The next day, Nianxue and Xicha returned to Lingzhu Mansion early. Seeing Lanqin having breakfast, the two maids were surprised. They thought the princess would be sleeping soundly, but they didn't expect her to be up so early.
Nianxue quickly stepped forward and curtsied, asking with concern, "Princess, why are you up so early? Let me serve you breakfast."
Lanqin was picking up crystal xiaolongbao with her chopsticks. After she put the xiaolongbao in her mouth, she said with a slurping voice, "Why are you going back so early? Spend more time with your family. We'll go back to the mansion tomorrow."
Upon hearing this, Xi Cha's eyes reddened. She was young and had just reunited with her family yesterday, returning home early this morning. She didn't know when she would be able to see her father and mother again.
Nianxue walked to Lanqin's table, scooped a bowl of porridge for her, and placed it in front of her, saying gently, "Princess, eat slowly and drink some porridge first to soothe your stomach."
Lanqin took the bowl of porridge, gulped down a few pieces, and then ate the steamed buns that were already stuffed in her mouth.
After Lanqin finished her breakfast, Nianxue helped her to talk to Anjia, but Lanqin refused. She didn't want to see her at the moment because Anjia's words last night had made Lanqin quite irritable. Although it was for Zhengming's sake, she felt that even her mother was using her as a pawn in the family's pursuit of interests. Originally, Lanqin should have had some Confucian affection for Lingzhu and his wife, or rather, for Anjia, but now even that not-so-deep mother-daughter bond had faded.
Seeing that Lanqin seemed to be in a bad mood, Nianxue could not guess the reason, but she could only comfort her, "Princess, I see that the flowers in the garden are blooming beautifully, why don't you go out and admire them?"
Lanqin went back to her parents' home to have a good time for a few days, but she never expected that Lingzhu's schemes would ruin her mood for doing anything on the very first day. She had originally planned to visit the theater today.
"Alright, let's go admire the flowers. After lunch, Nianxue, you can accompany me for a stroll." Lanqin was still unwilling to give up. Now that she had finally left the Fourth Prince's residence, she couldn't just go back without having a good time.
The two women walked to the small garden where they used to play with their sisters. There, they saw a small lotus pond in full bloom with pale pink lotus flowers and bright green lotus leaves, which made the lotus flowers look even more ethereal and otherworldly.
The fruit trees around the lotus pond were also in full bloom, and a peach tree that had been bearing fruit for many years was covered with pale pink blossoms. In the summer breeze, the tiny flowers released a faint fragrance, attracting butterflies and bees from all around to hover around the peach tree.
"Princess, let's go over there and see the peach blossoms." Nianxue smelled the fragrance of peach blossoms in the wind and said, "We can pick some peach blossoms, and I can make some peach blossom honey."
Lanqin seemed to be in a better mood. Nianxue held up an oil-paper umbrella, and the two of them walked around the lotus pond to the side where they had first heard the Dutch master and servant talking.
Unexpectedly, this time it wasn't Holland who she met, but Madam Yang. Madam Yang had someone set up a table and chair under the peach tree, and she was drinking tea under the peach tree. When she saw Lanqin, her eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly calmed down.
Yesterday, Lingzhu mentioned that Lanqin was visiting her family, and she secretly envied Anjia. She hadn't seen her daughter since she went to the palace. However, the gifts sent back by the Dutch showed that she was still favored by Emperor Kangxi. Although Lanqin hadn't returned, gifts were sent back to her from the palace every few days. Palace flowers and fans, naturally more exquisite than those in the Ling family, were given to the girls, who were delighted. Ginseng and lingzhi mushrooms, of a quality unmatched in outside pharmacies, were naturally given to Lingzhu, Anjia, and her mother. The young masters received wolf-howling pens and bows and arrows. These gifts certainly boosted Yang's prestige in the household, but only she knew in her heart that she had sacrificed her daughter to maintain her son's and her own position.
Yesterday, upon hearing that Lanqin had returned, Madam Yang was in a low mood. When she learned that Lingzhu had prepared a family banquet for her, avoiding all the concubines, she felt even more uncomfortable. She said she didn't want to see Anjia and her daughter, but this was clearly to elevate the mother and daughter, which naturally made Madam Yang very unhappy.
"I truly envy Aunt Yang's refined tastes." Seeing that she couldn't avoid it, Lanqin helped Nianxue up and spoke first as a greeting.
When Yang saw Lanqin take the initiative to strike up a conversation, she sneered inwardly and said smugly, "Why didn't you inform me before the Third Princess came back to visit her family? I've already given away all the palace flowers and fans that your Second Sister just sent back. Otherwise, I would have saved some for you."
Lanqin had received many gifts from the Fourth Prince at his residence, so she naturally wouldn't care about those things. However, although palace flowers and fans weren't particularly valuable, they still represented the imperial family. Yang's words were simply a reminder to Lanqin that her daughter was better than her.
Lanqin smiled slightly, a beautiful curve forming at the corner of her mouth, and said gracefully, "Thank you for your concern, Aunt. Nianxue, go back quickly and have Xicha take out the jade bracelet I brought back. Bring over the one I gave to Aunt Yang. We just happened to run into it here, so let's give it to her first."
We must not let the Yang family get ahead here, otherwise the Anjia family will lose even more status!
Lanqin had this thought in mind. She winked at Nianxue. Actually, she never intended to give Yang's jade bracelet, but in order to suppress her arrogance, she could give away some of the things she had brought with her.
Upon hearing this, Yang's face darkened. Lanqin's words were clearly a slap in the face to herself and to Holland. Compared to jade bracelets, palace flowers and fans were obviously less valuable; even a fool could tell.
"No need to compare anymore. Lan'er sent me some from the palace, all of them rare and exquisite items, incomparable to anything outside." Madam Yang smoothed the palace flower at her temple and said coldly, "Thank you for your kindness, Third Princess, but I think it's better to give it to Madam. I've noticed that the things Madam has been handling these past few years have become increasingly unappealing. Your father is only concerned with favoring his young concubines, and even I can't stand it anymore."
Yang is really going too far, but what she said doesn't seem to be wrong! Although Anjia has never been stingy with her attacks on Lanqin, Lanqin could see that the clothes she was wearing were simply incomparable to the fine silks and satins worn by Yang in front of her.
“Father is getting old, so Aunt Yang should give him some advice when she has time, so he doesn’t let a vixen ruin his health,” Lanqin retorted sharply.
Madam Yang glared at Lanqin with eyes like knives. She hadn't expected that this young girl, who had only been married for a few months, would change so drastically from her previous docile and obedient manner, and that every word she uttered would infuriate her.
However, she is not afraid now, not afraid of Anjia and her daughter. Her daughter will surpass Lanqin, and her son will be more successful than Zhengming.
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