The eldest prince, who had been full of energy at the manor, now looked as listless as a daylily.
However, I feel much better than when I went out with Fourth Master last night.
The Fourth Prince suddenly understood. Staying at home all day was indeed boring. Even the Fourth Prince himself would occasionally think of going to the estate for half a day or a day to pass the time.
If it weren't for the fact that the Second Prince was in poor health, the Fourth Prince would have taken him along yesterday.
However, once the weather clears up in the spring, the Fourth Master plans to bring the children from his household to the estate for a few more days to rest.
After sending the eldest prince back to his residence, the Fourth Prince watched as Fulu and the eldest prince's wet nurse escorted the eldest prince to the backyard before returning to the front yard.
Once they reached the front courtyard, the Fourth Prince removed his cloak and asked, "How is Yuqing Palace?"
Su Peisheng took the cloak and, upon hearing the Fourth Prince's question, leaned closer and whispered, "Everything is as usual, except that the Third Prince is ill and did not go to the palace today, nor did the Ministry of Rites."
That would be the same as the Fourth Prince.
This is actually a way of avoiding suspicion. Isn't the reason why the Fourth Prince didn't go to the palace today also because he had this idea in mind?
The Fourth Prince went straight into the study. After listening to Su Peisheng's report, he didn't even frown. He then asked, "Is there any news from Father Emperor?"
The news has likely reached various parts of the capital, but since the Emperor has not given a clear answer, no one dares to make any rash moves.
Su Peisheng's expression became even more serious, and he finally shook his head: "There is no news yet."
The Fourth Prince leaned back in his armchair and closed his eyes after Su Peisheng finished his report, seemingly lost in thought.
After a moment, Fourth Master waved his hand, and Su Peisheng tactfully withdrew.
Su Peisheng had just stepped out of the study when he turned around and encountered Fu Lu with a smiling face. He was startled, glanced inside, and then grabbed Fu Lu's ear and pulled him outside.
"Who are you trying to scare for no reason? Tell me, what's wrong now?"
Fu Lu quickly covered his ears, afraid of disturbing the master in the study. He dared not shout, only letting out a few soft hisses.
"The principal wife sent over some nourishing soup, it just arrived a little while ago, Master, what do you say..."
As soon as the Fourth Prince returned to the manor, the main courtyard sent someone to deliver some tonic soup. Isn't this a clear indication of his true intentions?
I guess the Princess Consort was worried because she knew that the eldest prince hadn't been studying in the front courtyard during the day.
Su Peisheng clicked his tongue inwardly and waved his hand: "Send him away. You know what you should and shouldn't say, right? Alright, the master is getting impatient right now. Send the tonic soup to the kitchen first."
Fu Lu readily agreed and went out to deal with Wang Jinzhong, who was coming from the main courtyard.
Fourth Master did not go into the backyard that night; he rested in the front yard.
Oh, or rather, the Fourth Prince rested in his study. As for the tonic soup sent by the main wife, it was reheated again and again in the front kitchen until it became greasy. In the end, it was finished off by a few apprentices in the kitchen.
It was impossible to hide the fact that the eldest prince was not studying in the front courtyard during the day. After all, the maids around the second prince were not blind, and they sent word back before noon.
The Fujin waited anxiously all day, and after learning that the Fourth Prince had returned to the mansion, she waited for half the night, but in the end, nothing came of it.
Even as she fell asleep, the Princess Consort was still somewhat uneasy. After all, who knew where the Fourth Prince had taken the First Prince if he was away from the mansion for a day? Unfortunately, he hadn't taken her Second Prince with him.
The princess couldn't sleep soundly at all.
As for the South Courtyard, Lady Wu welcomed the First Prince at dusk. Upon seeing the Second Prince from afar, she disregarded everything else and rushed into the snow to embrace him.
"I haven't seen our Hongming for a day, and it's made his mother so worried..."
Upon hearing this, the eldest prince's eyes crinkled, his gloom vanished, and a smile appeared on his face.
The wet nurse of the eldest prince, who was standing nearby, had already noticed this and subtly adjusted the umbrella she was holding to shield Wu Shi and the eldest prince from the wind and snow.
Wu shook hands with the eldest prince, then quickly stood up and led him into the inner room. After looking him up and down, she asked a series of questions.
"Do you still remember what your father and mother told you? Where did you go with your father today? Do you remember what your father said to you today? Why aren't you saying anything, child? Although your father took you out today, you can't fall behind in your studies. Go apologize to him first thing tomorrow morning. You have to make up for what you missed today. Tonight, your mother will personally accompany you in your studies."
The smile on the eldest prince's face slowly disappeared. He silently pursed his lips, and Wu Shi kept squeezing his shoulders. He kept his lips tightly pursed.
Seeing that he didn't speak, Madam Wu became even more anxious: "What happened to you, child... Is your father unhappy today?"
As she asked this question, the smile on her face gradually faded, and her eyes were fixed on the eldest prince, as if she wouldn't stop until she heard something from him.
Wu Shi exerted considerable force, but the eldest prince seemed completely accustomed to it, not even blinking. He pursed his dry lips and managed to utter with some difficulty, "It hurts... Mother, it hurts..."
Only then did Madam Wu seem to belatedly realize her mistake and loosen her grip a little, but she still looked at the eldest prince reproachfully: "You child, you've finally spoken."
The eldest prince quietly stretched his shoulders, then fell silent again.
Empress Wu was anxious and couldn't help but press on the eldest prince's shoulder, but this time she didn't use much force.
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