Qiu Hu bowed her head very low, looking extremely respectful: "Yes, this servant thanks the Princess Consort for her consideration on behalf of our concubine."
After bowing again, she respectfully withdrew from the main courtyard.
In the main courtyard, Madam Song was the first to laugh out loud without giving anyone face. She laughed very reservedly: "As expected of the Fujin (Madam) who is so generous and magnanimous."
The Fujin (principal wife) gathered her sleeves and glanced at Madam Song: "It's not that I'm being lenient; it's that the master pities her, so it's naturally different. I remember, Madam Song, you only had a month of confinement back then. You, too, were never short of favor before, but now look at your temperament..."
Back then, Song's childbirth was quite a ordeal, but it was nothing compared to Li's situation now.
The princess didn't finish her sentence, but her tone was unusually sharp.
The Fujin was clearly taking her anger out on Song because of Li's matter, and her expression turned sour.
The warm cup soothed her palms, and the Fujin's expression softened slightly: "The women in our household are all here to serve our master and to produce offspring for the royal family. Since Madam Li is not in good health, it is only natural that I, as her Fujin, should be more considerate and attentive."
The smile on Madam Song's face turned into flattery, though it was hard to tell how genuine it was: "What you say is true, Your Highness. You are the one who oversees everything in this inner courtyard, so whatever you say goes."
These words were another subtle jab at Wu Zetian.
Wu lowered her head, gently biting the tip of her tongue with her pearly teeth. She did not make a sound, but only said, "The concubine has made a great contribution in giving birth. The princess is so understanding. It is truly admirable."
Instead of praising the Fujin (the wife of the deceased), Lady Liu first lauded her. Lady Song and Lady Wu, who were not particularly close to each other, were the ones who first bragged about the Fujin.
But the Fujin always found it grating to hear.
The princess sighed: "You are all sensible, and I am not the kind of person who is intolerant. It's just that once a woman becomes pregnant, she is very likely to take advantage of the emperor's favor and do some lawless things. In this inner courtyard, the most important thing is to have rules and to know your own status and position."
Song nodded repeatedly in agreement, while Wu, watching from the side, felt disgusted, but she still nodded in agreement as well.
Today's incident shows that the concubine of the East Courtyard has really disrespected the principal wife.
Her behavior was so unrestrained that it was almost unlike the usual demeanor of a concubine.
Wu felt that something was amiss. If she was truly spoiled by the emperor's favor, she would have become arrogant long ago, given the emperor's affection for her.
Why did she become so ostentatious after giving birth to the Fourth Prince?
Wu felt there was something strange about this.
However, she remained silent as she listened to the Fujin (principal wife) mocking the Consort.
She was naturally happy to see the discord between the primary wife and the secondary wife.
As she left the main courtyard, Wu heard countless comments about the concubine.
Juxiang, who was serving her, couldn't help but whisper, "Is the Princess Consort in a hurry? Today is the first day of the month again. If the Master doesn't go to the main courtyard today, it will be two months since he last went there."
Wu Shi placed her hand on Ju Xiang's forearm and raised her eyes slightly: "It won't be cold forever. Have the kitchen take care of things these few days, and in a few days, set up a table and invite Fourth Master over."
Lady Wu had her own matters to attend to, and she quickly forgot about the unusual behavior of the concubine today.
...
In the east courtyard, Li Chenjiao had been awake for a while, but she was still asleep when Qiu Hu went to the main courtyard.
This was not Qiu Hu falsely conveying her orders, but rather something that Li Chenjiao had discussed with Qiu Hu in advance yesterday.
Originally, Granny Lin didn't quite agree with this matter. In her own words, it did seem a bit like taking advantage of someone's favor.
However, Lin Mama was eventually persuaded by Li Chenjiao, and Lin Mama was originally going to go to the main courtyard on Qiu Hu's behalf.
After all, she was more senior, so she could handle even if the Fujin (princess's wife) made things difficult for her.
Li Chenjiao naturally had her own ideas. After waking up, she listened to Qiu Hu recount everything she had heard in the main courtyard.
After listening to Qiu Hu's words, Li Chenjiao laughed for a moment before saying, "Indeed, everyone gets angry eventually."
Even the most good-tempered person can't help but get angry.
The princess was unhappy. Did she feel happy when she was in excruciating pain during her difficult childbirth?
People only lose their reason when they are angry.
Li Chenjiao smiled, her eyes, which seemed to hold the stars and the moon, possessing a captivating aura.
"I hope Fourth Master won't be coming to my place today. Will he have the kitchen prepare a hot pot? A mutton hot pot? That would be perfect for warming up today."
If we wait until May to eat it, it will be too hot.
During her postpartum period, no fishy or gamey foods were served on her table. Although she is now in a double postpartum period, her days are still more relaxed.
Li Chenjiao was finally able to order some food again, and eat some of the dishes she had been craving since her postpartum period.
"Do you have peach cake? I saw the Second Princess eating it the other day, and it smelled really good. Do you have any more?"
Qiu Ci said yes, nowadays the small kitchen prepares many things in duplicate.
The peach cake was indeed delicious, but Li Chenjiao still broke out in a sweat after eating the mutton hot pot for lunch. Pingniang's dipping sauce was really good, and Li Chenjiao couldn't stop eating it.
Her lips were red from eating so much, but the maids eventually stopped her.
Li Chenjiao hadn't eaten so well during her postpartum period. In this life, there is nothing more important than eating well.
Li Chenjiao was enjoying her dinner, which was quite heavy on the flavors, when she heard Qiu Hu rushing in.
"My lord, the master has returned to the manor and gone to the main courtyard to see the princess consort."
Li Chenjiao swallowed the meat in her mouth first, her cheeks twitching slightly: "It is a bit early."
She had originally expected that the Fourth Prince would neglect his wife until the end of April, around the time of the Second Prince's birthday, but she didn't expect that the Fourth Prince would go to the main courtyard today.
She wasn't worried at all that the Fujin would speak ill of her to the Fourth Prince, since she had indeed been quite disrespectful to the Fujin today.
Li Chenjiao knew very well that there were some things that needed to be done with discretion.
She can now disrespect the Fujin (principal wife) because the Fujin harmed her first, but if she continues to disregard the rules, she will ultimately be the one in the wrong.
A princess consort is a princess consort, and Li Chenjiao has always understood this better than anyone.
Li Chenjiao chuckled softly, her eyes clear as well.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
