After Lanqin boarded the carriage to return home, she kept replaying Zhao Sijie's words in her mind. She hadn't expected things to turn out this way. Zhao Sijie had invited her over today—was it because Longkodo wanted to confide in the Fourth Master? Then why didn't he say it himself, but instead used Zhao Sijie to tell her?
So this is what they call an informal meeting? If the Fourth Prince has no intention of meeting, then Longkodo should pretend he knows nothing; who would take a message sent through a woman seriously? If the Fourth Prince has intentions, he might follow this line to meet with Longkodo.
Lanqin's heart began to pound inexplicably. She genuinely worried that if the name on the memorial scroll at the back door wasn't that of the Fourth Prince, but rather the Fourteenth Prince, what would happen to the Fourth Prince? Actually, even without Longkodo's explanation, Lanqin knew that Kangxi's memorial scroll was there. Later authentication revealed that the scroll had been stored at that back door for at least several years, meaning that Kangxi had actually already decided on his successor long ago.
But why didn't he openly establish an heir apparent, instead choosing to write a will? Later historians believe that Kangxi was tired of the fratricide, so after deposing the crown prince, he never established another heir apparent. He didn't want the prince he had chosen to become a target of public criticism like the deposed crown prince, so he adopted this secretive method.
After returning to the South Courtyard, Lanqin locked herself in her study. She hesitated, wondering whether to tell Fourth Master. She was afraid that if the name on the portrait wasn't Fourth Master's, what the consequences would be. If the name on the portrait was Fourth Master's, that would be the best outcome.
Lanqin sat in her study until nightfall. Fourth Master had returned, but he did not come to the South Courtyard. After quietly having a simple dinner in her study, Lanqin had already made up her mind.
Later historical records indicate that the ascension of the Kangxi Emperor was shrouded in many mysteries. The focus of these mysteries lies in the will left by Kangxi. If he hadn't told the Fourth Prince, and if the name on the will truly was the Fourteenth Prince, would the Fourth Prince have actually become Bi Gan? Whether the Fourteenth Prince would have allowed him to become Bi Gan is another matter entirely; the course of history would have been altered, and who knows what would have happened.
"Baoqin, go to the front yard and invite the Prince over. Tell him I have something important to say. No matter where he is right now, make sure to invite him over," Lanqin instructed as Baoqin came in to clear the dishes.
"Yes." Baoqin rarely saw Lanqin speak with such a look in her eyes, so she quickly agreed and withdrew.
Lanqin decided to tell Fourth Master Longkodo what she had said, and whether or not to look at the portrait was up to Fourth Master to decide.
Just as the Fourth Prince was about to go see Lady Nian, he heard Su Peisheng come to report that Baoqin from Lanqin's side had come to invite him over, saying that the concubine had something important to say.
When the Fourth Master arrived, Lanqin had already written half a page of words in the study. She could now recognize the Fourth Master's footsteps very accurately.
"Your Highness!" Lanqin stopped writing and turned around.
"What are you writing?" The Fourth Prince was dressed in a dark blue robe, with a jade pendant casually hanging from his waist. He had been staying with Madam Nian for the past few days, as Nian Gengyao was in the capital. Madam Nian had also just been diagnosed with pregnancy, so the Fourth Prince had been visiting her more often than usual.
From a very early age, Lanqin had accepted that Fourth Master did not belong to her alone. Now that things have come to this point, Fourth Master's decision to have Nian Shi pregnant again is also to demonstrate his respect for the Nian family.
"You'll know once you come and see for yourself," Lanqin said with a smile. Every time the Fourth Master came, Lanqin never felt that there was anyone else between him and her, so that was enough.
Fourth Master walked over to Lanqin and looked at the paper spread on the table. He saw that Lanqin had written a poem, the very same poem that Fourth Master often wrote in his spare time here.
"How is it?" Lanqin asked. She deliberately imitated the Fourth Master's handwriting to write his poems.
"It does resemble it by about 50%," Fourth Master commented.
"How come it only looks five parts like me? It looks seven or eight parts like me!" Lanqin said coquettishly.
"Like an old woman selling melons, praising her own wares!" Fourth Master tapped Lanqin's nose and said.
“Yes, I am not a matchmaker,” Lanqin said. “I went to see someone today, namely Zhao Si’er, Longkodo’s concubine.”
"You've become quite familiar with his concubine? That woman has a bad reputation," Fourth Master said. "Have you let anyone see you?"
“Every time I go, I go to Sister Zhao’s villa. There are no other residents in that alley, so no one sees me, and besides, nobody knows me,” Lanqin said.
"You said you had something to say today, is it related to her?" Fourth Master asked.
“That’s right. She sent me an invitation today and said something to me. I’m guessing that Longkodo deliberately had her say that to me,” Lanqin said. She and the Fourth Master had been addressing each other as “you” and “me” for a long time.
"Old fox, what did he say?" Fourth Master asked, squinting his eyes.
“Your Majesty, Longkodo said that Father Emperor left a will behind the Zhengda Guangming plaque in the Qianqing Palace. It may contain important information.” Lanqin said slowly, word by word.
Fourth Master's brow twitched. He felt as if a huge stone was pressing on his chest, making it so uncomfortable that he could hardly breathe.
"Your Highness, he's deliberately sending a message. He clearly wants to see your attitude!" Lanqin said.
Fourth Master nodded and said, "An old fox is an old fox; he won't leave a trace. Let's ignore him for now."
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