"Whether they really had a falling out, you can go and see for yourself. Since you and Lady Niu haven't fallen out, you can certainly go," said the Fujin, patting Wu's hand.

A slight surprise appeared in Wu's eyes, but it quickly vanished without a trace, like a pebble thrown into a deep pool.

The next day, Lanqin got up a little earlier than usual, letting Wuxiha and Xichen play in the house. One rode a little horse, while the other sat in a "Lanqin-style walker," being pushed around by the maids to chase after his older brother. For a while, the South Courtyard was filled with children chasing and laughing.

Nianxue and Xicha were worried because Fourth Master hadn't been coming around much lately. Cui Niang was with Lanqin, making a necklace for Wuxiha.

Seeing that Nianxue seemed hesitant to speak, Lanqin asked, "Nianxue, just say what you want to say. Why are you stammering?"

Nianxue said aggrievedly, "This servant is just feeling sorry for my master. My master is devoted to Princess Wu, but she went to send bird's nest to my master. Isn't that stabbing my master in the back?"

Upon hearing this, Lanqin looked down at the rope in her hand and said, "Wu Gege was just fulfilling her duty to serve the master. How can that be considered stabbing me in the back? Besides, I never said they couldn't serve him."

Seeing that Nianxue still looked puzzled, Cui Niang explained, "Now some people are using this as a pretext, saying that our master is hogging our master and won't let him go anywhere else, which is why he has so few children. But it's not that our master is preventing our master from going anywhere! Now, even you are saying this, making people think that our master is so domineering."

Lanqin pursed her lips, her brow furrowing slightly. On the last day of the Golden Offering Festival, when she left Consort De's palace, Aunt An secretly pulled Lanqin aside and said that the Fujin (Prince Consort) had intentionally complained to Consort De that Lanqin was monopolizing the Fourth Prince's affections and not allowing the harem to share the favor equally, which was not a blessing for the Fourth Prince's harem.

Upon hearing this, Nianxue noticed Lanqin's gloomy expression and hurriedly said, "This servant is foolish, but since you angered Master that night, he has indeed come much less often. This is exactly what they wanted."

"Whose wishes are being pleased with this?" Suddenly, Song's voice rang out from outside the house. She was wearing an apricot-colored cheongsam with a black sable cloak over it, while Geng was wearing a light green cheongsam with a black sable cloak over it.

"My two elder sisters are here, come in quickly. Nianxue, go and serve them their favorite tea." Lanqin casually put down the necklace rope and said.

With the help of their respective maids, Madam Song and Madam Geng removed their cloaks and sat down on the warm couch opposite Lanqin. Madam Geng, on the other hand, had Xicha move a round embroidered stool for her to sit on.

"Sister, these are newly arrived XJ tribute oranges. They're soft, sweet, and juicy. Have a taste." Lanqin picked up two oranges from a plate entwined with green branches on the small table and handed one to each of Song and Geng.

"I also want to say a few words about what Nianxue just mentioned. Do you know that Madam Wu has already gone to see the Fujin?" Madam Song peeled an orange, the silver openwork nail guards on her hands slightly curling up. Her small, jade-like hands peeled away the red skin bit by bit, revealing the orange-red flesh inside.

“I never imagined that Wu Shi was not on the same side as us after all. I saw her going there at noon today, supported by Hong Qian,” Geng Shi continued, picking up where Song Shi left off.

Lanqin smiled faintly and said, "Everyone has their own thoughts, which I cannot control. Now that you two sisters are here, I will speak frankly. As for the master, if he is willing, I will not stop him from going elsewhere. However, if he intends for me to be like the Fujin, that is impossible. The Fujin's arrangements are not really for the sake of the master's offspring. You sisters should understand what they are really for."

Upon hearing this, Madam Song nodded, but Madam Geng was somewhat taken aback.

"I heard Nianxue say that you deliberately drove Grandpa away?" Madam Song said, holding an orange.

"Whether it was intentional or not, Master doesn't come to my place as often these days. Anyway, it's not what you think, Sister, so don't worry," Lanqin said gently to Madam Song.

“Isn’t my sister’s behavior just giving them an opportunity? Be careful someone doesn’t take advantage of the situation,” Geng said, returning to her usual demeanor.

"I understand, Qin'er will think about it. Thank you for reminding me, Sister Geng." Lanqin had noticed Geng's loss of composure when she said those words.

Song and Geng stayed with Lanqin for a while longer, but seeing that she was getting tired, they took their leave. Lanqin instructed that the two children be taken down for a nap, and she had already asked someone to heat a hot water bottle to warm the bed. Although she wasn't very sleepy, she still went to bed and lay down in the quilt.

Cui Niang helped Lanqin undress, and after she lay down, she tucked the blankets around her.

"Cui Niang, go and tell Chef Niu to prepare dinner properly. It's cold, so make a pot of beef bone soup, and also prepare some beef and mutton, as well as some fresh bamboo shoots, tofu, spinach, and potatoes. Master likes to eat these." After saying this, Lanqin closed her eyes.

Cui Niang glanced at Lan Qin's profile, smiled, lowered the curtain, and left.

Seeing Nianxue squatting in the corner of the room, poking at the red-hot charcoal in the copper basin, she walked over to her and said, "Keep an eye on the fire in the master's room; the master is afraid of the cold."

Nianxue nodded and then asked, "Aunt Cui, if the mistress continues to quarrel with the master like this, I'm afraid that Princess Wu might really take advantage of the situation."

Cui Niang put her finger to her lips in a "shh" gesture and whispered, "Just now, Master instructed me to have the kitchen prepare a special dinner, all of which are Master's favorite dishes."

Upon hearing this, Nianxue's eyes lit up, and she smiled, "Thank goodness, Master is finally taking the initiative."

Cui Niang nodded and went out wearing a set of protective gear.

The kitchen staff, having received such instructions, naturally dared not be careless. Niu Baoquan also knew that Fourth Master hadn't been coming much lately, and as a result, he had been preparing fewer meals for him. Now that he heard that Fourth Master was to be invited to dine, he wished he could use all his culinary skills to the fullest.

"Don't worry, Aunt Cui, I'll make a sauerkraut pancake today, I guarantee it will satisfy the master," Niu Baoquan said excitedly, rubbing his hands together.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Chef Niu. The master hasn't been in a good mood these past few days and has been eating less than usual. Chef Niu, please prepare some easily digestible dishes. It's going to snow soon, so we don't want him to have indigestion," Cui Niang instructed.

"Don't worry, I'll cook them until they're very soft. These little pancakes are filled with pickled cabbage, which helps with digestion," Niu Baoquan said, then he focused all his energy on preparing the ingredients.

As soon as Cui Niang came out of the small kitchen, she suddenly saw tiny white flowers fluttering in front of her. The flowers were extremely small, but because they fell so quickly, they covered all the evergreen plants in the yard with a layer of white gauze.