After the Ninth Prince and the Tenth Prince had their servants pack up their belongings and leave at the urging of the Eighth Prince, the Eighth Prince walked up to the Fourth Prince, who had a dark expression on his face, and said to him, "Actually, I understand that you did this entirely to obey Father Emperor's wishes. But as you can see, the matter of repaying the money cannot be rushed. We need to give people time to raise it slowly."

The Fourth Prince said coldly, "This concerns the Emperor's reward money. Your words, 'too hasty,' are delaying state affairs."

Seeing that the Fourth Prince's tone was harsh, the Thirteenth Prince quickly stepped forward to smooth things over, saying, "Eighth Brother, you should go back and raise the funds. I will help persuade the Fourth Prince."

When the Eighth Prince saw that the Fourth Prince didn't give him any face, his expression changed. He nodded slightly to the Thirteenth Prince and then turned and left.

Once the princes left, the crowd naturally dispersed.

Fourth Prince turned and headed towards the Fourth Prince's residence. Thirteen followed behind, asking, "Fourth Brother, perhaps they really can't raise the money in a short time. Why not give them some time?"

Fourth Master paused, then said sternly, "They have no intention of returning the money at all. Didn't you see through their scheme just now? The person who came up with such an idea is definitely not that good-for-nothing Ninth Brother."

Thirteenth Master's expression changed, and he said, "Fourth Brother, you mean that the place we just visited was all instructed by Eighth Brother?"

The Fourth Prince nodded and continued, "Actually, the Eighth Prince owes the most money among all the princes, but have you seen him worry? In order to maintain his reputation as the 'Eighth Prince,' he has spent a lot of money over the years. Humph, for his own selfish interests, he treats the national treasury as his own, becoming a giant rat in the national treasury."

Thirteen remained silent this time. He was still a bit naive; he had genuinely thought that Eighth Master had come to mediate the fight.

The two returned to the study, but had lost their appetite for drinking and eating lamb chops. The Fourth Prince decided to ask Emperor Kangxi for permission to have the Thirteenth Prince accompany him to collect the outstanding debt.

The men were busy with court affairs in the front hall, while the women were busy with their own affairs in the inner quarters.

For several days in a row, the Fourth Master did not visit anyone, but stayed in the front yard. For a time, everyone was speculating, and some people began to wonder if Madam Niu in the south courtyard had offended the Fourth Master, because this was something that had never happened before.

"Princess, I heard that Master hasn't visited Madam Niu for several days. Finally, she's fallen out of favor," Fangyun said to Yanyu ingratiatingly.

The latter was sitting in front of the guqin, gently strumming the strings, seemingly unaware of Fangyun's words.

"Come on, help me to sit in the small garden, and bring the guqin with you," Yan Yu suddenly said.

Fangyun didn't understand, but Yanyu never liked being asked why she did things, so she had no choice but to do as she was told.

The three, master and servants, brought the guqin to a small garden outside the main courtyard. Since it was already autumn, the sun was not as hot as in summer, and there were occasional gentle breezes. The flowers around the pavilion also swayed in the breeze under the autumn light.

"Yun Yuan, have you confirmed the route that Fourth Master must take to the main courtyard, which I asked you to keep an eye on?" Yan Yu asked Yun Yuan, who was holding a guqin.

“Your Highness, I have figured it out. Master always passes by here whenever he comes to the main courtyard,” Yun Yuan replied confidently.

"Alright, I hope this will catch the Fourth Prince's attention today. I've been practicing this piece for a long time, and today it's time for someone who understands it to hear it," Yan Yu said with a smile. These days, apart from resting during her pregnancy, she has been staying in her room practicing ancient music. Even with the Fujin (Prince's wife), she only goes there when she has to pay her respects morning and evening.

The three of them, master and servant, entered the pavilion. Fangyun spread a cloth on the stone table inside the pavilion and then placed a round cushion on the stone bench before helping Yanyu sit down.

Yun Yuan immediately laid the guqin in her arms on the stone table in front of Yan Yu, and then the two maids stepped aside.

"Yun Yuan, go and keep an eye on things. If Fourth Master comes this way, report to me immediately," Yan Yu instructed. She had put in a lot of effort to regain Fourth Master's attention, and now that he was no longer going to Niu Shi's place, it was her chance.

"Princess, if you want the master to come to your room, why don't you just go and arrange it with the Fujin?" Fangyun saw that Yan Yu was making so many arrangements, all she wanted was for the Fourth Master to see her.

“If I go to the Fujin now, I’m afraid she’ll have me under her thumb. I heard that she summoned Zhang Mama, who manages the menstrual cycle in the mansion, a few days ago, so she probably already knows I’m pregnant. But I haven’t figured out why she hasn’t made a move yet.” Yan Yu raised her delicate hand and said, “If I do everything she says, I’m afraid I’ll be at her mercy forever.”

Fangyun realized that this princess was not on the same side as her elder sister after hearing Yan Yu's words. She suppressed her surprise and served Yan Yu.

As for the Fourth Master, after seeing the Thirteenth Master off, he looked at the invitation for a while, becoming increasingly frustrated. He then got up and left the study. He walked out of the front gate and glanced in the direction of the South Courtyard. Su Peisheng followed behind him, knowing that the Fourth Master was troubled.

Sigh, everything was fine before, how come they got so angry as soon as they got back?

The Fourth Prince withdrew his gaze and walked towards the main courtyard. He had been back for several days and it was time to visit his wife.

Su Peisheng sighed softly and followed Fourth Master toward the main courtyard.

Yun Yuan was guarding behind a tree when she saw Fourth Master and Su Peisheng coming this way. She immediately turned around and disappeared into the path, quickly running towards the small pavilion where Yan Yu was.

"Princess, Master is almost here!" Yun Yuan ran and kicked her way up to the small pavilion. When she stopped, she was already out of breath.

"Okay, I understand." Yan Yu kept looking at the nail polish on her hand, which was covered with tiny crystal-like crystals, corresponding to the tiny crystals on her eyelashes and the eyebrows she had painted that day.

She raised her delicate hand and gently touched the strings. Slowly, a melodious tune, like flowing water, spread from the small pavilion. It must be said that Yan Yu's zither skills were truly remarkable. She was focused on those few strings, her movements graceful and coordinated, leaving the Fourth Master and his servant, who had just followed the sound of the zither, somewhat stunned.

Fangyun first saw Fourth Master and Su Peisheng, who were standing on the steps of the pavilion with their backs to Yan Yu. When Fourth Master made a shushing gesture, they did not make a sound.

As she played further, Yan Yu's hand movements became increasingly fluid and graceful. She seemed to have focused all her attention on the guqin, and the music flowing from her fingers deeply moved everyone present, like heavenly music.

After Yan Yu plucked the last string, a round of applause rang out from behind her. It was indeed Fourth Master who applauded her for the piece she had just played.