Li Chenjiao naturally couldn't bend down to pick it up, nor could she even give the Fujin a second glance; she could only turn her head to look at the Fujin's expression.
Wu's words just now were unusually incoherent, which is quite rare and unusual for her.
Clearly, Wu was also frightened by this turn of events.
Not to mention Wu Shi, even Song Shi and Bai Jia Shi standing to the side were so frightened that they trembled.
This is practically a direct challenge to the Princess Consort.
Moreover, Wu's words were indeed rather clumsy. Today, the eldest prince picked up a seal during his first birthday celebration, so what about the second prince's first birthday celebration?
Who can say for sure?
Wu Shi spoke hastily, wanting to respect the Second Prince, who was the principal wife of the main wife. However, she spoke too quickly, not only sounding like she was digging a pit for the Second Prince's first birthday celebration, but also as if she was saying that the First Prince was older and the Second Prince's first birthday celebration was still to come.
The room remained quiet.
The princess remained silent, her hands unconsciously clenching tightly. Her gaze fell on Wu Shi, who stood up and bowed her head below, and finally slowly settled on the eldest prince, who was being held by the wet nurse.
She smiled faintly and waved her hand magnanimously: "It's alright. The eldest prince is the eldest son of the family. I also hope that the eldest prince will be as successful as he was today during his first birthday celebration. I hope he will become the Baturu of our family."
"Yu Ru. The First Prince's first birthday celebration has been completed. Go to the front courtyard immediately to report to the master. Also, today's First Prince's first birthday celebration is a great event for the manor, and there will be generous rewards from all quarters."
Everyone stood up to express their gratitude.
Li Chenjiao couldn't help but twitch her lips as she sat down.
The Princess Consort's words just now were a roundabout way of addressing Wu Zetian.
Right now, who in the entire capital doesn't know that His Majesty often praises Prince Zhi as the Baturu of the Qing Dynasty?
Although the Prince Zhi was praised by His Majesty as the "Baturu of the Qing Dynasty," his position as Crown Prince remained secure.
The Princess Consort is using the current Prince Zhi and the Crown Prince to target Wu Shi. Even though the eldest son born to Wu Shi is the eldest son in the household, a son born out of wedlock is still a son born out of wedlock.
Even if the eldest prince were to grasp the seal symbolizing power during his first birthday celebration today, it would be of no use.
The Princess Consort's words were more powerful than any number of warnings.
She was still the Princess Consort after all; even when she was unwell, every word she uttered hit the nail on the head.
Wu lowered her eyelashes silently, as if she were thinking or deliberating.
After a moment of silence, Madam Wu picked up her teacup: "Today, thanks to the presence of the Fujin (Prince's wife), the First Prince was able to have such an opportunity. From now on, everything will still depend on the Fourth Prince and the Fujin."
These words were purely flattery of the Princess Consort.
But those words did sound comforting.
The Princess Consort smiled faintly again at the head of the table: "You are the birth mother of the First Prince, so you will naturally have a share in what the First Prince does in the future. Today is also a good day for you, Lady Wu, so why are you still standing? Please sit down."
The Princess Consort's words these days are truly barbed.
The sentence, "The eldest prince will also have a share in the responsibility of his birth mother, Lady Wu," defines the nature of the matter.
If the eldest prince's future will include a share from the Wu clan, then doesn't the eldest prince's present and past life also include a share from the Wu clan?
The meaning behind the Princess Consort's words is that the whole thing about the First Prince's first birthday celebration today was orchestrated by Empress Wu.
Wu was indignant. She hadn't even investigated the mercury mirror on the carpet yet, but the Fujin had already condemned her with a single sentence.
Lady Wu naturally recalled that the eldest prince had gone to Li Chenjiao to grab the seal, and naturally began to suspect the concubine and the wife of the eldest prince.
Today, Wu Shi was indeed prepared to finally get her revenge, but she never expected to end up with a belly full of anger.
It remains to be seen how the Fourth Prince will react after learning about the First Prince's first birthday celebration.
Madam Wu knew that the Fourth Prince was always very particular about rules and regulations.
After the eldest prince's first birthday celebration, everyone could prepare to leave, as the lunch and dinner banquets were still far off.
When Li Chenjiao came out of the Qingyuan Courtyard, she glanced at Wu Gege's face and saw that it was also very bad. She was too lazy to go and invite bad luck, so she took two maids and went straight to the East Courtyard.
Li Chenjiao returned to the East Courtyard, and before she even reached the corridor, she saw two patches of lush green.
As you approach, you'll see elegant and serene chrysanthemums, rustling in the wind, their delicate fragrance filling the air.
Li Chenjiao's gaze swept across the emerald green, finally settling on Xiao Luzi standing to the side.
"Green chrysanthemums are precious and rare. I've heard that even the most experienced gardeners in the palace can only cultivate a few plants a year. Did the Fourth Prince send these over? Didn't the Fourth Prince leave the palace early this morning?"
Xiao Luzi bowed and replied, "I heard that they were presented to the Fourth Master from outside. There are also two in the main courtyard of the Fujin's residence. They were sent by Fulu. I heard that the Fourth Master is currently busy with official duties outside the mansion."
Li Chenjiao responded with an "Oh".
A tribute from outside? That's quite unusual. Although it's the Double Ninth Festival, it's preceded by the Mid-Autumn Festival and followed by the Golden Offering Festival—
Who would present such precious and rare green chrysanthemums at this time? That's quite strange.
Li Chenjiao lowered her head and smiled again: "These green chrysanthemums perfectly complement the lake-green cheongsam I'm wearing today."
The two girls were also seeing such a precious variety for the first time, and they touched the two green chrysanthemums with great interest.
"We don't have any plants in our yard that can water these two chrysanthemums. Chrysanthemums are precious, so we'll have to take good care of them from now on."
Just then, Lin Momo came out of the Second Princess's room with a rattle drum. Hearing Qiu Ci's hesitant words, she started playing the rattle drum as well.
Lin Mama coughed lightly: "When I was in the palace, I worked in the flower room for a few years."
Lin Mama has had a really leisurely time in the East Courtyard these days, except for the Mid-Autumn Festival when Li Chenjiao came back from the palace and asked her about the nobles in the palace and the royal family members who were favored by the Emperor or had high status.
Aside from offering some help in this matter, Granny Lin couldn't really get involved in anything else.
Now that Granny Lin was so idle that she started keeping an eye on Madam He in the back kitchen, she finally felt that she had a chance to use her skills after hearing Qiu Ci's words.
Those two green chrysanthemums were, after all, a gift from the Fourth Prince, so naturally they had to be carefully tended to.
Otherwise, if things go wrong, it could displease the Fourth Master.
Upon hearing this, Li Chenjiao was happy to entrust the matter to Granny Lin.
After all, she hadn't really found anything to arrange for Granny Lin recently. She always had two maids to serve her personally, and she also had connections outside. Recently, Dongsheng had also been very helpful.
Sometimes Li Chenjiao really does forget about Granny Lin.
Both green chrysanthemums were precious items. After the princess received them and admired them once, she first inquired about their origin.
Granny Qian had more contact with Lady Ulanara, so she knew more about what was happening outside.
"I heard it was sent from Huguang (Hubei and Hunan provinces)."
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