As the banquet began, the Fujin (principal wife) spoke less, but she couldn't resist the constant flattery. Although she noticed that the Consort De at the head of the table didn't look too good, she still couldn't help but chime in with a few more words.
During the entire dinner, the elder Consort De didn't say much, but the Fujin (the wife of the deceased) stole the show once again.
After several rounds of drinks, Li Chenjiao had already drunk two or three cups of fruit wine and her face was flushed. Princess Consort Guarjia of Prince Jian was sitting some distance away from her, but she still raised a toast to Li Chenjiao from afar during the meal.
With the wet nurses looking after the two children, Li Chenjiao didn't have to worry much.
She also asked Granny Lin to look after some of the eldest princesses. The child sat next to the second princess, sitting very upright and already showing a proper demeanor.
However, the Second Princess sat very properly outside, but her little hands under the table would gently tug at Li Chenjiao's clothes where no one could see.
Li Chenjiao touched the little girl's hand in return.
Just as the banquet was about to end, Granny Zhao suddenly came in from outside.
Li Chenjiao had noticed that Granny Zhao had disappeared before the banquet started. Every time Granny Zhao came in from outside, she would bring some news.
Sure enough, Zhao Mama quietly bowed and then whispered to Consort De. The Fujin stopped talking and her eyes involuntarily drifted over.
As Consort De listened to Zhao Mama's report, she suddenly glanced at the Fujin. Consort De's expression was not discernible. She raised her hand slightly, revealing a light-colored nail polish on her hand as she had removed her nail guards for the meal.
"I understand. What did the fourth prince say?" Consort De's voice was steady.
The Fujin was nearby, and when she heard Consort De mention the Fourth Prince, she naturally paid even more attention and sat up much straighter.
Zhao Mama's voice then became even lower, and even though the Fujin wanted to listen carefully, she couldn't hear anything clearly.
The princess bit her lip, and her smugness was instantly dissipated.
For a long time afterward, the Fujin was on tenterhooks, waiting for everyone to finish their dinner. The noblewomen were naturally good at reading people's expressions, and when they saw that the Fujin's expression was not right, they stopped joining in the fun in front of her. As it was getting late, everyone left one after another.
The Fujin overheard Granny Qian whispering something about it, and it was said to be related to the children in front of her. She didn't know if it was the Fujin's second prince or the third prince that Xu Shi was currently raising.
Soon, only Consort Li Chenjiao and Consort De, who was sitting peacefully inside the palace, remained in Yonghe Palace. Li Chenjiao went outside to see everyone off, but when she returned to Yonghe Palace, she was stopped by Granny Zhao.
"Please wait, Consort Li. The Empress is speaking with the Consort inside."
Li Chenjiao pulled her clothes tighter; she felt cold outside. She asked, "Then I'll wait in the side hall."
Clearly, she wasn't curious at all about what Consort De had said to the Fujin.
Granny Zhao replied, "Of course, both princesses and the Fourth Prince are here."
What are Consort De and the Princess Consort talking about in the main hall right now?
Consort De leisurely sipped her tea. After having dinner, she had already put on her nail guards. "Just now, Granny Zhao said that His Majesty tested the princes and grandsons on their studies in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Honghui stammered and couldn't answer a single question. But Hongyun, that child, spoke fluently."
Consort De's tone was not harsh at all, as if she were just talking about something very ordinary.
Upon hearing the first half of Consort De's sentence, the Fujin felt her face burning. Then, hearing Consort De compare her second and third sons, she was overwhelmed with mixed emotions...
Actually, Consort De's words were somewhat restrained. In reality, it was the Second Prince who cried because he couldn't answer. Fortunately, the Fourth Prince personally comforted him, otherwise he might have been blamed by His Majesty.
Of all the children in the group, some couldn't answer the questions and some even cried from the questions, but only Honghui did.
Consort De herself could understand that the child was still young and it was not a big deal. In addition, she also knew that the Second Prince was in poor health. Recently, the Fujin had been neglecting him quite a bit. It was said that the Fujin had asked for leave for the Second Prince for half of the month.
The child is still young and hasn't been to school much lately, so he's probably forgotten a lot of what he learned before. It's not hard to understand why he can't answer His Majesty's questions.
Consort De hadn't been in a hurry to reprimand the Fujin because she had known this would happen. Even without today's incident, the Fujin would have learned her lesson eventually.
People always need to learn from their mistakes to remember them.
She knew the Fujin's temperament well and that the Fujin valued her reputation most, so she still gave the Fujin face and did not refute her in front of everyone.
The Second Prince is a good boy. After all, he is the Fourth Prince's primary consort, and Consort De still gave her face.
As the Fujin (princess) emerged from Yonghe Palace, the smile that had lasted all day vanished without her noticing.
Li Chenjiao was still unaware of anything at this moment. She was holding the Second Princess's hand, the wet nurse was carrying the Fourth Prince, and the First Princess was being led by Wang Shi. Li Chenjiao had Wang Shi walk in the middle, while she walked in front, with the servants following behind Wang Shi, so she wasn't worried about anything going wrong.
After they left the palace, the Fourth Prince had not yet come out. The Princess Consort waved her hand, indicating that they should get into the carriage first. Li Chenjiao did not refuse. It was really cold in the twelfth lunar month. The little girl buried her whole face in her cloak, and her hands were tightly clasped in her mother's warm hand.
Li Chenjiao held the hot water bottle in her arms the whole time, and the little girl's hand was warm to hold.
The mother and son got into the carriage together. The Fourth Prince was already sleepy, and who knows how sleepy he will be for the next half month.
Li Chenjiao waited for about fifteen minutes when Xiao Luzi outside said, "Fourth Master is out." There seemed to be some movement coming from the carriage ahead.
Xiao Luzi quickly said from under the carriage window, "Master, it's the Princess Consort getting off the carriage at the front."
Li Chenjiao was nestled in the carriage, holding a large and a small hot water bottle with the Second Princess. Upon hearing Xiao Luzi's words, the mother and daughter yawned in unison.
A moment later, Xiao Luzi said again, "The Princess Consort has gotten into the carriage again, and the Master has also gotten into the carriage. The Second Prince and the Third Prince have also gotten into the Master's carriage."
"Master, please sit tight, it's time to set off," said Xiao Luzi.
Li Chenjiao hummed in agreement: "It's been cold lately, so when you get back, have Pingniang and the others in the small kitchen make some ginger soup to keep on hand. Be careful not to catch a cold."
Qiu Hu noted it down, understanding that this was because their master cared for them.
As the carriage set off, Li Chenjiao became sleepy.
She could sleep peacefully in the carriage, while the lady in front of her was truly restless and uneasy.
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