Qiu Hu looked puzzled upon hearing this: "I heard from Xiao Luzi when he went to the gatehouse that Fourth Master left the mansion early this morning, probably to go to the palace."
Li Chenjiao couldn't figure it out, so she simply stopped thinking about it.
Today, the eldest prince's first birthday celebration was held at the Qing Courtyard. When Li Chenjiao arrived, everyone was already there.
Princess Wu and the eldest prince in the arms of the wet nurse, who were supposed to be the main characters of the day, arrived early and politely rose to greet Li Chenjiao.
Li Chenjiao arrived not too late. When she sat down, she saw Song Shi opposite her, but not Wang Shi or the eldest princess. She didn't say anything, but she understood why this was the case.
If the eldest princess were to arrive as well, it would inevitably lead to comparisons.
Last year, when the eldest princess turned one year old, the mansion held a grand celebration, but only a few gentlemen were invited to a banquet in the front courtyard, while the principal wives could only see the eldest princess who had been brought to the main courtyard.
The eldest princess rarely appeared in public, not even for half a day.
Today is unusually lively.
However, perhaps because Wu Shi helped organize the First Prince's first birthday banquet this time, the decorations of the Qing Courtyard looked more exquisite and meticulous.
Li Chenjiao lowered her head and took a sip of tea, before Song Shi spoke up first and brought her up.
"It's been a long time, and Consort Consort looks much better now."
Li Chenjiao paused for a moment. The last time she saw Song Shi and the others was probably around the Mid-Autumn Festival last month, which was only half a month ago.
Song's phrase "long time no see" is quite interesting.
Li Chenjiao raised her head and glanced at Song Shi sitting opposite her for a while. After a long while, she chuckled and said, "Song Gege's complexion looks much better."
Sure enough, Song's smile widened considerably upon hearing Li Chenjiao's words.
Madam Song subconsciously touched her face. She had been taking the medicine more frequently lately, and she noticed that her complexion had become rosier. Hearing Li Chenjiao's words, she felt reassured.
Li Chenjiao understood Song Shi's meaning somewhat from the question she had just heard.
However, the beauty-enhancing prescriptions given by the imperial physicians, in Li Chenjiao's opinion, were mostly tonics to nourish the body, and they were all beneficial to health.
However, Song Shi had always disliked drinking the tonic because she found it bitter. But now that she saw Li Chenjiao's health improving day by day after drinking the tonic prescribed by the imperial physician, Song Shi was tempted and drank the medicine with less dissatisfaction.
When a person is in a good mood and has tonics to nourish them, their complexion naturally looks better.
While the two were talking, Wu Gege couldn't get a word in edgewise.
Seeing that everyone's eyes were about to shift to Li Chenjiao, Wu lowered her eyes, turned her head and gently fiddled with the eldest prince's clothes, teasing him into letting out a soft laugh.
At this moment, the eldest prince was still being held in the arms of his wet nurse.
Hearing the eldest prince's laughter, Madam Song stopped speaking. She pursed her lips and remained silent.
What could she possibly say? That Lady Wu was so fortunate and that the eldest prince was in good health?
She couldn't bring herself to say it; the eldest princess's birthday was right after the eldest prince's, and at this moment, Madam Song didn't want to utter a single word of praise for the eldest prince.
What's the difference between saying such a thing and slapping yourself in the face?
Li Chenjiao stopped talking. There was no need for her to pass the message to Wu Gege, so she simply lowered her head and took a sip of tea.
When she looked up again, Bai Jiashi reluctantly took over the conversation.
Li Chenjiao stared ahead, seemingly listening attentively, but in reality, she felt bored. She was only thinking about the silk flowers she had made for the eldest princess these past few days, and what day would be appropriate to send them to her.
As she was thinking, she suddenly heard Song interrupt Wu and Bai Jia's mutual flattery with some impatience.
"What time is it? Why hasn't the Princess Consort arrived yet?"
It's getting late; the auspicious time is almost here.
Originally, Wu was already dissatisfied that the Fourth Prince wasn't here today. Although Wu didn't welcome the arrival of the Princess Consort, if the Princess Consort really didn't come, it would seem as if the First Prince's first birthday was some unimportant matter.
Fortunately, the princess arrived at the Qingyuan Courtyard before the auspicious time.
Summer clothes are already thin, and when the Fujin came in, she looked even thinner.
After the princess was seated, she excused everyone from the formalities.
The princess looked better today. She lowered her head and took a sip of tea. After a while, she slowly pressed her handkerchief to the corner of her lips and revealed a faint smile.
"This tea tastes good; thank you for your trouble, Madam Wu."
Madam Wu naturally got up and politely said something about it being her duty.
The princess then explained why she was late: "The Empress in the palace was worried about the Second Prince and sent someone to check on him, which caused the delay. Fortunately, the First Prince's first birthday celebration was not missed."
The Princess Consort's words have many implications.
Today is the eldest prince's first birthday banquet, but Consort De from the palace has specially sent someone to see the second prince.
Is this a warning or something else?
These are things that Wu and everyone present have been pondering.
Wu stood up again, neither humble nor arrogant: "It was this servant who neglected the Second Prince's health. The Second Prince has been in poor health since birth, no wonder the Empress in the palace is concerned. When the First Prince grows up and becomes more sensible and polite, she will surely instruct him to be more considerate of the Second Prince."
Wu's words were like a knife to the heart of the Fujin (the wife of the emperor).
It was rare for Wu to show such sharpness, especially when it was directed at the Fujin (the wife of the emperor).
Even Li Chenjiao, who was sitting in front of Wu Shi, couldn't help but glance at her.
The smile on the Fujin's lips faded, clearly because Wu's words, "The Second Prince has been sickly since birth," had struck a nerve, and she was quite unhappy at the moment.
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