The main courtyard of the Fourth Prince's residence

As Yi Hua was putting on her makeup with her eyes closed, Chen Mama came to report: "Madam, Consort Song and Consort Li have arrived."

After her confinement period ended, she could no longer slack off, so Yihua resumed the concubines' monthly greetings on the first and fifteenth of each month.

As always, Consort Li was dressed in a glamorous manner, and the clothes and jewelry were not things that should be included in the allowance for a consort; they were obviously gifts from Yinzhen.

In contrast, Song Gege was much more low-key. She mostly wore plain-colored clothes and sat with her head down, not speaking unless asked directly.

Yi Hua was already familiar with how to get along with these two. Besides them, Yin Zhen also had several maids sent by his servants. These people were not qualified to come and pay their respects, and Yi Hua always treated them as if they didn't exist.

"It seems the imperial physician was summoned yesterday. Is anyone here sick?" Yi Hua asked.

Yesterday, Yinzhen, unusually, remembered to visit Lady Song, but judging from the sounds coming from the palace physician, it seemed that Lady Li was trying to steal his thunder again.

Aside from those concubines, Li dared not use any tricks on Yihua, but Song suffered the consequences.

The original owner wished she could never get involved in the feuds between the two princesses. After Yi Hua arrived, she focused on her postpartum confinement and didn't discipline her. As a result, Li Shi became increasingly arrogant, and she managed to steal Song Shi's things eight out of ten times.

Madam Li touched her stomach and smiled, "Yesterday, I suddenly had unbearable abdominal pain. The servants were ignorant and went to Sister Song's place, which alarmed the master. Fortunately, the family physician examined me and said it was just a bit of a cold, nothing serious."

"Since it was the servants who were ignorant, have you punished them?" Yi Hua asked.

"..." Madam Li was silent for a moment, "Naturally, I fined her three months' wages."

"Since you've already punished them, I won't say anything more this time. I was in confinement before and didn't have the energy, but I'm much better now. If any of you sisters are feeling unwell or have any shortages, just let me know. If I can't make a decision, I'll report it to the master. And anyone who disturbs the master's rest with matters big or small, like yesterday, will receive thirty strokes of the cane, no matter who it is." Yi Hua set the rules. As the Fujin (principal wife), she was naturally their superior, and reporting to someone above her level was a major taboo in the workplace.

"Yu Xiao, pick out a few bolts of brightly colored fabric from the storeroom and take them to Song Gege. Spring is here, make her a few more outfits. Not to mention the master, I'll be happy to see them too." He was both giving one a nudge and comforting the other, as long as the two of them didn't stick together.

Song Gege didn't seem to like it much either, and after thanking the emperor according to custom, she didn't say much more.

Li gritted her teeth and led the reprimand, her hand involuntarily stroking her belly. As long as this baby was a boy, what could the Fujin do?

***

Time always flies when you're raising a child.

Honghui is now six or seven months old and doesn't like lying in his crib anymore. As soon as he opens his eyes, he wants to stand up while holding onto something nearby. He sometimes lets go and falls on his bottom without crying, just making "uh-uh" noises.

In the Qing Dynasty, young masters sometimes drank human milk until adulthood. Yi Hua did not like this way of eating, so she prepared egg custard and fruit puree for Hong Hui early on, feeding him little by little every day, hoping to wean him off breast milk by the time he turned one.

Ever since Honghui had eaten the steamed egg custard and fruit, he would stare longingly at them every day. When Yihua brought out his little plate, he would clap his hands happily and shout "Ah ah!" before eating it all up, as if he wanted to stick his head out and lick it clean.

The wet nurse and Granny Chen both disagreed with Yihua's feeding method. In their view, human milk was the most nutritious food, and only nobles could afford to drink it until adulthood. However, the easy-going Yihua insisted on this matter, and seeing that the young mistress liked it, they didn't say anything more.

Someone went to report to Yinzhen, and after thinking about Honghui's plump and adorable appearance, Yinzhen finally acquiesced to Yihua's actions.

That afternoon, Yi-hua teased Hong-hui as usual, helping him practice walking.

"Madam, Consort Li has fallen and is bleeding immediately. Please go and see her!" Hongmei, a second-class maid, suddenly rushed in in a panic.

Upon hearing this, Yi Hua gestured for the wet nurse to take Hong Hui away, then stood up and put on her cloak: "What happened?"

Hongmei helped her walk towards the east courtyard: "When the imperial physician examined Consort Li's pulse before, he said that she was overnourished. Since then, Consort Li has been going to the garden for a walk every afternoon. Master is rarely in the mansion at this time. You have been taking care of the young master in the main courtyard. Since Consort Song learned about Consort Li's habit, she has not gone to the garden once."

"Who would have thought that Princess Li would slip and fall today? The gatekeeper rushed to find the midwife, but the doctor said the prognosis was grim."

On the way, Yihua learned the cause and effect of the matter. She ordered someone to invite Yinzhen back and sent someone to the palace to invite the imperial physician to take care of things.

East Wing Maternity Ward.

Yi Hua went into the inner room and glanced at Li Shi. She was lying on the bed with her hands and feet held down by the nanny. Painful groans came out of Li Shi's mouth intermittently, and her hair was wet and stuck to her ears.

The midwife frantically touched Li's belly, catching basins of bloody fluid; it looked dangerous.

Yi Hua calculated in her mind that Li Shi was almost eight months pregnant. "Seven months pregnant, eight months pregnant," the old saying still holds some truth.

Although she knew from the past that Li had given birth to a prince and died shortly afterward, only by experiencing it firsthand could she truly appreciate the danger conveyed in those few words in the historical records.

When the midwife saw Yihua, she felt reassured and said anxiously, "Madam, Princess Li's water has broken, but the baby is not showing. If this continues, her life may be in danger."

"Adult or child?"

"Both are available; please make a decision as soon as possible, Your Highness."

"Pour the ginseng soup down her throat and let Li Shi hold on a little longer. The master will be back to see her soon." Although Yi Hua is the Fujin (principal wife), she has no right to make decisions. Everything here has to wait for Yinzhen to return before it can be decided.

The midwife continued to massage Li's belly, trying to help the baby be delivered smoothly.

Yi Hua came out of the inner room and suddenly remembered the eldest princess: "Granny Chen, you go and carry the eldest princess to keep Hong Hui company. Li Shi must not reveal a single word to the eldest princess."

"yes."

Li almost lost both her children in one pregnancy. If anything had happened to the eldest princess, Yihua would have been willing to commit suicide.

Fortunately, Li had a strong will to live, and with the help of medication, she regained consciousness.

Yi Hua sat outside, listening to Li Shi's increasingly faint voice, and her heart involuntarily clenched.

Given Li's current situation, what will Yinzhen think? Will he feel that he, as the Fujin (princess), cannot tolerate a princess with a child?

Yinzhen was not busy today. Upon receiving Yihua's message, he immediately led the imperial physician back to the mansion. Just as Li was giving birth, the imperial physician went in and came out carrying the baby.

"Congratulations, Fourth Prince! Congratulations, Fourth Princess Consort! The princess has given birth safely, and both mother and child are safe." The midwife followed behind the imperial physician, constantly wiping the sweat from her forehead.

Yi Hua peeked out slightly and saw the baby in the swaddling clothes.

With just one glance, Yi Hua felt a chill run down her spine.