A new year brings new beginnings, but this winter came early and seems to be colder than in previous years.
Charcoal fires were already in use in the east courtyard during the winter months, and Li Chenjiao would check on the Fourth Prince's room every morning and evening.
On the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, Li Chenjiao and the children went to the palace once, and the Fourth Prince was also brought into the palace.
However, the child caught a chill as soon as he returned. That evening, Li Chenjiao had the family doctor examine him and found it was just a chill, but he developed a high fever the next morning.
He recovered in seven or eight days, but around the time of the Lunar New Year, the empress in the palace sent word that the fourth prince did not need to go to the palace.
The Fourth Prince is now the youngest in the household.
The princes and princesses finally settled down and went about their studies in the front courtyard without any trouble.
After three months, the eldest prince, who was older, showed more talent in his studies. The second prince, in comparison, was not stupid, but he was always sickly.
In the twelfth lunar month, the Fourth Prince caught a cold and developed a high fever. Not long after he recovered, the Second Prince in the main courtyard also fell ill.
The Second Prince fell ill after returning to his residence from the palace following the Lunar New Year, and his illness lasted until the beginning of the 41st year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign.
Because the Second Prince was ill, Consort De naturally wouldn't allow him to enter the palace anymore.
So this time, only the eldest prince and the third prince accompanied the Fourth Prince to the Hall of Supreme Harmony for the better part of a month.
As the new year began, His Majesty seemed to show more concern for Prince Hongyu of the Prince Zhi's residence. However, the child was far too frail. Born in August, he was only five months old by the new year, yet his cries sounded like those of a kitten.
After Prince Zhi brought Prince Hongyu into the palace for three days, His Majesty then said that he was exempted from the invitation.
Apart from Prince Hongyu, among the remaining princes, the one who was most favored by His Majesty was naturally the eldest prince, Hongxi. Among the princes from the other families, Hongming and Hongyun from the Fourth Prince's mansion were not particularly favored by His Majesty.
However, the eldest prince is indeed the most articulate among the younger princes. During the half-month of the New Year holiday, His Majesty praised the eldest prince several times. Although they were all simple words, the eldest prince was definitely a source of pride for Lady Wu.
The Second Prince in the main courtyard had recovered somewhat, but seeing the First Prince in the south courtyard, the Princess Consort originally intended to send the Second Prince back to the palace as well. However, she was ultimately dissuaded by Granny Qian.
The Second Prince's health was, after all, what a condition he was in.
During the two weeks of the New Year celebrations, Lady Wu and the First Prince had made a name for themselves, but at the same time, it made the First Prince, who had stolen the limelight from her Second Prince, even more memorable to Lady Wu.
Because it was during the New Year holidays, the children were exempted from going to school in the front yard after the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month.
Li Chenjiao waved her hand, letting the girls go home and waiting to call them back to the mansion on the tenth day of the first lunar month.
During the first month of the lunar year, the Second Princess had a wonderful time. During this time, the Fourth Prince came to the East Courtyard to rest for two nights and was amazed by the Second Princess's boundless energy. However, the Fourth Prince was visibly happy.
However, Li Chenjiao couldn't keep up with the Second Princess, nor could she outlast the Fourth Prince. She didn't know where the Fourth Prince got so much energy at night.
Fourth Master rested in the East Courtyard twice, and each time he called for water twice. On one occasion, he didn't call for water and just hurriedly finished his business in the clean room.
The Fourth Prince probably ate too well in the main courtyard and the Hall of Preserving Harmony, and he had inexhaustible energy at night.
Li Chenjiao was in low spirits for almost the entire first month of the lunar calendar.
During the New Year holidays, Li Chenjiao didn't gain weight but instead lost weight, and her chin became pointed.
Last year she escaped a calamity because she was pregnant with the fourth prince, but this year she naturally couldn't escape it. For most of the year, she worked from dawn till dusk every day. If it was cold, it would be even more unbearable.
When it rains and snows, your face feels like it's been scraped by a knife.
About half a month later, on the fifteenth day, Li Chenjiao breathed a sigh of relief. When it got dark, she finally had some energy to eat a bowl of glutinous rice balls.
She had just finished eating the glutinous rice balls and was wearing a thick cloak that covered half of her face, preparing to head forward. Before she even left the east courtyard, she heard a commotion in the garden.
A piercing scream was heard, followed by a heavy thud. A hexagonal lantern, carried by one of the servants, fell to the ground. Various sounds mingled with chaotic footsteps, and for a moment, even the sound of the wind and snow could not drown it out.
Li Chenjiao instinctively shielded the Second Princess behind her. Standing in front of the courtyard gate, she was still somewhat dazed, but now she was jolted awake. The cold wind mixed with snowflakes fell on her face, and Li Chenjiao seemed to feel an endless chill.
Xiao Luzi had already gone forward to inquire, and Li Chenjiao slowly exhaled, her heart sinking as well.
Another incident has occurred.
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