After returning to the mansion, Yinzhen heard Su Peisheng's report on what had happened in the backyard. He was very annoyed by Li Shi's growing displeasure. Since Yihua had already dealt with it, he kept it in mind and said nothing more.
After being warned by Yihua, Li Shi, under the earnest persuasion of Granny Jin, did not cause any more trouble and obediently stayed in the East Courtyard to rest and prepare for the arrival of the little prince.
The weather in August was unusually hot and humid, and Li's belly finally showed signs of labor.
After Honghui turned three, Yinzhen personally began his education, checking his studies daily without ever slacking off. On this particular day, while he was reciting his lessons, he heard the news of Li Shi's mobilization, and Yinzhen and Yihua went to the East Courtyard together.
As soon as she entered, Yi Hua frowned. She saw the eldest princess kneeling at the door with her hair in a mess, hugging her arm and crying very sadly.
The maids and servants in the East Courtyard were rushing in and out in a great panic. No one was looking after the eldest princess; she was left kneeling there unattended.
Yi Hua took two quick steps, wanting to help the eldest princess up, but the little girl was very stubborn and refused to get up no matter what.
As I got closer, I could hear her repeating something over and over: "I've ruined my mother, I've ruined my brother."
What kind of talk is this? Yi Hua gestured to Granny Chen to quickly take her away. How could a child be involved in a woman's childbirth?
Granny Chen was strong and practically forced the little girl away.
The maids and servants inside didn't dare to stop them. Yihua and Yinzhen sat down and called out Granny Jin.
"What's going on? It's a complete mess!"
After hesitating for a moment, Granny Jin told the truth: "This morning, the eldest princess came to have lunch with Princess Li, but not long after, our princess felt unbearable abdominal pain. We called the royal physician, who said that she had come into contact with something that was dangerous or dangerous."
"The royal physician said that Consort Li is far along in her pregnancy and is about to give birth due to the medication. Fortunately, the midwife was there. This servant has asked the royal physician to investigate how Consort Li came into contact with the unclean things."
"I never expected it to be the sachet that the eldest princess was wearing." Granny Jin knelt down and continued, "This servant also knows that the eldest princess is so young that she was probably framed by someone and became an accomplice. However, Princess Li was in unbearable pain and did not think things through in her anger, which is why she made the eldest princess kneel down to confess her sins."
Yi Hua almost laughed in anger: "The eldest princess is the rightful mistress of the manor. I wonder which title your concubine, Li, is? How dare a servant lay a hand on her? The East Courtyard is really quite arrogant!"
"Your mistress has finished giving birth, so go and receive your punishment. Do you know what you can and cannot say? Are you some kind of judge, nanny, who can condemn someone else as an accomplice so easily?"
Although the eldest princess was born from Li Gege's womb, as long as Li Gege did not become a concubine, she would remain a servant of the Prince's mansion.
In the delivery room, Li Gege's labor was not going smoothly, and her cries of pain were intermittent.
Yi Hua gestured to Hong Xiao to take out the ginseng they had brought: "Have the physician examine it. If there are no problems, then give it to Princess Li."
"This servant wouldn't dare." Granny Jin felt as if every word the Fujin spoke was a slap in the face.
"You're her wet nurse, hurry up and go help in the delivery room." Yi Hua didn't want to get entangled with Li Shi any further at this moment.
Yinzhen looked at the scattered purses on the ground, reached out and picked them up, brought them close to his nose and smelled them; they had a pungent fragrance.
The physician knelt at the door, and when he saw that his master had noticed him, he pricked up his ears, waiting to be asked questions.
"Su Peisheng, take it and burn it." In Yinzhen's heart, the child in Li's belly was important, but his daughter's reputation was equally important. This source of trouble could not be left alive.
Yinzhen wiped his hands and looked down at the imperial physician: "What's in the purse?"
The physician, as if struck by a sudden inspiration, replied in a trembling voice, "Your Highness, it's just mosquito repellent incense, nothing else."
"Remember what you said today, go outside and kneel down." Yinzhen's voice was cold, and his gaze was devoid of warmth.
Yi Hua called out to the maid in Li's room: "Where is the head maid who serves the eldest princess? Summon her for a question."
A moment later, a well-dressed woman, trying to appear calm, approached and bowed: "This servant, Bao, greets Your Highness and Your Highness's wife."
"Granny Bao, get up. You are, after all, a head maid from the Empress's palace. With such a thing happening to the eldest princess, you can't even find her. I, the Princess Consort, have to beg and urge you three times. Is this the manners that Yonghe Palace taught you?" Yi Hua was angry. She could only watch the women in the backyard tripping each other up for amusement, but why did they have to use such methods on the child?
Upon hearing this, Madam Bao's face burned with pain. Ever since arriving at the Prince's residence, she had been treated with great courtesy. The young master she was taking care of wasn't a particularly opinionated person, and over time, she had become complacent, never expecting to be caught red-handed.
"Granny Bao, why don't you tell me who the eldest princess has been with these past few days, and what she has been doing? Tell me everything in detail," Yi Hua continued to ask.
Granny Bao was speechless, stammering, "She...was with Princess Li."
"Hmph, Granny, shut up." Seeing that the old woman really didn't know anything, Yi Hua called over the personal maid who took care of the eldest princess.
The maid, Hua'er, knelt on the ground in terror, stammering incoherently for a while, but Yi Hua managed to understand her.
It was Madam Wu. Recently, Madam Wu had been strolling around the northwest corner of the garden, which was the place that the eldest princess always passed through when leaving her residence. Over time, she and the eldest princess had managed to exchange a few words.
The eldest princess was neglected by Li Shi from a young age and longed for her mother's favor.
Wu seized on this point and told her that Buddha had appeared to her in a dream, and that Li would only have a son if she gave birth today, and that she would only give birth to a daughter if she gave birth at any other time.
Upon hearing this, the eldest princess wanted to grant Li's wish. Wu gave her a purse, saying that Li had inquired and was guaranteed to give birth to a younger brother for her today. She was so eager for her brother's birth that she hoped Li would treat her better.
And so this absurd farce has come to be.
The contents of the purse were likely musk and other substances that could easily cause miscarriages in women. Yi Hua wondered where Wu had obtained these filthy things. She thought to herself that the Prince's mansion needed to be thoroughly investigated.
Yinzhen slammed his fist on the table, furious: "Foolish! Wu is indeed despicable for her audacity, but if it weren't for Li's provocations a few days ago, how could there be such chaos today? Not a single one of them is easy to deal with!"
Upon hearing this, Yi Hua nodded slightly. Li Shi probably didn't expect the pain of being stabbed when she was so arrogantly humiliating people.
Wu's move was truly devastating; from that moment on, Li and the eldest princess could no longer be a close and trusting mother and daughter.
Fortunately, Heaven truly favored Li, and two hours later, she safely gave birth to a boy.
When the midwife brought the baby out, Yihua could tell at a glance that it was a healthy child, very similar to Honghui when he was born.
Out of consideration for the child, Yinzhen did not punish Li Shi too harshly. He told her once again not to cause trouble before leaving.
Before leaving, he also sentenced Wu to life imprisonment, forbidding her from ever leaving the courtyard again.
After all, she was a princess bestowed by the emperor. Such an incident was ultimately due to lax household management, which damaged the reputation of the eldest princess. The only option was to minimize the damage and let it go.
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