Cui Niang and Nian Xue had already sent Si Hua and Lan Qin to the small kitchen to order hot water to be boiled. They had long known that when the Fourth Master came, he would actually dote on his master.
Fourth Master instructed Cui Niang to take good care of Lanqin during her bath, while he went to Second Princess's place, only after Lanqin reminded him.
Lanyue Institute.
The Second Princess had already had her hands and face washed by her personal maid, Jiu Er, and was now preparing to wash her feet. She sat there while Jiu Er and Dan Feng served her, but her mind was preoccupied with other matters. Two more maids and a rough-working old woman had been assigned from the head nanny, but the Second Princess felt uneasy about sending them back and was wondering what excuse she could use.
"If a concubine only uses four maids, wouldn't it be inappropriate for me to use four as well?" the Second Princess said.
"But the princess used to have four maids, so why have they been reduced here?" Danfeng said dismissively.
“But the concubine is frugal. When I went to pay my respects today, she said she never lets maids serve her meals. If I am too extravagant, she will definitely not like me,” the Second Princess said.
"Princess, don't overthink it. If the concubine doesn't want to use it, that's her own business," Danfeng said.
Just then, a greeting sounded from outside the house. The Second Princess listened carefully, a hint of joy appearing on her face. She quickly said, "It's Father! Quickly help me get ready."
The Fourth Master entered the Moonlit Pavilion. The room he had built was cleverly designed, with a main room of moderate size, two side rooms on the left and right, and several wing rooms, just right for the servants to live in.
The second princess's bedroom was arranged in the left side room next to the main house. Although the room was not big, it was in a superb location, with the pond right outside the window.
"Greetings to Father!" The Second Princess came out of the house to greet him, just in time to see the Fourth Master walking in.
"Hmm, this place looks quite nice. Are you getting used to it?" Fourth Master thought the place Lanqin had chosen for the Second Princess was quite good. Located by the water, with the main house surrounded by several smaller rooms and a covered walkway leading to the front rooms, it was indeed very suitable for a girl of the Second Princess's age.
“My daughter thinks it’s wonderful, and the concubine even gave her jewelry,” the second princess said obediently.
"Hmm. The concubine isn't that strict or rigid, so you can be more relaxed. When you have time, go and play with Ushihabechuk in the front. After all, they're sisters," the Fourth Prince instructed.
"Yes, daughter will certainly follow Father's teachings." The second princess curtsied and said.
Seeing that Elinzhu had some of the calmness and indifference of the primary wife, the Fourth Prince said, "The secondary wife is lively. Zhu'er, after she has recovered from her confinement, you can get closer to the secondary wife."
Seeing that the Fourth Prince was speaking seriously, the Second Princess nodded in agreement.
Well, since the Fourth Prince and the Second Princess were never particularly close before, they naturally couldn't be close at this moment either. They were just asking and answering questions, just like the Fourth Prince and Wuxiha were together.
After briefly inquiring about the Second Princess's literacy and needlework, the Fourth Prince left Lan Yue Office.
At this moment, Lanqin had already washed her hair and taken a bath, and was now letting Nianxue dry her hair.
"Cui Niang, did I look ugly when Fourth Master first came in?" Lanqin asked, still pouting.
"No, Mistress is so beautiful. After giving birth to the Fifth Princess, she's radiant. Her hair, though unwashed, is very black and not oily at all," Cui Niang said with a smile. She had thought Lanqin would be angry with the Fourth Prince because of the matter between the Fujin and Yehe Shi, but now she seemed completely unaffected, which truly impressed Cui Niang.
“My lady, I thought you and the master would have a falling out, but I didn’t expect you to have come to your senses. I was really worried for nothing.” Cui Niang stood aside and watched Nianxue tuck Lanqin’s hair back.
"What good will getting angry do? Does that mean all the women around me will disappear? I've already done that, what more could I ask for? As long as Ushiha and Bechuk are carefree and no one is trying to harm them, I'll be content. Besides, I'm not so kind as to let anyone take advantage of me," Lanqin said.
Cui Niang and Nian Xue nodded in relief; their mistress was indeed more open-minded than anyone else at times.
When Fourth Master returned, Lanqin was already sitting on the bed. Her hair was tied into a bun by Nianxue, and her face was lightly powdered, making her look much prettier.
"Are you done washing up?" Fourth Master walked into the room and saw Lanqin leaning against the bed, holding a book in her hands.
Nianxue and Cui Niang bowed to the Fourth Master, and then tacitly withdrew.
"Yes, it's all thanks to you, Master. Otherwise, they would never have been willing to bathe and wash my hair," Lanqin said.
"Since we are fortunate to have your help, then it is time to do something for you." Fourth Master walked to Lanqin's bedside and sat down.
Lanqin looked at Fourth Master in surprise, pouting as she asked, "What does Master want Lanqin to do?"
The Fourth Prince suddenly reached out and grabbed Lanqin's hand, which was outside the quilt, before saying, "Now that the Princess Consort is practically deposed, the inner quarters need someone to manage them. After much thought, I've decided that only you are suitable. How about it, will you manage this household for me?"
Lanqin never expected that this was what the Fourth Prince wanted to talk about. She suddenly felt a little uncertain and at a loss. She had been thinking of being a concubine who was content with the status quo, so why was she now going to be the Fourth Prince's cook?
Seeing Lanqin's bewildered expression, Fourth Master raised an eyebrow and said, "What, you don't want to?" This little woman, how many people have fought tooth and nail for this position, isn't it?
"I have absolutely no experience!" Lanqin blurted out.
“You can have the head nanny teach you slowly, and there’s also Cui Niang!” Fourth Master said.
"Although I am a concubine, I am not as senior as Sister Song and the others," Lanqin instinctively tried to shirk responsibility.
“It makes no sense that a mere concubine like you should have a princess managing the household,” the Fourth Prince retorted, not backing down an inch.
"But I'm naturally lazy and indolent, and I'm afraid I'll hold everyone back," Lanqin said, blinking her eyes. She didn't want to get up on time every day and listen to those head maids reporting to her one by one.
"You don't need to do anything. You just need to make a decision when something happens. There are people in charge of everything." Fourth Master continued to insist.
"Don't we have to get up early?" Lanqin sighed.
"No need, you can have them schedule their report for the afternoon," Fourth Master said with a smirk.
Sigh, no one else would beg a concubine and housekeeper like this anymore!
Lanqin's lips curled upwards, as if she were reluctantly saying, "Then I'll give it a try, but if I can't manage it well, you mustn't blame me."
"If you can't manage it, it's all my fault, it has nothing to do with the concubine," the Fourth Prince said shamelessly.
"That's more like it, deal!" Lanqin winked and smiled mischievously.
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