Yu Xiao said dejectedly, "Your Highness is just too soft-hearted. Not only was she bullied all the way to the Yuanmingyuan, but even Wuya was released. What I'm worried about is that Your Highness didn't mean to hurt anyone, but they didn't have any ulterior motives."
Baoqin, indignant, patted Yuxiao's shoulder and said, "No matter who tries to harm our Lady, we will protect her with our lives. Don't worry, Your Majesty..."
Lanqin smiled and said, "I still have you all, so I'm not afraid. Fourth Master has his own arrangements. Besides, I'm living very well in Yuanmingyuan now. The air is fresh and the environment is beautiful. It's also far away from the intrigues of the inner palace, so I don't think about so much. With you all by my side, I'm already very content..."
Baoqin and Yuxiao looked at each other, admiring Lanqin's magnanimity to the point of prostration. They were glad that they had followed the right person and secretly vowed to protect Lanqin.
To avoid upsetting Lanqin, Baoqin avoided bringing up the previous topic. Instead, she picked up a hairpin and compared it to Lanqin's hair, saying, "Your Majesty, look how well this hairpin matches the color of your dress today!"
After saying that, she cast a glance at Yu Xiao, who was taken aback for a moment before replying, "Yes, Your Majesty is beautiful, and looks good in anything you wear."
Yu Xiao suddenly remembered something, pointed to her waist and legs, and said, "Oh right, Your Majesty, what was that leg-slimming exercise you invented yesterday? Look at my waist, I want to follow Your Majesty's lead and lose weight..."
Upon hearing this, Baoqin stretched out her arm to show Lanqin: "Your Majesty, what about me? My arms get thicker from working every day. Your Majesty said before that they could be slimmed down, so please teach us how today..."
The three of them chattered away in the room, discussing ways to lose weight. Once Lanqin got busy, she forgot about Wuya's matter and continued her happy life in the Yuanmingyuan.
A few days later, the Fourth Prince specially summoned the Seventeenth Prince to the palace.
When the Seventeenth Prince arrived at the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the Fourth Prince was in the mood to paint. He excused the Seventeenth Prince from the formalities and beckoned him over. When the Seventeenth Prince approached, he saw that the Fourth Prince was painting a portrait of a beautiful woman. The woman in the painting was graceful and elegant, dancing under a tree, with red leaves falling and drifting around her, seemingly accompanying her dance.
The Seventeenth Prince couldn't help but praise, "Fourth Brother, your painting skills are superb! The women you depict are so lifelike and exquisite, they seem as if they're about to jump out of your skin..."
Fourth Master chuckled, put down his pen, stepped back slightly, and squinted as he carefully considered the painting: "If you have a painting in your heart, your brush will naturally flow like a divine hand..." He then patted Seventeen's shoulder and said meaningfully, "You don't understand. When you have someone in your heart, you will naturally be able to paint like this too..."
The seventeenth prince was taken aback, then chuckled sheepishly, "Your humble servant is unworthy; I fear I lack the ability..."
As he spoke, Su Peisheng served tea, and the Fourth Prince invited the Seventeenth Prince to sit down. The Fourth Prince picked up his teacup, smelled the aroma, and asked with a smile, "How has Consort Shu been feeling lately?"
The Seventeenth Prince respectfully replied, "Thank you for your concern, Fourth Brother. Thanks to you, Fourth Brother, my mother is living very comfortably in the Prince's Mansion. She keeps praising you and telling me to serve you well."
The Fourth Prince put down his teacup and smiled with relief: "It is a blessing for Consort Shu to be able to live out her days by your side. You should spend more time with her. The elderly prefer a lively atmosphere. Since you have never married, the mansion is naturally quiet. I am worried that Consort Shu is too lonely. I was even thinking of hiring a storyteller to entertain her."
The Seventeenth Prince's expression changed drastically. He quickly stood up, raised his hand in a bow, and said gratefully, "Thank you, Fourth Brother. I will never forget your kindness."
The Fourth Prince pulled the Seventeenth Prince down to sit and said with a smile, "We're all family, no need to be so formal. I have something to ask you..."
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