March, with its lush grass and soaring birds, quickly came to an end, followed by the languid and willow-swaying April.
This time, the Imperial Household Department naturally sent two more maids. Niu Baoquan returned to the small kitchen in the South Courtyard, which was at Lanqin's own request. Zi Ran and Li Shubao were both working in the front courtyard, and Lanqin felt that it was a better position for them than staying here, so she let them continue to stay there and did not agree to let them come back.
The two maids looked simple and honest, so Lanqin called them "Sihua" and "Siqi," which was a way of trying to appear cultured. The two maids were naturally under Nianxue's tutelage.
The Fourth Prince has set the date for his trip to Jiangnan as the fifteenth day of the third lunar month. He originally intended to take only Lanqin with him, but after discussing it with the Thirteenth Prince, he ultimately decided not to take either of them. When the Princess Consort learned that the Fourth Prince was going out, she insisted that he take Lady Wang with him, saying that Lady Niu alone might not be able to take care of her.
When Lanqin learned of this, she merely smiled slightly. She was afraid Lanqin would be the only one to dote on her on the road. Ha! She was already the only one to dote on her. Did they think forcing someone else in would control her? Wishful thinking.
Alright, now that Fourth Master isn't taking anyone with him, things have calmed down in the main courtyard. Although Lanqin is a little disappointed that she didn't get to go out with Fourth Master, she's happy to be free. This time, Fourth Master isn't going out for sightseeing; he's going to collect debts under immense pressure.
Having just been released from confinement, the Fourth Prince left just like that. Our Comrade Lanqin continued to live a carefree life, spending her days either farming and chatting with the maids, reading and painting, or learning needlework from Madam Song. Her days were quite easy and comfortable. All because the Fourth Prince was not in the manor.
When going to pay her respects at the main courtyard, Lanqin was no longer the same as before, never going without fail and never late. She knew that while the Fujin (Prince Consort) and she maintained a facade, their relationship had long since soured. From the moment the First Prince Honghui tragically drowned, the conflict between Lanqin and the Fujin had become a matter of life and death. If she could truly do it all over again, Lanqin wished she hadn't gone to Su and let them play with her. But nothing could be undone.
As expected, Madam Geng came to see Lanqin again.
When Nianxue saw Madam Geng and her servant arrive, she maintained a polite demeanor, but inwardly she felt a little uncomfortable: "When the princess was in trouble, you weren't there. Now that the princess is alright, you're only here." If it weren't for the fact that Xicha had asked Madam Geng for help that time, and Madam Geng had indeed helped, Nianxue would have been ready to give her the cold shoulder.
“My sister has been free for many days, and I’m only now coming to see her. It turns out I haven’t been feeling well this winter, so I didn’t come, afraid of passing on my illness to her.” Geng Shi said to Nian Xue as she walked, holding onto Lü Lan’s hand.
"Gege is not feeling well and should rest in her room. Why did you come to see her today?" Nianxue said calmly.
Upon hearing this, Geng glanced at Nianxue, unsure how to respond, and silently walked to Lanqin's main house.
Lanqin and Song were learning needlework. It turned out that Song's embroidery skills were first-rate. The flowers and small animals she embroidered were lifelike and exquisite.
"Sister Song is here too?" Seeing that Lanqin was focused on watching Song embroider and had not noticed her arrival, Geng spoke up first.
Lanqin and Song looked up and saw Geng standing outside the door. They quickly smiled and said, "Sister Geng is here, come in quickly."
Lanqin stood up from the main couch, walked to the door, took Geng's hand, and said, "It's been so long since I've seen you, sister. How are you?"
Geng said somewhat embarrassedly, "To be honest, I'm ashamed to say that ever since that incident happened to you, I've been powerless and could only hope that you would be exonerated soon. I never expected that you were indeed wronged and have finally regained your freedom. I should come and see you as soon as possible."
Lanqin helped Geng Shi sit down and then asked Nianxue to make Lanqin-style milk tea for the three of them before saying, "How could I not know my sister's situation? Now that my sister has come, I naturally understand her intentions."
Lanqin's words were extremely tactful. Madam Geng was slightly taken aback, but then she regained her composure and said, "Sister, you are truly a wise person. After this incident, I have also realized that in this backyard, it is difficult to gain a foothold without finding a few sisters who can help and support each other."
Seeing that Lanqin had made her point so clearly, Geng Shi naturally made up her mind. She also knew that her approach of trying to please both sides would inevitably offend both. The rapid change in the attitudes of the Fujin and Yan Yu, whom she had initially favored, towards her after Li Shi's downfall made Geng Shi finally realize the situation.
Madam Song, who had been embroidering a small handkerchief, had no choice but to stop when she saw that the two women had gone this far. She said, seemingly trying to persuade them, "Both of you sisters understand now, and you should both understand by now. I am several years older than you, and I have been in this household for a few years longer than you. I have seen more than you. Now the Fujin is becoming increasingly intolerant. Only by helping each other can we sisters protect ourselves to some extent."
Lanqin listened quietly to these words. Gengshi seemed to be deep in thought and murmured, "My sister was able to escape this predicament this time because Master trusted her. Only by seizing this trust could my sister have a chance to compete with the Fujin. I'm afraid that Sister Song and I don't have your ability."
Madam Song nodded and said to Lanqin, "Sister, now that the Fujin (wife of the Prince) has the Fourth Prince and Yanyu is about to give birth, she may not have the energy to focus on us anymore."
Lanqin shook her head and said, "The Princess Consort is very cunning, and the people she wants to deal with all fall into her trap without you even realizing it. However, what you two elder sisters say is absolutely right. Lanqin will make the most of the Prince's trust."
Geng seemed to have made up her mind as well, and suddenly said, "Sister Song, younger sister, why don't the three of us burn incense and pray today, and from now on we will stand together through thick and thin, never abandoning each other?"
Lanqin was surprised by Geng's words. She looked at Song questioningly and saw her nod. Lanqin then made up her mind and said, "Alright, today is the day when the three of us sisters swear brotherhood in the Peach Garden. From now on, Sister Song will be the eldest sister, Sister Geng will be the second sister, and I will be the youngest, so naturally I will be the youngest sister."
The three exchanged a smile, and indeed asked Nianxue to bring incense and candles. Then, the three went to Lanqin's room, faced the incense burner, and made a vow to help each other through life and death in this inner courtyard, and to advance and retreat together.
As Lanqin did all this, she truly felt a sense of sworn brotherhood. However, she knew that today she had truly entered the Fourth Master's inner quarters and begun the endless power struggles within the household.
When she transmigrated, she thought she could rely on the Fourth Prince's favor to avoid getting involved in those turbulent struggles, but in reality, she never left those struggles for a single day.
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