Seeing that Madam Song nodded, Lanqin immediately got to work. She asked Sihua and Lanqi to find unused plain satin in her cabinet. This kind of fabric was originally used by women to make underwear in the summer. Lanqin thought that the Fourth Master would not wear only one robe, so she used all the plain satin she had to cut out two sets of underwear for the Fourth Master. The extra scraps of fabric were used to make a small bib for Wuxiha, or to make underwear for the unborn baby. In short, she used up all her stock.
When Song left, she took the two undergarments belonging to the Fourth Master with her. The clothes for Wuxiha and the unborn baby were taken care of by Cui Niang and Nianxue. Lanqin really didn't want to do needlework or anything like that. She preferred to hold a book and read, and then say a few jokes to Cui Niang or Nianxue who were sitting to the side sewing clothes.
When the Fujin received Zhao Quan's message, she was so angry that her face turned ashen. After sending Zhao Quan away, she sat in the dimly lit room, lost in thought.
Lingxiu had already received her secret order and secretly left the mansion.
"Xiahe, bring me some of my snuff. What's wrong? Chunliu's gone, and now you're not thinking about her anymore?" the princess said ominously to Xiahe, who was standing in the corner of the room.
"This servant dares not, this servant will go right away." Xia He still couldn't help but shiver. Although it was springtime outside, how long had it been since the Fujin had gone outside for a walk? She spent her days in the main courtyard thinking about certain things, like the dark moss in the room.
The days grew hotter and hotter, and the Fourth Master would be gone for several days at a time, with no news of his return.
Lanqin took Wuxiha to the garden every day to play, either admiring the flowers or catching small insects; or she would accompany Wuxiha to ride on the little wooden horse that she had asked the carpenter Wang to make, or perhaps fly kites. Two days after Yeheshi met Lanqin that day, she sent her a beautiful kingfisher kite. Lanqin saw that it was indeed well-made and liked it very much.
Sometimes when Lanqin ran into Yehe in the courtyard, they would fly kites together, chat, and play with the children, and they lived peacefully together.
It was already May. Si Hua and Lan Qi went to the kitchen to get some fruits. Lan Qin especially loved the sweet grapes and cantaloupes that were brought as tribute from Xinjiang.
The eunuchs in charge of distributing the fruit in the kitchen naturally dared not mistreat the concubine, so they selected the best of everything. Si Hua and Lan Qin carried two large baskets full of fruit.
The two walked and rested intermittently, their clothes soaked with sweat as it was early summer. They walked along the secluded alleyways used by servants, which were quite shady. One side of the alleyway was a small garden, while the other side was the main road used by the masters.
The two women got tired from walking, so they walked to a large rock, put down their baskets, and rested for a while.
"Hey, did you know? I heard that the concubine's baby is carrying a child that's not being conceived in a very mysterious way." A soft female voice came from the garden. The voice seemed to be coming from the garden, probably from a servant who was in charge of tending to the flowers and plants there.
"Is that so? The master dotes on his concubine very much," said another woman who was slightly older.
“But I heard she’s been living in the villa for quite a while. It’s impossible for the master to go there often. This concubine is really bold, living alone in the villa, and I heard she even has a male doctor with her.” The woman who had just started the conversation said.
"Go over there and get your hair cut. It's best to avoid gossip and bring trouble upon yourself. We servants should refrain from discussing our masters' affairs," the woman said in a calm voice.
When Si Hua heard this, she wanted to ask what was going on, but Lan Qi grabbed her arm. She shook her head and whispered, "You should go back and report to the master. If you ask them now, they'll just be gossiping among long-tongued women."
Si Hua thought for a moment, then she and Lan Qi quickly picked up the baskets and went back.
After handing the fruits and melons over to the small kitchen, the two maids hesitated whether to go inside and report to Lanqin.
Inside the house, only the sounds of laughter and playful banter could be heard. It was Lanqin playing with Wuxiha, followed by the voices of Gengshi and Songshi.
"Qin'er, be careful! You're really brave. You're pregnant. Aren't you afraid of hurting your back?" Madam Song said with a smile.
It turned out that Lanqin was playing a hunchback game with Wuxiha. She put Wuxiha on her neck, then grabbed her two little hands and spun her around the room, making Wuxiha giggle and laugh.
Si Hua and Lan Qi tiptoed into the house and saw Wu Xiha dressed in a pink satin qipao, with two small braids, being carried on Lan Qin's neck, revealing two small front teeth, and even drooling.
"Master, please put the young master down. Si Hua and the others have returned with fruit. Why don't you stop and rest for a while, and have some grapes and cantaloupe?" Nian Xue and Cui Niang, seeing Lan Qin's behavior, quickly advised.
Lanqin was also tired from playing, and her clothes underneath were sweaty, so with the help of Nianxue and Cui Niang, she put Wuxiha down.
“What kind of crazy mother are you? You’re such a child.” Madam Song walked to Lanqin’s side and pulled off the handkerchief from her chest to wipe her sweat.
"Sihua, quickly go and get the cantaloupe, it'll be perfect to share with the sisters," Lanqin said with a carefree laugh.
Si Hua and Lan Qi hurriedly went out of the house to get the cantaloupe, while Lan Qin took the round fan from Xi Cha's hand and started fanning herself.
"Sister Geng, what have you been doing these days?" Lanqin asked when she saw Geng sitting there quietly.
"What else could I be doing? I just did some handicrafts. I made some for Wuxiha, but they're not finished yet," Geng said with a smile.
"Thank you so much, sister. Why don't you follow Sister Song's example and make some outer robes for the master?" Lanqin said. She felt that since the Fourth Master wouldn't leave her alone, why not bring up Song Shi and Geng Shi? Besides, she couldn't bear to see them grow old alone like this, especially Geng Shi, who had never given birth yet. Was she just going to sit and wait to grow old like this?
"However, I am not very familiar with your physique, and I don't have any good fabric suitable for you anywhere," Geng said with difficulty.
“I can help you with the cutting, sister. As for the fabric, it doesn’t have to be anything fancy. Just use whatever you have. It’s a small token of your affection for Master. Lanqin is too lazy to prepare anything, and now that I have a little foodie in my belly, I’m too lazy to do any needlework. So I’ll have to trouble you two sisters,” Lanqin said.
At this moment, Si Hua brought out the sliced cantaloupe and placed it on the table in the middle of the tatami mat.
"Quick, try the Hami melon from Xinjiang. It's delicious." Lanqin urged Song and Geng to eat, and then said to Sihua, "Take the remaining half and divide it among yourselves, so that everyone can have a taste."
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