When Lanqin returned, neither Aunt An nor Nianxue offered any further advice. The three of them remained silent the entire way.
Nianxue really wanted to persuade the princess, but ever since the woman on the stage appeared today, the Fourth Prince seemed to have forgotten about the princess. He was so concerned about her yesterday, but now he has abandoned her.
Sigh, are all men so heartless?
Lanqin, however, did not think that way. Now that she was certain the woman on the stage was Lady Yin, she was even less inclined to believe that the Fourth Prince had abandoned her because he was captivated by her beauty. Lady Yin was indeed beautiful, but if the Fourth Prince could be moved, why would he wait until now? Therefore, the one who could move the Fourth Prince and untie her feet must be the "Yang Guifei" she was impersonating.
Thinking of this, Lanqin felt calmer. If it wasn't because of that person, but because of the feelings she represented, then she was confident that Fourth Master would come back to find her.
Actually, before Lanqin even returned to the South Courtyard, Fourth Master had already arrived.
As soon as Granny Wang opened the door, she saw Lanqin and the others and whispered, "Master arrived a little earlier than you and is in the study!"
Aunt An and Nianxue exchanged a glance, only to see that Lanqin had already taken several steps ahead, never before in such a hurry to go to the study.
Aunt An wanted to say something like, "Pregnant women shouldn't walk too fast," but Lan Qin didn't hear her. In no time, she had reached the study, pushed open the door, and gone inside. Su Peisheng simply bowed to Lan Qin in a daze.
The person was standing in front of Huang Lihua's desk, holding the largest pen in the pen holder, drawing on a piece of white paper.
Lanqin walked over silently without saying a word, just standing quietly to the side watching Fourth Master express his emotions that he could not tell outsiders on that piece of paper.
"If you're tired, sit over there," Fourth Master said, but his hands didn't stop moving.
Lanqin felt a warmth in her heart, knowing that he still cared about her even under these circumstances.
Fourth Master seemed to be immersed in some kind of emotion, and his hand movements became larger and larger, until finally they became like splashing ink on the paper.
As Lanqin looked at it, she realized that what Fourth Master had drawn was a very, very large tree.
"Master, let me grind the ink for you!" Lanqin saw that the ink in the inkstone had been almost used up by the Fourth Master, so she slowly walked to the side where the inkstone was placed and began to grind ink for him.
Fourth Master remained silent, still focused on the painting in front of him.
"That year, I was only fourteen years old. It was the first time I fell in love with a woman, but she wasn't a lady from a prestigious family; she was just an actress," Fourth Master suddenly said. His expression looked somewhat sad, but because so much time had passed, the sadness was no longer so obvious.
"She must have been an extremely special woman." Lanqin couldn't help but think of her class monitor, whom she had a crush on in junior high school.
Alright, Madam, you think you can seduce the Fourth Prince by mentioning his first love? No way! I'm not falling for that, and besides, that's all ancient history.
"She was only fifteen years old. My father only spoke to her a few times, and my mother, without asking any questions, ordered her to be killed." The Fourth Prince seemed to still regret not having a fulfilling, innocent first love.
Well, the palace is truly dark; they can order someone to die just like that. But a prince's future is naturally far more important than that of an actor. Consort De ordered Chenxiang's death simply because she knew her son, the Fourth Prince, must never develop any feelings for this actor. So, she used the most brutal method to sever that vague, budding thread of affection.
"Can Your Highness forgive Consort De? She's afraid you might do something inappropriate." Lanqin didn't like Consort De, but she didn't hate her either. Besides, they were mother and son after all; continuing this estrangement would only hurt them both.
"As for my sixth brother, it's because Mother hasn't forgiven me. As for Chenxiang, it's because I can't forget that woman," the Fourth Prince said frankly.
Lanqin knew that the woman named Chenxiang had passed away many years ago, but when the Fourth Master said that he could not forget that woman, her heart still ached.
“Lan’er, her appearance and singing style are just like her!!” Fourth Master said.
Okay, so this is explaining to me why Lady Yin's confinement was lifted!
"Mrs. Yin was confused at the time, and besides, she lost her child. If she truly repents, it's only right that you untie her feet," Lanqin said. Actually, when I passed by Mrs. Yin's house that day, I saw that there were even a few weeds growing on the fence in front of her house.
"You don't blame me?" Fourth Master finally stopped writing.
Lanqin felt a wave of self-mockery: So what if I blame you? Can't you untie her feet? Can't you not have so many wives and concubines?
"Master, will Madam Yin become a substitute for Chenxiang?" Lanqin couldn't help but ask.
Fourth Master looked up at Lanqin in surprise, startled by the woman's frankness, but he quickly shook his head and said, "She just looks somewhat like her in that costume."
Lanqin was relieved; Lady Yin could be released. However, it wouldn't be good if she were used as a substitute for Chenxiang. Wasn't that what the Fujin meant? Unfortunately, you'll be disappointed. I won't let the Master use Lady Yin as a substitute for Chenxiang.
“Master, Chenxiang’s story is tragic, but please let her go. If you keep her in your heart for too long, I’m afraid she won’t be reincarnated. Perhaps she will be reborn into my womb and become your daughter. Then you can cherish her properly, okay?” Lanqin remembered a saying and couldn’t help but say, “It is said that a daughter is her father’s lover from a past life.”
Upon hearing this, the Fourth Master muttered, "My daughter is my lover from a past life!!!"
"Master, if Lanqin's baby is a girl, how about naming her Chenxiang?" Lanqin asked again.
The Fourth Prince looked at Lanqin, took her hand, and pulled the little princess into his arms, saying, "I didn't know my little princess was so good at persuasion."
Lanqin deliberately pouted and said, "Master has someone else in his heart. If Lan'er doesn't persuade him, the little one in her belly won't feel as much love as her father."
Fourth Master raised his hand and flicked Lanqin's forehead, a smile playing on his lips. "Don't worry unnecessarily. How could my child not hurt? If this baby is truly a girl, I'll name her Chenxiang."
Lanqin smiled gently and threw herself into Fourth Master's arms.
The two embraced quietly. Lanqin felt a pang of sadness, but could she really be jealous of a woman who had been dead for many years? If she did, wouldn't that be exactly what the Fujin (wife of the deceased) wanted?
As Fourth Master slept in bed with Lanqin in his arms, the knot in his heart eased considerably. This little woman's words always soothed Fourth Master's heart, which was usually reserved and didn't allow others to get close easily.
That night, the Fourth Prince stayed in the South Courtyard again. Madam Yin was informed that her feet had been unbound and she had resumed her status as a princess. She didn't expect the Fourth Prince to come immediately, but she waited until midnight, and when he didn't appear, she had no choice but to turn off the lights.
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