“She was a maid, but I don’t know where she came from,” Namin said. She really didn’t know the maid; the person had only said she would tell her a secret, and then said so many frightening things.
"A maid? You've never seen her before?" Fourth Master increasingly felt that someone had deliberately leaked this information to Namin.
“Father, how could a maid dare to say such nonsense to Third Sister? Could it be that someone is instigating this behind the scenes?” Bechuk said from the side.
Fourth Master glanced at Biechuk, already having made up his mind, and said, "Father will investigate. I heard you haven't seen your mother and have locked yourself in your room?"
Upon hearing this, Namin lowered her face again and hurriedly said, "Namin was wrong. I shouldn't have been so foolish as to listen to others' instigation and cause my mother to worry."
Seeing that Namin hadn't done it intentionally, Fourth Master softened his tone and said, "In the future, don't blindly believe what others say. Think for yourself and consider the purpose behind their words. Do you understand?"
Namin raised her head, her eyes filled with regret. Thinking of Wu's worry for her, she choked out, "Yes."
After Fourth Master and Biechuk left, Namin immediately rushed out to find Madam Wu. Madam Wu looked old, sitting dejectedly in her room. She had wanted to follow Fourth Master to Namin's door to eavesdrop for a while, but hesitated, perhaps afraid of hearing hurtful words from Namin, and thus withdrew.
"Mother!"
Namin walked to the door and looked at Wu Shi sitting with her hands hanging down in a high-backed chair by the window, looking very lonely. Her heart ached. She did not expect that in just a few days, Wu Shi would look so much older.
Upon hearing the familiar voice, Wu immediately forced out the tears she had been holding back for the past few days. Fearing she would never hear that voice again, she quickly stood up from her chair.
"Mother!" Namin rushed into Wu's arms, snuggling in her embrace like she did when she was a child.
"Namin, my child!" Wu Shi cried, tears streaming down her face, as she tightly embraced Namin.
"Mother, it's all Namin's fault. Namin shouldn't have listened to others' slander and made you sad!" Namin was very regretful and hugged Wu Shi and cried.
"Good Namin, don't cry. It's all over now. In a little over two months, you'll be getting married. Your mother will be busy preparing more clothes for you. Once you're married, you'll be an adult. Your mother won't be by your side, so you must take good care of your parents-in-law and serve your husband." Tears of happiness welled up in Madam Wu's eyes.
Namin cried even harder.
Meanwhile, Fourth Master and Bie Chuke returned to the South Courtyard together.
When Lanqin saw the father and daughter return together, she hurriedly went to greet them. Seeing that Biechuk winked at her, she asked, "Your Highness, has the Third Princess been persuaded?"
"Hmm, I understand. I'm hungry, why don't you join me for a meal here, Chuke?" Fourth Master had just returned to the manor when Lanqin grabbed him and said all this, and he was quite hungry at the moment.
Lanqin quickly signaled the maids to set out the meal, and said to Biechuke, "Go and give your father a good massage."
Fourth Master lay reclining on Lanqin's couch, letting Biechuke comb his hair with a comb, his eyes closed as he pondered things.
Looking at the Fourth Prince's expression, Lanqin knew that he was definitely not troubled by Namin's matter. That was just a small matter, and perhaps she shouldn't have let the Fourth Prince handle it. He had important matters to attend to in the court, so how could he spend his energy on these domestic affairs?
After the maids had laid out the dinner, Lanqin personally began serving the dishes to the Fourth Master.
"Beichuk, let your father come over for dinner." Lanqin winked at her second daughter.
Over there, Fourth Master had actually fallen asleep with his eyes closed. Bechuk gently nudged Fourth Master and called in his ear, "Father, it's time to eat."
He's exhausted! Lanqin walked to Fourth Master's side, reached out and helped him up from the couch.
"Where is Hongli?" the Fourth Prince asked after sitting down.
"I have no idea what he's doing," Lanqin said, reflecting that she had perhaps neglected Hongli lately. Lanqin didn't manage their meals either; the maids who served them arranged everything themselves, delivering the food to their respective rooms when it was time to eat.
"Have someone call him over for a meal." Fourth Master was clearly missing his children, as they hadn't had a meal together in a long time.
"I'm afraid he's already used it. How is Wuxiha doing with Mother?" Lanqin asked.
"I went to check on her today, and there was nothing wrong. She was just having her study Buddhist scriptures with her mother and learn some manners. Who was it that spoke ill of her to her mother? Is this just making trouble out of nothing?" Fourth Master frowned.
He was so busy in the court that he barely had time to breathe, but his two daughters in the inner quarters kept having problems one after another. How could he be at ease?
“I have failed in my duty. Wuxiha’s words and actions were somewhat exaggerated, which may have given others a pretext to criticize him. I will teach him properly in the future,” Lanqin said.
"It's not a big deal, but the key is who's doing these underhanded things behind the scenes. It's really annoying," Fourth Master said. After all, Ushiha is the eldest daughter of Fourth Master and Lanqin, and both of them dote on her. How could Fourth Master tolerate anyone making trouble behind her back? First Ushiha, and now Namin, they're determined to stir up trouble in the inner quarters.
Lanqin shared the same sentiment. Although she knew perfectly well who had spread these rumors, she couldn't tell the Fourth Master without evidence.
"Your Highness, I will investigate. I will report back to you once I have some leads," Lanqin said.
Fourth Master nodded and said no more. Bechuk, missing Ushiha, noticed Fourth Master's expression and asked, "When can Ushiha return?"
Lanqin also wanted to ask this question, so she quickly waited quietly for what the Fourth Master would say.
"Judging from Mother's words, I'm afraid she won't be back for a while. However, this girl has always been spoiled, so it's not a bad thing for Mother to discipline her and correct her behavior," said Fourth Master.
Lanqin felt slightly displeased upon hearing this. Was this a criticism of her upbringing? All she had to do was be a little outspoken; what was wrong with that?
Clearly, Lanqin is only allowed to criticize her own daughter; she is very protective of her own daughter if others criticize her.
Seeing that Lanqin didn't respond, Fourth Master said, "It's not that I think Wuxiha has a bad temper, it's just that some people don't like it!"
As Bechuk watched his father explain to his mother, a smile crept onto his face.
Lanqin's expression finally softened, and she continued, "Speaking of Wuxiha, what are Your Highness's plans? She's reached marriageable age. I don't want Wuxiha to marry too far away."
When Bechuk heard them mention Ushiha's marriage, he pricked up his ears to listen.
"As it stands, there isn't a suitable candidate yet. How can this girl marry someone so far away? I want to keep her by my side for the rest of my life!" Fourth Master said, rarely showing such tenderness towards his daughter.
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