Although it was the Fourth Prince's birthday, Consort De still inquired about the health of the Princess Consort in the mansion after lunch.
"How is your wife's health these days? I remember she fell ill in August and is still sick. If she's not well, who's in charge of things in your household? Your concubine is pregnant, so you can't be the one worrying about her, can you?"
Consort De first said that the Fujin was ill and probably unable to manage the household, and then she mentioned that Li Chenjiao was pregnant, which meant that the household was currently lacking someone who could step forward and manage the household.
As soon as Consort De began to speak, the Fourth Prince understood what his mother meant.
His expression wasn't good, but he still spoke respectfully to his mother: "Has someone come to you for help?"
Upon hearing this, Consort De sighed and put her hand on the fourth prince's forearm as she walked inside: "Indeed, someone has come to Mother for help, but at this critical juncture, rather than having your father send someone into your inner quarters, it would be better to choose someone suitable and satisfactory to you."
Fourth Master did not respond. After a few seconds, he asked, "I understand what Mother means, but I don't know who came to Mother for help."
Consort De did not hide anything from her son: "A few days ago, the Nian family sent someone to deliver a petition to the palace. However, she first went to see Consort Tongjia, then paid her respects to Consort Hui, Consort Rong, and Consort Yi, and only came to my mother's place at the end. It was quite appropriate. It was to ask for marriages for their two daughters."
Fourth Master wasn't too surprised to hear it was the Nian family, but after he finished speaking, his face turned dark: "Daydreaming."
It would be one thing if they wanted to put their illegitimate daughter in his backyard as a concubine, since it would be mutually beneficial. But if the Nian family wanted to put their daughter in the fourteenth prince's backyard, they were just daydreaming.
Consort De appeared much calmer. She patted her son reassuringly and said, "It is indeed a disservice to you to have a concubine's daughter enter your harem as a secondary consort. However, the Nian family also wants their youngest daughter to be the primary consort of the Fourteenth Prince. I heard that their youngest daughter is only eleven years old by the traditional Chinese age reckoning. Your mother thought it was inappropriate and simply refused."
To avoid putting the fourth son in a difficult position when the Nian family has to beg for help again.
Consort De didn't like the Nian family much back then. Even though the Nian family behaved very politely and respectfully, their increasingly demanding requests still displeased Consort De. However, for the sake of her son, she didn't say anything.
Fourth Master was also unhappy, and he didn't want his mother to worry too much.
Neither mother nor daughter wanted the other to worry or be troubled.
He changed the subject: "Has the marriage of the fourteenth brother been arranged?"
He hasn't been going to the palace much lately, so even if Su Peisheng and the others come to the palace to pay their respects to Mother, they won't go into detail about these matters.
Consort De said it was almost done: "The one chosen is Wanyan, the daughter of Vice Minister Luo Cha."
The Fourth Prince pondered whether there was such a person: "A Manchu of the Bordered Red Banner? My son remembers that a few years ago he was demoted to the Ministry of Rites because he did not do a good job in the Ministry of Works. He is still the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites now."
He had met Luo Cha when he was running around for Li Chenjiao's father, Li Wenye, last time. Luo Cha was an honest and upright man.
The Fourth Prince then remembered something: "I remember that Luo Cha's primary wife was the daughter of Tu Ji, a member of the imperial clan. His eldest son, Luo Mingtai, once served as my study companion?"
The Fourth Prince also remembered some other information, such as that Consort Luocha's maternal clan had some connection with Consort Yi, and that Lady Wanyan was also related to her mother's maternal clan, the Uya clan.
Consort De could tell at a glance that her son was thinking too far ahead. She smiled and said, "Wanyan's family background is secondary. I like that girl's personality. She's someone who can keep your brother in check. Your brother isn't young anymore. Back then, our family didn't have the face to make us wait. If you want to put someone into my son's backyard, it depends on whether you're willing."
Consort De's face rarely showed an expression of anger, a posture a mother would adopt for the sake of her child.
The Fourth Prince felt a warmth in his heart and replied with an "okay".
Consort De said a few more words, the gist of which was that the Fourth Prince should not force himself, given his current title as Prince Yong, there were plenty of people who wanted to see him.
That year, the family truly treated their daughter like a treasure.
However, Consort De inquired about the Fujin's health to confirm, thinking further ahead: "In this palace, it's not uncommon for people's health to deteriorate suddenly, and it's not uncommon for them to die within two or three days. It's not an uncommon thing. But of course, your mother still hopes that you, Fujin, can recover soon."
However, Consort De was not entirely reassured by the imperial physician's reply.
The Fourth Prince had never told his mother about the true state of his wife's health, not wanting her to worry too much. Now, hearing his mother mention it, the Fourth Prince's face remained calm and expressionless.
After noon, about half an hour later, the two children finally returned.
They said that the Emperor was taking a nap, so the two children said goodbye and returned.
Seeing this, Consort De talked with the two children for a while. When Consort De seemed to be getting tired, the Fourth Prince took the two children and left.
The Fourth Master was riding in a carriage with the two children. Wanwan seemed to have something to say, but after looking left and right, he didn't say anything in the end.
After returning to the mansion, the Fourth Prince kept his son, the Fourth Prince, for a while. The two sat on the veranda, enjoying the breeze. The son swung his legs playfully and ate dates in his hands. The Fourth Prince said, "It seems like I saw Grandfather coughing up blood today."
This child had already seen blood at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, but he didn't show any fear. Amidst the cries of the other young princes, Wanwan even yawned twice and told Dongsheng to stand closer.
For Wanwan, there was really nothing to be afraid of, since the small kitchen kills fish, chickens, and ducks every day.
There was no one else around except the father and son. After hearing this, the smile on Fourth Master's lips faded slightly: "When did this happen?"
Wanwan was still swinging his legs and playing: "After lunch, I think it was when Grandpa was rinsing his mouth after lunch, um, I saw it."
However, it's still a bit unclear what exactly happened.
Fourth Master patted Wanwan's head, saying calmly, "Father knows. Don't tell anyone else about this."
Wanwan nodded emphatically and said "Mmm," then asked the next second, "Where's Mother?"
Fourth Master said without the slightest hesitation: "Your mother is not an outsider."
Wanwan nodded again, speaking clearly and distinctly: "Yes, my son thinks so too."
He laughed heartily.
Fearing that Wanwan would catch a cold from the wind, Fourth Master asked Su Peisheng to bring a woolen hat, and then personally put it on Wanwan before letting Su Peisheng take Wanwan back.
The autumn wind suddenly picked up, and Fourth Master watched Wanwan's departing figure. The autumn wind was bleak, and he remained motionless for a long time.
Fu Lu glanced at the sky and said, "Master, it looks like the wind is picking up and it's going to rain."
Yes, things are about to change.
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