These words shocked everyone present. The Sixteenth Princess's face instantly went from a slight blush to an embarrassed pale. She stamped her foot and said to the Empress Dowager in a wronged tone, "Grandmother, Ruishu suddenly feels unwell. Ruishu will take her leave!"
The Empress Dowager naturally wouldn't stop it, because no woman could stand being rejected by a man like that.
Lanqin was surprised that Indar would refuse in such a way; it was really disrespectful to the Sixteenth Princess. But when she thought about how he was a Tibetan nobleman, she wasn't surprised. They were different from the Han Chinese; they preferred to be tactful and leave room for maneuver in their words and actions. They were also more straightforward and said what they meant.
Consort De remained calm, showing neither surprise nor a hint of amusement, simply waiting for the Empress Dowager's questioning.
"Indal, you, why are you so ungrateful? I have already written to your mother and told her about Ruishu's birth date and time. She also approves of your marriage." The Empress Dowager could no longer maintain her usual dignified and noble expression; anger was evident between her brows.
“Your Majesty, Indal’s marriage is a matter for Indal to decide. Please do not force Indal. Indal is here on behalf of his father to attend the Emperor’s court ceremony. Please do not bring this matter up again,” Indal said.
The Empress Dowager was surprised that Indal didn't care about her reputation at all, and actually said such things in front of Consort De. Her expression immediately turned sour.
"You, you just said that you already have a woman you like. Who is she?" The Empress Dowager finally remembered something and asked.
“Your Majesty, the woman Indal admires is not here, and you don’t know her, so why ask?” Indal said. Lanqin couldn’t help but glance at him a few more times, thinking to herself that this prince was really something, showing no respect for the Empress Dowager, but he was quite pleasing to her.
"Enough, I'm tired. Everyone, disperse." The Empress Dowager couldn't maintain the facade any longer, and she didn't want to confront Indal directly. Although she was his aunt, he was still a Tibetan prince, and the Empress Dowager had no right to punish him.
After the Empress Dowager hurriedly left with the help of a palace maid, Consort De had no choice but to say to everyone, "Since the Empress Dowager is not staying for dinner, let's disperse and go home."
After Consort De left with the help of a palace maid, Lanqin said to Indal, "Prince, thank you for today."
Fourth Master was surprised that Lanqin would suddenly speak to Indal, and he didn't understand the meaning of her "thank you," so he frowned and asked, "Do you know each other?"
Indal, naturally, could not reveal his inner thoughts at this moment. He clasped his hands and said, "I had a chance encounter with the Fourth Prince's concubine in the Imperial Garden. I only saw the concubine slip from a tree and took her hand to pull her back."
Lanqin said, "If it weren't for the prince's pull, I might have been smashed into a pulp."
When the Fourth Prince saw that such a thing had happened to them, and that it was even in the Imperial Garden, he felt even more uneasy.
After Lanqin left, Fourth Master hurriedly followed her out, not even having time to return Indal's gift.
Lanqin felt good along the way, probably because the Empress Dowager looked embarrassed. Anyway, Lanqin didn't like that old woman.
"How exactly did you get to know that Indal?" Fourth Master followed behind Lanqin and asked.
"Didn't they just explain? How many times do you want me to ask, Master?" Lanqin said.
"You, how did you get to the Imperial Garden? He just happened to be there too?" The Fourth Prince felt as if cat claws were scratching at his heart.
"I went to the Imperial Garden to admire the flowers, of course. As for what that Tibetan prince was doing there, I really don't know," Lanqin said. She suddenly realized that the Fourth Prince seemed a little jealous; his aura was off.
"From now on, you are not allowed to run around alone," Fourth Master said sternly.
"Your Highness, this isn't the Fourth Prince's residence, it's none of your business!" Lanqin suddenly found this man a bit annoying, why was he becoming more and more like Consort De?
“You are my concubine, and I can keep track of you wherever you are,” the Fourth Prince said.
"Anyway, you have no right to interfere in this palace! Don't forget, I'm a county magistrate now, and I have a rank too." Lanqin stomped her foot angrily, and before the Fourth Prince could react, she turned and walked straight ahead.
After they all returned to Consort De's quarters, Lanqin used the excuse of going to fetch Hongli, leaving the Fourth Prince behind, and went to Qianqing Palace. She didn't want to argue with the Fourth Prince in front of Consort De at this time, especially not something so boring.
The Fourth Master grew increasingly angry when he saw that Lanqin was deliberately avoiding him. Although he was willing to humble himself before her, he could never allow her to have feelings for someone else.
But since Lanqin went to the Qianqing Palace, the Fourth Prince couldn't go there with her, so he could only stay in Consort De's Palace and sulk.
"Your Highness, the Empress wants you to come over." A palace maid's voice came from behind.
The Fourth Prince followed the palace maid to Consort De's Western Buddhist Hall, where he saw Consort De sitting cross-legged in front of the Guanyin statue.
"Mother~" Fourth Master called out.
"Today, you almost said something inappropriate in front of the Empress Dowager. Fortunately, I stopped you," Consort De said sternly.
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