As the days grow longer and the sun grows increasingly scorching, the annual Dragon Boat Festival arrives once again. Families begin buying bamboo leaves to wrap zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), and also buy mugwort leaves to hang on their windows to ward off evil spirits.
The Prince Yong's residence was no exception. However, the women in each courtyard didn't need to do it themselves, as the kitchen had already prepared the ingredients for making zongzi. But if they wanted to make them, they could ask the kitchen for the ingredients. For example, Lady Fucha of Chunhui Hall had her maid go and ask for zongzi leaves, glutinous rice, red dates, and other ingredients well in advance.
Fourth Prince plans to hold a family banquet in the front courtyard, inviting all the women in the inner quarters, including Fourth Prince's wife. However, Fourth Prince's wife currently holds no real power; it is Lanqin and Nianshi who control the inner quarters.
Hearing that the Fourth Master would be hosting a family banquet for the Dragon Boat Festival in the front courtyard, everyone longed to see him. After all, such occasions were rare, and those who hadn't seen him for days naturally hoped to take this opportunity to dress up and see him. Even women like Madam Song, who had long since given up any desire to compete for his favor, still hoped to see the Fourth Master, for he was their husband!
Madam Nian personally came to Lanqin's place to discuss the family banquet for the Dragon Boat Festival. The kitchen was currently under Madam Nian's control, but she suddenly appeared in the south courtyard, claiming she wanted to transfer management of the kitchen to Lanqin. Originally, the kitchen was indeed under Lanqin's management, but Madam Nian took over when Lanqin gave birth to twins.
“Consort Niu, the kitchen has always been under your management. It’s just that you gave birth to Hongli and the others during that time, so it was temporarily handed over to me. Now it’s time to return it to its rightful owner,” Lady Nian said as she sat down.
"Consort Nian is too polite. You've been in charge for so long, you're already familiar with it. There's really no need to hand it back to me," Lanqin said. But in her heart, she was wondering what Consort Nian was doing. Wasn't she always fond of taking on responsibilities? Why was she insisting on returning control of such a small area as the kitchen today?
This is unusual; it must be something sinister or thief! These words popped into Lanqin's mind.
“Consort Niu, I only have Hongsheng who needs someone to take care of him. He has been frail and sickly since childhood, which has really taken a lot of my energy. I really can’t take care of him anymore. Please understand, Sister Niu,” said Lady Nian with a worried expression.
Lanqin looked at Nian Shi and realized that what she said was true. Hongsheng had been weak since childhood, and it was also because Nian Shi had been harmed by the Fujin (wife of the emperor) that he had been wearing those harmful musk beads for more than a year, which had damaged his vitality and made him congenitally weak in the womb.
Good heavens! Is this why none of the children born to Lady Nian survived? Lady Nian's body had long been damaged by the musk, so although she gave birth to several children, they all died within a few years.
Thinking of this, Lanqin looked at Nian Shi with a hint of sympathy and nodded. Although she felt it was a bit strange for Nian Shi to hand over the management of the kitchen at this time, she didn't think too much about it. She might as well take it over. It would just mean seeing a few more people every day and listening to their reports.
Ms. Nian thanked Lanqin profusely and took her leave. This was her first visit to Lanqin since moving into the East Courtyard. Lanqin and she tacitly ignored each other and did not interfere with each other. They both understood that the other could not be a friend, so they simply had no contact.
"Master, would you like some mint iced tea?" Cui Niang said, bringing over a cup of tea.
"Hmm, I've been getting mouth blisters lately, it's like I'm getting a sore throat," Lanqin said. "Cui Niang, why did Nian suddenly decide to hand over control of the kitchen? It's not like her at all!"
“This servant also feels that Consort Nian has some ulterior motive for doing this!” said Cui Niang.
“Her excuse is quite legitimate; she wants to take care of the Third Prince, Hongsheng,” Lanqin said. “Alright, now that she’s back in charge of the kitchen, we need to investigate. Lady Nian has been in charge for almost a year now, and she’s planted her own people there. We need to find out who they are.”
"Yes, I will personally ask the head nanny for information about these people's backgrounds. The kitchen cannot be careless; it concerns the safety of the entire household's food supply," said Cui Niang.
"Yes, you go and investigate the background and connections of everyone inside with the head nanny. Of course, don't go too far. After all, we still have to give Lady Nian face. She's returning a favor. If the master hears this, he will also think that she meant well. If we make too much of a fuss, the master will think that we are deliberately targeting Lady Nian."
"Yes, Your Highness, please rest assured. I know what I'm doing," said Cui Niang.
"Hmm, by the way, is Li Wei good to you? Is your mother-in-law easy to get along with?" Lanqin asked, taking a sip of her mint tea.
"Everything is fine. My mother-in-law is hardworking and honest, and she says what she thinks. If she has any complaints about me, she will tell me directly instead of going to Li Wei to complain," said Cui Niang.
"Yes, it's not easy for a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law to get along. You should have a child for Li Weisheng early on, so your mother-in-law will have something to do and won't have so much free time to keep an eye on you," Lanqin said with a smile.
“Master! Please don’t worry about me so much. I’m more worried about you. Now that Uya’s pregnancy is getting bigger and bigger, I’m worried that she will be restless after giving birth. Also, the new Liu seems to have caught your eye. That Fucha woman is not so impressive anymore!” Cui Niang said.
“Cui Niang, what is there to worry about? Fourth Master has never belonged to me alone. He is the husband of all the women in this household. I can’t possibly expect to be with only one person for life. So, in this respect, I envy you, Cui Niang,” Lanqin said calmly. Lanqin hadn’t felt such heartache for a long time, perhaps after giving birth to the twins Hongli and Hongzhou.
“My lady! The master is still very good to you. You are still the most favored concubine in the Yong Prince’s mansion,” said Cui Niang.
Lanqin glanced down at the tortoiseshell fingernails on her fingernails, but felt no pride in them. She said calmly, "Cui Niang, you don't understand me. I don't easily offend others, but I won't let myself be bullied either. Now, Wuxiha, Bechuk, Hongli, and Hongzhou are all my children, and I must protect them and ensure their safe growth. As for Master's heart, I can't possess it entirely. His heart can't be just for me; it's very, very big, and it has to accommodate all the people and things in it."
Lanqin thought about how, after the Fourth Prince became emperor, there would be a selection of hundreds of people every three years, with a final selection of a dozen or even dozens of people.
"It's good that Your Highness has come to a decision. I was worried that Your Highness might not be able to make up your mind. I was just worrying unnecessarily," said Cui Niang.
"The family banquet for the Dragon Boat Festival must be prepared well. The Nian family has handed over the management of the kitchen to me at this time, so don't let anything go wrong!" Lanqin said solemnly.
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