While the Fourth Prince was organizing memorials in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, someone mentioned the matter of reinstating the Crown Prince. Having already purged Nian Gengyao, it was time to establish Hongli as Crown Prince. The Fourth Prince went to Changchun Palace to discuss this matter with Lanqin.
Lanqin was chatting with Baoqin in the hall.
"Baoqin, you and Yuxiao are of marriageable age. I'm looking for good families for you. You and Yuxiao are not allowed to say anything about not wanting to get married anymore," Lanqin said.
Baoqin blushed deeply upon hearing the Empress's words. "Your Majesty!"
Baoqin and Yuxiao were the two palace maids who had served Lanqin the longest. Lanqin didn't want them to have a bad life after they got married, so she planned to ask the Fourth Prince to take them in as her sworn sisters. That way, they could both marry good husbands.
"Tell me, tell me, do you already have someone you like? If not, I'll help you find a good match," Lanqin teased.
"No, Your Majesty, I want to stay by your side forever. You treat Baoqin so well, and Baoqin wants to stay by your side for the rest of her life, as long as you don't dislike Baoqin." Baoqin said nervously, afraid that Lanqin would really abandon her.
Looking at the innocent and naive girl before him, he could only hope that the unfathomable palace wouldn't change her heart. "How could that be? How could I not want you? It's just that I feel you can't serve me forever; you still need to get married," Lanqin said.
Baoqin stopped arguing and a sweet smile appeared on her face. Just as she was about to thank the Empress, she heard a sound coming from outside.
"Fourth Master, what brings you here today?" Nian Gengyao has just stepped down from his post, so Fourth Master should be busy. Why would he have time to come here? Could something have happened?
Seeing Lanqin's serious expression, the Fourth Prince wanted to tease her. "What's wrong? You're not happy that I've come here?" The Fourth Prince asked with a haughty air. Baoqin looked on in disbelief. The Emperor, second only to the Emperor, was... being coquettish? Baoqin quickly looked away, afraid she had seen something she shouldn't have.
Lanqin was taken aback by the Fourth Prince's words and was speechless for a moment. "How could that be? Of course I'm happy that the Emperor is here, but shouldn't the Emperor be reviewing memorials right now?" Lanqin asked again.
The Fourth Prince, no longer wanting to tease Lanqin, prepared to get down to business. He dismissed Su Peisheng and Baoqin, leaving only himself and Lanqin. As they sat at the table, seeing the Fourth Prince's troubled expression, they couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty, what has happened?"
"Lanqin, I want to make Hongli the crown prince!" Fourth Prince grabbed Lanqin's hand and said.
Upon hearing this news, Lanqin's eyes widened. She thought that the Fourth Prince had come here because he had encountered some difficulties, but she never expected that he was thinking of making Hongli the Crown Prince.
"Make Hongli the Crown Prince?" Lanqin knew that Hongli would be made the Crown Prince sooner or later, but she did not expect that the Fourth Prince would bring it up again.
"Isn't it too early to make Hongli the Crown Prince now?" Lanqin wondered. The Fourth Prince knew what Lanqin was thinking, so he said, "I have already eliminated Nian Gengyao. Now is the time to make Hongli the Crown Prince!" Lanqin knew that the Fourth Prince had demoted Nian Gengyao to the position of prefect of Xiangyang, but she was not entirely clear about the power dynamics in the palace.
Lanqin thought for a moment and decided it was better to wait. "I think it's better to hide the secret edict in the open and aboveboard. Anyway, we're not in a hurry." Lanqin was afraid that making Hongli the crown prince now would bring him unwarranted disaster.
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