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As usual, the Fourth Prince only said a few words before leaving the women at the table and going to his study alone. He really had no mood to have New Year's Eve dinner with his concubines. Ushiha, Bechuk, and the other children didn't come; they were all grown up now and didn't cling to Lanqin as much as they did when they were little. Hongsheng, Hongli, and Hongzhou naturally didn't come either. Hongshi and his wife had already paid their respects to the Fourth Prince and were currently having dinner with their wife in her room.
"I heard that the Prince is planning to choose a site for his residence with Hongli?" Seeing that Lanqin's expression seemed a little indifferent, Madam Song took the initiative to ask about this good news.
"Yes. His Highness told him to go and see for himself. Hongli is handling this matter himself, so I don't know how he's made his choice," Lanqin said with a smile, perking up.
"The Prince's affection for Hongli is truly enviable," Wu Shi said with a smile.
"The Prince dotes on the Third Princess very much. Before Namin got married, the Prince specially selected a lot of dowry items and even told me that it was fortunate that she was only marrying into the Feng family, so that they could visit each other in the future. By the way, is Namin pregnant?" Lanqin quickly added.
"Yes, she's already two months pregnant. I told her to be careful and not to come back this year. I'll ask the Prince for a favor and go to the Feng family to take a look," said Madam Wu.
"Well, it's less than three months, so let's not travel back and forth. When do you want to go?" Lanqin asked.
"After the third day of the Lunar New Year, we'll celebrate the New Year three days later, still within the mansion," said Madam Wu with a happy expression.
"Look at her, she's about to become a grandmother, and she's so happy that she's had several trunks of clothes made. She's as if she's afraid that the Third Princess's child won't have any clothes to wear," Song said, nudging Wu a few times with a laugh.
"When the eldest princess's second son was born, Sister Song worked non-stop making quite a few clothes," Lanqin said with a smile.
"Exactly, and she still has the nerve to laugh at me. Back then, who would have asked me for help?" Wu said sarcastically.
"Alright, alright, I've made a few sets for you too, this is to repay the favor, is that alright?" said Madam Song.
The four people opposite couldn't get a word in edgewise, seeing that Lanqin, Songshi, and Wushi were all talking about children. Fuchashi had been in the household for several years, but still couldn't conceive. Liushi, since being rejected by the Fourth Prince, had basically stopped serving him, and her miscarriage had rendered her infertile. Jishi, also known as Shuiling, could only sit silently, ignored by everyone. Fuchashi and Liushi naturally looked down on her, and Yunshi, being Wushi's person, naturally wouldn't befriend her.
Shui Ling sat there with her head down, occasionally moving her chopsticks, never once glancing at Lan Qin. She had been living in the Chrysanthemum Garden for almost three years. Her days were stagnant, without a ripple. The Fujin (Prince's wife) had once wanted to support her, but seeing that the Fourth Prince had never accepted her, she lost patience and gave up.
Shui Ling knew her life was destined to be like this: no favor, no status, and perhaps, in death, she would simply be carried out in a thin coffin. She knew she was unwilling to accept it, but what could she do about it?
The only chance I had to show myself in front of the Fourth Master was like this, sitting at the back like a puppet, barely getting a second glance from him.
Shui Ling regretted it. She really shouldn't have had such thoughts back then. Otherwise, she would be like Si Hua now, at least able to marry a man from a respectable family and live a peaceful life surrounded by children and a harmonious husband.
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