The eldest prince remained silent for a while, then looked up at Wu Shi with a look in his eyes that seemed to say something: "Mother, your son is hungry..."
Wu hesitated for two seconds, then subconsciously said, "It's long past mealtime... If the Fujin finds out..." As she said this, she still waved for Juxiang outside to come in.
"Take some silver to the kitchen and order some of the eldest prince's favorite dishes. Also, bring the pastries that were left for him today..."
As she spoke, she reached out and touched the eldest prince's face again: "Dinner won't be served for a while yet. Since we have some free time now, how about Mother helps Hongming with his studies? Where did Hongming study yesterday?"
The eldest prince bit his lip and could only nod in the end.
After the eldest prince went to his study, Wu called Cheng, the only remaining wet nurse by his side, to her side to give a reply. However, Cheng had been left in the front courtyard all day and had not gone to the estate with the eldest prince. When Wu asked her questions, Cheng just shook her head.
Wu felt a surge of irritation, but she couldn't get anything out of the eldest prince for the time being, which made her feel anxious.
After the eldest prince ate the cakes and had a late-night snack to fill his stomach, Wu Shi didn't listen to what he said and could only watch over him as he fell asleep.
Regardless, the fact that the eldest prince was taken out by the fourth prince means that in the fourth prince's heart, the eldest prince actually holds more importance than the second prince, who is the wife's son.
As soon as Wu thought of this, her heart raced and her hands clenched involuntarily.
She slowly exhaled, a satisfied smile appearing on her face as she looked at the sleeping eldest prince.
Her eldest son should be the best child in this household.
...
The next morning, Wu noticed that the eldest prince seemed to be in much better spirits, which put her at ease. She personally escorted the eldest prince to the front courtyard, and on the way, she unexpectedly ran into the Fujin (the princess's wife).
Wu knew perfectly well that the Fujin was getting restless, but she didn't respond to her at all, which angered the Fujin again. However, she was still really worried, so she went back to the main courtyard and sulked again.
By mid-February, the weather gradually warmed up, and charcoal fires were no longer used, but people were still wearing winter clothes.
With the Fourth Prince's first birthday fast approaching, the Princess Consort had already inquired about the Fourth Prince's wishes when the prince was fifteen. By then, her back injury had only healed to about 70-80%, so she was exempted from paying her respects that day.
The Fourth Prince meant that he wanted to make a big fuss. Although the Princess Consort felt a little uncomfortable, she still smiled and agreed.
Although something happened on Mount Wutai in February, it seems that the Emperor did not take any action in the end. Later, he even sent a reward to Yuqing Palace, but what it was was unknown to outsiders.
However, the Emperor is unlikely to return to the capital in February; it is estimated that he will not be able to do so until March.
It's hard to believe that the Fourth Prince is already a year old; time really flies.
However, the second princess has grown quite a bit taller, and she will turn three years old in May.
With the Fourth Prince turning one year old, Li Chenjiao was finally able to give away the little horse that she had Green Plum sewed before the New Year.
The princes and princesses all attended school in the front courtyard. Although they were not in the same place, they would always run into each other after school each day.
The day before the Fourth Prince's birthday, the Empress sent a gift from the palace, which was as expected: a set of writing implements. This was not only from the Empress; the Fourth Prince and his wife also sent writing implements and other items.
Looking at the items sent from all directions, Li Chenjiao felt an immense headache. She divided the writing implements into three parts. The Fourth Prince wouldn't need them for the time being, so she put them away. One part was left for the Second Princess, and the other part was prepared to be sent to her nephew on his birthday.
Although it was the Fourth Prince's first birthday, Li Chenjiao, as his mother, didn't really put in much effort. She only tidied up her own courtyard once. With the Fujin (principal wife) taking care of things outside, the Fourth Prince was taken to the front yard early in the morning, which made things easier for her. However, thinking about the boy's "spoiled" nature, Li Chenjiao, as his mother, still felt a pang of worry for a second when she saw the child being carried away by the two wet nurses.
But before she could even worry, Lady Zhaojia, Lady Cao, and Lady Guarjia arrived together.
When Guarjia saw Li Chenjiao, her eyes lit up: "It's been a long time since I've seen you. You look even better. I've been taking the donkey-hide gelatin you gave me last time for a while now, and I think it's really good." As she spoke, she touched her face: "But you've also gained weight..."
In the backyard, the women gathered together and talked about the same things. As usual, Li Chenjiao mostly listened to what Guarjia and the others were saying, such as how Prince Hongyu of the Prince Zhi's mansion was not doing well... and how the second wife, Zhangjia, did not seem to be favored by Consort Hui in the palace. Lately, she often went to the palace to listen to Consort Hui's lectures.
Speaking of this Guarjia clan, she was even more enthusiastic than Zhaojia clan: "I originally thought that the second wife was a pitiful pushover, but I didn't expect her to be... How do you think we knew that the empress had summoned her to the palace for a lecture? It's because she cries and sobs every time she leaves the palace... Anyway, these days Consort Hui doesn't really like summoning her to the palace anymore."
Why does this method sound so familiar?
Li Chenjiao remembered that when the Third Prince was re-granted the title of Prince, the Fifth Prince's wife had also done something similar.
However, the two concubines of the Third Prince's mansion were sitting here at the moment. Cao Shi never hid anything, and she laughed before Zhao Jia Shi could finish speaking.
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