It goes without saying that Lanqin arranged for Chen Shou to take Cui Niang out to meet her family. What she said to Cui Niang was exactly what Lanqin had just been thinking. As for what exactly they would do, she hadn't thought of yet.
Meanwhile, Su Peisheng accompanied the Fourth Prince to the palace early in the morning, but he went to the storeroom to find Li Shubao and asked him to keep an eye on Zhao Quan. As for Zhao Quan, he had heard from Su Peisheng yesterday that his master and Consort Niu had quarreled, and he was thinking of quickly informing the Consort so that he could get the big purse from her again.
Su Peisheng always stood in the way of the Fourth Prince, preventing him from being promoted. However, on one occasion, when he went to deliver a message to the Princess Consort, he received a huge purse. Later, Li, the nanny in the Princess Consort's household, secretly approached him and said that the Princess Consort wanted to value him highly.
Zhao Quan was not a loyal person. He was already restless under Su Peisheng. When he saw that the Fujin valued him and that he could get money, he could no longer resist the temptation.
One day, Zhao Quan seized a moment of free time and secretly left the front yard, heading towards a small garden where he often delivered messages. He was clever; instead of going to the main courtyard to see the Fujin (wife), he wrote down the information he had obtained from Su Peisheng on a small slip of paper and delivered it to the place he had originally designated with Granny Li. The Fujin would then send someone to check there from time to time. This was done discreetly, so no one noticed. If it weren't for Li Shubao's lavish gambling, he wouldn't have suspected anything, much less connected it to the possibility that Zhao Quan might have obtained information from Su Peisheng.
Zhao Quan indeed wrote the note and took it with him, choosing the least frequented alleyways. Li Shubao secretly followed behind him without being noticed.
Zhao Quan arrived at a small garden not far from the West Courtyard. He walked to the flowerpots in the garden and pretended to admire the flowers. He then turned his head to look around and, after confirming that no one was watching, squatted down, gently moved one of the flowerpots, put the small note in his hand underneath it, and then put the flowerpot back on top.
Some of the flowers in the garden were transplanted here, and some were moved from the greenhouse and placed here.
Seeing that the news had spread, Zhao Quan smiled, thinking that another big purse would be handed to him. He happily patted his robe and left.
Little did he know that Li Shubao had been hiding behind a cypress tree, quietly observing everything he was doing.
After he walked away, Li Shubao quickly ran to the flowerpot and moved it, just like Zhao Quan had done. There, a small note was clearly visible underneath. Li Shubao quickly picked it up, stuffed it into his sleeve, and then moved the flowerpot back to its original position.
When he arrived at the south courtyard with the note, Cui Niang had already gone out with Chen Shou, and Lan Qin was playing on the swings with the two children in the yard. Although the north wind was a bit cold, the two little ones were unhappy staying indoors.
Lan Qinsu came up with a baby-binding belt. She tied Wuxiha to her belly, then sat on the swing with Nianxue and Xicha pushing her from behind. Xichen was still riding the little wooden horse, letting the wet nurse go around the yard.
The maids all suppressed their laughter when they saw Lanqin with Wuxiha tied to her chest like that.
Before Li Shubao even entered the gate, he could hear the woman's silvery laughter filling the entire courtyard.
Li Shubao knew the place well, and Granny Wang immediately let him in as soon as she saw him. He walked along the covered walkway, since the swing was set up in the courtyard with its back to the walkway. Lanqin didn't see Li Shubao come in, but Sihua and Lanqi certainly did.
"This servant greets Consort Lanqin!" Li Shubao walked around the corridor, went to the swing, patted his sleeves, and gave Lanqin a deep bow.
"Little Baozi, what brings you here?" Lanqin turned her head and saw that it was Li Shubao, so she smiled and said.
Nianxue and Xicha quickly pulled the swing ropes to stop it.
"This servant was entrusted by Eunuch Su to investigate the matter and has come here specifically to show it to Consort Li," said Li Shubao.
Lanqin's expression turned serious. She stood up from the swing, had Nianxue loosen the straps binding Wuxiha, and then picked her up.
"You two can sit here and bask in the sun with Wuxiha. Xiaobaozi, come with me to the study." Lanqin was also getting a little Han-like.
Once they entered the room, Lanqin couldn't wait to say to him, "Quickly show me what you found."
Seeing that his concubine, who had just been all smiles, suddenly looked displeased, Li Shubao naturally didn't dare to delay. He quickly took out the slip of paper from his bosom and handed it to Lanqin.
Lanqin took the note, unfolded it, and saw that the tiny handwriting on it was indeed the "news" she had discussed with Su Peisheng the day before.
"It really was him!!" Lan Qin frowned, a hint of resentment flashing in her eyes.
"Consort, let's tell the master about this and have him deal with him," Li Shubao said, seeing that Lanqin was angry.
Lanqin pondered for a moment, then shook her head and said, "Put this note back exactly as it was. As for Zhao Quan, don't mention him to anyone."
Li Shubao was puzzled, but he still nodded, took the note from Lanqin, folded it, and put it in his pocket. He admired Lanqin from the bottom of his heart. She had risen from a concubine to a secondary consort in just a year and a half. Back then, he had served in the South Courtyard, but now, even though he was in the front courtyard, he still had a lot of influence, and most people wouldn't dare to mess with him. Not long ago, he had even been promoted to deputy head by the head nanny. Wasn't it all because of this bond between mistress and servant?
"Little Baozi, how are you doing working for Granny Madam these days?" Lanqin put aside her inner thoughts and asked instead.
“I’m doing very well over there. The head nanny values me and I’m in charge of the storeroom now, though I’m still a deputy,” Li Shubao said with a smile.
"Okay, do a good job, but don't think that just because you've worked for me before, you can do whatever you want. If you do something you shouldn't do, I won't protect you, understand?" Lanqin said.
"This servant dares not tarnish the reputation of Consort Li. This servant will do his utmost to fulfill his duties." Li Shubao was greatly surprised and lowered his head.
"Yes, if you do a good job, I will speak on your behalf," Lanqin said with a smile. Now that she was in a high position, Lanqin was beginning to worry that those below her would use their status to do things against her will behind her back, such as bullying others or currying favor with the powerful and belittling the weak.
"Thank you for your kindness in helping me out, Consort Xie. I have always regarded you as my mistress. Even though I am no longer working in the South Courtyard, I will still do my best to help you with anything related to you," said Li Shubao.
“Okay, go ahead,” Lanqin said.
After Li Shubao left, Lanqin went behind her desk, sat down, and thought about the matter carefully, pondering a plan.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
