This year, no new concubines are needed in the household. The Fujin (principal wife) received the news but did not reveal it to the inner quarters at all. Even when she went to pay her respects on the first day of April, she did not reveal a word of it. Even when Song Shi inquired about the new concubines entering the household, the Fujin only gave vague answers.

However, everyone could still sense that something was amiss.

For example, in previous years, if a new wife entered the mansion, her residence would always be arranged in advance. However, this year, the wife has not made any moves. Although some unimportant courtyards in the mansion have been repaired, there has been no movement from the mansion's staff or the Imperial Household Department.

Even Li Chenjiao noticed it, but by the time she realized it was already mid-April: "Is it possible that no new people have entered our household this year?"

Why is it still so quiet and deserted even though it's already April?

In previous years, it would have been bustling with activity by now.

Qiu Hu guessed, "His Majesty has been holding the special imperial examinations lately, so I'm afraid he hasn't had time to review the candidates yet?"

In comparison, Lin Mama's information was indeed more up-to-date: "This servant heard that the Eighth Prince's new bride entered the manor a few days ago. I heard that she was personally selected by Consort Hui as one of the two most outstanding-looking girls in this year's imperial concubine selection."

Huh? The newlyweds at Eighth Prince's residence have already entered the mansion.

Does that mean... there really aren't any new brides entering the Fourth Prince's household this year?

This is truly a rare occurrence.

However, Li Chenjiao couldn't discern anything from the Fourth Prince, nor did she know whether it was the Emperor's intention, the Fourth Prince's own intention, or the Empress's intention.

However, this was indeed something that Li Chenjiao was happy to see happen. After all, every time a new person entered the manor, it always took some time to understand their temperament.

Now, Miss Lu has been in the manor for more than half a year, but it seems that she has disappeared from the manor. Apart from paying respects on the first and fifteenth of each month, there is no sign of Miss Lu at other times.

The only news I heard about Miss Lu was when I went to the main courtyard to pay my respects at the beginning of this month. While everyone was asking about the new bride entering the mansion, Miss Lu suddenly stood up and said that the mansion master had withheld her monthly allowance.

She wasn't afraid of offending the servants below and having them continue to deduct her monthly allowance; after all, Miss Lu was beaming when she came out of the main courtyard.

In addition to the eldest and second princesses, the third prince has now joined the school in the front courtyard, since the third prince's cold is bound to get worse indefinitely.

Li Chenjiao would occasionally receive cakes and pastries from Niohuru. It must be said that Niohuru was indeed ingenious and skillful; she could make all sorts of seasonal items into exquisite creations.

Even Li Chenjiao, who is known for her love of food, had to praise her.

She didn't accept gifts for nothing. Whenever she received food from the Niohuru clan, she would have the small kitchen prepare some fresh food and send it to the Niohuru clan the next day.

However, Niohuru rarely showed herself to Li Chenjiao's East Courtyard. Most of the time, she would have her maids bring food to her early in the morning or before evening.

I don't know if it was to avoid suspicion or something else.

Over time, their relationship became closer than with other people in the household.

That's why Niohuru was so thoughtful. She didn't just send food to Li Chenjiao alone; she also thought of the Second Princess and the Fourth Prince, and sent food that the children could eat.

However, given the precedent of the Second Prince's affair with the First Consort, every time Lady Niohuru sent someone to deliver something, she would personally taste a portion to reassure Li Chenjiao.

Li Chenjiao never stopped her.

No new brides have entered the two mansions yet, so this tranquility has come rather suddenly.

...

The manor was quiet now, much quieter than other backyards, but outside, things were far from peaceful.

The imperial examinations in April proceeded very smoothly, but many problems arose not only in the provinces but also in the capital.

At the beginning of the month, a case of robbery by the Red Miao occurred in Huguang. His Majesty ordered people to investigate, and it was eventually discovered that Governor-General Guo Xiu and his subordinate admirals had concealed the case. In the end, they were all dismissed from their posts.

Just a few years ago, Guo Xiu was a favorite of the Emperor... but in just a few years, everything has changed...

At the end of April, Li Guangdi was appointed Minister of Personnel, while retaining his position as Governor of Zhili. This was one of the few things in April worth celebrating.

When the Fourth Prince was studying at Wuyizhai, he was taught by Grand Secretaries Zhang Ying and Li Guangdi.

Zhang Ying has now retired, but Li Guangdi is still working diligently in the court, which is quite remarkable.

However, none of this concerns the Crown Prince, who is still under house arrest and cannot be visited by outsiders.

The Crown Prince doesn't do much every day, but lately he's taken to fishing. He's almost fished the whole pond behind Yuqing Palace dry.

The young master spends his days fishing, living a very leisurely life.

"It's almost May, isn't it?" the Crown Prince asked, gazing at the water.

No one answered.

Oh, he was worried that too many people around him would disturb the fish, so he deliberately didn't have anyone follow him.

The Crown Prince gazed at the shimmering water, the bright sun making the back of his neck burn: "It's May already, and trouble is brewing again..."

He's one day closer to being deposed as the crown prince.

There are still several years to go, but in this life, the timing may be earlier or slightly different, and no one knows when he, the crown prince, will be deposed.

Suddenly, ripples appeared on the water's surface. The Crown Prince's eyes lit up, and a smile appeared on his refined face: "Alright, the fish has taken the bait."

At the end of April, it was the Second Prince's birthday again. However, the Second Prince's health was fluctuating. Fearing that too much excitement would upset him, the Princess Consort ultimately chose to celebrate in a low-key manner, setting up only one table in the Qingyuan Courtyard of the mansion.

However, the Second Prince himself did not make an appearance.

April is warm, but there are still occasional days when it rains non-stop, like the first day of May when it rained heavily.

With the Dragon Boat Festival approaching and it also being the Second Princess's birthday, it's customary to have a lively celebration.

But the day before the Dragon Boat Festival, Prince Yu, Fuquan, suddenly fell ill and never recovered.

Even the imperial procession was alarmed.

Members of the imperial family, princes, and ministers naturally couldn't help but visit him in the rain, and His Majesty even ordered his chief eunuch, Liang Jiugong, to personally visit him every day.

Many of the imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital even moved into the hospital itself.

For several days in a row, it was difficult to see a smile on His Majesty's face.

Unfortunately, at this critical juncture, someone accused the Crown Prince of Yuqing Palace of misconduct.