When Fourth Master appeared at the doorway in a magnificent purple python-patterned robe, all eyes immediately turned to this sole male protagonist, as if the bright spotlight on a stage had been shining on him.
The Fourth Prince walked slowly to the side of his wife, his gaze sweeping over all the concubines. He paused for a moment on Lanqin before moving away and looking at the princes and princesses.
"Please sit down," the Fourth Prince said, walking to the table first with his wife. The others then took their seats according to their rank. The children were led by their nannies to a side room to eat.
"My lady, I have prepared some zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) for you, my lady, and all the sisters to try." Lanqin winked at Nianxue behind her.
The servant opened the food box and took out the zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) inside. Each small, delicate zongzi emitted an enticing aroma.
"You're so kind, Princess Niu. Granny Li, take some for the children to eat. Tell the maids and servants that children have weak stomachs and shouldn't eat too much glutinous rice," the Princess Consort instructed with a smile.
"I've never seen such a small zongzi before," said Madam Wang, who had been silent for a while. However, she did not reach out to take it. Everyone stared at it, but no one took it.
Upon seeing this, the Princess Consort reached out with her gold, openwork, and gemstone-encrusted armor to take a small rice dumpling from the plate. After untying the string, she peeled off the bamboo leaves and handed it to the Fourth Prince beside her.
Fourth Master took the zongzi, popped it into his mouth, chewed it a few times, and then smiled with satisfaction. "You guys eat some too. Not bad, one bite at a time, convenient and fun," Fourth Master said.
As soon as the Fourth Prince said this, several princesses reached out to take one. Li Shi and Wu Shi had no choice but to each take one, but they did not peel it to eat.
"My lord, this cup of wine is offered to you and your wife. I hope you take good care of yourself and that everything goes smoothly for you. I also hope that your wife is healthy and blessed with many more years of good fortune." Li suddenly raised a cup of wine to the Fourth Prince and his wife. Since returning from the estate, the Fourth Prince had not visited her courtyard, but he had sent the Third Prince and the Second Princess to see her. This showed that he still cherished the bond between her and the woman who had raised their three children.
The Fourth Prince glanced at Madam Li and saw that she was dressed appropriately tonight, and her words and actions were also proper. She had also mentioned the Fujin (wife) when toasting just now. Had she figured things out?
"Thank you, sister." The princess picked up the wine cup in front of her and took a small sip.
"Hongshi is quite handsome. Su Peisheng, reward him!" Fourth Master took a sip of wine and said to Su Peisheng beside him.
"On behalf of Hongshi, I thank Your Highness for the reward." Madam Li then raised her hand and drank the yellow wine in her cup in one gulp.
With the Fourth Prince's word of "reward," the unease and worry that had been lingering in her heart for many days seemed to vanish in an instant.
"I also wish you, my lord and my wife, good health and harmony in your household." Sitting below Li Shi, Wu Shi immediately raised her wine cup in a toast. Before they could reply, she drank all the wine in her cup.
"Sister Wu, slow down. Drinking too much wine will make you dizzy. The master has been busy in the palace these days, getting up early and returning late every day. It's better for him to drink less." The Fujin glanced at the overly dazzling pearl hairpin on Wu's head and her crimson brocade cheongsam. Li Shi, with her three children, was always causing trouble for her in this mansion, and Wu Shi actually dared to jump out and follow suit. What gave her the right?
When Consort Wu heard what the Fujin said, and considering that the Fourth Prince did look rather thin, she was immediately embarrassed and didn't know how to respond.
The Fourth Prince also noticed Wu's attire today, which was indeed bright and beautiful. However, the Fourth Prince had been preoccupied with the palace lately and had no interest in such things. He simply nodded and did not raise his cup like Li did.
On the contrary, the Fourth Prince seemed to have a particular fondness for zongzi. After eating the first one handed to him by his wife, he took several more and peeled them to eat. Others, perhaps to make the Fourth Prince feel comfortable, also took zongzi to eat, but the ordinary large zongzi sent by the kitchen were ignored.
The princess glanced at Lanqin and saw that she was silently eating and drinking tea with her head down, seemingly uninterested in the undercurrents that had just occurred on the table.
"Sister Yin, you've had a good appetite lately. You shouldn't eat too much of this glutinous rice, or you'll get indigestion." The Fujin turned away from Wu Shi and asked Yin Shi, who had been silent all along.
After she said that, the Fourth Master also turned his gaze to Madam Yin. He saw that her small face had become even more angular, and her beautiful eyes looked pitiful.
"If there's anything you'd like to eat, just tell the Princess Consort. Princess Consort, starting tomorrow, have the kitchen stew a bowl of bird's nest and snow pear soup and send it to Madam Yin every day," the Fourth Prince said.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness and Madam. I will eat well and raise the baby in my womb to be healthy." Madam Yin replied immediately with tears in her eyes, silently filled with gratitude for Madam.
Song and Geng watched as they tried to get the Fourth Master's attention, but they felt as if they had been forgotten. Seeing Wu being humiliated, they dared not utter a sound.
"My dear sisters, the Prince will be setting off in a few days to serve Father Emperor. This time, I will have Lady Wang and Lady Geng go with him to serve him. The rest of you who stay behind should simply do your duty and take good care of the household for the Prince." The Princess Consort spoke suddenly at the Fourth Prince's instruction. Clearly, this arrangement was something the two of them had discussed long ago.
Those whose names were called were naturally overjoyed, their hearts pounding; those whose names weren't called instantly turned pale, clutching their handkerchiefs under the table.
Has the master finally noticed me? It seems I should spend more time with the Fujin in the future! Madam Wang silently appreciated the Fujin's kindness, her fingers trembling slightly inside her wide sleeves.
Geng thought she had misheard, so she turned her head to look at Lanqin. When she saw Lanqin nod at her, she believed it.
Lanqin wasn't surprised at all by the news, because the Fourth Prince had already told her that she wouldn't be taking him on this official trip. However, when she heard the Princess Consort say these words, she clearly felt a barrage of gazes directed at her face.
Are they all wondering if they've fallen out of favor? Haha!
"You may stay with the Fujin and have some more. The First Prince and the Third Prince will be sent back to the front courtyard later. The First Princess may return to her own room, and the Second Princess may go to the East Courtyard. Niu Shi, come with me!" After saying this, the Fourth Prince took the hand towel handed to him by Su Peisheng, wiped his hands, and then stood up with Su Peisheng's arm by his side.
Ah! Fourth Master, are you trying to make me the target of hatred?! Fourth Master pulled Lanqin up and walked outside.
The Fujin was slightly taken aback. She had expected the Fourth Prince to stay overnight in the main courtyard. She had gone to great lengths to prepare a feast for the Dragon Boat Festival, but he had a particular fondness for zongzi (sticky rice dumplings). Although she had been secretly pleased a few days earlier when her family sent word that the Fourth Prince was going out to help Emperor Kangxi exchange iron buckets for copper buckets, not some leisurely trip, but rather to supervise the new regulations at various local Ministry of Revenue offices, she knew this trip would be arduous.
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