After helping Lanqin put on a straw raincoat and bamboo hat, the Fourth Prince grabbed an oil-paper umbrella and rode his horse at breakneck speed towards the imperial tent. Lanqin sat behind him, clinging tightly to his waist, her heart filled with a complex mix of emotions, as if a bottle of vinegar had been overturned!
She understood why Fourth Master had been so crazy last night, but the reason was something Lanqin dared not even think about, because just thinking about it made her feel extremely filthy!
How could Fourth Master think like that? Lanqin's heart ached inexplicably.
Each with their own thoughts, the two sped along in the pouring rain. Lanqin closed her eyes and could only hear the clatter of the horses' hooves splashing water everywhere in the mud!
Upon arriving at the imperial tent, Liang Jiugong was already waiting at the door. Seeing that the Fourth Prince and Lanqin had arrived, he immediately went to take the reins. After they dismounted, he hurriedly had someone lead the horses away, while he himself immediately opened the tent curtain for them. The Fourth Prince closed his oil-paper umbrella and led Lanqin, who was still wearing a straw raincoat and bamboo hat, into the imperial tent.
Lanqin looked at the place where there were tables and chairs yesterday, which had now been replaced by a large imperial bed, on which Kangxi lay with a pained expression on his face. Holland and Consort Hui were standing by the bed, with a few tears in their eyes.
"Doctor, how is Father?" Fourth Prince rushed over, pushing aside Eighth Prince, Ninth Prince and others, and hurriedly asked.
Lanqin looked at the room full of people gathered around Kangxi's bed, then took off her raincoat and bamboo hat, had a little eunuch take them away, and then walked around the crowd to Consort Hui's side, looking at Kangxi.
When Holland caught sight of Lanqin's face, a variety of expressions flashed across her face. Consort Hui, seeing her approach, said anxiously, "I heard that you dined here with the Emperor yesterday and even went for a walk with him. Now the Emperor keeps calling you 'little girl,' supposedly because he's calling you 'little girl'!"
Consort Hui's tone conveyed concern, but it was more accurate to say that it immediately aroused everyone's curiosity. Sure enough, although her voice wasn't loud, it was enough for everyone present to hear it.
Lanqin felt a pang of bitterness in her heart, and her lips seemed sealed shut as she struggled to speak: "Your Majesty simply ate too much yesterday, and I accompanied you to help you digest. As for the 'girl' Your Majesty called out, perhaps it is just someone Your Majesty is thinking of, and may not necessarily be me."
"Do you think I'll get better if you all keep yelling here? Go back now! Fourth Prince and Lanqin, stay here!" Kangxi suddenly opened his eyes and shouted.
Consort Hui never expected that Emperor Kangxi was actually lucid. She immediately regretted her rashness, fearing that she had created a rift between Lanqin and displeased Emperor Kangxi. She curtsied and led the way out.
Holland walked up to Lanqin, seemingly bumping her arm unintentionally, and then left with his palace servants.
After everyone had taken their leave, the imperial physician administered another dose of medicine to Emperor Kangxi before departing. At this point, Kangxi's complexion seemed to have lost some of its flush, and he appeared much more lucid.
"Father, how are you?" Liang Jiugong brought a stool for the Fourth Prince, and he sat down in front of Kangxi, while Lanqin stood at the foot of the bed.
"I only caught a cold. Was I calling 'girl' the whole time?" Kangxi asked somewhat awkwardly. Upon hearing this, Lanqin's heart clenched. She feared that if this continued, not only the Fourth Prince, but also Consort Hui and everyone else present would actually believe that Kangxi had feelings for her!
The thought of this made Lanqin feel as if she had been slapped hard across the face. She had always only respected and admired Kangxi, and she knew that when Kangxi called her "girl," it was only because he was thinking of Rongxian, and it was definitely not what they thought.
"Your Majesty kept calling her 'girl,' so I assumed it was my concubine, Niu Shi, and brought her here. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness." The Fourth Prince was not feeling much better at the moment.
"Fourth Prince, your princess reminds me of Rongxian," Kangxi said, glancing at the Fourth Prince before slowly closing his eyes.
Upon hearing this, Lanqin felt relieved. Unless Kangxi said it himself, even if she did, she would still have a somewhat inexplicable feeling.
Sure enough, when the Fourth Prince heard this, he suddenly looked up, glanced at Kangxi, then at Lanqin, and as if suddenly realizing something, he immediately stood up from the embroidered stool, patted his sleeves, knelt down, and choked out, "It was all my stupidity that made me realize that Father Emperor was missing Rongxian. What virtue or ability does Lady Niu have to comfort Father Emperor's longing for his daughter? I will try my best to have her come and keep Father Emperor company more often in the future to ease Rongxian's longing."
Holy crap! I was just worried your dad had designs on me, and now he's sold me out and wants me to spend more time with him!!
Lanqin glared at Fourth Master with resentment. She felt like an object, letting the father and son talk back and forth without asking her opinion.
"What, you're unwilling?" A slight smile appeared on Kangxi's pale face.
"Lanqin is naturally willing to spend more time with Your Majesty, but I'm afraid some people might misunderstand~" Lanqin ignored the Fourth Prince's gaze and continued to exhale the pent-up anger in her heart.
The Fourth Prince's lips twitched slightly. He turned his head to look at Kangxi and said, "Rongxian has been in Khorchin for eight years now. I wonder how she is doing?"
Upon hearing this, Kangxi's face, which had just brightened slightly, darkened again. Lanqin glanced at the Fourth Prince, wanting to speak but not daring to!
"Rongxian is gone, and I will never see my third princess again!" Kangxi was clearly still suffering from the pain of losing his daughter, which caused him to catch a cold.
"Rongxian is gone!" The Fourth Prince murmured, repeating these four words with astonishment in his eyes. Of the eight princesses that Emperor Kangxi sent away, Rongxian was the one who received the most favor and was the only one who, despite being a concubine's daughter, was given the dignity and status of a legitimate princess. She was also the longest-lived princess. The others all died a few years after their marriages.
"I received a report yesterday! The Khorchin sent someone to the capital to deliver a message, which then reached me. My third princess has been gone for about a month now." Kangxi choked up, his eyes filled with the pain of losing his daughter.
"Please accept my condolences, Father! Third Sister has always been the most favored by you, and she certainly doesn't want you to be sad for her at this moment." Fourth Prince also had a good relationship with Rongxian, because he had served by Kangxi's side for two years, and Rongxian was the most favored by Kangxi among all the princesses, so the two often had the opportunity to meet.
"I want to bring her back, Fourth Prince!" Kangxi said suddenly, his voice filled with emotion.
Upon hearing this, the Fourth Prince was greatly shocked and looked at Kangxi in disbelief, involuntarily saying, "But Rongxian has already married into the family. How could her husband's family be willing?"
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