Li Chenjiao is far away on the estate, so it saves her the trouble of visiting the eldest princess late at night since she's sick.
However, the wife in the mansion, upon receiving the news, naturally couldn't escape it.
When I came out of Song Gege's courtyard, it was already completely dark. The servants in the main courtyard were carrying palace lanterns to light the way.
The Fujin held Yu Ru's hand, her brows furrowing as she recalled the weeping and wailing she had witnessed in Song Shi's courtyard.
"Is Song really at her wit's end? Isn't she afraid that Fourth Master will investigate?"
Yu Ru didn't dare to reply.
The Fujin still had the scene of the Fourth Prince's anger in Song's courtyard in her mind, and she was still a little scared.
Just as they were about to reach the main courtyard, the Fujin suddenly chuckled and said, "After all, there is a senior princess, and she has a legitimate reason to see the Fourth Prince."
The princess sighed, "It's been a year."
She's been in the household for a year now, and there's still no sign of pregnancy.
How come Princess Wu is so lucky?
The princess consort was saddened for a while, but quickly came to terms with it: "A pregnancy is not necessarily a good thing. Like my eldest sister-in-law, when she was a month pregnant, I saw the Third Princess once, and she was even thinner than the eldest princess in our household."
Seeing that her mistress had come to terms with it so quickly, Yu Ru breathed a slight sigh of relief: "Princess Consort, there's no need to rush. Let things take their natural course."
The Princess Consort was merely moved by the sight of the Fourth Prince rushing back to the manor upon learning of the First Princess's illness; she quickly composed herself.
"Where is Granny Xu?"
Yu Ru's smile faded, and she pouted, "They're probably still in Princess Song's courtyard right now."
Since Princess Wu went to stay at the estate, Granny Xu has been frequently visiting Princess Song's courtyard.
Upon hearing this, the Fujin snorted but said nothing: "That old codger probably received orders from the Empress to keep a close eye on everyone in the household, whether they've been born or not."
Since Song Gege gave birth to the eldest princess, the Fujin (principal wife) has shown no intention of taking any action; the princess is just a sickly child.
"It's done. Have someone keep an eye on Song Gege's courtyard to see where Fourth Master will stay tonight, and prepare water for his bath."
The next morning, while the Fujin was getting ready, Yu Ru reported that the Fourth Prince had gone back to the front courtyard to rest late last night and had left the mansion early this morning.
Upon hearing this, the princess simply instructed the maid who was applying makeup for her: "Change to a brighter lipstick for spring."
The Princess Consort was in a good mood, so Song Gege's efforts had been in vain.
Li Chenjiao was naturally unaware of these things in the manor. She only heard from the Fourth Master when he returned to the estate in the evening that the eldest princess had fallen ill the previous night.
Seeing that Fourth Master didn't want to say anything more, Li Chenjiao wisely refrained from asking further questions.
On March 28th, the Fourth Master did not stay at the estate the previous night, but returned to the front courtyard of the mansion to rest.
After all, we need to go to the palace early on the 28th.
While the princes and ministers followed the emperor to Mount Wutai for worship, the princess consort received a message from Consort De in the palace after lunch, summoning her to the palace.
The princess guessed that the matter of the last minor selection had probably been settled.
"No wonder we haven't heard anything for so long. It turns out the Empress chose a day when the Fourth Prince was away at Mount Wutai."
What is this called? This is called acting first and reporting later.
Princesses and concubines are not the same; once the Fourth Prince returns, he won't be able to send them away even if he wanted to.
When the Fujin arrived at Yonghe Palace, she didn't have a chance to see the girl that Consort De had chosen, but Consort De showed her the list of girls.
The princess first looked at the portrait of the girl painted by the artist.
She has phoenix eyes and willow-leaf eyebrows, a slightly flat nose that is small but charming, slightly upturned corners of her eyes, a beauty mark under her eyes, sloping shoulders and a slender waist, and a petite yet voluptuous figure.
She was absolutely no less impressive than the Li family in the mansion.
The princess's eyes lit up, and she immediately said "good" twice. Holding the roster, she looked up and flattered the Consort De: "It is Your Highness's discerning eye that has brought such a younger sister into the household. Even I, your daughter-in-law, feel my heart soften when I see her."
Consort De took a sip of tea, her face still indifferent upon hearing this: "No matter how good the one I choose is, it has to be liked by the Fourth Prince."
The Fujin thought to herself that since the Fourth Prince was currently favoring Li Shi, this one couldn't be too far off.
However, the Fujin (Prince Consort) could not readily accept Consort De's words, and instead asked, "I just wonder when Miss Xie will be able to enter the manor?"
The princess consort had just finished looking at the girl's portrait and also checked the girl's place of origin and surname.
The girls chosen by Consort De were never from particularly prominent families, but they had a clean and respectable background.
Consort De looked meaningfully at the Fujin sitting below her: "Fourth Prince's wife, you're certainly in a hurry."
The princess chuckled awkwardly and quickly said she dared not.
The Fujin lowered her head and drank her tea. After a while, she finally heard the voice of the Consort De at the head of the table: "In a couple of days, I will arrange for Lady Xie to enter the mansion. Fourth Prince's wife, you should have your servants tidy up the courtyard in the mansion in the next couple of days."
The princess consort, concealing her delight, agreed.
After the princess returned to the mansion, she did indeed have the courtyard tidied up.
This time, the Fujin (wife) did not choose the courtyards in front of or behind Li's house.
Firstly, since Wu Gege was already living in the front courtyard of Li's family, only the back courtyard of Li's family remained.
With Li Shi ahead of her, it won't be easy for Xie Shi, a newcomer, to stand out.
Finally, the princess chose a courtyard in the backyard that was close to the front yard and the garden.
It was chosen to be located on the only route that the Fourth Master would take to enter the backyard.
However, Xie did not move into that courtyard, but was instead sent directly to a manor in the suburbs of Beijing by the Fujin (wife of the emperor).
Xie's maiden name was Hengyi.
Yu Ru, who was in the main courtyard, was also on the way to the estate by carriage. The Fujin (principal wife) specially asked her to go to the estate with Xie Shi.
The princess instructed her to make sure that Xie's courtyard on the estate was properly settled.
While in the carriage, Yu Ru was very well-behaved and did not ask any questions. She also maintained a very proper attitude towards Xie Hengyi.
It was only when Yu Ru got off the carriage that she finally took another look at this Xie Gege.
Yu Ru got off the carriage first and saw Xie Gege's maid supporting Xie Gege. The fiery hairpins swayed and trembled by her temples, making Xie Gege's beautiful face even more radiant.
"Please trouble Miss Yuru to lead the way." Her voice was also incredibly charming.
As she spoke, Xie Gege's every smile and gesture exuded a captivating charm.
Yu Ru lowered her head and said she dared not, but inwardly marveled at the beauty of this Lady Xie.
Back when she was in the manor, Yu Ru often saw Consort Li. If Consort Xie was the most beautiful peach blossom on the branch in March, then Consort Li must be the only bright color in the snow-covered winter.
If Yu Ru were to speak disrespectfully, Xie Gege is beautiful, but her beauty is vulgar, which only complements the gold and jade she wears.
But Li Gege was different, though Yu Ru herself couldn't quite put her finger on why.
At this moment, Yu Ru lowered her head and was lost in thought, waiting for the servants behind her to unload the trunks that Xie Gege had brought: "This servant will take Gege to your residence first."
Xie Hengyi's beautiful eyes smiled charmingly: "Please lead the way, young lady."
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