At the hour of You (5-7 PM), Lanqin woke up, woke up, changed her clothes, and combed her hair into a soft, wing-like style.
"Is Lingxiu still outside?" Lanqin personally gestured with a gold hairpin and put it in her hair.
“She’s still outside. Just as you said, this little girl doesn’t seem angry at all. She’s only thirteen or fourteen years old, but she’s much better at hiding her emotions than I was back then,” Nianxue said.
“That’s right. From the first time I saw this maid, I felt that she was quite extraordinary. She’s not very old, but someone who can replace Granny Li and stand by the Fujin’s side can’t help but attract my attention,” Lanqin said.
"Does Master want me to inquire about the background of this Lingxiu?" Nianxue asked.
"Yes, you should find out more about this Lingxiu when you have time." Lanqin smiled at Nianxue with satisfaction.
She is changing, and her servants must change too, in order to adapt to this seemingly peaceful inner court.
Lanqin wore a pale yellow qipao with a moon-white bi-shoulder jacket over it. The white fox fur at the neckline made her face look exceptionally fair and beautiful.
Lingxiu walked ahead, while Lanqin supported Nianxue and followed behind her.
"Is Miss Lingxiu sent by the Imperial Household Department? I've never seen you in the Princess's courtyard before?" Lanqin asked.
Lingxiu was taken aback for a moment, then said, "I come from the Imperial Household Department. My family is poor, which is why I entered the palace. I was fortunate enough to be assigned to the Fourth Prince's residence and serve by the Prince's side."
Lanqin simply said "oh" and didn't ask any further questions.
When she arrived at the main courtyard, she saw the Fujin (principal wife) accompanying Hongshi for a stroll. The little boy was almost two years old, the cutest and most adorable age for a child. The tiny boy wore a red brocade robe, and his fine braids hung down behind his large, gourd-shaped head.
"Mother, look, fish~~" Hongshi said in a childish voice, pointing to the carp kept in a porcelain basin.
"Alright, come here, let your mother feed the fish with you." With that, the Fujin took the fish food from the maid and guided Hongshi to throw it into the large fish bowl. Hongshi was still young and struggled to throw it correctly each time, but the Fujin patiently guided him until finally one of the fish ate it. Hongshi was overjoyed and danced with delight.
"Reporting to the Madam, the Consort has arrived," Lingxiu said, bowing before the Madam.
"Why don't we come and watch Hongshi feed the fish?" The Fujin glanced at Lanqin, thinking to herself that she was more than ten years younger than her. "Little girl, look how young she is!"
Lanqin walked over with a smile, glanced at Hongshi, and sighed inwardly: What will become of this child in the future? When he finds out that the Fujin is truly the enemy who killed his mother, how will he face himself?
"Hongshi, come here, let your aunt feed you a little bit, okay?" Lanqin squatted down and looked at Hongshi's chubby little face.
Hongshi actually handed Lanqin a little fish food, and Lanqin threw it in for the fish to eat. Hongshi clapped his chubby little hands happily, and his wife watched from the side, her face also full of smiles.
Seeing such a scene, one might mistake them for a harmonious husband and wife.
After entrusting Hongshi to the wet nurse's care, the Fujin (principal wife) and Lanqin went into the house.
"I wonder what business you have with me, Madam?" Lanqin asked after she was seated.
"Oh, now that I have nothing to do, can't I call my sister over?" the princess said gently.
"Why must you say such things at this time, Madam? Why not just say what you have to say?" Lanqin was truly speechless; she had completely lost all confidence in getting along with Madam.
“My sister has been staying with Mother for the past few days, and I’m sure she’s learned a lot. Mother specifically sent someone to tell me that she wants my sister to manage things more so that she can help me share some of the burden,” the wife said.
Upon hearing this, Lanqin knew that the Fujin was unhappy, so she said, "I have no interest in managing the affairs of the inner quarters, so you don't need to worry, sister."
The Fujin glanced at Lanqin a few times and said, "Sister, you misunderstand. I called you here today precisely so that you could help me. The Golden Festival is approaching, so why don't you prepare for the festival this time? I'd like to steal a moment of peace."
Lanqin had a gut feeling that the Fujin wouldn't be so kind, but she couldn't figure out what the Fujin was up to.
“Sister, don’t worry. It’s just about preparing to enter the palace. If you have any questions, you can ask your elder sister anytime,” the Fujin said with a smile.
“Since you insist, elder sister, I will accept. If there is anything you don’t understand, please don’t hesitate to enlighten me.” Lanqin thought to herself: What’s meant to happen will happen.
Seeing that the Fujin had nothing more to say, Lanqin rose, curtsied, and prepared to take her leave. She didn't want to look at the Fujin for even a moment longer.
"I heard that you and Cui Niang got along quite well?" Just as Lanqin turned around, the Fujin behind her suddenly spoke up.
Lanqin's face, which had been slightly smiling, immediately turned cold.
"I forgot to tell you, sister. Lanqin has already spoken to the Fourth Master, asking that Cui Niang leave the palace and come to the South Courtyard to keep you company. I heard that Cui Niang used to serve you, sister, so you'll be old acquaintances and have to keep in touch." Lanqin said with a polite smile, without turning around.
The princess gradually lost her smile, a surge of hatred flashing in her eyes as she stared fiercely at Lanqin's retreating figure.
"Of course, I'm sure you'll be happy to offer your guidance then," the Fujin said.
Lanqin felt a bone-chilling cold on her back, as if she were being stared at by a ferocious beast. Without even thinking, she knew whose gaze was shooting out from there.
Lanqin supported Nianxue's hand as they walked out, wishing she could escape those two gazes immediately.
Even after the two of them left the main courtyard, Lanqin still felt a chill run down her spine. Although she knew that the Fujin (principal wife) had impure and malicious intentions, her heart still pounded when she actually confronted her.
“My lord, why are you telling her this now? It will be more dangerous for Cui Niang in the palace,” Nianxue said.
“Telling her now is to let her know that the Fourth Prince has already intervened in this matter, which will put an end to her thoughts of harming Cui Niang again,” Lanqin said. “You don’t know how much our Fujin likes to act magnanimous and kind in front of the Prince. She would never show the slightest flaw in front of him.”
At that moment, in the main courtyard, the Princess Consort sat expressionlessly on the master couch. For a moment, the air in the room seemed to freeze.
"You wretch, how dare she show herself!" The princess was so angry that her hands were trembling.
“Madam, you’ve upset yourself. Lord Wu has already sent men out. As you instructed, as long as we capture that Cui Niang’s family, she won’t dare to oppose you,” Lingxiu said.
"You wretch, when the time comes, I, the Fujin, will make you wish you were dead." The Fujin's expression at this moment was completely different from the Fujin who had been feeding the fish with Hongshi in the courtyard just now.
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