It was almost the end of June, and July was just around the corner. Li Chenjiao had been playing cards for two or three days in a row, and she didn't go to bed until after 7 p.m. every day. Naturally, she didn't get up until the sun was high in the sky the next day.
On the first day of the seventh lunar month, the visit to the main courtyard to pay respects did not cause any trouble. For the past two days, the Fourth Prince has not entered the back courtyard and has been resting in the front courtyard.
The Fujin (principal wife) no longer dared to advise the Fourth Prince, and could only speak veiled words as usual. However, unlike before, there was no one Liu who would agree with her.
This time, Liu, like Bai Jia and Niu Hulu, remained silent during the greetings.
The princess gave her a final, furtive glare, but magnanimously chose not to "hold a grudge against Liu."
After all, although Liu was usually quite respectful to her, she hadn't actually taken away any of the favor from that wretched woman Li in the East Courtyard. If the Fujin needed someone who could always flatter her, she would naturally have plenty of such servants around her, and she wouldn't be short of Liu.
As for Li Chenjiao, she was actually quite tired of hearing what the Fujin (the wife) said. In any case, those words, apart from reaching Li Chenjiao's ears, wouldn't have any effect on her, and she wouldn't take them to heart.
As they stepped out of the main courtyard, the sun was unbearably hot. Qiu Hu held an umbrella, while Li Chenjiao fanned herself with a round fan. Niohuru Shi had somehow moved to a position slightly behind and to the side of Li Chenjiao.
"Greetings, Consort Niohuru." Niohuru nodded in greeting and walked behind Li Chenjiao, but the fan in her hand slowly shifted.
Li Chenjiao turned around and smiled slightly when she saw it was Niohuru, but she didn't seem to want to chat: "It's hot today, so let's go back early."
Niohuru responded, seemingly unsure of what to say, remaining silent but following closely behind.
A cool breeze blew from behind her, and Li Chenjiao sighed softly. Before she could speak, a female voice suddenly interrupted her.
"Greetings to Consort Li and Princess Niohuru." The voice was unusually pleasant, with a hint of coquettishness.
Li Chenjiao didn't turn around, nor did she stop walking.
Niohuru, who was following behind her, turned around and said, "Miss Lu." Her voice naturally turned cold.
Oh, Li Chenjiao then realized that it was Lu Shi's voice.
"Princess Niohuru is indeed very respectful to the concubine," said Lady Lu as she stood up, seemingly unintentionally.
Niohuru didn't stop what she was doing after hearing this. She used the words Li Chenjiao had just told her to dismiss Lu Shi: "It's hot, go back early."
Madam Zhu did not intend to linger. She gave another graceful bow and tactfully slowed her pace.
She stood there, looking at the two figures in front of her, one in front of the other, and suddenly burst out laughing, not knowing what she had seen that was so interesting.
"It's so hot... Every time the ice is delivered this month, I have to call you and weigh it myself." Mrs. Lu vigorously waved her fan and swayed her waist as she walked back.
Last month, she was missing so many points that should have been there, did she really not know?
Whether it's the matter of the Fujin (principal wife) or the slacking off of her subordinates, whatever amount is due to her, she will receive exactly what she is entitled to, not a single bit less.
Because it was the first day of the lunar month, the Fourth Prince did not go to the backyard that evening. Oh, after returning to the mansion in the evening, he went to the main courtyard to see the Second Prince, but he did not stay long. He only stayed for about half an hour and did not even have dinner in the main courtyard before returning to the front courtyard.
Nowadays, the Fourth Prince clearly has little patience for his wife; the only thing he can do now is to treat her as nothing.
If Honghui's health weren't so poor, the Fourth Prince would definitely have taken the Second Prince to the front courtyard to raise him personally.
The Second Prince's health has improved considerably. Today, in the main courtyard, the Princess Consort discussed with the Fourth Prince the possibility of having the Second Prince return to the front courtyard to continue his studies. The Fourth Prince, prioritizing the Second Prince's health, gave the order to allow him to recuperate for another half month.
The Second Prince will turn four this April. In two more years, the Fourth Prince plans to have the Second Prince move to the front courtyard.
However, the Fourth Prince did not reveal any of this to his wife.
The Princess Consort was completely unaware of all this. With the weather getting hotter, the Second Prince needed to be watched even more closely. If there were too much ice in the room, Honghui's body might not be able to withstand it and he would catch a cold.
It was indeed hot in July. Li Chenjiao had the small kitchen prepare mung bean soup and plum juice every day, taking turns. She thought that Pingniang and Qiaoniang were not young anymore and now they mostly ordered food in the kitchen. She only asked the two of them to make some cakes and soups, otherwise they would sweat a lot if they stayed in the small kitchen for half a day.
Qixi Festival was Li Chenjiao's birthday, but the East Courtyard was as usual. The Fourth Master did not enter the backyard that day. The Fourth Master had just come to the East Courtyard the day before, so Li Chenjiao guessed that the Fourth Master probably wouldn't enter the backyard on Qixi Festival.
As expected, Fourth Master did not enter the backyard that day. However, even after Li Chenjiao had already eaten dinner late at night, she still did not hear from Xiao Luzi that Fourth Master had returned to the backyard.
Granny Lin personally cooked a bowl of longevity noodles, which Aman personally served to Li Chenjiao. The little girl spoke in a childish voice, reciting a blessing that was neither taught to her by Madam Chen, Granny Lin, nor the maids. The Fourth Prince looked left and right from the side, and finally, he also cupped his hands and said, "Happy birthday, Mother!"
The courtyard was bustling with activity. Li Chenjiao leaned against the rocking chair, forbidding the two children from climbing up. She then had Qiu Hu reward all the maids and servants in the courtyard with a month's allowance, and didn't say anything more, just watching the maids chat and laugh.
It wasn't until half past 7 PM that Xiao Luzi came back in from outside carrying a hexagonal lantern. Li Chenjiao hadn't even noticed when Xiao Luzi had left the east courtyard. She narrowed her eyes slightly.
Using the moonlight, he keenly noticed that Xiao Luzi's expression was off.
"What happened?" she asked, straightening up.
Xiao Luzi bowed deeply and said, "Master, something has happened. Prince Yu is not well. Fourth Master arrived at Prince Yu's residence this evening. Now, all the families in the capital have received the news and are rushing to Prince Yu's residence."
Li Chenjiao was taken aback: "Why so suddenly?"
Just like the incident involving Prince Gong a while ago, it came suddenly, catching everyone completely off guard.
Furthermore, this is Prince Yu. Even Li Chenjiao knows that the brotherly bond between Prince Yu and His Majesty is different from that between Prince Gong.
Li Chenjiao stopped fanning herself: "Has Fourth Master sent word back?"
Xiao Luzi shook his head: "Not yet. But the main wife has already started making moves. When I came back, the gatekeeper and carriage were already prepared."
Hearing this, Li Chenjiao leaned back again: "Okay, then let's wait for news."
At this point, Li Chenjiao was of no help whatsoever.
"Have Pingniang and Qiaoniang prepare some food. If Su Peisheng or Fulu returns to the mansion tomorrow morning, send it to the front yard."
At this moment, Prince Yu's residence is probably in complete chaos, so it's not very convenient to send food over.
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