For dinner, Lanqin still ordered sour bamboo shoot and old duck soup, shredded eel, sliced pork belly with fermented rice wine, stir-fried loofah with eggs, and preserved eggs with minced garlic for Fourth Master. She herself still couldn't eat much, but thankfully she didn't vomit up the few pieces of pastry she ate, otherwise her body really wouldn't have been able to take it.
When Fourth Master saw that Lanqin only drank a little bit of the old duck soup and refused to eat any more, he lost interest in eating.
"No, I have to ask Granny De tomorrow. If you don't eat, your body can't take it," Fourth Master said.
Lanqin was too tired to act cute anymore. This had been going on for several days, and she felt her legs starting to tremble.
That evening, Fourth Master ordered water and had Nianxue and the others help Lanqin wash up before quickly going to bed. Perhaps he had slept too much, because he couldn't fall asleep. Watching Lanqin fall asleep, he stared at the little princess's noticeably thinner face and said with heartache, "What kind of child is she that makes her mother suffer like this?"
The next day, the Fourth Prince went to the palace specifically to consult with Granny De in Consort De's palace about Lanqin's morning sickness.
Consort De was quite surprised to learn that the Fourth Prince had come to pay his respects so early in the morning, but naturally allowed him to come in anyway.
"Fourth Prince, have you had breakfast?" Consort De was preparing to eat. She was sitting in the West Warm Pavilion, wearing only a light-colored double-breasted jacket and a matching skirt. Her hair was simply styled in a low bun without any ornaments.
The Fourth Prince hadn't seen Consort De dressed like this in a long time; in fact, he hadn't come to see her this early in a long time. Usually, they met either when he had business to attend to, after court had adjourned, or on holidays. Even then, Consort De was always fully armed and dressed in her best.
"I've had it. Son, please serve Mother breakfast." After paying his respects, the Fourth Prince said to Consort De.
Consort De was surprised by the Fourth Prince's words, and nodded after only one glance.
The Fourth Prince and Consort De sat facing each other. The Fourth Prince personally served Consort De porridge into a small bowl, and then placed some vegetables on a small plate in front of her.
"This is the first time you've served your mother rice!" Consort De said with some emotion, surprised that she could actually sit face-to-face with the Fourth Prince and have breakfast together like this.
"Your son is unfilial, please forgive him, Mother." The Fourth Prince did not think he was trying to flatter Consort De when he did these things. He just thought of how he usually spent time with Lanqin, and he did all this naturally.
Having spent most of her life in the palace, Consort De could easily tell whether someone was flattering her or genuinely sincere.
"Didn't your imperial father give you all a holiday? Did you come to the palace today to see your mother?" Consort De scooped a spoonful of porridge into her mouth. As one of the four consorts in charge of the harem, she was able to learn about court affairs immediately, and even the emperor's whereabouts quickly. It wasn't that Consort De was going to do anything, but as a consort with offspring, a high rank, and real power in the harem, she had to understand the emperor's needs and moods.
"Your son has come to see you today, Mother, to discuss something," Fourth Master said. These days, he doesn't seem as devoted to her as before; unknowingly, the things that happened between them at Hengyuan have gradually faded from memory.
"Oh, what is it?" Consort De asked, a slight difference in her eyes.
"I'd like to ask your nanny, Consort De, how to improve her appetite during her pregnancy?" The Fourth Prince was a little embarrassed when he said this, because he had never consulted Consort De about these things before. Even when his wife was pregnant with Honghui, it was Consort De who personally assigned a nanny to take care of her.
"Oh, is it someone in the household who is pregnant?" Consort De asked with delight.
“It’s Niohuru, she’s only been pregnant for a little over a month. She’s been vomiting a lot these days, whatever she eats, she vomits up,” the Fourth Prince replied.
The Empress Dowager was startled, not expecting that the girl she had just reprimanded would actually become pregnant today. Although she didn't have much affection for the girl, she didn't dislike her either, and Holland was relatively well-behaved.
“Granny De is getting old now, and I can’t very well ask her to go back with you to serve the princess. Do you understand what I mean?” Consort De thought for a moment and said.
Upon hearing this, the Fourth Prince, being a sensible man, naturally understood that Consort De was being considerate of the Fujin's feelings, which was actually beneficial to Lanqin as well.
The so-called "being showered with love and affection" is actually being showered with hatred and resentment.
Consort De said, "Alright, since you came to me personally, I know she's someone you cherish. It would be too conspicuous for Granny De to go; let one of her trained maids go instead. She's served me for several years and is very reliable. She can help take care of Niohuru, but she should still come back to my side." Consort De knew that her actions showed she valued this princess too much, which was why she had said those things earlier. However, since the Fourth Prince had personally come to ask for help, her son's reputation was ultimately important.
"Your subject expresses gratitude on behalf of Lady Niohuru," the Fourth Prince said with a smile. This was the first time that he and his mother had discussed and reached an agreement on something in a very pleasant manner.
Consort De looked at her eldest son, who was past his prime, and felt a lot of emotions.
Back then, she rose from a lowly palace maid serving tea and water to the favor of Emperor Kangxi, becoming a Consort. In that palace, countless schemes and betrayals were aimed at a newly favored concubine like her, with no powerful background. She lived in constant fear, terrified that Kangxi would abandon her and that the Empress Dowager would dislike her. When she gave birth to the Fourth Prince and was told to be raised by the then Empress Niohuru, she was understandably saddened. However, at that time, she was only a Noble Lady, not qualified to raise a prince, and since she was to be raised by the Empress, she felt it was for the child's own good.
Who knew that after Empress Niohuru passed away, the child was sent back. By then, she had already given birth to the Sixth Prince and the Fourteenth Prince, and her status had risen to that of Consort De. However, the child was already twelve years old when he returned.
Twelve years of separation cannot be made up for overnight. The Fourteenth Prince had just been born, and the Thirteenth Prince, having lost his birth mother, was also sent over.
She was almost thirty at the time, and had just given birth. The emperor had also begun to favor other concubines. Her mind was in turmoil. She wanted to make up for the lack of motherly affection with her child, but it seemed very difficult.
He's not a child anymore; he has his own ideas.
"Mother, I'm going to see that aunt. I'll come to see you again next time," the Fourth Prince said, interrupting Consort De when he saw her lost in thought.
"Go ahead, and if you need anything, just tell your mother," Consort De said gently.
"Yes. Son has gone." Fourth Master felt relieved. For some reason, the grudge between him and his mother seemed to have vanished all at once.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
