words of a woman like her?

"Father, why did you still approve this?" Lanqin asked.

"Since they want to come, let them come. It's good to show off the nation's power," Kangxi said with his eyes closed.

"Father Emperor, you're going to be busy. The date is set for the Golden Banquet Festival, isn't it?" Lanqin looked at the date of the imperial audience as approved by Emperor Kangxi, which was at the end of October.

"Yes, I have already instructed them to make preparations," Kangxi said, a hint of fatigue in his eyes.

Lanqin quickly said, "Father, your daughter-in-law thinks you look tired. Why don't you call in some palace servants to help you rest for a while?"

Kangxi nodded and said, "Hmm, his energy is getting shorter and shorter. Well then, let's stop here for today. You can take Hongli back."

As if granted a pardon, Lanqin led Hongli out of the Qianqing Palace and saw the Fourth Prince striding towards them with his long legs.

"Father!" Hongli was overjoyed to see the Fourth Prince and waved his chubby little hands excitedly.

"You little brat who'll do anything for money!" Lanqin cursed inwardly. It was all because the Fourth Master had been fawning over Hongli lately, bringing him trinkets every time he saw him. Although Hongli was young, he was very good at reading people's expressions.

"My dear Hongli, are you happy to be here with your grandfather today?" The Fourth Prince spoke to Hongli in a serious manner. Lanqin turned her face away. She had never seen him speak so gently to the children before.

Hongli didn't understand, but he could understand what the Fourth Prince was trying to convey: he wanted him to lighten the mood and laugh it off.

"Okay!" Hongli could only say one word, and his little hands had already begun to climb up the Fourth Prince's neck.

"I'm a little tired, so I'll go back to Mother's palace first. Please take Hongli back later, Your Highness," Lanqin said.

Seeing that Lanqin looked unwell, Fourth Master asked, "What's wrong? Did you suffer some mistreatment?"

Lanqin raised an eyebrow and said, "I was just serving Father Emperor by reading memorials, and I'm a little thirsty, so I won't keep you company here."

The Fourth Prince really had something to see Emperor Kangxi, so he said, "Alright, I'll go to Yonghe Palace to see Hongli after I've finished reporting my business."

Lanqin then winked at Lanqi, signaling her to quickly carry Hongli away.

"I'll stay at the palace tonight and take you somewhere?" the Fourth Prince suddenly said, watching Lanqin's retreating figure.

"There's a curfew tonight, we can't wander around. Mother said so," Lanqin said. It turned out that Consort De, worried that Lanqin, having lived in the palace for a long time, might not understand the palace rules, had explained all the taboos to her. For example, after 7 PM, women shouldn't easily go out, except for the palace maids on duty. All the gates were also locked, so wandering around wouldn't work.

“I’ve been in this palace since I was a child. I know exactly where I can go,” the Fourth Prince said.

"..." Lanqin nodded haphazardly and stepped towards the bottom of the flowerpot.

Fourth Master stared at the little woman's back, feeling a little uneasy. How many times had the little woman rushed over to him like a bird returning to its nest when she saw him? But now, she seemed to see him like a ghost, hiding as far away as possible.

As Lanqin walked along, she wasn't actually thinking about the Fourth Prince at all; instead, she was thinking about the matter of Kangxi's foreign tribute mission. Although Lanqin hadn't managed to persuade Kangxi to send an envoy on a tour of various countries, she was still quite excited to encounter something like the tribute missions from countries that had come to Kangxi three hundred years ago.

"My lady, I think you should treat Master better?" Si Hua couldn't help but say to Lan Qin.

"He's the type who'll come running if you give him a nice look, but if you give him the cold shoulder, he'll come running like a puppy. You have to give him the cold shoulder," Lanqin said.

"Master!" Si Hua sighed helplessly, wondering how long Lan Qin would continue to be at odds with the Fourth Master.

"Sihua, you don't need to worry. Your master understands." Lanqin said, "I'm busy with the autumn examination and the international tribute. I don't have time to be seduced. Besides, there are only so many people in our manor. If we wanted to seduce someone, we would have done it already."

"..." Si Hua guessed in her heart, "a certain fourth" might refer to the master?

Lanqin returned to Yonghe Palace with her entourage. Fortunately, Consort De had gone to attend to Buddhist rituals, so Lanqin was relieved. She left Hongli with a palace maid to play with and went to catch up on her sleep. Serving Kangxi was more tiring than anything else for her, because she had to keep her mind focused and speak according to Kangxi's moods. It was truly exhausting.

She slept soundly until dark. The Fourth Prince had just returned from the Qianqing Palace and was talking with Consort De. It turned out that Emperor Kangxi was hosting a grand assembly of foreign envoys, and would certainly need to entertain the female members of the royal family, a task naturally entrusted to Consort De. Kangxi decided to entrust the important matter of the autumn imperial examinations to the Fourth Prince, while the reception of the foreign envoys would naturally fall to the Crown Prince. In this way, Kangxi's dilemma was resolved.