After returning from the Third Prince's residence, the Fourth Prince sent word to his wife: Honghui was not allowed to visit him without his permission, and she was confined to her quarters for a month.

After the eunuch who delivered the message left, the princess ran into the inner room, plucked all the pearl hairpins from her hair, and threw them onto the dressing table.

Li Mama did not follow, but pulled Chunliu up and asked, "Why did the master punish the Fujin for this?"

Chunliu looked troubled and said, "We were separated as soon as we arrived at the Third Prince's residence. We didn't see the Princess Consort again until we came out."

After dismissing Chunliu, Li Mama went into the inner room and walked behind the Fujin, who was sitting in front of the dressing table in a daze. She touched her shoulder and gently soothed her, just like when she was a child, whenever Fujin was unhappy, Li Mama would comfort her like this.

"Granny, what should I do?" The princess suddenly turned around and hugged Granny Li's waist.

"Madam, what exactly happened?" Granny Li asked gently.

"Third Consort is really something! She said in public that Niohuru's sister was also selected by the Emperor in this selection and is now in favor! I know she was trying to stand up for me, but how can you talk about the Emperor like that? I was so shocked by this that I didn't stop her in time." The Consort recounted the whole story in one breath.

Granny Li was also startled, but continued to comfort the Princess Consort by supporting her back, saying, "Since it has happened, Princess Consort should be more patient for the sake of the First Prince. That Niohuru clan is also from a prominent family, and now she has a favored older sister in the palace. We need to rethink how to get along with her."

The princess consort added, "Granny, I'm worried that the master's request for someone this time is probably for her sake!"

Granny Li paused, then hurriedly said, "How could the Princess Consort have such suspicions?"

“Granny, I remember the look on his face when he saw the list Your Highness handed over that day, and the favor he shows to that Niohuru clan now. I’m afraid they knew each other before.” The Fujin pulled herself out of Granny Li’s arms and sat up straight.

“If that’s really the case, we need to think this over carefully. Although Lady Li has two sons, she is from the Han Banner Army. As long as our eldest prince is well, her sons will never be able to rise above him. But Lady Niohuru comes from a prominent family and is favored by the master. If she has another child, that would be a huge threat to us.” Granny Li’s heart sank.

“That’s exactly right, Granny. Now, the master is actually punishing me because of her.” The princess was a little flustered, twisting the handkerchief in her hand and frowning as she spoke.

"Don't panic, Madam. His Highness is probably admonishing you to always prioritize the Fourth Prince's residence." Granny Li, being older, was more perceptive.

“Madam, let’s wait and see what kind of person this Niohuru is! Don’t worry, even if this old servant loses his life, I will not let her threaten you!” Granny Li said solemnly.

...

Meanwhile, the Third Prince was also throwing a tantrum in his wife's room.

"Your father finally gained some respect, and you almost ruined it today... Do you even have a brain? How dare you gossip about Father Emperor's backyard?!" The Third Prince was so angry that he smashed two vases in the Third Princess's room.

At this moment, the Third Princess Consort was dumbfounded. She had originally intended to use the humiliation of the Fourth Princess Consort's daughter to teach Lady Tian a lesson and discourage her from being too smug. However, this incident made her the target of public criticism and offended a large number of people. If it were an ordinary princess, she would have simply lowered her head in public and felt embarrassed, and the matter would have passed. Unexpectedly, that Lady Niohuru was so sharp-tongued that she managed to drag this matter onto her.

"My lord, I was confused too. Why don't we go and apologize to her?" The Third Princess Consort's mind was still foggy.

"A princess consort going to apologize to a mere concubine? You'd better stop embarrassing me everywhere. You and that Guarjia woman are both confined to your quarters for a month!!" With that, the Third Prince turned and left.

As for Lanqin, she finally finished her day trip to the Third Prince's mansion and returned safely to her own small courtyard in the south.

Nianxue only knew that her daughter had been humiliated inside, but no matter how she asked, her daughter refused to say anything, only saying, "It's best to never mention this again, anyway, it won't do us any good."

Lanqin had long forgotten about Holland, her "older sister." If the Third Princess hadn't specifically mentioned her, she really wouldn't have remembered her. Just like that particularly annoying girl in her class, once they graduated, who would remember whom?

The two women had just entered the house and settled down when Huanbi outside gestured to them, indicating that their master had arrived!

It was Lanqin who invented these hand gestures. To prevent the servants from being alarmed by the Fourth Prince's sudden visit, she would summon her four maids, Granny Wang from the gatehouse, and a young eunuch to her room when she had nothing else to do. They would learn a set of hand gestures from her. A clenched fist and a raised thumb meant the head of the household—the Fourth Prince—had arrived; a clenched fist and a raised index finger meant someone from the Fujin's side had arrived (the Fujin would never appear in the concubines' courtyards) (if it was a secondary Fujin, the index finger would be bent); an "OK" sign meant that one of the other princesses of the Fourth Prince's rank had come to visit. Others didn't need to worry about whether they had prepared beforehand. Of course, these gestures were only used when there was enough time, the person was close, and the gestures were faster than the sounds.

Just now, Huanbi was standing at the entrance of the main house when she saw the Fourth Master and his servant walk into the corridor. So she quickly gestured to Nianxue, and she herself had already curtsied.

"Oh dear, I'm really tired today, Master, may I rest for a bit!" Lanqin could only murmur to herself, but Nianxue had already helped her up.

As soon as the Fourth Master's robe was glimpsed, the three servants bowed and said, "Master, may you be blessed!"

The Fourth Prince walked up to Lanqin and said to the servants, "All of you, go down. I want to have a word with your princess."

They're definitely asking about the Netherlands!! Is this ever going to end?!

Fourth Master took her hand and walked together to the bed, where they sat down.

Then, Fourth Master stared at Lanqin and didn't say a word!

But this silent inquiry is far more powerful than any spoken one. Since the Fourth Master doesn't speak, she doesn't know what to say, or how much to say!

"Is that woman in the palace really your sister?" The answer was finally revealed.

"Yes, she's my half-sister. She was in the same selection process as me and was immediately chosen by the Emperor. My relationship with her is so-so, actually not good." Lanqin blurted out everything.

Seeing the little princess looking frightened and cautious, the Fourth Prince suddenly asked, "Are you scared? I didn't punish you!"

"Your Excellency came in with a stern face. I was afraid that my words at the Third Prince's residence today might have offended your third uncle and third wife, causing you to lose face." Lanqin thought to herself, "I might as well say it all; I can't keep it to myself overnight!"