Inside Yonghe Palace.
When Consort De got up early in the morning, she received a plaque from the Fourth Prince's wife and wondered: What is going on?
Normally, the Fourth Prince's wife was not one to socialize, and she would not come to Yonghe Palace except for various festivals and necessary occasions.
Consort De is now quite old, and her green plaque has long been removed from the Emperor's possession. No longer needing to serve the Emperor, she spends most of her time dealing with various visitors.
Normally, Consort Cheng would come over to chat with her, followed by the other concubines who were attached to Yonghe Palace, and then her two sons and their primary wives. Consort De handled these matters with ease; her rise from a lowly palace maid to one of the Four Consorts was undoubtedly due to her abilities. Although the Emperor no longer stayed with her, he would occasionally visit, ensuring that outsiders knew Consort De's status and influence in the palace were still considerable. After the death of Consort Tong, followed shortly by Consort Wenxi, the Four Consorts became the power holders in this vast harem. They maintained a balance of power, yet also checked and balanced each other.
"Bring the Fourth Princess Consort in," Consort De said to the person who came in to report after finishing her breakfast, washing her mouth, and walking around the palace for a while to digest.
The princess followed the nanny who led the way into Yonghe Palace.
Upon seeing Consort De sitting in the main seat of the palace, the Fujin immediately knelt down and kowtowed to the Empress.
Consort De calmly instructed someone to help her up, and only then did she sit down with the help of her nanny.
"Fourth Princess Consort, how is Honghui's health?" Consort De had never really liked this daughter-in-law, always thinking she held her head too high and treating her, her mother-in-law, with a rather distant attitude. Especially now that her only legitimate eldest son wasn't very healthy, how was she, as his mother, raising him?
"Your Majesty, Honghui only has a slight cough and is otherwise fine. Thank you for your concern," the Fujin replied cautiously.
Consort De sighed and asked directly, "What brings you to the palace so early in the morning?"
The Fujin then stood up from her seat, walked to the Consort De, and slowly knelt down again.
"Your Majesty," the concubine said earnestly, "I am incompetent. I have been married to Prince for ten years, and have only given birth to his eldest son, Honghui. I am truly unworthy of the Emperor's grace. Now that Prince has no heir, I am restless and unable to eat or sleep. The triennial imperial concubine selection has begun, and I wish to ask Your Majesty to select two virtuous and talented women for Prince so that he may have children."
Consort De was surprised when she heard this. In previous years, she had also sent women to the Fourth Prince's residence, but the Fourth Prince's wife had never come to the palace to express her gratitude. Why would she suddenly come to the palace today to ask for the woman in person?
"Good child, get up quickly." Consort De gave her a slight help and immediately ordered the nanny beside her to help the Fourth Princess up.
"Serve tea to the Fourth Prince's wife," Consort De ordered, then turned to her and said, "Even if you hadn't brought it up, I would have pointed it out anyway. These days, the Fourth Prince's offspring are a real worry."
"It is my incompetence that has troubled Your Majesty." The princess felt a pang of pain in her heart, but she still put on a show of "it is all my fault."
"Fourth Prince's Consort, I am very pleased that you are so sensible. This time, I will definitely choose two women who are of good family background, appearance, and temperament. Only then will I feel at ease knowing that you sisters will serve the Fourth Prince together." Consort De had originally intended to choose two more for the Fourth Prince and two for the Fourteenth Prince from this selection. However, she had been unable to issue the decree due to Honghui's illness. She was quite surprised that the Fourth Prince's Consort would bring it up herself.
"Yes, Your Highness. The Prince has been concerned about Your Highness's health and has asked me to pay my respects to you." Seeing that she had finished speaking, the Fujin said what she usually said last.
Consort De could tell right away, so she replied, "I am also tired. Fourth Princess, please take your leave."
After leaving the palace, the Princess Consort was supported by Granny Li as they walked along the long palace path towards the main gate. When they passed the Chuxiu Palace, they saw people inside busy with painting and other repair work.
"The selection process will begin in three days, right?" the Princess Consort asked.
"Yes, I heard that all the hotels in the capital are full. All the young ladies from all over the country have been booked." Granny Li joked. She dared to say this only because she saw that the Princess Consort's face was normal after she came out of Yonghe Palace.
"I wonder which family's daughter will be chosen to enter our household," the Fujin sighed.
"No matter which family they come from, once they arrive at our Fourth Prince's residence, they must listen to you, Madam," said Granny Li, flatteringly.
"Let's go back to my parents' home now. It'll be a good opportunity to talk to my brother about this matter. It would be best if we could find out in advance which family's daughter Her Majesty intends to choose." The Princess quickened her pace and strode towards the palace gate.
“Madam, it’s not appropriate for us to go back to our parents’ home without going through the master,” said Granny Li as she caught up with him.
"Let's hurry, it shouldn't be a big deal. We'll just say the palace delayed us when we get back." Once the Princess Consort made up her mind, she would see it through no matter what.
The Fourth Prince had visited around noon, but his wife still hadn't returned. He found it strange, but didn't think much of it. After helping the Third Prince, Hongyun, practice calligraphy, they had lunch together.
After he finished, the Fourth Prince ordered the eunuch who served the Third Prince to take him to the training ground to practice horseback riding and archery.
The Fourth Prince went back to his study in the front courtyard. After reading for a while, he remembered that he hadn't visited his newborn son for several days, so he took Su Peisheng with him to the East Courtyard.
Since giving birth to the Fourth Prince, Lady Li's health has been somewhat weak. Now, although the Fourth Prince is already six months old, he still often feels chest tightness and shortness of breath.
After watching the wet nurse nurse the Fourth Prince, they had them take him to the side room to soothe him to sleep.
When the Fourth Master walked in, Madam Li was reclining on the warm couch in the inner room.
Mingyan, who was dusting the main room with a feather duster, saw that the Fourth Master had entered and quickly curtsied, saying, "Greetings, Master!"
Upon hearing this, Li Shi, who was in the inner room, immediately opened her charming, peach-blossom-like eyes. Xiang Qiao, who was massaging her shoulders, immediately helped her mistress up. After checking that there was nothing wrong with her, she stepped aside.
Li Shi, stepping on her flowerpot-soled shoes, swayed as she walked to the doorway, only to see Fourth Master already sitting down in front of the main seat in the main house.
Mingyan had already prepared the tea and handed it to Li Shi before she and Xiangqiao stepped aside.
"Master, please have some tea." Seeing that the Fourth Master's complexion was normal, Madam Li placed the tea on the small table in front of him. As usual, she walked to the Fourth Master's legs and called out softly, "Master."
She wanted to sit on the Fourth Master's lap.
Upon seeing this, the Fourth Prince casually remarked, "Is the Fourth Prince asleep?"
Seeing that Fourth Master had no intention of letting her sit down, Li Shi stopped acting coquettishly and walked to the other side of the small table to sit down.
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