“But if we tolerate these petty corrupt officials, they will eventually become big corrupt officials. The court can’t support these corrupt officials, can it?” the Fourth Prince said.

“What you say, sir, is certainly true, but I feel that this ‘greed’ is indeed very difficult to eradicate. Throughout history, wherever there are people, there will be greed. It’s almost human nature,” Lanqin said. She recalled the news she heard daily in her later life about the efforts to combat corrupt officials. All kinds of corrupt officials, big and small, were always caught, so was it even feasible to completely eliminate greed? Especially in this feudal era, officials were practically gods to the people. Therefore, Lanqin felt that in this feudal era, trying to eliminate “greed” was simply wishful thinking.

“Even if it’s difficult to cure, we must cure it. Father Emperor is in a bad mood today because of these corrupt officials,” said the Fourth Prince.

"My lord, after the Golden Festival, I will return with you," Lanqin said. Seeing her two daughters crying like that today, Lanqin couldn't bear to stay in the palace any longer.

The Fourth Master couldn't help but smile. He knew that using his daughter to influence the young woman was always the right thing to do. Sure enough, she couldn't help herself when she saw her daughter crying.

"Aren't you angry with me anymore?" Fourth Master turned over and pulled Lanqin into his arms.

“There’s still a little bit left,” Lanqin said playfully.

"How do we remove this little bit?" Fourth Master tapped Lanqin's nose and asked.

"Wait until Your Excellency dispels my unease with your actions." Lanqin pried off the Fourth Master's arm, turned over, and continued to face away from him.

"Okay!" Although Fourth Master really wanted to do *that*, he didn't want to force anyone, so he simply closed his eyes and started counting, determined to get rid of "that little bit" in the woman's heart.

After returning to Cining Palace, Xiao Luzi, thinking about the task Lanqin had asked him to do, went to the side hall where Indar lived. Since he hadn't kept a close eye on Prince Indar last time, not only had the Empress Dowager punished him with a beating, but he had also been reprimanded by the head eunuch of Cining Palace and made to do odd jobs, and was no longer allowed to enter the palace to serve.

"Chuncao, Chuncao!" Xiao Luzi stood in a corner of the side hall and saw the palace maid Chuncao who had just come out of the room, so he immediately called out softly.

Chuncao was a palace maid who had just been sent by the chief eunuch to serve Indal. She used to be a third-class palace maid who could only do odd jobs outside, but now she didn't know what luck she had, but she was actually sent by the chief eunuch to serve Indal.

"What?" Chuncao turned her head and saw that it was Xiaoluzi. Back when she was still a third-class palace maid, Xiaoluzi had treated her quite well.

Xiao Lu waved to Chuncao, signaling her to hurry over.

Chuncao hesitated for a moment, then walked down the steps to Xiaoluzi's side and said to him, "Why did you come here? If Eunuch Li sees you, he'll whip you."

“I’ve finished my work, what trouble could he possibly cause me? Chuncao, I need to see Prince Indal. Could you go in now and speak with him?” Xiaoluzi said.

"Xiao Luzi, what is your status now? What do you want with the prince?" Chuncao asked warily.

"There is something I need to do. Good Chuncao, please help me. Go and talk to Prince Indal." Xiao Luzi clasped his hands together and bowed deeply to Chuncao.

"If Eunuch Li finds out, he'll punish me. Don't drag me into this," Chuncao said nervously.

"Here, take this!" Xiao Luzi quickly took the ring that Lanqin had given him from his bosom and handed it to Chuncao.

Chuncao noticed that Xiaoluzi had treated her fairly well on weekdays, and then she looked at the gold-set, ruby-beaded flower in her hand, which was really beautiful.

“Okay, okay, but don’t tell anyone I informed you,” Chuncao said.

"Okay, don't worry, I won't drag you down with me," Xiao Luzi said. He didn't know what he was after, but he was happy that Lan Qin recognized him.

In a short while, Chuncao led Xiaoluzi to Indal and then withdrew.

"Your humble servant greets Your Highness!" Xiao Luzi bowed to Indal.

"You want to see me? What is it?" Indar had been waiting for news from Lanqin for the past few days, but his status made it inconvenient for him to go out, so he could only wait for Lanqin to send him some news.

"Your Highness, this servant has been sent by the magistrate of Minrou County to speak with you," said Xiao Luzi.

Upon hearing this, Indal immediately perked up; he was eagerly awaiting news from Lanqin.

"Speak quickly, what message did she ask you to convey to me?" Indal jumped up from his seat and rushed to Xiao Luzi.

"The county magistrate instructed me to tell the prince that the man should be met at the cliff in the Imperial Garden two days from now, at Shenshi (3-5 PM)," Xiao Luzi said.

"Great, that's wonderful!" Indal exclaimed happily when he saw that it was indeed the news he had been waiting for.

At this moment, Chuncao, who had been secretly standing outside the door, immediately turned around and walked out. She walked all the way out of Cining Palace and headed towards the palace where the Sixteenth Princess lived.

"Sister, the news you've been waiting for has finally arrived," Chuncao said hurriedly as soon as she saw Chunying. That's right, this Chuncao is the younger sister of Chunying, the palace maid who serves the Sixteenth Princess. The reason she was able to rise from a third-class palace maid to serve in the inner court in such a short time was because Chunying spent a large sum of money to bribe the chief eunuch.

"Really?" Chunying asked.

“I just overheard it outside Prince Indal’s door. Sister, I don’t know if it’s important or not,” Chuncao said.

“Very good, go back quickly and keep an eye on him. Report back immediately if there is any unusual activity,” Chunying said.

After Chuncao left, Chunying immediately went into the palace where the Sixteenth Princess lived and reported to her.

"Indeed! So that woman really was having an affair with Prince Indal!" Upon hearing this, the Sixteenth Princess immediately raised her eyebrows. She had always blamed Lanqin for not being liked by Prince Indal.

"Princess, should we go and tell the Empress Dowager now?" Chunying asked.

"No rush, this princess is going to take the Empress Dowager to catch them in the act!" the Sixteenth Princess said excitedly, her eyes gleaming with two small red flames, as if she could already see Lanqin's disheveled appearance when she caught her in the act.

Our Comrade Lanqin, of course, was unaware that she had been targeted as a potential enemy by someone, and was currently playing with her three children. She had no idea that she had merely delivered a message for Emperor Kangxi, and as a result, she had been targeted by certain individuals.

"Mother, tonight, Ushiha wants to sleep with you," Ushiha said sweetly in Lanqin's arms.

“I want to sleep with my mother too,” Bechuk said.

"Mother, Mother!" Hongli's fever subsided immediately after taking the medicine. He was sitting in the Fourth Prince's lap at the moment, listening to his two older sisters coaxing Lanqin, and he couldn't sit still any longer.