Just before it got dark, Granny Tian finally saw Lanqin and Rulu. If they hadn't come soon, Granny Tian would have panicked. This princess had only been visiting her parents' home for one day and had already disappeared without a trace. She, as the wet nurse, would have been out of a job.
"Princess, you scared this old servant to death! It's almost dark, let's hurry back to the manor." As soon as Granny Tian saw Lanqin, she rushed over and grabbed her hand, then pulled her towards the sedan chair bearers. Granny Tian had raised Lanqin from a baby until her marriage, and her affection for Lanqin was no less than that for Lady Anjia.
Upon returning to the manor, Ru Lu was summoned away by Lady Anjia, and Granny Tian then called another maid to serve Lan Qin as she washed up. Recalling what the Eighth Prince had said, Lan Qin felt that the Fourteenth Prince was truly a spoiled brat, arbitrarily assigning tasks to others based on his own mood, which was really quite annoying.
She only had three days in total, and on this day, she was completely stunned by the "unexpected" event brought by the Eighth Master. But what she didn't expect was that something was yet to come.
Just as Granny Tian was about to put down the Ruyi knot, Anjia, supported by Rulu, walked into Lanqin's room.
"Qin'er, are you asleep?" Madam Anjia asked as she saw Granny Tian coming out of Lanqin's old bedroom.
"I just lay down, Madam," Granny Tian replied respectfully, bowing her head.
"Go, wake the princess. I have something to tell her." Madam Anjia moved to the main seat in the hall and sat down.
"Yes." Granny Tian suppressed her suspicions. Although she didn't understand why Anjia had come so late, she didn't dare to ask. She turned around and went into the bedroom, walking to the pink bridal canopy.
Before she could speak, Lanqin had already sat up and used her delicate, boneless, fair hands to part the gauze curtains. With Granny Tian's help, Lanqin walked out of the bedroom wearing only a thin, gauze-like cloak.
"Mother, it's so late, why aren't you resting yet?" With the help of Granny Tian, Lanqin sat down on the sandalwood chair next to Anjia.
"Qin'er, your mother won't beat around the bush with you anymore. Rulu has already told your mother and your father about what happened to you today," said Anjia.
Lanqin glanced at Rulu, only to see that Rulu had lowered her head so much that her face was no longer visible.
"Mother, Qin'er met the Eighth Prince at the Study today, and he invited me to dinner. Is that what you're asking, Mother?" Lanqin answered truthfully. Although she was displeased with Rulu's behavior, she couldn't scold her too much, after all, she obeyed Lingzhu and Anjia.
"Qin'er, as the daughter of the Fourth Prince, you really shouldn't get too close to the other princes in private. If someone with ulterior motives sees this, who knows how they'll spread rumors and gossip," said Lady Anjia.
"Mother, I've only met the Eighth Prince a few times at the estate. Today's encounter was purely by chance, and there's no way we've gotten close." Lanqin felt relieved. What had happened? It turned out that Anjia was afraid that people would see her meeting with the Eighth Prince and gossip about it.
“If it weren’t close, why would the Eighth Prince have recommended you to the palace to celebrate Consort De’s birthday?” Anjia said, staring at Lanqin.
"Oh my god, this Rulu, why does she say everything?!" Lanqin glared fiercely at Rulu, who had long since stopped daring to look at her.
"Mother, you and Father, don't listen to Rulu's nonsense. I'm not familiar with the Eighth Prince at all, and it wasn't him who wanted to introduce me to Consort De's birthday celebration, but the Fourteenth Prince." Lanqin cursed the Fourteenth Prince again in her heart: What a crazy guy.
"You're also familiar with the Fourteenth Prince?" Lady Anjia asked incredulously. How could her once obedient and virtuous daughter have become so troublesome after marrying into the Fourth Prince's household?
When Lanqin saw that Anjia looked like she had misunderstood, she felt like a thousand grass mud horses were galloping through her heart, but she still had to put on a patient expression and said, "Mother, as the Fourth Prince's princess, I know how to do things properly, so you don't need to worry too much."
Upon hearing this, Lady Anjia was taken aback. After a pause, she spoke again, "Qin'er, since the Fourteenth Prince is so kind, your mother and father think you should go. It would be a great honor to meet Consort De."
This is clearly a way for her to curry favor with the Fourth Prince's mother, purely to gain his favor! But is this really a good idea?
"Mother, whether I can go to the palace to celebrate Consort De's birthday is not up to the Fourteenth Prince, but also to the Fourth Prince. Qin'er understands what you mean, and this matter cannot be rushed." Lanqin understood that Anjia was moved by Lingzhu's words about seeking a place for Zhengming in the Imperial Academy, which is why she was also forcing her to go and gain favor with them for what they considered an honor.
Unlike Lingzhu, Anjia took Lanqin's hand and said with tears in her eyes, "Qin'er, I know this is difficult for you, but you only have one brother. If his position in this household is unstable, then my position will also be unstable."
"Mother, Qin'er understands. You don't need to worry. If a suitable opportunity arises, Qin'er will speak to Fourth Master and try to secure a future for my brother," Lanqin said insincerely. Seeing Anjia's appearance, she felt for the first time the pressure of her family that a noblewoman in ancient times had to bear. This feeling was unpleasant, yet it seemed inescapable.
After seeing Anjia off, Lanqin lay down again, but couldn't fall asleep. She had thought that returning for a three-day stay was her way of escaping the cage of the Fourth Prince's mansion, but little did she know that she had entered another cage.
Suddenly, Lanqin thought of her parents from the 21st century. Although they had always resented her refusal to have a boyfriend, they had never felt this kind of pressure. She thought that she had traveled to this era where there was no worry about food and drink, and that she would no longer have to struggle for a living or worry about her age. But she never expected that she would now have to worry about the honor of her family.
However, Lanqin felt that the Fourth Prince was not like Lingzhu. He would only do what he believed was right, and he would never try to secure a place for Zhengming in the Imperial Academy just because she was favored and said a few words to him. Wasn't the Haha Pearl that the Fujin had asked for for Honghui a perfect example? Although Lanqin didn't want to inquire about what was happening in the mansion, some things had unwittingly reached her ears.
"Alright, since I've decided not to say anything, I'd better not touch that landmine!" Lanqin muttered to herself.
Since Anjia and Lingzhu wouldn't be able to see her after she returned this time, they naturally couldn't urge her to tell them whether she wanted to or not.
With this in mind, Lanqin finally felt relieved from her unease and anxiety, and decided to put the matter aside for the time being. There was another, more troublesome matter waiting to be resolved.
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