Time flies, spring turned to summer, and the women in the inner quarters all changed into thinner clothes.
The jokes about the Third Prince's wife gradually faded from the gossip among the women in the inner quarters.
Good news finally arrived from the northern steppes. An uprising had broken out within Galdan's ranks, and Jeli had finally persuaded some nobles who opposed Galdan to join him in opposing Galdan.
The situation quickly changed dramatically. Galdan lost support from all sides, and even Princess Wenxian Gulun personally wrote a letter of surrender to Emperor Kangxi, offering a ceasefire. Kangxi neither accepted nor stopped the war.
With the Crown Prince deposed, the task of procuring provisions had originally been handled by the Fourth Prince, so the responsibility for collecting and transporting military supplies naturally fell to him. The Fourth Prince devoted himself entirely to his work, leaving all the affairs of the Fourth Prince's residence to the head nanny and Lanqin.
The Third Prince Hongjun and the Fourth Prince Hongshi are now nine and three years old, respectively. The Fourth Prince is usually too busy to supervise their lives. Lanqin suggested that the Fourth Prince give the two princes their own courtyard and assign someone to take care of them. The two princes' condition must be reported to Lanqin daily.
Therefore, in addition to taking care of her two daughters, Lanqin also had to consider the daily lives of the eldest princess, the third prince, and the fourth prince.
In June, the sun outside was blazing hotter and hotter. Even after just a quarter of an hour outside, you'd be covered in sweat, both inside and out.
"Master, Steward Xia has arrived." Nianxue lifted the bamboo curtain and came in, then quickly put it down to prevent the cool air in the room from getting out.
"Let him in." Lanqin was sitting on a bamboo couch wearing a light yellow casual dress, looking at the various expenses in the manor this month.
At this moment, a woman dressed in light brown clothes walked in, greeted Lanqin, and then stood aside waiting for Lanqin to ask her questions.
"It's getting hot, so you don't need to report every day anymore. Are things alright with the Third Prince and the Fourth Prince?" Lanqin put down the booklet in her hand and looked at her.
"Reporting to Consort Xia, the Fourth Prince said today that he didn't sleep well at night because of the heat," Xia said.
"What are the maids on night watch doing? The prince is hot, aren't they fanning him?" Lanqin asked.
“The maids are young and inexperienced. The Fourth Prince is also young, so even if he is unwell, he sometimes won't say anything. Today, I only realized he hadn't slept well last night because I noticed he wasn't in good spirits. I've already scolded the two maids who serve him. But I think they are both teenagers and need plenty of sleep. Perhaps you could have the Consort put some ice in the Fourth Prince's room? That way, even if the maids aren't very attentive, the prince won't get too hot,” said Madam Xia.
“The ice in the manor is rationed. The Fourth Prince’s room has enough, so it’s not good to not give any to the other princesses and princes. A three-year-old child shouldn’t be greedy for cold, and he shouldn’t eat too many ice bowls. Catching a cold in the summer can be bad for his health.” Lanqin wasn’t being stingy by not giving the Fourth Prince ice, but the manor had never given ice to the princesses and princes.
After Xia left, Cui Niang said, "That Xia actually came over to ask the master for ice. The Fourth Prince is so young, won't he catch a cold if he uses ice?"
Lanqin asked, "How is Nian Shi doing? Her belly is already quite big. Have someone take care of her and be careful."
“Princess Nian is already five or six months pregnant, her belly is very big. I once saw her, and it looked like she was carrying twins,” said Cui Niang.
"Her expenses must not be reduced in any way, and do not argue with her maids," Lanqin instructed. This was because Lanqin's maid and Nian's maid had argued several times in the kitchen about who should go first.
"Yes, Your Highness, please rest assured. I have already instructed them. By the way, the small garden over at Consort Song's place is almost finished. When will Your Highness go and take a look?" said Cui Niang.
"Okay, I'll go take a look in a bit." Lanqin nodded, and then had Xicha and Shuiling serve her to rest for lunch.
After leaving Lanqin's place, Xia headed straight for Nian's. It turned out that Xia had already accepted money from Nian and had secretly told her everything that had happened in the South Courtyard.
"This servant greets Princess Nian! Your belly looks like you're carrying twins!" Xia said to Princess Nian, who was resting on the chaise longue, as she entered the room.
"Zining, bring Xia Mama a bowl of ice water. Look how sweaty she is," Madam Nian said with a smile. Her belly was indeed quite large; she looked six or seven months pregnant even though she was only five or six months along.
"This servant thanks Your Highness for the reward!" Xia said respectfully with a smile.
After Zi Ning brought Xia a bowl of chilled watermelon juice, Xia took it with both hands and drank it all. Then she repeated what she had said in the South Courtyard to Nian Shi.
"Hehe, Consort Nian is just worried about what others might say. But the Fourth Prince is intelligent and studious, and has always been a favorite of His Majesty. Putting an ice basin in his room isn't a big deal. What if the child gets too hot?" Lady Nian flicked some nutmeg oil from her fingernails.
“That’s right! I’ve noticed that the Fourth Prince studies very hard, and the little boy can recite Tang poems and classical Chinese texts. But the Consort won’t let him, and there’s nothing I can do about it,” said Madam Xia.
“Since the concubine forbids it, Xia Mama, you don’t need to think about it. However, in this kind of weather, children often get heatstroke. You must be careful,” Madam Nian said, glancing at Madam Xia a few times.
"Yes, I'm really worried that the Fourth Prince will get heatstroke. He's still young and works so hard. But the Consort won't even send him ice. After all, he's not her own son, so she doesn't care about him." Xia Shi naturally knew that Nian Shi and Lan Qin were enemies, so she was saying all sorts of nice things to Nian Shi.
"Cui Ling, go and get the things I intend to give to Granny Xia. She understands my intentions best," said Madam Nian, stroking her belly with one hand.
“This servant has already accepted quite a few things from the princess, how can I take more of her things?” Xia said.
"Don't be polite with me. As long as you do what I want you to do, you're entitled to all of it."
"Mr. Nian said meaningfully."
When Cuiling took out the gold bracelet that was meant for Xia Shi and gave it to her, Xia Shi couldn't stop smiling.
The Nian family was watching her closely; as long as she was greedy enough, she could get this Xia family member to do things for her.
Since becoming pregnant, Ms. Nian has naturally become more preoccupied.
"Master, that Xia Mama is really greedy. Every time she comes, she takes your things." Cui Ling said to Nian Shi after Xia Shi left.
“I’m afraid she won’t be greedy. Only those who are greedy are easy to control. Now that the master often comes to see me, he’s taking this opportunity to gradually corrupt the one in the South Courtyard in his eyes,” said Madam Nian.
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