Life on the estate was indeed quite pleasant for Li Chenjiao.
There were no greetings on the first and fifteenth of the month, nor were there many spies from the Fujin (principals). In addition, Consort Wu rarely left her Dongfeng Courtyard, and Madam Xu had always been a recluse.
Li Chenjiao didn't have to worry about running into anyone while strolling in the garden every day. Sometimes, when she encountered Princess Wu in the garden, Li Chenjiao would avoid her from a distance.
It's been almost four months since Wu Gege gave birth in March.
When Li Chenjiao saw Wu Gege from afar in the garden, she could picture Wu Gege with a big smile in her eyes, holding a little prince in her arms.
He's a young prince.
That day, after strolling through the garden, Li Chenjiao happily ate an extra bowl of rice when she returned for dinner.
Li Chenjiao was absolutely delighted that Wu Gege was carrying a prince.
She had actually considered the possibility that the Fourth Prince might ask Wu Gege to be made a concubine after she gave birth to a prince.
Li Chenjiao thought about it and concluded that, considering both the favor shown to him and the current state of the Fourth Prince's harem, it was probably highly unlikely.
No single family can be the only one in the inner courtyard, but the primary consort, as the first wife, has the right to manage the household. After Consort Wu gave birth to the eldest prince, and with Consort De behind her, this became even more important.
At that time, the Fourth Prince's backyard will likely be filled with constant strife.
If Li Chenjiao were the Fourth Prince, she would simply choose a three-way power struggle.
If Li Chenjiao, a favored princess, had become a secondary consort, then even though Wu Gege had given birth to the eldest prince, she would still only be a princess.
Li Chenjiao wouldn't touch anything belonging to the head of the household, so since Wu Gege had given birth to the eldest prince, her status was different among all the other princesses in the mansion, so it wouldn't matter if she continued to look at the mansion's account books.
Of course, these are all just Li Chenjiao's guesses.
Everything will have to wait until Princess Wu gives birth to the eldest prince safely.
Li Chenjiao began to ponder when would be the most suitable time to encounter good fortune.
Princess Wu should have given birth in mid-September, which would have been the best time for her to conceive.
It is still too weak to ask someone to be made a concubine based solely on favoritism.
Li Chenjiao had no choice but to plan ahead.
As Qiu Hu extinguished the candle at night, Li Chenjiao said softly, "Let's stop taking that medicine in July or August."
Qiu Hu knew that his princess was secretly taking medicine; the prescription was secretly given to the princess by his wife when she went to the capital.
After entering the mansion, Qiu Hu established a good relationship with the purchasing department. She went out twice under the pretext of buying silk flowers and rouge for the princess. She also gathered the medicine for the prescription in two separate trips.
Fearing being discovered and exposed, Qiu Hu went to different clinics on both occasions, and mixed in some common prescriptions with the medicinal materials.
Finally, Qiu Hu learned how to make pills.
Qiu Hu understood her mistress's actions. A woman's pregnancy and childbirth take ten months. The mistress had only entered the household last year, and her favor was not yet secure. Although it was a good thing that she became pregnant so suddenly, it was inevitable that the wife would resent her.
I still vividly remember the scene when Song Gege gave birth.
Moreover, before Qiu Hu and her own princess went to the capital, the lady of the mansion privately summoned her to give her a thorough lecture, talking about the hardships of childbirth for women and how giving birth too early could damage a woman's health.
Even Qiu Ci didn't know that her own daughter had taken pills.
Hearing her mistress say this, Qiu Hu tiptoed over and said, "It just so happens that the pills can last until June or July."
During this time at the estate, although Fourth Master often came to Gege's place for dinner and overnight stay, he rarely asked for water.
Qiu Hu was still puzzled for a moment, but Li Chenjiao told her that the Fourth Master was probably also lacking energy lately, which dispelled her idea that her princess and the Fourth Master had a falling out.
Like today, Fourth Master came back too late. I heard he didn't get back to the estate until almost 9 PM, so he didn't come to Xinlutang.
Although the Fourth Prince did not stay overnight, he did send over a basket of fresh water chestnuts, saying it was for the Princess to eat as a pastime.
The maids naturally noticed this pampering and hoped that their princess would give birth to a child soon so that she could have someone to rely on.
Of course, this is on the premise that one's own princess is in good health.
——
Li Chenjiao was living comfortably on the estate, but the Fujin (principal wife) in the manor was somewhat unhappy.
She went to great lengths to gain access to the manor's kitchen, deliberately making the kitchen staff disgust Li while simultaneously favoring Wu.
The Princess Consort's idea is very good.
If Li Shi could get so angry that she started a fight with Wu Gege, it would be even better if it affected the child in Wu Gege's womb.
It wouldn't matter if Lady Li didn't cause trouble for Lady Wu. As long as Lady Li got the Fourth Prince to resolve the kitchen issue, Lady Wu wouldn't be at ease or jealous of such a favored wife.
The Fujin waited a long time and finally received news that the master and apprentice in the kitchen had been punished, but she never heard from the servants that Li and Wu had quarreled.
The Fujin felt unhappy when she thought of those two men who spent their days on the estate, one relying on the prince's favor and the other on the baby in his belly, trying to win him over.
"I handed a token to Granny Zhao in the palace, saying that I would be going to the palace to pay my respects to Her Majesty tomorrow morning."
Yu Ru quickly agreed.
The next morning, the princess dressed and sat in front of the dressing mirror: "Put on the cloisonné hairpin that the Empress bestowed upon me on our wedding day."
Both kingfisher feather inlay and cloisonné enamel are exquisite crafts, and the jewelry made from them is extremely valuable.
Enameling is a jewelry-making technique that involves firing blue onto the surface of silver. It involves using silver as the base, applying enamel glaze, and firing the pieces. The combination of blue glaze and silver is considered particularly beautiful and is thus named for its exquisite beauty.
The cloisonné enamel hairpin, adorned with a delicate tassel, hangs down close to the smooth black hair when inserted into the bun, occasionally swaying slightly as the princess walks.
When the Fujin arrived at Yonghe Palace, Consort De was having breakfast. The Fujin bowed very obediently and then served Consort De breakfast.
After breakfast, Consort De patted the Fujin lightly and praised her for being filial.
The princess turned her head slightly, her smile gentle, and her words were more intimate and cheerful: "When we were newly married in the palace, didn't I serve you like this, Mother? After you established your own residence last year, I had fewer opportunities to serve you."
Consort De naturally knew the principle that one wouldn't visit a temple without a reason, but since the Princess Consort had said so, she wasn't in a hurry to expose her, and slowly asked, "You're a good child. How has the manor been lately?"
Seeing that the topic had been changed by Consort De, the Fujin paused and replied gently, "After the spring, the eldest princess's health improved a lot, and the imperial physicians at the estate also reported that Princess Wu's pregnancy is very healthy."
Consort De hummed in agreement: "The fact that the fourth prince's harem is so easy to manage is all thanks to your excellent management as his wife."
The princess declined a couple of times, but she was still young and impatient. However, Ulanara chose to approach the matter indirectly.
"I heard that the palace selection is about to begin this year."
The palace holds a general election every three years and a minor election every March or April.
Most of the imperial concubine selections were for arranging wives and concubines for members of the royal family.
Consort De understood the purpose of the Fujin's visit, and slowly lifted her eyelids to look at the Fujin.
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