“If it weren’t for the Prince’s presence, he wouldn’t have allowed our Third Princess to take that path!” Seeing Lanqin’s unusual worry, Cui Niang immediately stepped forward and gently patted her back.
"I'm afraid there are some things that even he can't stop," Lanqin said, her eyes lowered. What she disliked most was seeing Wuxiha being married off to a foreign land for political reasons; it was something she could never accept.
"Your Highness, things are still unclear. Maybe Consort De just misses her granddaughter!" Cui Niang could only try to comfort her.
“Go tell Ushiha to come over. The palace isn’t home. Go!” Lanqin nodded.
When Ushiha heard that he was to enter the palace and stay by Consort De's side for a period of time, he jumped up in surprise.
"What? I have to go to the Empress Dowager's place?" Ushiha said, almost in tears. She knew that Granny Gong was sent down from Consort De's side. She was already getting tired of Granny Gong's controlling style. Now she had to go and receive instruction from the Empress Dowager. It was going to kill her.
"You better behave yourself. Wuxiha, I told you to learn proper manners from Granny Gong, but you insisted on saying things that would surprise people. Don't you want to cause trouble? Your mother told you to keep those words to yourself and not to spread them around. But you didn't even remember what your mother said, and now even your imperial grandmother is being alarmed." Lanqin glared at Wuxiha.
"Mother, can you help me think of a way to avoid entering the palace?" Ushiha quickly humbly pleaded.
“Your Majesty has already spoken, what can I do? If I try to find some excuse now, your Majesty will be even more displeased. You should go to the palace and serve your Majesty for a few days, and properly fulfill your filial duties,” Lanqin said with a hint of helplessness.
When Wuxiha saw Lanqin say this, he realized he had no other options and became even more frustrated. However, he had no choice but to obediently go back and pack some clothes, preparing to be sent to the palace by Lanqin the next day with his personal maid.
Although Lanqin had just spoken to Wuxiha, she was still upset. After all, Wuxiha was her own daughter, who actually had a good personality, just a bit careless.
"Master, Princess Wu has arrived," Liu Xu announced from the doorway.
Lanqin was thinking about Wuxiha's matter when she heard that Wu had arrived. She had no choice but to compose herself and said to the outside, "Please invite Sister Wu in."
After the two sat down according to their status as host and hostess, Madam Wu said, "Qin'er, I'm afraid the Fujin is going to cause some trouble again."
Lanqin's eyelids twitched, and she quickly suppressed her unease, asking, "What's wrong?"
“Yesterday, Namin went for a walk and was pulled to the Fujin’s place. I don’t know what they talked about. When she came back, she was cold and distant to me and said something strange. Qin’er, I’m afraid the Fujin may have told her about her true parentage,” said Madam Wu. She had raised Namin since she was less than two years old and had long regarded her as her own daughter. Now that Namin had suddenly been told that she was not Madam Wu’s biological daughter, it was a real blow to both of them.
"Are you sure it was the Fujin who said that? Back then, the Prince gave a strict order that no one was allowed to mention the Third Princess's birth mother to her," Lanqin said, frowning.
"That's right, but now she's secretly pulled someone aside and told her. What can I do about it? Namin won't say anything, she just ignores me and locks herself in her room." Madam Wu said anxiously. Now the Third Princess has almost become her life. She never expected that someone would say such things before the Third Princess even got married. Their intentions are really impure.
"Don't worry, since Namin already knows, let's find a good opportunity to talk to her. Let her calm down first; anyone who hears about something like this needs to calm down first. I think Namin is a good girl; perhaps I should have Bechuk talk to her. You've raised her for so many years; your relationship is like that of your own. I believe that Namin won't become distant from you because of malicious instigation from others," Lanqin comforted her.
After listening to Lanqin's analysis, Wu calmed down and nodded quickly, saying, "I heard that Wuxiha is going to enter the palace? How come one thing after another happens? I'm starting to suspect that she's up to something behind the scenes again, stirring up trouble in the inner quarters!"
Lanqin naturally knew who the "she" Wu was referring to was. In fact, she had a premonition that the Fujin (principal wife) would not be content with the past ten years. She was finally about to emerge.
"I don't know yet, let's see how she moves. Don't panic about Namin's matter, besides, Namin is about to get married, once she leaves this mansion, the Fujin's influence won't be as far as it can go. You can go and check on her often, since you're both in the capital anyway," Lanqin said.
Madam Wu nodded and said, "Look at me, why am I so flustered? You're right, I'll go back now and treat her as usual. She'll understand when she thinks about it. She really has no memory of her birth mother at all."
“That’s right. If she tells you about it, you can also tell her the truth. How her birth mother, Yan Yu, died. However, I’m worried that the Fujin might blame me or you for her death, so you must find out the truth about that,” Lanqin said worriedly.
"Yes, don't worry, I'll definitely ask her properly. What is that woman up to? She's been quiet for ten years, and suddenly she's starting to cause trouble," Wu said resentfully.
"It's paving the way for Hongshi. Hongshi is married now, and our Prince is at the height of his power. She can't possibly not have her own ideas," Lanqin said.
"You mean, our Prince might have a brighter future?" A spark ignited in Wu's eyes. This was actually quite obvious, so it wasn't uncommon for Wu and others to hope of entering the palace as concubines.
"It's still hard to say, but we must all stay within our bounds and not say anything carelessly. Before everything is certain, we must not do anything that could give others a handle to use against us," Lanqin quickly said. The Fourth Prince has not yet been designated as the heir apparent by Kangxi, so it is crucial not to show any expectation at this time, otherwise it could easily be seized upon as plotting something sinister.
"Yes, I understand. I'll go back now. Don't worry too much about Wuxiha's matter; Her Majesty likes you very much," Wu said.
Lanqin personally escorted Wu to the door, and only turned back after Wu had walked down the steps.
The affairs of Wu Shi and Wu Xiha had to make her vigilant. These two events were definitely not coincidences; there aren't that many coincidences in the world.
"Cui Niang! Is the person we planted on the Fujin's side still in that position?" Lanqin asked Cui Niang, who was standing under the eaves.
“Yes, she’s here. That person is old enough to be released, but she didn’t leave and stayed,” said Cui Niang.
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