Jiayin couldn't help but look towards the door. After thinking for a moment, she replied, "I'll send someone to the princess's residence tonight to ask. If the Third Princess is willing to come out, I'll let you know."
“Okay!” Baozhu nodded quickly, lowering her voice even further as she whispered, “On the wedding day, I noticed that Prince Lu’s expression wasn’t good. Did he not like Princess Sister, or did they have a fight?”
Jiayin patted her head and sighed inwardly.
Baozhu is kind-hearted and has clear eyes, which makes her more able to see the true nature of things.
Jiayin didn't know how to explain, so she could only instruct, "Don't say these words again, and don't say them to anyone."
Baozhu nodded quickly and earnestly assured, "I haven't even told my mother, I only dared to ask you."
Just then, Madam Jia Er was worried that her daughter would have a stomachache from eating too much ice cream, so she turned around to give her some advice. Upon hearing this, she laughed and said, "What are you two girls talking about? Are you trying to hide it from me?"
Baozhu shrank her neck, and Jiayin said, "It's nothing. I brought some extra lychees from home this morning, and I was just about to take Baozhu to get some."
Madam Jia didn't suspect anything because her daughter was greedy, and said, "Lychees are too precious. It's enough for the princess to give Baozhu a little to enjoy the fresh ones. This girl is too greedy; don't waste such good things."
Jiayin nodded, then said something to everyone, and took Baozhu's hand and went out.
Everyone watched the two sisters' retreating figures with joy.
Madam Jia said, “My Baozhu is so lucky to have met such a good sister as the princess. Many times when I speak, she doesn’t listen, but she remembers everything the princess says clearly.”
"The princess is still young, what profound principles does she know? As long as you're not afraid she'll corrupt Baozhu!" Tao Hongying replied with a smile, and then thanked everyone at the end.
"We have been away from home for some time, so we have troubled you all to take care of the princess."
Everyone quickly waved their hands, unwilling to take credit.
Madam Liu said, "The princess is very intelligent and reasonable. We often rely on her for care, but we dare not say that we have taken care of the princess."
"Yes, at first we were worried that the princess would be wronged, but later we found that the princess is quite capable. She gets along well with the third princess, and even the emperor often praises her." Madam Jia Er sighed, "Even when someone makes things difficult for her, she fights back without hesitation and even protects our Baozhu!"
"Really? What makes you say that? The child didn't tell us anything." Old Mrs. Li was surprised and quickly pressed for an answer.
The crowd then recounted the story of the Imperial Concubine's summer banquet and Jiayin's poem that humiliated the young lady.
Needless to say, laughter filled the room again...
The palace was bustling with activity today because the Third Princess was returning to her parents' home.
When the sun was high in the sky, the Third Princess and Prince Lu arrived at the palace gate in the princess's carriage.
A young eunuch had already rushed in to report the news.
The Third Princess and Prince Lu slowly walked towards the Imperial Study, with Eunuch Feng leading a young eunuch behind them to serve them.
Upon arriving at the Imperial Study, the young couple knelt down and kowtowed, which moved the Emperor deeply. He personally helped them up and then carefully examined his daughter's complexion.
The third princess looked the same as before she got married, only slightly haggard.
The Emperor assumed that his daughter had simply hadn't slept well because she was suddenly moved to the Princess's residence and was unfamiliar with the new bed.
But when he looked at his son-in-law again, he was startled.
The once refined and handsome scholar now appeared as if he had been ravaged by a storm; his face was pale, his eyes were dark, and he seemed dazed, as if half of his soul had left his body…
The emperor immediately connected this to his own experience, guessing that his daughter and son-in-law might have been poisoned because they were young and inexperienced.
So, his first words were, "Summon the imperial physician!"
The third princess looked at her father and asked with concern, "Father, are you feeling unwell?"
The Emperor waved his hand and casually replied, "No, it's customary to have the princess's pulse checked when she returns home for her wedding."
The third princess's eyes flashed, but she said nothing.
Lu Zong, on the other hand, seemed somewhat agitated.
At this moment, the Crown Prince also rushed over upon hearing the news, and a round of greetings and pleasantries ensued.
He wasn't stupid, and he naturally noticed that something was wrong with Lu Zong's appearance.
Fortunately, the imperial physician arrived quickly.
After examining the princess through observation, listening, questioning, and palpation, the imperial physician secretly grumbled a few times in his heart, but when reporting to the emperor, he said, "Your Majesty, the princess is well, but she has trouble sleeping. I will prescribe a calming medicinal diet, and she will be fine after taking it two or three times. As for the prince consort... the same applies; he can take the medicinal diet with him."
The Emperor and the Crown Prince exchanged a glance, said nothing, and gestured for the imperial physician to leave.
The Third Princess smiled and said, "Father, don't worry, I'm fine. I'm just not used to the food and lodging yet, but I'll be fine in a few days."
The Emperor immediately replied, “Even if you get married, the palace will still be your home. Take away the cooks you’re used to and the things you’re used to, as long as you like them. The Crown Prince isn’t a stingy brother, and he won’t hold it against you.”
The Crown Prince chuckled, "Yes, sister. If you don't like these things either, just tell me, and I'll have someone find you better ones."
The Third Princess quickly expressed her gratitude, "Thank you, Father and Crown Prince. I'm eating and drinking well. It's just that I'm not used to being away from the palace all of a sudden, but I'll get used to it after a while. Besides, I still have my husband! He's been taking such good care of me these past few days."
The Emperor nodded, looking pleased.
"I wasn't wrong about you. Your husband is a few years older than you and is much more mature."
Lu Zong, his face stiff, forced a smile and replied, "This is what I should do."
After a few slightly awkward words, the family of four began their lunch.
The lunch table was mostly filled with dishes that the Third Princess liked, so the atmosphere was quite harmonious.
After the table was cleared away, the Third Princess suggested going to Kunning Palace to pay her respects.
The Emperor didn't stop him, since the news of the Empress's death was to be announced that night, and it wouldn't matter if the Prince Consort knew a little earlier.
The young couple went out, and the imperial physician who had been taken away earlier reappeared.
This time, he couldn't be fooled.
The Emperor asked, "To be honest, how are the princess and her husband feeling? They don't look well to me!"
The imperial physician glanced at the crown prince and said with a forced smile, "Your Majesty, rest assured, the princess is indeed fine. It's the consort... the consort has been indulging in excessive sexual activity, depleting his vital essence. I will prescribe a medicine for him to take for half a month. Hmm, with a little more restraint, he will recover quickly."
The Emperor coughed lightly, somewhat embarrassed, and knew better than to ask any more questions.
After all, it's a private matter between the daughter and son-in-law in bed.
The crown prince quickly changed the subject, asking for a pulse reading himself.
Inside Kunning Palace, the Third Princess knelt before the altar, burning paper offerings one by one, her expression neither sad nor happy.
Lu Zong knelt to one side and sneered, saying in a low voice, "Everyone says that the princess is straightforward and domineering, and has no guile whatsoever. But they don't know that the princess is also the most ruthless one."
"Ignoring her deceased mother, she doesn't hold a funeral or observe mourning, but instead rushes to marry herself off. She even goes out every night... just to have a child as soon as possible and consolidate her power. What a cunning scheme!"
The princess didn't even glance at him, replying indifferently, "Isn't the Crown Prince the same? Outsiders say he's upright and honorable, but in reality, isn't he just a petty person who only knows how to use underhanded tricks, wanting to take advantage without being willing to pay the price!"
Two updates today!
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