“From now on, I will personally raise him. Madam Yin is truly despicable,” Fourth Master said without hesitation.
Lanqin glanced at Fourth Master a few times, feeling a warmth in her heart. He shared the same thoughts as her and hadn't even questioned anything before coming to her.
"My lord," Lanqin said, "I've discovered that the medicine pot used to brew medicine for the Third Prince has a hidden compartment. Someone has been putting slices of red ginseng, which are harmful to the Third Prince, into this compartment. Every time the medicine is brewed, the ginseng slices are boiled again, so the medicine the Third Prince drinks is not very effective, and sometimes it even has the opposite effect. That's why the Third Prince's health has been fluctuating, and he's never fully recovered." Although Madam Yin was only a teenager, Lanqin, with the mature mind of a thirty-one-year-old, was deeply astonished by the ruthless methods these women in the inner quarters would use to win the Third Prince's favor.
"You wicked woman! You want to keep the Third Prince sick so the Master will visit more often? You deserve to die!" The Fourth Prince didn't even need to think. Having grown up in the deep palace, how could he not be familiar with such tricks? Many concubines used their children to vie for favor, let alone Lady Yin, who wasn't even her son. He had initially thought she genuinely cared for the Third Prince, but now her true colors had finally been revealed.
“My lord, while Madam Yin is indeed despicable, there are others even more despicable than her. The Third Prince not only hasn't recovered from his cold, but he was also poisoned by lily of the valley pollen and almost lost his life. Fortunately, Physician Yang's medical skills are accurate, and he diagnosed it immediately,” Lanqin said. She knew that to lure out that person, she had to protect Madam Yin; otherwise, if she died, all the clues pointing to the main courtyard would be cut off.
The Fourth Prince frowned and said, "Torture all her maids and those who served the Third Prince until they confess."
Lanqin looked at Fourth Master in surprise and couldn't help but say, "Doesn't Your Highness go and ask Madam Yin what she has to say?"
Fourth Master looked up and glanced at Lanqin, saying, "You're provoking me again. Be careful, or I'll lock you in the cabin."
Lanqin was surprised that Fourth Master still had the leisure to joke with her at this time, so she couldn't help but laugh and say, "Master, you're so annoying. When the weather gets warmer, let's take Wuxiha and Xichen to the plum grove for a picnic."
Lanqin suddenly realized that she was overthinking things and should just leave everything to this man to handle.
"Alright, after I've dealt with this matter, I'll take the Third Prince, the Fourth Prince, and the little ones like Wuxiha to go boating on Fan Lake." The Fourth Prince couldn't help but smile when he saw how easily Lanqin was satisfied.
Meanwhile, the Fujin had already summoned Wu Shi and learned everything that had happened in the mansion in the past two days, including the fact that Yin Shi was now under house arrest by the Fourth Prince.
"I never expected Yin Panchun to know this method. It's just a pity she never managed to win the Fourth Prince's true favor," the Fujin scoffed. During her stay in the palace, the Fourth Prince had to accompany Kangxi every day, while she stayed in Yonghe Palace to take care of the children, which was truly exhausting. With Consort De watching over her, she dared not be careless in the slightest, ensuring that everything was done perfectly.
"Yin is foolish. She knew the Fujin would order her to make a move, yet she still resorted to such petty tricks. What a foolish thing to do." Wu sat upright below the Fujin, showing no sympathy for Yin, a stark contrast to Wu Ruyi, who had addressed her as a sister yesterday.
"No, she's not stupid, she just didn't have the right opportunity. By the way, did she do well with what I asked her to do?" The Princess Consort didn't want to talk about Lady Yin anymore and asked immediately.
Seeing the serious expression on the Fujin's face, Lady Wu naturally understood that she was asking about that matter.
"It was I who helped her complete the task assigned by the Fujin. Fujin, the net is now set, just waiting for you to reel it in." Wu Shi peeled an orange and handed it to the Fujin herself.
"Don't panic. The Fourth Prince can't possibly let this go unchecked. It would be better if we revealed ourselves after he investigates," the Fujin said, narrowing her eyes.
"Isn't the Fujin afraid that Madam Yin will implicate her?" Madam Wu asked worriedly. "I wanted to go to her room to get that small bottle, but unfortunately she's already wary of me."
"Mrs. Yin has indeed improved, but this time she may not be so lucky. This scheme that I, the Fujin, meticulously planned has still managed to let the Third Prince escape. It's a bit of a pity. However, this time the target is not the Third Prince, but the South Courtyard." The Fujin picked up the teacup that Lingxiu handed her and said.
“But as soon as the master returned, he confined Lady Yin to her quarters. This is clearly not giving her a chance to defend herself,” Lady Wu said, frowning. “We went through all the trouble of getting that thing onto the undergarment that Lady Niu gave to the Third Prince. I’m afraid the master won’t even ask him and will just push the blame onto Lady Yin.”
"No, I will naturally speak with Madam Yin. Once that garment is found, Nan Xiaoyuan will no longer be so innocent. In addition, I have something in my possession that is enough to prove Nan Xiaoyuan's motives," the Princess said, taking a sip of tea.
"I wonder what the Fujin (Prince Consort) holds in her possession, and how that person in the South Courtyard could have harbored murderous intent towards the Third Prince?" Wu asked curiously.
The Princess Consort glanced at Wu Shi and said quietly, "Sister, you'll find out in time. Why don't you come with me to see the Third Prince now?"
Wu quickly stood up and reached out to support the Fujin's hand, saying, "I heard that the master has ordered that no one is allowed to visit Yin."
The princess consort put on a polite smile and said, "I'm just going to see the Third Prince."
The Third Prince was placed in the front courtyard, in the room behind the Fourth Prince's bedroom. When the Princess Consort and Lady Wu came to visit, since the Fourth Prince was not there, they went straight to the Third Prince's room.
"Greetings to the Fujin. Greetings to Princess Wu." Qingdai and Qingmo led the way, bowing and offering their greetings.
"Get up, all of you. How is the Third Prince?" The Fujin asked, her heart stirred slightly as she saw the child sitting on the bed.
"Mother, Hongjun is much better. Thank you for coming to see Hongjun," the Third Prince said sensibly.
"What a good child. I was so worried when I learned you were ill. Alas, what a tragedy. Sister Li left so suddenly, leaving you and Hongshi behind. Hongshi is too young, so I will take good care of him. But you, your stepmother is too busy to take care of you as well." The princess walked to the Third Prince's bedside, sat on the edge of his bed, and took his hand.
“Mother, don’t worry. Hongjun is doing well with Consort Yin, but he’s always sick because of his poor health. Now Father has asked me to come back to live with you. I wonder how Consort Yin is doing?” the Third Prince asked. Actually, he didn’t quite understand what had happened to him, and no one had told him.
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