When the maid brought the tea, Lanqin looked at the tea leaves in the cup; they were all stale. She suspected this was Zhao Jia's best tea; she wouldn't serve the Fourth Master the worst.
Lanqin noticed that since she entered, the two maids around Zhaojia's side had been coming and going, and it was always the same two of them.
"Thirteenth Princess Consort, why are there so few people in the manor? Even if the Thirteenth Prince can't pay the people assigned to his household by the Imperial Household Department, they can't just leave." The Fourth Prince noticed this problem and couldn't help but ask with a frown. From the unfamiliar gatekeeper he had just met, he knew that quite a few people in the manor had probably left.
"Fourth Brother, you don't need to blame them. I was the one who let them go. Because the Thirteenth Prince's residence can't afford to support so many servants right now. It's only natural that they want to serve a master with a better future. I don't blame them!" said Lady Zhaojia.
Lanqin could no longer bear to watch. The Thirteenth Prince's wife was now even less capable than her own mother and sister-in-law. She single-handedly supported such a large household as the Thirteenth Prince, yet her clothes weren't even warm enough. Who could imagine the hardships she endured?
"Damn it! Seeing that Thirteen is in trouble, even these lackeys are so opportunistic?" Fourth Master cursed in a low voice.
Lady Zhaojia smiled with a hint of bitterness, "That's good too. With fewer people, the expenses in the manor will be much lower. Consort, why don't you let Qiuju take you for a walk in the backyard? There are still some things to look at there."
Lanqin knew that she was taking care of her and was afraid that she would be bored sitting there, so she said, "No need, I came with the master to see the Thirteenth Prince's wife, how could I feel bored? Thirteenth Prince's wife, why don't you come to the Yong Prince's mansion to play as well?"
Fourth Master nodded and said, "Thirteenth Sister-in-law, since you have nothing to do, you can go and chat with Qin'er. She likes lively atmospheres."
Thirteenth Princess Consort was in a dilemma. If she went, she would inevitably have to see Fourth Princess Consort as well. If she went directly to Lanqin, it might not be in accordance with the rules.
Lanqin seemed to sense her predicament and quickly said, "Of course I must pay my respects to the First Princess before coming to my place. I've heard that the Thirteenth Princess is an excellent needleworker, and I would very much like to learn from her."
Lady Zhaojia quickly replied, "If the concubine likes it, then I will make you a set of underwear."
Lanqin quickly smiled and said, "Then I've really struck gold! Not only have I learned the Thirteenth Princess's skills, but I've also gained a whole set of skills."
After the Fourth Prince and Lanqin had a meal at the Thirteenth Prince's residence, they left. Soon after, the Imperial Household Department, having heard the news, sent the embezzled funds to the Thirteenth Prince's residence. They dared not offend the Fourth Prince.
After the Fourth Prince and Lanqin left, they didn't return home. Instead, they had Gesang drive the carriage back to the Ling residence together. Lanqin was surprised that the Fourth Prince personally took her back to her parents' home, and she was immediately moved. His decision to return to the Ling residence with her at this moment was naturally a message to those who were plotting behind her back: he would not abandon the Ling family, nor would he abandon the Niohuru clan.
The two stayed at the Ling residence for half a day. After having dinner, the Ling family saw Fourth Master and Lanqin off. On the third day of the Lunar New Year, Lanqin and Fourth Master spent the holiday visiting relatives like any other ordinary couple.
As night fell, the two sat in the carriage, Lanqin still nestled in the Fourth Master's arms.
"The Thirteenth Princess Consort is truly pitiful. I see she's already supporting the Thirteenth Mansion with her dowry from her family. My lord, many of my clothes haven't even been worn yet; perhaps we should send them to the Thirteenth Princess Consort. Also, my gold jewelry is gathering dust; perhaps we should melt it down and give it to her. Although it's just a drop in the ocean, seeing her situation, I feel uneasy if I don't do something," Lanqin said. She had already returned the silver Anjia had given her last time, and her monthly allowance over the years had amounted to ten or twenty thousand taels. However, with the dowries given to Cui Niang, Nianxue, and Xicha, and the remaining dowries for the maids, she couldn't offer much to help the Thirteenth Princess Consort.
"No need," said the Fourth Master. "I sent someone to deliver the silver after I returned to the manor. Thirteen has suffered these past years, along with his family."
“Your Majesty, doesn’t the Emperor miss the Thirteenth Prince at all? He is, after all, his own son. Besides, what happened back then wasn’t the Thirteenth Prince’s fault,” Lanqin said.
"Even if Father Emperor realizes all this, he won't admit his mistakes. Thirteenth Prince, just bear with it a little longer, I will definitely get him out," the Fourth Prince murmured.
Lanqin's heart stirred, and she said, "Your Highness, the Thirteenth Prince is sure to have his own destiny. Your Highness, don't be too anxious." Lanqin was afraid that the Fourth Prince would have a direct conflict with Kangxi over the Thirteenth Prince's affairs, which would not be wise at this time.
"Don't worry, I won't tell Father Emperor. Qin'er, from today onwards, you must stand on the same side as me. Even if I want to 'favor' Lady Nian and make the Nian family wholeheartedly serve me, even if I..." Fourth Prince suddenly choked up, unable to continue.
Lanqin straightened up from his embrace, looked at the Fourth Prince's profile, and said, "Your Highness, so you took Qin'er to see the Thirteenth Prince, to see my father and mother, just to tell me that your heart is with me. But if Your Highness wants to compete for that position, you must do some things against your will?"
Fourth Master nodded, then pulled Lanqin into his arms and said, "Qin'er, I'm sorry, but I will not let you down in the future. You must believe me!"
Lanqin's heart was also a little upset by Fourth Master's words. She had already accepted that Fourth Master did not completely belong to her, so the fact that Fourth Master could say such things to her at this time showed that he cared about her.
But how can such a thing be explained?
On the fourth and fifth days of the Lunar New Year, many people began to visit the Fourth Master's residence to offer New Year's greetings, but the Fourth Master refused them all and stayed in the South Courtyard, where he and Lanqin lived a simple and ordinary life as husband and wife for two days.
The sixth day finally arrived, and this was the day that Fourth Master had promised Nian Shi. He returned to the front courtyard early in the morning, and after dealing with the things that had been piling up over the past few days, he sent people to deliver messages to Nian Shi, Liu Shi, Fucha Shi, Song Shi, Wu Shi, and of course Lan Qin, asking them to come to the front courtyard to discuss the matter of Si Hua.
Si Hua was filled with anxiety that morning because Lan Qin had told her last night about the Fourth Master's treatment of her. Si Hua hadn't expected this outcome, but after Lan Qin explained it to her, she understood. Lan Qin felt guilty, feeling she owed Si Hua something, and thus resolved to bring Si Hua and Du Zhiqian together. But let's leave that aside for now.
Once they had all arrived at the Fourth Master's front courtyard, Madam Liu recounted the events of that day in front of everyone. She looked very weak; although she had been lying in bed for seven or eight days, she still hadn't recovered, so the Fourth Master allowed her to go back and rest.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
