The next day, Fourth Master got up very early. The time for the hunt had already been set. Therefore, all the masters and servants participating in the hunt had to gather at a designated time. Those who were not participating, such as Lanqin, naturally did not need to go and did not need to get up so early. Fourth Master did not make Lanqin get up either.
Lanqin slept until she smelled the aroma of meat before opening her eyes.
"Master, you're awake?" Si Hua asked as soon as she saw Lan Qin was awake.
"Hmm, when did Master leave?" Lanqin asked.
"They left long ago. So many horses and dogs, and servants following the hunt, all so early in the morning. It was truly magnificent. This is the first time I've ever seen such a grand spectacle!" Si Hua and Shui Ling helped Lan Qin put on a qipao. Yesterday, when Consort De saw Lan Qin, she expressed her dissatisfaction with her wearing a Western-style riding outfit.
"Master, what would you like for breakfast? They've started cooking mutton soup outside. I heard the sound of sheep being slaughtered early this morning," Shui Ling said.
“I didn’t hear that,” Lanqin said.
“Master is sleeping so soundly!” Si Hua said.
Once everything was settled, Lanqin left her tent with two maids. Now, the camp was full of women. Lanqin went to Consort De's tent to pay her respects.
"Consort Niu must have slept soundly last night!" Lady Nian walked out from another direction; she too was on her way to pay her respects to Consort De.
Lanqin never argued with people directly, so she didn't want to have a verbal argument with Nian at this moment.
"Did Consort Nian not sleep well last night?" Lanqin asked, feigning ignorance of Consort Nian's meaning. Consort Nian naturally knew that the Fourth Prince had come to Lanqin's place after having dinner with her yesterday.
"This concubine is sleeping soundly!" Lady Nian said, tilting her head back with an expression that showed no sign of wanting to lose.
As they spoke, the two of them, each leading their maids, arrived outside Consort De's tent.
After being informed, the two went inside one after the other.
Consort De's tent was much larger than Lanqin's and the others', and there were many more servants inside.
"Your daughter-in-law greets Mother!" Madam Nian said first, offering a curtsy.
"Daughter-in-law greets Mother!" Lanqin said curtsy.
"Please sit down!" said Consort De. "They've all gone out; only the women remain."
Before long, the women from all over came to pay their respects.
"Alright, you may all disperse! There aren't enough seats here for me," said Consort De.
Lanqin and the others had been waiting for these words, and they all came out immediately. Those who came from other places to pay their respects also followed suit. Because Consort De held the highest rank here, almost all of them came to pay their respects to her.
"Why don't we go horseback riding? There's not much else to do around here besides horseback riding," said Madam Nian to the group. She was an expert horse rider and naturally wanted to show off her skills at this moment.
"How about we have a race? Let's see who can get to that place first?" Nian pointed to a spot ahead.
“Alright, let’s all ride our own horses and see who gets there first!” said Consort Chu.
Lanqin saw everyone agreeing and didn't want to participate, but they had already decided before giving her a chance to object. Lanqin didn't want to participate, but Li Shi also got involved and dragged Lanqin along to choose horses.
"Consort Niu, this dappled horse is quite nice, why don't you go and try it out?" said Lady Li.
“Okay, let’s give it a try!” Lan Qin said, completely unaware of the strange glint in Li’s eyes.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com