While Wu and Song were cheering for Wuya's misfortune, Nian sat sullenly in the main room of the East Courtyard, stroking the cat's fur.
“Master, the Uya clan has destroyed itself this time, what does it have to do with us!” Cui Ling said immediately when she saw that Nian was unhappy.
“But if she gets anxious, she might implicate me, the concubine!” Lady Nian glared at Cui Ling a few times.
“Master, don’t admit it. Say she’s framing us. Anyway, Master doesn’t believe her anymore. Whatever she says, Master might not believe it anyway,” Cui Ling said.
Bai Zhi, who was standing to the side, said, "What Cui Ling said is not without reason. As long as the master does not admit it, the master may not believe her. However, we do not know how Wu Ya was confined by the master, nor do we know what the master learned from her."
Madam Nian said, "It would be better if this woman were locked up in Zhanghua Terrace by the master. I'm afraid she might say something incoherent and make the master suspicious of the East Courtyard."
Those who don't know the truth would really think that the Nian family did nothing wrong and was truly framed by the Wuya family!
“My lady, I have an idea, but I’m willing to take a little risk,” Bai Zhi pondered.
“Speak!” Lady Nian raised an eyebrow.
"Find a way to get in and talk to that Wuya woman. Assure her that if she doesn't mention the East Courtyard, the master can plead for her before the master. On the contrary, if she does mention it, the Nian family will never let her go. She's not just herself; it's said she has another daughter," Bai Zhi said.
Ms. Nian's eyelids twitched, and she said, "There are people guarding her door now. We'll have to think of a way to get in."
Bai Zhi pondered, "My lady, isn't there a big tree near Princess Wuya's bedroom? I've been able to climb trees since I was a child. I can climb up the tree and say a few words to the people inside."
Upon hearing this, Nian immediately nodded and said, "Alright, Baizhi, I'll leave this matter to you."
Lanqin, far away in Consort De's palace, was naturally unaware of all the events that had transpired in the Fourth Prince's residence. At that moment, she was practicing grinding ink under the constant tutelage of Granny De and Consort De!
"Consort, you mustn't slouch. As the Emperor's lady-in-waiting, you must have an extraordinary bearing. How can you stand like that? Stand up straight!" Granny De scolded.
Lanqin was standing behind a large rosewood desk carved with a fairy offering peaches. On the desk were a cigarette holder and several brush washers. Consort De was sitting upright in a high-backed chair by the window, facing the large desk, watching Lanqin grind ink.
"Stand up straight!" Consort De's expression was quite stern.
Lanqin's hand trembled slightly as she straightened her back. She had been dragged here by Granny De to practice the ink-grinding posture for an hour. It was just a few simple movements, and after an hour, her hands and back were already sore.
But after Consort De arrived, she insisted that Consort De make her practice for two hours every day. Was she trying to train Consort De to become a standard lady-in-waiting to the emperor?
Lanqin pondered to herself, glancing at Consort De from the corner of her eye every now and then.
"Mother, it's time for your daughter-in-law to take Hongli to Father Emperor's place." Lanqin couldn't hold back any longer, so she used this excuse.
"Your mother has already sent someone to take Hongli there, so you don't need to worry about him," said Consort De.
"..." Lanqin lowered her head and continued to practice diligently, her heart already filled with tears. She thought to herself, "Does serving someone who grinds ink really require so much effort?"
"Consort, your arm must not bend!" Granny De said again when she saw Lanqin's arm, which was holding her sleeve, begin to bend.
Lanqin sighed silently, and had no choice but to endure the soreness in her wrists and arms, straighten up, and continue grinding.
“Niohuru, the Emperor has appointed you to serve him, which is a great blessing for you, do you understand?” Consort De said. “Therefore, you must not show any disrespect. Every day when you leave my palace, you must have a set time for leaving and returning. You must not let anyone find out and gossip about it.”
"Yes, daughter-in-law will remember Mother's teachings," Lanqin replied helplessly.
"Today, you will have lunch with me and learn the proper etiquette for dining. I've heard that you haven't taught the Emperor any etiquette at all," Consort De continued.
"..." Lanqin felt like a few leaves were slipping through her mind, wishing she could escape from here immediately.
After the court session, the Fourth Prince found another excuse to go to the Qianqing Palace, but there he only saw Hongli and not Lanqin. Kangxi said, "Lanqin didn't come today."
The Fourth Prince found an opportunity to ask Lan Qi, and Lan Qi then asked her to leave Consort De behind so that her master could learn etiquette.
When the Fourth Prince arrived at Yonghe Palace, Lanqin was sitting opposite Consort De, listening to Consort De tell her about some of the rules and taboos in the palace, especially the taboos in front of Emperor Kangxi.
"Your Majesty, the Fourth Prince has arrived," a palace maid announced as she entered.
At this moment, Lanqin really hoped that the Fourth Prince could come and save her. After Consort De's outburst, she was almost exhausted by her whole morning, and now she still had to say a lot of things and wasn't given any food.
"Fourth Prince, you've come at the right time. I'm currently reprimanding your concubine. Your father has ordered her to go and serve as an inkstone attendant, and she must not be as unruly as before," Consort De said before the Fourth Prince could speak.
“Mother is right. Your son also thinks that Niohuru was indeed a bit unruly before, and Mother’s admonition was correct,” the Fourth Prince said.
Lanqin felt like a million curses were running through her mind; she was going to be driven crazy by this old-fashioned mother and son!
"Mother, I just came from the Qianqing Palace. Father Emperor has already sent Niohuru to see me, so I rushed over here," said the Fourth Prince.
"Your father is sending her over now?" Consort De asked, slightly surprised.
"Yes, my son is here to take Niohuru over," the Fourth Master said with certainty.
"It's almost time for dinner, why do you still want her to dine with you?" Consort De asked, still somewhat incredulous. But the Fourth Prince was a man who would never lie.
“Mother, Father said yesterday that watching me eat makes his appetite better,” Lanqin said immediately, regardless of whether it was true or not.
"Alright, then you may go with the Fourth Prince. Remember these rules and taboos that I have taught you; you must not make any mistakes," said Consort De.
"Yes, daughter-in-law will remember Mother's teachings," Lanqin said patiently. No one is perfect; everyone makes mistakes.
After Lanqin followed the Fourth Prince out of Yonghe Palace, she grasped her wrist and began to practice. No wonder she was tired after practicing all morning.
"Are your hands sore?" Fourth Master asked Lanqin.
Lanqin still refused to speak to the Fourth Master, and instead rubbed her wrists with her back to him.
"Come here!" Fourth Master said.
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