"Alright, I haven't been out for a long time. You must keep your word, Master!" Lanqin smiled radiantly. After the slight unease she felt last night, she decided not to be that kind of resentful woman. She would always be a woman with her own identity and independent personality, whether in the future or in the Qing Dynasty where women depended on men for survival.
Fourth Master nodded, raised his hand, and placed a mutton dumpling, which Lanqin liked, on her plate.
The two shared a tender breakfast, during which Lanqin recounted some events that had occurred since the Third Prince moved in. The Third Prince's meals were prepared by the small kitchen, and the Second Princess's meals were also prepared. It was unacceptable that the two children had one eating from the main kitchen and the other from the small kitchen. After Lanqin sent people to deliver meals several times, the Second Princess no longer refused. She was also in charge of purchasing vegetables and fruits for the household, and now Lanqin no longer needed to teach her; she could basically read the accounts herself, listen to the servants' reports, and point out any inconsistencies.
The Fourth Master listened to everything and felt even more guilty. He held Lanqin's hand and said, "Qin'er, you've worked so hard. You've raised the two children so well!"
Seeing that Fourth Master was no different from usual, Cui Niang and the others gradually calmed down their unease.
After the Fourth Prince finished his breakfast, he went to the palace. Lanqin began her daily life as the housekeeper as usual. However, her life as a housekeeper was quite pleasant. After breakfast, she would review the account books for the day. After half an hour, she would take her people for a walk to enjoy the scenery or visit the Song and Geng families for a chat. In this way, the morning would pass. When it was almost lunchtime, she would instruct the kitchen to prepare lunch for the children, and then she could enjoy her own lunch. Usually, no one would come to report anything to her at this time. Occasionally, sporadic matters would come up, such as the paint in a courtyard needing to be repaired; the maids in another courtyard wanting to marry out; the charcoal in the kitchen being almost used up and needing to be replenished, and so on. With things coming up all the time, she sometimes had to divide a meal into several portions to finish it. Lanqin really disliked having people talk to her while she was eating, so she set a rule for the people in the manor: she would not receive anyone during lunch or dinner, but would listen to reports from various places during a designated time at noon and another time during dinner.
After talking with Madam Song for a while, Lanqin, supported by her maid, walked back. It was almost lunchtime, and she had to go back to eat before listening to reports from various departments about the affairs of the manor.
"It's getting hotter and hotter!" Lanqin felt very hot after walking for a while and took out a handkerchief to wipe the thin layer of sweat from her forehead. Actually, her clothes were also full of sweat, making Lanqin feel uncomfortable. "No, I need to go back and take a shower. I feel really uncomfortable all this sweat!"
“Yes, it would be better if I went back early to fetch water for my master, so that she can take a bath as soon as she gets back,” Shui Ling said.
"Alright, then you should go back quickly." Lanqin really liked Shui Ling's quick wit.
“Master, although Shui Ling is young, she is very clever. None of us are as clever as her,” Nian Xue said, supporting Lan Qin.
“Each of you has your own strengths, and everyone has different talents. Nianxue, you're eighteen this year, right? Is there anyone you fancy?” Lanqin had just been talking to Madam Song about these maids.
"My lady, I don't want to get married. I want to serve you for the rest of my life." Nianxue hurriedly expressed her loyalty when she saw that Lanqin wanted to find a husband for her.
"Alright, I was just asking, look how scared you are! Why don't any of you want to get married? It's not that I look down on you, but I feel I can't delay your life's most important event. Nianxue, even if you get married, you can still come in and serve me if you want." Lanqin quickly reassured Nianxue, seeing how afraid she was of being kicked out. Of all the maids she wanted to take in, Nianxue and Cui Niang were her favorites.
"This servant doesn't have anyone she likes right now. Please don't tease me anymore, Master," Nianxue said, blushing.
Lanqin smiled and took small steps as she slowly returned to the South Courtyard. Shuiling had already carried the water, the large wooden tub for bathing, and Sihua to Lanqin's bedroom.
"My lady, the concubine of the Seventh Prince's mansion has arrived. I've settled her in your main hall for tea," Xicha said as she saw Lanqin enter the courtyard.
"Xinyi is here?" Lanqin said, and then walked towards the main room.
Xin Yi was sitting in the guest seat in the main room, with Cui Niang keeping her company.
"Xinyi is here," Lanqin said with a smile.
"Third sister." Xinyi turned around and saw Lanqin standing at the door, so she got up to greet Lanqin.
"What brings you here?" Lanqin pulled Xinyi by the hand and led her to the main seat. After sitting down with her, she instructed Cui Niang, "Go to the kitchen and ask Chef Niu to prepare a few more dishes. I'll dine with Xinyi."
"Thank you for the meal, Third Sister," Xin Yi said.
"I'm not worthy of your bestowed title. Tell me, why did you suddenly come to talk to me?" Lanqin knew that her younger sister Xinyi wasn't the type to visit others often; if she came, there must be something on her mind.
Xin Yi hesitated for a moment, and her expression became somewhat unnatural as she looked at Lan Qin.
"What's wrong?" Lanqin asked quickly when she saw Xinyi's uncomfortable expression.
"Third Sister, the reason I came today is because Mother asked me to come and give you a heads-up. Don't take it too seriously," Xin Yi said.
"Look at you, it sounds like it's really serious. What's wrong?" Lanqin noticed that Xinyi looked very serious.
“Yesterday, a guest came to Yonghe Palace. It was an old friend!” Xinyi said. “It was Seventh Master’s mother who sent someone to our residence to tell you. She said she wanted me to inform you so that you could be on guard.”
"Who is it? What are you on guard against?" Lanqin asked, her smile fading.
“She’s Consort De’s niece, named Wuya Wanru. She and the Fourth Prince had a past relationship,” Xinyi said.
Lanqin was taken aback, then grinned and said, "Master has always had many women, how come she isn't one of his concubines now?"
Xin Yi knew that Lan Qin hadn't understood yet, so she said directly, "This Wu Ya Wan Ru is different from others. It is said that back then, the Fourth Prince almost broke ties with Consort De because of her, because the Fourth Prince wanted to marry this cousin as his primary wife."
Lanqin stared at Xinyi in astonishment, speechless for a moment.
“Mother told me to tell you that this Wuya Wanru has returned, and it seems she is now a widow. She saw the Fourth Prince in the palace yesterday,” Xinyi said.
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