When Li Chenjiao arrived at the main courtyard for lunch, she heard Xiao Luzi report that Fourth Master had returned to the mansion.
She paused, originally intending to have Xiao Luzi go to the front yard to thank Fourth Master for the two pots of green chrysanthemums he had sent.
But then Li Chenjiao suddenly remembered something: "I'm busy in the front yard today, so let's skip it. I'll thank you in person when Fourth Master arrives."
Whether it was her imagination or not, she felt that the two pots of green chrysanthemums had arrived somewhat strangely.
It's best not to act rashly for now.
A luncheon had already been arranged in the main courtyard.
Inside, the primary wives sat at one table to talk and have lunch, while outside, in the flower hall, the secondary wives sat at another table.
Li Chenjiao arrived early. When she got to the flower hall, Zhao Jia and Cao, whom she had seen in the palace during the Mid-Autumn Festival, were talking outside.
Lady Zhao noticed her first, and smiled while waving a round fan: "This young lady looks familiar, are you Consort Li?"
As she spoke, Zhao Jia then greeted Li Chenjiao with a formal bow.
Only a few concubines arrived today. Zhao Jia and Cao are already in front of us, so there are only Li Chenjiao and Liu Jia, the concubine from the Fifth Prince's mansion.
However, the Fifth Prince requested the title of Consort earlier than the Fourth Prince requested the title of Consort for Li Chenjiao, so Lady Zhaojia had probably already met her.
Hearing Zhao Jia's words, Cao snorted, "You know perfectly well what I'm asking."
Zhao Jia was not annoyed by what she heard, but gave Cao a reproachful look, and then smiled apologetically at Li Chenjiao.
"Consort Cao has always been outspoken, please don't take offense, sister. It's hot outside, don't stand here, come in and sit down. Sister Liu Jia is probably getting impatient."
It is not difficult to tell from Zhao Jia's words that she is a very shrewd and capable person.
Li Chenjiao is now considered half a master, so she politely follows behind Zhaojia and He, and can hear Cao's voice, which she hasn't lowered.
"Why didn't you call me Consort Cao when we were in the manor? You're being so polite now, Sister Zhaojia."
Zhao Jia's voice was all coaxing: "Alright, alright, my little sister Cao. Let's go inside quickly."
Li Chenjiao walked behind, a faint smile on her lips.
The relationship between Lady Zhaojia and Lady Cao was exceptionally rare in the entire inner courtyard.
Watching the two of them interact reminded Li Chenjiao of what Consort Li Jia had said last time at Cining Palace.
The way these two concubines get along is quite different.
However, none of these are likely to happen to Li Chenjiao.
Li Chenjiao was quite satisfied with the lunch she had in the main hall of the palace. After all, none of the women in the prince's harem who could reach the position of concubine were ugly.
The meals were a feast for the eyes and the palate.
Furthermore, the women present who have reached the position of concubine are certainly not ordinary people, and there is no need for them to offend others with their rude words.
Oh, except for the "outspoken" Cao family.
However, with Lady Zhaojia around, many of Lady Cao's words sounded particularly endearing.
Liu Jiashi was also a cheerful person, and she and Li Chenjiao were kindred spirits, both loving to think about food. Surprisingly, the two got along well.
While Cao and Zhao were bickering, Liu Jia whispered something in Li Chenjiao's ear.
"This is already a good thing. If the Third Princess Consort were here, then there would probably be no peace and quiet for lunch today. When Sister Cao's mouth touches the Third Princess Consort's mouth, there's no way to have any peace and quiet."
As Liu Jia was speaking, she heard a sound like a teacup shattering coming from the inner room.
Upon hearing the sound, Liu Jia stopped talking. Although she did not turn her head to look into the inner room, she still turned her body slightly to listen attentively.
At the same time, he didn't forget to put his index finger to his lips as a shushing gesture.
The people in the flower hall fell silent in unison, and the sounds from the inner room became clearly audible.
Words like "sickly", "equally childless", "bitch", and "only you can have children" were heard without missing a single one.
The voice was somewhat unfamiliar, and Li Chenjiao couldn't immediately recognize whose voice it was.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Jia and Liu Jia exchanged a knowing smile.
Lady Zhao spoke first: "Eighth Princess Consort, you are still so energetic."
Lady Zhaojia was favored in the Third Prince's mansion, and her favor remained undiminished. Even when Lady Cao entered the mansion as a secondary consort, it did not shake her position in the slightest.
That's why she can speak so frankly now.
Liu Jia was much more reserved: "I heard she was ill, and with worries weighing on her mind, it's understandable that she might say something inappropriate."
Fifth Prince was not good at forming factions, and the primary consort whom His Majesty had decreed was not of noble status; her father was only a sixth-rank official, so she never spoke with confidence.
Even though Liu Jia was favored in the Fifth Master's mansion, she dared not speak out.
However, at this time, the Eighth Prince's wife's family suddenly fell into poverty, which was indeed a sad situation.
The lively atmosphere inside hadn't subsided; while the flower hall outside was filled with joy and laughter, who knows what was happening inside.
A moment later, the sound of tea being smashed and bowls being broken came from inside again. After listening for a while, Lady Zhaojia exclaimed, "Even our Lady Fujin can't sit still anymore?"
How many people did the Eighth Prince's wife offend in the past because of her maternal family?
Now that the Eighth Prince's wife is in dire straits, there are plenty of people who want to kick her while she's down.
After lunch, Li Chenjiao chatted with Zhao Jia and the others. Finally, Lin Mama from the East Courtyard came running over in a hurry and said that the Second Princess had vomited milk.
Li Chenjiao stood up in a panic.
Both Zhao Jia and Liu Jia were very understanding and told Li Chenjiao to go back first. Li Chenjiao apologized first before getting up to take her leave.
Watching Li Chenjiao's departing figure, Madam Cao murmured, "It's definitely more comfortable in my own home." She then made an excuse to leave.
Zhao Jia smiled and said, "It's not like you'd be happy to stay here."
After the meal, the wives of the principal wives will eventually come out, and then we'll have someone to deal with them.
Li Chenjiao breathed a long sigh of relief as she came out of the main courtyard. She patted her chest and said, "It was really stuffy inside."
The main courtyard always had a medicinal smell that lingered for a long time, mixed with a faint sandalwood scent, making it particularly somber.
Both maids laughed, and Granny Lin glanced around to make sure no one was overheard.
Naturally, Lin Mama's hurried summons to Li Chenjiao was an excuse that Li Chenjiao had prepared in advance.
She really didn't like dealing with those things.
However, Li Chenjiao really wanted to see the Second Princess right now.
The banquet will have to be a bit rushed, since everyone in each household needs someone and is quite busy.
Li Chenjiao returned to the East Courtyard and had a late-night snack. Halfway through the snack, she heard Xiao Luzi outside reporting that Fourth Master was resting in the Main Courtyard today.
This is also rare.
For most of this year, the Fourth Prince only stayed overnight at the main courtyard on the first and fifteenth of each lunar month, and he almost never asked for water.
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