Since taking up his post at the Ministry of Revenue, the Fourth Prince would visit Lanqin almost every day after returning home. Sometimes they would have dinner together, sometimes they would just sit and chat about their experiences, sometimes he would stay overnight, and sometimes he would go elsewhere. Lanqin knew that the Fourth Prince had ultimately heeded Consort De's warning not to neglect him too much elsewhere. Lanqin also knew that the Fourth Prince wasn't just hers; she couldn't interfere if he was willing. Every time the Fourth Prince returned, he would ask for chilled plum juice. Therefore, every afternoon Lanqin would have Huanbi prepare a special portion for him.
"Princess, why do you suddenly like tying these auspicious knots so much?" Huanbi held a bunch of lotus flowers that had just been delivered from the garden, walked to the tall stool behind Lanqin, and inserted the flowers in her hand into it.
"Then look how well I've done!" Lanqin showed Huanbi the knot she had tied halfway through; she had now learned how to tie a flower knot.
"Your Highness is so skillful; you learned to tie this knot so quickly, and you've already started tying flower knots. If I were to learn it, I definitely wouldn't be able to," Huanbi said ingratiatingly.
"You have such a sweet tongue. By the way, go to my room and get a jade pendant from my jewelry box. I want to tie a love knot with it." Lanqin received a considerable dowry from Anjia when she did her wedding. Yesterday, she took it out, found a fine piece of mutton-fat jade, and casually put it in her dressing box. Usually, she had Nianxue do the chores in her room, but seeing Huanbi there, she let her go.
"Yes, Princess." Huanbi happily put down the vase containing lotus flowers and went into Lanqin's bedroom to retrieve the jade. Previously, she and Ziran were not allowed to serve in the inner room; it was always Nianxue and Xicha who served. Now that Lanqin had let her in, it seemed that she was already treating her as a first-class maid.
Lanqin looked at the flower knot in her hand, thought for a moment, and a smile appeared on her lips. This was the first time she had done needlework for a man. Although it was just a lucky knot, it was still a first for Lin Mengyao, who was usually a tomboy!
"Princess, is this the jade pendant?" Huanbi walked up to Lanqin with the jade pendant in her hand, holding it in her palm for Lanqin to see.
"Quick, give it to me! This is the perfect spot to embed the jade pendant!" Lanqin reached out and took the round jade pendant from Huanbi's hand, which looked as if it had been soaked in milk, and placed it into the woven circular net.
"Princess, it's so beautiful! The love knot you made, along with this jade pendant, is a perfect match," Huanbi exclaimed.
"Okay, you can step back now. I'll weave in peace for a while longer. If you all stand here or talk, I'm more likely to make mistakes." Lanqin poked the jade pendant with her fingers and began weaving again.
Huanbi acknowledged and withdrew. Lanqin spent almost two hours weaving, and when she saw the nearly finished jade pendant knot, a bright smile appeared on her lips. However, after sitting for almost an entire afternoon, Lanqin felt aches and pains in her back and couldn't help but yawn and stretch.
Seeing that the sun was already setting, Lanqin put down the red maid, got off the bed and walked to the door. She saw Li Shubao bathing Fubao. Nianxue, Xicha and others should be resting in the side room. Seeing Huanbi watching Li Shubao bathe the dog, Lanqin called out. Huanbi immediately went over and helped Lanqin out.
"I've been cooped up inside all day, come with me for a walk." Lanqin suddenly felt a bit bored and wanted to go out for a stroll, since it was still a bit early before Fourth Master would return.
Huanbi nodded and then helped Lanqin go for a walk.
The mistress and servant strolled slowly along the east path through the mansion. When they reached a small garden connecting the South Garden and the North Garden, they saw two people sitting in the octagonal pavilion. Lanqin rarely associated with the Fourth Master's other women; apart from Madam Geng, only Madam Li would occasionally visit the East Garden.
“Gege, it looks like Princess Song and Princess Wang.” Huanbi tiptoed to look at the two people in the pavilion.
"Let's go talk to them." If it were the old Lanqin, she might not have gone to greet them, but ever since she decided to have a child with the Fourth Master, she has slowly begun to accept the current situation and has started to try to get along peacefully with the women in the inner quarters, to be a true woman of the inner quarters.
"What a refined taste you two have! I hope I haven't disturbed you," Lanqin said with a smile as she helped Huanbi to the pavilion entrance.
Wang saw Lanqin first, followed by Song, who was holding an embroidery hoop, as if she was embroidering something.
“We’re so happy to have our little sister here, don’t you think, Sister Song?” Madam Wang said first.
“Sister Niu, come and sit down. I’m talking to Sister Wang about this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival family dinner,” Song said gently.
"What is Sister Song embroidering?" Lanqin, supported by Huanbi, sat down on the side opposite Song and Wang.
"I'm making a set of undergarments for Fourth Master. This is the dragon pattern embroidered on it," Madam Song said with a smile, then handed the embroidery frame to Qingping, who was standing to the side.
“Sister Song is very skilled at needlework, so I dare not show off my skills in this area. I was just thinking about what to give as a birthday gift for the Fourth Prince. Sister Niu, I heard that you were praised by the Emperor in the palace last time. Why don’t you give me some ideas?” Madam Wang said with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Lanqin felt a little embarrassed. The gift she wanted to give was a ruyi knot, which she had thought about for a long time before coming up with it. How could she give Wang Shi any more suggestions? Besides, it was best to give her whatever she liked. So she said, "Sister, give me whatever you like. What I say may not suit your taste."
Seeing her say that, Madam Wang looked a little embarrassed, and Madam Song quickly smoothed things over by saying, "I wonder what Sister Niu plans to give?" As expected, Madam Wang also cast an inquiring look at Lanqin.
Okay, I just refused to help with ideas, and if I keep it a secret now, it will definitely upset them. But I just don't want to say anything. I really want to give Fourth Master a little surprise! I already know about the gift beforehand, so I should leave some suspense about what it means.
"Actually, I'm not ready yet either. You ladies will find out when the time comes." Lanqin still didn't want to tell them first.
“Look, Sister Song, Sister Niu doesn’t want to tell us. Well then, Sister Song, have you seen the eldest princess recently?” Madam Wang suddenly looked at Madam Song and Lanqin mysteriously.
"I did see him when I went to pay my respects to the Fujin. That child, he never really said anything when he saw me," Song said with a forced smile.
“In two more years, the eldest princess will be of marriageable age,” said Madam Wang.
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