Anjia glanced at Lingzhu and couldn't help but complain, "Qin'er finally came back, and you couldn't wait to make her go to the Imperial Academy for Zhengming's sake. Now you want her to send a letter for her daughter."
Send a message! ?
Seeing Lingzhu's slightly furrowed brows, Lanqin, though pleased with Anjia's protective words, still sat up from her lap and asked in confusion, "Mother, what message are we sending?"
Anjia looked like she wanted to say something but hesitated, then said angrily, "Go ask your father."
Lingzhu suppressed his temper, ignoring Anjia, and said to Lanqin, "Qin'er, yesterday I heard you say that you were going to celebrate Consort De's birthday. Taking this opportunity, I would like you to send a letter home to Holland. It contains some instructions from your Aunt Yang to Holland."
Upon hearing this, Lanqin felt relieved. It wasn't anything important; it was just delivering a letter for Yang Shi. She guessed that Yang Shi was upset by what Lanqin had said in the small garden that morning.
"Don't try to put it nicely. I think it's best to tell Qin'er what the letter contains. Otherwise, she took such a big risk to deliver the letter to the palace. If she gets caught, how will she ever be able to maintain her position in the Fourth Prince's mansion again?" Anjia's expression changed immediately.
“Foolish! When Consort De celebrates her birthday, Holland, as a Noble Lady, will definitely go to offer her congratulations. Then it won’t be difficult for Lanqin and Holland to meet. The two are sisters, and they can exchange a few words in private without attracting attention.” Lingzhu said to Anjia Shi with displeasure. This woman really didn’t have any of Yang Shi’s cleverness.
Lanqin was confused by their back-and-forth conversation and couldn't help but ask, "Father, what kind of letter do you want your daughter to deliver to Second Sister? Is there anything bad in the letter?"
Seeing the doubt on Lanqin's face, Lingzhu hurriedly said, "There's nothing bad about it. It's just that your Aunt Yang taught your second sister some methods for conceiving. Father specially ordered her to make a copy for you to see. In the Fourth Prince's mansion, the sooner you conceive a child of the Fourth Prince, the better guarantee that you will be able to establish yourself in the mansion in the future."
Upon hearing Lingzhu's words, Anjia's expression changed several times. However, she understood how important offspring were to a woman. Although she disdained Yang's seductive methods, Lanqin's future was at stake, so she couldn't help but ask, "Are her methods really effective?"
Lingzhu glanced at Anjia and said, "I had Doctor Chen from the manor examine her, and he said it is indeed very helpful for women to get pregnant."
Upon hearing this, Anjia's face lit up with joy, but she muttered under her breath, "What a vixen! No wonder she gave birth to two sons."
Lingzhu ignored her and continued to persuade Lanqin, saying, "Qin'er, your second sister is now someone close to His Majesty. Our Niohuru family shares the same fate with your second sister. The grudges between your mother and Aunt Yang are our own; we can resolve them behind closed doors. But Holland is different. If she can conceive a royal heir, it will be of great significance to her future life and to our entire Niohuru family."
Lanqin listened silently to Lingzhu's words, but thought to herself: So what if she gave birth to a son? Anyway, she can't compete with the adult princes for him.
Seeing that Lanqin remained silent with a sullen face, Lingzhu assumed that she had taken his words to heart, so he immediately continued, "Qin'er, don't be like your mother, only caring about your own little grudges. Your father is doing this for the sake of the whole family. Your brother Zhengming is my eldest son, and everything I do is ultimately for him."
When Anjia heard Lingzhu say this, a few doubts flashed in her eyes, but she was eventually moved by his words. She put her hand on Lanqin's shoulder and said, "Qin'er, although your mother doesn't like Yang, what your father said is not wrong. You should hurry up and try that prescription. Getting pregnant as soon as possible will be beneficial to you."
Lanqin glanced up at Anjia's loving gaze and thought to herself, "Oh, my mother! That old man Lingzhu dismissed you with just a few words. The moment he mentions Zhengming's future, you get annoyed. What am I supposed to do with you? If Holland becomes pregnant with the emperor's child, I'm afraid you'll have even less standing in this household, and Yang will be completely domineering over you. And me, going to celebrate my mother-in-law's birthday, I have to do something that won't be comfortable for her: get Holland pregnant with my brother-in-law, so she can share her mother-in-law's favor. Mother, you're putting me in such a difficult position!"
Seeing that Lanqin was not lying, Anjia exchanged a glance with Lingzhu and listened quietly to Lanqin's reply.
"Father, I can deliver the letter to my second sister, but I have a request. Please grant me one." Lanqin seemed to have made up her mind, a resolute look flashing in her eyes as she looked up at Lingzhu and said.
Lingzhu was probably completely taken aback by Lanqin's question and instinctively asked, "What are your requirements?"
Lanqin glanced at Anjia, who looked bewildered, then turned to Lingzhu and said, word by word, “Even if Holland is fortunate enough to conceive a royal heir, it will still be a long way from what Father desires. Emperor Kangxi is a wise and virtuous ruler who has always upheld the principle of primogeniture. He would certainly not like to see a minister favoring his concubine over his wife. Even the Fourth Prince, who always respects the rules, might win his favor if I speak a few words for my brother Zhengming and help him. But if Mother is bullied in the household, he will have some reservations about Father. Although I am fortunate enough to have some favor from the Fourth Prince, and my sister Holland has been granted the title of Noble Lady by the Emperor, I naturally hope that Father can ensure harmony in the household, with a kind mother and filial children, and peaceful relations between wives and concubines.”
Lingzhu's expression changed subtly several times as he spoke, but none of these changes escaped Lanqin's keen observation. He had indeed neglected his wife in recent years, but fortunately, Anjia was always gentle and docile, never quarreling with Yang. Coupled with his own favoritism, Anjia seemed to have accepted the situation.
When Lanqin said these words, he felt a chill run down his spine. If Anjia and her family no longer accepted the status quo and started making trouble, then he would really be in a difficult situation. Thinking this way, Lingzhu suddenly realized that Anjia's simplicity and gentleness were truly great advantages, and he forced a smile, saying, "Qin'er, what are you talking about? Your mother and I have been married since we were young, and we have always been a loving couple. Although Yang gave birth to two sons for Father this year, how can they compare to your brother Zhengming? What do you say, Madam?"
Hearing Lingzhu speak so arrogantly in front of Anjia, Lanqin was impressed by this shrewd yet somewhat ridiculous old man.
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