Lanqin left, and Song Shi and the others didn't know until the next day when they went to pay their respects to the Fujin.
Now that Song Shi no longer has the same expectations as before, hoping for the Fourth Master to come, she stands up straight. This is what is meant by being invincible when one is without desires.
She helped Qingping to the main courtyard, arriving just in time. Although the Fujin's influence seemed to have waned, she was still the Fujin. As long as her status remained unchanged, they would still have to pay their respects to her.
"Xiahe, is the Fujin (madam) awake yet?" Madam Song helped Qingping step into the main courtyard and saw Xiahe standing in front of the flowers, doing something.
"Princess Song, the Fujin has already gotten up and is in the side room right now. Why don't you go and stay in your usual room for a while? The Fujin will be out soon," Xia He said, holding an earthenware pot in her hand.
Song noticed the earthenware pot at a glance, but couldn't guess what it was for. She only heard Xia He say that, so she didn't take it to heart and went to sit in the side room as usual.
At this moment, the Fujin was reclining in her bedroom, smelling her snuff bottle. Her addiction to snuff was growing stronger every day. If she didn't smell it after waking up in the morning, she felt uncomfortable all day.
Lingxiu served by the side and reported to the Fujin that Song was already waiting in the side room, only to receive the reply, "Let her wait, just like before."
Meanwhile, the time it takes for an incense stick to burn for Song to sit there passed. Fortunately, Geng and Wu arrived one after the other, and the three of them waited in the side room.
"Did you see what Xiahe is doing in the yard?" Song asked.
"I only saw her carrying an earthenware pot, collecting something under the flowers, probably dew from them," Wu said. "Does our Princess Consort want to drink water without roots?"
“Water without roots? Then the dew on the flowers is water without roots?” Geng asked.
“Yes, the dew that falls from the sky and never touches the ground is like water without roots. It is said that this dew is much cleaner than water on the ground, and food cooked with it tastes better,” said Madam Wu.
"Is it really that miraculous?" Song asked.
“Judging by our Lady Consort’s taste, I doubt she’d use it for drinking. She probably uses it as a face mask,” Wu said.
"Is this water also beneficial for women's beauty?" Geng asked.
"Of course, it's said that rouge and face powder made with this rootless water are much finer than ordinary ones." Madam Wu was quite interested in women's beauty, as she herself had once received such a folk remedy.
Before long, the three of them heard footsteps outside and quickly fell silent.
"Ladies, the Princess Consort invites you to the main room." The one who came was Lingxiu, the Princess Consort's most favored maid.
Following Lingxiu's instructions, Song and the others walked towards the main house, only to hear her say, "My ladies, the Fujin told me yesterday that the rules in the manor have become increasingly lax recently. Starting tomorrow, the Fujin will follow the rules and restore the custom of paying respects every three days and visiting relatives every five days."
After Song and the others entered the main room, they saw Yin sitting below the Fujin, talking and laughing. The two seemed to be talking about the Third Prince.
"This humble servant greets the Fujin (madam)~~" Madam Song felt that the Fujin seemed different today.
"This concubine greets the Fujin (madam)~~" Wu Shi felt that the Fujin's complexion was better than before.
"This humble servant greets Your Highness," Geng said, bowing respectfully.
"Get up, everyone. It's been a long time since I've gathered with all my sisters. It's just a pity that Sister Niu isn't in the manor. She went to the villa in Changping with Master yesterday, saying she'll be staying there for a while," the Fujin said with a smile.
When Song and the others saw that Lanqin hadn't come, they all assumed that she was just late, not realizing that she had already left without informing them.
Seeing the hesitant looks on their faces, the Fujin (principal wife) suppressed her smile and said, "Sister Song, it's time for the eldest princess to discuss marriage. She should be allowed to go out and make some connections. If you don't have anything else to do, please let the eldest princess not bother you. I'm thinking about how to help the eldest princess make some close friends. I heard that the Eldest Princess has opened a gathering specifically for the young masters and princesses of various mansions to attend, which will also be a way for them to make friends. Yin Mo'er shouldn't be confined to the Fourth Prince's mansion all day long; she should go out and have some fun."
Song was inwardly distressed, but since what they said on the surface was all for the sake of the eldest princess's future marriage, she couldn't refute it and could only curtsy in response.
"Princess Wu, I've heard that you have a bad temper and punish the servants who serve you at the drop of a hat. Is that true?" The princess didn't give anyone time to react and asked directly.
Wu Shi was known for her bad temper, and most of the maids who served her had been scolded and beaten by her. When the Fujin suddenly brought it up, she couldn't deny it directly, but admitting it would clearly be a violation of the rules of the manor.
"Madam Wu, don't you know that it's forbidden to punish maids privately in the manor?" The Fujin said in a stern tone when Madam Wu didn't respond.
"I know I was wrong, please forgive me, Madam. I will never punish you without permission again," Wu said quickly, bowing.
"Then today, I will give you a light warning: go back and copy the 'Admonitions for Women' ten times," the princess said.
The Fujin looked at Gengshi again, but couldn't find anything wrong with her, so she had to give up.
Madam Song did not expect Lanqin to leave so suddenly, nor did she expect that the Fujin would take such swift and decisive measures after her departure, as if she wanted to take over the household affairs.
When the three of them came out of the main courtyard, they all looked uncomfortable.
"It seems that the Princess Consort came prepared. Today she's just showing the three of us what power she has. We'd better watch out in the future," said Madam Song.
"As soon as Qin'er left, she immediately started to manipulate us. What is she planning to do?" Wu Shi said.
"It seems our Lady has never been downcast; she's already regained her composure," said Madam Geng.
"Qin'er left so suddenly, without even saying goodbye. Why don't we go to the South Courtyard and see if anyone stayed behind? We need to find out why she left the manor," Madam Song said, a little worried.
"Okay, let's go ask the people in her courtyard." After saying that, the three of them walked together towards the south courtyard.
Meanwhile, the Princess Consort was being accompanied by Lady Yin, standing in the courtyard watching the Fourth Prince play.
“The Fujin suddenly tightened her grip, and the rest of them seem unaccustomed to it,” said Madam Yin, standing beside the Fujin.
"They'd better not adapt, because if they don't adapt, they're more likely to make mistakes, and if they do, they'll have to be under my control," the princess said, squinting her eyes.
"Your Majesty is wise. I will certainly keep an eye on Wu Shi for you. As long as she makes a mistake, she will not be able to escape punishment," said Madam Yin.
"How is the Third Prince now?" The Princess Consort looked up at the clouds in the distance.
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