"Then what do you suggest we do? He's keeping a mistress outside; we can't just ignore it!" Wanyan said.
“Princess, you are the principal wife, how could you possibly lose to a concubine! Didn’t this old servant just say that you should focus your heart on the prince and slowly win him back? The concubine will naturally fall out.” The wet nurse said with exasperation.
After being persuaded by her wet nurse, Wanyan Shi, weeping, finally abandoned her plan to return to her parents' home.
Meanwhile, at the baby's third-day celebration for the Fourth Prince's twin sons, Wanyan Shi began preparations after being reminded by her wet nurse. In order to win over the Fourteenth Prince's heart, she promised her wet nurse that she would keep him calm and not cause him any more trouble.
A message came from the palace that Emperor Kangxi was coming to attend the baby's third-day celebration. Consort De naturally followed along to see her beloved grandson!
When Emperor Kangxi arrived, the other princes followed, all wanting to make a good impression on him! As a result, the third-day celebrations for Hongli and Hongzhou were exceptionally grand.
Fourth Master specially ordered preparations to be made for the baby's third-day celebration in the front courtyard, since it was inappropriate for so many male relatives to go to the south courtyard. All the male relatives stayed in the front courtyard, while the female relatives were arranged to go to the south courtyard to see Lanqin.
Lanqin was in her postpartum confinement period and naturally couldn't manage the household chores, so the head nanny took charge of preparing the two young princes for their third-day celebrations. Madam Song, Madam Geng, and Madam Wu all helped, while Madam Nian, using the excuse of caring for the Fifth Prince, didn't participate. She was quite upset. Both had given birth to princes, but Lanqin's two young princes received far more attention than her Fifth Prince! In addition, there was another person in a very awkward situation: Madam Wuya. Since Lanqin had given birth to two princes, the Fourth Prince had been staying almost every day in the South Courtyard, and she hadn't seen him for quite some time.
Now that Lanqin has given birth to two princes, she has immediately drawn all of the Fourth Prince's attention to her. However, she can attend the baby's third-day celebration. At that time, she can then find a way to attract the Fourth Prince's attention.
The day of the twins' third-day celebration finally arrived. The Fourth Prince got up early and began preparing with the head nanny. Especially important was receiving Emperor Kangxi, which was a major event.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, Seventh Master has arrived!" Su Peisheng came in to report to Fourth Master, who was discussing the procedures for the baby's third-day celebration with the head nanny.
"Why is Seventh Brother here so early?" Fourth Master asked in surprise.
"Seventh Master said he's here to lend a hand. Fourth Master, please feel free to ask him for any instructions," Su Peisheng said.
Fourth Master's expression shifted, and he said to Su Peisheng, "Please ask Seventh Master to come and help check if all the utensils for the third-day bathing area have been placed in their proper positions."
After receiving the order, Su Peisheng went to deliver the message. Naturally, it was Xinyi who came into the mansion with Seventh Master. She went directly to the South Courtyard to visit Lanqin.
"Master, the Seventh Consort has arrived!" When Cui Niang saw Xin Yi helping her personal maid into the room, she quickly went to the door of Lan Qin's room and said to Lan Qin, who was lying on the bed.
"Quickly, call her in!" Lanqin said happily. She also wanted to see someone; lying in bed like this every day was incredibly boring.
"Third Sister is so lucky!" Xin Yi walked in and went to Lan Qin. Cui Niang brought her a round embroidered stool.
"Fifth Sister looks quite plump now; she must be living a very comfortable life. Seventh Prince treats you well, doesn't he?" Lanqin said with a smile.
"Yes, Seventh Master is very good. He doesn't take in many concubines or mistresses, so I'm content," Xin Yi said sincerely.
"To find a soulmate and grow old together is the best thing. Xinyi, only you have this blessing," Lanqin said with a sigh.
"Third Sister, where are the two little princes? Bring them over so we can see them. I've prepared two sets of little clothes for them," Xin Yi said.
Lanqin gestured for Cui Niang to bring the child over for Xinyi to see.
Immediately afterward, people from Lingzhu's household arrived. Lingzhu and Lady Anjia came with Lady Shi. Lady Anjia and her daughter-in-law Lady Shi were no longer the same as before. Since Lady Shi gave birth, she had given Lady Anjia something to do. Furthermore, with Lady Yang falling out of favor, her relationship with Lingzhu had actually improved.
"Quickly, let the old lady see the children." Cui Niang called to the wet nurse to bring the two children to Anjia Shi to see.
Lanqin watched her "family" reunite with a happy expression, a slight sense of感慨 (gan3kai3, a complex emotion encompassing both joy and sorrow) welling up inside her. She had traveled to an era where everyone wore long braids, and from her initial ignorance to learning self-protection and then planning ahead, she had walked this path step by step. Lanqin reflected that she, too, was now like every woman living deep within the palace walls, carefully calculating her gains and losses.
Meanwhile, the imperial relatives who were attending the celebrations for the two young princes all arrived. Most of them came to curry favor with the Fourth Prince, and also because they saw that the Fourth Prince was gradually gaining favor with Emperor Kangxi, so they rushed to present gifts.
At the auspicious hour, Emperor Kangxi and Consort De's palanquins arrived at the gate of the Fourth Prince's residence. Everyone knelt at the gate to welcome the emperor and his concubines. Emperor Kangxi specifically ordered that Lanqin not to come out to greet him, but the two children were brought out.
With Liang Jiugong's help, Kangxi stepped down from the sedan chair, nodded to the kneeling imperial relatives, said "Rise," and then followed the Fourth Prince inside.
Because there is an auspicious time for the third-day-after-birth ceremony, the formal ceremony began as soon as Consort De of the Kangxi Emperor arrived.
The third-day-old ceremony was still presided over by the head nanny, while everyone else stood in layers upon layers. The two little ones were just eating and sleeping, completely unaware of what these adults were doing surrounding them.
After the third-day celebration, Emperor Kangxi and Consort De each held one child and carefully examined them.
Prince Heshuo, the Third Prince, the Fifth Prince, the Eighth Prince, and the Ninth Prince stood aside watching, each with their own mixed feelings.
“Your Majesty, this younger one looks more like the fourth prince. The one you have looks more like Niohuru,” said Consort De.
"Yes, Hongli is more likable~" Kangxi said with a smile.
"Fourth Prince, these two princes are truly favored by Father Emperor, for they actually came to attend the third-day celebration in person," said the Third Prince.
"That's right, Father Emperor is holding that child so tightly he won't let go. He's even given him a name, which shows how much he values him," said Ninth Prince.
After Kangxi and Consort De finished attending the event and bestowed gifts upon the two children, they returned to the palace.
Prince Heshuo and the others also took their leave. They had already made an appearance before the Emperor, so it was time to go back. Those who went to Lanqin's side also exchanged a few auspicious words and did not stay long. After leaving gifts for the young prince, they all took their leave.
Lanqin only kept her family members behind; the others just came to meet her briefly, exchange a few words, and then left in a hurry.
Fourth Master must have kept a few people he wanted to keep, while the others politely left.
Lanqin specially ordered the kitchen to prepare a banquet, saying that she hadn't properly entertained her relatives yet.
As expected, the Fourth Prince kept the Seventh Prince, the Tenth Prince, and the Fourteenth Prince, while the rest returned. Then, a table was set up with the officials who were on good terms with the Fourth Prince.
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