After everyone boarded the carriages, they headed towards the Yuanmingyuan with their maids and luggage.
Lanqin and the children have been staying at Wanfang Anhe for over half a month now. Fourth Master, on the other hand, is staying at Jiuzhou Qingyan. The scenery there is picturesque, and since it's late autumn, the views are even more breathtaking.
Upon entering the Yuanmingyuan Garden, the ladies were immediately captivated by its picturesque scenery.
The Nian family was assigned to live in Wuling Chunse, the Song family to Changchun Xianguan, the Wu family to Zibishanfang, the Geng family to Xinghuashancun, and the Wuya family to Yuedi Yunju.
The Second Princess went to see the Fourth Prince. After the father and daughter talked for a while, the Second Princess and her husband stayed at the Wuling Spring Scenery of the previous year for a day before leaving.
The Fourth Prince had to attend court every day, and the women no longer interacted as they did at the Fourth Prince's residence. Instead, they wandered around and casually looked at the scenery of the Yuanmingyuan.
On this day, the Song, Wu, and Geng families arrived at Lanqin's Wanfang Anhe. They saw that this place was built in the middle of an artificial lake, with four paths leading to the palace located in the center of the water.
The artificial lake was planted with endless lotus leaves, but they had long since withered. However, even withered lotus flowers have their own kind of desolate beauty.
The group walked along the winding wooden railings toward the building in the middle of the house.
Lanqin was already waiting at the door when she saw them approaching in a long, winding manner.
"The scenery here is truly beautiful, Consort Wu!" Wu Shi made no attempt to hide the envy in her voice, but she was only envious and not particularly jealous.
"Yes, the water and sky meet here, it's truly magnificent and awe-inspiring," Geng Shi added.
"This place is nice, but it must be a bit cold!" said Madam Song.
"Sister Song understands best; it's much colder here than where you are!" Lanqin said with a smile. It had been almost four months since Hongli was brought into the palace, and this was the first time she had smiled in front of everyone.
"This is the first time you've shown such a radiant smile since Prince Tumor was brought into the palace!" Madam Song said as she approached Lanqin.
“Yes, Your Majesty took away the Sixth Prince without even asking if he wanted to. That’s a bit inhumane!” Wu said bluntly.
"Sister Wu, how dare you speak the Emperor's words?" Lanqin made a low gesture!
"What's the big deal? There are no outsiders here! We're all family!" said Madam Wu.
"Come on in, my chef has prepared a delicious meal for you. All the ingredients are from this garden!" Lanqin called out to everyone.
"That's great! There are lotus roots from outside. I love lotus roots the most!" said Madam Wu.
"Lotus root is the main ingredient; I guarantee you'll get tired of eating it!" Lanqin said.
After everyone went inside, the dining table had already been set up, and some cold dishes were laid out on it!
After everyone had taken their seats, Lanqin asked Cui Niang to start serving the dishes.
"It is said that the spring scenery of Wuling, where Consort Nian resides, is also magnificent. The vast expanse of azaleas there looks just like springtime!" said Lady Geng.
“That’s still not as good as Lanqin’s place!” said Madam Song.
“Uya was actually assigned to the Moon Land Cloud Residence. What right does she have to live there?” Geng said again.
"You'll have to ask Master! This arrangement must have been made by Master!" Madam Wu asked Lanqin.
“She was always an extraordinary person in the master’s eyes, and she was also very cautious. It was almost impossible to find fault with her!” Lanqin said.
“Uya secretly associates with the main courtyard. With her around, I always feel uneasy!” Wu said.
"What's there to be afraid of? She's of low status; she wouldn't dare cause trouble like the Fujin (Madam of the Household)." said Madam Song.
“No, the harm caused by Lady Wuya might be even greater than that of the Prince’s wife! The Prince’s wife has never entered his heart. But Lady Wuya is his first love. That feeling is too strong. After all, people have an irreplaceable attachment to the things or people they fall in love with for the first time!” Lanqin said calmly.
These words silenced everyone!
"Master, is the food ready?" Cui Niang interrupted at the opportune moment.
"Yes, let's serve the food. It's been a long time since we ate together," Lanqin said with a smile.
“This place is truly beautiful, even more beautiful than Prince Yong’s mansion,” said Madam Song. “I heard that His Majesty spent several years and a great deal of gold and silver to build this garden. I never imagined that it would be bestowed upon our master like this!”
“Yes, that’s why we’re so fortunate to be able to stay here for a while,” said Madam Geng.
"Hey, Lanqin, do you know who some of the women from Hongci Yonggu's place are? I heard they used to serve the Emperor?" Song asked.
"Yes, I heard that these women were brought here by the Emperor's servants when he was staying here. Their lives ended like this. After the Emperor left, they were left here in vain, with nowhere to go." Lanqin also knew about their desolate existence here. But these were Kangxi's relics; how could the Fourth Prince dispose of them? Randao said to Kangxi, "Quickly take away the women you used." The Fourth Prince dared not say this, nor did he dare to easily dispose of the women, so he could only leave them there.
“But those women are neither palace maids nor our master’s concubines. What’s the meaning of them living there?” Wu said.
“I’m in a dilemma too. They are all women whom the Emperor has favored. He didn’t take them into the palace, so he left them in this garden. I don’t know what to do with them, so I can only let them live there,” Lanqin said.
"Sigh, it's quite pitiful. They might spend their whole lives here in vain," said Madam Song.
"Sister looks much better. The Fourth Prince must have moved out of your place by now!" Lanqin didn't want to dwell on the topic anymore; saying more wouldn't change anything. In this kind of era, some people's lives were destined to be like these women's, spending their entire lives waiting for the emperor's favor.
“Speaking of the Fourth Prince, I really feel he’s a failure. That child is actually quite good, but he always seems to have something on his mind,” said Madam Song.
“He’s just too ambitious. He doesn’t like my sister, but he probably still wants to go find his stepmother!” said Madam Wu.
“Sister, it really isn’t your fault. What the Fourth Prince thinks is beyond our control. Although he’s young, he’s experienced quite a lot. But the Third Prince also had bad luck, and he didn’t suffer the same fate. Sister, I actually regret recommending him to you back then,” Lanqin said.
“How can this be your fault? How is Hongzhou? I heard he hasn’t been in good health.” Madam Song asked.
“He’s much better. We’ve been using a combination of food and medicine to nourish his body. He was probably weaker than Hongli in the womb. He had some congenital deficiencies.” Lanqin spoke of Hongzhou with worry in her heart.
"Don't worry too much. If you take good care of yourself, you might grow strong and healthy," Madam Song comforted him.
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