"Mrs. Nian's pregnancy is over," Fourth Master said.
Lanqin looked at Fourth Master in surprise and asked, "How did she die?"
"She started bleeding inexplicably. The doctor we consulted said she was poisoned by musk. But I've checked everything around her and found no trace of musk," Fourth Master said.
"Musk again?" Lanqin sat up from Fourth Master's lap and couldn't help but say.
"What's wrong? Tell me quickly, how are you? I just touched this kid, he's got quite a bit of energy." Fourth Master asked Lanqin with concern.
Lanqin rolled her eyes at Fourth Master, then raised her hand to stroke her belly and said gently, "How did you know it was a boy and a girl?"
Fourth Master also reached out and touched Lanqin's belly, saying affectionately, "Daughter, your father is going to be tormented to death by your mother."
Lanqin pursed her lips and smiled as her small fists rained down on Fourth Master's chest.
"Master, Doctor Liang also examined what I used and ate, but he didn't find any trace of musk. You said that Consort Nian also miscarried because of musk. What exactly happened? Who has such great ability to secretly put musk on both of us without anyone noticing?" Lanqin was now certain that it was the Fujin who did it, because no one in this inner courtyard had such ability to put the same thing on her and Consort Nian and do it without being detected.
Fourth Master remained silent, but Lanqin knew he was probably angry, because that was the look on his face whenever he was angry; he just didn't like to show his emotions.
"I will send people to investigate secretly," Fourth Master suddenly said, which was a promise to Lanqin.
Lanqin sighed, "I am fine now, but it's a pity that Princess Nian's baby won't be so lucky."
Fourth Master nodded, took Lanqin's hand, and began to tell her about some things he had discovered in Yangzhou, as well as the disappearance of Madam Geng that day, telling Lanqin everything in detail.
Lanqin listened carefully to every word the Fourth Master said, and the surprise in her heart was much greater than the change in her appearance.
"My lord, I think that your discovery of that letter was clearly a cover-up, and you probably deliberately framed the Crown Prince," Lanqin said when she heard the Fourth Prince recount the letter found in the cave.
"That's what Grandpa thinks, and that's why he analyzed it that way in his memorial to Father Emperor," said the Fourth Prince.
"Your Highness is right. Father Emperor is such a wise man, he must have seen through it. If Your Highness had said something wrong at this time, it would have greatly displeased Father Emperor." Lanqin silently gave Fourth Prince a thumbs up in her heart, because she knew that Kangxi was dissatisfied with the Crown Prince at this time, but he still protected him in his heart. After all, Crown Prince Yinren was someone Kangxi had personally cultivated, the only son raised by his own side. It could be said that his feelings for the Crown Prince were the deepest. But unfortunately, this Crown Prince whom he had carefully nurtured was becoming more and more useless, and was gradually being surpassed by his sons who grew up later. There was the Third Prince for literature, the Fourth Prince for practicality, the Eighth Prince for interpersonal skills, and then the Ninth Prince, the Thirteenth Prince, and even the Fourteenth Prince was not bad. This was not the most important thing. The most important thing was that this son was becoming more and more disobedient, and his actions had begun to conflict with Kangxi's wishes. Officials would impeach the Crown Prince from time to time, but all of them were suppressed by Kangxi. In addition, with the incident with Suo'etu a few years ago, Kangxi no longer completely trusted the Crown Prince and could not help but be wary of him.
These reasons were clear to everyone, and some people began to scheme, each trying to curry favor with Kangxi. However, Kangxi consistently protected the Crown Prince, simply because he had personally appointed him. If the Crown Prince were to be deposed, it would be a complete negation of his own thirty years of choices. This was what Kangxi could not tolerate most.
"Qin'er thinks the same way as you, sir. Now it seems that Father Emperor will secretly send people to investigate. It's impossible for him to remain indifferent after such a big incident," said the Fourth Prince.
Lanqin nodded, signaling Fourth Master to continue recounting their experiences in Yangzhou.
"What?! Sister Geng was kidnapped by a beggar?" Lanqin exclaimed in surprise when she heard Fourth Master recount the events of the day Geng disappeared.
"Fortunately, nothing happened. It was just the work of a greedy fellow in the Beggars' Sect. Geng threatened suicide to prevent her from losing her chastity, otherwise I wouldn't have let them off so easily," Fourth Master said. "However, that Chief Guo is still a man of some importance. I guess I've made a friend in the martial arts world."
Upon hearing this, Lanqin immediately regretted not going along. The Beggars' Sect she imagined was the one she had seen in TV dramas when she was Lin Mengyao.
"Is the boss surnamed Guo? Could he be a descendant of Guo Jing?" Lanqin joked.
"Guo Jing? Who is he?" Fourth Master asked when Lanqin suddenly uttered such a name.
"Um, it's the name of a character in a novel. My lord, I once read a novel that featured the Beggars' Clan," Lanqin said, forcing herself to speak.
"What novel?" Fourth Master persisted.
"Um, I don't remember. I only remember the Beggars' Clan, whose leader was named Huang Rong, and her husband was named Guo Jing. These two are great heroes. Although they were just martial arts figures, they saved the country from peril and are national heroes." Lan Qin naturally couldn't say that she had read Jin Yong's "The Legend of the Condor Heroes," which features characters from later times and is about resisting the Jin and Yuan dynasties, seemingly having some connection to the Jurchen ancestors of the Qing dynasty.
"What a coincidence! This gang leader really is surnamed Guo. I've asked him to investigate something for me; it might yield unexpected results," Fourth Master said.
Lanqin knew that the Beggars' Clan was the largest gang in the world, even surpassing the number of disciples in Buddhism and Taoism. Scattered throughout the corners of society, they were indeed adept at gathering information.
"If Lanqin is not mistaken, does Master want them to help him find out about the cave in Yangzhou?" Lanqin said. "They are at the bottom of society, and may have seen things that Master cannot see."
"That's right. They have a large number of people, and their ability to gather information and keep watch is even more astute than that of the government. That's why I asked him to help keep a close eye on the activities of those officials in Yangzhou. As long as they make any unusual moves before Father Emperor takes over Yangzhou, I, the Prince, will know." The Fourth Prince had the Thirteenth Prince lead the others away first, while he himself went back to find Chief Guo and secretly discussed this matter with him for more than an hour.
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