"I just selected Consort Wu to enter the palace before the New Year." Consort De stood up with Zhao Mama by her side, slowly sat down in the main seat in the hall, and looked down at the pattern of the large bolster beside her.
The Fujin followed behind Consort De, and after Consort De sat down, she knelt down in response, her fair neck drooping down, and the hairpins and ornaments in her hair falling silently to the ground.
"Princess Wu is very fortunate. She became pregnant not long after entering the manor, which is a joyous occasion. However, Your Highness may not know that when the Third Prince took Consort Cao last year, Princess Bai Jia in the manor offended the Fourth Prince and was confined to her quarters for a year. In addition, Princess Song's health has not been very good since giving birth to the eldest princess. This time when the Fourth Prince went to the estate, the only people in the manor who could go with him to serve him were Princess Li and Madam Xu, who used to serve Your Highness."
That was said very sincerely.
Consort De sighed and had Zhao Mama help the Fujin up: "Why are you kneeling again for no reason? Why didn't you tell me about Bai Jia Shi's matter before?"
The Fujin (Fujin) did not expect Consort De to ask about this, but she reacted quickly: "At that time, Her Majesty had just decided to bring Consort Wu into the mansion. I thought it would only be a house arrest, so I did not inform Mother."
Consort De was indeed surprised that the fourth prince's harem was so easy to manage, but so easy that there was hardly anyone to serve him properly.
Consort De felt a pang of guilt.
However, Consort De was well aware of her son's temperament. If she were to ask for his opinion, he would probably just refuse outright.
Consort De did not give a definite answer in the end, but her gaze lingered briefly on the Fujin's temples.
"Fourth Prince's wife, I understand your meaning. How is Consort Li in the manor?"
The princess paused again: "The Fourth Prince often goes there now. Consort Li is beautiful, respectful, and has a very good temperament."
The princess said this against her will, but she had no choice but to say it.
She was hoping that Consort De would fill the mansion with more beauties like Lady Li, so that the inner court would be more lively and she, as the Fujin (principal wife), could slowly find an excuse to deal with it.
When the Consort saw that the Consort De was asking this question, she knew that the purpose of this trip had been achieved.
The Fujin (principal wife) was just hoping that Consort De could pick out the people and send them to the estate the next day.
As the Fujin left Yonghe Palace, she silently told herself not to rush. She glanced back at Yonghe Palace and secretly prayed that Consort De would be able to choose two beauties.
After seeing off the Fujin, Consort De did indeed have Zhao Mama bring over the list of candidates for this year's imperial concubine selection.
Consort De slowly turned a page, caught sight of a somewhat familiar surname, and then looked at her family background; the smile on her face faded.
"The Ulanara clan certainly has quite an appetite. Is this the fourth son's half-sister?"
Granny Zhao also saw it and wondered what Ulanara was doing. She could only reply in a low voice.
Consort De snorted: "Tell the Imperial Household Department that the Ulanara clan's daughter is seriously ill, and cross her name off the list."
Consort De could not possibly place another daughter of the Ulanara clan into the fourth prince's harem, but she also could not allow this girl into the harems of other princes.
If something happens and my fourth son gets involved, I won't be able to clear up the mess.
His Majesty is currently very wary of this.
The princess flipped through a few more pages of the roster and finally selected three girls.
They were all exceptionally beautiful, not much different from Li Chenjiao, whom Consort De had chosen before.
However, Consort De could not be completely stuffed into the Fourth Prince's backyard.
Even if she chose two Consorts, she was afraid her son would get angry.
"Let's have this girl from the Han Banner Army. She comes from a respectable family. Bring her to me tomorrow so I can see her."
No matter how beautiful someone is, to enter the fourth prince's harem, she must be of good nature and upright character.
——
Meanwhile, back at the manor, Song Gege received the news early in the morning that the Fujin (princess) had gone to the palace.
It wasn't a holiday or festival, so Song Shi didn't believe that the Fujin (princess's wife) would enter the palace for no reason.
Song's hands weren't as long as the Fujin's, and she didn't know what had happened on the estate, or whether Li and Wu had become more favored after arriving there.
The Song family knew nothing about these things.
However, Madam Song knew very well that if she didn't take any action soon, the Fourth Master might forget she even existed when he returned from the estate.
Song's gaze suddenly turned to the inner room. The eldest princess had been very well-behaved these past few days and had not cried or made a fuss.
Spring nights are still chilly, and when Song gets up in the morning, she can still see the white dew hanging on the bonsai under the eaves.
Song clasped her hands in front of her knees, and slowly made up her mind.
The days passed peacefully until mid-March.
This morning, when Fourth Master left Xinlutang, he said he would come for dinner tonight. So, Li Chenjiao sent Xiao Luzi to the kitchen to order the food around dusk.
But even as darkness fell, there was still no word of Fourth Master returning to the estate.
Li Chenjiao then instructed, "Go to the kitchen and get the food. Reheating it again will change the taste. Xiao Luzi, go to the gatehouse of the estate and wait. Come back and report when you get the news."
The Fourth Master hadn't returned by then, so he must have been delayed by something.
As for what it is, it must be something that happens in the palace or the household.
Li Chenjiao now genuinely felt that Fourth Master was having a tough time.
Li Chenjiao sighed.
After dinner, Xiao Luzi hurriedly returned: "The Fourth Master sent someone to tell the Princess that the Eldest Princess is ill and will be resting at the manor today. He told the Princess not to wait and to rest early as well."
Knowing it was because of something that happened in the manor, Li Chenjiao breathed a slight sigh of relief.
However, Li Chenjiao quickly remembered something and asked, "Why did you suddenly get sick out of nowhere?"
Xiao Luzi had obviously asked the eunuch who delivered the message: "I heard that he caught a chill last night, but fortunately the imperial physician said there was nothing serious. When I returned, I saw Fulu from the front courtyard and that little eunuch leaving the estate together."
Li Chenjiao repeated, "Did you catch a chill at night?"
That's a bit strange. Everyone knows that the eldest princess is weak, so it's impossible that the nanny took her outside to catch a cold. It must have been that the eldest princess was exposed to the wind inside the house. How could there be a wind inside the house?
Li Chenjiao lowered her eyelids, finding it hard not to think of Song Shi.
How could a mother be so heartless?
As the incense lamp in the room burned slowly, it cast a slender shadow. Li Chenjiao lowered her brows in thought, and after remaining silent, she couldn't help but let out a long sigh.
If she really wanted to see the Fourth Prince, she should have had the servants in the front courtyard of the mansion deliver a message that the eldest princess wanted to see the Fourth Prince.
Using such a clumsy method once would have been fine—
Li Chenjiao would never do something like using a child to gain favor; any affection obtained through a child is no different from being shackled.
Li Chenjiao had no sympathy for Song Shi. Every step she took from her pregnancy to now was Song Shi's own doing, which ruined her standing in the Fourth Prince's heart.
Since Fourth Master isn't returning to the manor today, Li Chenjiao has the whole big bed to herself, and she can finish reading the picture book she didn't finish during the day.
There is nothing more comforting than this.
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