"Go quickly, maybe Master is just looking for an excuse to leave right now," Lanqin said, tugging at Nianxue's hand.
"Then, will Gege go back to the South Courtyard alone?" Nianxue asked.
"Yes, I'm not a three-year-old. You think I'd get lost?" Lanqin knew she'd lived a life of being waited on hand and foot for a year. Nianxue wasn't doubting that she couldn't even find her way back, but she still couldn't quite understand. Even the Fujin might not be able to go to the front courtyard to call the Fourth Master, so how could a Gege be able to call the Master over?
Seeing that Nianxue still looked completely bewildered, Lanqin turned and left, only saying, "Go on, when has your princess ever lied to you?"
Seeing this, Nianxue didn't dare to delay and immediately went to the front yard.
When she arrived at the front yard and said she was looking for Zi Ran, the gatekeeper naturally recognized her and knew that her mistress was the master's favorite, so he let Nian Xue go into the gatehouse to wait.
Someone naturally went to call Zi Ran, but Nian Xue still couldn't go in to look for her herself.
A short while later, Zi Ran indeed arrived. Upon seeing that it was Nian Xue who had come looking for her, she was initially surprised, but then smiled and said, "Sister, what brings you here today?"
Nianxue didn't want to repeat Lanqin's instructions in front of so many people, so she quickly gave Nianxue a wink, which the latter naturally understood.
“Didn’t I borrow a few taels of silver from you? I had some free time at the princess’s place today, so I thought I’d come and ask you to return the silver,” Nianxue said.
“Oh, it’s just a few taels of silver. I’m not on duty today either. Come on, let’s go to my room for a bit?” Zi Ran said.
Nianxue pretended to be troubled and looked at the few eunuchs at the gate.
The gatekeeper was a man named Xiaozhu. Seeing that Nianxue was Lanqin's personal maid and Ziran served in the master's study, he figured it was best not to offend them, since they were both favored servants.
“Miss Nianxue, go ahead. Anyway, the master is entertaining distinguished guests in the main room today. If Miss Ziran isn’t on duty, it’s perfectly fine to go to her room for a chat,” Xiaozhuzi said with a smile.
"Thank you so much, young man!" Zi Ran, holding Nian Xue's hand, smiled sweetly at Xiao Zhuzi.
Watching the two beautiful maids leave, Xiao Zhuzi was slightly lost in thought again. A young eunuch beside him said, "Brother, Miss Zi Ran is really beautiful, especially when she smiles."
"You brat, do you want to die? Even though she's just a maid, she still serves the master. Who knows when he'll take her away, and then we'll both have to bow to him!" Xiao Zhu slapped the little eunuch on the head and scolded. In truth, his heart had just fluttered at Zi Ran's smile!
After Zi Ran brought Nian Xue into the house, she learned that Nian Xue had arrived just in time for Lan Qin's arrival, and asked, "Is there something you need, Princess?"
Nianxue nodded and then repeated Lanqin's words to Ziran.
Zi Ran pondered for a moment, then said to Nian Xue, "I understand. Sister, go back and tell the Princess, and I will definitely tell the Master."
After Nianxue saw her off, Ziran made an excuse to say a few words to a maid on duty, and then went inside to serve dishes to the Fourth Master and the Digital Legion.
Just as she walked in, the Ninth Brother, seeing that Zi Ran's face was unfamiliar, suddenly said, "Fourth Brother, all the maids in the manor are so beautiful, this one is quite lovely, why not give her to your Ninth Brother?"
Peach Blossom Nine's face was flushed, clearly she had drunk a bit too much. Upon seeing Zi Ran's handsome features, she started spouting nonsense.
Fourth Master had just dealt with this group of people. Apart from Thirteen, who genuinely came to congratulate him, it was hard to say what the others were thinking.
"Ninth Prince, your lustful nature has even extended to Fourth Brother's residence. Haha!" The Third Prince had also drunk quite a bit. Lately, he'd been quite pleased with himself in front of Emperor Kangxi. Last year's book was completed and bestowed upon the court officials by Kangxi. This year, the old emperor had ordered him to lead the compilation of a new book. Having a task was always good, better than being a bald prince. Although some had begun to say to the Third Prince that simply compiling a book, without any real work, wasn't ideal.
"Yes, that's my only hobby. Fourth Brother, what do you think, are you willing to give it up?" The Ninth Brother actually stood up and blocked Zi Ran's way.
Zi Ran blushed slightly, glanced at the Fourth Master with a troubled expression, and suddenly said, "This servant has something to report to Master, please allow me to proceed, Ninth Master."
Upon hearing Zi Ran's words, Fourth Master immediately knew that she must have something on her mind, rather than simply trying to send Ninth Master away.
Sure enough, when Ninth Master heard that the other party had something to do, he couldn't stand in front of him and cause a drunken ruckus any longer. However, he felt quite embarrassed as he awkwardly stepped back, so he suddenly vomited, as if he really had drunk too much.
Zi Ran was startled by Ninth Master's action, but soon Ninth Master's personal bodyguard, Xiao Wuzi, came in and helped him up.
"Fourth Prince, my master has drunk too much. Could you please help him sober up?" said Xiao Wu.
"Su Peisheng, quickly find a room for Lao Jiu to lie down for a while, then go to the kitchen and have them make some hangover soup," Fourth Master said, frowning.
And so, with the help of Xiao Wuzi and Su Peisheng, Lao Jiu went to sober up. Si Ye, on the other hand, led Zi Ran out. The others continued drinking and eating, putting on their usual show of brotherly affection.
"What do you want?" Fourth Master asked as he led Zi Ran out of the main house and under the eaves.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, it was the princess from the South Courtyard who asked me to tell you to go there now when you have some free time," Zi Ran said truthfully.
"It's over?" Fourth Master had an incredulous expression on his face, but he was secretly delighted: only this little woman could deliver a message to him like this.
“Princess has nothing more to say,” Zi Ran replied.
"You may leave now, I understand." Fourth Master turned and looked at a magnolia tree in the courtyard.
As for Lanqin, she returned to the South Courtyard by herself. She didn't know why she had asked Nianxue to call Fourth Master. She knew that Fourth Master was currently entertaining his brothers, and she shouldn't have been so willful in calling him.
However, Dong's situation made her feel she had to see the Fourth Prince immediately. Lanqin knew that her status didn't allow her to interfere in the affairs of the Seventh Prince's residence. But Dong, such a lovely little girl, was gone just like that.
No one even spoke up for her, so Lanqin thought she might be able to talk to the Seventh Prince through the Fourth Prince. She didn't want Dong Shi's death to be so quiet and unnoticed. It was said that the Seventh Prince held her body for a whole day, which showed that he still cared about Dong Shi.
Whether for the sake of the Dong family or for her own future, Lanqin felt she needed to talk to the Fourth Master, but she hadn't yet figured out what to say or how to say it.
When Nianxue returned, Lanqin was lying face down on the couch. Her hands were resting on the small table, and her head was resting on her arms.
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