The next day, the Fourth Prince got up very early as usual, because there were many activities in the palace on the first day of the Lunar New Year.
"You servant, why are you looking so mournful on the first day of the Lunar New Year?" Fourth Master called for a servant to change clothes, but saw Su Peisheng coming in with a long face to serve him, so he said.
"My lord, please forgive me! This servant... this servant just thinks of my old home every New Year," Su Peisheng immediately made up an excuse. In truth, he was uneasy, which was evident on his face. He still didn't know how to handle the mess that Wuya had made last night.
"Oh, where is your hometown?" Fourth Master seemed to have forgotten about what happened last night. Why didn't he seem to remember it at all? If he had gone to London with Uya last night, he should have been thinking about how to clean up the mess this morning!
“This servant’s hometown is Henan. Master, you were drunk last night!” Su Peisheng asked tentatively, noticing the Fourth Master’s expression.
"Henan, if I have the chance to go there in the future, I'll take you with me," Fourth Master said. "Was I very drunk last night?"
"Thank you for your concern, Master. Yes, Master was very drunk last night, and Miss Cousin came to bring you some hangover soup!" Su Peisheng gritted his teeth and brought up the matter of Uya's visit.
As soon as Fourth Master woke up, he remembered that Wu Yawan had come to bring him hangover soup the night before. However, he was unwilling to mention it because being in the same room with her like that would damage her reputation if word got out.
"What, you came to see her?" Fourth Master asked. He thought that Wu Yawanru had left after giving him the hangover soup, so how could Su Peisheng have seen her?
Upon hearing this, Su Peisheng immediately thought to himself: "Even in that state, my eyes aren't just for show, how could I not see?"
"When I returned from fetching water for my master, I saw Miss Biao. She was sitting by the master's bed wearing only her undergarments," Su Peisheng said cautiously.
Fourth Master, who had been opening his arms for help to change, froze upon hearing this. Had he done *that* with Wanru last night? But he clearly only remembered her pouring him hangover soup, which he drank, and then falling asleep. ???
Just then, a palace maid outside said at the door, "Her Majesty invites the Fourth Prince to get up and go see her!"
The Fourth Prince then came to his senses and said to the palace maids outside, "I understand!"
Su Peisheng quickly and efficiently helped Fourth Master get dressed, and then fetched water to wash his face and hands.
After everyone had finished tidying up, Fourth Master said, "Tell me again what happened last night in detail, and don't leave out a single word!"
Su Peisheng immediately told the Fourth Prince everything he had been holding back all night, from when the Fourth Prince returned with the palace maids to fetch water until the departure of Lady Wuya and her servants.
After listening to Su Peisheng's account, Fourth Master's face darkened.
He hurried to the entrance of Consort De's palace, and only after a palace maid announced his arrival were he allowed to enter.
"Why did Mother get up so early? Why not sleep a little longer? Today's activities in the palace are all about ancestor worship and paying respects at the Ancestral Temple. Mother and the others can rest in the palace." The Fourth Prince noticed that Consort De's complexion was not good, and he was afraid that she had not slept well all night.
When Consort De heard the Fourth Prince's words of concern for her, her expression softened slightly and she said, "Although I don't participate in any activities, there are many things to do in the palace, especially during the New Year. It's hard for me to avoid worrying about them."
Hearing this, the Fourth Prince felt even more uneasy. The Consort De had summoned him so early; it must all be because of that matter. Last night, he and Su Peisheng had seen Wu Yawanru in his room along with several other palace maids.
"I feel guilty for causing you worry, Mother. I will handle it myself," Fourth Master said quickly.
"You should take responsibility for your own actions. But I ask you, how will you take responsibility?" Consort De asked.
“Wanru, she went to my room yesterday to bring me some hangover soup. I was drunk and confused. I beg you, Mother, to bestow her upon me as a princess.” Fourth Prince had always wanted to give Wuya Wanru a status so that he could take care of her as much as he could. Now that this has happened, he feels even more compelled to do something for her.
"Alright, since you've admitted what you did, then Wanru will enter your household, but only as a concubine, understand?" Seeing that the Fourth Prince had already admitted it, Consort De had no choice but to say this. Originally, she had some doubts about Wuya's actions last night, but now that the Fourth Prince had this attitude, she couldn't pursue the matter further. After all, Wuya Wanru was her own niece.
“A concubine? That’s a very low status,” the Fourth Prince said.
“She doesn’t even qualify as a princess, let alone be a virgin. What about the dignity of the royal family? You can’t have any bad impression in your father’s eyes now,” Consort De said.
The Fourth Prince was silent for a moment, then nodded and said, "I'm ashamed to have troubled you, Mother!"
"Go ahead, your mother will handle this matter for you. Wanru will leave the palace today, and we can choose a day to bring her in after you return. After all, she is my niece, so please allow her to bring a maid with her," said Consort De.
The Fourth Prince nodded, then had some breakfast in Consort De's palace before heading to the Hall of Preserving Harmony.
After the Fourth Prince left, Consort De dozed off on the warm couch for a while, and the sky outside began to lighten with the first hint of dawn.
"Your Highness, everything has been arranged for Miss Biao. She has already been sent out through the side gate," Granny De whispered in Consort De's ear.
"Hmm, what a tragedy. I hope she can behave herself and stay quietly in the Fourth Prince's inner quarters," Consort De said, opening her eyes.
“Your Highness, Consort Niu and Consort Nian don’t know about this yet. Should we tell them about it?” asked Granny De.
"Never mind, they'll know once Wanru enters the household. Let them enjoy the New Year for now," said Consort De.
When Lanqin and the others brought the children to Consort De's palace to pay their respects, Consort De was already dressed neatly and was talking to the people who came to report from various places.
"Consort Niu, Consort Nian, breakfast is ready. Her Majesty has already eaten." Granny De went over to invite Lanqin and Consort Nian to have their meal.
Lanqin and Nian sat facing each other, and the children set up another table for them, with the two younger ones being held by their wet nurses.
"Ouch! Cuiling, rub my head! I didn't sleep well last night." Madam Nian was wearing a bright yellow cheongsam, and her headdress, adorned with kingfisher feathers and gold, made her look radiant and charming.
"Has Consort Nian chosen a bed?" Lanqin asked, noticing Consort Nian's uncomfortable expression.
“Yes, the beds in this palace aren’t as comfortable as the ones back home. The mattresses back home were specially made for me by my brother; they’re made of soft lambswool.” Lady Nian said with a smug look on her face.
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