After writing on two sheets of paper, Lanqin's hand started to ache slightly. She said in a sweet voice, "Master, take a break. My hand is sore."

The Fourth Master was engrossed in writing when the young woman complained that her hand was sore. He released her hand and said, "Go sit down and rest for a while. I'll write by myself." Hearing this, Lanqin felt as if she had been granted a pardon and stuck out her tongue before stepping out of the Fourth Master's grasp.

Fourth Master lifted the paper that Lanqin had used to teach Lanqin and began writing again.

Lanqin sat on the soft couch behind the Fourth Prince, rubbing her wrist as she looked at his back. She had to admit, even his back was quite handsome. At only twenty-eight, he already exuded the aura of a mature man and the steadfastness and composure of someone in power. He was truly a charming man, wasn't he? Did Lady Nian genuinely love the Fourth Prince? Many later TV dramas portrayed Lady Nian as truly in love with the Fourth Prince, but the Fourth Prince, out of fear of Nian Gengyao, had no choice but to "favor" her, even going so far as to bestow upon her some kind of "Joyful Fragrance" to prevent her from bearing children.

"Instead of just standing there daydreaming, why don't you pour me a cup of tea?" Fourth Master said, still standing tall and straight, as he wrote.

Upon hearing this, Lanqin stood up, walked over to the teacup, rolled her eyes at the back of Fourth Master's head, and thought to herself: Does this person have eyes in the back of his head?

She brewed a cup of Lu'an Melon Seed Tea, which Fourth Master liked, and then brewed herself a cup of Jasmine Milk Tea. She then carried the two cups of tea to the desk and put them down.

"Come, recite this poem." Fourth Master put down his brush, stepped back a few paces, and gestured for Lanqin to stand over.

"Alone I sit in the secluded garden, the bamboo shadows slant as the curtains are drawn. I hear the rare sound of the water clock dripping, and the wild frogs croaking. The spring flows like jade, and the moon shines softly on the sand. In this tranquil and serene place, I pick up a book and wait to brew some tea."

"Master, why don't you let Dachun brew you some Kung Fu tea?" Lanqin suggested, seeing that the poem mentioned tea preparation.

"It's too late today, let's do it tomorrow." Fourth Master seemed still lost in the meaning of the poem. Hearing him say this, Lanqin thought to herself that he wouldn't be leaving tomorrow either.

"Your Highness, what are Father Emperor's arrangements? It's almost April." Lanqin sensed a hint of leisure in the Fourth Prince's poem, but she knew he was getting impatient.

"I don't know. Father Emperor only instructed the Ministry of Revenue to allocate labor and stockpile grain. There's been no movement from the Ministry of War yet. The replies from Geng Dezhong, Fan Zhongqi, and others didn't mention receiving any orders either," Fourth Prince said, frowning.

Lanqin knew that Geng Dezhong was Geng's father, and said, "Sister Geng must be happy to see her father."

When Fourth Master heard her say this suddenly, he was slightly puzzled and said, "Didn't you say that you wanted Geng Shi to meet her family? I only allowed her to enter the manor because I promised you."

Lanqin said coquettishly, "I only envy Sister Geng for having a father who can share your worries and troubles. My brothers and fathers are all civil officials and can't help you much."

When Fourth Master saw that the young woman was doing this, he embraced her and said, "You are an irreplaceable advantage. I have enough with you."

Lanqin nestled her head shyly against the Fourth Prince's chest. Though reluctant to speak, she had to say, "I know you are a man destined for great things, and you will not be my husband alone. I only wish that when you are by my side, you will think only of me. Is that alright?"

Fourth Master's body trembled slightly as he put his arm around Lanqin's waist and said, "Wasn't what I said just now enough? Right now, you're the only one in my heart, understand?"

Lanqin stopped talking and said, "Master, would you teach Qin'er to paint again? Qin'er is willing to become a woman with both talent and beauty for you."

The Fourth Prince's heart softened, and he whispered in Lanqin's ear, "You can just be your Niohuru Lanqin. I don't want a woman with both exceptional talent and skill. You clearly understand what I mean, so why do you insist?"

When Lanqin heard what the Fourth Master said, all the doubts and hesitations in her heart became as clear as the first snow after a storm. Looking at the white Xuan paper, she suddenly had a brilliant idea: "Painting and calligraphy are not skills that can be acquired in a day, but I have the ability to become a woman with both talents."

When Fourth Master saw her make such a bold claim, he couldn't help but ask with suspicion, "Oh, what method?"

Lanqin smiled mysteriously and said to the Fourth Master, "Please release me first, and I will show you."

Seeing that she was speaking seriously, Fourth Master released Lanqin's waist and stepped aside.

Lanqin first unrolled the paper written by the Fourth Master, rolled it into a tube, and inserted it into the white glazed porcelain scroll that was specially made for the house. Then she took out all the Xuan paper that was laid out in the stack, leaving only one sheet.

After doing all this, Lanqin picked up the inkstone and suddenly splashed it onto the paper. The ink spread like water across the Xuan paper.

Fourth Master hadn't expected her to act this way, but he only frowned slightly and didn't stop her, just watching what Lanqin would do next.

Seeing that Fourth Master did not ask any questions, Lanqin knew that he was watching to see what she would do next. She smiled and took a brush from the wolf-hair brush holder, dipped it in the inkstone, and then began to draw on the ink-stained paper.

When Lin Mengyao was pursuing her doctorate in history, she did learn a little about traditional Chinese painting, but compared to the ancient masters like Fourth Master who excelled in everything, her skills were just rudimentary.

At this moment, she was preparing to create a traditional Chinese ink painting for the Fourth Master on the spot, a lesson she had specially learned in her extracurricular classes. This kind of painting was actually for enthusiasts like them who wanted to learn to paint but didn't have much talent.

Lanqin slowly traced the splattered ink marks. Seeing how seriously she was drawing, Fourth Master patiently watched her work, and after she had sketched out a little bit of the meaning, he understood Lanqin's "intentions".

As the plum blossom painting gradually took shape, Fourth Master smiled, thinking to himself: This little woman always surprises me; she's truly a unique woman. Even if Lady Nian is a beauty of unparalleled grace, it's just her looks; she'll grow old one day. Lady Yehe is skilled in the zither, but that's only because she's been trained for over a decade since childhood. Only this little woman seems to possess an elusive wisdom that fascinates, yet remains unfathomable.

As Fourth Master watched Lanqin's entranced expression, our Comrade Lanqin had already drawn a nearly complete picture of a bunch of winter plum blossoms. Her rudimentary skills in traditional Chinese painting were more than enough to depict some branches and plum blossoms. To be honest, the painting she described was nothing special, but her painting technique was quite novel, and Fourth Master couldn't help but pick up a brush and help Lanqin with the sketching.

Lanqin watched as the plum tree in the painting became much more vivid with just a few strokes of the Fourth Prince's brush. She couldn't help but sigh: These princes are all accomplished in both literature and martial arts. Emperor Kangxi really knows how to raise his sons. How come they are all so outstanding?