Lanqin remained noncommittal; she decided to remain invisible, and everyone at the table could only lower their heads and eat.

After the banquet was cleared away, everyone should have left, but no one took the initiative to leave. They were all waiting to see where Fourth Master would stay that night.

But it's really uncomfortable to see a bunch of concubines surrounding the first wife and a man, saying things that don't really matter!

Lanqin immediately felt bored. In the 21st century, she was a tough woman, and now she was bowing her head and acting like a concubine, which was really not her style.

Damn it, a whole room of women are waiting for the man sitting in the middle to speak: Who are we going to sleep with tonight? Lanqin thought to herself.

"Everyone, disperse. I'm going to check on Honghui," Fourth Master said, getting up as if he was finally exhausted.

The wife then went with the Fourth Prince to see his son, leaving everyone else to wait in the main house.

Lanqin let Nianxue follow behind Wu and Geng. If they were to walk on their own, they probably wouldn't be able to get back in a while.

Song and Wang followed Consort Li eastward, where they lived in a small courtyard behind the East Courtyard.

Once they left the Fujin's room, the women immediately went their separate ways. Geng Shi deliberately slowed down a few steps and walked with Lan Qin.

"Young lady, you're new here, I'm afraid you don't even know where to get hot water," Geng said to Lanqin behind her, supported by her maid Qiuxiang.

"Thank you for your concern, sister. I was just worried about this myself." Lanqin accepted the offer when she saw that Madam Geng was being so friendly.

"Just have your maid go to the gatehouse of the west courtyard to ask for it. There will be eunuchs or maids there who will bring you the hot water you need. You have to go to the kitchen to get your own meals. Tomorrow, have your maid go with mine. You'll know where it is after you go," Madam Geng said warmly.

"Thank you so much, sister," Lanqin said sincerely. She noticed that Geng Shi wasn't particularly striking in appearance, but her personality was gentle, so she felt more comfortable being around her. Lin Mengyao, in the 21st century, also preferred to be friends with girls like this; those girls who were too beautiful were either spoiled brats or scheming, making them all too difficult to get along with.

Upon arriving at the West Courtyard, the two parted ways and returned to their respective rooms. Xicha saw that Gege and Nianxue had returned, so she went to greet them.

"Go quickly to the gatehouse and get some hot water for the princess," Nianxue instructed. Xicha responded and went off.

The two women helped Lanqin wash up, and then she said, "You two go wash up too, I'm going to sleep now."

"Princess, you can't sleep yet, what if the master is coming!" Nianxue said anxiously, thinking to herself that the princess was too carefree. How could she fall asleep on her first day here before the master even gave a word?

"I don't think Grandpa will come today. Go to sleep." With that, she yawned and went to her bedroom. Nianxue and Xicha had no choice but to wash up.

After the Fourth Prince had seen Honghui, he said to his wife, "I'm going to see Lady Yin today. You should go back first."

The princess was startled. She thought he would choose that Niohuru woman, but since the prince had already spoken, she could only curtsy and then lead her people back to the backyard.

“Madam, this servant noticed that Master pays more attention to that Niohuru clanswoman. Why did he go to Yin's place first?” Granny Li helped Madam back.

The Princess Consort remained silent, also pondering this question. That Lady Yin was more strikingly beautiful, but judging from her temperament, she was a cautious and timid person, much like Lady Song. She feared the Emperor's favor wouldn't last long. In his younger days, the Emperor preferred women who were well-mannered and gentle, but his tastes seemed different now. So why, tonight, did the Fourth Prince still choose Lady Yin? The Princess Consort returned home filled with doubt.

The next day.

The west courtyard was bustling with activity early in the morning. The Princess Consort's gifts had arrived, and so had the Fourth Prince's gifts.

Moreover, there's more big news: last night, the master stayed at Madam Yin's place.

The Princess Consort sent over two bolts of light pink and light green silk, but the Fourth Prince rewarded her with a white porcelain Bodhisattva. Although the material was not as precious as jade, the craftsmanship of this Bodhisattva was first-rate; it was simply kind-faced and lifelike.

Nianxue and Xicha stared at the Buddha statue for a long time, but they still didn't understand what their master's reward meant.

Looking at the white porcelain bodhisattva, Lanqin naturally knew that this was Fourth Master reminding her of what happened at Huangjue Temple that day.

Petty and narrow-minded! But was Emperor Yongzheng really as portrayed in TV dramas—a vengeful, narrow-minded, and scheming man?!

"Put it away and put it in the cabinet." Lanqin stopped looking at the Bodhisattva and said to Xicha, "I'm hungry. Go find Sister Geng's maid and go get breakfast."

Nianxue took the Bodhisattva and put it away. Xicha responded and went to Geng's place.

A group of maids arrived at the kitchen one after another.

The head eunuch Huang was sitting in the courtyard of the kitchen, drinking tea from a purple clay teapot. Two other eunuchs were listening to him and giving him instructions.

Then, Lady Yin's maid, Ye Ying, stepped forward, curtsied, and asked, "May I ask, sir, is Lady Yin's breakfast ready?"

Upon hearing that it was Consort Yin's maid, Eunuch Huang immediately said politely, "Of course it's ready. Xiao Chuanzi, go and get Consort Yin's breakfast."

After Shaoyao took away the breakfast, Geng's maid, Lülan, led Xicha to Eunuch Huang, curtsied, and said, "Eunuch Huang, we've come to take the breakfast for Princess Geng and Princess Niohuru."

Eunuch Huang chuckled and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you to wait a while, Miss. They're preparing breakfast for the First Lady and Consort Li inside. The maids of Consort Song and Consort Wu have also arrived long ago."

The meaning of those words is very clear: you just wait! We need to prepare for these masters first.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!