Lanqin had Niu Baoquan cook the dishes she remembered.

“These dumplings look so good, they seem different from the dumplings we’ve eaten before!” Si Hua said, standing next to Lan Qin.

"These aren't dumplings, they're potstickers. These beef potstickers smell amazing, and paired with a bowl of fish bone rice soup, they're an absolute perfect match!" Lanqin said.

As the maids brought in the dinner dishes one by one, Lanqin had already pressed the Fourth Master down to the table and was telling him about some new and interesting things she had seen. The maids thought that Lanqin would immediately tell the Fourth Master about Sihua, but Lanqin didn't mention it at all.

Fourth Master had been waiting for Lanqin to tell him, but the little woman seemed to have forgotten those things and was enthusiastically telling him about the things she had read in the book.

After the Fourth Master finished his meal, Lanqin said, "My lord, let's go to the study. I have something I'd like to discuss with you."

"Why didn't you say so earlier? Did you not want to affect my appetite?" Fourth Master said.

"Does Master know?" Lanqin really didn't want to affect Fourth Master's appetite. Anyway, it wouldn't matter if she told him later, so why did she have to tell him during breakfast?

“Shui Ling told me some things,” Fourth Master said.

Lanqin glanced at Shuiling, who immediately lowered her head and retreated.

The Fourth Prince got up, took Lanqin with him to the study, and instructed that the maids not be allowed to serve him.

Looking at the Fourth Master's silent expression, Lanqin suddenly felt that perhaps he already had a solution in mind.

“Master, Si Hua wouldn’t have pushed Liu Shi. She did it on purpose. To evoke your pity for the child, you wouldn’t have sent Liu Shi to Zhanghua Terrace at this time,” Lan Qin said.

Fourth Master looked at Lanqin, nodded, and said, "Someone probably wants to use your father's matter to remind me. Although they haven't come forward to tell me yet."

Lanqin felt like she was meat being slaughtered by them, completely at their mercy. And Fourth Master was the customer buying the meat, only able to be threatened.

"Master, I cannot ignore Father's matter. What exactly do they want?" Lanqin asked.

"Your Majesty's concern. Qin'er, actually, what Your Majesty is most worried about is you. Can you forgive Your Majesty for having to weigh the pros and cons and balance the feelings of all parties at this time?" Fourth Master stared at Lan Qin and said.

Lanqin naturally understood the meaning behind Fourth Master's words: his predicament, his identity, his dreams. She couldn't stop him, nor could she make him give them up for her sake, so she could only accept it.

Seeing Lanqin's slightly hurt expression, the Fourth Prince felt a pang of heartache. He had originally intended to spoil her so that she wouldn't have to tolerate such things, but now he had to make her bear this version of himself. Suddenly, he felt a mixture of hope and self-loathing.

"Your Highness, judging from your current actions, your position in Father's heart is becoming increasingly important. I think that the powerful families inside and outside the court are deeply entrenched, and even if Your Highness has Father's approval, you still need their support," Lanqin said, suppressing the bitterness in her heart.

Fourth Master couldn't bear to see Lanqin tolerate it, and Lanqin couldn't bear to see Fourth Master in a difficult position.

"Nothing will change, except that I can't come every day anymore. All parties need to be appeased!" Fourth Master felt as if there was a wad of cotton stuck in his throat, and even he felt uncomfortable saying these words.

Lanqin lowered her head, pondered for a moment, and said, "Then is my father alright?"

"It's alright, I'll go tomorrow and get that impeachment memorial," the Fourth Master said. "It's either someone from the Nian family or someone from the Fucha family."

Lanqin frowned, feeling as if a knife had been stabbed into her heart. She hadn't expected that in the end she would have to consider her family and compromise with them.

"Qin'er, don't be afraid. I won't be their puppet. If you cross my bottom line, I won't treat you like that, even if I don't want their support." Fourth Master saw what Lanqin was thinking and immediately said, "My tolerance has its limits. Sihua only needs to admit that she didn't catch Liu Shi in time. As for Liu Shi, let her stay there. I won't favor her anymore. Sihua, a three-month monthly fine is the lightest punishment."

Lanqin felt relieved; thankfully, it was just a fine. Then, remembering something, she said to the Fourth Prince, "Your Highness, I agree. Perhaps we should entrust the Emperor's affairs to Lady Nian from now on; that way, they'll feel more at ease. Lanqin can then focus on cultivating herself in the South Courtyard and living her own life."

Fourth Master hadn't expected Lanqin to relinquish power at this time. Doing so was undoubtedly the best way to appease the Nian family, or the Fucha family, or the Ulanara family. He himself hadn't even considered this possibility; he never imagined that the little woman would now voluntarily hand over the power of the stewardship.

"All I need is for you, Master, to ensure that my family is not implicated, nor do I wish for anyone close to me to be implicated. I will not concern myself with anything concerning my family; I will only care for my three children." Lanqin had nightmares all night last night. Although the Fourth Master saved her in her dream, she had already made this decision upon waking up.

“If you hand over all the power to Nian, I’m worried she’ll make things difficult for you,” the Fourth Master said.