It must be said that the Fourth Prince and the Thirteenth Prince cooperated very closely. They worked together and helped each other, and had already hunted three wild rabbits, two robes, and even carried a sika deer.

Now, the two were following the wild boars' tracks. Lanqin and Xiuzhu followed behind, but Fourth Master wouldn't let them get too close, fearing that the wild animals might suddenly appear and hurt them.

"Reporting to Consort Lanqin, His Majesty said that we will rest at that spot up ahead. He also asked if you are hungry, so that someone can serve you a meal first." A servant who had returned from the Fourth Prince's quarters rode up to Lanqin and reported.

"Go tell Master and Thirteenth Master that if they can't find it, they shouldn't search anymore. Wild boars are ferocious and could easily injure people," Lanqin instructed.

The servant obeyed and left. Lanqin raised her hand and looked at the towering forest. Judging from the position of the sun, it should be past noon.

"Let's go over there first and prepare lunch. It will be ready for Fourth Master and Thirteenth Master to eat when they return," Lanqin said to Xiuzhu.

"Well, after watching a few hunts, this is nothing special. My back aches after riding all morning." Chen Xiuzhu was eager to find a place to dismount and rest.

Lanqin glanced at her, said nothing more, and rode off with the messenger. Chen Xiuzhu then spurred her horse and followed Lanqin. Several servants, who were specifically responsible for carrying pots, pans, and stoves, followed behind them, their provisions also carried in the bundles on their backs.

Lanqin and Chen Xiuzhu ran to a place designated by the Fourth Master, stopped, tied their horses to a tree trunk, and then let the servants start to build a fire and stove.

Lanqin instructed the servant to first set up a stove and cook a pot of soup. She took out a few pieces of the sauce packet similar to Master Kong's sauce that she had instructed Master Niu to make, and then cut the dried meat, bean products, potatoes, lettuce and other portable vegetables that she had brought with her into the pot.

Chen Xiuzhu was incredulous to see Lanqin talking to the servant in charge of cooking about how to stew the ingredients in the pot. At home, she never spoke to the maids and servants in the kitchen, nor did she ever cook herself. Although Xiao Anjia had taught her that as a woman, she should also learn to cook and sew, even if she didn't do it herself, she was still responsible for managing household affairs. If she didn't know anything, she would easily be kept in the dark and deceived by the servants.

At this moment, seeing Lanqin personally discussing the food with the servants in charge of meals, she felt that Lanqin was disgracing her status.

When Fourth Master and Thirteen arrived, the meat broth in the pot was already bubbling and simmering, filling the air with a fragrant aroma. Even Chen Xiuzhu couldn't help but stare at the food in the pot.

"Wild boars are really cunning. Let me eat and drink my fill before I go and hunt them." After dismounting, Fourth Master walked over to Lanqin and asked.

"Master, go and let me get some water to wash your hands. We can eat those steamed buns and drink the beef soup later." Lanqin pushed the Fourth Master to wash his hands.

"Little sister-in-law, I'm going to wash my hands with Fourth Brother too. This soup smells so good it makes my mouth water," Thirteen said with a grin.

"Cousin, let me help you." Seeing that Fourth Master and Thirteenth Master seemed to really enjoy the soup, and feeling bored standing to the side, Chen Xiuzhu leaned closer and said.

Lanqin glanced at her and saw that she had looked very disgusted just now, refusing to even come up and take a look. But now that the soup was ready, she came up to help. She was really good at currying favor, and Lanqin immediately felt a little displeased.

"No need, this soup is very hot. Be careful not to splash it on your arm, or you'll get blisters," Lanqin said deliberately.

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Chen Xiuzhu immediately took a step back, her face flushed with embarrassment, and said, "Then cousin, please step back a bit and let them finish. Cousin, you are a concubine, don't burn yourself."

Lanqin smiled faintly and said, "Go over there and get some dry rations. Master and Thirteenth Master will need them later."

Chen Xiuzhu quickly agreed, and Lanqin, with the help of servants, personally served two bowls to the Fourth Master and the Thirteenth Master using iron bowls.

After washing their hands, Fourth Master and Thirteenth Master came to Lanqin's side and each took a bowl. Xiuzhu brought the dry rations over and saw that Fourth Master and Thirteenth Master were already sitting beside Lanqin drinking soup. She spread out the bundle and said sweetly, "Fourth Master, Thirteenth Master, we probably hunted the most game. This is Xiuzhu's first time participating in such a hunt, it was truly thrilling."

Fourth Master never paid attention to anyone else; he was just whispering with Lanqin about the wild boar hunt, and had no intention of responding to Chen Xiuzhu's words.

Seeing that Fourth Master didn't respond and that Xiuzhu looked embarrassed, Thirteenth Master interjected, "Not necessarily. Eighth and Ninth Masters are definitely not bad either. Tenth Master is the most formidable."

When Chen Xiuzhu saw that Thirteen had picked up on her words, her expression softened slightly. She smiled and said, "Thirteenth Master's archery skills are truly accurate. When you shot at that sika deer just now, I was so frightened that I screamed."

Thirteen said dismissively, "My archery skills are still not as good as Fourth Brother's. Fourth Brother, where's the gift for your sister-in-law? Why haven't you brought it out yet?"

Upon hearing this, Lanqin was slightly surprised and said, "You brought me a gift, Master?"

Fourth Master glared at Thirteen and said, "You can't keep a secret, kid." Then he said to Lanqin, "I caught you a pretty little bird. It's in the bundle behind Muxue's bottom."

Lanqin couldn't sit still any longer and immediately went to see what was going on. So she put down the iron bowl in her hand and headed out.

When Fourth Master saw that she wanted to see it, he put down the food in his hand, stood up, and went with Lanqin to see Fourth Master's gift.

Chen Xiuzhu wanted to go and see, but she saw Thirteen give her a look that stopped her. Chen Xiuzhu was taken aback, then understood, and stopped standing up.

"This girl, how come she's so dim-witted?" Thirteen suddenly thought to himself.

"Thirteenth Prince, my cousin and Fourth Prince have such a good relationship!" Chen Xiuzhu said admiringly. She could also see that the Fourth Prince's care and concern for Lanqin along the way was too good for her, and she felt increasingly jealous of Lanqin.

Sigh, Xiao Anjia often talked to Chen Xiuzhu about her cousin at home, implying that she hoped Chen Xiuzhu could also receive the same favor as Lanqin and bring glory and wealth to her mother and father. Chen Xiuzhu was proud by nature, and this comparison brought out her competitive spirit.

"Fourth Brother has met someone he truly loves. And his wife is such a bright and intelligent woman, I'm truly envious," Thirteen said casually. He assumed that this Cousin Chen was Lanqin's cousin, and since Lanqin had brought her here, their relationship must be good.