Seeing that his wife's face showed too much opposition, the Fourth Prince relaxed his brows. Before he could speak, he heard Su Peisheng's anxious voice outside.
"Please, Fourth Prince's wife, a servant from Princess Wu's courtyard has come to report that Princess Wu is experiencing fetal movement."
Counting the days, it really is around these few days.
Princess Wu did not show up for the Double Ninth Festival a few days ago, and today, on the fifteenth, she sent her maid to the main courtyard to apologize.
Because her due date was approaching, the Fujin (principal wife) didn't make things difficult for her. However, she was worried that if Wu Gege (princess Wu) really came and something went wrong, she would be in a difficult position.
The Fourth Prince paused, then stood up first: "Has the imperial physician been summoned? What did the midwife say? My Ladyship—"
The Fujin also stood up: "This is a crucial time. Let me accompany you to see Consort Wu."
The Fourth Prince nodded and went with his wife to Consort Wu's courtyard.
Li Chenjiao was woken up from her sleep by Qiu Hu. She was two months pregnant, but still had no symptoms.
I sleep very comfortably every day.
Upon hearing Qiu Hu say that Princess Wu was in labor, Li Chenjiao sighed and said, "Help me with my hair and makeup."
She silently prayed that her delivery would not be at night, as it would be unbearable and exhausting just thinking about it.
However, just as Qiu Hu finished tying up her princess's hair, Qiu Ci came in to deliver a message: "The midwife said that Princess Wu's baby is in an abnormal position and it may not be easy for her to get pregnant anytime soon. She said that there is no need to go anywhere."
Childbirth is indeed difficult for women.
Thinking about it tonight, it seems that Princess Wu's pregnancy will be difficult to give birth to.
Li Chenjiao closed her eyes and instructed Qiu Hu to remove her hairpins and jewelry, finally able to get some sleep.
The next day, when Li Chenjiao woke up, she asked a question.
Qiu Hu stayed up all night yesterday, so Qiu Ci answered, "She hasn't been born yet? But the midwife said it'll be soon, probably faster than when Song Gege gave birth to the eldest princess."
"Fourth Master stayed in Consort Wu's courtyard yesterday, while the Fujin returned to the main courtyard first. This morning, Fourth Master had breakfast in Consort Wu's courtyard before leaving the mansion, but he left Su Peisheng and Fulu behind."
Official business cannot be delayed. If Fourth Master doesn't go to the Ministry of Revenue today, it will be Wu Shi who suffers.
Like the three previous wives, she would suffer from many rumors.
However, with Su Peisheng keeping an eye on things, there shouldn't be any major problems.
After listening, Li Chenjiao also started her breakfast. After breakfast, Xiao Luzi came in to report.
"Princess Wu has given birth. It's a healthy prince, weighing six pounds and nine ounces."
Li Chenjiao wasn't surprised. She smiled and said, "Greetings, brother. Greetings, brother."
She was genuinely happy.
However, the wife in the main courtyard wouldn't be in such a good mood.
She stood up and paced back and forth, unusually exasperated: "How could it be the prince? Didn't Lady Wu crave spicy food during her pregnancy? How could it be?"
After muttering to herself, the Fujin thought about it again and quickly gritted her teeth: "It must be a trick by Wu to make me lower my guard. What a clever idea."
This naturally made the wife even more wary.
Moreover, Wu will soon become a secondary consort, at which point she will be able to challenge her even more, and even compete for the power to manage the household.
The more the Fujin thought about it, the angrier she became. At this moment, she wished that a capable person would appear in the mansion to suppress Wu's arrogance.
The princess consort lowered her head and stroked her belly, which was still barely visible: "Please summon the imperial physician."
The princess kept her pregnancy a secret from everyone in the inner quarters.
They were just waiting for Wu's pregnancy to come to fruition.
She's two months pregnant now, and she's not worried about other people in the backyard having designs on her.
The nanny that Mother found arrived soon afterward, and on the Double Ninth Festival, the Princess Consort felt at ease after hearing Mother mention the nanny's surname.
That nanny was Qian, the wet nurse of the Fujin (principal wife). She was the one who raised the Fujin, but in recent years she had returned to her hometown, the Ulanara clan's estate.
In the past, she had kept all the women in her father's backyard in line with her mother-in-law.
After noon, everyone in the mansion learned the news that the Princess Consort was pregnant.
Wu Shi had just woken up and glanced at the eldest prince. She was indeed taken aback when she received the news, and asked, "Did Eunuch Su leave any message when he left?"
This is what Wu Gege is most concerned about right now.
The confidant shook his head, naturally understanding what his princess was thinking.
Princess Wu waved for the wet nurse to take the eldest prince away, as some things naturally had to be said in private.
"It seems that the Princess Consort is anxious because I gave birth to the First Prince, but she is lucky and has also become pregnant. Now it's hard to say what the Fourth Prince's intentions are."
The confidante nodded in agreement: "It's best not to worry during postpartum confinement, so please relax, Your Highness. You've just given birth to the First Prince, the only one in the entire household, so you should be different from others."
Princess Wu remained silent, only closing her eyes wearily.
She was naturally aware of all this, and with the Fujin (princess) currently enjoying her happiness, the household was in dire need of someone to manage things.
Her only regret was that her postpartum period lasted too long.
Otherwise, she would have loved to take control of the family business as soon as possible.
The power to inspect the accounts, once it's in her hands, is difficult for the Fujin (principal wife) to take back; the same applies to the power to manage the household.
——
The first thing the Fourth Prince did after leaving the mansion was to submit a memorial requesting the appointment of a concubine to the Imperial Clan Court.
The Imperial Clan Court has always been the place in charge of the affairs of the imperial clan.
This memorial requesting an official seal will eventually reach His Majesty.
When the Fourth Prince arrived at the Ministry of Revenue, he learned from Su Peisheng that Consort Wu had given birth to the First Prince. His attitude remained unchanged: "Rewards will be given according to the rules for the birth of the First Princess by Consort Song. Construction on the southern courtyard can begin."
In the past, the birth of a princess by the Song family was considered a great reward.
The Fourth Prince was simply treating everyone equally, demonstrating his attitude to the inner court that, in his eyes, princes and princesses were all the same.
Su Peisheng mustered his courage and asked, "What about the East Wing?"
Fourth Master glanced at Su Peisheng, then kicked him: "I think you're getting more and more confused. Li's pregnancy is less than three months along, and you've already alarmed her—"
Su Peisheng hurriedly apologized, realizing that the Fourth Master wasn't truly angry.
Fourth Master did not forget to instruct: "Have someone take good care of the East Courtyard, and do not neglect it."
These days, Fourth Master doesn't spend much time in the backyard.
Now I'm worried that Li might be wronged.
In the evening, Su Peisheng went to the kitchen, and the head of the kitchen was frightened and hurriedly said that he dared not.
They dare to slight Xie Gege, but they would never dare to slight Li Gege.
Moreover, they always bring plenty of money when they come to order food.
And then there's Xiao Luzi, that shrewd and worldly-wise woman. Who would mistreat Li Gege for no reason?
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