Li Chenjiao had no appetite for breakfast. It wasn't because the Second Prince of the main courtyard was unwell, but because Li Chenjiao felt nauseous and wanted to vomit even before she finished washing up.
My stomach was empty, and there was nothing to vomit.
Li Chenjiao was worried that if she ate breakfast, she would vomit before even reaching the main courtyard, since she wasn't particularly hungry at the moment.
Today, Qiu Ci and Lv Zhu are serving us.
Currently, Li Chenjiao's entourage is arranged as follows: the two head maids, Qiu Hu and Qiu Ci, take turns serving her, as do the three second-class maids. Granny Lin only appears in the palace during festivals; on ordinary days, she mostly plays a supervisory role and can also be used as a part-time wet nurse.
Li Chenjiao arrived a little earlier today, but when she arrived, everyone except Niohuru, who was still under house arrest, was already there.
The commotion last night was probably only because the Fourth Master's East Courtyard hadn't been disturbed, and everyone around them was dressed discreetly.
As a result, the Song and Wu families also began to argue and bicker incessantly.
It was unusually quiet.
Even the volume of everyone standing up to greet Li Chenjiao seemed to be deliberately lowered. After Li Chenjiao took her seat, everyone sat down together, but no one made a sound.
The main courtyard then fell silent.
So when the sound of porcelain shattering came from the east wing, everyone sitting there heard it clearly.
Wu paused in her tea-drinking motion, slowly setting down her teacup. Her tone was flat: "Gege Song's courtyard is closest to the main courtyard of the Fujin. Did Gege Song hear anything yesterday?"
Madam Song slowly took a sip of tea: "There are so many doors between us. I was drunk last night, so even if you, Sister Wu, were to speak right next to me last night, I probably wouldn't be able to hear you clearly, let alone the noise from the main courtyard. You, Sister Wu, are sharp-eared and sharp-eyed."
Song Shi clearly refused to respond, but it didn't seem to be because of the Second Prince of the main courtyard; rather, it seemed that she herself had no interest in arguing with Wu Shi at the moment.
Wu twitched the corners of her mouth, showing little emotional reaction to Song's repeated calls of "Sister Wu" in succession.
"What Consort Song says is true, but I was thinking that the former First Princess is somewhat similar to the current Second Prince. Perhaps Consort Song can be of help?"
Madam Song put down her teacup and replied in a calm tone, "It is indeed the imperial physician who has gone to so much trouble. What can I do to help? I will just refrain from causing any trouble."
Bai Jia interrupted, noticing the awkwardness in their conversation: "I just didn't know that the Second Prince's health had suddenly deteriorated again? Didn't the Fujin say he was feeling better last night?"
Madam Wu glanced at her, clearly displeased with Bai Jia's interruption, and her tone wasn't very pleasant: "Bai Jia, you've never given birth, so naturally you don't understand the ins and outs of this. The Second Prince is only a little over a year old, a very delicate age. Even if he's three or five, he's not immune to illness—"
Wu's words suddenly stopped.
She realized she had misspoke, so she simply stopped talking and mumbled something while drinking her tea.
Li Chenjiao felt a headache coming on. She had been feeling nauseous and her stomach was churning, but now she felt uncomfortable all over, and her ears were ringing.
"The Second Prince is currently unwell, and the Princess Consort is busy. It would be good for the Second Prince to have some peace and quiet. As for the Second Prince's health, the Princess Consort and the imperial physicians will take care of it."
Li Chenjiao slowly straightened up, glanced at everyone present, and quickly looked away, lowering her eyelids and remaining silent.
Song moved her lips, but before she could speak, Yu Ru, who was by the side of the main wife, lifted the curtain and came in from outside.
Yu Ru bowed respectfully, her voice relatively calm: "I apologize for keeping the concubines and princesses waiting. The principal wife is now free and will arrive shortly."
Neither Lady Song nor Lady Wu spoke up; at this moment, the only one who could speak was Consort Li Chenjiao.
After Li Chenjiao exchanged a few polite words, Yu Ru withdrew. Soon, the maids from the main courtyard filed in one after another, bringing everyone another cup of hot tea.
In front of Li Chenjiao was a bowl of sweet cheese.
When the Fujin arrived, it was obvious that she looked tired. When everyone bowed to her, she simply raised her hand and said softly, "No need for formalities," before telling everyone to take their seats.
"The new maid in the main courtyard is clumsy and has dirtied your clothes. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."
Everyone said in unison that they dared not.
The princess consort wearily pressed her temples: "Last night, the second prince had a bit of a cough, and I, as his mother, made a big fuss over it. But now the second prince is fine."
The princess did not elaborate, but simply brushed it off by saying that she had a bit of a cough.
Although sandalwood incense was burning in the main courtyard, Li Chenjiao and Song Shi, who were nearby, could still smell the medicinal fragrance from when the head wife sat down.
The princess said she had changed her clothes, but Li Chenjiao still noticed the medicine stains on her sleeves.
Clearly, the Second Prince's illness was not as simple as the Princess Consort had made it out to be.
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