"What does Your Highness want to do?" Lanqin seemed to understand the Fourth Master's meaning. She felt a little reluctant, but Chen Xiuzhu was already in this state. She was afraid that she would not be able to marry into a good family when she returned. At that time, Xiao Anjia might blame her mother. It would be better to let her have her wish. As for whether she would live a good life in the future, that would depend on her own efforts.
"Isn't Eighth Prince interested in your cousin? Let him marry her. I've heard that Guo Luoluo is very jealous, so as his fourth brother, I'll send him a beautiful woman so that Eighth Prince's harem won't be so monotonous." Fourth Master revealed a smile, but that smile was devoid of any warmth.
"What do you mean? Are you suggesting that Chen Xiuzhu really enter the Eighth Prince's harem?" Thirteenth Prince couldn't help but ask, seeing the Fourth Prince and Lanqin's mysterious expressions.
“That’s right. He flirted with Chen Gege himself and even sent a single woman to his tent. Don’t you think I should let them be together?” Fourth Master said.
Lanqin sighed, thinking to herself: Eighth Master doesn't really like Chen Xiuzhu; he's just using her. Once Chen Xiuzhu truly enters his household, she'll likely end up alone in her empty chambers. And Guo Luoluo is known for her jealousy; it's a miracle she's even alive.
Thinking of this, Lanqin seemed to feel a little reluctant, so she said, "Master, she is still my cousin. Although she is a bit confused, it is not right to let her fall into a fire pit."
Fourth Master walked to Lanqin's bedside, sat down, and took her hand, saying, "I'm not sending her into a fire pit; I'm fulfilling her wishes. She herself wanted to enter Eighth Prince's harem, without even considering the affection between you cousins."
Lanqin fell silent. Indeed, that was the case. Chen Xiuzhu's actions were not worthy of sympathy or forgiveness, but our Comrade Lanqin was an extremely tender-hearted person, and she always felt a trace of unease.
“My lady, I’m afraid that if we don’t send Consort Chen into the Eighth Prince’s household now, she won’t find a good family to marry into. A woman who can’t participate in the imperial concubine selection—what family of equal standing would want her? These days, even if a woman doesn’t want to enter the palace or the princes’ households, she has to wait until the first round of selections. Now that Consort Chen has already done this, I’m afraid she’s already deeply in love with the Eighth Prince. It’s not good for her to know the truth; it’s better to let her remain oblivious,” Cui Niang advised from the side.
Fourth Master nodded and said, "That's exactly what Cui Niang said. This matter must be resolved. I can let bygones be bygones, but Eighth Brother must also pay a price. Even if I don't pressure him, I'm afraid your cousin will still go to him on her own."
Lanqin knew that Chen Xiuzhu had been bewitched by the Eighth Master, and she was afraid that she would not be able to completely forget him and what she had done for him.
At this moment, Doctor Liang lifted the curtain and came in, carrying a bowl of medicine in his hand. He said to Fourth Master, "Please have someone test the efficacy of this medicine, Master."
With the major issues now resolved, Fourth Master's complexion improved considerably. He was clearly pleased with Blind Liang's current understanding and ordered Su Peisheng to find a servant who had also been poisoned to test the medicine.
Lanqin felt a warmth in her heart when she saw that Fourth Master wouldn't let her suffer any harm, but she couldn't bear to let someone else suffer for her, so she asked, "Doctor Liang, is there anything wrong with the medicine?"
"There's nothing wrong with it, it won't harm your health," Doctor Liang said immediately, understanding Lan Qin's meaning.
Lanqin nodded, signaling Doctor Liang to quickly test the medicine. Sure enough, after the slave who also had abdominal pain tried the medicine, the pain subsided in less than half an hour.
Soon, Dr. Liang's medicine was prepared in large quantities, and almost all the poisoned people drank the antidote. A potentially imminent danger was averted.
Fourth Master was busy until late at night before he finally came to Lanqin's side and lay down next to her.
The outside world finally returned to the silence of the night. Lanqin couldn't fall asleep either. After being tormented by that strange poison for half the night, she had no desire to sleep.
"Master~ Today has been truly spectacular!!" Lanqin turned around and rolled into the Fourth Master's arms.
"It's nothing compared to what's really big. The Eighth and Ninth Princes did even more outrageous things," Fourth Master said with his eyes closed.
At this point, Lanqin had lost even the last shred of goodwill she had for the Eighth Prince. Although he was known as the Eighth Prince, and although he was handsome and refined, and although he did indeed resemble Takeshi Kaneshiro, after this incident, Lanqin felt that although he appeared gentle and refined on the surface, his methods were certainly underhanded. Furthermore, the group of assassins that the Fourth Prince encountered on the mountain road in Hangzhou last year when he was chasing after debts in Yangzhou were most likely sent by him.
"Is Eighth Master trying to prevent you from participating in the pacification of the Dzungars this time?" Lan Qin asked.
"Most likely. Father has been preparing for this great battle for two years and is determined to wipe out the Dzungars. Now, everyone wants to go, even the Fourteenth Prince can't resist," the Fourth Prince said.
"Master, are you going to the battlefield too?" Lanqin was terrified at the thought of her fourth master fighting those Xinjiang people wielding broadswords and spears. Even in the 21st century, she had thought Xinjiang people were more ferocious than people from other parts of China; were the Xinjiang people three hundred years ago even more ferocious?
“Of course, I won’t give up this opportunity to show off in front of Father Emperor,” the Fourth Prince said. “Are you worried that I’m useless? Don’t worry, I’m quite skilled, you just haven’t seen it yet.”
“How can two fists withstand those swords and spears? Besides, the Dzungars are fierce and barbaric. The Qing Dynasty has been in the pass for more than sixty years. I wonder how much fighting power the Qing Banner soldiers still have?” Lan Qin said professionally.
The Fourth Prince was slightly taken aback, and was very impressed and surprised by the knowledge of the little woman in his arms. He said, "How do you know that the fighting power of my Great Qing cavalry has declined? Don't forget, Father has never relaxed the training of these cavalry."
Lanqin still said with concern, "Although I am concerned, they are not as brave as they were when the Qing Dynasty was founded. Don't you see that many Manchus don't work much anymore? They are used to enjoying the company of beautiful women and fine wine at home, and to being supported by high-ranking officials and their salaries. How can they be compared to what they were back then?"
Fourth Master was surprised by Lanqin's sharp words. Indeed, what she said was true. Many Manchus had laid down their weapons, relying on their Manchu status to acquire land, which they then rented to poor Han Chinese, living the life of landlady. The Qing Dynasty's Manchu soldiers had always been half-soldier, half-farmer, capable of fighting in wartime and farming in peacetime. Now, suddenly thrust into the Central Plains and elevated to a position of power, many began to become corrupt and decadent. Therefore, Lanqin's point about combat effectiveness was indeed a major problem.
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