"Daughter-in-law greets Father Emperor!" Lanqin had already untied her cloak belt and taken it off while she was outside.
"Come here!" Kangxi turned around and saw Lanqin's appearance, and found that she was different from the lively girl she used to be.
Lanqin saw that Kangxi was looking at a map, which was marked with some symbols in Manchu script, as well as a script that Lanqin could not understand.
Lanqin walked to Kangxi's side, looked at the beige cloth that resembled a map hanging there, and said, "This is a map of my Great Qing Dynasty, isn't it!"
Kangxi nodded and said, “The territory of our Great Qing is very vast. There are foreign devils eyeing it covetously. The Panchen Lama in the northwest is always plotting to break away from the rule of the Great Qing. Although Ryukyu in the east is just a small country, it often harasses the people of our Great Qing in the Sanmen area of Fujian.”
Lanqin couldn't help but say, "The Ryukyu Kingdom is a small country, and we should give them a good beating. Let them know that our Great Qing has the ability to defeat them and leave them bewildered."
Emperor Kangxi was taken aback, then smiled slightly and said, "Ever since I sent Shi Lang to take over Taiwan and conquer Ryukyu, that region has been much more peaceful."
"Your Majesty is wise!" Lanqin said.
"What's wrong with you, girl? Why are you so down? What did the son of the Tibetan chieftain say to you?" Kangxi noticed a somber mood in Lanqin's eyes, even though she had just forced herself to be cheerful.
“Your Majesty, I have been impolite. I was just about to report what Prince Indal had said to me. Please, Your Majesty, dismiss the others,” Lanqin said. Because of what Indal had said, those people might still be people close to Emperor Kangxi.
Kangxi nodded to Liang Jiugong, who immediately dismissed the standing palace maids and eunuchs, sending them all out.
Seeing that the area had been cleared, Lanqin stepped back a few paces and said to Kangxi, "Prince Indal told his daughter-in-law that someone was plotting to assassinate Father Emperor." After saying this, Lanqin recounted in detail how Indal had happened to be there that night.
Meanwhile, the Fourth Prince followed him all the way. As soon as he stepped into the Qianqing Palace, he saw a row of palace maids and eunuchs standing with their heads bowed at the palace gate. Even Liang Jiugong was standing at the palace gate.
"Father-in-law, why are you all standing outside?" Fourth Master walked up the steps in front of the hall and said to Liang Jiugong.
"It was His Majesty who ordered us to leave. His Majesty is currently discussing matters with the county officials inside," Liang Jiugong said. "Your Highness, you have misunderstood the concubine. She was sent by His Majesty to meet with Prince Indal." If it weren't for the Fourth Prince's status, Liang Jiugong would not have spoken up for the two of them like this.
Fourth Master had already realized that what had just happened was just Sixteen deliberately leading him there, but he still felt very uncomfortable when he saw Lanqin fall into Indal's arms.
"Thank you for your guidance, Father-in-law." Fourth Master walked up the steps and stood side by side with Liang Jiugong.
None of them knew what Kangxi and Lanqin were talking about inside, and they were guessing what their conversation was.
Inside, Emperor Kangxi was deep in thought, while Lanqin stood quietly to the side, awaiting his decision.
"Father, I believe that your safety is tied to the safety of the Qing Dynasty. Please reconsider!" Lanqin advised when she saw that Kangxi was still hesitating.
"I'll consider it some more. Take your leave now!" Kangxi sat on the dragon throne, his face looking somewhat gloomy.
"Yes, daughter-in-law has something else to tell you," Lanqin said, curtsying with her knees bent.
"What is it?" Kangxi asked.
“My daughter-in-law has been in the palace for several days, and I miss my youngest daughter dearly. Please, Father Emperor, allow my daughter-in-law to bring my youngest son, Hongli, back to the palace,” Lanqin said.
Kangxi did not answer Lanqin's question directly. He looked at her profile, pondered for a moment, and said, "Alright, you should go back first. Hongli is young but very intelligent. Take good care of him when you get back."
"Yes, daughter-in-law takes her leave!" Lanqin bowed her head and took a few steps back before tiptoeing to the palace entrance.
While Fourth Master was talking to Liang Jiugong, Lanqin overheard a few words from inside the door, then pushed open the door and went out.
"Father-in-law, you may go in and serve him," Lanqin said to Liang Jiugong.
"Oh, alright. Your Highness, Consort, that servant has gone in. You few, go in and serve the Emperor," Liang Jiugong said.
After they had all gone inside, Lanqin said to the Fourth Prince, "I have just asked Father Emperor for permission. Father Emperor has granted me permission to return to the mansion with Hongli." After saying that, she walked down the steps alone, ignoring the Fourth Prince, and walked alone towards the palace road.
The Fourth Prince immediately chased after her, but didn't say anything to Lanqin. The two of them walked towards Yonghe Palace one after the other.
When Lanqin returned to her side hall, Sihua immediately came to greet her.
"My lady, where have you been? I've been looking for you all day and I can't find you. I'm so worried!" Si Hua said hurriedly.
"Father has something to attend to. Si Hua, pack your things, you can go back to the manor now," Lan Qin said.
"Huh? Oh!" Si Hua didn't know what was going on either. As soon as she heard that she could go back to the manor, she immediately turned around with joy and went to pack her things.
The Fourth Prince went to Consort De's palace to pay his respects and also told Consort De about Lanqin and Hongli's return to the mansion before coming to Lanqin's place.
"You all go out. The master and his concubine have something to say," the Fourth Prince said to Si Hua.
Lanqin sat on the edge of the bed in the inner room and heard Fourth Master's voice, knowing he had arrived. But at this moment, she didn't seem to want to say anything to him, nor did she know what to say.
Lanqin decided to take off her clothes and pretend to be asleep. She immediately started to take off her clothes, then took off her cheongsam and threw it aside. She then kicked off her shoes and climbed into bed.
The Fourth Prince dismissed Si Hua and several palace maids, and entered Lan Qin's room. He saw a faint fragrance wafting through the slightly dim room. Through the gauze curtains, he saw the figure on the bed.
"I misunderstood you today!" Fourth Master never apologized to anyone, let alone showed weakness in front of his woman, but today he did doubt her at that moment.
Lanqin remained lying still, her heart seemingly submerged at the bottom of a lake, unwilling to speak or listen to any explanation.
"Qin'er!" When Fourth Master saw that Lanqin ignored him, he took a few steps forward and stood by her bedside.
"Master, Lanqin is sleepy. Let me sleep for a while. When you want to leave, just have Sihua come and wake me up," Lanqin said.
"Qin'er!" Fourth Master knew that Lanqin must feel aggrieved, but he himself felt aggrieved as well. "You inexplicably got together with that man, and it's not without reason that I think that way."
"Didn't you just say that you would completely trust me? How come you've forgotten what you just said so quickly?" Lanqin said with her back turned.
"I!" Fourth Master stared at Lanqin's retreating figure, speechless. He truly didn't trust her enough; he hadn't truly trusted anyone yet, and he couldn't bring himself to trust anyone without a trace of doubt.
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