Upon entering the Fengxian Hall, Lanqin saw tall portraits of people dressed in dragon robes hanging on the walls.

"My lord, I am but a lowly concubine and am not qualified to enter the main hall of Fengxian Palace," Lanqin said, stopping in her tracks, even though half of her body had already been pulled inside by the Fourth Prince.

"That was in front of others, now it's in private." Fourth Master pulled Lanqin inside.

Lanqin's eyes blurred, and she looked at the numerous memorial tablets and the portraits hanging on the wall. They were all dressed in dragon robes and wearing dragon crowns, or wearing phoenix crowns and phoenix robes.

Inside the hall, two bronze lamps stood on either side of the offering table, with candles burning inside.

"Want to try some?" Fourth Master had already walked to the table where the ancestral tablets were enshrined, took a piece of pastry from a tall plate, and handed it to Lanqin.

"This is it?" Lanqin thought that Fourth Master was going to take her to eat something delicious, but instead they came to eat the pastries offered in front of the ancestral tablets.

"This is it! Try it, it's delicious." Fourth Master said confidently, even though Lanqin looked disgusted.

"So this is what Fourth Master is like!" Lanqin took the pastry from Fourth Master's hand, reluctantly put it in her mouth, took a small bite, and tasted it.

Smacking her lips, Lanqin realized that the pastry was indeed delicious, extremely delicious!

"The pastries here are the best in the palace." The Fourth Prince turned around to get more. "You just said that I am 'this kind of Fourth Prince,' so tell me, what kind of Fourth Prince am I?"

Lanqin had already finished a piece of pastry. She walked over to Fourth Master and, imitating him, reached for the pastries on the tall plates. She looked at Fourth Master; he didn't pick up the pastries directly from the top, but from the back, so that it was still impossible to tell that anyone had touched them.

"It seems you've gotten used to it, Master?" Lanqin said to the Fourth Master with a teasing look.

“When I was hungry before, I would run in and steal food. It was the third brother who brought me here. I was only ten years old then. He was twelve,” the fourth brother said.

"I also had such a happy childhood with Third Master," Lanqin said, while mimicking Fourth Master's technique and taking something from behind the plate.

“Of course, the children in this palace were all children at first, but as they grew up, they gradually became mortal enemies. It’s as if the close brotherhood they once shared never existed.” The Fourth Prince tilted his head back and took a bite of pastry.

Lanqin looked at Fourth Master's profile and felt a ripple in her heart, but soon a voice rose from the bottom of her heart: Don't forget the pain once the wound has healed.

"Qin'er, I am just such a child who grew up in the palace. From the moment I was born, my life was filled with intrigue. My mother said that before I was even born, people were already plotting against her." The Fourth Prince said, "Later, less than a month after I was born, I was sent to Consort Tong's place to be raised until I was ten years old."

Lanqin ate the pastries one by one from the tall plate, listening silently as Fourth Master continued to speak.

“When I was with Consort Tong, because she was a Noble Consort, my mother would always bow to me whenever she saw me. I knew she was my birth mother, but I had to restrain myself,” the Fourth Prince said. “It wasn’t until I was ten years old, when Empress Tong passed away, that I returned to my father’s side. I remember that many people were envious and tried to sabotage my life by raising me first with Empress Tong and then with my father. All sorts of schemes were devised, and I almost died while riding a horse.”

Lanqin's heart skipped a beat; she had never heard Fourth Master say such things before.

"People call me the 'Cold-Faced King,' but the truth is, I don't know who to trust. My mother, Consort Tong, always told me from a young age that I shouldn't show my emotions to others. My father, the Emperor, told me to observe people and situations carefully, and to always be skeptical!" the Fourth Prince said.

Although Lanqin could understand Fourth Master's situation—his suspiciousness, his fickleness, and even his desire to marry so many women—she was not a saint. How could she remain calm and silently endure Fourth Master's questioning until the truth came out? But what if the truth never came out?

Lanqin looked at the portrait of the emperor in front of her and thought that the Fourth Prince looked somewhat like him today.

"Master, this is...this is the founding emperor?" Lanqin suddenly asked.

The Fourth Prince looked up, nodded, and said, "That's right, he is the founding emperor of our Great Qing Dynasty."

"I think you bear a resemblance to the founding emperor!" Lanqin said.

"The Taizu Emperor was my great-grandfather, so it's natural that we look somewhat alike," Fourth Master said. "The Taizu Emperor was a founding hero of the Qing Dynasty. Without his great achievements, the Qing Dynasty would not have reached where it is today."

"Unfortunately, the founding emperor favored too many women and had too many sons, which ultimately led to the Regent's Rebellion," Lan Qin said.

Looking at Lanqin, the Fourth Prince naturally understood the meaning behind her words. He turned to Lanqin and said, "Qin'er, today before our ancestors, I want to swear to you that from this moment on, I will never doubt you again, and I will love and protect you for the rest of my life."

Looking into Fourth Master's resolute eyes and at the portraits hanging throughout the room, Lanqin felt an indescribable sense of solemnity. She wanted to say no, yet she didn't want to. Fourth Master was ultimately the one she loved; though she was angry and annoyed with him, she still loved him deep down.

"How about we bow to heaven and earth before our ancestors today?" Fourth Master said, taking Lanqin's hand. "I have truly wronged you by marrying you. There was no grand wedding procession, no eight-person sedan chair, and no wedding ceremony."

Lanqin's heart stirred; she had to admit that Fourth Master's words really touched Lanqin's womanly heart.

"My lord, please give Lanqin some time. Things can't always go from good to bad in an instant. If you truly wish to grow old with me and treat me with sincerity, you must give me time," Lanqin said finally.

Fourth Master seemed a little disappointed. He hadn't expected that his words still wouldn't move Lanqin's heart.

"Qin'er, as the old saying goes, 'A fair maiden is sought after by a gentleman!' Why don't I start pursuing you little by little from now on? I'm determined to have you!" said the Fourth Prince.

"Master, let's start by doing your job well. Father Emperor has high hopes for you, even entrusting you with the autumn imperial examinations. The Crown Prince is probably furious. Your future is destined to be extraordinary. You must cherish Father Emperor's trust and truly act for the good of the Qing Dynasty. Our ancestors are watching you, seeing where you lead the Qing!" Lanqin said emotionally. She couldn't just throw herself into the Fourth Prince's arms yet; she wanted to observe and consider how she should conduct herself in this world.