Ten days after Fourth Master left, his first letter to Lanqin arrived. Naturally, the main courtyard also received a letter from Fourth Master reporting that he was safe. However, Lanqin's letter focused more on her observations along the way and the events that Fourth Master had encountered. The letter described how they arrived in Yangzhou, and how the officials there were outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant, disregarding the imperial edict to recover the silver, and so on.

Lanqin knew that the historical Fourth Prince had gained Emperor Kangxi's favor by recovering millions of taels of silver owed to the court. Therefore, in her reply to the Fourth Prince, Lanqin devoted a lot of space to comforting him for his hard work in recovering the silver and encouraging him to continue to recover the silver lent out to the court.

Meanwhile, Lanqin's needlework skills, which she had specially learned from Song, gradually improved. Although the little flowers, plants, or animals she embroidered were not as skillful as Song's, they were still quite presentable.

Lanqin specially instructed Nianxue to tailor a set of underwear that the Fourth Master had left with her, and then personally embroidered his favorite orchids on the cuffs of the underwear she made for him, as well as some interesting little animals on the collar. In fact, Lanqin had already started making this before the Fourth Master even left. What she wanted to give the Fourth Master now was not just the Lanqin of the past, who was somewhat willful, somewhat innocent, somewhat mischievous, and somewhat straightforward, but a woman he trusted and cherished in his heart.

Along with Lanqin's reply, she naturally included this set of underwear embroidered by our Comrade Lanqin herself. What kind of expression will Fourth Master have upon receiving this token of her affection?

Our Comrade Lanqin didn't have time to think about all that; she had so many things to do.

The peppers, eggplants, and tomatoes have started to bear fruit. Lanqin goes to her little vegetable garden several times a day to check on them, wishing she could remember the size and changes of each fruit.

Song and Geng also came often, and the three of them would chat together, and the days would pass quickly.

It was almost May, and with Lanqin's encouragement, Fourth Master's pursuit of the silver was progressing well.

Meanwhile, in the main courtyard, Yan Yu's mood became increasingly irritable as her due date approached.

"Fangyun, how did things go with the matter I asked you to go out and search for the other day?" Yan Yu asked impatiently, stroking her increasingly large belly.

"Princess, I've already found a few families, so don't worry. Their due dates are all around the same time as yours, and once one of them gives birth to a boy, I'll bring him in for you immediately," Fangyun said.

Only the two women, mistress and servant, were in the room; no one else knew anything. Actually, this idea was Fangyun's suggestion to Yan Yu, in case she gave birth to a girl, they could switch the baby. Yan Yu didn't care about the child; she only wanted a boy to secure her position.

Although such an act of confusing the royal bloodline was a capital offense, Yan Yu, who was determined to become a concubine, had lost her mind. For the sake of her dream, she would rather give up her own flesh and blood for a baby boy.

"My due date is in early June. You need to make sure those other pregnant women give birth a few days earlier, otherwise it might be too late." Yan Yu now regarded Fang Yun as her confidante, and Yun Yuan had long been abandoned by her.

"Don't worry, Princess," Fangyun said. "I told those families that she is a wealthy woman who is unable to have children and wants a son to inherit the family business. They have all had children before, and their children would only suffer poverty and hardship if they stayed with them, but would have endless wealth and honor if they stayed with the lady. As long as they are given money, they will all agree."

Yan Yu looked at Fang Yun with satisfaction and said, "Very good, you are very capable. If I am promoted to the rank of concubine, you will definitely deserve some credit."

Fangyun was overjoyed and immediately bowed to Yanyu.

As for the Fujin (wife of the fourth prince), she had received about five letters from the fourth prince every ten days. They were all just to let her know that he was safe and sound, and there was nothing else to say. They just told her to keep Yan Yu alive, that they were afraid they would not be able to return, and asked her to take good care of her.

"Yan Yu is almost eight months pregnant, it's time to prepare the midwife and delivery room for her." The Fujin was leading Hong Shi, showing him some children's books. Actually, Hong Shi was only one and a half years old and could only look at the pictures.

"Yes, the midwife is naturally Chen, the midwife at the entrance of this alley. She specializes in women's childbirth and has quite a bit of experience. The delivery room will be set up in the room to the right of Princess Yan Yu. I will take people to prepare it tomorrow," said Granny Li.

"Make proper arrangements for her. After all, she is a child from the Ulanara family, and I, the Princess Consort, will not mistreat her. If she gives birth to a daughter, I will ask the Master to let Yan Yu raise her personally. If it is a boy, then according to the rules, he should be brought to the main courtyard to be raised first," the Princess Consort said.

Granny Li nodded and said, "This old servant is afraid that Ninth Princess's temperament is not easy to deal with. If she gives birth to a boy, we should ask for her to be granted the title of Consort."

The Fujin was focused on showing Hongshi the books, seemingly oblivious to what Granny Li had said. She continued, "This isn't a place where she can do whatever she wants, and Fourth Prince isn't Father. Now that we're in Fourth Prince's residence, we have to follow the rules."

Granny Li agreed and went out to carry out her duties.

"Mother, Hongshi wants to eat peanuts," Hongshi suddenly said.

"Hongshi, be good. You have to finish looking at all of this before you can eat." The Fujin coaxed Hongshi. In her eyes, Hongshi at this moment was just like Honghui, who was only a little over one year old seven years ago. They were both her sons and had to follow the path she had paved for them.

Hongshi pouted slightly, then had no choice but to follow his wife's flip through the pages and continue reading those primers that were still difficult for him to understand.

Granny Li arrived at Yan Yu's place with the instructions from the Fujin (principal), and told her about the midwife she had hired and the arrangements for the delivery room.

"Thank you for arranging this, elder sister. I've been craving pastries from Baoyuezhai these past few days, and Fangyun has been going out to buy them for me every day," Yan Yu suddenly said.

"Girl, you're in your month now, so eat whatever you want, but don't eat too much, or you'll get too fat, which is bad for your delivery." Granny Li had served the Fujin Yang Honghui before, and she herself had given birth to two children.

"Thank you for your concern, Granny. There is something I would like to ask you to convey to my elder sister: could you please let my mother come to the manor in a few days? I have been here since I entered the manor, but I have not yet seen my mother. I miss her terribly these days," Yan Yu said.

“Girl, you are about to become a mother, so it is only natural that you miss your mother. This old servant will go and inform the Fujin (principal wife) right away. I will leave everything to the Fujin to decide,” said Granny Li.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Granny," Yan Yu said with a smile.

Yan Yu's mother was a concubine of Fei Yanggu. Because she gave birth to her, she was promoted to the rank of madam. Because she was beautiful, she was also favored by Fei Yanggu.