"Come, let me see you!" Consort De sat in her main hall, and Lanqin carried Hongli to pay her respects.
"Hongli, quickly call for your grandfather." Lanqin carried Hongli to Consort De and said to him.
"Fa~" Hongli called out in a childish voice.
"Oh, my good boy! Come here, let me give you a hug!" Consort De looked at her chubby grandson and smiled contentedly. After Lanqin handed Hongli to a maid and then to Consort De, she saw her making Hongli laugh.
“This child is so good-looking. Look at his little hands and legs, he’s very strong!” Granny De said from the side.
"Hmm, he does resemble the fourth prince when he was young. Hehe," said Consort De.
“Yes, look at those eyebrows, look at that nose, he looks just like the Fourth Prince,” said Granny De.
Lanqin looked at Hongli and thought, "He looks so much like me! He doesn't resemble me at all!" Wasn't this just blatant lying?
"Alright, take the Sixth Prince out for a stroll. My flowers, plants, and fish are all very beautiful; show them to him. My legs are quite strong; I really can't stay cooped up in the house any longer," said Consort De.
Several palace maids quickly carried Hongli away. Following Consort De's instructions, they carried Hongli out, and Lanqi, who was standing behind Lanqin, hurriedly followed. As Hongli's personal maid, she had to be with him at all times.
Lanqin knew that Consort De wanted to speak to her alone, so she was prepared for Consort De's reprimand.
"Niohuru clan, it's been quite a while since I've seen you. I feel like you're a little different than before." Consort De had actually been secretly observing Lanqin all along, and seeing Hongli being carried away, she said this.
Alas, old ginger is spicier! This Consort De is a shrewd and cunning woman who has become an immortal; nothing escapes her eyes.
"Your Majesty, I have been busy taking care of the Sixth Prince and the Fourth and Fifth Princesses, and have rarely come to the palace to pay my respects. Please punish me!" Lanqin said.
"Hmm, she's grown up and knows how to say these polite things now," Consort De said. "I already know about Wanru's matter. Do you have anything to say to me?"
"Your Majesty, I also feel very sorry about what happened to Princess Wuya, after all, she is already over eight months old. However, I don't know why this happened, please investigate thoroughly, Your Majesty," Lanqin said.
Consort De looked at Lanqin, her hands unconsciously touching her sleeves, and said, "Wanru, that child, is from my maternal family. It's just a pity she was born into an unfortunate family, otherwise I wouldn't have opposed them so much back then. Do you want to see how the Fourth Prince treated Wanru back then?"
Consort De's words were like steel thorns piercing Lanqin's skin and muscles, and Lanqin could not avoid them; she had to endure them raw.
"Your Majesty, I do not wish to hear about what happened between Master and Princess Wuya. I do not understand why Your Majesty is telling me these things," Lanqin said.
"You really don't understand? You should accept my intentions. It's good for you, for him, and for my niece. The Fourth Prince's household isn't just about you and my niece. There's no need to make such a scene. You're already the mother of four children. If you treat the Fourth Prince well like before, I think you're a very fortunate girl," Consort De said with a hint of admonition.
Lanqin naturally understood what Consort De meant by those words: to tell her to think more positively and not to worry so much. It was the same as what Cui Niang said—to tell her to turn a blind eye.
Lanqin suddenly had the urge to turn and leave, but sitting there was the high and mighty Consort De. She feared that if she left, she would be dragged back and punished for the crime of disrespect.
"Niohuru, you should understand what I mean. I can punish you, but considering your deep affection for the Fourth Prince, I will not pursue the matter further. Go back and think carefully about what I said. Hongli will stay here; the Emperor will be arriving later," said Consort De.
Hearing Consort De's words, Lanqin knew she had no right to object, so she could only politely withdraw.
She stepped outside and saw two palace maids and Lan Qi playing with Hongli. A sudden urge to escape this palace complex washed over her. Perhaps leaving Hongli with Emperor Kangxi to raise was better than keeping him in the inner quarters. At least those women wouldn't have any designs on him.
"Master, let's go," Si Hua said, seeing that Lan Qin was standing still.
"Take a closer look at Hongli." Lanqin seemed reluctant to leave, watching from afar as Hongli, accompanied by several maids, chased butterflies and played among the flowers in the courtyard.
When Kangxi arrived, Hongli had already been bathed and changed clothes. He was being held by Consort De's maid and was playing with toys.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects!" Consort De greeted Emperor Kangxi.
"Get up. Hongli has arrived?" Kangxi said immediately upon seeing the chubby figure.
"Hongli is over there. Bring Hongli over here so His Majesty can see him," Consort De immediately turned to the palace maid carrying Hongli and said.
Emperor Kangxi really liked this child. Seeing how well he had grown, he smiled and said, "The little fellow has grown up quite a bit since he returned to his father and mother's side."
“Indeed. The little guy is quite agile now. Your Majesty, he can even call me ‘your concubine’ now,” said Consort De.
"Oh, come here, Hongli, call out to the Imperial Ancestral Master." Kangxi picked up Hongli and teased the child.
After the palace servants had served lunch, Kangxi suddenly seemed to remember something and said, "Where is the fourth prince's concubine? Let her come and have lunch with us."
Consort De was surprised that the Emperor would think of Lanqin and even invite her to dine together. She immediately said, "Your Majesty, she has probably already eaten."
"It's nothing. I do miss that girl a little. Go and call her here," Kangxi said with a hearty laugh.
Seeing that Emperor Kangxi was determined to do so, Consort De had no choice but to nod to the palace maids beside her and tell them to go and call Lanqin over to accompany the emperor.
When the palace maid went to summon Lanqin, she had indeed already eaten lunch and was preparing to rest when she heard that Emperor Kangxi wanted to see her.
Lanqin knew who the Emperor wanted to see, and she couldn't refuse under any circumstances, especially since it was in the palace.
Lanqin tidied herself up a bit and then came before Kangxi with the palace maids.
"This concubine greets Father Emperor!" Lanqin said to Kangxi.
“Come here to me. I know you have a good appetite, and watching you eat makes me especially hungry,” Kangxi said.
A bead of sweat rolled down Lanqin's face. She thought to herself, "Why are all the men of the Aisin Gioro family like this? Does my existence even have some practical use to them?"
"Your Majesty, I have already had lunch," Lanqin said.
"You audacious Niohuru! The Emperor summoned you, so you come and have a few bites, is that all you've got?" Consort De said angrily.
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