Fourth Master, draped in a black cloak, hunched over on horseback, becoming one with the horse. Lanqin tried to catch a glimpse of Fourth Master through the carriage window several times, but all she could see was his black cloak billowing in the wind and the dust rising from the pipes.
Lanqin leaned on Nianxue's shoulder, lost in deep thought.
What could have made Emperor Kangxi allow the Fourth Prince to leave alone, and even rush back to the capital at such a frantic pace?
National affairs? Or family affairs?
As for state affairs, with the Crown Prince and Prince Zhi in the capital, there's no need to rush the Fourth Prince back to handle any major incidents.
Then it must be a family matter. What exactly happened at home that made Fourth Master's face turn so cold?
Lanqin mentally reviewed every woman in the inner quarters; none of them were pregnant, so it couldn't be a miscarriage. Could it be that something had happened to one of the children?
A sudden thought flashed through Lanqin's mind, reminding her of the 43rd year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, when Honghui, the eldest son of the fourth prince Yinzhen, died young.
Wait a minute... So it really is the First Prince who's in trouble?!
Lanqin suddenly sat up from Nianxue's embrace, and the look of surprise on her face immediately caught the attention of several maids.
"Gege, what's wrong?" Nianxue asked first.
Lanqin looked at her in horror, but could only shake her head. The idea hadn't been confirmed yet, and if Honghui hadn't actually been in trouble, her hasty statement would inevitably cause a misunderstanding.
"Has Princess figured out why Master is in such a hurry to get here?" Zi Ran hadn't said much along the way, but whenever she did speak, she could pinpoint the crux of the matter.
Lanqin looked at her with a complicated expression and said, "Let's wait for Fourth Master to say it himself. I was just overthinking it."
As for Yan Yu, she was already prone to motion sickness, and now the carriage was bouncing so violently that she was vomiting several times using the small wooden bucket that Yun Yuan was carrying. At this moment, she was completely limp in Chun Tao's arms, barely able to breathe.
"Princess, hang in there. At this speed, we'll be in the capital by tonight." Yun Yuan packed up the small wooden tub and took out a handkerchief to wipe Yan Yu's mouth.
"What on earth has happened that makes Master rush back to the capital like this? Alas, our Princess is so delicate, how can she withstand such a bumpy ride?" Chun Tao said.
Fortunately, the Fourth Prince and his entourage finally arrived at Shuntian Prefecture in the evening. They found an inn to rest and have some food.
Fourth Master and his men handed the horses and carriages over to the welcoming servants to feed and water them, while the rest of them went into the tavern for a meal. After a long and bumpy journey, they had no appetite whatsoever. Lanqin and the others were already completely stuffed.
After Fourth Master led Lanqin and Yan Yu to sit down on either side, Li Wei and Su Peisheng and other servants sat down at another table. Then he called over a servant to order some food for a simple meal.
Yan Yu's face was a little pale at this moment. Seeing that the Fourth Master was silent with a sullen face, she said, "Master, I really can't stand the bumpy ride of this carriage. Should we stay here tonight and go into the city tomorrow?"
Shuntian Prefecture was still dozens of miles away from the city. According to the Fourth Prince, they had to continue their journey immediately after having their meal.
"If you want to stay, then stay! I must get back tonight," Fourth Master said with a stern face, radiating an oppressive aura.
Yan Yu was taken aback by his words and immediately lost face.
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