Such doubts were not limited to the servants below; everyone in the backyard who received the news was naturally filled with questions.
Unlike Li Chenjiao, who had just gotten up, Wu Shi had already checked the sewing room's accounts once before she received the news, and only then did she speak with the head maid of the sewing room.
Just as the head maid left, Wu was about to get up and go to the eldest prince's room to check on him when she heard from a servant that the main wife had fainted.
She was quick and didn't bother with dressing up or washing up. After a quick tidying up, she went straight to the main courtyard, only to be told halfway there that she didn't need to go to the main courtyard.
Empress Wu's expression remained unchanged. After saying a few words to the servants in the main courtyard, telling the Fujin (princess) to rest and recuperate, she turned and went to the south courtyard.
After returning to the South Courtyard, Wu instructed her trusted confidante to inquire about the situation in the Main Courtyard. She herself was puzzled: "Why did the Princess Consort seem so well yesterday? Could it be…?"
The confidante naturally understood what her mistress meant and followed up on Wu's words, saying, "The Second Prince is now the apple of the Fujin's eye. Right now, the Second Prince is sickly, and the Fujin is probably very anxious and upset."
Wu agreed with this statement, after all, she had personally witnessed the Second Prince's sickly condition yesterday, which did not resemble that of a healthy child, and was far inferior to that of her First Prince.
Thinking of this, a glimmer of light appeared in Madam Wu's eyes: "If the Second Prince really is no good, then my First Prince must be even more determined. He is the eldest son in the household. If the Second Prince, as the legitimate son, is no longer here, who can compete with my First Prince?"
The confidante helped Wu to a seat, somewhat hesitantly saying, "Even without the Second Prince, there's still the Third Prince. After all, his birth mother, Consort Xie, has long since passed away. What if the Princess Consort decides to adopt the Third Prince..."
Wu Shi had indeed forgotten about this matter. She hissed softly, and upon careful consideration, it was not entirely impossible.
After all, how old is the Third Prince? If the Second Prince really fails, the Princess Consort will definitely not give up. But there is a Third Prince...
“Xu is no pushover, but what you said makes sense. Here’s what we’ll do. Have someone go to Xu’s courtyard and tell her what you’re saying…”
The confidant leaned down and whispered in Wu's ear to listen carefully to what she had to say.
"This servant understands."
Wu waved her hand with satisfaction, and then leisurely got up to go and see the eldest prince.
The eldest prince was not yet of school age, but Empress Wu had high hopes for him and had servants read to him every day.
Wu's good mood lasted until the Fourth Master returned home for dinner, when she heard from a maid that the Fourth Master had gone to Xu's courtyard.
Wu was in a good mood tending to the orchids in the house when she heard the maid's report and the scissors cut straight into an empty spot.
"What? How long has it been since Fourth Master last visited Madam Xu? Why are you suddenly thinking of someone like Madam Xu?"
Right now, the Second Prince is ill in the main courtyard. Just this afternoon, Madam Wu was talking about whether the Princess Consort was considering adopting the Third Prince, and now the Fourth Prince has entered Madam Xu's courtyard...
Lady Wu couldn't help but think deeper, could it be that the Fujin had already mentioned to the Fourth Prince that she wanted to adopt the Third Prince?
She slowly put down the scissors, the silver scissors making a soft sound as they touched the rosewood table, and her lips pursed as she pondered.
The Fourth Master's sudden entry into Madam Xu's courtyard was indeed quite a novel experience.
If you think about it carefully, even excluding the days when the Fourth Prince accompanied the Emperor on his southern tour and was not at home, it had still been several months since the Fourth Prince had visited Madam Xu.
After hearing Xiao Luzi's report, Li Chenjiao raised her hand to signal the maids to serve dinner.
She understood it quite well. Now that the Second Prince was ill, it was reasonable for the Fourth Prince to think of the other children in the mansion out of love for him.
Going to the First Prince's place would be too conspicuous; the Princess Consort might have something to say about it.
Therefore, it makes sense for him to go to the First Princess or the Third Prince.
Li Chenjiao took a bite of yam with a normal expression, and praised, "Lvzhu's cooking skills are getting better and better."
Qiu Hu served her from the side, and she had come to somewhat accept that her concubine was so calm.
Li Chenjiao had only taken two bites when she heard Green Plum, who was serving her that day, say that Eunuch Su, who served Fourth Master, had arrived.
Li Chenjiao was now somewhat surprised. She put down her chopsticks, gave Qiu Hu a look, and said, "Please come in quickly."
Su Peisheng was holding something in his hands. From a distance, Li Chenjiao could tell it was some kind of material, but she could only see what it was when Su Peisheng got closer.
Su Peisheng greeted her first: "Greetings to Master Li. This is a black fox fur from the Northeast, sent by Master Li. Master Li said that the weather is getting colder, and this fur is for Master Li to keep warm."
Black fox fur is indeed quite precious.
Li Chenjiao was not an ignorant person. She smiled and said, "Please thank Master on my behalf, Eunuch Su. This is truly... a bit overwhelming. It's cold outside, Eunuch Su. Please have some hot tea."
Su Peisheng said he dared not: "Oh, this servant thanks Master Li. Master is waiting for this servant to reply, so this servant will take his leave now."
Li Chenjiao watched Su Peisheng leave with a smile.
Green Plum followed and retreated to see Su Peisheng off.
Qiu Hu had already taken the tray and showed it to Li Chenjiao. Li Chenjiao raised her hand and touched it: "There's no need to send it to the sewing room. You are all skillful. It looks like it's still a long way from snowing this year, so there's no rush."
This leather is considered top-quality. If it were sent to the sewing room, there would inevitably be gossips. To avoid trouble, Li Chenjiao simply had a few maids do it herself.
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