After spending some time together, Consort De found Ushiha to be natural, bold, and lively, and quite likable, so she personally began to teach Ushiha manners.
When Ushiha came in, she thought that Consort De would scold her or even deliberately make things difficult for her. However, after spending time with her, she realized that her grandmother was not as strict as rumored, and gradually she became closer to Consort De.
“Alright, Ushiha will accompany Zuma for a walk.” Ushiha was naturally pleased that Consort De had taken the initiative to mention leaving Yonghe Palace. She had been here for over a month, confined to Yonghe Palace every day, and was feeling utterly stifled.
However, when Ushiha discovered that Consort De's so-called "outing" actually meant going to the Qianqing Palace and meeting Emperor Kangxi, she became somewhat displeased.
"What, you don't want to see your royal ancestor?" Consort De naturally noticed that Ushiha seemed unwilling to go, so she asked.
"I heard that the Emperor is ill, and Ushiha is afraid of disturbing his recuperation." Ushiha said in a light bamboo-green summer shirt and thin cheongsam, her hair was combed into two buns, and she wore only a few delicate pearl flowers on both sides. She looked like a light pink lotus flower inserted in a white Ru kiln vase, fresh and charming, with a touch of tranquility and beauty.
"Your Majesty is currently ill and would like you to visit her more often. In a few days, let your younger brother Hongli come to the palace to see you; your Majesty dotes on him the most," said Consort De, gently patting Wuxiha's hand a few times.
With his grandmother's comfort, Ushiha gradually relaxed and went to the Qianqing Palace with Consort De. Since fainting that day, Emperor Kangxi had been resting in bed and doing nothing, but still ordered Doctor Liang to come and serve him every day.
"Your Majesty!" Liang Jiugong saw that Consort De had brought back a little girl, and he guessed that Wuxiha was a girl, so he bowed to her.
"How is His Majesty's health?" Consort De asked.
"Much better. He even got up today. Doctor Liang has been treating the Emperor and giving him acupuncture, so he's much better now," Liang Jiugong said.
Consort De then led Wuxiha into Kangxi's bedroom to visit him.
Ushiha chatted with Kangxi about his life in the inner quarters and complained to him that his mother was sometimes too strict with him, which made Kangxi's expression soften visibly.
Consort De was relieved to see that Wuxiha's cheerfulness and liveliness were indeed pleasing to Emperor Kangxi.
When Emperor Kangxi was tired, Consort De naturally took her leave with Wuxiha.
For several days in a row, Wuxiha accompanied Kangxi to talk and relieve his boredom. When the Fourth Prince learned that Kangxi was ill, he quickly brought Hongli to visit him.
Lanqin was somewhat relieved to learn from the inner quarters that Emperor Kangxi had fallen ill and that her two children were in the palace with him.
Judging from the expression on the Fourth Prince's face when he returned, Kangxi's illness was likely to worsen, and the Fourth Prince would have more and more things to worry about.
That night, the weather was unusually oppressive. Fourth Master went to the South Courtyard to find Lanqin to take a walk and cool off. Nian Shi's pregnancy had stabilized, so Fourth Master's visits had decreased.
"This summer seems unusually hot!" Lanqin said, slowly fanning herself with a green snail fan.
"Hmm. It's unbearably hot. I hope the Song and Wu families have sent over ice basins," Fourth Master said. Because it's exceptionally hot this year, Lanqin had provided at least one ice basin for everyone in the manor, whether master or servant. Fourth Master agreed to this, as the weather was indeed too hot.
"Yes, they've all been sent. The servants' rooms also have some. It's been so hot this year; without some ice, people would probably die of heatstroke," Lanqin said. Even the Fourth Master didn't know how much silver she had. The money spent on buying and distributing ice every day was like water flowing through her veins, but it was nothing in Lanqin's eyes.
This one incident alone won Lanqin many more hearts. In the past, these servants had never had ice basins to use; they had always endured it, preferring to stay in their master's room to serve rather than return to their own sweltering rooms.
"Does Your Highness seem to have something on your mind?" Lanqin noticed the Fourth Prince's melancholy and asked.
"Father's illness is getting worse every day," Doctor Liang told me. He didn't tell anyone else, but I know that Father's health is indeed failing.
"Is Your Highness worried about the will after it is made public?" Lanqin had always been curious about what the Fourth Prince was thinking. Could he really refrain from peeking at the name on it? But the Fourth Prince did indeed restrain himself and did not mention Longkodo again.
"Qin'er, if it weren't for me, perhaps, perhaps I wouldn't even have had the chance to become Bi Gan." Seeing that Lanqin had touched on his innermost thoughts, Fourth Master simply spoke frankly to her. The servants were already following at a distance, not coming forward.
Lanqin knew Fourth Master's feelings all along. He was ambitious and capable, so he would never be content to be just a prince. His talk of becoming Bi Gan that day was merely a matter of upholding a sense of righteousness.
"Why don't you go and see, Your Highness? Eunuch Liang is very biased towards you!" Lanqin said to the Fourth Prince under the bright moonlight.
The Fourth Prince stared blankly at Lanqin. He knew that he really wanted to go and see who Kangxi had chosen, and whether it would be him.
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