The next day, Lanqin sat in front of her dressing table and said to Cui Niang, "I want to go back to the Ling residence. I'll take Wuxiha and Xichen with me."
Cui Niang exchanged a glance with Nian Xue, who was combing Lan Qin's hair, and thought to herself: Is the mistress really having a falling out with the master and going back to her parents' home?
“My lord, the concubine’s return to her parents’ home is also something she needs to discuss with the master and the wife,” Cui Niang said, carefully observing Lan Qin’s expression.
“He promised before the New Year. Don’t ask anymore, pack your things and leave immediately.” Lanqin said calmly, her eyes clear, unlike the disappointment she had shown yesterday.
Seeing that Lanqin was determined to get back at him, Cui Niang could only verbally agree, but in her heart she had already decided to go and inform the master. Otherwise, if the Fujin (principal wife) used this matter to manipulate the master, that would be disastrous.
Cui Niang ordered Xi Cha and several other maids to pack Lan Qin's things, while she herself made an excuse to leave.
When Cui Niang arrived at the front courtyard, the servant at the gate, seeing her, naturally greeted her with a smile and hurriedly ushered her inside. Cui Niang thought to herself: "The master hasn't really been angry with me, otherwise I wouldn't be receiving this treatment." Normally, a servant like her requesting an audience with the master would have to announce her arrival before being allowed in.
At this time, Fourth Master had already gotten up and practiced archery in the training ground for a while. He had just returned and was being helped to change his clothes by Su Peisheng.
When a servant came in to announce that it was Cui Niang from the South Courtyard who was requesting an audience, the Fourth Master was startled. Su Peisheng understood and quickly said to the servant, "Go and tell Cui Niang to wait in the main room. The Master will be here soon."
When Fourth Master saw that Su Peisheng had given the order, he stopped talking, but his expression clearly relaxed.
Su Peisheng had been carefully serving her since yesterday. Like Cui Niang, he understood what was going on after a few subtle hints.
When the servant boy came to say that Consort Cui was requesting an audience, it must mean that Consort Niu of the South Courtyard had finally come to her senses and was now trying to curry favor with the Fourth Prince.
This master is truly shrewd and perceptive. He had a tantrum with the master yesterday, and now he wants to come back. Su Peisheng's lips curled into a smile, and he immediately quickened his pace, hurriedly pulling at the back of the Fourth Master's robe.
Fourth Master had been feeling conflicted all night. When he saw Cui Niang come to see him, he probably thought Lan Qin was too embarrassed to come, so she sent her instead. Maybe she was inviting him over for breakfast.
After standing in the main room for a while, Cui Niang saw that Fourth Master was wearing a dark blue brocade robe, with a black blouse with gold thread embroidery on top, trimmed with black fur.
"This servant greets Your Excellency!" Cui Niang quickly greeted him.
"Get up. What brings you here to see me?" The Fourth Master's face remained calm, revealing no emotion.
Cui Niang carefully observed Fourth Master's expression, then glanced at Su Peisheng's expression out of the corner of her eye. Seeing that he gave her a subtle wink, she immediately felt a little suspicious.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, Your Majesty didn't sleep well at all last night. We servants tried to comfort you, and Your Majesty got up well this morning." Cui Niang didn't quite understand the slightly relieved look in Su Peisheng's eyes, and carefully chose her words.
Upon hearing this, Fourth Master was even more convinced that Lanqin had instructed Cui Niang to speak, and that the tone of the words suggested that she was trying to curry favor with him.
Yesterday, Lanqin's words filled the Fourth Prince with anger, shame, and embarrassment, which is why he fled the South Courtyard. Back in the front courtyard, he kept thinking about Lanqin's words. She wasn't wrong; he did indeed suspect the Princess Consort, but he didn't want to expose her true feelings. Now, the Emperor is preparing for war against the Dzungars, and this time he's expected to take them down in one fell swoop, unlike before when he would use force followed by appeasement. Last time Princess Wenxian returned, the Emperor specially bestowed upon her a title, but Wenxian left without staying for the New Year. Therefore, everyone wants to perform well in front of the Emperor at this time, and if he were to punish the Princess Consort now, it would certainly displease him. So, why shouldn't he be conflicted after speaking to Lanqin like that yesterday?
"Understood. Go back and comfort your mistress, tell her to eat well and take good care of the children. I'll go see her when I have time," the Fourth Master finally said. In any case, the Fourth Master felt it was best not to go anywhere for the time being, and to make plans after dealing with this matter.
Cui Niang quickly agreed, and seeing that the Fourth Master's expression had relaxed considerably, she carefully spoke again: "Reporting to Your Highness, Your Highness told me early this morning that you wanted to take the Princess and the Young Master back to the Ling Mansion to see the Master and Madam. I tried to dissuade you a few times, but Your Highness said that it had been a while since you had been back."
Fourth Master remembered that he had promised Lanqin this request before the New Year, so he quickly said, "Su Peisheng, prepare the carriage and send Consort back to her parents' home for a visit. Cui Niang, go and tell your master that she can stay at her parents' home for three days."
When Fourth Master said these words, he was thinking that after he dealt with Madam Yin's matter, he would spend some time with Lanqin and the children at the estate, and then return after the New Year.
Upon hearing the Fourth Master's instructions, Cui Niang immediately curtsied in gratitude, gave Su Peisheng a thankful wink, and then withdrew.
After Lanqin finished packing, she noticed that Cui Niang was nowhere to be seen.
"Bring the two little ones over. I only brought the wet nurse; the maids are off. Nianxue and Xicha can come back with me. Where's Cui Niang?" Lanqin was wearing a light cherry blossom-colored cheongsam today, with a pair of milky white embroidered magpies kicking plum blossoms in silver thread, which suited the occasion quite well.
"This servant will go and help the young masters pack their things." Xi Cha curtsied and left.
"Master, Cui Niang should be in the kitchen preparing your breakfast. I'll go and fetch her right away," Nianxue said, keeping it a secret.
"Don't try to hide it from me. Does it really take this long to check on breakfast? You must have gone to report it, right?" Lanqin asked, frowning, her tone showing no sign of softening.
"Master, Cui Niang has returned," Si Hua hurriedly reported.
When Lanqin saw Cui Niang enter, she greeted her and said, "Master, the carriage is ready. Master said that you can go back and stay for three days. This is a great favor. Let alone going back to visit relatives, it's not something you can just do whenever you want. The fact that you can go back for three days shows that Master understands your filial piety."
Lanqin stared at Cui Niang and sighed, "Ah, actually we should thank you, Cui Niang, right? Never mind, you should hurry up and pack up and come back with me."
Nianxue breathed a sigh of relief and hurried off to help Cui Niang pack her things.
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