In the blink of an eye, the depths of winter have passed, and March brings lush grass and soaring birds. Forsythia on the outer walls of courtyards everywhere begin to unfurl their tender yellow blossoms, braving the chill of early spring.
The maids and servants who moved around no longer needed to wear thick cotton robes. Those who were strong even started to wear lighter cotton robes, and a cotton vest was enough to keep them warm.
Lanqin was wearing a light green cotton robe, with a moon-white vest over her upper body. Her hair was styled in a small double bun, adorned with small apricot and pale yellow silk flowers. Two red coral earrings hung from her ears. She was standing at the entrance of the main house, looking up at the sky.
The weather is excellent today; the sky is a clear blue with only a few wisps of cloud floating in it.
Nianxue and Xicha were carrying the books out of the study, one by one. The dampness and gloom of winter had left the books so sore. Lanqin, watching the two maids working up a light sweat, smiled and said, "Today, I, this princess, will personally cook you a delicious meal. How does it sound?"
These past few days, Lanqin had been having Nianxue buy some ingredients to cook for themselves, because Xicha was always being bullied by Eunuch Huang, and Lanqin really couldn't stand the fare of steamed dishes and stews. So Lanqin had Xicha go out and buy some rice, flour, oil, and vegetables, and the three young women started cooking in Niu Baoquan's old small kitchen.
Anyway, Fourth Master only said that no one was allowed to visit, but he didn't say that they couldn't go out to buy some daily necessities.
After a winter of hibernation, Lanqin was noticeably more cheerful than when she was first confined. She had many things to do now, such as turning over all the places where she used to plant flowers and then clearing out a portion to plant some fruits and vegetables.
Lanqin asked Xicha to go out and buy some vegetable seeds, such as seeds for broad beans, loofah, tomatoes, and peppers. She was planning to turn this large courtyard in the south yard into her own vegetable garden.
As Lanqin put it, since no one dared to come in anyway, she had to find something to do to pass the time. Every day she would spend a lot of time reading in her study, and when she got tired of reading, she would come out to check if the seeds in her little vegetable garden had sprouted.
Nianxue and Lanqin were always busy. Besides taking care of the food for the four people in the courtyard, they also cleaned the house inside and out, and Lanqin's clothes and belongings needed to be washed and aired from time to time. Although the lively atmosphere of Fourth Master's frequent visits was gone, the entire South Courtyard was peaceful and comfortable.
That day, the Fourth Prince had just returned from the palace. He had been pursuing the outstanding debts owed by court officials since last year, and he intended to continue this year. The debts owed by officials of all ranks in the capital had been mostly repaid. Now, he was beginning to pursue the debts owed to officials stationed in other parts of the country or those sent to remote areas by the imperial court.
This trip might last a year or two. The first place they would go was Jiangnan, the most prosperous region in the Qing Dynasty. As soon as Fourth Master returned to the front courtyard, he thought of Lanqin, whom he had promised to take to Jiangnan.
Su Peisheng looked at Fourth Master, knowing that he had been struggling with this for the past few months. He couldn't bear to treat the woman in the South Courtyard, but given the circumstances, that was the only way to handle it.
"Su Peisheng, where is Huanbi now?" Fourth Master suddenly asked.
"Reporting to Your Highness, it seems that the girl has been sent away. The Fujin said that although she was instructed by someone, it was still her doing, and she is no longer suitable to stay in the manor," Su Peisheng said.
"Go to the head nanny and find out about this servant's background. Go find her for me. But don't let anyone else know beforehand," the Fourth Master said with a dark face. In the past few months, he had actually missed Lanqin very much. Many times he had walked to the gate of the South Courtyard, but he would stand there for a while, staring at the gate, and then silently leave.
Su Peisheng felt relieved, thinking to himself: That girl in the South Courtyard is truly blessed; it seems I intend to personally overturn her case.
Su Peisheng nodded in agreement, then bowed and withdrew to handle the matter for the Fourth Master.
Fourth Master lay in his armchair, as if remembering something, and called out "Ziran". A woman who was always attentive to him walked in from the side.
It was Zi Ran who, after leaving the South Courtyard, was assigned by the head nanny to serve in the Fourth Master's study. Because one of the maids who was responsible for serving there had just reached the age limit, she was released, and Zi Ran filled that vacancy.
"What do you think of Huanbi?" Seeing Ziran standing obediently in front of the sandalwood table, Fourth Master closed his eyes to rest, only parting his thin lips to ask.
Upon hearing this, Zi Ran understood that the Fourth Prince intended to overturn the princess's case.
Sure enough, the Fourth Prince didn't actually believe that the Princess would do such a thing.
"Replying to Your Highness, Huanbi is somewhat impetuous, but she does know how to read people's expressions. However, she likes to show off in everything, which Nianxue dislikes, and then the princess forbade her to serve in the inner room." Ziran spoke the truth, without trying to smear Huanbi.
Fourth Master frowned slightly and said, "So that means she's dissatisfied?"
Zi Ran glanced at the Fourth Prince carefully and said thoughtfully, "This servant thinks Huan Bi must be unhappy about being kicked out of the inner chamber by the princess."
She knew that every word she uttered at this moment would directly determine Fourth Master's judgment of Lanqin's side. Moreover, judging from Fourth Master's renewed interest in this matter, Zi Ran also knew that Fourth Master was waiting for her to say these words.
"Go to the South Courtyard and call Nianxue over!" Fourth Master said, having made up his mind.
Zi Ran smiled, quickly curtsied, and left.
Meanwhile, Lanqin was busy in the kitchen, having taken half a duck, some pork, potatoes, cabbage, and radishes from the kitchen.
"Princess, let me do it. When did you learn to cook?" Nianxue looked at Lanqin's expression, which seemed to say, "I'm going to cook you a delicious meal," and felt a little unsure.
"Nianxue, you just need to help me out. Don't underestimate your princess. Today, I'll make sure you eat until the plates are empty and you still won't stop." Lanqin's mind was entirely focused on cooking, so she wasn't about to comply.
"Princess, are you planning to stew duck with radish?" Xicha saw Lanqin ask her to peel the radish, then personally chopped the duck into pieces, added various seasonings to the duck pieces, and then stirred it by hand.
Lanqin's approachable actions left the two maids speechless: When will Princess Lanqin put her hands to work in the kitchen? But judging from how she did it, she doesn't seem like she can't do it at all!
"I'll make you a beer-braised duck, but unfortunately there's no beer, so I'll have to use baijiu instead. Nianxue, go peel those potatoes, and I'll make you some stir-fried shredded potatoes with vinegar—I guarantee they'll be delicious," Lanqin said with a beaming smile. Since things are like this anyway, whether you're bored and unhappy every day, life will still go on like this, whether you're happy or not, so why make things harder for yourself?
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