Fourth Master stayed at Lanqin's place for almost half a month.

At first, the Fujin thought she would be similar to Lady Yin; after a few nights of novelty, things would just get better. However, the Fourth Prince's visit lasted for more than ten days, and he sent things to that small room almost every day. Although her actions seemed to have completely diverted Lady Li's favor, could she become another Lady Li?

"Madam, the princesses have arrived," said Granny Li, walking up behind Madam.

After letting Granny Li put a peony flower in her hair, the Fujin left her bedroom.

Consort Li, Lady Song, Lady Wang, Lady Wu, Lady Geng, and Lady Yin had all arrived, but Princess Niohuru, who was currently enjoying the Emperor's favor, had not yet arrived.

When everyone saw the Princess Consort emerge, they all stood up, gave her a graceful curtsy, and called out in unison, "This servant greets the Princess Consort!"

Just then, Lanqin, supported by Nianxue, walked to the door. She stepped over the high threshold, curtsied behind the crowd, and said, "This servant greets the Princess Consort!"

"Princess Niohuru, you must be punctual when paying your respects to the Fujin. Didn't anyone teach you that at home?" Wu suddenly called out from the front.

Lanqin had another night of hard work last night. She already has trouble getting up in the morning and likes to stay in bed, so she's been getting up late almost every day. Even now, her back is still sore.

"It's my fault for keeping you and all the ladies waiting. I apologize to you all." She knew that Wu Shi had seized on this point and she had nothing to say, but it wasn't a big deal. She could just say a few kind words and it would be over.

"Alright, it didn't take long. Get up and sit down," the Fujin said calmly.

Madam Yin had enjoyed Lanqin's favor for several nights, but now that Lanqin had taken it all away, she felt a pang of jealousy. She looked up, secretly scrutinizing Lanqin, thinking: What's so good about her? She's not even as pretty as me. Why does the master seem to prefer going to her room all the time?

Lanqin instinctively felt that someone was watching her. Following the gaze, she saw Yin's eyes filled with resentment and jealousy.

"Sister Niu, did you sleep well today?" the Fujin suddenly asked.

"Thank you for your concern, Madam. I slept very well." Lanqin was still uneasy. She wasn't afraid of the look in Madam Yin's eyes, but she was afraid of the primary wife sitting here.

Well, her 30 years of modernist education hadn't changed her mind. Her awe of the principal wife and the awkwardness of her own status made her unwilling to meet the eyes of the princess.

"Miss Niu is currently enjoying the Emperor's favor, so naturally she's sleeping well," said Consort Li, who hadn't spoken in a long time. The sourness in her words was palpable to everyone in the room.

"Master's constitution is very hot; he likes to lift the covers at night. Sister Niu, don't forget to cover him with more blankets." The Fujin ignored the sourness of Consort Li and instructed Lanqin.

"Thank you for reminding me, Madam. I've taken note," Lanqin replied, bowing her head, feeling incredibly embarrassed. Something about Madam's words just didn't feel right.

Emma, ​​all the women in this room seemed to see right through her. As soon as Lanqin left the Fujin's room, she took a deep breath.

“Princess, Master said he’s coming for dinner today, so we don’t need to wait for him for lunch.” Nianxue saw that Lanqin was silent and assumed that she was in a bad mood because of the women in the room, so she spoke up about Master to try to distract her.

"Understood. Nianxue, from now on, on the days when you pay your respects to the Fujin, be sure to wake me up promptly. Do not be late," Lanqin instructed.

When Lanqin and Nianxue returned to their room, they were already covered in a light sweat. The days were getting hotter and hotter.

“Princess, the screen that Master bestowed upon you is quite strange. Where is the woman on it from? She seems very different from us.” Xicha immediately poured Lanqin a cup of tea and served her.

She was just wiping down a screen that Fourth Master had given to Lanqin yesterday. The screen depicted the Virgin Mary holding Jesus. Ever since Lanqin said she liked Western things, Fourth Master had been sending things to her little room almost every day.

Actually, she doesn't need a screen here; the room isn't big. The screen just makes the room look even smaller.

"The picture on the screen is a Western depiction of the Virgin Mary and her child. Xi Cha, let's put it away. The room is too small; it'll just get in the way here!" Lan Qin said.

“Princess, these are things that Master just gave you. You should display them so that Master will be happy to see them,” Xicha asked, puzzled.

"Put it away. If the princess says to put it away, then put it away." Nianxue glared at Xicha. Although the princess is now gaining favor, she has only just arrived, her status is low, and she is unfamiliar with the place and its people. It's better to be cautious now; the situation in the wife's room just now wouldn't be good.

Lanqin glanced at Nianxue, knowing that the girl was aware of her thoughts.

She couldn't shake the feeling that the Fujin's words had left a bitter taste. On the surface, she was instructing her to take good care of the Fourth Prince, but her words had a hint of stirring up trouble. Now, she figured all the women in the inner quarters hated her.

Today's events are just the beginning. Of the seven women in this household (including myself), the status of the Fujin (Prince Consort) is self-evident. Her residence is far superior to that of the other princesses. She was personally appointed by the Emperor as the Fujin of the Fourth Prince.

Consort Li and Consort Song were both veterans who had served the Fourth Prince since his time in the Princes' quarters, a year earlier than Consort Li. Although Consort Song was no longer in favor, she was still the birth mother of the First Princess. Consort Li, needless to say, was the daughter of the Second Princess, as well as the Third and Fourth Princes. Therefore, she was probably the most favored person in the Fourth Prince's inner quarters.

Furthermore, the first person to embarrass her today, Wu, although she has no children yet, must have someone backing her up to speak out in such a public place.

Although Wang and Geng seem unremarkable on the surface, they arrived before me, so it's too early to tell what's going on.

Ms. Yin, yet another brainless pretty girl who thinks she can win favor just because of her looks.

This was the first time Lanqin had properly observed her Fourth Master's harem. From what she could see so far, he treated her fairly well, as evidenced by the rewards he had bestowed upon her these past few days. Of course, this was only relative. Was he treating her with special favor because of her openness, frankness, and honesty? Or did he truly love her?

Think of Lady Yin; she had only been favored for a few days before she forgot about it.