Everyone in the Pear Courtyard was afraid of her mistress, who was prone to taking her anger out on others. Therefore, none of them dared to approach her, advise her, or comfort her.
And so, as if bewitched, Li sat by the window.
It went on from day to night, and from night to the morning of the next day.
Because Jiaming became a secondary consort, the women of the inner courtyard gathered at the main consort's residence. Firstly, it was Jiaming's formal way of paying respects to the main consort after her promotion to secondary consort, and secondly, it was the first time that the women of the inner courtyard met Jiaming, who had become a secondary consort.
Jiaming bowed to the Fujin, and then Jiaming and Consort Hesheli exchanged polite greetings. Finally, everyone bowed to Jiaming and then took their seats to chat.
...
"Oh, where's Sister Li?" Geng asked, covering her mouth with a smile.
The lady at the head of the table said with a slight smile, "I'm ill. This morning, I sent someone to tell me that I can't come. Please forgive me."
Madam Song sneered: "She's sick. What bad timing! On the very day that Consort Guarjia was to pay her respects to the First Lady after becoming a Consort, she's fallen ill! Heh heh!"
Hesheli said sarcastically, "Of course it's a coincidence. She was so sure of winning before, but reality slapped her in the face. Now, she's probably sick from anger!"
Upon hearing this, almost everyone smiled knowingly.
Jiaming sat to the side, elegantly sipping her tea, seemingly oblivious to the mocking remarks made about Li.
Of course, deep down, she was very happy.
Tsk, I never expected that Li would fall ill from anger!
Haha, a little disappointed, I didn't get to see her ugly expression in person.
Li was really sick. She sat by the window for so long without eating or drinking, exposed to the cold wind for so long. How could she not get sick?
When the women in the backyard learned that Li was ill in this state, they were all speechless.
Jiaming was even more confused. "Do you think Li Shi is really that upset? It's just that I became a concubine and she didn't. But even if I became a concubine, I'm still a concubine. Why is she so angry and obsessed, staying up all night and sitting by the window in the cold wind?"
Xiao Hezi: "...Master, the result is obvious. She is not that angry. She is just obsessed. Otherwise, she would not have gotten so sick."
Jiaming: "..."
On New Year's Eve, Jiaming changed into the newly delivered concubine's auspicious attire and personally dressed her youngest son, Hongjing.
Hongjing tugged at the tightly wrapped clothes around him, feeling uncomfortable, and said, "Mother, I'm not cold, do I have to wear so much?"
Jiaming shook her head and said seriously, "I know you're not afraid of the cold. Actually, your fourth brother isn't afraid of the cold either, but he wears a lot of clothes in winter. You can't be an exception; you have to wear a lot of clothes too."
The little one was still a bit reluctant, saying that wearing so many clothes was cumbersome.
"Let me put it this way, you and your brother have special constitutions. While others wear many layers in winter, you two are dressed as if it were autumn, which is too eye-catching. Even if people believe you don't feel cold, they will definitely want to know why your constitutions are so special and why you are so unafraid of the cold."
The little guy seemed to be deep in thought.
Jiaming continued, "To reduce unnecessary investigation, you should learn to be no different from others, just like your fourth brother. In winter, be afraid of the cold like a normal person; in summer, you don't need to worry about it. Also, don't act too smart."
The little one seemed to understand but not quite, and simply nodded, saying, "Mother, I remember, and I will do it too."
"That's good!" Jiaming patted his head, then suddenly remembered something. She glanced around, listened carefully, and seeing that there was no one around, it was a good time for her and Hongjing to have a private conversation. She immediately whispered, "Do you feel very close to plants, and feel like you understand them quite well?"
Hongjing was taken aback, then stared at Jiaming with bright eyes and nodded.
Jiaming warned him seriously, "You must keep this a secret and never tell anyone, not even your father."
Hongjing hesitated for a moment, "Even Father won't do?"
Jiaming nodded, "Yes, not even your father. This matter can only be known by you, your mother, and your fourth brother. Absolutely no one else can find out or know about it."
Hongjing nodded, then asked with a mixture of surprise and doubt, "What? Fourth Brother can know, but Father can't?"
Jiaming immediately explained, "Because, this secret, you have it, your mother and your fourth brother have it too. You two brothers have it because you were born of your mother, but your father doesn't. 'Possessing a treasure is a crime,' your mother has told you this phrase before. You have such a good memory, you must remember it, so you understand."
Hongjing nodded.
Jiaming: "So, for your fourth brother's sake and for your mother's sake, you must not let anyone find out that you have a close connection with plants."
The little guy solemnly agreed and vowed, "I will definitely keep this a secret and will never let my mother and fourth brother be harmed because of it."
"Very good!" Jiaming patted the little guy's fluffy head with satisfaction.
After changing her clothes and making all the necessary preparations, Jiaming led Hongjing to the front yard.
In the front yard, Hongxuan and the other princes were already waiting.
Then, not long after, the Fourth Prince and his wife arrived.
Then everyone boarded the carriages and headed to the palace.
Jiaming and her group arrived at the palace almost immediately, followed closely by the rest of the Eighth Prince's household.
The young princes, including young Hongjing, were taken away by the prince, while Jiaming and the eldest princess went with the Fujin to Consort De's place.
Meanwhile, the young prince of the Eighth Prince's residence, along with the Eighth Prince's wife and his concubine Wang, went to Consort Hui's place.
After paying their respects to the mothers of the princes, the mothers led the wives to the Empress Dowager.
And so, Consort Hui, along with Consort Liang and other consorts, as well as the Eighth Prince's wife and Lady Wang, met Consort De and her entourage, including the Fourth Prince's wife and Jiaming.
The two groups immediately joined together and continued walking towards the Empress Dowager.
After exchanging greetings with the Fourth Prince's wife, the Eighth Prince's wife glared fiercely at Jiaming.
The Eighth Prince's wife disliked all the concubines because Wang, who had given birth to a prince, was actually being considered for the position of concubine by the Eighth Prince. If she hadn't vehemently opposed it, it might have actually happened.
Jiaming, who had no idea that she had been caught in the crossfire, thought, "..." She wasn't from the Eighth Prince's mansion, so what did she do to offend her? Why was she being glared at like that?
"Fourth Sister-in-law, you really have a good temper. You actually let her become a concubine?" As she spoke, the Eighth Princess glared at Jiaming again.
Jiaming remained silent, pretending not to know. In any case, she couldn't afford to cause trouble with the Eighth Prince's wife; not only would it look bad, but she would also definitely be the first to be punished.
Who can blame her? He's the primary wife, while she's just a secondary wife!
The Fujin Ulanara clan always remembered Jiaming's kindness. Besides, now that they were out here, they represented the identity of the Yongqin Prince's Mansion, and the Fujin wouldn't stand by and watch Jiaming be suppressed by the Eighth Fujin.
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