Wu, who originally had a lot to say, had to stop herself, but after sitting down, she couldn't help but glance at Li, who was sitting opposite her.
How could she tell that before the Fujin (the wife of the deceased) arrived, Li Shi had become the one speaking up?
Logically speaking, since she gave birth to the eldest prince, her status among the princesses in the inner courtyard was naturally different. Even Song Shi, who gave birth to the eldest princess first, should have been inferior to her.
I was so busy arguing with Madam Song that I forgot about the important matter.
Wu bit her lip in frustration.
Right now, the most important thing is to establish a good reputation for her in the mansion and make the Fourth Prince think that she is the best candidate to be promoted to the rank of secondary consort.
Of course, one must also be careful not to be schemed against by the Princess Consort.
After the Princess Consort excused herself from the formalities, she took her seat and asked, "I think I heard crying just now? Was it the eldest princess or the eldest prince crying?"
Madam Song replied, "The eldest princess was hungry, so I had the nanny carry her away."
The princess smiled and said, "It is indeed you, Madam Song, who is so proper, that you often bring the eldest princess to me."
Strictly speaking, counting the time when the Princess Consort met the Eldest Princess herself last winter, this is the second time she has brought the Eldest Princess out. The use of the word "frequently" is quite interesting.
If the Song family follows the rules, then who is breaking the rules?
It goes without saying that everyone naturally understood.
Li Chenjiao watched as if she were watching a play, only having Qiu Hu scoop a bowl of chicken soup and bring it to her.
In the backyard, no one is a mortal enemy of anyone else, unless someone has actually taken a life.
Previously, the Fujin disliked Song because Song had given birth to the first child in the household. Now, she agrees with Song because the Fujin has found someone she hates even more.
Wu also had a maid serve a bowl of vegetarian soup, but she accidentally spilled some.
Fortunately, the soup wasn't really soup, it was just lukewarm. Wu took the handkerchief from the maid and wiped her hands: "What were you saying to Song Gege just now, Madam? I didn't listen carefully."
They simply brushed the matter aside with a light touch.
Today's scene is a power struggle between the Fujin (wife of the emperor) and Wu, with a muddle-headed Song also getting involved.
Xie Shi was unusually silent, and Bai Jia Shi was also very proper, even offering Li Chenjiao a toast, her words quite sincere.
Li Chenjiao said she had a low alcohol tolerance, so she offered chicken soup in return. However, after only two sips, she gagged.
Of course, it was all an act by Li Chenjiao.
Li Chenjiao couldn't keep this pregnancy a secret forever. She'd been pregnant for three months; it was time to announce it to the public at the right time.
The group of people who had been exchanging witty remarks stopped talking.
Neither the Fujin nor Wu Shi spoke up immediately.
Madam Song spoke first: "What's wrong with Princess Li? Are you feeling unwell?"
Li Chenjiao wiped her lips with a handkerchief: "This soup smells nauseating." She didn't try to hide anything.
Then Song exclaimed, "Oh dear! Could it be... could it be?"
Everyone naturally understood the second half of the sentence.
Wu's expression immediately changed.
Although Lady Li was favored in the past, she never conceived and never achieved great things. However, if Lady Li were to become pregnant, things would be different.
As a result, the princess's complexion also deteriorated considerably.
She knew that the Fourth Prince had just requested that Lady Li be granted the title of Consort. The same logic applied to the Consort as well. A Consort who was pregnant with Yu Xi's child was indeed someone to be wary of.
The princess touched her belly and then glanced at Granny Qian standing to the side.
Granny Qian stepped forward and said, "It's easy to catch a cold in autumn. Later, after the banquet, I will ask the palace physician to go to the princess's courtyard to take a look. The princess should also take good care of herself."
Li Chenjiao then stood up and thanked her.
The dinner suddenly became quiet.
Everyone fell silent, and no one knew what they were thinking.
The eldest princess was almost asleep after being coaxed by Madam Wang, so the Fujin (principal wife) used this as an excuse to dismiss everyone.
At the original full moon celebration for the eldest prince, he was mentioned the least.
Li Chenjiao had just returned to her courtyard when she heard from Xiao Luzi that the family physician had arrived.
When the physician took her pulse, Li Chenjiao simply said, "When the Fourth Prince had the imperial physician take my pulse before he left the mansion, he said that I was still a little over a month pregnant. What do you think, Physician Sun?"
Sun Langzhong trembled, not daring to raise his head: "Yes, the princess is only two months pregnant, the pregnancy is still in its early stages."
Li Chenjiao hummed in agreement and raised her hand.
Qiu Hu then took out a prepared purse from her sleeve. It was larger than the usual purses and looked quite heavy.
Li Chenjiao instructed someone to send Physician Sun away.
After today, the winds of change in the manor will shift again.
From now on, everyone will probably keep an eye on Li Chenjiao's belly, especially Wu Shi.
Wu was indeed feeling like she was on hot oil. After returning to her courtyard, she suppressed her emotions and went to see the eldest prince first.
The eldest prince had already fallen asleep. Wu asked the wet nurses again if the eldest prince had cried or fussed while she was away, and then half-reminded and half-admonished the wet nurses to take good care of the eldest prince.
Only after she had finished inquiring about all of this did Wu have the energy to think about everything that had happened at the Qing Courtyard today.
When her confidant reported, Wu paused, pressing her temples, and asked, "How is it?"
"Princess Li is pregnant, and it has been two months since her pregnancy."
Wu closed her eyes and remained silent for a long time.
Wu couldn't say whether she was flustered or something else, but she inexplicably understood that this concubine might not be hers.
This was extremely disheartening for Wu.
However, she could not resent the Fourth Master, nor could she resent anyone else.
"Bring me my chessboard," Wu suddenly ordered, opening her eyes.
Wu was proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She held both black and white pieces and slowly constructed the entire chess game.
Which piece she is in this game of chess is not something she can decide.
However, the extent to which she can play this role is something she can decide.
Where does the Fujin (Prince Consort) occupy, and where does Lady Li (Li Shi) occupy?
It is not appropriate for one party to dominate, and there will be a loser in a confrontation between two armies.
In the end, a three-way balance of power is the most suitable outcome.
Suddenly, Wu threw down the chess piece in her hand and slammed it hard onto the chessboard.
She can be a pawn, but her son cannot be a pawn.
Since she couldn't become a concubine, she took the initiative to step down, hoping to gain the Fourth Prince's pity and secure a better future for the First Prince.
Madam Wu exhaled a breath of turbid air: "Someone, find that jade ruyi in the storeroom and send it to Princess Li tomorrow. Tell her that I congratulate her on her good fortune and wish her a son soon."
Wu is not Song; she will not fight with Li and let the Fujin (wife of the emperor) benefit.
Similarly, she wouldn't fight with the Fujin (principal wife).
Right now, all she needs to do is take good care of the eldest prince and then seize more control of the household while the princess is pregnant.
The Wu clan was the best at endurance.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com