Nianxue stood beside Lanqin, sweating profusely, but in front of so many masters, she, a mere maid, had no right to speak. Unless Lanqin called out, she could only stand motionless outside the pavilion like a wooden stake.

"What's wrong with you, Princess? You're saying you can eat such disgusting things? When did Master have any relatives in the countryside? I don't remember at all." Nianxue stood there blankly, anxiously.

Upon hearing this, Su Peisheng thought to himself: "This little princess has been to Shandong? I did see people eating these things when I was a child. It was during famine years when there was no harvest, and people were so hungry that they would dig for wild vegetables and catch insects and rodents to fill their stomachs. Sometimes, when they couldn't find anything else to eat, they would resort to eating..."

At this moment, the lively atmosphere inside the octagonal pavilion suddenly vanished, replaced by a profound silence. Lanqin thought that her earlier mention of "protein" had probably made everyone burp, but she couldn't think of a way to justify it.

Fortunately, it seemed that everyone's attention was drawn to the tragic "story" she was telling.

At this moment, the kind-hearted Eighth Prince slowly said, "In the twenty-seventh year of Kangxi's reign, the Yellow River breached its banks, causing great disasters in Shandong and Henan. In an instant, cries of sorrow filled the land, and famine was rampant."

"It is said that in some places people have started digging out insects and catching rats, digging up roots and chewing on bark, and some even eat clay, and even exchange children to eat each other," the Fourth Prince added.

At this moment, Su Peisheng put the cicadas he had caught into a basket and went outside the pavilion to ask for instructions: "Master, what should we do with these cicadas?" He understood that although Consort Niu was favored, the real master was still the Fourth Prince. If the Fourth Prince did not give the order, he would not dare to follow Consort Niu and act unruly again.

"Go and give it to Niu Baoquan." Fourth Master picked up a handkerchief to wipe his mouth and said to the two princes, "You two go back and rest for a while. Tonight, Father will come to see you and will test your recent studies."

After the servants helped the two young princes wash their mouths and hands, they reluctantly withdrew.

As observant as the Eighth Master was, he immediately took a handkerchief to wipe his mouth and hands, then stood up, cupped his hands to the Fourth Master, and said, "I have troubled you for too long, Fourth Brother. I should go back and visit you."

When the Eighth Prince was about to leave, the Ninth and Tenth Princes also rose to take their leave. Only the Fourteenth Prince remained somewhat dazed.

He couldn't understand how the atmosphere, which had been so pleasant, had so quickly turned sour. It was all Niu's fault; of all things that could have been said, she had to bring up the matter of eating cicadas. He had originally planned to stay on the estate for a few more days, but the thought of Wanyan and Chen in the prince's quarters gave him a headache.

"Fourteenth Prince, you should go back with Eighth Prince and the others first, and go and inquire after Mother's well-being for me." Seeing that Fourteenth Prince did not speak, Fourth Prince directly gave him the order to leave.

And so, the servants helped everyone disperse, and then everyone went back to their own homes and to their own mothers.

As soon as Lanqin returned to her room, she ran straight to the inner room. She was already exhausted and wanted to sleep. If it weren't for those few princes, she would have already asked the Fourth Prince for leave. But Nianxue insisted on helping her change her clothes and take off her hair before letting her get into bed.

Meanwhile, after the princes had all gone to the Fourth Prince's room to resign once more, they all left. The Fourth Prince then strolled to his study, picked up Dai Zhuzhe's letter, and began to read it again. One matter in particular had been on his mind for days, yet he still couldn't figure it out. Today, Lanqin's story, however, suddenly enlightened him, and a bold conjecture formed in his mind.

"The Emperor is raising money!" This thought suddenly popped into the Fourth Prince's mind. He knew that in recent years, the national treasury had been empty, with a large amount of money spent on suppressing the Galdan rebellion. As the saying goes, "One war can impoverish you for three years." Kangxi had personally led several campaigns against Galdan, toured the northern frontier, and pacified the various Mongol tribes. The money spent on these campaigns had flowed away like water, seemingly without leaving a trace, but it had truly depleted the national treasury.

In his letter, Dai Zhuzhe mentioned the following: Liang Zichen had come to resign. Liang Zichen was a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) born in the 22nd year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, a Han Chinese, and currently held the official position of a fourth-rank official, a Vice-Minister of the Imperial Secretariat. He had some private acquaintance with the Fourth Prince, and they had recently dined together. During the meal, Liang Zichen had vaguely hinted that the Emperor intended to re-examine the arable land across the country. Perhaps he simply let it slip, or perhaps it was unintentional, but for the Fourth Prince, a scholar with a photographic memory, every word he uttered was etched into his mind.

"Su Peisheng!" Fourth Master called out without looking up.

Standing outside the door, Su Peisheng hurriedly walked to the study door, bowed, and replied, "Master, this servant is here!"

"Go immediately and tell Princess Niu and Princess Yin to pack their things and return to the manor first thing tomorrow morning," said the Fourth Prince.

...

Lanqin slept until dusk. She sat up abruptly and found the maids tidying up.

"Nianxue, what are you doing?" Lanqin felt a sense of loss as her vacation came to an end. She felt like she didn't want to go back. If only she could stay here with the Fourth Prince forever! She wouldn't have to pay her respects to the First Princess, or deal with those sisters and cousins. She could freely go out and play every day, and come back to sleep when she was tired. When she woke up, she could order food. This was exactly what Lin Mengyao had strived for and studied hard for more than twenty years.

"Princess, the master has sent word that we will be setting off back to the manor tomorrow," Nianxue replied.

Oh no! Lanqin grabbed the blanket with both hands and slammed her head on it, feeling a sense of helpless powerlessness.

Nianxue thought Lanqin was unwell, so she immediately threw the clothes she was holding to Xicha and ran to the bedside, asking anxiously, "Princess, what's wrong? Are you alright?"

Lanqin was filled with tears welling up inside... Why are there always so few happy days!

This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!