There's a saying: why should women make things difficult for each other? But in this harem, not making things difficult for others is making things difficult for oneself. Lanqin, who has been in the harem for decades, understands this principle well. But if she were to constantly pressure others, the harem would be more terrifying than an abyss, and she didn't want that. Besides, Qing'an is no longer a threat to her now. It's better to let her go, as a way of repaying the kindness she has shown her over the years.
Princess Mei was actually a pitiful person. Before marriage, she had no choice in her own destiny, and after marriage, she had even less. Wasn't Qing'an the same? Moreover, there was no such thing as kinship in the palace. The fact that Princess Mei and Qing'an, mother and daughter, could do this much was already quite humane.
The men were openly and secretly fighting in front of the palace, while the women were fighting to the death behind the palace. Lanqin didn't want to see this situation again. While she still had the ability, she should try her best to do something about it.
Lanqin composed herself, straightened her clothes, and was about to bow when she saw the Fourth Prince. However, a glance from him made her stop her gesture. She sat down where he indicated and said slowly, "Your Highness, Lanqin has come to make a request." To plead for the Fifth Prince, Lanqin decided to play the family card. So she didn't call the Fourth Prince "Your Majesty" but addressed him as "Your Highness" as she had always done.
Fourth Master was delighted to see Lanqin address him so gently and virtuously, as if he had returned to the time when they were still in the Prince's Mansion.
"We've been married for so long, just say what's on your mind." When Fourth Master heard Lanqin address him as "Master," he knew she must have something on her mind.
Seeing the Fourth Prince's expression, Lanqin said, "Lanqin has come this time to plead for the Fifth Prince."
Fourth Master was somewhat displeased to see that Lanqin had come for Fifth Master. He assumed that Lanqin had come to show concern for him after all that had happened, so he asked with a hint of jealousy, "How could you not know what crime Fifth Master committed this time? Why are you pleading for him?"
Lanqin comforted the Fourth Prince, "Lanqin is doing this for your own good. The world has only recently returned to peace, and people's hearts are still unsettled. If you were to kill your own flesh and blood again, it would disturb the minds of the people and give those treacherous people an opportunity to take advantage. Besides, the Fifth Prince no longer poses a threat to you, and the Emperor has no need to kill him. If we keep him alive, it will allow those with ulterior motives, and all the people, to see that the Emperor is not cruel to his own brothers, but a tolerant and magnanimous wise ruler."
After hearing Lanqin's words, the Fourth Prince thought to himself that he had been on the throne for almost ten years, and the court was stable; there was indeed no need for further bloodshed. However, he still spoke up, "Do I really need to keep that Fifth Prince alive to prove I am a wise ruler?"
"That's not what I meant!" Lanqin was so frightened that she immediately knelt down.
Seeing this, the Fourth Prince smiled and bowed to help Lanqin up. "Look how frightened you are. We've been husband and wife for so many years, do you think I don't know what you're thinking? As for you, don't be so easily swayed next time."
It turns out that Fourth Master understands everything. That makes sense, since the whole place belongs to him, nothing she does can escape his watchful eye. After being helped up by Fourth Master, Lanqin composed herself. She knew that this would be another sentence that would anger Fourth Master, but Lanqin still thought about it.
"Your Highness, since you've shown mercy, why not send Princess Qing'an back to the Fifth Prince as well?" Lanqin said, her head bowed, not daring to look at the Fourth Prince.
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