After Li Chenjiao gave birth to the Fourth Prince in the East Courtyard, everyone was eager to curry favor with her. However, the Fourth Prince had instructed early on not to disturb the concubine's rest.
So even though the Emperor bestowed gifts upon the Fourth Prince and his concubine, no one in the inner courtyard dared to come to the East Courtyard to disturb Li Chenjiao's peace and quiet.
However, after that, the amount of stuff sent to the East Courtyard increased considerably.
Li Chenjiao had Lin Mama and Lümei register all the items sent from various places, and then asked Lin Mama to prepare return gifts for the Fourth Prince's full moon celebration.
As for the congratulatory gifts sent by the eunuchs and maids in charge of the sewing room, purchasing the kitchen and other miscellaneous items, Li Chenjiao only reminded the maids to keep an eye on them. They should not refuse the gifts that they should accept, but they should not accept the gifts that they should not accept.
The fourth prince's full moon celebration was on March 28th. Li Chenjiao, the mother, didn't show up much for the third-day celebration. She was short of energy those two days, and the maids didn't dare to disturb her.
However, Li Chenjiao didn't have much of a chance to attend the Fourth Prince's full moon banquet, since she was still in her postpartum period at the time. But it wasn't really her place to handle this matter anyway.
Li Chenjiao was a carefree, hands-off manager, but the Fourth Prince's full moon banquet was not arranged by the First Wife.
The Fourth Prince assigned this task to Consort Wu of the South Courtyard.
Yes, the Fujin has been neglected for more than a month. The Fourth Prince was originally unhappy because the Fujin intended to put a girl from the Ulanara clan into his harem, and later because of Li Chenjiao's difficult childbirth.
As a result of these two factors, starting in February, the Fourth Prince indeed neglected his principal wife for more than a month.
The Second Prince has been feeling better these days. If the Fourth Prince misses the Second Prince, he will have the Second Prince's wet nurse take him to the front yard, covering him up completely.
This time, the Fourth Prince really didn't give the Princess Consort any face at all; people in the backyard were whispering about it countless times.
This time, the Fourth Prince entrusted the matter of the Fourth Prince's full moon celebration to Lady Wu, saying that the Princess Consort had been worried about the Second Prince's health and had now fallen ill, unable to handle the matter.
However, on the first day of the month, everyone noticed that the Princess Consort's complexion was quite good, so they naturally knew that there must be something fishy going on.
However, it was not proper for a mere princess like Wu to handle this matter, and within two days, rumors spread in the inner courtyard that Princess Wu of the South Courtyard was to be invited by the Fourth Prince to be made a secondary consort.
The news reached the East Courtyard on March 14th.
Li Chenjiao is quite lazy, and the maids don't dare to disturb her. During her postpartum period, she spends most of her time resting in bed. When she heard the news, she just smiled.
“According to seniority, she entered the manor a little later than me, but she gave birth to the eldest son of the manor. I applied to be made a concubine earlier than her, but that was only because of the Fourth Prince’s favor. Why are you all in such a hurry?” Li Chenjiao adjusted her forehead ribbon and asked with a smile.
Even a cautious person like Qiu Hu hesitated for once: "Princess Wu has the demeanor of a Fujin (princess).
Li Chenjiao hummed in agreement: "So, I'm the one who's least in a hurry."
If Wu Zetian had truly become a secondary consort, then the primary consort should have been the most anxious.
As for the matter of the butler...
Li Chenjiao didn't continue speaking, but slowly took two sips from the cup. It was sweet cheese made by Pingniang from the small kitchen.
"Everyone has a scale in their heart, but these scales are not necessarily made of the same things. I am not capable of shouldering heavy responsibilities. I used to watch my mother manage the household at home and I thought to myself that if I got married in the future, I would find a housekeeper to manage the household for me."
If the Fourth Prince wants his wife to have some free time, then others have to be busy. Wu Shi is only a concubine now, which is not really appropriate in terms of status.
Either, as the servants outside are saying, Wu will be asked to be made a secondary consort, or...
Li Chenjiao suddenly had a bad feeling.
As Li Chenjiao was pondering this, she finished the cup of sweet cheese and asked Qiu Hu to remove it. She lay half-reclined, listening to the birds chirping outside, and felt warm even without any wind.
She squinted comfortably.
"My lord, the principal wife has left the manor. The gatekeeper said that the carriage is being prepared to go to the palace."
Qiu Hu returned after clearing away the cups, his steps somewhat hurried.
This matter actually has little to do with Li Chenjiao. It's impossible for the Fourth Prince to have only one concubine. Having another concubine would just mean they're on equal footing. She's the one who's least in a hurry.
She lazily raised her hand: "Okay."
However, the Princess Consort seemed quite anxious. A few days ago, the Fourth Prince said that the Princess Consort had fallen ill, but only a few days later, she returned to the palace full of energy.
...
The Fujin went to the palace, but did not see Consort De, because the Fourth Prince was inside talking with Consort De. Zhao Mama led the Fujin to a side hall to talk.
"The Imperial Household Department just received a batch of fabric for making spring clothes. The Empress said that the Princess Consort is in the prime of her life, so she should also pick some to take back to her residence to have bright spring clothes made."
The princess forced a smile, but her mind was already far away.
"It is indeed my fault as a daughter-in-law for being unfilial. I haven't come to pay my respects to my mother for some time, unlike how my father treats her."
Granny Zhao exclaimed, "You flatter me, Madam! Fourth Master has only been here a short while. His Majesty bestowed some gifts upon us the other day, and the Empress Dowager immediately had him examine them. Madam, please hurry and choose some fabrics; my eyes are getting tired of looking at them!"
When Madam Fu heard from Granny Zhao that the Fourth Prince had only arrived a short while ago, she breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Inside the main hall of Yonghe Palace.
Consort De had long heard that the Fourth Prince had been neglecting Lady Ulanara. She originally intended to summon the Fourth Prince's concubine, Lady Li, to speak with him, but since Lady Li was in confinement after giving birth, she gave up on the idea.
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