This is a solution that the Fujin (principal wife) came up with after thinking about it for several days; it can be considered a solution.
As she finished speaking, her gaze involuntarily held a hint of hope and longing.
The Fourth Prince naturally saw it, and he asked in return, "Why did you suddenly think of this, Madam?"
Previously, when the Fourth Prince wanted the Second Prince to go to the front courtyard, the Princess Consort always refused, but now it was the Princess Consort who brought it up herself.
Isn't this just a result of being forced by circumstances?
The wife couldn't help but smile bitterly. If she had a choice, she would naturally hope that the Second Prince could stay by her side a little longer. In fact, she had known for a long time that the Second Prince was going to leave her side and go to the Fourth Prince's place in the front courtyard. However, she never mentioned it before. As long as the Fourth Prince didn't mention it, she wouldn't ask.
The fact that he brought this up now is practically an entrustment of his orphanage.
Who knows what will happen after she leaves? She had witnessed the filth in the backyard when she was young. Whether they were infants, children of early childhood, or teenagers, some had died in accidents.
The Fujin had seen too much. From the moment Honghui was born, she had protected him with all her heart. The Fujin dared not even imagine what would happen to her Honghui if she were gone...
Faced with the Fourth Prince's question, the Fujin was lost in thought for a moment. The Fourth Prince did not remind her, but simply looked down at the color of the tea.
He no longer loves Longjing tea; his tastes have changed. But his wife still thinks he's the same as before.
After regaining her composure, the Princess Consort couldn't meet the Fourth Prince's gaze. She choked back a sob: "Your Majesty... the Second Prince has always respected you, and he can receive more guidance from you. I am willing to do so. Besides... the Second Prince is indeed of age now, and if he continues to live with me, I fear I might spoil him. I do have some selfish motives, but... moreover, it's not just the Second Prince; the Third and Fourth Princes are also of age. Perhaps we could let the princes all go to the front courtyard, so the brothers can keep each other company and have more affection for one another."
The princess consort must have had a prepared speech in mind, but she was lost in thought about those sordid things from her childhood, and her words became somewhat incoherent and disjointed.
However... the Princess Consort really went to any lengths to achieve her goals.
Since it would be conspicuous for their second son to live in the front courtyard, they simply suggested that all the princes of the mansion who were of age move to the front courtyard, regardless of whether Xu Shi and Li Chenjiao were willing or not. It sounded quite high-sounding.
The Fourth Prince only looked up when his wife was halfway through speaking. The two looked at each other, and the Fourth Prince's eyes were as calm as ever, which made his wife unable to figure him out. Her voice gradually weakened as she spoke.
The Fourth Prince did not give any clear response. He then asked, "Is this all that the Princess Consort wanted to say?"
The more the Fourth Prince acted this way, the more uncertain the Fujin felt. She couldn't help but think about whether she had missed anything earlier: "Yes, what I said earlier was exactly what I was thinking."
The Fourth Prince nodded slightly: "I understand."
The wife waited for the Fourth Prince to continue, and after a few seconds, the Fourth Prince arrived, drinking tea.
? ? ?
Then what?
The princess waited a moment, her smile faltering slightly, before finally having to ask, "What does Your Highness think?"
When the Fourth Master spoke up, his reply was not perfunctory, but it also did not offer any clear answer.
"The Ministry of Revenue is busy right now, and moving is a big deal, so there's no rush. The Second Prince is doing well under your care, so there's no need for you to be so modest. This matter still needs to be discussed."
The wife couldn't figure out what the Fourth Prince was thinking; it seemed he wasn't going to agree.
She was a little anxious, but she knew she couldn't rush things. Her breathing became slightly rapid, and she pressed her chest and said softly, "Yes."
Fourth Master looked at her and said, "It's getting late, let's get settled."
The princess was taken aback. The fourth prince wasn't resting in the side room today?
Neither of them knew how long it had been since they had shared a bed.
When Fourth Master said he would make arrangements, he meant it. They changed into their nightgowns, extinguished the candles, and remained silent on the same bed.
The Fujin was worried about the Second Prince at night and didn't sleep well. She was a light sleeper, and with the Fourth Prince around, she woke up as soon as he got up.
The Fourth Prince did not allow his wife to serve him. He only said as he left the main courtyard, "The incense in your room is not good. I have replaced everything on your bed."
The princess consort was surprised that the fourth prince would bring this up. She hesitated for a moment, but still agreed.
The incense in her room hadn't been changed in the past two years, so why did Fourth Master suddenly stop liking it?
The Fourth Prince didn't give his wife a chance to speak, and left after saying that.
Yu Ru stepped forward to help the Fujin up: "Fujin, that..."
"As the master wishes, remove the incense and replace everything that needs replacing."
Yu Ru said, "This servant will take the summer insects and summer grass to exchange them."
...
The Fourth Prince had considered the matter of the princes moving to the front yard. He had thought about it a couple of years ago and even personally drew up plans to arrange the layout of the front yard. However, due to many worries, he kept the matter in his mind but did not put it into practice.
Since several of the princes were well-educated, the Fourth Prince did not intend to separate the mother and son.
He had experienced the pain of separation from his mother, so this matter had been delayed.
But now the wife has brought it up...
The Fourth Prince wasn't just making excuses for his wife last night; he genuinely hadn't made up his mind. Naturally, he wouldn't have agreed to her request outright.
As the Fourth Prince left the mansion and mounted his horse, he suddenly stopped: "Go and tell your mistress, Li, that I will have dinner at her place tonight."
Su Peisheng readily agreed.
The Fourth Prince went to the Ministry of Revenue. Su Peisheng asked Fulu to go back and deliver the message. Li Chenjiao hadn't gotten up yet. When she learned that the Fourth Prince was coming, she wasn't particularly happy.
Li Chenjiao is still in her postpartum period. It's only early spring and not too hot yet, but she still finds herself feeling unwell and would rather the Fourth Master not come. But what has he not seen about her before...?
She smacked her lips, her mouth filled with a faint bitter taste—it was the nourishing soup prescribed for her by the imperial physician.
"Did Fourth Master rest in the main courtyard yesterday?" Li Chenjiao asked, rinsing her mouth.
Baozhen, who was serving her, said yes, but after a couple of seconds she added, "However, last night Wang Jinzhong from the main courtyard was guarding the gatehouse..."
Li Chenjiao said "Oh," as if the Fujin (wife) had something to discuss with the Fourth Prince.
In the past, whether the Fourth Prince went to the palace on the first or fifteenth of the month or not, the Princess Consort would not react this way.
She let her imagination run wild for a moment. She figured the Fourth Prince wouldn't be in a good mood. Hmm, she'd wait and see what kind of expression he'd have when he arrived.
Li Chenjiao was in her postpartum period, so she did not come out to greet the Fourth Prince when he arrived in the evening.
She was feeling a bit lazy, and only straightened up after the maid lifted the curtain and the Fourth Master entered: "Master is here?"
Fourth Master put his hands behind his back, grunted and walked in, then told Li Chenjiao to excuse herself from the formalities.
Li Chenjiao rested her chin on her hand and asked with a smile, "What did you bring, Master?"
She spotted something with her sharp eyes, but it wasn't very clear.
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