Song was the most sarcastic one today. When Wu came out of the main courtyard, she still had a smile on her face, but her eyes darkened.
"I'll remember what happened today." She didn't stop walking, but left these words as she passed by Madam Song.
Madam Song naturally heard this. She chuckled and flicked her handkerchief, saying, "Spring has arrived, and the bees are starting to come out."
Look at all this white stuff. Apart from the temperature warming up a bit, it doesn't look like spring at all.
Li Chenjiao did not stop walking, but Qiu Hu supported her master, her eyes filled with worry.
Today's events have clearly piqued everyone's interest.
Li Chenjiao didn't stop; she walked straight to her east courtyard without looking to the side.
She returned to the east courtyard and lazily yawned, "Has breakfast been served yet?"
Green Bamboo didn't go to the main courtyard. She replied, "Reporting to Your Majesty, it just arrived. The kitchen also sent over the tofu pudding that Your Majesty liked last time, and this time they sent the sweet kind as well."
Li Chenjiao thought for a moment, then silently rubbed her arms, thinking of the sweet tofu pudding and sesame cakes.
The sweet tofu pudding came with extra raisins, crushed peanuts, and sweet syrup, but Li Chenjiao found it too cloying and only ate some raisins.
After having breakfast, Li Chenjiao lay down on the soft couch and looked at the two maids beside her.
What's going on outside?
Qiu Ci replied first: "I heard that Granny Qian from the main courtyard went to Princess Wu's south courtyard."
Li Chenjiao responded with an "oh," but didn't react much.
On the fifteenth of February, everyone gathered in the main courtyard. On the eighteenth, the Fujin (princess) sent a memorial to the palace again.
This time, the princess returned even later, in the evening.
It was late at night, so the gatekeeper couldn't tell what the princess's expression was like.
However, there were even more speculations in the backyard. Even Wu Shi couldn't help but mutter to herself, "Could there be some kind of deity among the new people who have entered the mansion this time, given that the Fujin (principal wife) is still going to the palace despite her illness?"
Lady Wu was naturally unwilling to have a new concubine enter the household. She was afraid that another beautiful and intelligent woman would come along and eventually rise to the position of concubine by having a son. That was something Lady Wu absolutely did not want to see.
Whether she herself can sit in that position is still unknown. There are only two positions for the secondary consort, and Li Shi of the East Courtyard has already occupied one. Naturally, she does not want the last position for the secondary consort to slip away as well.
The more frequently the Fujin (Prince Consort) went to the palace, the more anxious Wu Shi became. Moreover, the eldest prince showed no progress in his calligraphy practice, which made Wu Shi even more irritable.
She stared at the map of the mansion that Granny Qian had brought from the main courtyard, her gaze becoming deep and unfathomable.
Inside the main courtyard, the Fujin (principal wife) went to the palace one after another to see Consort De. This was certainly not a smokescreen to trick Wu Shi into falling into a trap. She wouldn't go to such great lengths to do this to Wu Shi.
The reason why the Princess Consort went to the palace so frequently was simple: she herself was anxious.
The Empress hesitated to reveal the identity of the other woman to be selected for the palace, only mentioning a woman named Liu, who was of average family background and appearance. The Princess Consort had seen the portrait and was ultimately reassured.
However, there was one more woman to be selected for the imperial concubines, but Consort De refused to reveal a single word about her.
The Fujin had vaguely heard rumors that the Empress was involved in this matter, and that besides the Empress, who else could be involved, except for Consort De, one of the four consorts?
The more the princess thought about it, the more alarmed she became; she was truly panicked.
She was afraid that soon there would be another concubine in the mansion, betrothed by the Emperor.
The terms "concubine consort" and "concubine consort" bestowed by imperial decree and "concubine consort" obtained through a princess's request have different meanings.
Although they were nominally both secondary consorts, the newly appointed secondary consort was entitled to a grand wedding procession with four sedan chair bearers and a celebratory banquet held at the mansion.
The meanings are ultimately different.
However, Consort De's words were never definite, and the Fujin (the wife of the emperor) couldn't quite figure out Consort De's attitude either.
Everything can only be discussed when Fourth Master returns.
The Fourth Prince returned with the Emperor on the 24th of February.
When he returned, it was noon. However, the Fourth Prince first went to the palace with His Majesty, then went to Yonghe Palace, and finally went straight back to the Ministry of Revenue. It was late at night when the Fourth Prince returned to his residence.
However, Su Peisheng sent someone to deliver the luggage back to the mansion first, and the Fujin also knew the news of the Fourth Prince's return early on. She then asked the kitchen to prepare a table of food in advance, all of which were the Fourth Prince's favorite dishes.
"When Fourth Master came last time, he ate a few more bites of the Eight Treasure Duck. Put it closer to us. Also, put that dish closer to us. Put the cucumber salad further back. This dish is bland and tasteless, so take it away."
The princess consort frowned and personally gave the instructions.
When the Fourth Master returned to the mansion, the gatekeeper quickly informed him. Wang Jinzhong was already waiting at the gatehouse, but he was still very cautious when he relayed the message.
Fourth Master looked extremely tired. He pressed his temples, paused for a moment, and finally started walking towards the main courtyard.
Upon hearing the news, everyone in the backyard turned off their lights early, but Li Chenjiao's lights were turned off a little later.
It wasn't that she couldn't sleep, but rather that little girl Aman couldn't sleep.
Li Chenjiao simply picked up the little girl and put her on her bed, where she played with her. The little girl babbled and was full of energy.
It was almost time for the first watch of the night, and Li Chenjiao had yawned countless times. Looking down, she was surprised to see that the little girl, who had been laughing so hard just moments before, was now fast asleep at her feet.
Li Chenjiao softened her expression, quietly raised her hand to signal Green Plum, who was keeping watch outside, to extinguish the candle, and then carefully carried the Second Princess to a comfortable position on the bed to rest.
When the news reached the ears of the principal wife the next day, she was in a better mood.
With the new bride entering the mansion, everyone was getting restless.
When did Madam Li ever stay up so late when the Fourth Master used to stay overnight in the main courtyard?
Sitting idly all night must be incredibly unpleasant.
Although no water was called in the main courtyard last night, the Princess Consort was still pleased at this moment.
In this backyard, there is never lasting favor.
The princess lowered her eyes; she hadn't received any news from the fourth prince yesterday.
This is not a good sign.
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