When the principal wife learned that Consort Wu had gone to Lady Li's place shortly after visiting her, she was quite unhappy for a while.
She didn't like this feeling of being out of control. She wished that Li and Wu would fight to the death, but now Wu went to see Li.
This greatly displeased the Fujin (principal wife).
However, the Princess Consort had more important things to do at the moment, so she did not interfere or do anything else.
——
The Fourth Prince only learned about Princess Wu's arrival when he returned to the manor at night.
After hearing Fu Lu's report, Fourth Master's brows remained furrowed.
When his mother asked him about taking a new wife last time, he told her that he would wait until after the New Year. Now that something has suddenly happened, the Fourth Prince is not very happy.
But he wouldn't blame his mother for it. He understood her good intentions. It was just that he really disliked having a bunch of wives and concubines in the backyard. How many troubles had there been in the backyards of his third brother and his fifth brother?
Fourth Master had already stepped into the backyard and was heading towards Li Chenjiao's east courtyard, but now he abruptly stopped.
Su Peisheng was also waiting for his master to speak.
Fourth Master eventually headed towards the East Courtyard, but there was more than just Consort Li there.
"Go to Lady Wu's place." The Fourth Prince was still mindful of Consort De's feelings.
Su Peisheng responded in a low voice, thinking to himself that things might be about to change again in the manor. After a while, he heard his master's voice again.
“I remember there is a pair of pearl pendants in the storeroom that my mother gave me when I got married. You should go there yourself and deliver them to the east courtyard.”
Upon hearing this, Su Peisheng immediately understood the relative importance of the matter.
Given Li Gege's current status, she naturally cannot wear those pearl earrings. However, those things are rare, and more importantly, Fourth Master cherishes Li Gege's feelings for him.
When Li Chenjiao received the pearl earring, she was having dinner. Eating a hot pot in winter is naturally the most comforting thing, especially when the soup base is made with a rich and flavorful fish broth, the taste is absolutely amazing.
Li Chenjiao didn't rush to look at the things she received; at that moment, nothing was more important to her than eating.
When it was almost time to turn off the lights and rest at night, Li Chenjiao remembered to ask Qiu Hu to bring the earring over for a look.
Looking at it under the lamp, it takes on a different meaning.
The two pearls are warm and delicate, and what's rare is that both pearls are equally full and beautiful. Such pearls would be beautiful whether made into earrings or other jewelry.
However, given Li Chenjiao's current age, wearing such precious pearls doesn't quite suit her.
"What a pity." Li Chenjiao stroked it for a while, and after her joy subsided, she told Qiu Hu to take it away and keep it.
Qiu Hu carefully put it away and then asked Li Chenjiao if it was a pity that she couldn't wear it.
Li Chenjiao had already lain down lazily, and upon hearing this, she chuckled and said, "No, I don't like that thing."
Pearls are indeed precious and rare, but Li Chenjiao, at her age, doesn't really like wearing overly cumbersome pendants; they're too heavy.
Qiu Hu smiled and said, "The lights in the front courtyard have already been turned off, so Princess should rest early as well."
Li Chenjiao didn't care much, rolled up the blanket and went to sleep.
The Fourth Master had no other interest in the matter and went to bed to rest after finishing his official business.
However, Fourth Master was used to sleeping on soft pillows in the East Courtyard, and even the front courtyard had been replaced with soft pillows. Suddenly sleeping on a hard pillow made Fourth Master feel uncomfortable and his neck was uncomfortable.
And also—
When the Fourth Master was in the East Courtyard, he always slept on the outer side, while Li Chenjiao slept on the inner side.
According to the rules, the princes would naturally sleep on the inside so that their wives and concubines could get up and serve them at night. However, Li Chenjiao was a restless sleeper and once almost fell off the bed while sleeping on the outside.
Fortunately, the Fourth Master was a light sleeper that day and heard the noise, so he pulled him back to his senses.
From then on, Fourth Master dared not let Li Chenjiao sleep on the outside.
Now that he was sleeping on the inside, Fourth Master's right arm stretched back a little, which felt rather unaccustomed to.
Having gotten used to sleeping on the outside, Fourth Master felt a bit cramped and uncomfortable.
Wu slept very peacefully, and even forced herself to stay awake because she was thinking about serving the Fourth Prince when he got up at night.
She noticed that the Fourth Prince wasn't in high spirits tonight, but Madam Wu didn't care. As long as they had this one night and things were out in the open, it would be fine.
However, Wu couldn't help feeling a little sour. After all, they shared a bed, but the Fourth Prince was too far away from her. It was as if he was avoiding her and didn't want to touch her at all.
When Wu woke up the next day, her eyes were covered in bruises. Just after dawn, she got up to help the Fourth Master wash up.
This was another thing that made Fourth Master feel uncomfortable. Except for the first time when Li Chenjiao served him, she didn't get up at dawn.
Fourth Master didn't like having people serve him closely when he was dressed, so he dismissed Madam Wu and went to the outer room to call Su Peisheng in.
Madam Wu did not insist. She respectfully saw the Fourth Master off, and before she could even have breakfast, she asked a maid to help her wash up and prepare to go to the main courtyard to pay her respects.
When Madam Wu returned from the main courtyard, Li Chenjiao had just gotten up. She had just yawned twice when Qiu Ci came in with a smile.
"Your Highness is awake? Just now, Fulu sent someone to say that Fourth Master will be having dinner in our East Courtyard tonight. He told Your Highness to make the arrangements."
No wonder this girl looked so radiant this morning.
Li Chenjiao knew that the water had been called for by the master last night. She was just a princess, and serving the fourth master was her duty. However, Li Chenjiao still felt a little uncomfortable thinking about it.
She wouldn't feel so uncomfortable if the Fourth Master came to her place a few days later.
Fourth Master has been coming to the East Courtyard lately, so Li Chenjiao wouldn't be jealous just because he goes elsewhere; she's just being dramatic.
It just doesn't feel very clean.
But Li Chenjiao had no right to refuse; she couldn't very well turn her back on Fourth Master and tell him not to come.
However, if Fourth Master really comes tonight, Li Chenjiao decided to keep an eye on him herself and make sure he cleans her up before letting him into her bed.
With the New Year approaching, after having breakfast, Li Chenjiao heard Qiu Hu report that Granny Xu had brought a maid from the sewing room to take her measurements and make winter clothes.
This was the first time Li Chenjiao had met Granny Xu. She wasn't as fierce as people in the manor had described; on the contrary, Granny Xu had a kind face.
Knowing that this person was Consort De, Li Chenjiao naturally wouldn't offend her for no reason, but she didn't become too affectionate either.
Granny Xu, on the other hand, was quite friendly.
She even complimented Li Chenjiao on her slender waist with a smile, and Li Chenjiao chatted with Granny Xu for a few more minutes.
After Li Chenjiao entered the manor, she ate quite a lot every day. Not to mention her daily meals, there were also various other pastries and cakes.
Li Chenjiao tightened her waist, clearly feeling that she was a little fatter than when she was still a young lady. However, she was not fat; the extra weight only made her look fuller.
After seeing Granny Xu off, Li Chenjiao began to wonder if she should eat less.
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