Such claims, passed down by women, are always half true and half false, and even if they are proven false, no one will care.
Furthermore, this matter was told to the Eighth Prince's wife by Zhang Jia, the wife of the Prince Zhi. Even if the investigation later finds out that it involves the two of them, they might implicate each other.
This is what the Fourth Prince found laughable after hearing it.
They used the words of the women to test the Emperor's intentions.
It's unclear whether this was a joint effort by Prince Zhi and the Eighth Prince, or simply Prince Zhi's own doing, or even the Eighth Prince's own...
The Fourth Prince was not entirely sure, but such news, besides being a test, would inevitably arouse the Emperor's suspicion.
In the eyes of the Fourth Master, this was a somewhat dangerous approach.
He even began to suspect that someone was secretly sabotaging his elder brother, Prince Zhi.
However, these are all just speculations in the Fourth Prince's mind.
The most important thing right now is to return to the capital. After being "sent" back to the capital, Yinreng fell ill. His father only sent the imperial physician to see him. Yinreng has been recuperating in Yuqing Palace for some time now.
The imperial procession set off from Changchun Garden in a grand procession. Because the Fourth Prince was still ill, he did not ride a horse on the return trip, but instead traveled by carriage.
Yes, on the way back to the city, Li Chenjiao left her two children behind and rode in the same carriage with Fourth Master. After Fourth Master got into the carriage, Song Shi paid special attention to him. She waited for a while and finally saw Li Shi get into Fourth Master's carriage.
Song pouted, looking somewhat displeased.
This trip to Changchun Garden was enough to get some fresh air, but it wasn't as good as when she was at the manor. At the manor, at least the Fourth Prince would come into the backyard, even if it was just to see the eldest princess. She could still see the Fourth Prince.
This time in Changchun Garden, however, the Fourth Prince did not go anywhere. Yes, the Fourth Prince did not go to the West Annex Hall to see Lady Li, but it was Lady Li who went to the Fourth Prince's main hall.
Do you really think she's stupid?
Madam Song stared intently for a while, then turned to see Madam Bai Jia urging her with a smile, "Sister Song, the sun is shining brightly right now, why are you standing here instead of getting into the carriage?"
Song brought the eldest princess in one carriage, Xu brought the third prince in one carriage, and Wu and Baijia brought one carriage each—all the same as when they arrived.
The Second Prince arrived in a separate carriage, just like when he came. The carriage was neither too big nor too small, as he had brought quite a few servants and luggage with him this time, so a single carriage was just right.
Madam Song looked up and saw that the eldest princess in the carriage had already lifted the curtain and was peeking out.
She softened her resolve, and although she felt somewhat uncomfortable, she still put on a smile and got into the carriage.
The carriages of the Fourth Master and his family were located towards the back. Once Li Chenjiao got into the Fourth Master's carriage, she found a comfortable spot and immediately noticed the plate of walnuts on the small table that had been set up.
Li Chenjiao is now five months pregnant, and her belly is showing obvious signs of pregnancy. However, this pregnancy has been quite difficult for her. Although her morning sickness is not severe, her appetite has never been good.
This was actually an exceptionally difficult task for Li Chenjiao.
She ate the plate of walnuts, and before she ate any herself, she fed Fourth Master a bite. Fourth Master had been fed so much over the past month that he had gradually gotten used to the sweetness of the walnuts.
He only ate one bite and then stopped, leaving the rest for Li Chenjiao to eat.
The journey back to the city would take half a day. Li Chenjiao ate some food and put it back on the small table. She looked around and noticed that the cushion on the carriage was the one she had given to the Fourth Master. She pursed her lips and smiled slightly.
After entering the capital, Li Chenjiao actually took a nap. She woke up because she noticed that the carriage seemed to have stopped moving for a while.
The Fourth Prince was reading a book when Li Chenjiao glanced at it; it seemed to be another military treatise. The Fourth Prince noticed her gaze and turned to look at her.
The two exchanged a glance, and Li Chenjiao smiled, leaning closer to Fourth Master: "What's going on outside?"
Fourth Master shook his head: "I've already sent someone to inquire."
The carriage had stopped for a while before Li Chenjiao woke up, and Su Peisheng had already inquired about it without the Fourth Master's permission.
Su Peisheng returned shortly afterward.
Su Peisheng replied from outside the carriage: "Your Majesty, it was His Majesty who said to stop. I heard that he said we were going to have a meal at the Third Master's residence."
This caught everyone off guard once again.
A stroke of genius.
After all, the Third Prince hadn't gotten a good word with the Emperor recently, so even if His Majesty wanted to dine at someone's house, people would probably think of Prince Zhi or the Eighth Prince first.
One was the most outstanding among the princes, both in terms of rank, age, and achievements, followed by the injured Eighth Prince.
The crowd didn't really understand how the Eighth Prince got injured, but judging from the Emperor's attitude, they figured it was probably related to His Majesty.
But His Majesty went to the Third Prince's place instead.
Upon hearing this, Li Chenjiao's face showed obvious surprise.
Having experienced the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet incident and the subsequent changes in the Emperor's attitude at Changchun Garden, and now that the Emperor is on his way back to the capital he says he wants to go to the Third Master's residence.
All of this seemed like a joke, as if each prince was given a sweet date, and then slapped in the face.
However, Li Chenjiao thought about it again and realized that apart from the Emperor sending the head of the Imperial Medical Academy, there was nothing else the Fourth Prince had to offer. There were no sweet treats, but plenty of slaps.
The Fourth Master looked up and met Li Chenjiao's gaze. He couldn't quite understand what she was looking at, so he simply raised his hand and pointed at her in the air: "What are you laughing at? Aren't you hungry yet?"
Li Chenjiao herself didn't realize that she had a smile on her face. After hearing what the Fourth Master said, she lowered her head and touched her stomach: "I'm hungry, but I'm not sure I can eat anything."
The two didn't ask any more questions, since it was His Majesty who was going to the Third Master's residence for dinner, not the Third Master who invited His Majesty.
The carriage continued its journey after about fifteen minutes.
When Li Chenjiao got off the carriage, she silently breathed a sigh of relief. The weather in October was still quite cool at midday, which was much more comfortable than being in the carriage.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
