In the following days, the mansion remained harmonious and peaceful, except that because of the Fourth Prince's letter, it was said that Li Shi had broken things again, Song Shi had sent embroidery to the Fujin, and Wu Shi and Yin Shi seemed to have a conflict.
Lanqin took some of the clay figurines, sugar figurines, paper cuttings, and other trinkets she had brought back to the front yard and distributed them to the eldest prince, the third prince, and a few haha beads. Being children, they loved these useless things, and gradually, the eldest prince, the third prince, and the other children lost their initial wariness of Lanqin. Sometimes they even hoped that Lanqin would visit them and bring some good food, drinks, and toys to cheer them up.
Besides that, Lanqin also built a slide in her yard, and the Third Prince was the first to come and play on it. Gradually, the First Prince also started to come occasionally, and several of the boys also started to come. Only Da and A were always awkward, but they couldn't resist their curiosity and came a few times, but after that, they scoffed at the idea of playing on a slide.
Lanqin then ordered Zhang Shubao to make a long hemp rope, and then started playing jump rope with several children in the south courtyard. This was Lin Mengyao's favorite and best game when she was a child. She had Xicha and Huanbi swing the long rope, and she took off her flowerpot-soled shoes and put on a pair of "cool-soled" embroidered shoes that she had recently made. Amid exclamations of surprise, Lanqin started jumping the long-lost hemp rope.
Seeing Lanqin move with the agility of a swallow, the nimbleness of a rabbit, and the liveliness of a monkey in the rain of rope, the children were infected by her enthusiastic laughter and couldn't help but imitate her by jumping rope. Among them, Zhang Rongyuan and Honghui learned the fastest and jumped the best. The Third Prince was still too young and preferred playing on the slide. Fu Weiting and Da Yu'a didn't like jumping rope very much, while Tong Jia Feiyanggu remained indifferent. Lanqin had observed him the longest but couldn't figure out his personality the most.
To motivate Da, A, and Tongjia Feiyanggu, our Comrade Lanqin spared no effort and went to great lengths to create a scooter. However, this "scooter" had wooden wheels, and its structure and shape were designed by Lanqin based on modern skateboards, which she then gave to carpenter Wang to make. Surprisingly, he actually succeeded in making it.
Of course, scooters weren't as fast and agile as modern skateboards. The wheels made a creaking sound as they rolled on the ground, and sometimes they would even slip. After all, there were no screws or nails in ancient times, so the thing that carpenter Wang made to connect the wheels and the skateboard really took a lot of effort.
This time, Da and A were completely captivated by the fun thing in front of them, and even Fei Yanggu became interested. Several children gathered around Lanqin to watch her demonstrate, and Da and A were the first to ask, "Let me play with it!"
The voice was still gruff, but the tone was noticeably less disdainful than usual. Lanqin glanced at it and thought to herself: I've finally managed to get your playful side out of you.
It has to be said that Da Yu'a is a natural skateboarding expert. He only tried it for a short while, but he was already able to stand on it and skate for a long time, much better than Lan Qin. Tong Jia Feiyanggu also wanted to try, but Da Yu'a wouldn't let go of the skateboard, so he could only watch enviously as Da Yu'a showed off on it. Immediately afterward, Hong Hui, Fu Weiting, Zhang Rongyuan, and Tong Jia Feiyanggu all started clamoring to skateboard.
Instantly, the entire South Courtyard was filled with laughter and shouts, and even the servants walking outside the courtyard stopped to watch the commotion.
At that time, the Fujin was playing chess with Granny Li in the main courtyard, while Wu Shi braved the scorching sunset at the end of June to come to the main courtyard to pay her respects to the Fujin.
"Madam, Princess Wu has arrived!" Xia He announced as she entered the main room.
"What is she doing here at this time?" The princess didn't even look up. She saw that the princess was holding a white chess piece with her tortoiseshell-inlaid hand, her brows furrowed, hesitating over where to place the piece.
"If the Princess Consort doesn't want to see her, she can go back," said Granny Li, noticing the hesitation on the Princess Consort's face.
The Princess Consort seemed to have finally found a flaw in the chessboard. She placed the chess piece in her hand and then said to Xia He, "Just say that I am writing. If she doesn't want to wait, she can go back first. If she is willing to wait, take her to the west wing to wait."
Xia He bowed her head slightly and then withdrew.
Meanwhile, Wu was waiting in the west wing. Because of the setting sun, the west wing was unusually hot. Wu had Hongqian constantly fan her, but she was still covered in sweat. Several times, she wanted to give up and leave, but she felt that she had already waited, and if she left suddenly, it would not only be disrespectful to the Fujin, but she had not yet achieved her goal, so how could she be willing to do so?
Meanwhile, on the Fujin's side, it was clear that Granny Li was gradually losing ground. Her black motif was surrounded by a large group of black motifs, and she had no chance to fight back.
"This old servant has lost, Madam." Granny Li was one of the few people who could play chess with Madam Li like this, and she would not deliberately let her win.
"Is it because Granny Li suspected that I deliberately ignored Wu Shi, which is why she couldn't concentrate fully and lost to me?" The Fujin took a sip of the fragrant tea that Chunliu handed her.
“Your Highness saw right through this old servant’s thoughts. Ever since Wu entered the manor, she has been restless and has been quite perfunctory towards you, Your Highness, while also currying favor with Li. She truly knows how to play both sides. Your Highness should not help such a person anymore,” said Granny Li.
"That's why I only need to give her a little punishment, let her warm herself in the west wing. My door isn't one you can just walk in and out of as you please." The Fujin's long eyelashes trembled slightly, casting a cold black shadow in her eyes. "However, this kind of person also has her advantages. As long as you provoke her a little, she won't be able to sit still."
"Madam, this old servant has heard that Madam Wu and Madam Yin are not on good terms. Is it because of Madam Yin that she has come here this time?" Granny Li guessed.
"It must be four months since Lady Yin was born!" The Fujin suddenly seemed lost in thought, staring at the flag box in front of her without moving her gaze.
"Hmm, her belly is starting to show. I never expected that this quiet Lady Yin would be the first to conceive the master's child," said Granny Li with apprehension.
"It all depends on whether she has the good fortune to give birth to the child. Even if she does, it's still unknown whether she can raise it to adulthood." The princess raised her hand to adjust the pearl flower at her temple and said softly, "She will definitely be brought over to raise the child, unless the master promotes her rank."
"How can a mere princess be fit to be the concubine of the Fourth Prince's household? I don't think the master treats her very well either," said Granny Li coldly.
"I'm afraid there are people more eager than you and me to get rid of that piece of flesh in her belly," the Fujin said quietly.
"Master, are you referring to the one in the east courtyard?" asked Granny Li.
"Chunliu, go and call Wu Shi in." The Fujin did not answer Li Mama's question, but turned to Chunliu, who was standing at the door.
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