By the end of October, it was getting colder in the capital. The maids had already taken out their autumn clothes and even some winter clothes to air them out, as had the children's clothes.
Whenever Li Chenjiao had free time, she would embroider little clothes for the children in her womb. However, she mostly chose dark-colored clothes, which looked like clothes that the little princes would wear. The maids didn't say anything, but she was still preparing little clothes for the princes and princesses.
The second princess is still young, but she seems quite interested in embroidery, or rather, the little girl is particularly interested in all kinds of silk threads.
So every day after the little girl came home from school, after lunch, Li Chenjiao would sit in a round-backed chair on the veranda embroidering, while the little girl would sit on an embroidery stool next to her, picking out silk threads. Wanwan would look left and right, but in the end she wouldn't move her feet, so she would squat on the other side and play with persimmons.
Every day, Li Chenjiao would ask the two children what they had been doing in the front yard. The second princess's activities were pretty much the same every day; she would play peacefully with the eldest princess. The eldest princess took good care of the second princess and was a good older sister.
Among the three princes, the second prince was kept very close watch by the maids and nannies in the main courtyard. They usually wouldn't let the second prince, the third prince, or Wanwan talk to each other. Over time, Wanwan stopped taking the initiative to play with the second prince.
The Third Prince was quiet and reserved, and usually didn't talk much. He behaved very properly in front of Mr. Dai. He had spoken with Wanwan a few times when Wanwan first went to study in the front courtyard, but gradually they seemed to have little contact.
Looking around, she noticed that the children weren't very close to her. Well, they weren't from the same mother, and it wasn't an ordinary family home.
Just like the princes of His Majesty today, the Fifth Prince and the Ninth Prince, who are born of the same mother, will always have a better relationship, just like the Fourth Prince and the Fourteenth Prince. Therefore, the brotherly love and respect that His Majesty desires is just a pipe dream.
Over the past few days, the Third Master's mansion has become deserted.
Li Chenjiao herself had heard Xiao Luzi and the others talk about it twice, and it was truly a sad story.
She was lost in thought for a moment, and when she came to her senses, she suddenly brought up something else.
"My son has met a few more people these past few days..."
Li Chenjiao then revealed a perfectly timed expression of interest.
Wanwan then recounted the stories of several children her age had met in the past few days. Li Chenjiao remained expressionless until the two children went to take their afternoon nap, at which point her brows furrowed slightly.
The Nian family's children? She had heard a little about the Nian family and knew some of the Fourth Master's dealings with them.
Both sons of the Nian family were outstanding. The two sons of the second son, Nian Gengyao, came to the Fourth Master's residence. Li Chenjiao remembered that Nian Gengyao and the Fourth Master were about the same age, and the Nian family seemed to have a few daughters as well.
Li Chenjiao knew little else.
...
The Nian family does indeed have three daughters, but the one of them who is of marriageable age is the daughter of a concubine, while the legitimate daughter is only ten years old.
This is something only the Fourth Prince knew.
How could Fourth Master suddenly know all this? It was because the Nian family had the idea of ​​strengthening their ties with him through marriage. The Nian family was no longer satisfied with their current relationship with Fourth Master. The downfall of Third Master made the Nian family even more determined.
After meeting Nian Gengyao, the Fourth Prince, expressionless, took a detour to a teahouse not far from the Thirteen Mansions.
Thirteen was already waiting in the private room.
Thirteen was furious after hearing what Fourth Master said: "Wishful thinking! The Nian family wants to give you, Fourth Brother, a concubine's daughter as a secondary consort. They're dreaming!"
Thirteen was so angry that her face turned red.
Fourth Master himself remained calm and composed. He even reassured Thirteen, saying, "If the Nian family really wants to, they'll have to show some sincerity in exchange."
The position of another concubine in the Fourth Prince's mansion had been vacant for a long time. It wasn't originally reserved for anyone in particular. The Nian family wanted it, and the Fourth Prince also had something that the Nian family needed to do. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement.
Right now, the Nian family wants the position of a secondary consort, and who knows, there might be a vacancy for that position later...
The Fourth Master's attitude toward the Nian family was neither to resist nor to accept; it didn't matter who it was, it all depended on whether the Nian family could offer him a satisfactory offer in exchange.
Fourth Master patiently explained to Thirteenth Brother, who understood what Fourth Brother meant, but was still somewhat indignant.
Fourth Master then inquired about Thirteen's own backyard.
Thirteen's face, which was originally flushed with anger, turned as red as a boiled shrimp after hearing Fourth Master's question: "Brother... everything is fine."
Seeing this, Fourth Master smiled and gave Thirteen a few more instructions, giving a general overview of his arrangements.
After listening, Thirteen spoke first: "I will keep everything a secret. If there is anything I can do to help... Oh, and should we also inform Fourteen?"
He approved of all his fourth brother's choices and arrangements, and supported whatever his fourth brother did.
After listening to Thirteen's words, Fourth Prince pondered for a moment: "He's busy choosing a primary consort right now. If he finds out, he'll just find another excuse to come out. There's no need to tell him for now."
Fourteen, despite his calm demeanor, is still someone who can explode at the slightest provocation.
This matter is urgent; the fewer people who know about it, the less risk there will be.
Thirteen understood what Fourth Master meant, and upon hearing this, he became serious and solemnly agreed. He offered tea instead of wine: "No matter what, your younger brother will always be by your side, Fourth Brother, whether we succeed or fail."
Fourth Master also raised his teacup, appearing somewhat calm: "Let's not talk about those things."
With Fourth Master's birthday approaching, Thirteenth Master took the opportunity to send his birthday gift to Fourth Master in advance.
The Fourth Prince's birthday celebration was not a grand affair, as was his custom. Because his wife was ill, only the Fourth Prince took his two sons to the palace early in the morning. The Third Prince, however, had caught a cold and did not go to the palace.
The Fourth Prince went to the Qianqing Palace first, and then went to Consort De's Yonghe Palace.
When His Majesty saw the two children in the Qianqing Palace, he was feeling a bit tired after finishing reviewing the memorials, so he kept the two children, Honghui and Hongli, with him.
Seeing this, the Fourth Prince gave the two children a few words of advice. The Emperor noticed this and asked the two children after the Fourth Prince left. In the end, Wanwan was the first to speak.
Without the two children accompanying him, the Fourth Prince returned to Yonghe Palace and waited until noon. A servant from Qianqing Palace came and said that His Majesty had kept the two children for lunch.
The mother and son exchanged a glance, and Consort De smiled and shook her head.
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