Lanqin deliberately kept a straight face, but seeing that the Fourth Prince was serving her by combing her hair, she couldn't hold back her smile and said, "Your Majesty, I am a little jealous, but I am also happy for you. Now that Sister Yin is pregnant, it is probably not appropriate for her to stay here."
The Fourth Prince tilted his head and asked, "What's inappropriate about it?"
“There are too many people living here, it’s too much trouble. Pregnant women need to focus on their health and have a proper pregnancy. Besides, as her pregnancy progresses, we’ll need more people to take care of Sister Yin. The wet nurse will also be moving in soon. This room isn’t very big to begin with, how will we manage with so many more people?” Lanqin said.
Fourth Master was taken aback, then remained silent with a sullen face.
Lanqin glanced at him and thought to herself: "Here comes that expressionless face again. I'm doing this for your little wife's sake, why are you unhappy?"
"Nianxue, come in and comb your master's hair." Fourth Master put down the comb and sat down next to Lanqin.
Nianxue tiptoed in, picked up the comb, and continued to comb Lanqin's hair.
"Qin'er, I'm thinking of moving you out. These rooms you live in are perfect for Yin's servants to live in," the Fourth Master suddenly said.
ah! ! !
Lanqin and Nianxue both gasped in surprise!
I asked for a move for the Yin family, but it happened to happen for me?! Is this the start of a favored concubine's rise to power??
"You said you wanted to see me often, so I'll grant your wish now, and I'll also solve the problem of Ms. Yin's childbirth," Fourth Master said in a serious tone.
"Well, let's discuss it with the Fujin (Prince's wife)." Lanqin was actually quite happy; she'd long since tired of living in this small courtyard surrounded by the Fourth Prince's women—it was so awkward! Every time the Fourth Prince came, she could almost feel the resentful gazes from all sides!
However, in this inner quarters, everything can be given up except for the Fourth Prince's favor.
Fourth Prince looked at the little princess's calm expression and thought to himself: Every time I come to this little thing, it takes me a long time to walk there. I've been wanting to move her to a place closer to me for a long time.
"Then where will I stay?" Lanqin couldn't help but ask.
Fourth Master smiled, thinking to himself: He was just pretending not to care, but now he's all excited! Seeing this little thing happy made him happy too. It's strange; the other women who received his rewards were always moved to tears, and even Madam Yin just now looked like a frail willow with tears in her eyes. Only she had this indifferent attitude, which was both infuriating and endearing!
"I want to move you to the South Courtyard. It's a separate courtyard, not far from my front yard, and close to the garden," Fourth Master said.
"Thank you, Master! Qin'er also feels that this room is a bit small, there's not even enough room for a screen." Lanqin finally managed to utter the words that had been stuck in her chest.
Nianxue's face darkened, thinking to herself: Princess, why are you bringing this up now? The Master has already bestowed upon you a new courtyard!
Upon hearing this, Fourth Master chuckled, flicked her forehead with his finger, stood up, and said, "I knew something was wrong. Just as you said, the room is a bit small. Finish combing your hair, and come with me to see the new courtyard." With that, he got up and left the bedroom.
...
Su Peisheng had just sent a young eunuch over to convey the Fourth Prince's message before he left.
The princess consort, however, remained seated on the couch, still in a daze.
Unable to bear it any longer, Granny Li stepped forward to comfort her, saying, "Madam, no matter how many women there are in the inner courtyard, no matter how much they are favored, you can only have one Madam. As long as you have a legitimate son, it's all in vain no matter how many children they have!"
The Fujin raised her hand to touch her forehead, her face filled with worry and fear. "I originally wanted to have that Lady Yin compete with her, but I didn't expect her to be pregnant. Now, Lady Yin is pregnant and can no longer serve you, Master. Lady Li is confined, so the inner courtyard belongs to Lady Niohuru." She had originally wanted Lanqin to compete with Lady Li, but who would have thought that Lady Li was so easily defeated? She had only been there a month and had already easily gotten her confined. Now, although Lady Yin was pregnant, it was actually Lady Niohuru who benefited the most. The Master even wanted to move her from the west courtyard to the front courtyard. Not only that, but he also bestowed two maids, a matron, and a eunuch upon her.
“Madam, I think our master is a sensible man. Don’t worry too much. That Li woman has been favored for several years, but she still has to pay her respects to you and refer to herself as a servant in front of you. The master is not the kind of man who favors his concubine over his wife!” Granny Li advised. “This servant is taking the liberty of speaking to you here because I have a few words from my heart.”
"Granny, just say what you have to say," the Fujin said, rubbing her forehead and leaning on the couch.
"Madam, shouldn't you change your attitude towards the master? To put it bluntly, he's the real master of this household! Why are you arguing with him? All these years, he's been cold to you, and that Li woman is good at being coquettish; she's taken advantage of you. In this world, what man doesn't want his woman to be coquettish, weak, and submissive in front of him? Men are all like that. Madam, sometimes you're a bit too stubborn, and it really doesn't cost you anything." Seeing the situation, Granny Li knew she had wanted to say these things for a long time, but now she had no choice but to.
The Fujin listened, neither scolding nor speaking, silently pondering Li Mama's words. She knew Li Mama meant well, but at her age (actually only twenty-five, perfectly capable of being charming and coquettish), she was still acting like a teenage girl, trying to charm him with smiles and flirtations! She had given up on that path from the start, and now it was too late to regret it. It was better to seek help from her family. The Fourth Prince needed people in the court; if her family could become his right-hand men, her position as Fujin would be secure.
"Granny Li, go and select two maids, one nanny, and one eunuch for each of Consort Yin and Consort Niu. Choose from the people in the Imperial Household Department," the Fujin said.
Granny Li agreed and went to find the head nanny in charge of personnel in the mansion. Although the Fujin (Prince Consort) was the head of the household, since the Fourth Prince left the palace to establish his own residence, all personnel appointments, dismissals, and financial distributions in the Fourth Prince's household had been managed by the head nanny who had served him. Previously, the Fujin had protested and demanded this personnel authority from the Fourth Prince, but he had always refused with various excuses. Because of this, the relationship between the Fujin and the Fourth Prince grew increasingly cold. The Fujin felt that the Fourth Prince didn't trust her, not even entrusting her with the management of the servants. She had to ask an old servant for help to choose someone. The Fourth Prince felt that the Fujin's personality was unsuitable for managing so many people, and the two had been at odds over this ever since.
Just now, when Granny Li said, "He is the true master of this mansion," she was referring to this matter.
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