"This humble servant greets the Fujin (wife of the Fujin), and all the sisters and cousins." Nian Shilan's beautiful eyes had already swept over all the women present, and finding no woman more beautiful than herself, her smile widened even more.
"Sister Nian is so beautiful and charming, truly a beauty. Our master is so lucky. Please get up and sit down." The princess concealed her surprise, thinking to herself that this Nian was even more beautiful than in the portrait.
Nian Shilan then sat down below Wu Shi, opposite Yehe Shi, who had entered the mansion with her. She then glanced at the seat in front of Song Shi and asked in confusion, "I heard that Consort Niu is not here today?"
She had guessed that the position might belong to Lanqin. In fact, before the selection of concubines, she knew that the most favored woman in the Fourth Prince's harem was Lanqin of the Niohuru clan, who was said to have already been promoted to the rank of secondary consort.
The Fujin smiled faintly and said, "The Concubine went to the other courtyard in winter and has not returned yet."
Mr. Nian smiled and didn't ask any more questions.
"It's been a long time since there have been so many people. With the addition of two younger sisters today, it's much more lively now. From now on, you must all serve the master wholeheartedly, produce offspring for the royal family, and remember your duties as concubines. Do you understand?" The Fujin said the same words she always said whenever a new concubine arrived.
"Your humble servants will remember your teachings, Madam!" everyone said to Madam in unison.
"Lingxiu, why hasn't the maid who went to invite the Fourth Prince replied yet?" The Fujin frowned slightly as she asked.
"This servant will go and see. I wonder what Qiu Chan is doing." Lingxiu immediately curtsied and turned to look for Qiu Chan.
"Sister Yehe, I've heard you're skilled in music and can play several instruments. I wonder when I'll be able to hear you play?" The Fujin said to Yehe, who was sitting below Geng, leaving Nian Shilan behind.
"Thank you for your praise, Madam. I have loved music since childhood and have studied the guqin, flute, xiao, pipa, and kongdong," said Madam Yehe.
Upon hearing this, everyone showed surprise. They hadn't expected that this Yehe clan member was so talented, while none of them knew even one of them.
"Why don't you, Sister Yehe, perform a piece here? I have a guqin here," the princess said with a harmonious smile.
Lady Yehe was taken aback when her wife asked her to perform here. After a moment's thought, she replied, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. I will make a fool of myself in the end."
Having already refused the Fujin's kindness once, it seemed inappropriate to refuse the principal wife's kindness on the very first meeting. Therefore, Yehe Shi agreed.
A shadow crossed Lady Nian's eyes. The entire room had been captivated by her beauty, but now the Fujin (principal wife) was shifting all attention to Lady Yehe. And what if the Fourth Prince arrived later? It was clear she wanted Lady Yehe to use her musical skills to distract him.
After Dongmei led the maid to bring out the Fujin's guqin (a seven-stringed zither), and then specially arranged the table and chairs for playing the guqin, Yehe Shi finally stood up leisurely.
When she placed her soft, boneless hands on the guqin, the room fell silent. Suddenly, under Yehe's plucking, the strings transformed into a divine instrument capable of producing celestial melodies.
As the zither music began, the entire room seemed to be filled with the fragrance of plum blossoms. The melody was melodious and elegant, and Yehe Shi played with great concentration. Everyone put aside their thoughts and focused on the plucked strings of her ten fingers, completely captivated by her enchanting music.
Before Qu Zi could even visit, Fourth Master arrived with Su Peisheng, led by Qiu Chan. As he entered the main courtyard, he heard the beautiful music drifting out from the main house.
As he reached the door, the Fujin (principal wife) immediately saw the Fourth Prince. Yehe Shi, facing the Fujin and with her back to the door, did not see the Fourth Prince. Everyone else noticed the person at the door.
Lady Nian's charming eyes couldn't help but linger on the Fourth Prince. He looked even more serious in person than in the portrait, but she still liked him very much.
"How hateful! The Princess Consort clearly knows she's trying to suppress me. Right now, the Fourth Prince is only focused on Yehe Shi and hasn't even noticed me." Nian Shilan was furious at being overshadowed like this.
The Fourth Prince stood outside the door without going in, and no one dared to disturb the tranquility. They simply maintained the status quo and let Yehe finish speaking.
After she finished singing, she looked up and said to the Fujin, "I have made a fool of myself."
"This is 'Three Variations on Plum Blossom,' isn't it? 'The plum blossom is the purest of flowers, and the zither is the purest of sounds. To use the purest sound to depict the purest thing is to give it a melody that defies frost.'" Fourth Master looked at the frail figure in front of him. The zither music he had just heard was indeed very pleasant to listen to, so he couldn't help but feel a little curious about the woman in front of him.
All the women in the room stood up and bowed to the Fourth Master. Madam Nian followed suit, unwilling to be outdone.
Startled, Yehe Shi quickly stood up, turned around, and bowed to the man at the door, saying, "May Your Majesty be blessed with good fortune and peace."
Only then did the Fourth Prince step over the high threshold and walk to Yehe's side to help her up. Yehe looked up shyly, met the Fourth Prince's eyes for a moment, and then immediately lowered her head.
The Fourth Prince put her down and slowly walked to the side of the Princess Consort. Yehe also hurriedly returned to her seat.
The Fourth Prince glanced to the side and saw the woman in the light pink cheongsam. She had a beautiful complexion and was still half-squatting.
"Rise, everyone. Today, Lady Yehe and Lady Nian are visiting the manor, and it's a rare occasion for us all to get together. There's no need to be so formal," Fourth Master said as he sat down.
Nian Shilan sensed a scrutinizing gaze sweeping over her, and she felt extremely nervous, instinctively knowing that the gaze belonged to the Fourth Prince.
"Now that everyone is here, let's all take our seats," said Fourth Master.
Just moments after everyone took their seats, they toasted the Fourth Prince one by one. When it was Nian Shilan's turn, she raised her wine cup and said to the Fourth Prince, "This concubine toasts Your Highness, wishing you all your wishes come true."
Seeing how beautiful she was and how she uttered such a unique sentence, the Fourth Master glanced at her a few more times.
"Alright, I'm going back to the front yard. Please have some more. Tonight, I'm going to the other courtyard, so I won't be able to keep you company," Fourth Master suddenly said, putting down his chopsticks.
This came so suddenly that the Princess Consort thought that the Fourth Prince would definitely stay in the inner quarters today, either with Lady Yehe or Lady Nian, but she didn't expect that he would actually go to the other courtyard in the end.
No one dared to say anything more, and they could only get up to see Fourth Master off.
As she watched the Fourth Master step out of the main courtyard, the smile on Madam Nian's face gradually faded. She hadn't expected the Fourth Master to spend their wedding night like this. On her very first day in the family, she, Nian Shilan, hadn't even been able to keep the Fourth Master from leaving.
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