Sure enough, a few days later, during breakfast, the Fourth Master sent someone to instruct Nian Shi to move to the east courtyard. The Fourth Master had stayed at Nian Shi's place the previous night and hadn't spoken to Lanqin in person. The messenger relayed the Fourth Master's instructions, which meant to first have the railings, windows, and doors repaired.
Lanqin was having breakfast and simply agreed without saying anything more! Is this the good time for Lady Nian? Is the Fourth Prince really going to favor her?
All the maids in the room remained silent, making Lanqin feel as if she was truly about to fall out of favor!
"Tell Lan Qi to send someone to the east courtyard to see which areas need repair and report back on them, along with the cost," Lan Qin instructed Cui Niang.
"Master, a maid from Consort Nian's side has arrived. She says she wants to discuss the renovation of the East Courtyard with you!" Shui Ling said, lifting the cotton curtain as she entered.
"Tell her to go back, our master will give the order!" Cui Niang said angrily! Nian Shi is here to provoke Lan Qin. The Fourth Master just sent someone to deliver a message, and she immediately sent a maid to "discuss" it. She's practically showing off in the South Courtyard!
Shui Ling was about to turn around and leave when she heard Lan Qin say, "It's alright, let her come in and talk!"
Without explaining, Cui Niang asked, "Master, why are you being so polite to her! Master only instructed that some dilapidated places be repaired, but he didn't say that she should repair any specific areas!"
Nianxue hurriedly said, "Master, Madam Nian sent someone here to show off. Why do you need to see her maid? Let her come and tell you herself!"
Lanqin knew that the two women felt wronged on her behalf, but she still smiled and said, "If the Nian family is arrogant, then let them be arrogant! Do you still remember the time when Cuiling was beaten by the master?"
After a moment's thought, Cui Niang quickly said, "Does Master mean to let her be arrogant? Master is free to make his own judgment?"
Lanqin nodded. As for this Nian Shi, she was an arrogant, rich, and beautiful woman. The way to deal with someone like her was not to confront her directly. Let her be arrogant and let her get carried away! The higher you lift her up with vanity, the harder she will fall later!
“But we are afraid that our mistress will be wronged!” Nianxue said.
"Your master can handle such a small matter!" Lanqin said with a smile, then gestured for Shuiling to go out and call someone in.
If she were to let someone embarrass Lady Nian now, she would likely go and sow discord between Lady Nian and the Fourth Prince. Lady Nian is currently riding high; she absolutely mustn't be allowed to speak out! The Fourth Prince has always been very strict about rules; with Lady Nian overstepping such boundaries, how could he not have something to say? Besides, none of Lady Nian's children have survived! Thinking of this, Lanqin couldn't help but recall the many records and commentaries about Lady Nian she had read in her later life. Many people suspected that Lady Nian's son died mysteriously, and some scholars even believed that Lady Nian's son was framed by the Fourth Prince to prevent the Nian family from becoming too ambitious! At this moment, Lanqin didn't think the Fourth Prince would do something like killing his own son.
Before Lanqin could finish her thought, Shuiling lifted the curtain and came in, followed by Cuiling, Nianshi's favored maid.
"This servant greets Consort Lanqin!" Cuiling bowed to Lanqin.
"Rise. Your mistress has just been promoted, and I haven't yet offered my congratulations. Nianxue, go to my storeroom and get a few decent things for Cuiling to take back. Consider it my way of congratulating Consort Nian." Lanqin rattled off this long sentence in one breath!
Cui Ling didn't catch the sarcasm in Lan Qin's words, and even happily curtsied again, saying, "This servant thanks Consort Niu for her congratulatory gift on behalf of our Consort!"
"Alright, I heard that Consort Nian has her own ideas about the renovation of the East Courtyard?" Lanqin said, her smile fading.
“Yes. Our master said that nothing that the late Madam Li lived in or used can be kept.” Cui Ling said with a hint of pride.
Upon hearing this, Lanqin's smile faded even further; her request alone was quite expensive.
"What does Consort Nian mean by 'not keeping a single thing'? Does it mean all the furniture and furnishings over there have to be replaced?" Cui Niang couldn't help but ask. When Li Shi was deposed by the Fourth Prince, all the things she had privately kept and the things he had bestowed upon her were confiscated and taken away. Her bedding, clothes, and utensils were also taken out and burned. Now, what remains in her courtyard are mostly large items like tables, chairs, benches, and beds that can't be moved. These things were originally purchased when the Fourth Prince built the East Courtyard, and it seems Consort Nian means that even these things will be replaced. Basically, she wants to replace all the furniture Li Shi used.
“Yes, our concubine said she doesn’t like using things that others have used. She also said that the flowerpot birds in the courtyard need to be replaced, and all the wooden railings, doors, and windows need to be repainted. Our mistress doesn’t like the dark red paint that Li used to have,” Cui Ling said, mimicking Nian Shi.
Cui Niang and the other maids almost wanted to kick Cui Ling out, but Lan Qin didn't seem to be about to do anything.
"What color does Consort Nian like?" Lanqin asked.
“Our mistress likes gold, and also pink and yellow. She said she would trouble Consort Cui to take care of it!” Cui Ling said.
"No need for that. Go back and tell your master that the repairs to the houses require a budget. I, the concubine, will go and tell the Fourth Prince how much money is needed before I can give your master an answer!" Lanqin sneered inwardly. The Nian family's request was definitely beyond the Fourth Prince's expectations.
“Our master said there’s no need to worry about money; he’ll cover any extra with his own savings!” Cui Ling said generously.
Upon hearing this, Lanqin was momentarily speechless, unsure whether to call Nian Shi clever or stupid. How could she say such a thing? She had only just been made a concubine, and she was already acting like she owned the place!
"That still needs to be discussed with Master before a decision can be made!" Lanqin said: If you want to court death, no one will stop you!
"Yes, this servant will go back and report to our mistress. This servant takes her leave!" Cui Ling said. Cui Niang gestured for Nian Xue and Xi Cha to deliver Lan Qin's congratulatory gifts to Madam Nian.
After they left, Cui Niang couldn't help but sneer, "I almost said to tear down all the houses and build new ones!"
Lanqin chuckled and said, "She's got a big wallet. She even said she'd pay for it herself. Who knows, she might really tear it down and rebuild it."
Cui Niang said, "Seeing how arrogant she is, I wonder if the master will still favor her?"
“Ms. Nian’s favor is largely due to her maternal clan. Once her maternal clan’s support is gone, she will have nothing left! Fourth Master will tolerate her. Let’s wait until he returns and talk to him before making any decisions!” Lanqin said.
Meanwhile, when Lady Nian learned that Lanqin had sent something, she felt even more that Lanqin was trying to curry favor, and she was naturally even more pleased with herself.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com