“If we try to win over the master’s heart at this time, it will only exacerbate the rift between them,” Uya said.
“That’s right. Sister, you can take advantage of the time Niohuru is away to win back Master’s heart. Since we’ve decided to cooperate, there’s no reason for us to part ways before we’ve even accomplished anything,” said Madam Nian.
After thinking for a moment, Lady Wuya nodded and said, "Alright, as long as Consort Nian is well-informed and sends someone over regularly to relay messages, we don't believe we can't win over the prince's heart."
“Alright, it’s a deal. I, as a concubine, will use all my informants and connections within this household to serve you, sister,” said Lady Nian.
Meanwhile, after Lanqin returned from Hongli's room, Cui Niang, seeing that she couldn't argue with Lanqin, had no choice but to go back first.
"Master, His Majesty has instructed that I will enter the palace in three days. What do you need me to pack? Are you taking me with you?" Seeing that Lanqin looked indifferent and did not ask whether the Fourth Master had left any instructions, Sihua had no choice but to speak up.
"Just pack some clothes and jewelry. In the palace, you know what clothes and jewelry to wear depending on who you're meeting. You decide." After saying that, Lanqin called Xicha and Shuiling to fetch water to help her wash up. The Fourth Prince didn't ask a single question.
After Lanqin rolled onto the bed, she looked at the mosquito net topped with countless mosquitoes and thought about what had happened these past few days. She didn't bite anyone, yet she was being bitten repeatedly. Was she too weak? Before, relying on the Fourth Prince's favor, she ignored the schemes and plots of those women, but this time, why did the Fourth Prince suddenly no longer trust her? Perhaps the power of the Uya clan was truly considerable; she had underestimated them!
"Master, Master!"
Just as Lanqin was lost in thought, the voice of Shuiling, who was on night watch, rang out from outside.
"What's wrong?" Lanqin replied through the mosquito net.
"Master, the master has arrived!" Shui Ling said from the doorway.
"..." Lanqin rolled her eyes inwardly. Thinking about it, Fourth Master hadn't come since Wuya's incident, so it was no wonder he was embarrassed to come. She hadn't given him a kind look since.
"Just say I'm already asleep." Lanqin was too lazy to get up and greet him. She knew that by the time she said this, Fourth Master would probably already be in the main room. Sure enough, Shuiling didn't respond, and footsteps sounded outside.
Lanqin pulled the blanket up, wrapping herself up like a dumpling. If he wanted to come, so be it; she could refuse to serve him! Did Fourth Master really intend to force himself on her? He came so quickly—had he already found out she wasn't the one who harmed Wuya? It couldn't be that fast! But why did he come again?
Lanqin pretended to be asleep, completely ignoring the Fourth Master outside.
A short while later, the door to Lanqin's room was opened. A series of light footsteps sounded all the way to Lanqin's bedside.
"master!"
Upon hearing this, Lanqin realized it was Shui Ling's voice, not Fourth Master's.
"What?" Lanqin, embarrassed to pretend to be asleep any longer, poked her head out from under the covers and asked.
“The master just came over and asked about what the master should bring when entering the palace in three days. He also specially prepared some jewelry for the master, saying that the master is not usually particular about things, but it won't do once the master enters the palace. He will inevitably have to move around frequently. All the jewelry is displayed outside,” Shui Ling said. “After saying this, he asked the master again, and we told him that you were asleep, so the master left.”
After hearing this, Lanqin felt less uncomfortable. It seemed that the scumbag Fourth Prince wasn't so scum after all; he hadn't come to sleep with her, otherwise Lanqin would have given him the middle finger. After doubting her, he inexplicably came to sleep with her again. Was it because Kangxi had suddenly summoned her and Hongli to the palace?
“Master, those jewels are so beautiful, would you like to take a look?” Shui Ling suggested, knowing that Lan Qin was not asleep at all.
"I don't want to look at it, I don't care. Just put it away. Anyway, the things that are taken into the palace are only for his relatives to see. They won't do me any good!" Lanqin pulled the covers over her head and ignored Shuiling.
Shui Ling was stunned for a long time, still unable to understand the meaning of Lan Qin's words. However, as a maid, she couldn't ask any more questions and immediately tiptoed out.
The next day, the Fourth Prince sent another batch of fabric to Lanqin's residence, and also ordered two embroiderers from the manor to come and take her measurements to make new autumn clothes. Although there wasn't enough time to finish them, if they were done first, the Fourth Prince could send them to the palace!
"Consort, you look so beautiful in this cherry blossom pink cheongsam," the embroiderer said, draping a piece of cherry blossom Shu satin over Lanqin's shoulders.
"Hmm, not bad, but you have to be careful, it can't be too red." Lanqin had no interest in making any new clothes.
"Don't worry, none of this is considered overstepping the bounds. The concubine is sensible and kind, and I feel comfortable serving her," the embroiderer said.
"Alright, you can decide what to do." Lanqin was thinking about how to make her life more comfortable after entering the palace. She had also figured it out; she couldn't be so fixated on the Fourth Prince, such a crooked tree!
After the two embroiderers had carried out all the fabric for the clothes bestowed upon them by the Fourth Master, Lanqin finally got to rest. At this time, Shuiling had also brought out the jewelry that the Fourth Master had bestowed upon her overnight the previous day and placed it one by one in front of Lanqin.
“Master, would you like to take a look at these pieces of jewelry?” Shui Ling asked.
Lanqin didn't want to look at it for long. She only saw three boxes of jewelry, each containing a complete set of headdresses, some with kingfisher feathers, some with gold inlaid with jade, and some with red agate and gemstones.
"Take them all off, they're too dazzling. I'm not a palace concubine, and it's not a good thing for me to wear such ostentatious clothes in the palace," Lanqin said.
“Master! The master has already sent jewelry and clothes, you shouldn’t be so indifferent,” Cui Niang couldn’t help but say again.
"How should I respond? Should I express my gratitude? These things are meant to be worn for the people in the palace to see, and I don't feel comfortable at all," Lanqin said, still refusing to say a word to the Fourth Prince.
“My lord, even if you don’t think of yourself, you should think of the Sixth Prince. Now, perhaps the master is thinking of the benefits he has for you, but he’s not that kind of person. So this is his way of showing reconciliation with you,” said Cui Niang.
“Cui Niang, please don’t try to persuade me this time, okay? Every time something happens to Wuya, he thinks it’s my doing. What’s the point of this? Hongli’s future depends on his own fate, I’m not worried about him,” Lanqin said.
“Your Highness, after you entered the palace, Consort De will inevitably try to persuade you. Please don’t be so stubborn and argue with her like that,” said Cui Niang.
“Cui Niang, your master isn’t that stupid. She can tell what’s important, okay?” Lan Qin said speechlessly. This Cui Niang was treating her like a three-year-old.
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