really.
The people in the backyard might indeed shed a few tears, feigning concern for Xie's passing.
But after shedding their tears, everyone could still calmly calculate and plot for a more favorable outcome for themselves.
Xie is indeed dead.
However, Lady Xie left behind a healthy young prince.
Moreover, Lady Xie was not favored by the Fourth Prince during her lifetime, and the birth of the Third Prince was also an accident.
If someone could raise the Third Prince, not only would they have someone to rely on, but they also wouldn't have to worry about their adopted son being recognized again, and they could leave a good reputation for virtue in front of the Fourth Prince. Who wouldn't be tempted?
Even Granny Qian from the main courtyard advised the Fujin to propose the idea of adopting the Third Prince to the Fourth Prince as soon as possible.
Otherwise, if the Fourth Prince were to hand over the Third Prince to Lady Li, Lady Wu, or Lady Song in the end, it would not be of any benefit to the Fujin (Prince Consort).
However, the Fourth Prince did not seem to be in a hurry to make these arrangements. The next day, he simply had someone carry the Third Prince to the front yard.
They also had Su Peisheng select two capable wet nurses from the ones he had chosen for the Second Princess last time, so that there would be someone to serve her.
Then, someone was informed of Xie's family, and out of consideration for the fact that Xie had given birth to the Third Prince, they decided not to punish Xie for her past crimes.
The so-called past offense was that Xie concealed the fact that Yu Xi was pregnant, which was something that should have been punished.
Xie's family members had the opportunity to see the Third Prince, but they rarely mentioned Xie, who died in childbirth, while they kept talking about the Third Prince.
Finally, with tears streaming down her face, she recounted the hardships of raising Xie Shi, and how fortunate she was to have the Third Prince as a source of hope. She only wished that whenever she missed Xie Shi, she could come to the mansion to see the Third Prince.
Fu Lu, who was following behind, thought to himself, "Are they trying to take advantage of the Fourth Prince's family? They're trying to use the Third Prince to get close to the Fourth Prince."
However, upon closer reflection, it is indeed true that no matter how much a princess in a prince's household can contribute to the family, it is not enough.
Now that Lady Xie has died in childbirth and given birth to the Third Prince of the mansion, she is remembered by everyone in the mansion more than when she was alive.
But those words sound rather pathetic.
However, since the Fourth Master was not in the mansion, Fulu, being a servant, could not openly and blatantly kick him out. Instead, Xiao Luzi from the East Courtyard mentioned it when he came to deliver the tassel.
"Just use their power to drive them away. Right now, Fourth Master probably won't have time to look after them."
The other day, when Fourth Master was resting in the East Courtyard, he forgot about the tassel. Normally, Qiu Hu could just deliver it to the maid in the front courtyard. Xiao Luzi's visit was a good opportunity to ask Fu Lu for some information.
Fu Lu quickly understood what Xiao Luzi meant, and politely patted Xiao Luzi on the shoulder, then sighed, "I've been so busy these past two days that I'm completely out of it. Thank goodness you said that. I'll treat you to drinks when I have some free time tomorrow."
Xiao Luzi naturally dared not agree, and only smiled: "You are joking. The front yard is in chaos right now, and our master needs someone to take care of him. Let's talk about it another day, another day."
Fu Lu then chimed in with a few words, noting that the front yard was indeed in chaos. After a few more words, Xiao Luzi quickly took his leave.
Fu Lu was certainly not foolish enough to tell Xiao Lu everything. He knew what should and shouldn't be said. For example, this morning, He Zhongyi, who was by Consort De's side, came to deliver a message, saying that the things Consort De had said to the Fourth Prince were naturally things that could not be said.
However, Xiao Luzi naturally wouldn't be so reckless as to ask directly.
Both of them were perfectly clear-headed when they spoke.
Xiao Lu didn't need to ask too many questions; he could naturally figure it out from the tone of Fu Lu's words.
When he returned to the East Courtyard, he was able to give a full report to Li Chenjiao without missing a single word.
Li Chenjiao was always good at guessing what the Fourth Prince was thinking, but those were all just guesses. This matter was really troublesome, even more troublesome than the eldest princess being raised by Song Shi.
Putting everything else aside, Li Chenjiao sent Xiao Luzi on this trip to try and figure out Fourth Master's current intentions.
Li Chenjiao is currently unwilling to take on this hot potato.
Yes, for Li Chenjiao, this was a hot potato.
She herself had just given birth to the second princess; if she were to adopt the third prince—
People's hearts are biased. Li Chenjiao will indeed not mistreat the Third Prince, but what about the Second Princess? Young girls should be pampered. If she is treated equally, Li Chenjiao will not be happy.
Furthermore, Li Chenjiao is currently favored and has children, and she may very well have more children in the future. When the Third Prince gets older, who knows how many more things will happen then.
Furthermore, if Li Chenjiao really adopts the Third Prince, the First Madam of the Imperial Household Department will likely become even less tolerant of her.
Right now, even the Fujin (principal wife) in the main courtyard has enough to make her dislike her.
Li Chenjiao could certainly handle it, but why make herself uncomfortable?
After listening to Xiao Luzi's words, Li Chenjiao was also a little confused about the Fourth Master's attitude. It seemed that the Fourth Master wanted to wait and see the reactions of everyone in the backyard.
Li Chenjiao's head was throbbing, and she really had no clue what to do: "Keep the courtyard gate tightly closed. Don't get involved in the chaos outside these next few days. Don't go to the front yard either. I'll just lie here in peace for a few days."
Li Chenjiao never does things that cause trouble for herself, and besides, Fourth Master probably wouldn't really throw this hot potato into her hands.
In that case, her arrogance as a concubine will probably be hard to suppress.
Who should it be given to? Li Chenjiao thought for a moment and vaguely thought of someone. He was indeed a suitable candidate in the entire mansion.
In Yonghe Palace, Consort De summoned the Fourth Prince to the palace early in the morning, naturally because of the matter concerning Lady Xie and the Third Prince.
Consort De naturally felt sorry for her son first: "When your mother chose Xie Shi, it was because she was intelligent and quick-witted. I never expected that she would have such wicked thoughts. It makes you, Fourth Prince, worry now."
The Fourth Prince's face revealed little emotion. He simply nodded slightly upon hearing this: "It is because I failed to manage the household affairs properly that I have caused my mother to suffer in my place."
Consort De sighed, pondered for a moment, and then asked slowly, "Have all the arrangements been made for Xie's family? What about the Third Prince?"
In the end, Consort De brought up the matter of who would raise the Third Prince in the future.
The Fourth Prince remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, "My son prefers—"
Fourth Master gave a surname.
Consort De paused for a moment upon hearing this, a look of hesitation on her face: "When your concubine, Lady Li, came to the palace last year during the New Year, Mother thought she was quite proper. Fourth Prince, how come you—"
The Fourth Prince lowered his eyes, his gaze dark: "Li has just given birth, and the imperial physician said she should not overexert herself. Besides, she is already pregnant with the Second Princess, and if she were to bring the Third Prince to her knees, it would inevitably draw criticism."
Of course, the Fourth Prince had other thoughts in mind, but he did not express them to Consort De.
Consort De fell into thought upon hearing the Fourth Prince's words: "However, her status is ultimately inappropriate, and what will happen to the Third Prince when he grows up—"
Consort De was naturally not very satisfied with the candidate chosen by the Fourth Prince.
In her view, besides the primary wife and the secondary wife, the fourth prince's harem was not without other women, so why would he need to—
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