"Master, you're back." Lanqin opened her eyes and saw the Fourth Master's anxious face, while she was being held in his arms.
"Qin'er, what's wrong with you? I can't wake you up no matter how I call you, just like last time. Go and call Doctor Wu. This time, we need to take a good look at you. I don't like this at all," Fourth Master said excitedly.
Looking into Fourth Master's eyes, which were clearly filled with anxiety, Lanqin felt a surge of warmth in her heart. She hadn't been very afraid in her dream; Li Shi's face wasn't particularly frightening, and she clearly needed her help, so she hadn't been too scared. But now, seeing Fourth Master's worried expression, tears immediately welled up in Lanqin's eyes, a sight that tugged at the heartstrings.
"Don't be afraid, Master is here." Fourth Master thought Lanqin was frightened, so he quickly comforted her, regardless of whether there were other people around.
"My lord, the concubine has been sleeping all afternoon and must be thirsty. Let me serve her some water." Cui Niang asked Si Hua to fetch Doctor Wu, while she herself came over with a cup of tea.
Lanqin nodded, her mouth was indeed very thirsty. Fourth Master glanced at Cui Niang, then picked up Lanqin from his arms and sat her in his lap.
Cui Niang served Lanqin a few sips of water, and seeing that Lanqin's expression was fine, she was relieved.
"Where are the children?" Lanqin asked.
“I took them away a long time ago and had the wet nurse take them out to play. It’s all my fault. When the princess and the young master woke up and started crying, I should have noticed that my mistress was wrong.” Nianxue knelt down with a thud in her anxiety.
“Alright, I like to sleep sometimes too. There are times when the children wake up and I'm still asleep. It's not your fault. Get up,” Lanqin said. However, another thought suddenly occurred to her: Could it be that “Li Shi” made the children cry? It's said that children's eyes can see things that are not easily seen.
Thinking of this, Lanqin suddenly felt a chill run down her spine. Although she wasn't afraid of Li Shi, the children were. The thought of Wuxiha and Xichen being frightened by something unclean filled her with unbearable heartache. As someone who had transmigrated from the 21st century, Lanqin had never really believed in ghosts or spirits before, so she never chanted scriptures or prayed to Buddha like the other women in the courtyard. But that dream just now was just too real. If she could transmigrate, what else was impossible?
"My lord, I have a request!" Lanqin said to the Fourth Prince after a moment's thought.
"Speak, as long as you say it, I'll agree to anything." How could Fourth Master possibly refuse?
Lanqin felt a warmth in her heart; the Fourth Master was already treating her very well these days.
"I haven't even said anything yet, and you've already agreed. You're so kind," Lanqin smiled.
The maids in the room were all relieved to see that Lanqin could joke again.
"Speak quickly." Fourth Master felt relieved, knowing that it was really bad that she couldn't be woken up.
"My lord, I wish to perform a Buddhist ritual for Consort Li to help her pass on to the afterlife. I just had a dream about her." Lanqin decided to tell the Fourth Prince that although it was just a nightmare, it was true that she couldn't wake her up and that the two children were crying in fear.
Sure enough, the Fourth Master frowned almost imperceptibly, and everyone else in the room was startled when they heard Lanqin's words.
"Then let's hold a Buddhist ceremony for her at Huangjue Temple, Your Highness." Fourth Master really didn't want to do these things for Madam Li in the mansion anymore. That woman had harmed his legitimate son; how could he forgive her?
“Master, if we do it in the East Courtyard, Li’s spirit is probably still there. Let her reincarnate quickly. Moreover, you must do it yourself and tell her that you will take good care of the Third Prince, the Fourth Prince, and the Second Princess, so that she can go with peace of mind.” Lanqin originally planned to say this to the Fourth Prince in private, but these maids were all loyal and there was no need to hide anything from them.
"Qin'er, are you saying her spirit is still in the East Courtyard?" Fourth Master finally understood Lanqin's words and looked at the woman in his arms in disbelief.
“My lord, do you think I’m talking nonsense? But I clearly spoke to Li Shi in my dream. She said she was worried about her three children. My lord, even if Li Shi did something, she’s gone now. Besides, she gave birth to three children for you. Please, my lord, perform a Buddhist ritual for her soul to be healed.” Lanqin said.
Fourth Master saw that Lanqin spoke sincerely, and this little woman was never one to make unreasonable demands. Now, this request was not for herself, but for the three children, so what was wrong with it?
The Fourth Prince agreed and instructed Su Peisheng to send someone to Huangjue Temple to invite a high-ranking monk to perform a ritual at the mansion.
That evening, while the Fourth Prince was having dinner with Lanqin, news came that the Third Prince was ill. It was said that he suddenly had a high fever that wouldn't go down, and it was a message from a maid in Madam Yin's room.
"My lord, let me accompany you to see him. I haven't seen the Third Prince for several days." Lanqin thought of the child. Ever since he was raised by Madam Yin, he had gradually stopped coming to play with her.
"Alright." Fourth Master nodded.
When Fourth Master and Lanqin arrived at the West Courtyard, they found that Madam Wu and Madam Geng were both in Madam Yin's room.
"My lord, Hongjun suddenly developed a fever. I'm so scared. The child was perfectly fine before, and then suddenly he started having a fever," Madam Yin said, crying. She was wearing a light purple ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), and her hair was styled in a simple double bun with only a few delicate silk flowers in her hair. She was petite and thin, and her tears made her look pitiful.
"Don't cry, let's see what Doctor Wu has to say," Fourth Master said gently.
Wu Youcai was frowning as he took the Third Prince's pulse. The Third Prince's face wasn't very red, but he seemed somewhat disoriented, lying there with his eyes closed. The little boy was truly pitiful.
Lanqin suddenly remembered Li Shi. Why did the Third Prince fall ill after she spoke with Li Shi in her dream? Or rather, why did Li Shi's spirit appear after the Third Prince fell ill?
"Dr. Wu, what exactly is wrong with the Third Prince?" Fourth Prince asked, noticing Wu Youcai's deep frown.
"Please allow me to examine you a little longer, my lord. I cannot confirm anything at this moment," Wu Youcai said.
"Qin'er, I heard you're going to perform a ritual for Li Shi?" Madam Wu tugged at Lanqin's sleeve and asked softly.
Lanqin was startled, thinking to herself: How come my conversation with Fourth Master is already known to everyone after only a few hours?
"How did you know, sister?" Lanqin asked in return.
“It was my maid who overheard it when she went to fetch water,” Wu said.
"Does Sister Geng know?" Lanqin then asked Geng Shi.
"Lülan also mentioned it when she came back. Qin'er, why did you suddenly think of performing a ritual for Li Shi to help her pass on to the afterlife?" Geng Shi asked as well.
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