"Master, what could I possibly be unhappy about? I'm really fine. It's just that you came back with such a cold face, which scared Sister Song and Sister Wu away." Lanqin poked the Fourth Master's forehead with her finger.
"Do you want them to dine with you? Don't you want me to accompany you?" Fourth Master asked Lanqin with interest.
"How could I have known that you would be back at this time! I didn't even prepare what you like!" Lanqin said.
"I'm used to the food here. I'm fine with whatever you serve; it won't be too bad," Fourth Master said trustingly. It turned out that the little woman was worried that he wasn't eating well.
"Then don't say it's not good later. I've prepared dishes that women like to eat," Lanqin said playfully to the Fourth Master.
Seeing the frozen smile on Lanqin's lips, Fourth Master immediately had a bad feeling. When the table was set and dishes that Lanqin had prepared for herself and the Song and Wu women were served, Fourth Master understood.
The first dish was "Papaya Tangyuan" (glutinous rice balls with papaya filling). Today, a papaya was split in half, the flesh scooped out, and the resulting small yellow tangyuan lay in a papaya container, looking very appetizing. However, this dish is generally preferred by women.
The second dish was braised pig's trotters with snow frog. It was an absolute beauty and health tonic, with a few small green scallions floating on the snow-white broth. Fourth Master looked at it and didn't feel like eating it; it was too bland, and besides, he didn't eat pig's trotters.
The third dish was a "Three Delicacies Stew," made with quail eggs, clams, and pork tenderloin in a broth, served with bean sprouts, daylily buds, and cilantro. It was also a completely white broth. It seemed like this dish was worth a try for Fourth Master.
The fourth dish was roast pigeon, which is also a nourishing food for women. Next came several vegetarian dishes, including hand-shredded eggplant, cold shredded radish salad, and amaranth with minced garlic.
"Master, would you like a preserved egg? We always have them." Lanqin said, trying not to laugh as she looked at Fourth Master's reluctant expression.
"It seems that the timing was truly unfortunate this time, sir. Could you please stir-fry some beef with bell peppers for me as well? I can have it with some vegetables for one meal," said Fourth Master.
Lanqin smiled and nodded, signaling Sihua to quickly ask the kitchen staff to prepare some dishes that the Fourth Master liked.
After the two sat down facing each other, Lanqin began to eat. She ate pigeon and pig's feet, and found it amusing to watch the Fourth Master eating amaranth while glancing at her.
"Master, this pig's trotter looks really good, want some?" Lanqin picked up a large piece of pig's trotter and held it up to Fourth Master, saying with a grin.
Fourth Master glared at the pig's trotters pointing at him and said, "I won't eat it. I don't need any beauty filters. My natural appearance is already quite good enough!"
Pfft!!
Lanqin smiled and put the pig's trotter into her bowl, suppressing a laugh as she said, "Hmm, my looks are still pretty good!"
Fourth Master was too lazy to pay attention to Lanqin's "strange and unusual" words. He lowered his head, ate some beef haphazardly, and then stopped.
Lanqin ate a bowl of spicy snacks, which were all her favorite foods anyway.
"It's getting a bit cold outside. Should we have them light a brazier and bring it into your room?" Fourth Master said, reclining on Lanqin's couch.
"No need, it's not even November yet, why bother lighting a fire pit so early!" Lanqin said.
"I was worried you'd be cold, you're very sensitive to the cold." Fourth Master beckoned to Lanqin, gesturing for her to get on the bed.
After the maids had finished tidying up, Lanqin ordered Sihua and Shuiling to come and loosen her hair, and also to loosen the Fourth Master's hair. The two women took off their clothes, loosened their hair, and prepared to take a nap.
Just then, a servant came in to report that Lady Fucha wished to pay her respects to the Fourth Prince. Upon hearing this, Lanqin frowned. How did they know that the Fourth Prince had returned at this time?
The Fourth Prince was taken aback. He remembered that it was said today that Lady Fucha's mother was coming to the garden, but he had already taken off his clothes and let his hair down, and he didn't want to see her at all. So he said to Su Peisheng, "Just say that I have already taken a nap and that Lady Fucha can stay in the garden for a few more days, and that Princess Fucha can take her to enjoy the garden for a few days. There is no need for me to come and pay my respects."
Lanqin lay on her side on the couch, and when she heard what the Fourth Master said, a faint smile appeared on her lips.
"Qin'er?" Fourth Master turned over and put his arm around Lanqin's waist.
"In broad daylight, Master!" Lanqin said coquettishly, thinking that Fourth Master wanted to do *that* in broad daylight again.
"That's not what I meant, but when I put my arm around your waist, that's exactly what I meant!" Fourth Master retorted playfully.
"Oh. I misunderstood. Then why did you call me, Your Highness?" Lanqin thought the Fourth Master was a bit eccentric today, but quite amusing.
"Do you miss Hongzhou? If so, I can help you get Hongzhou back," the Fourth Master said calmly. "He was originally your child. It was just a temporary measure to have Geng Shi raise him."
Lanqin's heart pounded. It would be a lie to say she didn't care about Hongzhou at all, but she was also a little afraid of the saying that the "Civil and Military Stars" had descended to earth at the same time, despite their mutual influence and restraint. Moreover, Hongzhou had never had a moment of peace with her.
"Let's discuss it again. Sister Geng is raising Hongzhou very well. If she suddenly wants him back, it won't be good for either Hongzhou or Sister Geng," Lanqin said. That child has been living with Madam Geng for a long time, and he probably already considers Madam Geng his mother.
Seeing that Lanqin wasn't insisting on getting Hongzhou back, Fourth Master knew she was considering whether Hongzhou would be suitable to come back. He said, "A two-year-old child doesn't recognize people yet. If you don't bring him back now, it might be difficult to get him back when he's older."
That makes sense, and Lanqin suddenly felt conflicted.
On the other hand, after receiving the Fourth Prince's reply, Lady Fucha immediately began to believe her daughter's words to some extent.
“Mother, you saw it, Master came back and went straight to Niohuru’s side. He didn’t show a single one of us here,” said Fucha.
"Oh, it was you who insisted on marrying into this family back then. Otherwise, it would have been so much better if you had been the principal wife of the Li family." Fucha sighed, seeing that her daughter was not favored here.
"Why bring up what happened back then? Mother, there's still a long time ahead. Besides, I'm still young, and I'll have my chance." Fucha Shi wasn't in a hurry at all. She thought that once the Fourth Prince became emperor, she would enter the palace and become a noble lady or concubine.
"That's the only way. Your mother is worried about your life. But you don't seem to be worried at all," said Lady Fucha.
"What's the use of being anxious? Let's just live with it," said Lady Fucha. In fact, she had been studying and figuring out the Fourth Prince's preferences recently, and was no longer as eager to show off in front of him as before.
Seeing her like this, Lady Fucha was relieved. After enjoying the Yuanmingyuan Garden with Princess Fucha for a few days, they returned home.
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