Fourth Master entered the South Courtyard with a dark face, and everyone in the courtyard could feel the oppressive atmosphere emanating from him.

"Where is the concubine?" the Fourth Prince asked with a stern face.

None of the maids in the room had ever seen the Fourth Master so gentle, and they were so frightened that they didn't know what to do.

"Master is tired and is resting in the inner room," Nianxue quickly bowed.

"Your mistress is pregnant, and you've all kept it a secret from her. How have you been serving her?" the Fourth Master roared. The young woman was asleep, and he couldn't bear to wake her, so he took his anger out on these maids.

The maids dared not say anything, because Lanqin had forbidden them from revealing it.

"This is outrageous! Go to the head nanny's place later to get your punishment." Fourth Master was clearly unhappy; that little woman was pregnant and hadn't even told him in time.

"What's wrong, Master? What upset you that you're taking it out on my maids?" Lanqin walked to the door, her hair still uncombed.

Fourth Master looked at Lanqin, who looked like she had just woken up and still had marks on her face. He took a deep breath and said very gently, "I'm not blaming them. I want them to remember that no matter what happens to you in the future, you must let me know immediately. Now that you are pregnant, you must not walk like this."

Fourth Master immediately noticed that Lanqin wasn't wearing "socks," clearly indicating that she had heard his scolding and had jumped out of bed.

Lanqin rolled her eyes at the Fourth Master, then turned around and said, "Please come in, Master. I'll explain things to you slowly. My maids don't need you to discipline them; I simply told them not to say anything."

Fourth Master obediently followed him inside, only to see Lanqin already at the bedside, kicking off her shoes and sitting there with a pout.

"You're pregnant, and you're still angry with me?" Fourth Master walked to the bedside, turned around, and sat down next to Lanqin.

"I'm not angry. I was sleeping soundly when you yelled outside, which kept me from getting a good night's sleep." Lanqin hadn't slept well, so she got angry, especially since the Fourth Prince was going to punish her maid.

She's so protective of her own. If the Fourth Master wants to punish her maid, Lanqin will absolutely not allow it. The maid was beaten by the Fourth Master as soon as she returned; what will people think if word gets out?

"Let me touch it? Is this the result from that time?" Fourth Master said meaningfully, reaching out to touch Lanqin's belly.

"Hmph!" Lanqin huffed and ignored Fourth Master.

"Don't be angry, you'll upset the baby in your belly," Fourth Master coaxed, gradually moving closer to Lanqin until he was completely in her arms.

"I'm hungry, please order a meal," Lanqin said, her stomach feeling empty.

When lunch was served, the Fourth Prince was a little stunned. It was so lavish, far too lavish.

Nianxue and Xicha set up a table, and the food almost filled the entire table.

"If I hadn't come, were you planning to eat all this by yourself?" Fourth Master asked, looking at the table piled high with food.

"Yes, I want to eat it. The little baby in my belly wants to eat it too," Lanqin said dismissively.

Fourth Master and Lanqin began their meal. As soon as Lanqin sat down, she began to devour the food like a whirlwind. In no time, a small mountain of small bones and fish bones that she spat out piled up in front of her.

Fourth Master was a bit stunned. Lanqin used to love eating this too, but he had never seen her eat it like this before.

"Why are you looking at me like that, Master?" Lanqin noticed the Fourth Master's surprised gaze and looked up at him apologetically.

“You’re eating too much. I’m worried you’ll gain too much weight and it will be difficult to give birth,” Fourth Master said.

"I won't gain much weight. If I were going to, I would have already. I've been eating like this for days, and I haven't gained any weight at all," Lanqin said, picking up another piece of squirrel-shaped glutinous rice fish.

"This time it's a boy, isn't it? He can eat so much!" Fourth Master said.

"Isn't there a saying among the people that sour foods mean boys and spicy foods mean girls? I seem to particularly like sour foods," Lanqin said.

"Prepare more sour plums, but you still need to control your appetite. Watching you eat like this, I feel you're overdoing it," Fourth Master said.

"Are you worried that I'll eat you out of house and home, Master?" Lanqin teased playfully.

"I'm worried about your health. You're so heartless," Fourth Master said, scooping up a spoonful of soup.

Lanqin smiled at Fourth Master and continued to enjoy the food in front of her.

Just then, Si Hua said at the door, "Your Highness, Consort, the maid of Consort Nian has arrived. She says that Consort Nian wishes to visit you."

Upon hearing this, Lanqin thought to herself: "Damn, they're so eager, are they here to challenge me?"

"The concubine is not feeling well and needs to rest. She should stay in her own room." The Fourth Prince did not wait for Lanqin's reply before speaking to Sihua.

Lanqin glanced at Fourth Master with satisfaction and nodded to Sihua.

"Aren't you afraid that these words will hurt my Princess Nian's feelings?" Lanqin said while chewing on the spicy chicken.

The Fourth Prince glared at Lanqin and said, "You are pregnant now, so you don't need to pay your respects to the Princess Consort or see anyone. Why don't you stay here and not go to the other courtyard?"

When Lanqin heard the Fourth Prince say this, she immediately waved her hand and said, "No, I've gotten used to the freedom at the villa. I'll have to go back after the eldest princess gets married."

Seeing this, the Fourth Prince pondered for a moment and then said, "That's fine. It'll be quiet for you over there. It's just that I've been too busy to spend time with you lately."

Lanqin knew that the Fourth Prince was telling the truth. Although she felt a little uncomfortable, she still said, "I know that Your Highness needs to raise funds for Father Emperor. I will take good care of myself in the other courtyard. You should go and do your work."

The Fourth Prince felt a little guilty, thinking that Lanqin was pregnant at this time and he couldn't be with her often. If he left her in the manor, he was afraid that some resentful people might have some ideas and do those insidious things, which would be impossible to prevent.

Meanwhile, Bai Zhi, who was standing outside the courtyard, was stunned when she heard Si Hua's recovery.

"Did the master say this?" she said in disbelief.

“Yes, that’s exactly what Master said. Does Miss Baizhi want to go in and ask her herself?” Si Hua asked in return when she heard her say that.

"No need, Bai Zhi will take her leave." Bai Zhi hurriedly turned and left.

When she returned to Lady Nian's courtyard, Lady Nian was having her meal. She didn't seem happy, because although the Fourth Prince had finally returned, it seemed he hadn't dined with her even once. What frustrated her even more was that Lady Yehe, who was supposedly under house arrest, seemed to be subtly gaining favor with her.

"What did the concubine say?" Lady Nian noticed that Bai Zhi had returned, but seemed hesitant to report to her, so she asked somewhat impatiently.