Now that things have blown up, the Fujin (principal wife) naturally can't just sit idly by; she has to take charge and handle the matter beautifully.
Otherwise, wouldn't she, as the wife of the emperor, be seen by everyone in the household as someone who couldn't manage the household and was mean to the concubines?
Then all the good reputation she has painstakingly built up over the years will be ruined by that vile woman, Lu Shi.
The Fourth Prince left the mansion early in the morning to run errands, and the Fujin (wife of the Fujin) had no peace and quiet all morning. She first sent Yu Ru, who was by her side, to personally take care of Lu Shi, and then sent Wang Jinzhong to the kitchen to give her a warning. Of course, she also had to thoroughly investigate the kitchen, because someone had to take the blame no matter what.
This has put the kitchen in a difficult position. This troublesome situation was initiated yesterday evening by the Fujin (principal wife) through a messenger. Now, the Fujin is demanding that they not mistreat the women of the inner quarters and that they provide an explanation...
Isn't this just a case of gods fighting and little devils suffering?
The kitchen staff were merely following orders, and in the end, they had to grit their teeth and send someone out to take the blame.
What kind of mess is this?
When Xiao Luzi went to the kitchen to pick up his lunch at noon, he noticed that the chefs inside didn't look too happy. He didn't say much, though. In this household, everyone did the same thing: pushing someone out to take the blame and then trying to appease them.
Li Chenjiao heard about this as soon as she woke up. She clicked her tongue, wondering who she was talking about: "People really do have to be willing to go all out."
Too much comfort and enjoyment can make one timid and hesitant.
Who cares if it offends people later? It's only right to get what you deserve.
That's probably what Miss Lu was thinking.
That's quite interesting. I wonder if Fourth Master thought the same thing when he saw her this morning.
Thinking of this, Li Chenjiao couldn't help but chuckle to herself.
She actually got jealous here; that's really unprecedented.
During the day, things were naturally calm. Apart from the big commotion at the main courtyard to appease Lady Lu, after noon, the kitchen staff brought out a young eunuch to serve the food. It was said that the young eunuch had audaciously embezzled Lady Lu's food.
The princess immediately punished the eunuch with a beating, and he was taken directly back to the Imperial Household Department.
Everyone in the kitchen was also penalized by having their monthly allowance reduced by two months.
The methods employed were swift and decisive, and the intention to deal with the situation drastically was quite clear.
Naturally, if the Princess Consort doesn't give an explanation, all sorts of rumors will inevitably spread throughout the household.
In the evening, Xiao Luzi brought back dinner from the kitchen and told an interesting story. Master Guo's young apprentice secretly told Xiao Luzi that although the Princess Consort had officially punished everyone in the kitchen with their monthly allowances, she had secretly arranged for Wang Jinzhong to give her a reward of silver, which was said to be as much as the kitchen's monthly allowances for the first and second halves of the year.
Clearly, the Princess Consort was quite adept at calming people down.
Li Chenjiao sighed and looked on with her chin in her hand as she watched the maids set out the meal.
The Fourth Prince's return to the manor today was no different from any other day. Although the Emperor had said before leaving the capital that the older princes would oversee the country, in reality, he dealt with mostly unimportant memorials. The Fourth Prince could tell what was written in some of the memorials just by looking at who had submitted them.
Dealing with these trivial tasks was naturally effortless, and the Fourth Prince even had time to visit Prince Yu at his residence.
After being treated by the imperial physician, Prince Yu's complexion did indeed look much better, and he seemed much more energetic. However, the Fourth Prince did not disturb him for long and left after sitting for about a quarter of an hour.
Today, when the Fourth Prince returned to the mansion, no Lady Lu came out to intercept him on his way to the East Courtyard. The Fourth Prince also guessed that his wife would probably make a big fuss about it during the day.
Fourth Master had just finished his dinner in the East Courtyard. At the table, Li Chenjiao and the two children were drinking mung bean soup. The two children were drinking it in small sips, while Li Chenjiao, the mother, had already finished a bowl. She was just asking Qiu Hu to bring her another bowl when Su Peisheng came in from outside.
Now, Li Chenjiao feels uneasy whenever she sees Su Peisheng come in during a meal. This time was no exception. Her eyelids twitched, and she only glanced at Su Peisheng.
Su Peisheng bowed deeply, and after the Fourth Master gave him a look indicating that he could dispense with the formalities, he stepped forward and whispered something to the Fourth Master.
Fourth Master waved his hand and said, "Speak."
Su Peisheng looked up in surprise, then quickly stopped and lowered his head: "The gatekeeper said that something is wrong at Prince Gong's residence. They have already invited the imperial physician, and later Fifth Master also sent someone to ask for your opinion."
At Prince Gong's residence?
Li Chenjiao frowned slightly as she listened from the side. Why was it the Prince Gong's residence?
He remembered that the rumors circulating outside were that Prince Yu was seriously ill, so why was Su Peisheng talking about Prince Gong now?
The Fourth Prince was also somewhat surprised: "Fifth Imperial Uncle?"
Su Peisheng said yes.
Li Chenjiao spoke first: "Since there are matters outside, and those matters are important, it's getting dark outside, so let me see you out, sir."
The Fourth Prince hummed in agreement. He was naturally going to the Prince Gong's residence at this time. If something hadn't really happened to his uncle, he probably wouldn't have sent someone to deliver the message.
"Get some rest. I'll come see you again when I have time."
If something really happened at Prince Gong's residence, then the Fourth Prince would probably be busy for a while, so he didn't give a definite answer.
Li Chenjiao nodded understandingly, stood up, and walked outside with Fourth Master.
There are always times like this throughout the year. Li Chenjiao watches Fourth Master walk out. There's really nothing she can do but watch him leave.
Ultimately, she's the one who's enjoying a life of leisure.
So each time I saw the Fourth Master off from the East Courtyard, I felt a sense of melancholy but not much reluctance.
However, the Fourth Master always seemed reluctant to part with her, and he patted Li Chenjiao's shoulder.
I must say, Fourth Master's strength was just right, not too much or too little, and it felt quite comfortable.
"Go back and rest, there are a lot of mosquitoes outside."
It's unclear who was saying "Go back and rest" while holding onto Li Chenjiao's shoulders tightly.
Li Chenjiao looked at Fourth Master with a pair of smiling eyes. After a long while, Fourth Master seemed to realize it belatedly and let go of her hand. However, although he withdrew his hand, he seemed unsure of where to put it.
Li Chenjiao found it amusing, and finally watched as Fourth Master walked out with his hands behind his back.
Su Peisheng swallowed back the words he was about to say: "The servants around Fifth Master are still waiting outside."
The Fourth Prince had just left the East Courtyard and was walking towards the Front Courtyard when he ran into his wife, who was dressed in her finest attire.
"I heard that the Fifth Imperial Uncle is unwell, and I was worried about you going alone at night, so I am waiting here for you." The Princess Consort adopted an extremely humble posture.
The Fourth Master paused for a couple of seconds, then said to Su Peisheng, "Tell the gatekeeper to prepare a carriage."
The Fourth Prince naturally rode his horse to the Prince Gong's Mansion, and the carriage was naturally prepared for his wife.
The princess still smiled.
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