By late autumn, the fish and shrimp in the water were thriving. It was time to harvest them, otherwise the water would be teeming with them, damaging the aquatic plants and lotus roots on the surface. Therefore, the Fourth Prince was recently troubled by the various wild fish and shrimp in the Yuanmingyuan Garden.
Aside from the matter concerning Hongli, Lanqin was extremely happy to be able to stay at the Yuanmingyuan for a while. After all, this was the genuine Yuanmingyuan, not the later version consisting of only a few stones. When Lanqin first stepped into this garden, a true gem of ancient gardens, she was utterly stunned by its captivating scenery and exquisite architectural techniques. She had seen reconstructions of the Yuanmingyuan, but none could compare to the one before her. The ancient architectural techniques and aesthetic tastes had reached such a profound level that Lanqin was truly amazed. The Chinese architecture here was in no way inferior to, and perhaps even better than, those in the Forbidden City, as all the buildings were newly constructed and showed no signs of decay or decay; the Western architecture here was no less impressive than the grandeur of classical Italian architecture.
Lanqin once suggested to the Fourth Prince that they go fishing at Wanfang Anhe, which pleased him greatly. Lanqin mentioned that lobsters were edible and even jokingly suggested opening a lobster restaurant, which would solve the lobster overpopulation problem. However, the Fourth Prince wouldn't agree, so it remained just a thought. These days, Lanqin has nothing to do except play with her three children every day. She also thinks about the one in the palace, but as time goes by, Lanqin gradually tells herself to let go and that Hongli will return to her side sooner or later.
"Consort, the fishing area over there is all set up, just waiting for the masters to arrive," Cui Niang said to Lan Qin as she approached. Lan Qin had already regained her pre-pregnancy figure, and since Hong Zhou didn't need her breast milk, her recovery was also very quick.
"Yes, have Niu Baoquan prepare. We'll probably have a fish and shrimp feast today. There are so many lobsters in the water they're practically crawling up the surface," Lan Qin said. She thought about how in her later life, she ate large lobsters and spicy shrimp balls, but wild lobsters were no longer available.
"Master, can we eat those dirty lobsters?" Cui Niang was very skeptical. How could her master dare to eat anything?
"Of course you can eat it, and it's especially delicious." Lanqin felt her saliva almost dripping out. These ancient people didn't eat lobsters; they preferred shrimp and prawns from the sea. They considered lobsters, creatures that live in the mud, to be very dirty.
"Anyway, I think that thing is dark and scary!" said Cui Niang.
"Don't worry, Cui Niang, our master has always been very good at cooking. Chef Niu has already learned how to cook lobster from him," Nian Xue said.
"That's right, your master has already taught him several ways to cook lobster. Just wait and enjoy the delicious food," Lanqin said with a smile.
Cui Niang and Nian Xue hadn't seen Lan Qin smile so happily in a long time. It should be said that ever since the Sixth Prince Hongli was taken into the palace, she had been depressed. Even though the Fourth Prince often came to comfort her, he could not relieve her longing and worry for Hongli.
"What delicious food!" Song's voice rang out from outside, followed by a group of footsteps.
"My sisters are all here!" Lanqin hurriedly went to greet them. She saw that Madam Song, Madam Wu, and Madam Geng had all come together. Madam Wu had also brought the Third Princess with her.
"As soon as I heard about lobster fishing, I couldn't wait to come right away," Wu said with a smile.
"Yes, once we catch some, Niu Baoquan will cook you a delicious lobster feast. I guarantee you'll all be eating until you can't put your fingers down!" Lanqin was also very excited. She had originally planned to invite only Song Shi and a few others over, but when Fourth Master heard that she wanted to catch lobsters to eat, he immediately thought of this great idea to reduce the number of lobsters in the water.
"I've never eaten that before. It looks dirty, so it must eat mud, right? How can you eat it?" Geng said.
"It's delicious. Let's go lobster fishing." Lanqin's fingers were already moving excitedly.
“The Nian family and the Wuya family haven’t arrived yet!” said Song.
“They might not like this kind of activity, especially that Consort Nian, she wouldn’t eat such dark stuff,” Lanqin said.
“That makes sense. Consort Nian eats all sorts of delicacies. I don’t think we need to wait for them,” said Madam Wu.
The group followed Lanqin to the fishing area outside. The Third Princess quickly started playing with Wuxiha and Bechuk, while the maid who was in charge of watching the children looked after them.
With the help of their maids, the four of them first tied the toad meat to the lobster fishing line, and then they could put the fishing rod into the water. Lanqin pointed out to their respective maids to hold the nets and scoops, ready to scoop up the lobsters at any time.
"Oh dear, Qingping, your master has caught a lobster under his fishing rod! Look, the lobster whiskers are already showing above the water! Quick, scoop them up!" Lanqin glanced at the fishing rods of the group and saw two black lobster whiskers emerging from under Song's fishing rod.
Qingping immediately sank the net in her hand to the bottom of the water, and then lifted it up. Sure enough, there were two big black lobsters in the net.
"Wow! Princess, we really caught one!" Qingping shouted excitedly.
"Oh dear, mine, mine!" Wu Shi exclaimed hurriedly. Her maid, Hong Qian, followed Qing Ping's example and scooped it up. Sure enough, inside was a large, red lobster.
"So it really is that easy to catch!" Geng said.
"Green Orchid, hurry up and scoop it up! Your master has lobsters under her fishing rod too!" Madam Song covered her mouth and laughed, then ordered Qingping to tie frog meat to her fishing rod.
"You all caught some, but mine hasn't taken a bite yet!" Lanqin blinked as she looked at her fishing rod, but before she could finish speaking, she saw black lobster whiskers emerging from under her rod.
"Shui Ling, quickly scoop them up for your mistress. I think she has at least three." Madam Wu cast another net.
Just as Lanqin and the others were happily fishing, and the baskets for lobsters were almost full, Nian and Wuya arrived one after the other.
"Sihua, give Consort Nian and Lady Wuya each a fishing rod," Lanqin instructed Sihua upon their arrival.
"No, no, I would never do such a servant's thing!" Lady Nian looked at Lanqin and the others with sarcasm. "It's just that the master asked me to come and take a look, so this concubine came to take a look."
“Miss Sihua, let me try fishing too,” said Wuya Shi from the side.
Nian stood aside, watching Lanqin and the others fish for crayfish. They caught a whole netful at a time, and gradually she realized that it was indeed quite fun.
"Um, what, could you also get me a fishing rod? I, the concubine, would like to try it out," said Lady Nian.
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