Upon returning to the manor, Fourth Master went to Lanqin's room to rest for the afternoon. He hadn't returned to the manor this early in a long time, and he hadn't rested for the afternoon with Lanqin for almost an entire summer. As soon as Fourth Master arrived at the south courtyard, he began to grumble about wanting to take a bath.
"Why do you need to take a bath at this hour, sir?" Lanqin asked.
"I just want to take a bath, so what? Is that not allowed?" Fourth Master stared into Lanqin's eyes and said.
"Of course. You can take a bath whenever you want, Your Highness. I'll have the maids arrange it." Lanqin glanced at the Fourth Prince and said. This sullen argument between her and the Fourth Prince couldn't last too long, otherwise she'd be a fool to give someone an opportunity to take advantage of her. Judging from Consort De's observations, what was Wuya Wanru planning, frequently appearing in Consort De's palace? Lanqin didn't even need to think about it; if she didn't have any ulterior motives, she would have actively avoided suspicion and tried her best not to appear where the Fourth Prince might be.
"I don't want them to serve me, I want you to serve me!" The Fourth Prince stared fiercely at Lan Qin. He felt a pang of guilt, especially after the idea of marrying Wu Ya Wanru had taken root in his mind. But upon further reflection, he realized he had been too impulsive. Wu Ya Wanru was no longer the same woman she once was; she had been married and had children. If he were to marry her, it would cause quite a stir in the palace and before his father, the Emperor. Moreover, he had never mentioned it to Lan Qin, and he found it difficult to bring up his feelings for her.
Lanqin was surprised to see that the Fourth Master was so unabashed, uttering such fiery words so openly on a hundred-day holiday. It was quite unlike his usual image. There were still three or four maids standing in the room. Lanqin glanced at them and saw that they had all turned into quails, hanging their heads and pretending to be invisible.
Lanqin rolled her eyes at the Fourth Master, her face flushed, and said, "Go and fetch water and move the bath tubs!" The maids immediately slipped away, heads down, their faces red.
After the maids left, the Fourth Master grabbed Lanqin by the waist, pulled her close to his chest, and whispered, "I feel like you've been acting strange lately. What happened?"
When Lanqin saw the Fourth Master's face right in front of her, she really wanted to loudly question him about whether he had rekindled his feelings for his so-called first love. However, she was also afraid that if she said that, the Fourth Master would wonder how she knew, and it would create a rift between them!
"I just feel that you've been too busy these days, so busy that you haven't had time to come here," Lanqin said, changing the subject.
“Since Father Emperor went to the northern desert, I have been busy with palace affairs, so I have not been able to come back as often. But whenever I do come back, I will send someone to ask about you, even if I don’t come to see you in person,” the Fourth Prince explained.
"Yes, Your Majesty will send someone to inquire. It's just that I think Your Majesty is tired of me and doesn't want to come anymore," Lanqin said, but inwardly she thought: He clearly didn't send anyone to deliver a message that day.
"How could that be? I've entrusted the inner quarters and the four children to you. How could I possibly be tired of you?" Fourth Master looked at Lanqin's gaze and a thought struck him.
"My lord, I was just joking with you. Then let me help you take a bath." Seeing that the conversation had reached this point, Lanqin didn't know what else to say and quickly changed the subject.
Just then, Cui Niang and Nianxue personally carried in the wooden tub for Fourth Master's bath. Xicha and Shuiling brought in hot water, and after they had prepared everything for the bath, they arrived.
"Qin'er, help me undress!" Fourth Master walked into the inner room, spread his arms, and said to Lanqin, who had just reached the door.
Lanqin slowly walked up to the Fourth Prince, raised her hand to stroke his chest, but her heart was no longer as intimate with him as it used to be. Lanqin felt uneasy. That morning in Consort De's palace, she clearly felt a gaze on her back, and she was certain it was from Wuya Wanru.
"What's wrong?" Fourth Master noticed the strange look in Lanqin's eyes and grabbed her two small hands.
"I had something made by Wang Ji. Would you like to see it, Your Highness?" Lanqin asked, looking up at the Fourth Master.
"Oh. What is it?" Fourth Master stared at Lanqin's flushed face, and his lower body couldn't help but feel hot.
Lanqin smiled slightly and said, "Let's help Master take a bath first." So, Lanqin helped Fourth Master take off his clothes until he was completely naked.
"You saw what's wrong with me, so what's there to be shy about?" Fourth Master said, grabbing Lanqin's hand.
Lanqin rolled her eyes at Fourth Master again, and then began to help him take off the last piece of clothing.
After Fourth Master stepped into the hot water wearing only his underwear, Lanqin personally picked up a spoon placed to the side and poured the hot water onto Fourth Master's body, spoonful by spoonful.
The Fourth Prince, with his eyes closed, enjoyed Lanqin's service and said softly, "Qin'er, do you know that the Eighth Prince submitted a memorial to Father Emperor, recommending him as the Crown Prince, along with more than thirty other court officials? But Father Emperor suppressed it and didn't say a word. I'm very curious, what exactly does Father Emperor think of the Eighth Prince?"
Lanqin carefully reviewed the events that occurred during the Kangxi reign that year. She recalled that it seemed that the Eighth Prince was reprimanded by Kangxi as "born of a lowly woman from the Xin Zhe Ku" in that year, and then dismissed from his post, leaving him to remain unemployed.
"It's hard to fathom Father's thoughts. What is Your Highness thinking?" Lanqin asked, rubbing the Fourth Prince's back.
"I think Father Emperor never intended to make him Crown Prince, yet he jumped out so eagerly," the Fourth Prince scoffed contemptuously.
"It seems that the master looks down on the eighth prince, but the eighth prince is very popular and has always done well in the Imperial Household Department," Lanqin said, trying to provoke the fourth prince.
"Eighth Prince is hypocritical. I despise his hypocritical facade. The reason the Crown Prince was born is because he is the Empress's son and was personally and carefully taught by his father, the Emperor. Only then is he worthy of being the Crown Prince of the Qing Dynasty. What makes him worthy? In terms of birth, there are many who are born better than him; in terms of talent, I am confident that I am no worse than him; in terms of the ability to govern and reason, he may not be any more outstanding." Fourth Prince said indignantly.
Lanqin was secretly surprised. What was wrong with Fourth Master today?
"Qin'er, come here! Come to my side!" Fourth Master suddenly grabbed Lanqin's hand.
When Lanqin took off her clothes, went into the water, and embraced Fourth Master, she realized that Fourth Master's manhood was already hard. Before she could react, Fourth Master's kiss landed on her.
Lanqin recalled the time when she first entered the manor, when she and the Fourth Master seemed to have engaged in a similar passionate encounter in the water. Her feelings then were completely different from her feelings now. Back then, she only thought about how to happily be a concubine in the Fourth Master's household, but now, besides loving this man, she also had to take care of his family and consider his feelings.
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