The princess was so angry at Li Si'er's actions that her face turned red.
She was raised in a respectable family and was taught from a young age how to be a proper wife and how to suppress the concubines and princesses below her. Naturally, she looked down on someone like Li Si'er.
However, Li Si'er had always been favored, and the most important thing about Longkodo killing his wife was to have Li Si'er, his favorite concubine, appear in the important sacrificial rites and weddings and funerals of various households.
This allowed Li Si'er to truly embody the demeanor of a mistress of the house.
Li Chenjiao stood behind. She paused for a moment, then simply nodded slightly to Li Si'er as a greeting.
After all, Li Si'er currently has no official rank and is just a commoner.
The fact that Li Chenjiao nodded to Li Si'er at this moment was already considered polite.
Li Si'er, sitting opposite, noticed it quickly. Her eyes flickered, and she nodded slightly in return.
She returned the gift so casually that even the Fujin (principal wife) didn't notice, but Qiu Hu, standing behind Li Chenjiao, looked on with a mixture of unease and something left unsaid.
After all, their master had been very polite in returning the gift, but Li Si'er didn't seem to care at all.
The princess was clearly about to get angry, but from Li Chenjiao's perspective, she saw that Granny Qian next to the princess pressed down on the princess's hand.
The princess paused, her eyebrows twitching slightly. "Madam is too kind. There are simply too many affairs to attend to in the household, and it just so happens to be the first day of the month. Please, have a seat."
Li Chenjiao remained silent throughout, sitting meekly to the left of the Fujin.
The lady-in-law took her seat and had a maid refill her tea. "I've heard things have been lively at your residence lately. It's kind of you, Madam, to take time out of your busy schedule to come and pay your respects."
The Fujin's words were practically asking Li Si'er directly why she wasn't staying in her own residence and had come to the Fourth Prince's residence.
Li Si'er smiled charmingly and, upon hearing the Fujin's words, directly laid her words out in the open.
"Does Fourth Princess Consort mean she doesn't want me to come and visit? The household is indeed quite busy, but my master learned from Fourth Master that Fourth Princess Consort is ill, so he specifically asked me to come and visit her."
Li Si'er's words seemed to imply a strategy of using force first and then diplomacy.
The Fujin's face showed no smile upon hearing this; at this moment, listening to Li Si'er's words about visiting only made her feel disgusted.
She usually associates with princes' wives of similar status, as well as noblewomen and high-ranking officials in the palace. At the very least, they are ladies of lower rank but still hold official titles.
The Fujin (principal wife) wouldn't even give a second glance to someone as lowly and uncouth as Li Si'er.
The princess consort rubbed her temples in response: "Thank you for remembering, but I've just been taking care of my health since giving birth, it's nothing serious."
Li Si'er chuckled twice: "It's good that there's nothing seriously wrong. Our mistress has never been in very good health, which is why she doesn't even have the energy to manage the household. It's been tough on me—"
She covered her mouth as she spoke.
That's incredibly presumptuous.
What is this talking about? It's no different from pointing your finger at the princess and scolding her.
Moreover, the Fujin's health is not very good right now, and there is also a Wu clan member in the mansion who is always thinking of taking away her management power.
Even though the Fujin knew that Li Si'er couldn't possibly know everything about the Fourth Prince's harem, she still felt that Li Si'er's words were implying something.
The Fujin pressed her chest, still fuming: "Madam is not the principal wife after all, so naturally she doesn't understand the many hardships involved. But as long as she behaves herself, she will have fewer difficulties."
However, Li Chenjiao, sitting below, frowned slightly upon hearing the Fujin's sarcastic remark.
Compared to Li Si'er's words, the Fujin's words were clearly inferior.
Li Si'er was just talking about her own affairs, which was naturally harmless. As for what the Fujin thought, that was the Fujin's business.
However, the princess's words were almost blatant sarcasm, and they also carried a direct lecturing tone.
But Li Si'er wasn't a member of the Fourth Prince's household, so the Fujin's words were rather meddlesome.
Seeing that the Fujin was increasingly unable to win the argument with Li Si'er, Li Chenjiao twitched her lips and still replied with these words.
"Madam is too kind. We are all happy to enjoy our retirement. These matters still need to be handled by the wives of the household. Otherwise, who knows how much trouble will arise if they were in our hands."
Li Chenjiao's words were naturally more in favor of the Fujin (principal wife), but her words were also cleverly worded, directly linking her and Li Si'er's identities together with the word "we".
Li Chenjiao herself didn't feel that she was lowering her status. After all, she was a concubine. It was fine to be flamboyant in her own residence, but it was inappropriate to be flamboyant outside.
Whether Li Si'er's arrogance stemmed from Longkodo's favor or his instruction, Li Chenjiao didn't need to explain the principle that the bigger the tree, the more the wind will blow against it at this time.
Sitting opposite Li Chenjiao, Li Si'er leaned back in her carved chair and said coquettishly, "This must be the concubine of the Fourth Prince's mansion, right? It's a rare opportunity to meet you. What you said makes sense. Who wouldn't want to enjoy a life of leisure?"
Although Li Si'er said this, he lazily looked at the cardamom on his nails while speaking, and his words, "Who doesn't want to enjoy a life of leisure?" sounded particularly sarcastic.
The princess was getting impatient.
Her meeting with Li Si'er today was entirely due to the fact that Longkodo was a close favorite of the Emperor and held the official position of Kowloon Admiral.
But to be honest, she naturally looked down on Li Si'er's behavior a million times over.
With Li Si'er as a comparison, the Fujin (principal wife) found Li Shi more pleasing to the eye now.
To be honest, the Fujin is a prince's wife, and the marriage was bestowed by imperial decree from His Majesty. The fact that she can sit here and say a few words to Li Si'er is already a great honor for Li Si'er.
Thinking this through, the Fujin did not stay any longer. Seeing that Li Si'er had no intention of taking his leave, she simply got up and used her poor health as an excuse to leave.
As for Li Si'er, isn't there also Consort Li?
As the Fujin left, she gave a forced smile and said, "I'm going back now, Li Shi. I'll leave this place to you."
The Princess Consort knew that Li Chenjiao was unaware of what was happening in the court and would not easily turn against her.
Li Chenjiao was indeed unaware of the complex relationship between Longkodo and the Fourth Prince, but she wasn't stupid. Judging from the way the Fujin left so decisively, she could guess a thing or two.
She sat upright, but in her heart she couldn't help but curse the Fujin countless times.
Li Chenjiao responded to Li Si'er with a faint smile. Li Si'er was indeed somewhat arrogant, but from her words, one could sense that she wasn't stupid to have become a favored concubine.
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