When Consort De learned that Lanqin was pregnant with twins, she was overjoyed for several days and even went to tell Emperor Kangxi. Emperor Kangxi was delighted and immediately bestowed some fine gifts upon Lanqin, which, along with the gifts from Consort De, were specially sent to Lanqin.
Consort De even sent Aunt An and Aunt Gu to take care of Lanqin, who was pregnant with twins. When Lanqin found out, she was overjoyed and immediately asked someone to prepare a room for the two aunts to live in.
Because Lanqin had received gifts from the Emperor and Consort De, the South Courtyard was filled with unity and harmony. Everyone wore smiles and served Lanqin with utmost care. Her every move was watched, for fear that Lanqin might make a mistake. Even when Ushiha and Bechuk came, they were not allowed to tire Lanqin out.
"Have you tidied up your two aunts' rooms? Be careful with the furnishings. They are both people who serve Mother, so don't neglect them." Lanqin sat on the main couch, wearing a moon-white casual robe. Her hair was simply styled in two buns with a light pink palace flower in the middle and a few tassel butterfly hairpins on either side.
"Don't worry, Your Highness, their rooms have already been arranged. Speaking of which, there's something funny. When I told Madam Nian that two rooms were to be set up here, she deliberately made things difficult. I told her that they were sent by Consort De to help Your Highness with your pregnancy, and she had nothing to say. It's so funny to think about it!" Cui Niang said to Lan Qin with a smile.
"When she sees that her mother has bestowed two aunts upon her at once, she'll probably be jealous for a while," Lanqin said with a smile. Nian Shi is quite amusing; so far, she hasn't resorted to any underhanded tactics, though she has a rather fiery temper. She's not like the Fujin, who appears gentle and virtuous on the surface but is actually ruthless and vicious.
"Master, this is something His Majesty specifically instructed. He asked the chefs at Juhezhai, a pastry shop outside, to send in a dozen or so different kinds of pastries every day for you to try!" Cui Niang said to Lan Qin as she saw Putao and Lan Qi each carrying a food box in one hand.
"Bring it over for a visit," Lanqin said lazily. She was becoming increasingly lethargic. She had been unhappy about the Fourth Master's plan to marry Wuya, but now that the child was coming, she had no time to be upset and seemed to have completely forgotten about it. The Fourth Master treated her even better than before. He arranged Lanqin's daily routine meticulously, attending to every detail. As soon as he returned, he would go to the south courtyard to keep her company, bombarding the maids with questions—he was incredibly attentive. Lanqin found it amusing; it wasn't her first pregnancy and childbirth, yet the Fourth Master seemed more anxious than ever before.
Looking at the bags of oily pastries spread out on the table in front of me, there were sixteen kinds in total, each one looking different.
Lanqin picked up a milky-white pastry, put it in her mouth, nodded, and then went to try another kind of dark red pastry. After trying them all, she was very satisfied; almost everything suited her taste. It must have been Fourth Master who personally selected them.
"Take some and send them to Sister Song and Sister Geng, and also send some to the Second Princess and the Third Prince," Lanqin instructed. "Take the rest and distribute them as well. Snacks should be eaten fresh; I can't finish all of this. They won't taste good if they're left out for too long."
Cui Niang nodded, signaling Grape and Lan Qi to deliver it. She then said to Lan Qin, "Master, it seems that you have forgotten about that matter."
Lanqin knew which matter Cui Niang was referring to, and said calmly, "He was probably afraid of displeasing me, so he pretended to have forgotten about it while he was with me."
Lanqin had always harbored resentment about the Fourth Prince's intention to marry a woman from the Uya clan. If she weren't now pregnant with twins, which diverted all her attention to the children, she wouldn't have given up on her relationship with the Fourth Prince so easily. Seeing him running around like a loyal dog by her side every day, directing the maids, Lanqin finally felt a little better.
“My lady! I think that perhaps Master doesn’t really want to marry that cousin. Please don’t be angry anymore. You are pregnant with twins now. If they are both princes, you will be the most blessed person.” Cui Niang kept nagging in Lanqin’s ear, afraid that she was still bothered by that matter and had become estranged from the Fourth Master.
"I know, Cui Niang, I think I should find you a husband as soon as possible, otherwise my ears are getting calloused, I need to find a man for you to keep nagging about!" Lanqin naturally knew her intentions and teased her.
“My lady! I’ve said it before, I don’t want to get married, and I don’t want to leave your side,” said Cui Niang.
"What nonsense are you talking about! I don't want any of you to remain unmarried. Cui Niang, Nian Xue, Xi Cha, Si Hua, Lan Qi, Putao, Jin Ju, Shui Ling, you all have to get married, and you all have to be happy with both sons and daughters. That's when your master will be happiest, understand?" Lan Qin said firmly.
The maids standing in the room blushed when they heard Lanqin say this, but they all felt a little lost when they thought about leaving Lanqin.
"Master, we can only be at ease once you safely give birth to the little prince and stop arguing with the Fourth Prince!" Cui Niang said gratefully. The masters they served before never considered their feelings; they were all used to their advantage and then dismissed when they were no longer needed.
“Yes, Your Majesty, we will be at ease once you give birth to the little prince,” Nianxue said.
A bead of sweat slid down Lanqin's forehead. She said, both amused and exasperated, "What if both of them are daughters? Are you trying to force me to have a son?"
Cui Niang said, "My lady! I noticed that you like sour food. There's a saying that sour foods indicate a boy and spicy foods indicate a girl. This baby of yours is definitely a prince."
Nianxue and Xicha also came over and said, "Master is pregnant with twins at once. She is so lucky. Maybe they are twins, a boy and a girl."
Si Hua and Lan Qi, standing outside the house, also began to discuss Lan Qin's pregnancy.
Lanqin watched as they chattered about her being pregnant, then quietly ate a piece of pastry. After all, no one would know until the very end, and there were no hospitals to check in this era.
"Princess Song is here! Fourth Prince is here!" Jinju shouted from outside.
Lanqin immediately said, "Go and greet them for me. Xicha, go and call the Third Prince, as well as Wuxiha and Bechuk."
When Madam Song led Hongshi in, they saw Lanqin smiling at them. This was Hongshi's first time visiting the South Courtyard.
"Sister Song, come and sit down! Fourth Prince, come and have some pastries!" Lanqin said warmly.
"Some grapes have been sent over. I brought Hongshi here specifically because he said he had something for you," said Madam Song, pulling Hongshi's hand as they walked inside.
Lanqin's eyes lit up. She looked at Hongshi, who was only five years old, and asked with a smile, "What does Fourth Prince want to give to his aunt?"
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