A few days later, the imperial edict from the Fourth Prince was delivered to the residences of the Third and Fifth Princes, and the Third Prince's two illegitimate daughters and the Fifth Prince's illegitimate daughter went to the palace together.
Lanqin secretly prepared a dowry for Bechuk. Although needlework was not Lanqin's forte, she still hoped to do some delicate chores for Bechuk before the wedding, so as not to disappoint her mother's last wish.
As Baoqin untangled the knotted thread for Lanqin, she occasionally corrected Lanqin's needlework mistakes. Seeing Lanqin's clumsy movements, Baoqin couldn't help but laugh and said, "Your Highness, let me do it. You've been working on this all morning, and this little sachet is almost riddled with holes..."
Lanqin sighed, disappointedly tossing the sachet onto the table. She murmured, "It seems I'll never be able to make a decent gift for Bechuk's wedding. I said I'd embroider clothes for him, then changed it to a mandarin jacket, and now I can't even make a small sachet..."
Baoqin smiled and picked up the sachet, quickly sewing a few stitches on both sides. Sure enough, it became delicate and lovely. Lanqin's eyes widened in surprise, and she asked, "What magic did you use? How did you finish it so quickly?"
Baoqin suddenly remembered something and said to Lanqin, "Your Majesty, do you remember when the Emperor recognized two princesses of the Third Prince and one princess of the Fifth Prince as princesses at the Yuanmingyuan? Today, all three princesses were brought into the palace together..."
Lanqin was taken aback, and whispered, "A princess who is preparing to be married off to a distant land for a political alliance?"
As Baoqin tidied up the clutter on the table, she nodded and said, "It's not them. Princess Chuke is about to be sent off for a political marriage..."
Lanqin suddenly felt a pang of guilt and said sadly, "Yes, otherwise how would I have had the chance to prepare a gift for Bechuk here..." After thinking for a moment, Lanqin said to Baoqin, "Go and prepare some pastries, I want to go see them..."
Baoqin nodded in agreement and immediately prepared pastries before going to Chuxiu Palace with Lanqin.
When the three princesses first arrived at the palace, they followed their nanny timidly, not daring to utter a sound. When they learned that Lanqin had arrived, they became even more nervous and at a loss.
The old woman smiled and presented the three girls to Lanqin, introducing them: "This is our Consort Xi, who has come especially to visit you. Why don't you pay your respects to Her Highness..."
The three girls glanced timidly at Lanqin, then immediately shrank back, stepping forward with trepidation to greet her one by one. Seeing their fearful expressions, Lanqin felt a pang of heartache.
"How old are you?" Lanqin asked one of the girls with a smile, trying to appear friendly. The girl was startled and trembled, her voice barely audible as she replied, "I'm fourteen..."
Lanqin sized up the girl. The girl was thin and frail, and never dared to raise her head. Judging from her clothes and accessories, she was clearly not favored at home. Indeed, they were all illegitimate daughters of the Prince's family. If their mother was favored by the Prince, the daughters could live a good life. If their mother was not well-liked, the daughters would be even more inferior and timid.
Lanqin looked at the girl's trembling hand hidden in her sleeve and reached out to take it. Unexpectedly, the girl turned pale with fright, abruptly pulling her hand back, too afraid to breathe. Realizing her earlier rudeness, she knelt on the ground in fear, her voice trembling, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger..."
Seeing this, the girl standing to the side also knelt down behind her, crying, "My sister was impolite, Your Majesty, please don't blame her. If there is to be punishment, I am willing to take it in her place..."
Lanqin was slightly moved and asked curiously, "Are you always being punished in the Prince's mansion?"
The older girl was taken aback at first, then shook her head sharply and said, "No..."
Lanqin glanced at the nanny, who then explained, "These two princesses are from the Third Prince's residence; they are sisters..."
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