Fourth Master soon became busy.
The Emperor is ill and does not attend court, matters in the court, unless they are major military or national events, are generally entrusted to Prince Zheng and the Crown Prince to handle.
In a strange way, these two people, the Fourth Prince was busy arranging things for the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince generally allowed it.
The Ministry of Revenue is a big deal with small favors, and Fourth Master has benefited from it quite a bit.
Fourth Master's affairs are going smoothly, and there are many people coming to the mansion to pay their respects. Not counting the three festivals and two birthdays, Fourth Master also receives a lot of gifts here.
Besides, it's almost Lunar New Year in a month or so, and naturally someone will come rushing over with gifts.
Fourth Master is not all collected, but most of them will not refuse anyway.
So for a time, life in this mansion was even better than before.
During this time, Fourth Master only went to Jin Yu Ge or visited the Geng family and didn't stay overnight, just had a meal and sat for a bit. He also asked Fu Jin to arrange two visits to Yun Shi's place.
However, Fourth Master won't go on his own initiative, and it's also inconvenient for Madame to arrange every time.
On the morning of September 1st, as soon as the fourth master left, the women in the mansion went to the main hall to pay their respects.
Li had arrived early too, she hadn't seen Fourth Master for several months, and now she was really acting humble.
In the main hall, Mrs. Li sat on a chair in the main room, while Gege and the concubines stood.
Ye Zao stood at the end, feeling a bit sleepy, got up too early, and it wasn't even bright outside yet.
Fortunately, it's only twice a month, otherwise I really can't take it.
"Hey, is that Lady Xu? With a belly this big, she's still coming to pay respects?" Gao Gege said as soon as he saw Song Gege and Yu Ning enter from outside.
Li and the others looked up to see Yuning being supported by a maid, wearing a pink flag dress with a prominent belly.
Let me calculate, next month is going to be born, can't it be big?
"The Empress has arrived."
Just then, Mrs. Fu came out.
She was wearing a big red cheongsam with an exceptionally large collar. On the cheongsam, there were embroidered large peonies.
A true lady's demeanor has already emerged without many words.
Everyone busied themselves asking after his well-being.
"Everyone sit down. Li Shi, you too. Geng Shi is pregnant and not even three months along, how can you make her stand?"
The empress dowager said, and then gave Li a reproachful look.
Madam Li was about to distinguish, when Madam Fu said again: "After all, you are the secondary wife, I'm not around, they all need you to take care of them, how can you be so inconsiderate? The master has few children, any pregnancy is precious."
"All right, Song Shi, how are your preparations going? It's almost seven months now and you need to be careful. Now it's eight or nine months already, next month is the due date, so you must be more careful." Madame Fu saw that Li Shi was about to explain further, so she cut her off and started talking directly with Song Shi instead.
Li's face turned red with anger, but Madame Fu didn't care at all.
"Thank you for your concern, Madame. Actually, it's been the nanny who has been taking care of me these past few months... I haven't been able to take care of myself at all. Everything is fine." Madam Song hastily got up and said.
"That's good, after all, it's your child, how can I not care? I only wish that the Madame will have good fortune and give birth to an elder brother, then you'll have someone to rely on for the rest of your life, and this household will also have a third young master, isn't that great?" The lady said with a smile.
"There's also Geng's family, I'm looking forward to you having a son too. Your temperament is the best, never fighting or competing with others. Looking at that, it seems like someone who has great fortune." Fu Jin smiled and said.
Geng's family wanted to get up and thank her, but Fuhui hurriedly waved his hand: "Sit down! You are now in a critical moment, you can't be careless."
Geng's family hastily sat down to thank him.
The empress dowager looked at Ye Zao and said: "This girl is also like this, you've been ill for a while, everyone said it's not necessary to come and pay respects, why did you still come?"
Ye Zao hastily got up: "Master Fu Jin cares about the slaves, and the slaves are grateful. However, the slaves have long since recovered. Moreover, with Geng Gege and Xu Meimei both pregnant having arrived, how could the slaves dare not to come?"
Ye Zao deliberately bit off three words: "Xu Mei Mei".
Yu Ning's face turned pale with rage.
Someone so much younger than her also dares to call her sister...
"You're such a sensible girl, alright, sit down. The mansion has received some good fabrics recently, I'll distribute them to you today, so you can make clothes in advance and wear them during the festival." Madam Fu said with a wave of her hand.
The crowd thanked again and saw several girls carrying a stack of fabrics coming over.
All are high-quality Yun brocade and Shu brocade.
Fu Jin smiled and said, "Li Shi is a secondary Fu Jin, so she should get more. Geng Shi is pregnant, also give one more. Song Shi... Xu Shi is also pregnant, give two as well."
The concubine's light and casual writing style.
The final result was that Li had three, Song had two, and Xu also had two. Geng's side unexpectedly tied with Li's side.
Li's face changed at that time, fortunately he didn't erupt.
Gao Gegge, Yun Gegge, Wu Gegge are all two horses each.
The maids were all a match, and when they arrived at Ye Zao's place, Fu Jin smiled and said: "Looking at Ye Shi, I remembered that half of the fabric for making clothes was taken away. The color is good, just right for Ye Shi."
Ye Zao hurriedly thanked her and saw that Xiuyue had brought out a cloud-patterned brocade in the color of misty dawn, which looked very beautiful.
It's said to be half a bolt of cloth, but it's just one bolt with a piece cut off...
Leaf jujube busy thanking grace.
The imperial concubine smiled and said: "You all dress so brightly, I'm happy. Alright, go back now, it's getting late."
Without mentioning Li and Song's ugly faces, everyone returned to their respective rooms.
Yunying went back and sent both pieces of cloth to Song's house: "Don't be angry, madam. The mistress has always been like this. I understand her intentions in my heart. No matter what she says, this child is still yours, and I dare not have any other thoughts."
Again, having ideas is one thing, but they must be put into practice, right?
Song Gege couldn't see that Fu Jin was being deliberate? Raising Yu Ning, it's stepping on her, but even if it's stepping on her, the child she should have is still hers!
"You're pregnant, don't think too much, just take good care of yourself and the baby. I've got everything under control, go back and rest, I'll keep this fabric for you, we can make some clothes for you to wear after you give birth." Madam Song said with a smile.
After seeing Yu Ning off, Song's fingers brushed against the fabric, and she let out a cold laugh.
"In the main courtyard, she has always been capable of such tactics. She always wants to grasp the rear courtyard, but in my opinion, neither the Geng family nor the Yun family or the Ye family is truly under her control. So it's just the Li family that she can grasp."
"Since you've seen it clearly, there's no need to be unhappy." Zha'er said with a smile.
"I'm not unhappy, I just... sighed." Song smiled slightly.
The Song family can still bear it, but the Li family is furious here.
"In the past, wasn't it always me who got to pick first? What was left over was hers! This year, she's actually using this kind of thing to make a raft, three pieces, and she has the nerve to send away the beggar?"
Li was really angry, a side concubine, actually got as much as a princess! This is an insult in itself!
