As the year draws to a close, the power struggles among various forces lie dormant like animals that need to hibernate, simply to accumulate strength so that they can unleash that strength in the coming year.
Because of the Fourth Prince's illness, Lady Li gradually drew the Fourth Prince's attention, and his attitude towards her changed considerably. Later, at Lanqin's suggestion, the Fourth Prince examined the skateboards of the First Prince and the Third Prince, but found nothing amiss, thus easing his suspicions about Lady Li. However, the Princess Consort remained convinced that Lady Li was definitely involved in the First Prince's drowning and had her younger brother investigate the Li family's affairs.
The relationship between the Princess Consort and the Fourth Prince was more harmonious than before. The Fourth Prince would stay in the main courtyard for seven or eight days a month. The rest of the time, Lanqin, Yanyu, and Li Shi would visit him the most. Others would only see the Fourth Prince twice a month if they were not being ignored.
After returning from the palace, the Fourth Prince went to the main courtyard to tell his wife about the tasks Emperor Kangxi had entrusted to him. To complete the tasks assigned by Kangxi as quickly as possible, the Fourth Prince immediately decided not to return to his residence but to stay directly in the palace. Although his wife was distressed, she had intended to take advantage of the Fourth Prince's frequent visits to the main courtyard to expedite her pregnancy, even starting to drink fertility-enhancing tonics. However, our Fourth Prince's dedication to his duties was beyond reproach.
"My lord, I have already ordered dinner. Why don't we dine here?" The princess said gently, suppressing her disappointment. Since reconciling with the fourth prince, she had somewhat changed her previous stubbornness. She no longer argued with him verbally, and her attitude had become much more docile.
"No, I have other things to do. You can have the eldest and second princesses keep me company. With the master away, all the affairs of the inner quarters are in your hands." The fourth prince patted his wife's hand on the back as a gesture of comfort.
The Fourth Prince stood up, turned around and walked towards the door. The moment he turned around, his wife behind him immediately showed a look of disappointment and resentment.
Watching that sapphire blue robe disappear at the threshold, the Fujin stood at the entrance of the main house, her face blank. The gentle, dignified, and warm lady just moments before seemed to have turned into a lifeless woman.
"Princess, the master is much better than before. Now he stays here seven or eight days a month. As long as you don't get stubborn, you should be able to conceive soon," Li Mama comforted her.
"Even if I rest here, how can you, Granny, know for sure that I will be able to conceive?" the Fujin said resentfully.
"What?" Granny Li asked, her heart skipping a beat, staring at the Fujin's profile.
"It was fine at first, but lately when the master comes to my place, he just sleeps..." The princess sighed softly.
Granny Li's pupils shrank, her heart sank, and she said in a trembling voice, "Princess, are you saying that the master didn't do 'that'?"
The princess nodded, then turned around leisurely and walked towards the side room.
"Madam, are you being too reserved?" Granny Li asked as she watched as Madam picked up a wolf-hair brush from her desk and began to apply ink to the Xuan paper. Madam wrote with bold strokes, her characters flowing and vigorous.
"But you want me to learn from those courtesans and master all the art of flattery and sycophancy," the princess suddenly said, stopping her writing.
“That’s not what I meant,” said Granny Li worriedly. “It’s just that you need to think things through in the bedroom, Master. You must seize this opportunity. As long as you give birth to another legitimate son, your position can still be maintained. Otherwise, without a legitimate son, I’m afraid other people will have inappropriate thoughts.” She had thought that after the Fujin and the Fourth Prince reconciled, things would change. However, according to the Fujin, the Fourth Prince hadn’t really changed his feelings for her. At first, perhaps it was out of pity for the Fujin’s loss of the First Prince, coupled with the Emperor and Consort De’s instructions, and also because of the consideration for a legitimate son, that he came to the main courtyard. But these were all external factors. The Fujin couldn’t rely on these external factors to win back the Fourth Prince’s heart. If things continued like this, she was afraid that the relationship between the Fujin and the Fourth Prince would revert to its old state of mutual respect, with the Fujin barely receiving his favor a few times a month.
"How could I not know what you're saying? So I endured it, trying my best to drink those bitter and astringent medicinal soups, but he wouldn't give me the seeds, and even the most fertile soil won't grow anything." The princess threw down her pen in anger, then suddenly tore off the Xuan paper in front of her and crumpled it into a ball.
"Not even once? The master has been coming over frequently lately; it's impossible that he has no feelings for the Fujin at all," said Granny Li, her heart trembling.
“At first it happened a few times, but lately I’ve only come over to sleep. Granny, are you afraid I’ll have trouble conceiving?” A look of fear flashed in the Fujin’s eyes. The immense grief of losing Honghui overwhelmed her again, causing her originally dignified face to become somewhat distorted.
Helplessly, Granny Li patted her back to soothe the lady of the house.
“That bitch is still alive and well, and her sons are all alive and well. But my Honghui has gone to that cold underground. Granny, I’m not reconciled, I’m so not reconciled. That bitch must pay a price even more painful than mine.” The Fujin suddenly lost control of her emotions and said, her eyes filled with crystal tears. She turned around and hugged Granny Li’s arm tightly.
"Good princess, don't be sad. The eldest prince has already passed away. This old servant has already informed the fifth young master, and he will definitely keep an eye on Li Wenhui and his family's movements for you. However, Li Wenhui is the prefect of Suzhou, and it won't be so easy to find any dirt on him. Please give the fifth young master some more time," Granny Li comforted her. The fifth young master she referred to was the princess's younger brother, Wu Ge, who was currently a retired official.
"Hmm, perhaps we can get our people moving. Keep an eye on that bitch. As long as we get any leverage over her, it will help me avenge Honghui sooner!" The hatred in the Fujin's eyes had never been so intense as it was today.
"Yes. Also, it's time to use them. Madam, you must try your best to win over the master's heart. No matter what method you use, you must seize this excellent opportunity, otherwise it will be even more difficult in the future," said Granny Li with concern.
"I know, Granny, I'm a little tired. Help me to rest for a while." The Fujin had been suppressing her grief and hatred over the passing of the First Prince Honghui these past few days. Now that there was no hope left, her emotions were like a flood about to burst its banks, instantly overflowing the last dam.
"I know, my lady, there must be a way. Don't be discouraged or sad. This old servant will definitely help you achieve your wish." Granny Li had long regarded the Fujin as her own daughter, and seeing her so sad, her heart ached as if it were being torn apart.
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