For several days in a row, the Fourth Master did not come to the South Courtyard. On this day, Su Peisheng saw that the Fourth Master had returned early, so he casually said, "I haven't been to the South Courtyard for several days." This angered the Fourth Master, who punished Su Peisheng by making him slap himself twice before he was satisfied.

The Fourth Master hasn't been enjoying his meals much these past few days. He recalls the food he ate in the South Courtyard, which was far superior to the regular dishes served in the main kitchen.

Su Peisheng stood to the side, watching the Fourth Master take a deep breath and rest for a long time, thinking to himself: He clearly wants it in his heart, but won't let this servant mention it, sigh~

After finishing his dinner, Fourth Master took a stroll in the courtyard and couldn't resist any longer. He hadn't seen Lanqin for several days, nor had he seen the kicking baby in his belly for just as long.

"Let's go~" Fourth Master thought to himself: It's my own backyard, my own women, what's there to be embarrassed about.

Su Peisheng smiled inwardly and followed.

Meanwhile, in the south courtyard, Lanqin had just finished her dinner and was currently helping Nianxue move around in the courtyard. Her belly was getting bigger and bigger, and if she didn't move around, the baby in her belly would probably grow even bigger, making childbirth more difficult.

“Princess, I don’t think you’ve gained much weight. All the food you’re eating is going to the baby,” Nianxue said.

"Yes, I need to control my appetite, otherwise I'll suffer a lot during childbirth." Lanqin felt a little scared when she thought about the pain of childbirth she would soon face.

Oh dear, there are no C-sections or anesthesia available right now!

"Yes, Princess, don't worry. I heard that His Highness has already gone to the palace to ask two maids who have served many concubines during childbirth to help you with your delivery," Nianxue said cautiously to Lanqin. She was worried because she saw Lanqin and the Fourth Prince acting so awkwardly, so she deliberately brought it up.

Lanqin, of course, knew what she was thinking, and said, "It wasn't me who told him not to come. It was the other sisters who were there that day. Who knew he was so petty, he didn't come at all."

Nianxue hurriedly said, "Why doesn't Your Highness go and invite her? Should I go and make the trip?"

Lanqin rolled her eyes at her and said, "You're even more anxious than I am."

Nianxue lowered her head shyly and hurriedly said, "This servant is just worried that the awkwardness and distance between you and Master might give some people an opportunity to take advantage of the situation."

Lanqin said calmly, "Are you referring to the Yin family?"

Nianxue nodded and said, "Yesterday, the Third Prince was officially betrothed to her. Princess, Master originally intended for you to raise the Third Prince."

Lanqin looked up at the bright moonlight in the sky, which had unknowingly spread its watery glow throughout the courtyard.

“The Third Prince has his own destiny, and perhaps this is one of his destinies.” Lanqin thought about the Third Prince of Emperor Yongzheng in history. It seems that his name was not Hongjun. Even the Fourth Prince Hongshi later became the Second Prince.

Just then, there was the sound of a bolt being loosened at the gate, followed by the sound of a dog barking and greeting.

Nianxue was delighted, but Lanqin remained calm. A moment later, Fourth Master walked in with his hands behind his back.

"This servant greets Your Highness." Nianxue curtsied first, while Lanqin paused for a moment before adding, "This concubine greets Your Highness."

"Your belly is so big, stand up straight." Seeing that the little princess was not in a hurry, the Fourth Master felt much relieved. He hadn't come for the past few days because he was worried that Lanqin was angry about that matter.

The two servants consciously and automatically retreated to the shadows, leaving the space to Lanqin and the Fourth Master.

"You haven't come to eat these past few days, are you enjoying your meals?" Lanqin asked deliberately, thinking to herself that she was used to the special meals prepared for her here, and that she probably wouldn't be used to the communal cooking when she went back to her hometown.

For the first time, Fourth Master nodded and said, "Knowing that I'm not using it well, why didn't you send someone to call me? Lan'er, are you still worried about Li Momo?"

Well, this is the first time that the Fourth Prince has worried about a concubine's thoughts over something. In the past, his decisions were absolute, and he didn't need to consider anyone's opinions.

Lanqin's eyes flickered, and she said, "What I think about is none of your business, Master. You have your own reasons for doing so."

Fourth Master approvingly took Lanqin's hand and said softly, "Lan'er is so well-mannered; I seem a little unaccustomed to it."

Lanqin rolled her eyes at Fourth Master and laughed, "Master, you haven't come these past few days on your own, and I haven't had anyone lock the door to prevent you from coming."

Fourth Master touched her large belly and said, "Sharp-tongued, I wonder if the baby inside is just like her mother."

Lanqin leaned against Fourth Master's shoulder and whispered, "My lord, Lanqin asks for nothing, only that whether the child in my womb is a boy or a girl, I want to raise it by my side."

Knowing her worries, the Fourth Prince quickly comforted her, saying, "Don't worry, I will speak to Father Emperor and ask him to elevate your rank. That way, you can raise our child yourself."

Lanqin nodded, looking up at the moon. She understood: the Fourth Prince's wife would later become Empress; it was unlikely she would be dealt with so quickly by the Fourth Prince. In the year or so since Lanqin transmigrated, she knew the wheels of history wouldn't be turned upside down because of her. There was a force orchestrating everything. Therefore, she wasn't really that concerned about how the Fourth Prince dealt with his wife.

Seeing that the little princess remained silent, only gazing at the moon, the Fourth Prince said, "I've come up with several names for our children, a few for boys and a few for girls. Why don't you choose?"

Lanqin felt a warmth in her heart. She knew that princes and grandsons were not given names at birth, but were referred to by numbers. She hadn't even given birth yet, and the Fourth Prince had already prepared a name for her, showing how much he valued her and the child in her womb.

"My lord, I think this child might be a girl," Lanqin said, looking up at the Fourth Prince's profile. She wasn't just guessing, of course, because Qianlong was still four years away from being born, so this child definitely wasn't him. Therefore, Lanqin felt it was most likely a daughter; Qianlong didn't have any brothers from the same mother, but he did have sisters.

"A girl is fine too. I've prepared three names for her: Wuxiha, Tana, and Ailanzhu. Which one does Lan'er prefer?"

Lanqin heard that they were all in Manchu and it took her a while to understand the meaning of the three names. Her pitiful little Manchu was something she had only crammed for when she first transmigrated.

"What, are you not satisfied?" Fourth Master asked when he saw that the little princess was silent.

"Master, Wuxihaba. I like this one." Lanqin knew that this name meant "little star," while the other two meant "daughter of jewels and gold," which were too heavy. Lanqin only hoped that the child in her womb would be a happy and lively child; giving her a name that was too precious would only attract unwanted attention.

“Alright, let’s go with Ushiha then. I like this one too,” Fourth Master said softly.