This winter was exceptionally cold. Although the Fourth Prince had sent word to remind her beforehand, the Princess Consort still got up early. It was rare that the Second Prince didn't have to go to the front courtyard for his studies, so the Princess Consort and the Second Prince were able to have breakfast together.
However, due to the rule of "not speaking while eating or sleeping" personally taught by the Fujin, the mother and son were quiet and did not speak during breakfast. After breakfast, before dawn, the Fourth Prince had already sent Fulu to pick up the Second Prince.
The princess knelt down and straightened the second prince's clothes: "Our Honghui should stay by your father's side and not forget Mr. Dai's teachings. Your mother is waiting for you to come back."
Perhaps because she was ill, the Fujin showed an unusual gentleness. She adjusted the jade pendant at Honghui's waist and said, "Alright. Keep an eye on your things. Go with Granny Qian."
Honghui silently agreed, and only after he went out was he given a hand warmer by his wife.
There was no need to go to the palace. However, after seeing Honghui off, the Fujin (principal wife) had little energy to manage the affairs of the inner courtyard. She had been feeling sleepy lately, and only felt energetic after waking up each day.
At this moment, the Fujin also waved her hand, signaling Yuru to make the arrangements: "As usual, set up a table in the Qingyuan Courtyard. Yuru, keep an eye on things and make sure nothing goes wrong. Li Shi in the East Courtyard is in her late pregnancy. Be careful of accidents if the snow is heavy at night. If she doesn't want to go, there's no need to force her."
If something goes wrong and Fourth Master comes back, who knows who he'll blame?
The princess consort yawned without any hesitation, "Alright, I'm going to rest. Let me know if anything happens."
Yu Ru naturally responded without hesitation. She personally helped the Fujin to the inner room to rest. The inner room was warm and cozy. After resting for a while, the Fujin's complexion looked much better. Yu Ru squatted by the bedside and personally watched over her for a while before quietly leaving.
The Laba Festival passed just like that. Neither the Fujin nor Li Chenjiao went to the palace. It wasn't until late at night that the Fourth Prince returned with several children.
Li Chenjiao originally intended to wait for Wanwan to return. She did not go to the banquet at the Qing Courtyard because she was afraid of trouble. Moreover, Li Chenjiao would not fail to understand the unspoken meaning of the maid in the main courtyard. After going with the flow and having someone thank the Fujin, she stayed in the East Courtyard with a clear conscience.
This weather is perfect for hot pot. The mother and son enjoyed a delicious hot pot meal. They were waiting for Wanwan to come back, but neither of them could stay awake.
When Wanwan returned, Li Chenjiao woke up again from hunger. Wanwan was also hungry, so the two of them ate a bowl of hot wontons in the outer room. Wanwan also told them about what happened in the palace that day.
"Hongsheng and Hongxi went to the palace too?" Li Chenjiao showed a slight surprise.
The bowl of wontons in front of Wanwan was almost empty. He held the bowl and drank the soup in big gulps: "Yes, but they don't play with Hongsheng and Hongxi."
Li Chenjiao listened to Wanwan's words with her chin resting on her hand, and asked with a smile, "Did you play with them?"
Wanwan wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, looking very much like the Fourth Master: "My son plays with Hongxi, but Hongsheng doesn't like to play with my son."
Li Chenjiao could understand this. After all, Prince Hongsheng was born to the Third Prince Consort Dong'e, and Prince Hongxi was born to Lady Zhaojia. However, neither the Third Prince nor Lady Dong'e had entered the palace, so who would take care of the children?
Third Master is still under house arrest, and no matter what, he will inevitably suffer some neglect.
As for the rest, it was pretty much the same as before. As usual, when His Majesty tested his grandsons, Prince Hongxi was still the most outstanding. He was unfazed by the other grandsons and still won His Majesty's favor.
The Second Prince was indeed diligent and outstanding in his studies, while the Third Prince seemed rather mediocre in comparison.
Li Chenjiao finished the soup in the end: "Later, your mother and your son Eyun will not be able to go to the palace with you. If anything happens, stay with Dongsheng or go to your father."
As the Lunar New Year approached, Li Chenjiao felt increasingly uneasy.
Wanwan patted his round belly, and suddenly thought of something. He took out two red plum blossoms from his sleeve: "I picked them from the Imperial Garden. I think they are prettier than the ones in our mansion."
Li Chenjiao was somewhat surprised: ? No, who did her son learn this from?
Wanwan quietly played with the flowers, revealing his father's secret: "It was... Father asked his son to pick them for Mother."
Li Chenjiao was even more surprised. Her mouth was wide open. She was still a little embarrassed in front of Wanwan. She coughed twice and changed the subject rather awkwardly.
"Did you give your forehead herbs?"
Wanwan chuckled: "It's placed on Eyun's flower window, so Eyun can see it as soon as she wakes up."
No wonder I didn't see Wanwan before.
Li Chenjiao smiled with satisfaction: "You two, father and son, are really..."
The winter plum blossoms in the palace seemed to be more fragrant and bloomed more beautifully. In the end, Li Chenjiao placed the winter plum blossoms in a Ru kiln vase on the soft couch in the outer room.
The plum blossoms bloomed better during the Lunar New Year, and the Fourteenth Prince's marriage was also arranged, set for March, a few days earlier than Princess Wenxian's.
Just in time for the Little New Year and the New Year, Consort De arranged for the two to meet, which unexpectedly suited the Fourth Prince's wishes.
During the New Year, the Fourteenth Prince spoke with Lady Wanyan twice in Yonghe Palace. After returning home, the Fourteenth Prince seemed to be in a gentle embrace, his face turning as red as a monkey's bottom.
Because it was Consort De who invited him to speak, the Fourteenth Prince returned to the Palace of Preserving Harmony when the banquet was about to begin.
The Fourteenth Prince will never forget that year.
On the night of the third day of the first month of the forty-fourth year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign.
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