"Your Highness is overthinking things. The First Princess got along very well with Madam Song today. As Your Highness said, Moyaqi and Erlinzhu have their inescapable missions, but before that, Your Highness wants them to have as many opportunities as possible to interact with their birth mothers, to fulfill their filial duty. I don't want the First and Second Princesses to feel that their father is too strict one day!" The Fourth Prince was somewhat agitated at the end. He hadn't intended to be so explicit; if it were that little thing, he certainly wouldn't need to explain it like this.

After hearing what the Fourth Prince said, the Princess Consort couldn't find any words to refute him, so she could only say, "What you say is absolutely right! Tomorrow I will have Granny Li arrange for the eldest princess and Song to learn needlework."

When the two lay down on the bed, the Fujin, because of the Fourth Prince's words, turned her back as soon as her head hit the pillow, closing her eyes to ponder the meaning behind his words. Seeing her like this, the Fourth Prince had no desire to make love to the Fujin, so he turned to his side and fell asleep. He had stayed today partly to make amends to the Fujin, hoping she could understand his guilt towards Song Shi and the First Princess.

The next day, the Fourth Prince got up early and returned to the front courtyard. As usual, his wife got up with him. She wanted him to stay for breakfast before leaving, but he declined, saying that he had something to do at the palace and had to go early.

As the figure in the robes walked further and further away, the Fujin smiled coldly and said to Li Mama, who was standing beside her, "Mama, look how fast the master is walking. It seems like he doesn't want to stay here for even a moment longer."

Granny Li, of course, was unaware of the conversation between the Princess Consort and the Fourth Prince the previous night, and gently advised, "Princess Consort is overthinking it. Didn't the Master stay behind yesterday?"

The smile on the Fujin's face widened, but it was chilling to look at. "Does the old woman really think he wants to stay? It's only because of that girl, the eldest princess. I, Ulanara, actually have to rely on the favor of a concubine's daughter to keep him here."

Confused, Granny Li asked, "What do you mean by that, Madam? Did the Master say anything to you last night?"

The princess consort put away her mocking smile and said coldly, "The master has ordered that, starting today, you should arrange for the eldest princess to learn needlework from Song Shi."

Granny Li was startled, as if in disbelief, but she couldn't see a trace of a joke on the Princess's face. After a slight flicker in her eyes, she said, "Perhaps the master is worried that the eldest princess might marry out of the family in the future, which is why he is so concerned that she is not yet familiar with her birth mother. Princess, there is no need to worry."

"But what about my reputation? Where will he put it? Since the eldest princess has been fostered under my name, she is my daughter. What is the relationship between the Song family and the eldest princess? Now the eldest princess can be sent back to the Song family, and tomorrow Elinzhu can be sent back to the Li family. What am I, the legal mother, then!" The Fujin was now full of gloom, and the shadow cast by her thick eyelashes obscured her eyes, making it impossible to see her expression.

“My lord, there’s no need to be anxious. This time, your actions are truly beyond my comprehension. You seem to be acting differently than usual. What could have caused you to make such an unusual move?” Granny Li asked, puzzled.

Suddenly, a pair of slender, white nail guards adorned with openwork gold slammed onto a small sandalwood stool. A voice, laced with suppressed anger, rang out: "Granny, can we use those people we arranged earlier? Have them keep a close eye on the people they're supposed to be watching. I need to know if Fourth Master will suddenly break the 'rules' set by the Old Mistress." The Fujin's eyes flashed with icy light. Afterwards, Granny Li summoned Chunliu to her room, and the two spoke privately inside.

As for Madam Song, she received a message from Qiu Chan, the maidservant of the Fujin (Prince's wife), early that morning, saying that from now on, the eldest princess would come to learn needlework from her for an hour every day. Although it was only an hour, for Madam Song, this was more joyful than a windfall. After thanking her profusely, she ordered An'er to prepare some pastries, and then ordered Qingping to find the socks and undergarments she had made for the eldest princess. Previously, she had mustered up the courage to ask the Fujin to give the things she had made to the eldest princess, but she was only met with a scolding. Since then, she had almost given up hope. Without the Fourth Prince's favor and unable to see her daughter, life was truly miserable. She never expected that what she had said in the pavilion that day would come true so easily, making Madam Song even doubt whether it was real.

Seeing Song sitting there blankly with a half-smile on her face, Qingping comforted her, "Princess, this is such a joyous occasion, you should be happy. But looking at you, it seems like you have something on your mind."

"Qingping, do you think it's really a blessing from heaven that I got what I wanted so quickly this time?" Madam Song asked.

"I didn't know either. These things happened so suddenly. Even now, I still can't quite believe it," Qingping said honestly.

“Exactly, I also feel that all of this has come about somewhat inexplicably. And as you said, I’m worried that it all came so quickly and will go just as quickly. So I must find out exactly what’s going on,” said Mrs. Song, her eyes gleaming.

"Princess, that day in the pavilion, besides Princess Wang, there was only Princess Niu. I remember Princess Niu saying, 'Sister Song is an old servant who has served the Fourth Master, and they must have a special bond. The Master will never forget Sister Song.'" Qingping suddenly remembered and said.

“Yes, I remember too. Qingping, do you think it’s possible that she told Fourth Master, which made him remember me?” The more Madam Song spoke, the more convinced she became.

“That’s quite possible. Princess Wang definitely can’t do it, and even if she were willing, the master might not listen to her. But Princess Niu is different. She probably holds a special place in the master’s heart right now. If she could speak up for the princess, it would explain everything,” Qingping said, giving a thumbs up.

After listening to her words, Madam Song remained silent for a long time. Finally, as if she had made up her mind, she said to Qingping, "Qingping, go to my cabinet and pack a few things. After noon, come with me to the South Courtyard."

Qingping nodded and couldn't help but ask, "Gege, are you going to find Niugege?"

Song nodded and said, "If she really helped me, how could I pretend not to know? Besides, I don't want to lose all of this. If someone can help me protect all of this, then I, Song Yaru, am willing to follow her lead."

Upon hearing this, Qingping exclaimed in alarm, "Princess, if the Fujin finds out, it will surely be detrimental to you!"

Madam Song sneered and said sharply, "When has she ever let me have an easy time! Now she looks down on me and doesn't even respect me."