Fourth Master had no doubt about Su Peisheng's words, so he continued reading and then rested in his tent, where nothing was said that night. Although Su Peisheng had lied to Fourth Master, he wasn't afraid of being exposed. He hadn't actually gone into Yan Yu's tent to check on her, but he had heard her loudly scolding the maid outside, which told him that she was alright. Besides, it wasn't an illness; she was just not used to the bumpy ride in the carriage all day.

The next day, Lanqin was not fully awake when she was pulled into a carriage by her blankets. The journey was then bumpy, but Lanqin slept until dawn. When she awoke, the imperial carriage was almost at Shuntian Prefecture. As Tianjin, the capital of Beijing, was under the jurisdiction of Emperor Kangxi, who decided to stay for three days to inspect the situation at the Tanggu River estuary.

Upon entering the city, one sees officials dressed in court robes and wearing conical hats on both sides of the city gate. Behind these officials are gentry dressed in silk robes. Further away are the common people in ordinary clothes.

As the Prefect of Shuntian knelt at the city gate, leading the local officials, gentry, and common people in chanting "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!", Emperor Kangxi's imperial carriage had already arrived at the city gate. A man resembling an official wearing a three-eyed peacock feather was summoned before Emperor Kangxi by Liang Jiugong; this man was none other than the Prefect of Shuntian, a third-rank official.

After the Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture exchanged a few words with Emperor Kangxi across the carriage, he ordered someone to bring the horses and personally led the guards to escort the imperial procession. Because Shuntian Prefecture was close to Beijing, the previously built temporary palace was located at the foot of Mount Dai, west of Tianjin, stretching for several miles. By the time Lanqin followed the others into the room arranged for her, it was already late afternoon.

She was starving, and as soon as she entered the house, she instructed Nianxue, "Go find a stove and cook some noodles with the sauce that Master Niu prepared. If we wait for the higher-ups to make arrangements, who knows when that will be?"

Nianxue agreed and went to get the sauce and dried meat to make noodles. Xicha, Ziran, and Li Shubao went to put away the large trunks, while Lanqin leaned against the window of the house, admiring the lush green bamboo outside.

"What are you looking at?" Fourth Master stepped into the room and saw Lanqin standing at the back window of the main room, looking at the bamboo forest outside. He couldn't help but ask.

Upon hearing this, Lanqin immediately turned around with delight, walked to the Fourth Prince, took his hand, and led him to the window. "My lord, look, there is a small hill behind this palace. I really like the tranquil environment here, with its birdsong and fragrant flowers."

Fourth Master put his arm around Lanqin's shoulder and said gently, "If you like it, when I go back, I'll build some artificial hills and create some scenery behind your courtyard, how about that?"

Although Lanqin wanted to say that the artificial scenery could not compare to the natural beauty, she thought that this was a sign of the Fourth Prince's doting on her, so she said with emotion, "Thank you, Your Highness, but I would rather enjoy the natural scenery with you."

Fourth Master lowered his head and gently flicked Lanqin's nose, scolding her lightly, "You little rascal, you want one thing after another, you're so greedy."

Lanqin coquettishly replied, "Yes, I am indeed very greedy. I only wish to travel with you, Master." In truth, Lanqin wanted to say: I fear I will only grow more greedy, so greedy that I want to possess Fourth Master entirely. Originally, she had hoped to come alone with Fourth Master this time, but Yan Yu was unexpectedly present, leaving Lanqin somewhat disappointed. However, she must not reveal this slight disappointment; Fourth Master could not possibly have only one woman, and in the future, he would have many more women.

Fourth Master pulled his arm around Lanqin and embraced her, murmuring, "Alright, I promise you, I will take you on a tour of Jiangnan when I have the chance."

Lanqin's heart stirred, and after suppressing her regret, she looked up and said, "Master, what brings you here?"

She knew that at this moment, officials of all ranks from Shuntian Prefecture would be coming to see Kangxi and the princes, trying to build relationships and gain favor in order to advance their careers.

Fourth Master deliberately put on a stern face and said, "What, don't you want me to find some time to come and see my Princess Niu?"

Lanqin smiled sweetly, raised her hand to wipe the Fourth Master's chin, and said with concern, "Your stubble has grown quite a bit, Master. Shave it for me, okay? Later, you can have some delicious beef noodles with me!"

Fourth Master nodded and was pulled to a chair by Lanqin. After Xicha brought a washbasin and a bronze mirror as ordered, Fourth Master's "razor" also made a grand appearance. Su Peisheng almost ran to the room arranged for Fourth Master to get this Qing-style razor.

Lanqin took the "razor" and frowned. This was no razor at all; it was clearly a small, single-edged dagger.

When Fourth Master saw Lanqin staring at his razor, he naturally realized she was a little scared, so he said, "Give it to me, you can just watch it for me from the side!"

Lanqin glanced at the Fourth Master and deliberately said, "Is Your Highness afraid that I might hurt you?"

Fourth Master saw the playful look on Lanqin's lips and deliberately put on a stern face, saying, "Fix it properly for me. If you hurt me, you'll be punished by not being allowed to eat beef noodles!"

Lanqin glared at him, but then suppressed a hint of fear in her heart. She took the soap from Xicha's hand, wet it, then applied it to a small cloth to make some foam before applying it around Fourth Master's chin.

"Princess, aren't you covering up Master's stubble?" Su Peisheng, standing to the side, couldn't help but ask, having never seen anyone use soap like that before. He was actually the one who mostly groomed the Fourth Master's face.

“You’ll understand when you see it next, Father-in-law.” Lanqin took the razor and began to slowly shave along Fourth Master’s chin at a 60-degree angle. Sure enough, a patch of white skin was revealed where she had shaved, leaving Su Peisheng dumbfounded.

Fourth Master also felt that it was much more comfortable to hang than Su Peisheng usually did, and immediately couldn't help but joke, "I didn't expect my Princess Niu to have this skill!"

Lanqin was actually quite nervous, afraid that she might accidentally hurt Fourth Master. His mouth moving made her even more nervous.

"Master, don't speak," Lanqin said irritably.

Sure enough, Fourth Master cooperated by not saying anything more, but when he looked at Lanqin's serious little face, he was clearly full of praise and doting.

"Gege, what a skillful technique! The soap foams when wet, which increases its lubrication. This won't hinder the shaving process; on the contrary, it will make it faster and cleaner," Su Peisheng said with sudden realization after watching for a while.

“That’s good. Father-in-law can use this method to shave from now on. I’ve heard that there’s a type of razor for men in the West. Perhaps you could ask someone to bring one back for you?” Lanqin knew, of course, that if the Fourth Master wanted one, he could certainly get it.