The official road to Changping was probably rarely used by government officials. The road was not smooth. Four black horses galloped like whirlwinds on the road, and the dust kicked up by their hooves was still flying in the air long after the horses had run far.
The man leading the horse was dressed in a long purple robe, with skin as white as snow and handsome features that had a somewhat effeminate air; it was none other than Ninth Master. He and Eighth Master had met up halfway and were now speeding towards Fourth Master's villa.
In the distance, several carriages were approaching them. Ninth Master was busy traveling and didn't notice, but Eighth Master, as always, was meticulous and kept observing the approaching carriages as he ran.
Suddenly, three or four carriages approached. Ninth Master didn't pay much attention, but Eighth Master suddenly called out, "Ninth Master!"
The Fourth Prince was resting with his eyes closed in the front carriage, while Lanqin was asleep on his lap. Consort Wang and her son were in the carriage behind. Su Peisheng was sitting next to the coachman in the front of the Fourth Prince's carriage. He saw that the people coming from the front looked like the Ninth Prince and the Eighth Prince.
Eighth Master tugged at the horse's head, suddenly blocking Fourth Master's carriage. Seeing someone suddenly stop the carriage, the coachman quickly pulled on the reins, and the horse gradually slowed down and came to a stop. Seeing the carriage in front slow down, the two carriages behind also slowed down, and suddenly all three carriages came to a stop.
"Su Peisheng, what's wrong?" came the Fourth Master's displeased voice from inside the car.
Before Su Peisheng could answer, the Eighth Master and the Ninth Master's horses had already come up. "Fourth Brother, I didn't expect to run into you here? Your humble brother and I were just about to go to the other courtyard to disturb you!" The Eighth Master pretended to be surprised to run into you and bowed to the Fourth Master in the carriage.
Su Peisheng was already sitting outside, so who else could it be but the Fourth Master inside?
Fourth Master frowned, thinking to himself: He's really perceptive. What has he caught his eye?
Lanqin was woken up because the carriage suddenly stopped, causing both her and the Fourth Master to stumble backward.
Lanqin rubbed her sleepy eyes and said abruptly, "Is that Eighth Master outside? My Fourth Master is in the manor. He sent Su Peisheng to pick me up. What a coincidence! I ran into Eighth Master yesterday, and now I've run into him again?"
After hearing Lanqin's words, Fourth Master didn't say anything more, thinking to himself: The little thing is quite quick to react.
Hearing Lanqin's slightly sleepy voice, the Eighth and Ninth Princes outside exchanged a glance and continued, "Is Consort Niu going back? I wonder who is in these four carriages? Didn't Fourth Brother come to pick up Consort Niu?"
Lanqin gestured for Fourth Master to switch seats with her, then moved closer to the front carriage door, slightly opening it and saying, "Eighth Master, the maids and children who came to the villa with me are sitting in the back. Eighteenth Prince is also here. My master was ordered by Father Emperor to send Eighteenth Prince back."
The ninth brother spurred his horse toward the second carriage and said, "Eighteenth brother, how are you recovering? Your ninth brother is here to take you back, is that alright?"
Lanqin climbed out of the carriage and, with Su Peisheng's help, got off. She walked to Ninth Master's horse and said to him, "Thank you, Ninth Master. Eighteen is still young and has just recovered. Besides, my master has already been ordered to take him back. Please show your kindness another time. Eighteen, come out quickly and show your face so I can thank your Ninth Brother."
Sure enough, as soon as the carriage door opened, Eighteen's little face appeared. She said very politely, "Eighteen thanks Ninth Brother, but Eighteen is too weak to ride a horse. I'll take Fourth Brother's carriage back to the palace. Thank you for your concern, Eighth Brother and Ninth Brother."
I've made it very clear that I don't want to trouble you. Besides, you don't have a carriage, so you can't expect me to ride a horse with you, can you? I'm so young, I can't handle that kind of ordeal.
Eighteen's words made Ninth Master blush. Just as he was about to say something, Eighteen said again, "Ninth Master, please forgive me. It's very windy and dusty outside. If I smell it too much, I'm afraid I'll cough." After saying that, he closed the door before Ninth Master could say anything.
"Ninth Master, behind them are my Wuxiha and Xichen, along with several personal maids and a wet nurse," Lanqin said with an expression that seemed to say, "Do you want to see them all?"
Ninth Master looked helplessly at Eighth Master, then turned his horse around and headed back.
“Eunuch Su, you’re usually by Fourth Brother’s side, why aren’t you with him today? Why are you here alone to greet the concubine?” Eighth Prince said unwillingly.
"My lord is busy with matters in the manor today and is unable to leave, so he specially ordered me to come and fetch the concubine and the eighteenth prince back to the manor," Su Peisheng said respectfully to the Eighth Prince, bowing with his hands clasped.
“Oh, this doesn’t seem like my fourth brother. How could the concubine and the eighteenth brother trust a servant like you to go and fetch him? Perhaps Eunuch Su isn’t telling the truth,” the Eighth Prince said, glancing at Su Peisheng.
He suppressed the resentment in his heart; he hated nothing more than servants daring to deceive him. Although his mother had a humble birth, he was still a prince, and these servants could not possibly lie to him.
"This servant wouldn't dare, what this servant said is absolutely true." Su Peisheng didn't dare to raise his head, still bowing his body at an almost 90-degree angle to the ground.
"Eighth Master, what are you suspecting? Are you doubting my master's favor towards Lanqin? I wonder what wrong Lanqin and Eighteenth Brother have done that warrants such questioning from you, Eighth Master and Ninth Master?" Lanqin knew that she was the one who caused this trouble, and naturally wanted to make amends for Fourth Master. Now, she would not allow Eighth Master to see the person sitting in the carriage no matter what.
Eighth Prince was taken aback, his expression changing several times, but finally he smiled and said, "Concubine, you're being too serious. I was just curious. Ninth Prince and I thought Fourth Prince would be with Concubine at the estate, but we didn't expect that only Concubine and Eighteenth Prince were there alone."
Lanqin walked back to Su Peisheng's side and said, "Eighth Prince's residence is right next to ours. Whenever you miss your fourth brother, just come to our residence for a drink. Alright, I have to hurry back and dare not delay Eighteenth Brother's return to the palace."
Ninth Master watched as Lanqin slowly boarded the carriage with Su Peisheng's help, but there was nothing he could do. Even though he knew there were other people in the carriage, he couldn't force them to.
Eighth Master remained silent, glancing back and forth across the four carriages, but ultimately refrained from taking any drastic action.
"Eighth Master, Ninth Master, I'll take my leave now. If you two still wish to go to the other courtyard, I can bring you back. I'm sure you won't be too disappointed. There are plenty of people there, so please feel free to go," Lanqin said earnestly.
Upon hearing this, Ninth Prince's lips twitched slightly, but Eighth Prince smiled and cupped his hands to Lanqin, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, Consort. We will have to trouble you again next time. There is no reason for us to go when the master is not here."
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