"The Fourteenth Princess Consort is quite pitiful. The Fourteenth Prince went all the way to the northern desert, leaving her here alone to listen to Consort De's complaints." Xin Yi and Lan Qin leaned against the warm couch, their maids tucking them in behind.
"She doesn't understand her own status. She used to be a princess, but now that she's married to the Fourteenth Prince, she's a prince's wife, yet she still acts like a princess. The Fourteenth Prince, on the other hand, is like a child. It's no wonder they always fight," Lanqin said. The thought of the Fourteenth Prince having a slight crush on her sent a chill down Lanqin's spine. Luckily, she had nipped his feelings in the bud; otherwise, would a heart-wrenching love triangle have truly unfolded?
Xin Yi nodded and then said, "Third Sister, did you know that the Crown Prince could be deposed? I wonder who Father will appoint as the new Crown Prince?"
Lanqin quickly put her index finger to her lips, making a shushing gesture, and whispered, "Xinyi, this is the palace. Walls have ears. You can't discuss politics casually, otherwise someone will hear you and use it against you."
Seeing Lanqin's caution, Xinyi didn't press the matter further, and the two sisters simply chatted about the Niohuru family.
Xin Yi had hoped to find out from Lan Qin whether the Fourth Prince intended to compete for the crown prince position. Since the Seventh Prince had no chance, she hoped that if the Fourth Prince were to become the next crown prince, her future would be brighter. Lan Qin, unwilling to elaborate, knew that at this time, Emperor Kangxi was most wary of anyone coveting the crown prince position. Therefore, she advised the Fourth Prince not to compete in front of Emperor Kangxi.
The two chatted for a while about the Niohuru clan. Of the three girls, one became the concubine of the Fourth Prince, one became the concubine of the Seventh Prince, and the other died young.
After the two women rested in the room for a while, the palace maid sent by Consort De came to call them for lunch. They were going to attend a banquet similar to a "state banquet" in the palace that evening, so Consort De ordered that this meal be kept simple. It would just be a small group of them eating together. The younger children couldn't handle the fuss and didn't need to go out; their wet nurses could take care of them in the room.
Lanqin sat down next to Consort De, in a position that was originally reserved for the primary consort. Consort De didn't mention the fourth consort at all, as if she didn't exist.
"Your Majesty, this Four Happiness Meatballs is quite delicious, would you like to try some?" Consort Cheng asked.
Consort De then gestured to a palace maid beside her to pick one up. Lanqin was not comfortable at all; having to be served by a palace maid every time she ate a bite made eating a real chore.
"You two should go visit Consort Hui and Consort Rong later," Consort De said to Lanqin and Lady Wanyan.
Lanqin knew. This was how the concubines visited each other's homes. Those with daughters-in-law would naturally send their daughters-in-law to pay New Year's greetings.
After the meal, Consort De sent Lanqin and Lady Wanyan out to pay New Year's visits, and Consort Cheng also sent Xinyi along.
The three of them first went to the nearby Rongfei Palace. When Lanqin and the others entered, the Third Prince's wife and the Fifth Prince's wife were both there, as well as the Third Prince's concubines, Lady Tian and Lady Guarjia, and the Fifth Prince's concubines, Lady Dai and Lady Fucha.
"Fourteenth Princess Consort, Consort Rong is unfortunately resting. We, the Third Princess Consort, would like to invite you in," a palace maid said to the three women who had come to pay their New Year's respects.
Lanqin and the other two followed the palace maids inside and arrived at a side hall next to the main hall.
The Third and Fifth Princess Consorts were sitting inside drinking tea when they saw Lanqin and the other two enter. They said, "Oh, my cousin's concubine has arrived."
Lanqin knew that the Third Princess Consort would not let her off the hook at this time, so she pretended not to understand and followed Wanyan Shi inside to pay her respects before coming out to talk to the Third Princess Consort and the others.
"Fourteenth Prince's wife, Fourteenth Prince is really something, leaving such a delicate wife in the mansion and just leaving like that. Sister, you've been wronged!" Third Prince's wife said to Wanyan.
Wanyan knew that she had become the laughingstock among her sisters-in-law.
"I'm proud that you can share my father's burdens, unlike some people who just drink and chat with their concubines all day long!" Wanyan retorted, unwilling to be outdone.
Lanqin smiled silently to herself, not expecting that Wanyan, despite her young age, had such a strong personality.
The Third Prince's wife has indeed fallen out of favor with him, spending her days vying for attention with the concubines or other women in the mansion. Meanwhile, the Third Prince clearly prefers to drink and chat with his concubines in their quarters!
"You!" The Third Princess Consort's face changed color with anger!
"This must be Consort Niohuru, come over here!" said Madam Tian. She was the Third Prince's Consort, so Madam Wanyan didn't speak to her. Lanqin and Xinyi were also Consorts, so naturally they could only speak to the Consorts.
"I heard that your Fourth Master only dotes on you?" Madam Tian whispered to Lanqin.
Lanqin's heart skipped a beat. She knew that this Tian had given birth to several sons with the Third Master and was the Third Prince's mortal enemy.
"Who told you that? Don't wrong me! Everyone knows that Consort Tian is the Third Prince's only favorite!" Lanqin laughed. Although the Third Prince's wife disliked her, she couldn't form an alliance with Consort Tian, after all, they were family!
"Your skin is so good, how do you take care of it?" Seeing that Lanqin wasn't buying it, Madam Tian changed her approach.
"I use eggs and honey to apply to my face every day!" Lanqin wasn't stingy at all; there was no harm in sharing this beauty and skincare method! Anyway, when these wealthy ladies got together, they would only talk about clothes, fabrics, jewelry, or food.
"Is it really that simple?" Tian asked, seemingly unconvinced.
"And also, keep a happy mood. If you're worried and anxious all the time, your skin won't be good!" Lanqin said.
Xinyi, Guarjia, Dai, and Magia were also chatting about their respective clothing fabrics and jewelry.
Seeing that she couldn't gain any advantage from chatting with Wanyan, the Third Princess Consort went to talk to Lanqin instead.
Just then, the Eighth Prince's wife and the Ninth Prince's wife also came to pay their respects to Consort Rong for the New Year. Upon seeing them, Lanqin thought to herself: What an unlucky start to the year! Why are they all here?!
"Third Sister-in-law!" Eighth Prince's wife walked over and said.
"Eighth sister-in-law, you've come too!" The Third Princess immediately left Lanqin and the others to greet them.
Lanqin gave Xinyi a few winks, signaling her to leave quickly. So they went to Wanyan's side, intending to say goodbye to her!
However, when Wanyan saw that the Eighth Prince's wife had arrived, she ignored Lanqin and went to talk to the Eighth Prince's wife!
Looking at the Eighth Prince's wife from afar, she was indeed a beauty, with outstanding looks and refined demeanor. However, Lanqin didn't particularly like her.
"Where is Fourth Brother's wife?" Although Eighth Prince's wife was talking to Wanyan, her eyes were sweeping towards Lanqin.
“My fourth sister-in-law is ill, so it’s the concubine who has come!” said Lady Wanyan.
"Is it said that Fourth Brother dotes on Consort Niu?" Eighth Prince Consort asked.
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