Lanqin went straight to sleep as soon as she entered the room, and even dinner didn't interest her! Perhaps what Consort De said was a warning to her, who was already showing signs of being the sole favorite! The faces of the First Lady and the Second Lady were not good, and Lanqin, who was already regarded as a public enemy by her sisters in the harem, seemed to be having an even worse time: she had the Fourth Prince by her side, but she hadn't even gotten pregnant!
Perhaps it was time to readjust her thinking. Lanqin habitually fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. This was Lin Mengyao's old habit; whenever she encountered something she couldn't figure out, she would go to sleep and sleep until she was completely exhausted before getting up.
However, Fourth Master still came to the South Courtyard again that night, so Nianxue had to go to Lanqin's pillow and wake her up from bed.
"Get out, I want to sleep!" Lanqin almost roared. She hated it most when people forced her to get up when she didn't want to.
"Princess, the master is here, he's in the main room!" Nianxue said hurriedly in a low voice.
Grandpa, can you let me rest for a bit? Your mother just said we won't have your babies, but is having babies something that women can't do alone?
However, for the sake of a long-term meal ticket, Lanqin had no choice but to get out of bed again to serve him, no matter how much she didn't want to get out of bed now.
"What's wrong? The master is here, aren't you happy?" Fourth Master asked with a stern face.
"No, I was just thinking about what Consort De said, and I feel really terrified!" Lanqin raised her head, trying to pull herself out of her daze, thinking to herself: Your mother told you to be fair to everyone, but you always come to me, and all your other women just criticize me! What's going on here!
"You're still afraid?" Fourth Master said sarcastically.
"Yes, I haven't given the Prince a son or daughter yet, so I'm afraid some people will have something to say about it!" Lanqin said bluntly. She wasn't stupid enough to speak ill of Consort De, who was the Fourth Prince's sworn enemy, and besides, she was a concubine in the palace. How could a mere princess like her show any dissatisfaction with her!
"Are you referring to what Mother said today?" Fourth Master said with a dark expression.
Sure enough, no one would give a pleasant look when Consort De was mentioned.
Lanqin could tell from the Fourth Prince's expression that Consort De was untouchable! Although she didn't treat the Fourth Prince as her precious darling, Consort De was absolutely taboo in his heart!
"I feel guilty. You have been so good to me, but I have not been able to give you a son or daughter. I am ashamed to monopolize your favor." As soon as Lanqin said this, she immediately regretted it.
Why push the Fourth Prince away like this? The Fourth Prince's favor is not to be trifled with. So, just because of a few words from her mother-in-law (our Consort De), she has successfully brainwashed herself?
No, these words are too insincere. I haven't even decided whether to have the child or not! Why should I let others gossip? This child will be the future Emperor Qianlong, so I can't be careless. I must prepare well before pregnancy, otherwise, if I give birth to a mentally challenged or defective child, that would be a huge disservice to Emperor Qianlong!
Lanqin's mind wandered, filled with the pronouncements of married women from Lin Mengyao's former company who had given birth or were on their way to having children: taking folic acid, losing weight, adjusting one's mood, and, yes, what to give one's husband to improve sperm quality, and so on.
She didn't see at all that the Fourth Master's face was so dark it could drip water!
The last words the Fourth Prince spoke to Consort De were either meant to comfort her or to appease her; they weren't his true feelings. While some comfort and appeasement are necessary for filial piety, he simply couldn't bring himself to make all the women in the inner quarters happy and pregnant out of blind obedience. Therefore, as soon as he finished dealing with matters in the front courtyard, the Fourth Prince rushed to Lanqin's place, wanting to have a child with her. He was still willing to have a child with Lanqin. But every word this little princess uttered was a demand that he immediately get out of her courtyard and into another woman's bed—it was infuriating!
"If you give me a child, you can silence all those criticisms!" Fourth Master said in a deep voice, but in his heart he cursed: Damn it, since when did I need to discuss with a woman whether or not to have a child!
Lanqin glanced at Fourth Master and had to admit that the gentleness in his words made her blush instantly.
However, the thought of giving birth still filled Lanqin with a sense of panic.
Yes, as a modern, highly educated woman of the 21st century, she has always had a slight fear about having children, or not having children. She is not a woman who has been immersed in feudal culture for more than a decade, like the Fujin, Li Shi, or even Yin Shi, for whom having children is a matter of course, and even at the most dangerous moment, she would have to persuade her husband against her will to save the child!
Lanqin was a little worried. She was afraid that the same thing would happen to her. She couldn't guarantee that she could survive quietly after losing her child and being confined by the Fourth Master like Yin Shi did.
"Master, if I encounter danger while giving birth, will you save the mother or the child?" Lanqin asked a question that would make even a man born into an imperial family in this feudal society feel troubled, just like a question that couples often ask each other now: If your mother and I fell into the water at the same time, who would you save first?
Fourth Master was surprised by Lanqin's sudden question. Gazing into her innocent and pure eyes, he said, word by word, "I won't let anything happen to you!"
This answer pleased Lanqin somewhat, but it wasn't the answer she had hoped to hear. Ultimately, a woman's role in such a society was to bear children, constantly bearing children for men. Whether she was a primary wife or a secondary wife, her status was determined by the number of children she bore for men.
Lanqin thought she wouldn't be troubled by these issues, just as she had initially envisioned a carefree and leisurely life in the Fourth Master's household. However, when she actually faced them, she felt just as much fear and turmoil as she had.
Fourth Master, if I never have children in my life, will you still be so kind to me?
Lanqin seemed to have asked a question that belonged only to the 21st century, but she ultimately held back. In the Fourth Prince's inner quarters, the favor shown to him without children probably wouldn't last long. Even if the Fourth Prince didn't mind, how could Consort De sit idly by?
"Thank you, sir. I'm just a little scared of childbirth. It must be very painful!" Lanqin said.
“If you’re afraid, we can wait a bit. You’re still young, so it’s better for your health to have a baby a year or two later,” Fourth Master said.
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