"Master, Consort Song and Consort Wu have arrived!" Cui Niang entered the manor immediately the day after Lanqin's return. Since her return, Lanqin hadn't seen the Fourth Master, but she didn't seem to care and wouldn't allow anyone to invite them, thus beginning a cold war with him. Moreover, rumors circulated that Lanqin's personality had changed; she disliked seeing her servants and even told them to go to Nian Shi for any matters. The Fourth Master, upon hearing that Lanqin was no longer involved in affairs, didn't respond.

Cui Niang asked Si Hua privately, but Si Hua didn't know either. They had reconciled, but suddenly things turned out this way. Looking at Lan Qin's expression, Cui Niang knew that saying anything more would be useless this time, so she secretly went to tell Song Gege and Wu Gege about Lan Qin's situation and asked them to persuade her.

"Sihua, bring out the leaf cards. It's been a long time since we played. Let's play a game together today." Lanqin spent her days sitting in the courtyard or hiding in the study reading. She refused to go out or say anything.

"My sister is still as carefree as ever. As soon as we arrived, she started nagging about playing cards." Wu's voice came from the doorway. She and Song had already walked in and happened to hear Lanqin's words.

"Yes, it's been so long since you two sisters came. My hands have been itching to visit." Lanqin greeted them with a smile, taking the arms of Song Shi and Wu Shi on either side.

After the three of them were seated and the maids served tea and snacks, they began to talk. Lanqin had just returned, and Madam Song and Madam Wu hadn't come immediately. Now that they saw Lanqin, she didn't seem to be the same as before, contrary to what Cui Niang had said.

"Sister Wu, is there a flower growing on my face?" Lanqin asked with a smile. "Otherwise, why would you keep staring at me like that?"

"I heard that after my sister came back, she stayed indoors and even threw a tantrum at my husband. I also heard that her temperament had changed a lot, so I was very curious and came to see her to see what had changed. But after looking at her for a long time, she is still the same sister. What has changed?" Madam Wu said, half seriously and half amused.

Lanqin was taken aback, then covered her mouth with her handkerchief and laughed, "Then you can see clearly, sister. How has my sister changed? She's still the same girl who likes to eat and drink, likes to play cards, likes to sleep, and likes to throw a little tantrum."

Madam Song stared at Lanqin for a moment and said, "Qin'er, you scared your sister to death. I heard you stopped listening to what was going on in the manor and told them to go to the East Courtyard?"

"Anyway, I've been in the palace for over a month, and she's been managing everything in the manor. Let her continue managing it; I can take a break," Lanqin said with a smile.

Song and Wu exchanged a glance, then Song said, "Sister, what exactly happened between you and Master? The matter of Wuya has been clarified; she has been stripped of her title and demoted from Zhanghua Terrace by Master. What about you?"

"Sister, Lanqin is in a good mood today, let's not talk about these things, okay? Let's play cards, and then have a meal here later. Let Chef Niu cook a good meal, and we can have a good drink together," Lanqin said.

“Alright, take the cards!” said Madam Wu.

Cui Niang brought over the playing cards, and several maids set up a table for playing cards. The three of them sat around the table and began to play. Lan Qin had incredibly good luck, winning several times in a row.

“You’re in such a good mood today. Sister Song, we’ve used up all our golden melon seeds here today,” Madam Wu said with a smile.

"That's right, Qin'er, I'm going to lose all my golden melon seeds to you today. I'll have Chef Niu cook me a good meal later, you have to eat some of them back," Song Shi joked.

“No problem. Cui Niang, go tell Master Niu to cook as good as he can today. If it’s not enough, take some money and buy some better ingredients.” Lan Qin said generously.

Cui Niang agreed and left, and the three of them continued playing cards.

"Qin'er, in the palace, are you serving the Empress?" Wu asked, holding a handful of cards.

“No, not really. We go to pay our respects every day, and sometimes we have lunch and dinner together. Mother isn’t the kind of person who likes people to crowd around her for no reason,” Lanqin said.

"Why did Ushiha and Bechuk come back from the palace and say that Her Majesty lost her temper?" Song asked Ushiha and learned some things about what was happening in the palace.

Lanqin really didn't want to talk to them about palace affairs, but when Song asked about Ushiha, she had no choice but to say, "I've never really taught those two sisters any special manners. As you know, there are many rules in the palace. Ushiha and Bechuk accidentally offended a nobleman, so they were naturally punished."

"Qin'er, the relationship between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law is difficult. Don't overthink it, and definitely don't get angry with your father," said Madam Wu.

"No, I'm not angry with him about this," Lanqin immediately denied.

"Then why are you arguing with Master like this, letting Liu Shi get away with it for nothing?" Wu Shi said unwillingly. It turned out that during the days when Fourth Master was arguing with Lanqin, he couldn't exactly stay a monk, so he naturally went to other women's places, and recently Liu Shi had been serving him the most.

"Me!" Lanqin almost blurted out that she was a little unwilling. She had given her whole heart in exchange for someone else's, who might only have received half a heart.

“Qin’er, Madam Nian is getting more and more powerful in the mansion these days. In the time you’ve been away, she’s started to act all high and mighty. She’s been deducting some of my and Ruyi’s allowances without reason. She’s doing this on purpose to show you,” Madam Song said. “Sister isn’t here to complain to you, but to tell you that if you take a step back, others will take a step forward. There will never be a peaceful day in this inner courtyard.”

“Sister Song is absolutely right. Qin’er, no matter what’s wrong with you, you must never let your man’s heart slip away. To put it bluntly, all the sisters are eager to occupy a place in your man’s heart, but you, who already occupy more than half, are now retreating and letting others take your place?” said Madam Wu.

Lanqin knew that Madam Wu and Madam Song meant well for her, and also for their own good. However, Lanqin was currently feeling a bit lost and disappointed. She hoped she could let go of her resentment and continue to act cute and charming in front of the Fourth Prince as before, but so much had happened; it was impossible for her to be completely untroubled, nor could she pretend nothing had happened. She was destined never to return to her former self.

“My two dear sisters, Qin’er knows you mean well. But, please allow me to rest for a while, okay? It’s been seven and a half years since I first entered this household. Lanqin is a little tired. Please allow me to rest and let my mind have some peace,” Lanqin said.

Seeing that Lanqin had reached this point, Madam Wu knew that further persuasion might only provoke her resentment, so she and Madam Song stopped talking. After a few rounds of playful banter, the three of them began their meal.

During the meal, neither Madam Song nor Madam Wu mentioned it again, but instead drank several cups with Lanqin.