Seeing that the meal was almost finished, Lanqin was ready to leave. She said to Madam Song, "Sister Song, it's freezing cold today. I think we should call it a day. You can stay here a little longer. I'll head back now."
Song and Wu naturally stayed a little longer, as they wanted Song Shucheng and Wu Ruyue to stay a little longer. Fucha also showed no intention of leaving, simply sitting there quietly.
When Lady Nian saw Lanqin leave, she followed suit. After all, as a concubine, she didn't need to accompany a group of princesses.
Lanqin instructed Shuiling and Yuxiao to call the maids who were taking care of the Fourth Princess, the Fifth Princess, and Hongli, so that they could prepare to leave. After the children were dressed in scarves and glove protectors, Lanqin took the children and left first.
The front yard and the south courtyard were not far apart, so Lanqin did not walk far before returning to the south courtyard.
"Mother, can we play a little longer?" Ushiha and Bechuk hadn't had enough fun yet, and they were unhappy when Lanqin dragged them back.
“Yes, Mother, it’s New Year’s Eve today, you don’t need to go to bed so early, do you?” Bechuk grasped the crux of the matter.
Lanqin looked at the two little girls; now they could even negotiate with her. One would speak, and the other would add to it, sometimes actually managing to stump her.
“But this is already past your usual sleeping time,” Lanqin said.
"Mother, today is New Year's Eve, and we don't have to go to school tomorrow, so we can sleep in. Can we play a little later tonight?" Ushiha persisted.
“Mother, I heard that there is a custom of staying up all night on New Year’s Eve, and people can only go to sleep after 9 PM. It’s not 9 PM yet!” Bechuk said.
Looking at Bechuk, who was becoming increasingly eloquent, Lanqin felt both delighted and somewhat helpless. Because Bechuk was even more persuasive than Ushiha.
"Alright, you can play until 9 PM today. After 9 PM, you must go to sleep." Lanqin relented.
"Mother, I want to play with them too!" Hongli refused to sleep and excitedly raised his chubby little hand.
“No, you’re too young and your energy isn’t enough,” Lanqin said, looking at the two-year-old Hongli.
"Mother, I overslept today, but I feel great now. Mother, please let me play a little longer." Hongli looked up with his adorable chubby face, his eyes full of expectation.
“Mother, let Hongli come along. It’s said that those who stay up all night on New Year’s Eve will have better luck next year,” Bechuk said generously.
"Yes, yes. Good luck will come next year," Hongli said earnestly.
Lanqin was completely at a loss about this little guy. She had already given her two daughters permission to go to sleep, and if she insisted that Hongli go to sleep first, it would definitely cause a scene. So she said, "Alright, today it is. Yuxiao, you tell them to keep a close eye on him and not to do anything dangerous. He can play in the yard for a little while longer."
After the maids took the three children out to continue playing with fireworks, Lanqin had no interest in playing at all and said to Shuiling, "Let's fetch water. I just want to rest early today."
After Shui Ling brought the water, one person helped Lan Qin wash up.
"Why haven't Si Hua and the others returned yet? They should be back by now," Lan Qin said, seeing Shui Ling serving alone and remembering that usually it was two people serving her.
"Perhaps it's because the weather is cold and the road is slippery," Shui Ling said.
Lanqin thought so too, so she didn't think about it anymore. After washing up, she told Shuiling to go out and keep an eye on them, and then she went back to sleep.
After Shui Ling left, Lan Qin lay alone on the bed and picked up one of her favorite books to read.
Listening to the sounds of fireworks and firecrackers outside, and resting her head on a large, soft pillow, with Fourth Master not by her side, Lanqin had a rare moment of leisure. She found it quite pleasant and peaceful, quietly enjoying this precious moment.
Meanwhile, inside the Forbidden City, the Fourth Prince and his wife were sitting in Consort De's palace, keeping her company as she celebrated the New Year.
The Fourth Prince will lead his relatives to pay respects to their ancestors early tomorrow morning, and then go with them to Changchun Garden to wish Emperor Kangxi a Happy New Year. In the evening, he will return to the palace to hold a banquet.
"Fourth Prince, are you prepared for tomorrow's events?" Consort De asked. She was pleased that the Fourth Prince had received such an appointment from Emperor Kangxi. However, she was also worried that she had no maternal clan to rely on and would have almost no support for the Fourth Prince.
"Your son is ready. He has practiced in private. Mother, you don't need to worry," the Fourth Prince said. He had never felt so proud in front of Consort De. All his efforts over the years had not been in vain. He had finally gained the approval of Emperor Kangxi and his mother.
"Fourth Princess Consort, all you need to do is cooperate with the Fourth Prince. You don't need your mother to remind you how to do it. The past is the past. From now on, you must work together." Consort De said to Ulanara. Consort De was naturally aware of what Ulanara had done, but as long as she was still the Fourth Princess Consort, she still had to say these words.
"I will remember Mother's teachings. I have now figured it out. Raising Hongshi well will be my way of making up for everything I did in the past. My family will also do its best to protect the Prince." The Fourth Princess said, sitting upright.
The Fourth Prince's expression remained unchanged, while Consort De smiled and said, "Good, you two are a perfect match, so your mother has nothing to worry about."
"Mother, my fourteenth sister-in-law is almost out of confinement now, isn't she? I've been wanting to visit her, and I even prepared a gift for her son, but I haven't had the chance to go out. Why don't I leave it with you today, Mother, and you can pass it on to her?" said the Fourth Princess Consort.
"The Fourteenth Prince's residence isn't far from the Yong Prince's residence, so why didn't you have a chance to visit it?" Consort De asked. She knew that the Fourth Prince had been neglecting his wife, but he hadn't confined her to her quarters or deposed her, so she could still come and go freely.
The Fourth Prince was slightly embarrassed. He had almost stopped going to the main courtyard, but he hadn't restricted her freedom. Now that Consort De had mentioned it, he didn't know how to explain it.
"My health has always been poor, which is why I've been taking care of myself. From now on, I should go out and move around more often," said the Fourth Princess Consort.
"Yes, that's more like it. Fourth Prince, your position in the court is becoming increasingly important, and your father, the Emperor, values you highly. You can't ignore your wife's family; you can make use of them if necessary." Consort De subtly reminded the Fourth Prince not to let personal feelings interfere with important matters, as the power of the Ulanara family should not be underestimated.
The Fourth Prince remained silent, simply sitting there without making a statement. He had only brought his wife along to appease the situation; he had no intention of reconciling with her!
Seeing the Fourth Prince's expression, Consort De knew that no matter what she said, it would be of no use, so she could only say, "Fourth Prince, your residence and your brother's residence are not far apart. Visit each other more often. You are brothers born of the same mother."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
