Green Bamboo subconsciously followed her master's gaze, but she couldn't discern anything from the two maids in the main courtyard.
When she looked at her mistress again, Li Chenjiao had already looked away. She paused, then called out softly, "Master?"
Li Chenjiao shook her head slightly to indicate that nothing was wrong: "Go in."
The people inside had already heard the commotion, and when Li Chenjiao came in, they all stood up and bowed respectfully. Li Chenjiao waved her hand to decline. The large group of people was quite unusual.
The seating arrangement was similar to before. Niohuru was released from confinement and sat opposite Liu, while Xu remained standing.
After Li Chenjiao sat down, she slowly glanced at the screen at the head of the table.
The embroidered screen depicting the Four Gentlemen is decorated with distant cloud patterns, layer upon layer, making it impossible to see the scene behind the screen at all.
She glanced at it briefly and quickly looked away.
Li Chenjiao was the last to arrive again today; everyone had been talking for quite a while before she arrived.
As for topics to talk about, besides the weather changes in winter, it's mostly about children; there's much less talk about clothes and jewelry.
At this moment, everyone's focus was on the Third Prince. Xu Shi was humble and didn't say a word more than politely.
As they talked about the Third Prince, the topic inexplicably shifted to whether the baby Li Chenjiao was carrying was a prince or a princess.
Li Chenjiao straightened her shoulders and neck slightly, and her eyebrows and eyes remained lazy after hearing this: "Whether it's a prince or a princess, the child hasn't been born yet, so who knows? There's no point in worrying about guessing."
After saying this, she chuckled to herself and asked, "Don't you think so?"
Li Chenjiao had been in the household for several years, and her second princess would be two years old next spring. However, Li Chenjiao's smile still made everyone's eyes dazzle.
Song lowered her eyes, concealing the envy and jealousy in them, but she only tugged at the corners of her mouth, her heart filled with utter disdain.
She naturally assumed that Li was just being polite; after all, who wouldn't want a prince? No matter how good a princess is, in the end, the Fujin (princess's wife) would still arrange her marriage.
He doesn't resemble a prince at all; he might even inherit the title of the Fourth Prince.
Wu didn't reply, but just smiled faintly.
Bai Jia looked around and then said, "What the concubine says is true. With his son and princess, there is hope, isn't there?"
Her words were direct and sounded like she was speaking from the heart, rather than taking Li Chenjiao's side.
Looking at Consort Li's swollen belly, Liu's eyes naturally revealed envy. After a while, she added, "Yes, at least there is hope."
Niohuru snorted softly upon hearing these words, her eyes filled with disdain.
What kind of skill is it to rely on children to win over men? She doesn't want to be that kind of person. If children are just a tool to win over men, she'd rather not have them.
As everyone was talking, the Fujin (principal wife) came out from upstairs.
Wang Jinzhong, who was at the front, announced in a shrill voice, "The Princess Consort has arrived."
Everyone stood up and greeted the Princess Consort in unison.
The princess looked down at the obsequious posture of everyone, raised her hand with satisfaction, and said slowly, "Please sit down. Everyone's here today."
Half a month later, the wife's complexion did indeed improve considerably.
Liu first offered a few words of flattery.
Li Chenjiao remained silent, her gaze falling again on the screen behind which the head wife was seated.
This time, to be precise, it landed on the corner of the garment that was peeking out from the edge of the screen.
The bright, pale yellow color is refreshing, and the two orioles embroidered on the hem of the skirt are lifelike, perched together.
Clearly, those weren't clothes a young girl would wear.
With just one glance, Li Chenjiao recognized that it was the embroidery of Jiangning Textile Bureau. When Li Chenjiao returned to the manor, the Fourth Master rewarded her with a box of such fabric.
Yes, a whole box.
During this southern tour, Li Chenjiao did not accompany the others to Jiangning and other places because she was pregnant later. However, she knew that the embroiderers in Suzhou and Hangzhou usually presented the clothes they made to the palace.
If ordinary people wanted to obtain it, it would cost an astronomical price.
Li Chenjiao quickly looked away, having already made up her mind.
The princess consort was quite quick.
Li Chenjiao didn't say much, and only came to her senses when the Fujin called for the party to disperse.
After leaving the main courtyard, she asked in a low voice, "What did the Princess Consort say just now?"
Qiu Hu helped her up and whispered, "They just said that the weather is cold and everyone should be careful. They also said that there's nothing to do these days, so they'll set up a table at the Qingyuan Courtyard on the Laba Festival to make it lively. That's all."
The Fujin (wife) didn't ask a single question about Li Chenjiao's current pregnancy.
It's unclear whether the Princess Consort truly didn't care anymore or what.
Li Chenjiao said "Oh" and whispered, "Later, have Xiao Luzi go to the gatehouse to check and ask who came to pay their respects to the Princess today."
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