"My lord, Eunuch Su just sent someone to deliver a message. He said that as soon as you wake up, go to the front courtyard. His lord is preparing a banquet for the Fourteenth Prince and would like you to accompany him." Si Hua began to help Lan Qin put on her qipao.

"Ah~ a banquet for the Fourteenth Prince?" Lanqin almost immediately sensed something was wrong.

“Master, why don’t you dress more formally? After all, it’s Your Highness hosting the Fourteenth Prince.” Si Hua said.

“No need. He’s not anyone special. Why be so formal?” Lanqin said. “Just dress as you normally would at home.”

Lanqin kept wondering why the Fourth Master wanted her to accompany him; the question sounded rather strange. After getting dressed, she took Sihua's hand and headed to the front yard.

When Lanqin finally saw the dishes that the Fourth Prince "hosted" for the Fourteenth Prince, she finally understood that the Fourth Prince was indeed very serious about this. The long table was filled with delicious dishes, all of which were dishes from a palace banquet—they looked good, but probably didn't taste good.

"Your Highness, why are you back so early today?" Lanqin walked to the Fourth Prince's side and glanced at the Fourteenth Prince out of the corner of her eye. The latter was also sitting there upright.

"I had nothing to do today, and I didn't expect to see Fourteen here when I got back. Fourteen, it's been a long time since we brothers have had a drink together. There's no time like the present, let's have a good drink together." Fourth Master grabbed Lanqin's hand and said to Fourteen.

"Alright, thank you for your help today, Fourth Sister-in-law. Otherwise, it would have been embarrassing for me to be drunk there with no one to care for me," Fourteen said cheerfully.

Lanqin glared at Fourteenth Prince, thinking to herself: "Why does that sound so ambiguous?" Sure enough, Lanqin suddenly noticed that Fourth Prince's face had darkened considerably.

"What? You were drinking alone there, and I just happened to run into you. It would be too disgraceful for a prince to see you drunk and no one taking care of you!" Lanqin hurriedly explained.

"Fourth Sister-in-law, I will remember your words forever. Come, Fourth Brother, let me toast you. I envy you for having such a considerate and sensible concubine as Fourth Sister-in-law!" Fourteenth Brother raised a cup of wine and said to Fourth Master.

Lanqin noticed a few cold glints in Fourth Master's eyes. His expression was calm, but Lanqin knew that the calmer he was, the angrier he was.

"Fourteenth Brother, the New Year is over now. I wonder when you will go back?" Fourth Master asked, ignoring Fourteenth Brother's words.

"Sigh. I'm almost reluctant to go back. It's much more comfortable in the capital. Besides, my eldest son is only two months old; I'm really going to miss him," said the Fourteenth Prince. He had now been appointed General of the Northern Expedition by Emperor Kangxi, and the command of 200,000 troops in the Northern Camp had been entrusted to him. Several other generals, all of them, had accompanied the Fourteenth Prince back this time. The ones drinking with the Fourteenth Prince today were those same men; they had practically risked their lives alongside him in the fight against the Red Bear Men in the Northeast. Now, besides the Wanyan clan, the Fourteenth Prince was surrounded by these very people who followed him.

The Fourth Prince picked up his wine cup and drank it all in one gulp, saying, "Father has already given the order, Fourteenth Brother should go back as soon as possible."

Upon hearing this, Lanqin understood why the Fourth Prince was unhappy. It turned out that it wasn't just because of her chance encounter with the Fourteenth Prince; there was a deeper reason behind it all.

Seeing the atmosphere becoming stiff, Lanqin chuckled and said, "Your Highness, Fourteenth Prince, why don't we drink this cup of wine together to wish Father Emperor good health?"

Fourteen laughed and said, "Hehe, Fourth Sister-in-law, come on, let's continue drinking."

Seeing the mischievous look on Fourteenth Master's face, Lanqin closed her eyes slightly, signaling him to stop provoking him. But Fourteenth Master remained unfazed. Lanqin was a little confused about the brothers. Why did they seem so easily on the verge of conflict? The slightest disturbance would set them off in a fight. Lanqin had thought they were much better off than before, but they had just started arguing again. Had these two brothers truly begun to fight from this point on?

"Your Majesty, the Fourteenth Princess Consort requests an audience!" Su Peisheng walked in from outside and said to the Fourth Prince.

"Ah? Wanyan is here too? This is going to be lively," Lanqin thought. Fourteenth Prince frowned, while Fourth Prince smiled and said, "Please invite Fourteenth Princess Consort. It's good that you sit with Fourteenth Prince; otherwise, it would be a bit of a shame for him to be sitting alone next to her."

A few thoughts flashed through Lanqin's mind. Why did Lady Fucha suddenly come? Who tipped her off?

Before Lanqin could react, Lady Fucha walked in dressed in bright red. She saw Lady Niohuru sitting next to the Fourth Prince, and her own master sitting to the side, so she walked over to the Fourteenth Prince and said to him, "My Fourteenth Prince has troubled you today, Fourth Brother. I apologize to you."

Fourth Master said, "What are you saying, Fourteenth Sister-in-law? Fourteenth is my own brother. If I saw him drunk outside, I would definitely bring him back inside. I just hope Fourteenth Sister-in-law doesn't overthink it."

Lanqin was stunned. Fourth Master was protecting her. Just now, judging from his expression, he was clearly angry, but now he was protecting her.

Wanyan probably didn't expect that the Fourth Prince would defend Niohuru so much, so she didn't know what to say and could only sit down next to the Fourteenth Prince.

"My lord, why have you troubled Consort Niu so much? I'm embarrassed for you. Come, let me thank Consort Niu on your behalf." Wanyan Shi raised her wine cup and said to Lanqin.

However, Lanqin clearly saw dissatisfaction and warning in Wanyan's eyes, and felt quite uncomfortable. Seeing that the Fourth Prince was silent, she could only say, "I watched the Fourteenth Prince grow up. I really couldn't bear to see him drunk there all by himself."

Fourteen stared wide-eyed at Lanqin, thinking to himself: Watching me grow up?

The Fourth Prince smiled and said, "Fourteenth Sister-in-law, you must keep a close eye on him from now on. Don't let him drink alone outside anymore. It's a disgrace to the royal family."

Fourteenth Prince waited for Fourth Prince, unable to find the words to refute him, but he felt uneasy: This pair of people were actually taking turns lecturing me!

Wanyan said, "Thank you for your admonition, Fourth Brother. I will never do it again. My lord, it's getting late. Let's not bother Fourth Brother and Consort Niu any longer."

Fourteen was already furious, and seeing Wanyan say this, he naturally didn't want to stay any longer. He quickly stood up and said, "Fourth Brother, thank you for your hospitality today. Fourth Sister-in-law, thank you for bringing me back today."

When Wanyan Shi stood up, Lanqin naturally followed suit. She curtsied to the Fourth Master and said, "Sister-in-law, you and my master are going back now. We've troubled you, Fourth Brother."

Fourth Master and Lanqin escorted the two to the gate, and only after watching their carriage drive away did they turn back.