Knowing that merging the courtyards was a major project, Li Chenjiao returned to the East Courtyard and asked Xiao Luzi to clean up the back room near the small courtyard where she and Dongsheng lived, naturally to store away their valuables.
Because it was close to the small storeroom, Li Chenjiao also instructed Qiu Hu to lock the storeroom these days, and if anyone asked, to just say it was miscellaneous items.
Since it was all done during the day, Li Chenjiao wasn't affected much.
The southern courtyard only needed to be tidied up. Wu Shi had already understood some of this when Fu Lu went to deliver the message, and she also heard the commotion of the expansion of the courtyard behind.
Wu lowered her eyes, still somewhat unwilling.
However, Wu Shi quickly ordered people to pack everything up. She waited for the servants to finish arranging the new courtyard in the south and then had them ventilate it to dissipate the musty smell before she and the eldest prince moved into the south courtyard.
There was also some noise from the Song family's courtyard renovations. She was already feeling envious because of the expansion of the east courtyard, and now the noise was making her even more annoyed.
Why is it that Li Shi, who entered the manor later than her, expanded the manor before her?
She doesn't even know if the baby in her belly is a boy or a girl yet.
Song was annoyed, and hearing the eldest princess crying made her even more irritated: "Take the eldest princess out for a walk. All she does is cry all day long."
Winter had arrived and all the flowers in the garden had withered, but Madam Song wasn't worried that the eldest princess would develop a rash again.
Wang didn't want the eldest princess to hear Song's complaining and cursing at such a young age, so she responded and covered the eldest princess's ears before leaving.
With some peace and quiet, Madam Song suddenly remembered something: "Where is Madam Xie? I haven't seen her these past few days."
When Xie first entered the household, she visited Song several times. Although Song secretly envied Xie's beauty, she treated Xie differently because Xie gave her advice.
At that time, the Fourth Master was on the estate, and it was Xie's idea for Song to go to the estate under the pretext of the eldest princess.
Song knew that Xie wanted to use her to establish herself on the estate and then introduce Xie to the estate as well.
Song did indeed go to the estate, but because she angered Fourth Master, she never had a chance to speak with him.
Fortunately, Madam Xie, who was in the mansion, knew some manners and did not urge them on because of this.
After Song returned to her residence, the two of them often visited each other, but it was mostly Xie who took the initiative to come to Song's courtyard.
Liu Xu had always felt that Xie Gege was getting close to her own princess with ulterior motives, but she couldn't find any evidence. Now that her own princess had brought it up, she lowered her head and replied.
“A maid from Consort Xie’s courtyard came by a few days ago and said that Consort Xie had caught a cold and that the physician was treating her poorly, so her illness had been lingering on and off. Fearing that visiting the consort might infect her, Consort Xie has not even left her courtyard lately.”
Upon hearing this, Madam Song covered her nose with her handkerchief in disgust: "She—she's really unlucky. Give her some money and let the physician of the manor take a good look at her. Who told her to be so tactless as to offend the Princess Consort?"
The willow catkins responded.
In the main courtyard, the Fujin (principal wife) also received news that Xie was ill.
The Princess Consort still remembered the Mid-Autumn Festival incident. After hearing the report from her subordinates, she sneered without any politeness: "So what if she's sick? Didn't the royal physician go to see her? Why make her act like she's so delicate? Why don't we invite the imperial physician to see her?"
No one dared to answer.
October passed just like that, and by the way, it had been a month since the Fourth Prince left the mansion.
Li Chenjiao had Xiao Luzi oversee the construction project of merging the courtyards of the Imperial Household Department every day.
As November arrived, Li Chenjiao's pregnancy was about to reach its fourth month, and her belly was beginning to show some movement.
The matron sent by the Imperial Household Department to teach etiquette was surnamed Qin. Before arriving at the mansion, she had heard some things about the Fourth Prince's household and naturally understood that this newly appointed Consort Li was favored. She was also worried about making enemies while teaching etiquette.
After all, those who are favored in the princes' harems always have some temper. For example, Consort Cao in the Third Prince's mansion was known for her sharp tongue.
After staying in the East Courtyard for a few days, Granny Qin felt relieved. This Consort Li was a rare mistress who was tolerant and kind to her servants.
Having such a master is naturally a great relief.
Since Li Chenjiao's pregnancy showed no signs of discomfort and she didn't slack off in learning etiquette, Granny Qin was able to save a lot of trouble, and even the days spent learning etiquette were reduced.
Because Li Chenjiao was pregnant, Granny Qin only taught her etiquette for one hour each day, and after noon she would play with the cats in the courtyard with the two maids.
It was actually more comfortable than being in the Imperial Household Department.
Of the two maids, only Qiu Ci had spent some time in the Imperial Household Department. In her spare time, she listened with great interest to Granny Qin's stories about the nobles in the Imperial Household Department and even the Forbidden City.
Sometimes, after waking up from her afternoon nap, Li Chenjiao would listen to Granny Qin's stories under the eaves.
The Imperial Household Department also came to take measurements for Li Chenjiao. Qin Mama counted the days, and it was estimated that by the end of November, Li Chenjiao would have finished learning the rules and etiquette, and that would be the end of her job.
Once winter arrived, Li Chenjiao stopped going to the garden, always complaining that the cold wind chilled her neck.
However, something still happened at the end of October.
While strolling in the garden, the Fujin was accidentally bumped into by Wu Gege, nearly causing the Fujin to miscarry. As a result, Wu Gege was punished by being confined to her quarters.
Not only that, Wu Gege also lost her right to inspect the accounts.
But this whole thing seems very strange no matter how you look at it.
Firstly, the Fujin (princess) almost suffered a miscarriage because of this, so it was inconvenient for her to appear in person. Therefore, these matters were ultimately arranged by Granny Qian of the main courtyard.
The Fujin (principal wife) is even using the child in her womb to seize the right to audit accounts from Wu Gege (principal wife), and she's not afraid of actually harming the fetus.
Princess Wu was always cautious and prudent. After giving birth to the eldest prince, she was rarely seen leaving the South Courtyard to stroll around the garden.
Moreover, the Fujin (principal wife) always maintained her dignity. In the year or so that Li Chenjiao had been in the mansion, she had only encountered the Fujin a few times while strolling in the garden.
Anyone with eyes can see that this was the Fujin plotting against Wu Gege.
However, since the wife was pregnant and the Fourth Prince was not at home, Wu Gege was left with no recourse but to suffer in silence.
However, after this incident, Li Chenjiao understood even more the methods of Granny Qian in the main courtyard, and naturally became more vigilant.
During the days that Fourth Master was away from the mansion, Li Chenjiao lived a very comfortable life.
On the day of Lidong (the beginning of winter) in November, a light snow began to fall in the capital. Li Chenjiao woke up early in the morning and heard Qiu Hu say that she looked out from inside the house: "The first snow of the year. I wonder if Fourth Master is on his way home."
Although there was a charcoal fire burning inside the house in winter, Fourth Master was still warmer.
In the days since the Fourth Prince left the capital, Li Chenjiao finally thought of him.
Perhaps it was just a casual remark, but the Fourth Prince also returned to the capital around noon on the day of the Beginning of Winter.
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