Lady Liu looked at the eunuch and said, "You're clever, Cuizhu, reward me!"
Cuizhu took out some loose silver from her sleeve and tossed it to him. The latter accepted the silver with a smile and said, "Thank you for your reward, Master."
Supported by Cuizhu's hand, Lady Liu slowly entered Changyin Pavilion under the bowed heads of two eunuchs. This was a building surrounded by tall pavilions. In the center was a large courtyard furnished with tables and chairs. Whenever a master came to watch a performance, they only needed to sit down and give an instruction to the manager of Changyin Pavilion to select a play.
As soon as Liu stepped into the door of Changyin Pavilion, a steward came to greet her. Seeing that it was Liu, he did not dare to neglect her, after all, she was pregnant.
"This servant greets Princess Liu. Please be careful, Princess!" the steward said.
"I'm feeling really bored today. I'd like to hear a performance of 'The Peony Pavilion.' Is that possible?" Liu asked.
"Alright, Princess, please sit down. I'll go to the back and give the instructions, and the performance can begin immediately!" the steward said.
With Cui Zhu's help, Liu Shi sat down in the very center. A moment later, a maid brought over plates of fruit and pastries.
A series of drumbeats interrupted Liu's reverie. She had just recalled how infatuated she had been with the person on that stage, and how her father had arrested her and locked her up for a year before she gradually calmed down.
Liu looked anxiously at the figure on the stage, as if trying to find the person she had once been so infatuated with. She knew that what she was doing was extremely outrageous and dangerous. If the Fourth Prince found out, not only herself, but her entire Liu family would probably be implicated.
Liu gently stroked her belly, as if having this child had given her something to rely on. She no longer needed to be subservient or to go to the Fujin and the side Fujin to pay her respects.
Actually, Lanqin didn't want to see them, so she took the initiative to suggest to the Fourth Master that they be exempted from the greetings.
Mu Qingyang, the leading man of the Mu family troupe, dressed up as Liu Mengmei, wearing a moon-white double-breasted robe and a swallow-tailed hat. His face was painted white like the walls, and his eyes and the area around them were painted pink with peach blossom rouge.
Mu Qingyang's impeccable singing and stunning appearance still stirred ripples in Liu's heart, just as they had before. Cuizhu was unaware of Liu's connection to the Mu family's leading actor. Since that incident, Liu's father had replaced all the maids who had served her, precisely to prevent Liu from having any further contact with that actor from the Mu family.
Liu looked at the person on the stage, and the person on the stage also looked at Liu. The two of them stared straight at each other. Although they did not exchange a single word throughout the entire process, they had already spoken countless words in their silent eye contact.
"Princess, Liu Mengmei sings very well, and her stage presence is excellent," Cuizhu said from the side. She was also busy watching the play on stage and didn't notice Liu's expression at all.
"Go!" Liu stood up, uttered this word, and turned to walk in that direction.
Cuizhu was startled by Liu's action. She glanced at the stage longingly, then turned and followed her out.
Two eunuchs were guarding outside. When they saw Liu Shi come out, they quickly came out from the gatehouse, walked to the sedan chair, and hurriedly lifted the curtain for Liu Shi.
Liu's complexion didn't look as good as when she went in, so the two eunuchs didn't dare to be too attentive and quickly and deftly lifted the sedan chair and walked back.
After returning to Xinghuachun Pavilion, Madam Liu began to order food. Suddenly, as if remembering something, she said to Cuizhu, "Have the kitchen prepare a dish of 'Braised Chicken with Asparagus' and a dish of 'Sliced Fish in Vinegar Sauce' and send them to Mu Qingyang, the star performer of the Mu Family Troupe. Tell him that it is a reward from me. He sang very well today and deserves some reward."
Cuizhu immediately agreed. She had been watching with great interest, but unexpectedly Liu returned suddenly, so she said, "Master, then this servant will go and give the instructions."
Meanwhile, Lanqin indeed caught several grass carp and specially instructed Chef Niu to prepare spicy fish slices, fish head soup, and other dishes. Fourth Master naturally came for dinner, and upon seeing the dishes laid out on the table, he rubbed his hands and said, "I'm in for a treat today, did you catch these?"
"Yes, Master, come here, let me help you clear your head. You're always sitting in the room chatting about everything under the sun, my head is about to explode," Lanqin beckoned to the Fourth Master.
Fourth Master obediently got onto the bed, letting Lanqin comb his hair. The maids were continuously bringing dishes to the dining table.
"The matter of the deposed crown prince has finally been settled. The death of Hongjun has also been explained; it was indeed his doing." The Fourth Prince said, squinting his eyes. "Hongli's affairs are also related to him."
Upon hearing this, Lanqin unconsciously intensified her movements.
After the food was served, Lanqin had already re-braided Fourth Master's hair. The two walked to the dining table together and sat down facing each other.
"Qin'er, I have to get busy with the autumn examinations. The trip to Jiangnan that we agreed on will probably have to be postponed." Fourth Master said, picking up a piece of fish with his chopsticks.
"Yes, I understand. Winter is almost here, and Jiangnan is desolate. Let's wait until next spring," Lanqin said. She knew this was a crucial moment in the struggle for the throne, and the Fourth Prince's entire focus would be on it. Lanqin also knew that now was no longer the time to bide her time; the Fourth Prince had to show his true colors.
“When I’m not here, you can invite your mother, sisters, brothers and sisters-in-law to play in the courtyard. Also, let Ushihabechuk and Hongli meet their maternal grandparents’ relatives,” Fourth Master added.
Upon hearing this, Lanqin realized that Fourth Master was worried she would be bored, so he specially asked her to bring her family and relatives over for a visit. She didn't really want to see them, after all, she wasn't the real Niohuru Lanqin.
"I understand. Master, why don't you let Sister Song and Sister Wu meet their relatives as well? They've been in the manor for many years, and it's time for them to meet their families. After all, this isn't a royal palace, and there aren't as many rules here." Lanqin casually asked for a favor on behalf of them.
"Alright, you can arrange it as you see fit. They've been in the household for many years, so let those with relatives come in for a family reunion. The same goes for the new brides," said the Fourth Master.
Lanqin glanced at Fourth Master before saying, "Since Lady Liu is currently pregnant, she can be allowed to come in for a visit. Lady Fucha is also a Manchu noblewoman, and her family is in the capital, so she can also be allowed to come in for a visit."
Fourth Master nodded and said, "That's really what I mean. You can handle it as you see fit. Since Madam Nian is under house arrest, and you're the highest-ranking person here, you should be in charge of some things."
Since Lanqin resigned last time, she hasn't been involved in much of the household affairs. Seeing this, Fourth Master wanted to reinstate Lanqin as the head of the household.
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