Anjia seemed to be unable to hold back any longer. She was about to lash out when Lanqin grabbed her hand under the table.
Sigh, I came back hoping for some peace and quiet, but this Yang woman is just being difficult!
"What should we do, Father? If Fourth Master doesn't like me, will you help me?" Lanqin asked, feigning sadness.
Her question actually stumped Lingzhu. He had no dealings with the Fourth Prince, but the Eighth Prince was always very kind to them, these idle civil officials.
Just then, a servant rushed in and said to Lingzhu, "Master, the Fourth Prince has arrived!"
What?! The Fourth Prince has arrived!!
Everyone was startled, except for Lanqin, who wore a smile and her eyes were filled with knowing certainty. She had done it on purpose. In fact, when she asked for leave from the Fourth Master that day, she had said that if he wasn't back by 5 PM today, he would come looking for her. At the time, Lanqin had taken it as a joke, but today she suddenly wanted the Fourth Master to come. After all, he, her son-in-law, had never been to the Ling residence before.
Lingzhu immediately realized what was happening and hurriedly told his eldest son to get up and go greet them. Yang's two sons were completely ignored.
Hehe, see? At times like this, the difference between legitimate and illegitimate children immediately becomes apparent.
Yang looked at Lanqin blankly, and the latter gave her a knowing smile, but this smile made Yang feel uneasy.
The main house was not far from the gate. When the Fourth Master turned the corner, Lingzhu had already led his eldest son and servants to greet him.
"Your Highness the Fourth Prince has arrived! I am deeply sorry for not being able to greet you properly!" Lingzhu quickly raised his hands, clasped his fists, and bowed slightly to the Fourth Prince.
"Greetings to the Fourth Prince!" Niu Gulu Zheng immediately followed suit and bowed to the Fourth Prince.
"Lord Niu, there's no need for such formalities! Is Lan'er still here?" Fourth Master was quite frightened. Last time, during the Golden Festival, Lan Qin went out for a stroll on her own, and it took him an entire night to rescue her from danger. He glanced at Lan Qin's brother and then fixed his gaze on Ling Zhu.
Lingzhu was taken aback and quickly said, "Lan'er is in the main room with her mother and brothers. Please, Fourth Prince, join me for a meal?"
Fourth Master nodded and followed Lingzhu inside, asking casually, "Is the eldest young master at the Imperial Academy?"
Zheng, who was standing to the side, felt a little excited when he heard the Fourth Master mention him. Lingzhu was also a little excited and said, "That's right, he will be released next year."
Fourth Master simply gave a faint "Yin" and then fell silent.
Anjia, along with Shi and Yang, were already waiting at the door, while Lanqin remained inside and did not come out.
"This humble woman greets the Fourth Prince!" Upon seeing the Fourth Prince, who was dressed in a dark blue robe, Lady Anjia immediately bowed respectfully.
Those who followed naturally followed suit.
"Madam, please get up." Fourth Master offered a helping hand, and Su Peisheng, who was beside him, immediately ran over to assist her.
Fourth Master glanced around and, to his surprise, found Lanqin absent. He chuckled inwardly: "Little rascal, she's certainly up to her old tricks now!"
"Master, why have you come over? Come in and eat with me." Lanqin's languid voice came from the inner room.
Madam Yang was startled: This tone is so casual! It's as if the Fourth Prince is someone she can call out to at will.
Lingzhu and Anjia were also surprised, thinking to themselves: their daughter was too presumptuous. This man was the famously cold-faced prince.
But Fourth Master just casually walked in, not paying any attention to Lanqin's casualness. He walked to Lanqin's side and sat down next to her.
Lingzhu quickly led Anjia to her seat, while Yang, being quite perceptive, did not sit next to him but instead gave the seat to Zheng.
"Master, do you think my headdress is a bit too plain?" Lanqin said with a smile after glancing at Madam Yang.
The Fourth Prince, puzzled, looked at the jewelry on the little princess's head and said, "Not enough jewelry? Take whatever you like from my treasury!"
So generous!
The Fourth Prince's private treasury was the wealthiest place in the entire Fourth Prince's mansion.
Upon hearing this, Madam Yang's face flushed red, then turned pale, then red again.
"My lord, when will I be able to see Consort De again?" Lanqin asked again.
Even Lingzhu was surprised this time, as his daughter was only a princess and was not supposed to enter the palace.
"Why bother going to the palace? Mother will come to see Hailan and the others next month. Then, if you want to see them, you can." The Fourth Prince still didn't understand what the little princess was thinking.
When Lady Anjia first saw how much the Fourth Prince doted on Lanqin, she was naturally very happy. However, when she heard that Consort De was coming to celebrate the twins' one-month birthday, she began to worry about Lanqin.
Madam Yang dared not act now; her words earlier had completely backfired. Look at how Lanqin behaved in front of the Fourth Master, and she had only been back for a day before she was already so anxious to find him.
"Master, may Sister Holland come with Consort De?" Lanqin asked. She was thinking of Quanfu's request; after all, she wasn't a heartless person. She would just take Yang Shi and Quanlu's words as a joke to amuse herself.
"Why?" Fourth Master asked, but then he immediately understood.
"That's possible," Fourth Master replied.
"Lan'er thanks Master Xie. When the time comes, you can let Sister Holland come back to the manor for a visit. Anyway, no one will care." Lanqin winked at Quanfu.
The Fourth Prince's face darkened, thinking: This little woman is truly unruly. How can the Emperor's woman leave the palace so casually! But...
Lanqin naturally knew the Fourth Prince's concerns, and quickly said, "It's only an hour or two. Consort De is busy holding her grandson and won't have time for her."
Another bead of sweat dripped from Lingzhu's forehead.
Lady Yang was not from a prestigious family and did not know much about these things, but she did know that the emperor's women could not move around freely.
The Fourth Prince looked at the little princess staring at him expectantly, and then at the Lingzhu family who were also silent and trembling with fear. He thought to himself: "Little thing, you've put me in a difficult position. If I don't agree, I'll lose face in front of your family; if I agree, I'll break the rules of the palace."
"Send someone to escort them over when the time comes. They can only stay for one hour." Fourth Master had no choice but to agree.
Yang was completely deflated this time, and Anjia excitedly squeezed Lanqin's hand.
"Quanfu thanks Third Sister and Third Sister-in-law. My sister from Holland hasn't been back for over a year, and Mother misses her terribly." Quanfu raised his wine glass and said, "Quanfu toasts Third Sister and Third Sister-in-law."
Lanqin looked at the boy and said with a smile, "Good, Quanfu is very sensible."
This was the first time Fourth Master had ever heard someone call him "brother-in-law," and it was a ten-year-old child. Suddenly, he was no longer so aloof and raised his wine glass to drink with the child, along with Lanqin.
Lanqin thoroughly enjoyed the meal, just as she had in the South Courtyard. She served food to the Fourth Prince and ladled soup for him, never letting him put on any airs of a prince.
As Anjia watched, she gradually felt at ease.
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