"By the way, Madam Wu just gave birth, so no one in the manor is allowed to disturb her these days. Tell her to rest and recover in peace," Fourth Master instructed Su Peisheng.
Su Peisheng kicked Fulu in exasperation, then quickly replied, "Yes, this servant will go and inform everyone in the mansion."
The Fourth Prince hummed in satisfaction and walked towards the East Courtyard with his hands behind his back.
When Fourth Master arrived at the East Courtyard, Li Chenjiao was taking a nap in a rocking chair, and Shizi at her feet seemed to have been fast asleep for a long time.
It's quite remarkable that Li Chenjiao has the leisure to do this amidst the noise and commotion outside.
Fourth Master noticed that Li Chenjiao was wearing a moon-white cheongsam today, with the begonia and spring water patterns on the dress only faintly visible.
"Why are you dressed so plainly?" Fourth Master asked as he approached. His tone was not very friendly, clearly indicating that he felt the sewing room had mistreated Li Chenjiao.
Li Chenjiao was startled by the Fourth Master's voice. She sat up and straightened her neck slightly, the pearls and jade in her hair swaying slightly: "Master, feel this. This material feels very comfortable."
Fourth Master lowered his head and touched Li Chenjiao's hand as she said, but didn't say anything more. He simply wrapped Li Chenjiao's hand in his palm as she circled his fingers.
Qiu Hu and the others who were standing by quickly lowered their heads.
Li Chenjiao was stunned for a moment, but followed Fourth Master's hand and went into the room with him.
Step by step, Li Chenjiao sat down beside Fourth Master with a charming smile, and seeing that no one was in the room, she personally poured tea for him.
Fourth Master watched Li Chenjiao pour tea and suddenly asked, "How have you been these days? Are you feeling alright?"
Fourth Master hasn't been to the East Courtyard much these days, and he seems a bit distant now.
Or perhaps the Fourth Prince vaguely realized that although he had been busy these days, he still made time to visit Madam Wu, and that he had indeed neglected Madam Li.
Li Chenjiao handed over the tea first, and as she leaned over, she turned her head to look at the person: "Everything is fine here, except for Shizi. These days, he always wants to run out of the courtyard gate, as if he is waiting for someone. Even when it is dark, Dongsheng has to coax the little guy for a long time to come in."
It has a hidden meaning.
Fourth Master lowered his head and took a small sip of tea. After drinking it, there was no sound beside him.
The Fourth Prince turned his head to look, but after a glance, he couldn't look away: "Why are you crying?"
Fourth Master raised his hand and wiped away the tears welling up at the corners of Li Chenjiao's eyes.
Li Chenjiao raised her hand to take Fourth Master's broad hand, suppressing her sobs: "It's just that this servant hasn't seen Fourth Master for a long time and misses him a bit. Since you've drunk this servant's tea today, you must repay me."
Fourth Master pursed his lips and remained silent for a moment, then seemed to sigh.
"How about I return your concubine to you, Concubine Li?"
The Fourth Prince was indeed busy, but he was even busier with the matter of requesting a title. The fact that the princess had no children could not be kept secret from the Imperial Clan Court. Fortunately, Lady Li had already become pregnant.
However, when the memorial reached the Emperor, he couldn't let the Emperor think that Lady Li had used her beauty to get him to write the memorial requesting an official title. Therefore, the Empress Dowager needed to intervene and exert her influence.
Fourth Master was genuinely satisfied with Lady Li.
With a glint of water in her dark eyes, Li Chenjiao admitted that her previous tears were fake, but she was genuinely confused by Fourth Master's words.
Although Li Chenjiao had some guesses based on the situation in the backyard, she still didn't expect this day to come so soon.
She was actually prepared to be asked to retire after giving birth to this child.
It's not guaranteed that someone will be granted a title after giving birth to children. For example, the Third Master had many children in his harem, but only one of them, Lady Zhaojia, was granted the title of Consort early on.
Whether or not one can be granted a title ultimately depends on the will of their masters.
As for the unrest in the backyard these days, Li Chenjiao didn't care.
The eldest prince was indeed the first prince in the household, but did giving birth to a prince guarantee becoming a concubine? Wu was thinking too simply.
However, Li Chenjiao was still a little confused at this moment: "Master, please, please don't tease this servant for amusement."
Fourth Master lowered his head and took another sip of tea: "When have I ever joked with you?"
"The memorial requesting the bestowal of titles has already been submitted. We should have news in a few days. When the time comes, the Emperor will send Wen Ke to Khorchin. The Emperor will have the Imperial Clan Court hold off on the memorial for now, and we'll discuss the matter of learning etiquette when the Emperor returns. The Imperial Household Department will begin working on the secondary consort's attire in the coming days."
Fourth Master made excellent arrangements.
Li Chenjiao responded blankly, and after a while she lay back on the couch: "Then this servant will rest in peace."
The concubine is indeed a good person; in the future, the child in her womb will also have her as its mother to protect it.
Even when the Fourth Master is not in the mansion, her words will carry some weight.
In the future, I might be able to have more contact with my family during holidays.
"Can a concubine also have a small kitchen?" Li Chenjiao suddenly straightened up and asked.
When Fourth Master came in, he glanced at Li Chenjiao. Her complexion was very rosy, and there was no sign of pregnancy symptoms on her at all.
The Fourth Prince pondered that perhaps it was because the little princess was good at thinking about food and wouldn't let herself go hungry.
The Fourth Master on both sides still responded with a simple "hmm".
Li Chenjiao blinked and lay back down. She really didn't have any reaction after she became pregnant. Apart from not having her period, Li Chenjiao was starting to doubt whether she was really pregnant.
However, being invited by the Fourth Prince to be made a concubine was truly like a dream.
Li Chenjiao felt that Fourth Master's choice was probably due to a combination of personal and public desires.
It's just unclear how much of that was for personal reasons.
That night, Fourth Master finally rested in the side room.
It was a time when her blood and energy were at their peak, and given that Li Chenjiao's pregnancy was less than three months along, it was even more critical.
Fourth Master knew he wasn't a fool, but he was still afraid that he might accidentally hurt Li Chenjiao if they fell asleep in the same bed.
The autumn heat in September was intense, but Li Chenjiao was quite comfortable without Fourth Master. She even complained that it was too hot to sleep with Fourth Master.
However, when Li Chenjiao woke up the next day, she heard Qiu Hu say that the Fourth Master in the side room had laughed out loud when he asked someone to call for water the night before.
The Fourth Prince left the capital on September 20th. Princess Wenke's wedding sedan chair and ceremonial procession were very grand, and her dowry chests were countless.
The Crown Prince looked out from the imperial city, concealing the mockery in his eyes.
Looking at the magnificent palace, who could have imagined that a few years later Wen Ke would die in childbirth, becoming the first princess of the Qing Dynasty to die in childbirth? This also became the reason for the Emperor to declare war.
Since leaving the palace, the Thirteenth Prince had been suppressing his sobs. He personally sent his younger sister to the den of tigers and wolves in Khorchin, and a few years later he would send another younger sister.
How tragic.
The Fourth Prince remained silent on the way, his mind replaying the conversation he had with the Prince Zhi when the eldest princess turned one year old.
The Fourth Prince did not approve of this approach of appeasing the Mongols and establishing marriage alliances.
The Fourth Prince thought of the unborn child in the wombs of his wife and Lady Li.
A rare look of bewilderment appeared in Fourth Master's eyes.
He should probably do something.
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