Fourth Master was caught off guard by Seventh Master's sudden remark and didn't respond immediately, creating an awkward atmosphere.
"Seventh Master has had too much to drink," Lanqin said quickly, giving Xinyi a wink.
"Seventh Master, you've had too much to drink. The Crown Prince is still alive, how can you say such things? If someone hears this, it's a grave offense!" Xin Yi quickly said.
Upon hearing this, Seventh Master immediately realized he had gone too far with his words and regretted it, saying self-deprecatingly, "I really drank too much, Fourth Brother, please don't take offense. I'll punish myself with three cups!"
After saying that, Seventh Master poured himself three cups. Just as he was drinking the third cup, Fourth Master grabbed his arm and said, "You stingy guy, you're just afraid I'll drink too much of your wine, aren't you?"
"No, Fourth Brother wants to drink? I'll drink with you tonight!" Seventh Master usually appears reserved and cautious, and it's rare to see him so unrestrained and willful.
Lanqin felt a pang of emotion and whispered to Xinyi, "Let the brothers drink. We need to prepare some hangover soup."
Xin Yi understood and whispered, "I've already asked the kitchen to prepare it. Why don't I go order some more dishes? Third Sister, could you give me some pointers? I wonder what Fourth Prince likes to eat?"
So, Fourth Master and Seventh Master began to toast each other, while Lanqin and Xinyi went to the kitchen to order food for them.
The cooking was already underway in the kitchen. Lanqin ordered several dishes according to Fourth Master's preferences; Xinyi also ordered a few for Seventh Master, and surprisingly, several of them were dishes that both brothers liked to eat.
When Lanqin and Xinyi came out of the kitchen, they saw that the moon was already high in the sky, which meant it was getting late.
"Third Sister, why don't you and Fourth Prince stay here? There are ready-made rooms, and the children are tired and have already been settled in to sleep," Xin Yi said.
"Alright, I don't mind. Let's see what Fourth Master thinks," Lanqin said.
“I think Fourth Prince always listens to Third Sister. If you just say he wants to stay, he definitely will,” Xin Yi said with a smile.
After Fourth Master and Seventh Master finished drinking, both were completely drunk and unconscious. Lanqin had no choice but to stay without a second thought. Xinyi prepared a room for Fourth Master and Lanqin. Su Peisheng and a servant from the Seventh Prince's mansion each carried Fourth Master on one side, following Xinyi to the prepared room. Lanqin followed behind, heading east.
After settling Fourth Master into bed, she said to Lanqin in her heart, "Third Sister, just let the servants here do whatever they want. Let Nianxue and the others rest."
Lanqin nodded, signaling Nianxue and Xicha to go and rest, and to have the servants here help her wash up, since Nianxue and the others were not from the Seventh Prince's residence, which would be inconvenient.
"Go and fetch some hot water, and wipe him down first. He's all sweaty from drinking," Lanqin said, frowning.
Su Peisheng stood awkwardly to the side, unsure whether to leave or stay. He could only say to Lanqin, "Consort, let this servant wipe the master's body later."
Lanqin said, "Can you clean it by yourself? Fourth Master doesn't like strangers serving him. Let me help you clean it."
Su Peisheng nodded and said no more. He knew that Fourth Master held Lanqin in his heart, and Lanqin also held Fourth Master in her heart.
After the water was prepared and the servants brought it over, Lanqin sent them off to fetch water for herself. Then, she and Su Peisheng began to undress, one taking off his clothes and the other wiping the Fourth Master's body and changing his clothes.
Su Peisheng was quite familiar with Fourth Master; he was usually the one who served him when he was drunk. Lanqin helped Fourth Master undress so Su Peisheng could wipe him down. The two of them were so busy that they were almost sweating before they finally cleaned Fourth Master up.
"Alright, you can go and rest now. You don't need to serve me here anymore," Lanqin said to Su Peisheng.
After Lanqin finished getting herself ready, Fourth Master was snoring loudly, soundly asleep.
“Everyone who’s usually so reserved is now drunk like this!” Lanqin said quietly as she got into bed to the Fourth Master, who was snoring.
Lanqin gently lay down beside the Fourth Prince, but his snoring was much louder than usual, making it impossible for her to sleep. Lanqin then began to think about the current political situation: the Crown Prince was imprisoned, and Kangxi had announced his deposition; now, only a trigger was needed. Kangxi was still clinging to the father-son bond with the Crown Prince; in truth, he had long been disappointed in him.
Actually, another person in the palace was also unable to sleep: Zheng Chunhua. At this moment, she lay beside Emperor Kangxi, glancing sideways at the aging man, feeling utterly insecure. He was merely an old man nearing the end of his life, and she had only managed to find a foothold in the Ning Shou Palace. Therefore, Zheng Chunhua chose to take a risk, hoping to regain Kangxi's favor and then use the child of the crown prince in her womb as leverage to obtain what she wanted.
"Can't sleep?" Kangxi closed his eyes and realized that the woman beside him was not asleep.
"It's all my fault for disturbing Your Majesty." Zheng Chunhua gently curled up, trying to keep a certain distance from Kangxi.
"I can't sleep either. In fact, I often can't sleep," Kangxi said, opening his eyes.
“Your Majesty is busy with countless affairs of state and has the nation on your mind. I am truly ashamed that I cannot share even a little of your burden,” Zheng Chunhua said.
"Give me a massage on my temples," Kangxi said, sitting up as well.
Zheng Chunhua immediately crawled obediently behind Kangxi, raised her two jade-like fingers, and gently pressed them on Kangxi's temples.
After massaging her for a while, Kangxi felt much better, so he took her hand and said, "Tell me, am I old?"
Zheng Chunhua blushed at Kangxi's action. She knew what the emperor was asking. Of course, Kangxi was no longer as vigorous as his sons. After a moment's thought, Zheng Chunhua quickly said, "Your Majesty is still the same as before. I can't bear it anymore."
Hearing such blatant words, Kangxi's expression softened slightly. He grabbed Zheng Chunhua's chin and stroked her smooth skin, saying, "I have neglected you for more than half a year. Do you resent me?"
“It’s all because of my failing health that Your Majesty has forgotten me. Now that I can return to serve Your Majesty, it is already my blessing,” Zheng Chunhua said.
Looking at her delicate face, Kangxi pulled her into his arms and said, "I'll do it again. I want to make you extremely happy."
Zheng Chunhua slowly closed her eyes. Inside the gauze curtain, two bodies were pressed tightly together. The servants outside, hearing the commotion inside, silently stood guard.
It wasn't until the third watch of the night that the eunuch outside said to Emperor Kangxi inside the room, "Your Majesty, it's time. Consort Zheng should leave."
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