Seeing the hesitation in Kangxi's eyes, Lanqin suddenly realized that her words had gone too far. For an emperor, what could be more despicable than questioning his authority? If Kangxi were ten years younger, Lanqin would probably already be dragged away and punished. But he, a wise ruler, a great emperor of all time, was still old. Every word Lanqin spoke struck a chord with Kangxi.
Hongli was, after all, just a baby, with so many eyes in the palace watching him. Even as the emperor, he only had two eyes; there were always times when he was careless, and times when someone would take advantage of him. It was still safer in the Fourth Prince's residence!
Kangxi's downturned lips finally pursed upwards, and he said, "Then you must separate these two children and prevent them from seeing each other. They must not meet until they reach adulthood, otherwise one of them will be in mortal danger."
Looking at Kangxi's serious expression, Lanqin knew that he really believed in these things. Although Lanqin herself had been an atheist for the past thirty years, she had now traveled from the future and dared not say that she did not believe in ghosts, gods, or fate.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I will certainly keep your instructions. They are all my sons, and I would rather see any harm happen to any of them than anyone else," Lanqin said.
Kangxi nodded. In fact, when Prince Heshuo asked him that question today, he knew that everyone present wanted to know why he favored Hongli so much.
Kangxi and Lanqin left the library separately, as it would have been suspicious if they had left at the same time.
When Lanqin helped Cui Niang back to her seat, the Fourth Princess Consort was talking to Nian Shi. When they saw Lanqin return, they immediately stopped talking.
"Where did Consort Niu go? Why did it take you so long to come back? Did you miss the exciting part just now?" Lady Nian asked Lanqin, glancing sideways.
"I wonder what exciting performances were just now?" Lanqin asked with a light smile. As soon as she sat down, she saw Consort Ma wink at her, as if giving her a hint.
"Just now, the Empress Dowager said she was going to arrange a marriage between Consort Niu's son, Wuxiha, and her child!" Lady Nian said, covering her mouth with an orange handkerchief embroidered with peonies.
What?!
Lanqin's mind immediately went back to the 21st century—she felt an urge to curse.
What a ridiculous era! My in-laws keep stuffing people into my husband's room! My daughter is only six years old and is being betrothed without even a word to me! My son was taken away as soon as he was born, and I had no power to resist!
Lanqin sighed deeply, mentally giving this era of long braids the middle finger, wishing she could find a stone, smash it over her head, and then go back to that era.
Seeing Lanqin's unfocused gaze, Lady Nian assumed she was stunned by the news and sneered, "Heh heh, Consort Niu is overjoyed. Why don't you hurry up and go thank the Empress Dowager!"
You're kidding me!
Lanqin suppressed her surprise and retorted, "I heard that General Nian was impeached, and the Emperor is very displeased. Consort Nian, why don't you hurry up and go to the Empress Dowager to show your filial piety? Otherwise, if General Nian is punished by the Emperor, your New Year's gift list won't be so generous."
This matter was mentioned by the Fourth Prince to Lanqin. Privately, he was somewhat dissatisfied with Nian Gengyao's actions in recent years, as the man was too arrogant and had actually expanded the army's size in the local area. This matter was exposed by someone, and Kangxi was furious. Fortunately, the Fourth Prince spoke to him in time and ordered him to report the number of troops expanded to the court immediately.
Upon hearing Lanqin's words, Madam Nian's expression immediately turned sour. At this moment, she was most afraid of anyone bringing up this matter. Seeing that Lanqin had indeed brought it up, she immediately fell silent.
After Lanqin pressed down on the Empress Dowager's name, she looked towards the imperial table and saw that Kangxi was talking to the Empress Dowager. The Fourth Prince was talking to several relatives, and his expression revealed nothing.
Lanqin went to see Consort De again, and saw her chatting and laughing with several concubines with a big smile on her face. There was no indication on her face that her granddaughter had been targeted by the Empress Dowager again.
Damn it, you all act like nothing's wrong. Ushiha is my daughter. If I don't take care of her, she'll be given away as a gift by the Empress Dowager.
Lanqin clenched her fists in her sleeves, then stared at Fourth Master's profile and said, "If you don't leave Wuxiha here, I'll take the children and run away. Let's see what you do then!"
The palace banquet finally ended. Kangxi had already discussed it with Lanqin, and they would bring Hongli back from the palace on the third day of the Lunar New Year. However, Hongli and Hongzhou must be raised in the palace and cannot see each other until they are fifteen years old.
Lanqin temporarily suppressed the matter of Wuxiha, after all, it was just a childhood betrothal, and there was still a chance to reverse it. She needed to first consider how to raise her two sons well in the Fourth Prince's household.
Seeing that it was already very late, those who still had their mothers in the palace began searching for them. Those who didn't have one had no choice but to rush back under the stars and moon. Fourth Prince
Instead of staying, he led his family out of the palace.
The carriage creaked and groaned as it rolled over the snow-covered road. Lanqin sat inside with the children, feeling rather listless. The annual palace banquet was truly exhausting. The children were so young; the journey alone was tiring enough. At this moment, the younger ones were already fast asleep in their wet nurse's arms.
Lanqin looked at Wuxiha's thin face. He was only six years old when the Empress Dowager arranged a marriage for him, and she didn't even know which family he would be betrothed to.
Lanqin grew angrier the more she thought about it, so she kept a sullen face and ignored Fourth Master the whole way.
When they returned to the Fourth Prince's residence, the gatekeeper was already waiting at the entrance. The Fourth Prince noticed that Lanqin had barely paid any attention to him the whole way, and he had been wanting to ask the young woman about it for a while.
"Go back and rest!" The Fourth Prince said to his wife and Lady Nian after he led his family through the door.
Before Fourth Master could say anything, Lanqin led Wuxiha, Bechuk, Hongzhou, and the others toward the South Courtyard.
"What's gotten into her again?" Fourth Master asked, watching Lanqin's retreating figure.
"Master, are you going back to the front yard, or...?" Su Peisheng asked at the opportune moment.
"To the South Courtyard!" Fourth Master said, taking off his hat. A layer of snowflakes covered the hat, so densely packed that they fell off with a single pat.
"Yes, this servant will go and fetch the lamp right away!" Su Peisheng chuckled. Only Consort Niu dared to throw such a tantrum with the master; everyone else would rather die than see the Fourth Master.
Lanqin and her group had just reached the entrance of the South Courtyard and were about to knock when they heard footsteps behind them. Lanqin turned around and saw that it was Fourth Master.
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