Over the years, how many rare and wonderful things has the master bestowed upon Master Li of the East Courtyard? It's not uncommon for him to even send silver notes directly to the East Courtyard, but sending a whole house like today is truly a first.
After all, fields, shops, and houses are private property, unlike other objects.
However, given how much the master values Master Li, it doesn't seem too strange to send him anything now.
Fourth Master asked Su Peisheng to find the land deed, but instead of having Su Peisheng deliver it, he went to the East Courtyard himself, taking the land deed with him.
It was just past noon, and the sun was blazing as they walked. Fourth Master didn't encounter many people along the way; after all, it was hot, and no one would be wandering around outside like that.
The east courtyard was quiet at this moment. It was hot, and Li Chenjiao was too lazy to do anything. After lunch, she and her two children were taking a nap on the cool mat in the inner room.
Li Chenjiao was sleeping soundly, and the Fourth Master didn't let the maids disturb her. After taking a stroll around, he went to the study.
Upon entering the study, the Fourth Master was taken aback. He turned around and looked at it, saying, "This is..."
It's been a few days since I last visited, and this study has changed a lot.
At this moment, Lin Mama was serving them. She knew what the Fourth Prince was talking about and nodded respectfully: "Yes, Master said that the Second Princess and the Fourth Prince are both getting old and have already started their studies, so they should naturally have reverence for the sage. So he had someone find a statue of Confucius so that they can bow to it every day while reading."
The Fourth Master twitched the corner of his mouth and asked with an extremely complicated expression, "She still believes in this?"
Granny Lin didn't dare to respond. The meaning behind the statue was: "The true purpose of burning incense and praying for blessings lies in one's heart. These empty gestures are just for show, merely for appearances."
Have you noticed that the First Wife of the Imperial Household Department has been setting aside seven or eight days each month to observe a vegetarian diet and chant Buddhist scriptures ever since the Second Prince's health began to decline, saying it's for his sake?
Li Chenjiao is good at learning and imitating, but she doesn't actually ask for anything.
Fourth Master didn't expect anyone to answer. He suddenly narrowed his eyes and pointed to the small statue standing next to Confucius: "That is..."
Granny Lin was unusually silent for a while: "That is, that is Zhao Gongming."
Oh, the God of Wealth!
Fourth Master had already figured something out. He walked closer and glanced at the candlesticks under the portrait. Even without looking closely, he could tell that there were more incense sticks burning under Zhao Gongming's portrait.
Fourth Master examined her carefully. He didn't quite believe that Li Chenjiao would believe this, but people do need to believe in something to seem like they have a weakness.
Fourth Master sat in the study for a while longer. Compared to the leisure books in the study before, there weren't many fewer, but most of the books on the table were primers, which looked like they had been read many times.
The Fourth Master was too lazy to move, so he simply sat down at his desk for a short rest.
Oh, before taking a short rest, he didn't forget to instruct Su Peisheng: "In a couple of days, please invite a highly virtuous monk to give a lecture on Buddhism, so that I may listen."
There have been many things going on lately, and Fourth Master has been feeling rather uneasy. Listening to this will be just what I need.
Fourth Master didn't really believe in this either. Most soldiers don't believe in these things. How can you talk about compassion when your hands are stained with blood?
To act without regret for the sake of people's livelihood is the greatest compassion.
After Li Chenjiao woke up and heard what the maids had said, she went to the study. Seeing that the Fourth Master was sleeping peacefully, she retreated to the outer room.
Lin Mama truthfully relayed the Fourth Master's question, which didn't surprise Li Chenjiao much. After listening, she simply smiled.
When Qiu Hu told her that Fourth Master had sent the deed to the house, Li Chenjiao was slightly surprised, but still asked Qiu Hu to put it away safely.
As for houses and such, she didn't have many opportunities to see them while living in the Fourth Prince's mansion; she could only imagine how nice they sounded.
After that, apart from going to work at the Ministry of Revenue, the Fourth Prince spent the rest of his time returning home to diligently worship Buddha.
It seems they're completely oblivious to what's going on around them.
However, this time the Ministry of Personnel and the Court of Judicial Review thoroughly investigated the disaster relief efforts, which had nothing to do with the Ministry of Revenue.
There may have been some people in the Ministry of Revenue who had their eyes on the disaster relief grain, but with the Minister of Revenue and the Fourth Prince keeping a close eye on it, at least not a single grain was missing when the disaster relief grain left the Ministry of Revenue.
In other words, the Fourth Master wasn't worried at all that this matter would involve him.
The Uya clan has even less to worry about, as their mother constantly reminds and restrains the household, so there's no need to worry about trouble in the backyard.
The Fourth Prince devoted himself to Buddhist practice for several days and did not enter the backyard for several days.
Children forget things easily. The Fourth Prince hadn't been to the backyard for a few days, and the Fourth Prince was the first to become less affectionate towards him.
Li Chenjiao just watched the spectacle from the sidelines, still fanning herself under the eaves: "Didn't Wanwan want a lamp? Mother can't reach it, let Father get it for you..."
Many lights hang under the eaves, shining brightly at night, which children stare at intently.
Well, before long, the east courtyard was filled with shouts of "Father! Father! Father!" again.
The Fourth Prince spent several days worshipping Buddha and staying in the East Courtyard. That day was August 22nd. The First Lady had just come out of the small Buddhist hall. When she heard Yu Ru report that the East Courtyard had called for water twice, she didn't react much.
Clad in incense, the Fujin fiddled with the amber beads in her palm: "I heard that people in the East Courtyard have started worshipping Buddha recently?"
Yu Ru, supporting the Fujin, said, "Yes, I suppose she heard that His Highness has suddenly become a Buddhist recently, so she followed suit..."
The East Courtyard is now as impenetrable as an iron barrel; one has to go to great lengths to find out anything about it.
So Yu Ru learned that the Fourth Prince had become a Buddhist, and the concubine in the East Courtyard followed suit.
The Fujin (principal wife) didn't seem to care much about this: "Believing in Buddhism is good. Believing in Buddhism means that one has fear in one's heart, and one thinks of praying to Heaven... What is she praying for? Is she praying for the Fourth Prince's continued favor? Ha, how ridiculous."
The princess lowered her eyes slightly, as if looking at some ant.
Yu Ru changed the subject: "Yes, after the Double Ninth Festival it will be the eldest princess's birthday again, and the princess will have to take care of things then. You've been praying to Buddha all day, so you should bathe and get ready early. I just changed your sleeping pillow today, and you seem to be in much better health lately."
Speaking of this, the princess touched her face in agreement: "I think it's because I've been sleeping well; I've been feeling much more energetic lately. Help me to go see the Second Prince; it's been so hot lately..."
The princess consort kept talking.
There have indeed been many things happening lately, and the Fujin (Prince Consort) is naturally aware of the rumors circulating outside. She has kept a low profile, taking care of the Second Prince while also occasionally giving the Third and Fourth Princes a heads-up. However, since the children have been exempted from schooling recently, the Fujin only has the opportunity to give them a heads-up when she sends someone to visit them with gifts.
Such calm and tranquility was almost unbelievable to the princess.
That's so rare; who has a truly peaceful backyard?
After visiting the Second Prince that night, the Princess Consort took a bath and settled down, and slept soundly through the night.
The next morning, the Fourth Prince left the East Courtyard and went out of the mansion. About half an hour later, Wang Jinzhong returned to the Main Courtyard from outside.
"Your Highness, something has happened in the palace! This morning, Prince Dun entered the palace and got into a fight with the Crown Prince."
The Crown Prince got into another fight?
The princess was stunned by the news.
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