However, Liu did not stop sending her maids to inquire about the activities at Luxiao Hall, where Consort Li was staying. Only when a person has a clear understanding of the situation can they avoid being confused and disoriented.
Meanwhile, Li Chenjiao woke up, ate a few bites of lunch hastily, and then went back to sleep, so Xiao Luzi didn't have a chance to come and report to her.
Thus, Li Chenjiao became the last one to learn about Liu's affair.
She only heard Xiao Luzi's report when she was woken up by several maids for dinner. She lazily yawned twice, lifted the blue vine-draped curtain herself, and walked outside.
"Were you in a bit of a rush? Didn't you go out today, Master?"
Aside from saying he was a bit too hasty, Li Chenjiao had nothing else to say.
"Eunuch Su said that Fourth Master will be mostly free these days and will be at the manor. He's still in the front yard right now."
Li Chenjiao gave an "Oh," then suddenly remembered Liu, whom she had met that morning; she was indeed undeniably youthful and beautiful.
However, as Li Chenjiao was thinking, she suddenly burst out laughing.
Historically, there were only three ways to enter a prince's harem. One was to be a pretty maid or singer who would occasionally gain favor. If she was lucky, she would directly enter the prince's harem. If she was unlucky, it would be a one-night stand, and what happened after that would be up to fate.
Secondly, wealthy officials and officials outside the capital wanted to secure a good future with the princes, but sending them money or houses could easily cause trouble, so sending beautiful women was the only way to make things easier.
Thirdly, there are those like Li Chenjiao who were selected through a proper selection process to become concubines or secondary consorts for the Fourth Prince.
The Fourth Prince's inherent uprightness is somewhat peculiar. For example, there are no singers or dancers in his harem, nor are there any maids climbing into his bed.
The only concubine, Miss Xu, was introduced to the Fourth Prince when he was a prince in the Fourth Palace in Ganxi. Consort De arranged for her to become his concubine, which was considered a legitimate arrangement and there was nothing outrageous about it.
There were no concubines sent by ministers or wealthy families; all the princesses were selected through a proper imperial selection process, which was quite rare even in the princes' harem.
For example, at the Third Master's residence, when Zhao Jia and Cao came to the residence for a banquet last time, she also overheard a bit of what they said. It wouldn't be considered offensive, but the Third Master's backyard did indeed accommodate all kinds of women from these three different sources.
Actually, the first two are not hard to understand. Men will always have a period when they like women who are completely obedient and have nothing to rely on but themselves, like duckweed.
Li Chenjiao had to admit that if she hadn't been chosen to enter the mansion through the imperial selection, she would have also chosen a husband from a less prestigious family than her.
Unfortunately, since the founding of this dynasty, there has been no precedent for a woman having three or four husbands.
However, when the social customs of the previous dynasty were more open, didn't princesses and the like keep male concubines?
Li Chenjiao dared not put it into action and could only think about it secretly.
Ahem, let's get back to the main topic. That's why Li Chenjiao said that Fourth Master's uprightness was a bit strange. Did he not have any desire for beauty or lust at all?
Hmm, Li Chenjiao doesn't believe this. Otherwise, why didn't the Fourth Prince show favor to everyone when she and Bai Jia entered the manor together? Instead, he came to her place more often.
However, the identities of those outside are indeed unclear; who knows if they might be spies sent by someone?
Like the Hu and Zhang families in the past, didn't Fourth Master just dismiss them without even touching them?
So, the Fourth Prince's backyard should be considered one of the quieter ones among all the princes' backyards, right?
As for why Li Chenjiao laughed out loud just now, it's because the manor hasn't seen any new people for too long, so it's actually quite refreshing.
Does the Fourth Prince actually like women?
Li Chenjiao stroked her chin, pondering for a long time but still couldn't figure it out.
Anyway, I'm definitely not that enthusiastic about it.
If you really want to know what she said, in Fourth Master's heart—
Half of the work was for official duties outside the palace, a little for the Empress, the Fourth Prince's younger brother, the Fourteenth Prince, and Princess Wenxian, a little for the young princes and princesses in the mansion, and very little was left for the people in the inner courtyard.
How much of a position does Li Chenjiao hold in the Fourth Prince's favor?
Li Chenjiao was aware that she didn't have much money left.
However, Li Chenjiao was at least a favored concubine, so she should still have the self-awareness of being a favored concubine.
As for favored concubines, then we should try our best to make her hold more weight in the Fourth Prince's heart.
It's clear that Fourth Master hasn't gotten tired of her yet.
Li Chenjiao stretched and yawned. "Isn't this great?"
As for others, just don't mess with her, or she won't budge.
As for the Fourth Prince, he was already unhappy at noon, and then Su Peisheng came in during dinner and said something, which caused the Fourth Prince to immediately turn away in anger.
"Get out."
It's that same thing again, from midday.
When Fourth Master came out, he wiped his face immediately, thinking to himself, "What kind of mess is this?"
Shanxi is on night duty and is waiting at the door. She cleverly brings a teacup forward.
"Grandpa, what about those two girls?"
Su Peisheng took a sip of tea; it was herbal tea.
"What do you mean, what to do? Send it back the way it came from."
Well, it's the same as when Princess Liu had someone deliver plum juice at noon.
It must be said that Master Wang was rather clueless. Why did he have to give them two girls out of the blue? Did he think they were his master? Did he want just any kind of girl?
Back in Yangzhou, that Master Xu was much more sensible. Knowing that Fourth Master was filial, he didn't send him any people, money, or houses. Instead, he sent a string of Buddhist prayer beads blessed by a high monk. The beads came from Southeast Asia and were as clear as water, with the scent of sandalwood on them.
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