After enjoying a good lunch at Lanqin's place and resting for a while, Fourth Master returned to the front courtyard from the east courtyard. Just as he stepped into the courtyard gate, he happened to see Madam Li being helped out by Mingyan, and the two bumped into each other.
"This servant greets Fourth Master!" Madam Li wore a light blue cheongsam, and a gold and kingfisher hairpin on her head made her look elegant and graceful.
"Why did you come here?" Although the Fourth Prince said this, he still stepped forward to help Li Shi up. After all, he had doted on this woman for almost ten years, and the affection he had shown her over the past was genuine. However, seeing that she was becoming increasingly arrogant and losing her sense of propriety, he deliberately neglected her for a while to let her know her place. She had borne him two sons and a daughter, and he had given her the title of a secondary consort, which the Fourth Prince felt was quite proper.
"I shouldn't be disturbing Your Highness's rest, but there's something I must report. Otherwise, I'm afraid I might wrongly accuse Sister Niu!" After a period of low spirits lasting half a year, Madam Li gradually realized that she had acted too hastily. She had two sons and a daughter, and was already a secondary consort, which had aroused the jealousy of many. If she were to lose the Fourth Prince's favor, it would be a great loss.
Fourth Master hadn't expected that Madam Li had come for this matter. He assumed she was eager to see him, so his tone became much more amiable, and he said, "Come in."
Finally, she was allowed back into the front yard! Li looked up at the roof beams, which were decorated with platinum-plated blue and red designs, and a smile appeared on her lips.
After sitting down with the Fourth Prince and having the servants leave, Madam Li eagerly said, "I had a poor appetite a few days ago, so I asked Doctor Bai to take my pulse. I casually asked about the incident where the First Prince bumped into Sister Yin in the courtyard that day. After listening to his words, I felt that he seemed to be hiding something. Seeing that I couldn't press him, Doctor Bai told me that Sister Yin's pregnancy was actually doomed that day. Since it concerns Your Highness's offspring, I came to report to you immediately."
As Fourth Master was picking up a cup of tea handed to him by Su Peisheng, he paused slightly upon hearing Li's words before taking a few more sips of tea.
After Li finished speaking, she carefully observed the Fourth Prince's expression. Seeing that he wasn't too surprised by her words, she began to feel unsure. She had been very careful in her speech, not mentioning the Fujin (Prince's wife) at all.
"Bai Yifu! Did he report this matter to the Fujin? Then why is everyone in the mansion talking about how Lady Yin's miscarriage at the Third Prince's residence was caused by Lady Niu?" The Fourth Prince narrowed his eyes and said coldly.
"I don't know, Your Highness only needs to invite Doctor Bai here to ask. I only heard about the Third Prince's affairs from the servants; I didn't go to the Third Prince's residence with you that day." Li Shi had made her point clear; now it was up to the Fourth Prince to question Bai Yifu and the person behind him. As for Bai Yifu, after Li Shi learned that the Fourth Prince had gone to Lanqin's place, she immediately sent Que'er to invite him to the East Courtyard again. Li Shi naturally started by mentioning the Fourth Prince's visit to Lanqin, making Bai Yifu realize the situation clearly. He shouldn't think he could rest easy just because he relied on the person behind Yin Shi; ultimately, the most powerful person in this household was the Fourth Prince. His preferences determined everything. Then, Li Shi produced a letter from her cousin Feng Bochen, which stated that Bai Errun had been arrested for gambling. Speaking of this younger brother, Bai Yifu was always troubled, but he only had one brother, and his mother was very protective of him. Whenever Bai Errun caused trouble, Bai Yifu was always the one to resolve it. This time, Bai Errun was caught gambling with a large sum of money and has been imprisoned. Under Li's coercion and enticement, Bai Yifu agreed that if Fourth Master needed his confession, he would only reveal that Yin's unborn child was already in danger, and would resolutely refuse to reveal who was behind Yin. In return, Li promised to help him get his brother out of prison.
Seeing that the Fourth Prince remained silent, Madam Li tactfully stood up, curtsied, and said, "That's all I know. I'll take my leave now."
The Fourth Prince, with a tense expression, gestured for Madam Li to leave. After sitting for a while, he instructed Su Peisheng, "Go and call the First Prince over."
"Your son greets Father!" When the eldest prince was summoned by Su Peisheng, the fourth prince was reading in his study.
"Honghui, you've grown taller!" When the Fourth Prince saw his eldest son, he felt that this son seemed a little different from before. Not only his height, but even the way he looked at him had changed. This change made the Fourth Prince happy and pleased. He no longer had the cautious and apprehensive expression he used to have when he saw him.
"Not only our son, but Hongjun has also grown taller." The eldest prince said with a slight smile, very pleased that the fourth prince had noticed the change in his height.
"Hmm, very good. I heard from Master Zhu that you all have been working very hard lately. You've also made great progress in riding and archery. I heard you're getting along well with Princess Niu, and she even made some finger protectors for you guys, is that right?" Fourth Master asked casually, staring into Honghui's eyes.
In fact, all of this was mentioned by Lanqin in her first reply to the Fourth Prince. The Princess Consort's reply did not mention Lanqin's actions at all, but Honghui was unaware of this. He pondered the Fourth Prince's questions and tried to deduce his intentions from them.
"What's wrong? Why aren't you saying anything?" Fourth Master noticed the hesitation in Honghui's eyes. The feeling that his eyes were different from before vanished instantly. Honghui was back to how he was before, so similar to his mother.
“I was thinking of Aunt Niu, who was quite sad, and that’s why I answered Father’s question. Please forgive me, Father,” Honghui said carefully.
"What's troubling you?" Fourth Master asked casually.
“Before Father returned, Consort Niu went to Third Uncle’s residence with Mother, along with Consort Wu and Consort Yin. But when they returned, Consort Yin had lost her baby. These days, rumors are circulating in the mansion that Consort Niu pushed Consort Yin, which caused her miscarriage.” Honghui raised his gaze slightly, not meeting Fourth Master’s sharp eyes, but looking at his forehead as he spoke.
"Father already knows about this. What did you mean by saying you were sad just now?" Fourth Master continued calmly.
“Father, I am saddened by the passing of my younger brother, and also by the misunderstanding that has beenfallen Aunt Niu. I firmly believe that Aunt Niu would not do such a thing.” This time, Honghui met those probing eyes.
This time, Fourth Master didn't ask anything more, but instead gestured to Honghui with his eyes to continue.
"Please forgive me, Father. I was playing with the skateboard that Aunt Niu made for me and bumped into Aunt Yin in the yard, which caused her to miscarry. Although Doctor Bai managed to save the baby, the pregnancy was already in danger, and Aunt Yin miscarried at my third uncle's house."
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