When Lanqin returned to the Ling residence, Lingzhu was waiting at the gate with Anjia. As soon as the carriage stopped at the gate, Nianxue and Xicha stepped down onto the small stools prepared by the coachman before lifting the curtain to help Lanqin down.

When Lanqin saw Lingzhu and Anjia approaching, she asked suspiciously, "I didn't inform you beforehand, how did you know I was coming back?" Looking at Anjia's hair, Lanqin knew that they had been waiting in the cold wind for a while.

“Who said there was no notification? Someone from the Fourth Prince’s residence came this morning to say that the concubine is coming back to visit her family.” Anjia stepped forward and grabbed Lanqin’s hand.

"We must pay our respects to the concubine," Lingzhu cleared his throat and reminded her. Lanqin was now the concubine of the Fourth Prince, listed in the Imperial Decree, and even high-ranking officials like Lingzhu had to pay their respects to her.

"Your subject pays respects to Consort Lanqin!" Lingzhu bowed formally to Lanqin.

"Oh, this humble woman greets Consort Lanqin!" Lady Anjia quickly released Lanqin's arm and bowed as well.

"What are you all doing? This is our own home, why are you all behaving like this? Get up quickly." Lanqin pulled Anjia up. She was naturally unhappy with Lingzhu's desire to climb the social ladder by relying on his eldest daughter, and therefore had always been somewhat cold towards him.

"Where is the little princess? Where is the young master?" Madam Anjia asked hurriedly.

"Nianxue, go and tell the wet nurses to come down," Lanqin instructed.

Two wet nurses sat in the carriage behind with the children. Nianxue and Xicha hurriedly went over to hand them stools, and only then did the two wet nurses carry the children down. Both little ones were wrapped in red brocade robes, with only their rosy little faces showing.

The two wet nurses, being perceptive, quickly brought the two children to Lingzhu and Anjia's side so they could see them.

"Alright, alright, don't let the children get cold, come inside quickly." Lingzhu was happy to see the children for the first time.

When Yang and her son heard that Lanqin had returned, neither of them came out again, and Anjia didn't want to see them either. Originally, Yang wanted Lingzhu to ask someone to help her get into the palace to see Holland. However, Holland was only a noblewoman at the time, and she was not qualified to allow her family to enter the palace. Lingzhu was furious with Yang for this. The last time, it was only because of Lanqin that they were allowed to meet.

Lanqin was already in a bad mood. She couldn't get over her own hurdle and felt stifled, so she didn't want to socialize with anyone. Anjia and Lingzhu kept her company for a while and arranged for two wet nurses to nurse the baby before letting Nianxue and Xicha help Lanqin back to her room to rest.

"Wait a moment, I'll have someone bring the meal to Qin'er's room. Judging from her complexion, she doesn't seem very energetic," Anjia said worriedly. Now, her importance in Lingzhu's heart has changed, naturally because Lanqin has lived up to expectations and become the Fourth Prince's concubine.

"Alright, let's arrange a family dinner tonight. Go and spend some time with her," Lingzhu said. He always felt that his daughter seemed to have changed since she was rescued from the water two years ago. The Lanqin used to be very dependent on Lingzhu and always respected him. But now, looking at Lanqin, although her status was different, it seemed that he, her father, was no longer in her eyes.

As soon as Lanqin returned to her old house, she immediately went to bed. She was tired from the journey and the weather was cold, so she thought it best to catch up on some sleep first.

When Lanqin woke up, it was long past lunchtime. However, Anjia still had the meal brought to her room and set up a kang table on the bed with six dishes and a soup.

Lanqin felt a warmth in her heart. Only a mother could spoil her child like this. Although she was the mistress of the South Courtyard, she had never eaten in bed. Cui Niang would remind her of her every word and action as a concubine.

"Eat up, these are all your favorites," Anjia said tenderly as she served food to Lanqin.

Seeing that they were all foods she liked, Lanqin didn't want to think about those upsetting things anymore, so she ate heartily.

Nianxue and Xicha had already eaten while Lanqin was asleep, and now, looking at the mother and daughter, they felt only warmth. Others might not know, but the two of them did. Although Lanqin was favored by the Fourth Prince in the Fourth Prince's mansion, the Fujin (principal wife) had never lacked her petty schemes and underhanded tactics. If it weren't for the Fourth Prince's favor, things would probably be very different now.

While Lanqin was asleep, Lady Anjia naturally pulled Nianxue and Xicha aside and questioned them thoroughly. At first, the two maids hesitated, afraid that Lanqin would not allow them to speak. But they couldn't withstand Lady Anjia's persistent questioning, and Nianxue, who was indignant on Lanqin's behalf, finally told them most of what had happened.

As Anjia listened, she grew increasingly alarmed, and almost burst into tears. She knew that her daughter would be tormented by the principal wife after entering the Fourth Prince's residence, but she never imagined the torment would be so severe. As the principal wife herself, she naturally couldn't bear to see a concubine being favored, but now that her own daughter had become someone else's concubine, her heart ached terribly.

Seeing that Lanqin had almost finished eating, Anjia lovingly picked up her handkerchief and personally wiped Lanqin's mouth. After all, she was only sixteen years old and still a child.

Lanqin was happy to accept Anjia's doting on her like a child, and said coquettishly, "Mother is the best."

Upon hearing this, tears involuntarily streamed down Anjia's face. She thought to herself, "My daughter has been wronged. No one spoke up for her in the Fourth Prince's residence, but she has finally spoken up for herself here with her mother."

Lanqin watched in surprise as Anjia shed tears, thinking, "I only said something coquettish, how did it make her cry?" She glanced at Nianxue and Xicha, noticing the two maids with their heads bowed, and guessed what had happened. Actually, she didn't want to complain to Anjia. Firstly, Anjia was inherently weak-willed; if she told them, she'd only need to be comforted, so it was better to remain silent. Secondly, telling them about her grievances would be pointless; they couldn't help in any way. They were all servants; would they really stand up for their daughter?

"Mother, what's wrong? It's the New Year, and I was planning to take the two little ones to set off fireworks and firecrackers later." Lanqin had already made preparations in the south courtyard, but after what happened to the Third Prince, she lost all interest in playing. Now that she was finally back home, she wanted to have a good time.

"Silly girl, what else is your mother hiding? Just tell me everything." Seeing that Lanqin was unwilling to speak, Anjia thought that she was afraid of worrying them and that she was unwilling to easily reveal her thoughts in front of others.

"Mother, I really didn't say anything. Nianxue, what exactly did you two say to Mother?" Lanqin asked the two maids with displeasure.