The phrase "Li Chenjiao is safe and sound" is used very cleverly.

Fourth Master noticed Li Chenjiao's expression and followed up, "How did you know?"

Li Chenjiao smiled and said, "If something really happened, Fourth Master would probably still be in the palace right now. Let me guess, has His Majesty not blamed you? Nor has he ordered a thorough investigation? Your Majesty, am I right?"

Fourth Master knew Li Chenjiao was clever, but he didn't expect her to guess so accurately. He paused for a moment and asked, "Why did you guess that?"

Li Chenjiao first glanced at the Fourth Master very cautiously, biting her lip, "This servant dares not say."

Fourth Master could tell at a glance that Li Chenjiao was faking it, and he found it quite amusing: "You just said that it was just you and me here."

Li Chenjiao then spoke up: "This servant just feels that the ceremony of personally plowing the fields cannot be cancelled, otherwise it will ultimately damage His Majesty's reputation. The matter can only be left unresolved. It is not necessarily about protecting either side, but the other side will naturally think that it is about protecting one side. In the end, someone will naturally slip up."

In fact, Li Chenjiao had an even bolder idea in her mind.

With the Crown Prince out of power, the most capable person right now is naturally Prince Zhi.

Emperor Kangxi's lighthearted dismissal made Li Chenjiao think of a chilling scenario.

The existence of Prince Zhi can keep the Crown Prince in check, while the rightful Crown Prince will also cause Prince Zhi to keep causing trouble.

Perhaps Emperor Kangxi didn't favor anyone? Or perhaps he simply wanted to rule alone for all time?

After thinking for a moment, Li Chenjiao still spoke up: "His Majesty's illustrious name will be remembered for all time, and he will surely make his own decision. What I said just now was just nonsense."

If His Majesty is truly like that, then anyone who shows a desire to seize the throne might be remembered by His Majesty.

Li Chenjiao didn't want Fourth Master to get involved.

Li Chenjiao really didn't know what the Fourth Master was thinking.

Fourth Master lowered his head and ate the lotus seed and lily soup, as if he was pondering: "I'll go stay at the estate for a while in a few days."

Li Chenjiao was overjoyed: "Isn't Master going to Mount Wutai next month?"

Fourth Master looked at her: "Don't you want to go?"

Li Chenjiao nodded vigorously: "I'll think about it."

After finishing half a bowl of lotus seed and lily soup, Fourth Master said, "You don't need to go to Wutai Mountain. You can just stay at the manor."

Li Chenjiao asked another question: "How long can you stay?" Then, as if she felt it was inappropriate, she added: "That way, this servant can be prepared."

The Fourth Prince didn't know either; he had to see if his father, the Emperor, would take him on this southern tour.

If the Fourth Prince were to accompany the emperor on his southern tour, he would naturally take Li Chenjiao with him.

"It won't be a month."

Li Chenjiao was quite satisfied.

The Fourth Prince did not have dinner in the East Courtyard, but in the Main Courtyard, presumably to discuss with his wife the possibility of staying at the estate for a while.

Inside the main courtyard.

This was one of the rare occasions when the Fourth Prince didn't come to the main courtyard for dinner on the first or fifteenth of the month.

The princess had received the news in advance. When she bowed, she slightly raised her fair and smooth shoulders and neck. Her demeanor was elegant, and her tone was unusually gentle.

"Dinner is ready, we're just waiting for Fourth Master."

The Fourth Master sat down and didn't say much during the meal. After dinner, he got straight to the point.

"In a few days, the master plans to take the women of the household to stay at the imperial estate in the suburbs of Beijing for a while."

The smile on the princess's face froze instantly.

She rarely dressed up, and she genuinely believed that the Fourth Master had come specifically for dinner.

The Fujin forced a smile: "That sounds wonderful. It'll be perfect for the ladies in the back courtyard to have some fun in the spring. But right now, Consort Wu is pregnant, and Consort Song has to take care of the eldest princess, so there won't be many people from the manor who can go to the estate with her."

The Fourth Prince's eyes turned slightly cold: "Aren't there still Consort Li and Madam Xu? Consort Wu is three months pregnant this time, and the imperial physician also said that it would be more beneficial for her to move around more. I think it is very suitable."

A noticeable crack finally appeared on the Fujin's dignified face. At this moment, it would be unwise for her not to obey the Fourth Prince.

“What you say is true, then Princess Li, Princess Wu, and Madam Xu will go to the estate together. I will tell them to make preparations in advance tomorrow.”

The Fourth Prince was satisfied: "Would the Princess Consort also like to go to the estate to relax?"

The princess hesitated for a second, then shook her head, her voice light and relaxed: "There are still many matters to attend to in the manor, so I will not go with you."

The Fujin was indeed tempted, but then she realized that if she went with her, only Song Gege would be left in the mansion.

The Princess Consort could not allow Lady Song to run rampant in the mansion.

As if he had already anticipated that his wife would say this, the Fourth Prince simply nodded slightly: "Then I will trouble you with the affairs of the manor."

The smile on the princess's face remained unchanged.

Fourth Master did stay overnight in the main courtyard, but it was just a simple overnight stay.

As the Fourth Prince lay on his bed, his mind was still replaying everything from the ceremony of personally plowing the fields that day, as well as the letter that the Crown Prince had sent a few days ago.

Did the Crown Prince foresee this? Then why didn't he take precautions in advance?

When the Fourth Prince was lost in thought, he instinctively raised his wrist to restrain his wife when she reached out her hand to his shoulder.

The princess instinctively cried out in pain.

The Fourth Prince came to his senses and released his hand: "You must be tired from today's ploughing ceremony. Your Highness should rest early."

The princess consort awkwardly withdrew her hand, her face alternating between pale and red.

The princess consort was never in a hurry before, but with the Song and Wu families in the mansion becoming pregnant one after the other, she had no choice but to panic.

She and the Fourth Prince had been married for a year.

Although Consort De didn't say much each time she entered the palace, she would always inquire about the eldest princess's recent situation.

This made the princess consort anxious.

However, after the Fourth Prince's warning, the Princess Consort dared not harm Princess Wu's pregnancy again, at least not this time.

The princess could only pray in secret that Wu Gege's next pregnancy would result in a princess.

Because she knew Consort De's temper all too well, as long as Consort Wu's child was a prince, Consort De would definitely ask the Fourth Prince to grant her the title of Consort.

Then Princess Wu could then more legitimately interfere in many matters within the household.

The Princess Consort absolutely did not want to see such a scene unfold.

That's why the Princess Consort took the initiative today, but the Fourth Prince obviously didn't want to.

The princess slowly closed her eyes, and a single tear fell onto her pillow.

——

The date for our short stay at the estate was set for the first day of the third month.

Li Chenjiao naturally only began packing her things after the main wife of the prince had sent someone to inform her.

Of course, there are other matters to be instructed.

Things like persimmons and frozen pears are naturally inconvenient to bring, so it's good to leave them with Dongsheng to look after the courtyard when Li Chenjiao is not at home.

Dongsheng solemnly agreed.

As for Song Gege, she was the only one in the entire mansion who was left behind.

Upon receiving the news, Song Gege was so angry that she tore two handkerchiefs apart, and she knew very well where the source was.

"How could I have given birth to such a mother-harming creature?"