The Fourth Prince was in the front courtyard discussing with Dai Zezhu the things they should prepare for their inspection tour with Emperor Kangxi, such as local customs and traditions, as well as the names and career backgrounds of local officials. Emperor Kangxi didn't want to make too much of a fuss during this tour, but that didn't mean they shouldn't prepare many things in advance so that they could answer any questions Emperor Kangxi might have.

"Your Majesty, the Emperor's scouts have probably already set off. Even if you send someone out now, it may be too late." Dai Zezhu came to the Fourth Prince in the 38th year of Kangxi's reign. At that time, he was a staff member under a local county magistrate. He met the Fourth Prince by chance and then abandoned his family and went to the capital to seek refuge with him.

"Even if there's no time, we still have to prepare. Besides, it's always better to prepare more than nothing. This time, Father Emperor only ordered us to bring our families; everyone else will be escorted by palace guards. If we can't go out with them, we should secretly send more people to follow them, just in case," the Fourth Prince insisted.

“Yes, then have them disguise themselves as passersby and accompany the imperial carriage, but not too close, lest they be recognized,” Dai Zezhu said.

Fourth Master nodded and said, "If it's not something very important, you don't need to report it to me."

Dai Zezhu nodded, and the two chatted until noon before the Fourth Master dismissed him.

Thinking of the lunch at Lanqin's place, Fourth Master stood up from his armchair, stretched, twisted his neck left and right, and said to Su Peisheng, who was standing by the door, "Are you going to bring anyone with you? This time, besides you, it would be best to bring a few more people to help."

Su Peisheng knew that the Fourth Prince wanted to bring more people because he was worried about things getting too hectic on the road, so he carefully replied, "This old servant will only bring two eunuchs to help out."

Fourth Master nodded and walked towards the door. Su Peisheng immediately followed, knowing without a doubt that they were heading to the South Courtyard.

Although Fourth Master stayed at the newly arrived Yan Yu Gege's place yesterday, Su Peisheng could tell that his master didn't care about her as much as he did about the one in the South Courtyard. Logically speaking, since they consummated their marriage the day before, they should have had lunch together the next day. However, Fourth Master sent him to the South Courtyard to deliver a message as soon as he returned early in the morning.

When Fourth Master walked into the south courtyard, he saw Lanqin sitting on the swing talking to Fubao: "Fubao, your father is coming over for dinner later. Do you think we should invite him to eat?"

Upon hearing this, Fourth Master was curious about what Lanqin would say next, so he stopped and stood quietly in the corridor by the door, intending to hear what Lanqin wanted to eat next.

Nianxue, standing at the entrance of the main house, did see Fourth Master, but he stopped her with a gesture. Lanqin had her head down and couldn't see Nianxue's unusual expression. She said, "Let's not let him come to eat, okay? He abandoned Mom yesterday to go to another woman. He said he would take Mom out alone this time, but now he wants to bring someone else. He broke his promise. Let's not cook for him, okay?"

Lanqin muttered to herself. The Fourth Prince, overhearing the little princess's constant complaints, wasn't displeased; instead, it stirred a pang of guilt towards Lanqin. He had originally intended to take the little princess alone, but the Fujin (principal wife) said that taking only Lanqin might cause displeasure among the women in the inner quarters, and since Yan Yu had just arrived, she wanted her to come along to serve. The Fourth Prince had agreed, but hearing Lanqin's complaints, he began to feel a slight regret. He shouldn't have thought too much and agreed to the Fujin's request; now, going back on his word seemed to have the opposite effect.

"Fu Bao, why aren't you saying anything? Are you missing your father? Sigh, Mom was just saying that in anger. The kitchen has already prepared a hot pot of pickled bamboo shoots for the master, and also stir-fried some seasonal vegetables. The best thing to eat is those cicadas." Lan Qin asked Li Shubao to catch some cicadas with a net, and then asked Niu Baoqiang to cook them based on her memory. Sure enough, after he took action, the fried cicadas were ready.

"Then I can't wait any longer!" Fourth Master had already quietly walked behind Lanqin and stared at the little princess's surprised eyes.

"Master, when did you arrive? Why didn't you make a sound? Eavesdropping on other people's conversations is not the behavior of a man!" Lanqin pouted, a little annoyed that Fourth Master was standing behind her eavesdropping on her mutterings.

"I didn't blame you for talking behind my back, but you're turning around and blaming me?" Fourth Master's gaze darkened, and he deliberately put on a stern face.

Lanqin saw that the Fourth Master's face had indeed turned cold, and she was worried that she might have offended him with her words. But it was too late. She had already said it, so she retorted, "Your Highness is a man of your word! You said you would only bring me, so why is there another Yan Yu Gege?"

The little princess had never been so disobedient to him before, nor had she ever mentioned the other women in the inner quarters. Yet now she spoke eloquently, leaving the Fourth Prince speechless.

"You really dislike Yan Yu?" Fourth Master asked in a cold voice.

Lanqin sensed the coldness in the Fourth Master's words and panicked. She hurriedly said, "I didn't. I was just venting my frustrations. Please pretend you didn't hear me."

If he heard other women complaining behind his back, the Fourth Prince would probably be angry, but he couldn't harden his heart for the Little Princess. He reached out and grabbed Lanqin's hand, which was dangling from the rope, and his tone softened considerably as he said, "I'm hungry. Could I have half a bowl of old duck and sour bamboo shoot soup?"

Seeing that Fourth Master had taken the initiative to back down, Lanqin immediately took the ladder, put down Fubao, and took Fourth Master's arm, saying, "Master, let's go have our meal!"

After the two sat down around the dining table, the dishes that Lanqin had ordered were served one by one. The aroma of the braised duck and sour bamboo shoot soup was so enticing that it would whet one's appetite just by smelling it. Then there were the steamed eggplant with rice flour, the green beans with minced garlic, the colorful beef tenderloin, and the sweet and sour ribbonfish, all of which smelled delicious and made one want to start eating as soon as they saw them.

"Master, that's all. Let's eat!" Lanqin said to the Fourth Master, suppressing a smile as she watched an unpleasant sound coming from his stomach, pretending she hadn't heard it at all.

"I originally planned to take you out alone, but then I thought that taking you alone might not be a good thing for you," Fourth Master suddenly explained.

"Damn, this little princess is simply amazing! The Fourth Prince is actually going to explain his decision to her! This has never happened before!" Su Peisheng thought to himself.

"Master, there's no need to say too much. Lan'er only hopes that you will grant me one request. As for other matters, it won't help Lanqin. It will only add to her troubles." Lanqin interrupted Fourth Master.