Once Li Chenjiao understood, she immediately called out to the outside, "Qiu Hu, Qiu Hu, where are today's pastries?"
The two maids outside immediately exchanged a smile, thinking, "Well, our princess is all better now."
...
Compared to Li Chenjiao's "sudden enlightenment," things are a bit harder to say about the Song family's situation...
After listening to the maid's words, Madam Song's expression changed repeatedly. She remained silent for a long while. After a long time, Madam Song waved her hand lightly, telling all the maids and servants to leave, leaving only the head maid, Liu Xu.
"Princess?" The maid Liu Xu gently pinched Song Shi's shoulder and called out to the absent-minded Song Shi.
Madam Song frowned, then suddenly said, "The child should be born by November, right?"
Liu Xu said, "Yes, Princess is a lucky girl."
Mrs. Song tightened her grip and said dryly, "But what I'm thinking about is... whether this child will have good fortune..."
Liu Xu paused for a moment, then asked in a low voice, somewhat confused, "What does Gege mean?"
Madam Song raised her eyes, her almond-shaped eyes gazing at Liu Xu: "There isn't a concubine in the manor yet... I heard that the Third Master was already preparing to appoint one..."
Liu Xu remained silent for a while. "Third Master got married more than a year earlier than our Fourth Master. Besides, his concubine had already given birth to a son and a daughter before she was granted the title..."
Madam Song said to herself, "I never thought about this before, but... there will only be more and more new people in the future. No matter how good a princess is, she is not as noble as a concubine who is listed on the imperial register."
The concubine is on the imperial register, she's considered a mistress! How can a princess compare?
Liu Xu thought it was impossible and advised, "Princess, Fourth Prince is a man who values rules the most. Now that the Princess Consort is kind and gentle, no one can find fault with her..." Fourth Prince probably has no intention of establishing a concubine now.
Madam Song looked at Liu Xu and sneered, "Treat people kindly? Yes, the two nannies she sent are also kindly treated! And Dan Gui is also kindly treated!"
The willow catkins fell silent.
Madam Song closed her eyes, placed her hand on her abdomen, and her expression softened: "Do you think... Dan Gui can sway the Fujin (Prince's wife)?"
Liu Xu trembled and glared at him, "Princess, what are you saying?"
Madam Song chuckled softly, "I was just joking. Alright, I'm hungry. Do you have any vegetarian soup?"
Liu Xu felt something was wrong, but dared not say more: "Yes, the kitchen has already prepared bird's nest. I will send someone to fetch it from the kitchen."
Song smiled, her gentleness almost unbelievable, yet there was a chilling undercurrent in that gentleness.
The round fan by the window gleamed in the sunlight. When Song looked up and saw it, she suddenly thought of Li.
That person who is so hard to dislike at first sight, a delicate flower like that, I wonder if she can withstand the torment of this backyard for several years.
One year? Two years? Or maybe six months?
Once inside this grand mansion, even the most beautiful and vibrant flowers will wither and fade, losing their luster...
It's such a pity...
Madam Song smiled slowly, gazing at the round fan.
...
When Fourth Master returned in the evening, he was in a pretty good mood. On his way back to the front yard, he suddenly stopped.
"Did Father Emperor bestow upon you a set of sea... um, four seasons screens last year?" the Fourth Prince asked.
Su Peisheng answered yes, but was surprised. That thing wasn't exactly a valuable item, so why did Fourth Master still remember it?
"Send it to the Li family." Upon hearing this, the Fourth Master hummed in agreement, a slight smile playing on his lips.
Su Peisheng hurriedly responded and sent Fulu away, while he himself remained with Fourth Master, but he couldn't help but ponder in his heart.
Fourth Prince has been going to Consort Li's place quite frequently lately. Is this a sign that he's going to be favored for a while?
Li Chenjiao took a look at the item after receiving it and immediately burst out laughing. Good heavens, this is not a Four Seasons Screen, it is clearly a Begonia Screen!
Perhaps Fu Lu made a mistake?
The four scenes appear to have edges and trims made of sandalwood, with bluebird patterns on them. The screens are all decorated with crabapple blossoms, in a rosy color, a reddish-brown, but not a true red. It's a light red that's striking at first glance but not overpowering. And you know what? It's quite beautiful.
The petals of the crabapple tree are embroidered with gold thread at the ends, and silver thread is used to outline the stamens. Hmm, it's beautiful.
Li Chenjiao's eyes lit up: "Put it in, put it over on my dressing table, behind the curtain."
Qiu Ci smiled and agreed, then went out to call Xiao Luzi to come and move it.
Li Chenjiao followed her inside, and the more she looked at it, the more beautiful it became. She touched it and found it felt quite nice.
"Is Fourth Master not coming today?" Li Chenjiao asked as she touched him.
Qiu Hu nodded: "Fu Lu said that Fourth Master has a lot of official business today, so he probably won't be coming."
So they sent a screen?
For some reason, Li Chenjiao felt a surge of joy in her heart, and then she burst out laughing.
Seeing how beautiful the screen was, Li Chenjiao ate an extra bowl of food at dinner, and then she was stuffed.
Walking around the yard to digest her food, Li Chenjiao was still a little too weak to walk today, so she asked Qiu Hu to help her walk around the yard.
"Isn't it just a few days until the Dragon Boat Festival?" Li Chenjiao asked uncertainly.
Qiu Hu thought for a moment and nodded, saying, "There are still ten days or so. Is Princess craving zongzi?"
Li Chenjiao pouted: "I'm not that greedy. I was just wondering if we'd be dining together at the manor."
Qiu Hu wasn't quite sure either: "This servant doesn't know either. It's the first year that the Fujin is in charge of the household, and it's a festival, so I suppose they're going to hold a celebration."
Li Chenjiao said "Oh" and muttered to herself, "I heard the food during the holidays isn't very good, so we should prepare some good food in advance."
Qiu Hu was stunned for a moment. "Gege, can we not talk about food?"
Li Chen chuckled sweetly, then changed the subject, saying, "The fish in the kitchen is quite good."
Qiu Hu sighed helplessly, "Gege, can we not talk about food anymore?"
The two walked around twice when Qiu Ci came out and said that hot water was ready. Li Chenjiao was also a little sleepy, so she went back to take a bath and rest.
"Drive away the oriole, lest it sing on the branch. Its song startles me from my dream..."
Suddenly, a sound was heard. Li Chenjiao raised her eyebrows and turned to look at the wall: "Isn't this something to be recited in the morning? Why recite it at night? It's not like we get up at night."
Qiu Ci couldn't help but laugh, and she was also secretly amused.
Li Chenjiao listened for a while, then turned her head and ignored it: "Is it Bai Jia Shi?"
Both girls agreed.
Li Chenjiao pinched her chin: "Why are you reading this at this time?"
Qiu Ci was quick-witted: "Fu Lu came earlier, perhaps Princess Bai Jia thought that Fourth Master was coming today?"
Li Chenjiao said "Oh" and then yawned: "I'm sleepy. I have to say, this song is quite soothing, it's making me even sleepier."
Qiu Hu helped Li Chenjiao up, saying, "Then Princess should go and take a bath and rest early."
Li Chenjiao smiled and agreed.
...
The next day.
It was a rare rain, a fine and dense downpour, adding a touch of hazy beauty to this vibrant spring day.
But... there are always some people who can't enjoy the beauty of spring, like Bai Jia...
I was summoned to the main courtyard early in the morning and made to kneel outside for half an hour. Yes, the maid was holding an umbrella, but the rainwater on the stone slab had already soaked my shoes and socks.
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