After spending the morning in the front yard, Fourth Master went to the south courtyard to have lunch with Lanqin.
Lanqin was reading in the study when Fourth Master quietly slipped in. He saw her sitting in a large chair with a cloud-patterned back, her belly protruding, engrossed in something.
"What are you looking at?" Fourth Prince finally couldn't help but ask. Ever since the Crown Prince went to the northern desert, Fourth Prince had to handle a lot of court affairs by himself, and he was so busy that he never had a moment to rest. Every time he came back, Lanqin was already asleep, and Fourth Prince would always come over to ask her.
"I'm bored in my spare time, so I just read some miscellaneous books to pass the time," Lanqin said, putting down her book when she saw it was Fourth Master.
"Keep reading. I'll just wander around your study. Don't let me affect you," said the Fourth Master.
Seeing that Fourth Master said that, Lanqin really ignored him and continued reading her book. The two of them were in the same room, but neither of them felt uncomfortable. Lanqin didn't feel uncomfortable at all, and acted as if Fourth Master didn't exist. Fourth Master also picked up a book from Lanqin's bookshelf and sat in a high-backed chair by the window to read.
Lanqin was heavily pregnant, and Cui Niang and the others stopped telling her about the rumors and gossip circulating outside. In short, Lanqin rarely went out, and no one else could enter the South Courtyard. She was happy to live in this secluded courtyard, isolated from the world.
"There's less than a month left, isn't there?" Fourth Master suddenly said.
"Yes. She'll be here in a month. Master, why don't you prepare a few more names? A few for girls and a few for boys, okay?" Lanqin said.
"Look, I'm looking at it right now. How about the girl's name is Buyechuk and the boy's name is Fukang'an?" Fourth Master said, closing the Kangxi Dictionary he had pulled from the bookshelf.
"Fukang'an!!" Lanqin murmured, repeating these three words!
"What's wrong? Do you like this name?" Fourth Master walked to Lanqin's side, squatted down, and raised his hand to stroke her large belly.
"No, Master, it might be a girl," Lanqin said hastily, unable to believe that the Fourth Prince would say such a name. After all, the story of Fukang'an was only recorded in unofficial histories. It was said that Emperor Qianlong had an illegitimate son named Fukang'an.
"Qin'er likes girls? Then let it be girls. Buyechuk means cute, and I like her to be a cute little girl like Qin'er." Fourth Master looked up at Lanqin and said.
Lanqin raised her hand and touched the fourth master's forehead. Perhaps because the two had not been close for a long time, they were a little estranged for a moment.
Lanqin also vaguely knew that the Fourth Prince favored Yehe Shi quite a bit, but the question the Fourth Prince asked last time really made Lanqin think for a long time, but she still couldn't figure it out.
Outside, Cui Niang called out, "Lunch is ready," and the two of them, as usual, walked out of the house hand in hand to have lunch.
After having lunch at Lanqin's place, Fourth Master took a nap with her.
At that time, Yehe was with his wife. There was a table full of food in front of them, but they didn't have much of an appetite.
"Thank you for the meal, Madam. My appetite is not very good, so I cannot eat more with you." Ever since Yehe Shi became addicted to opium at Madam's place, she rarely dared to eat or drink there again.
"Is Princess Ye afraid that I, the Fujin, will do something to you again?" The Fujin picked up a piece of steamed turbot with her chopsticks and put it into the bowl in front of her.
"I wouldn't dare, my appetite is really small. I really don't suspect anything from you, Madam. Please don't misunderstand," Yehe said cautiously.
The princess sighed and continued eating by herself. Yehe, standing beside her, even served her food, behaving like a well-mannered concubine.
"I've told you everything I needed to. The master thinks you're too young, and it wouldn't be too late to get pregnant in a few years," the wife said, concealing the master's exact words.
Yehe said, "How come the princess got pregnant as soon as she went out that year? She and I are the same age."
Seeing that Yehe was still unwilling to give up, the Fujin said, "That's exactly what the Fourth Prince said to me. You don't need to overthink it. The most important thing is to win his heart."
After leaving the Fujin's place, Yehe Shi walked back, supporting Yuhen's hand. The mistress and servant each had their own thoughts.
“Master, Peach Blossom is a menace; we must find a reason to get rid of her as soon as possible,” Yuhen said.
"Hmm. She was sent by the Fujin (Prince's wife), so we need to find a suitable reason," said Yehe Shi. "Yuhen, has the master noticed something?"
"No, I always add it to the tea discreetly. No one would ever notice," Yuhen whispered.
The two walked slowly, unaware that Tao Hua was already rummaging through Ye He's room. She vaguely remembered Yu Hen having left something mysterious in Ye He's room, and in order to find out the reason for Ye He's favor as soon as possible, Tao Hua took advantage of Ye He's visit to the Fujin (the wife's husband) to sneak into Ye He's room to search.
She crept up to Yehe's dressing table and saw an exquisitely crafted nine-tiered red sandalwood dressing box. Peach Blossom gently opened each compartment to examine its contents; most were cosmetics and toiletries, along with some delicate jewelry that Yehe often wore. After searching through it, Peach Blossom found nothing suspicious.
She remembered that when she and Hehua brought water in yesterday, she smelled a faint fragrance, so she suspected that there was something wrong with the fragrance and kept looking for something like perfume powder.
Finding nothing in the dressing box, Peach Blossom went to Yehe's wardrobe. She began searching every nook and cranny of the wardrobe, but still found nothing.
As she was rummaging through the items, she suddenly heard footsteps approaching outside. In a moment of panic, Peach Blossom quickly hid behind the wardrobe.
It turned out that Yehe Shi and Yuhen had returned. Peach Blossom held her breath, hiding in a corner behind the wardrobe, not daring to make a sound.
"My lady, why don't you take a nap? I'll brew you some calming tea," Yuhen said.
"No need, I don't want to sleep. You said today that the Princess Consort thinks I'm too old and that's why she won't let me get pregnant. Is this really the Master's intention?" Yehe Shi said, still unwilling to give up.
“I’m afraid there are other reasons. Every time Master comes here, besides satisfying that need, there’s nothing else he can say to Master. I think that if Master wants to truly compete with Nan Xiaoyuan, he must win Master’s heart,” Yuhen said.
Peach Blossom secretly hid behind the cabinet, listening to them talk about how to win the Fourth Master's heart. Only after Yehe went to bed and Yuhen left was Peach Blossom able to escape.
"Peach Blossom, where have you been?" As soon as Peach Blossom returned to her room, Lotus's voice suddenly rang out, startling her.
"You scared me to death! You brat!" Peach Blossom rolled her eyes at Lotus when she saw it was Lotus.
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