Mrs. Guo felt a little unhappy when she heard this.
Last time there was a happy event at home, the Fourth Prince's Mansion also sent people to celebrate. Although Cheng Chi accepted the gifts and went to the Fourth Prince's Mansion for weddings and funerals, he never stayed at the mansion for a feast. Instead, he just showed up and left, not to mention visiting the Fourth Prince alone. In recent years, he even used the excuse of working in the Metropolitan Procuratorate to not go to the Fourth Prince's Mansion, and only sent the housekeeper to congratulate on his behalf.
Cheng Chi's attitude was already very clear, but the Fourth Prince's Mansion seemed unaware. The Cheng family had something to congratulate, and the gifts became heavier every year.
She asked the little maid, "Do you know what gifts were sent over?"
The little maid shook her head and said proudly, "I don't know what was sent, but I heard from the uncles on duty at the gate that it was sent by the chief official of the prince's mansion himself... Just think about it, how many families have such respectability."
Mrs. Guo disagreed.
Since Song Jingran returned to his hometown to observe the mourning period, the people who originally surrounded Song Jingran gathered around Zhang Hui. Cheng Chi remained the same as before. He was not very close to Zhang Hui, but he was not alienated either. In addition, before Song Jingran left, he recommended Cheng Chi to teach the numerology of the emperor's grandson. People outside couldn't help but make many speculations, saying that Song Jingran's favorite disciple was Cheng Chi, but because Cheng Chi was too young and had too few resources, he could not stand alone, so he had to give his connections to Zhang Hui. Even Zhang Hui herself was a little skeptical after hearing such rumors. In addition, there was a big problem with taxes in Jiangnan a few days ago. The emperor asked Song Jingran several times how long he would observe the mourning period, and privately revealed his intention to "seize the love", which made Cheng Chi suddenly become a little popular.
Fortunately, Cheng Chi is young but has a lot of experience. No matter what people say, he remains unmoved, and the rumors have died down a lot.
Now, they have even sent the Chief Secretary of the Fourth Prince's Palace to present gifts... This was originally a treatment only given to the families of nobles or cabinet ministers.
The Fourth Prince's attentiveness is like a weasel paying New Year's greetings to a chicken, and he has no good intentions.
What's more, today is a family dinner and no outsiders were invited.
Madam Guo pretended to be tired and said, "Go and tell that old woman that I am a little tired today and will not see her. And ask Zhenzhu to give her ten taels of silver and let her go back to report."
Chang felt that this was a little inappropriate.
But this was her first time to have such close contact with Mrs. Guo. She didn't know whether to say some things or not, and a hint of hesitation appeared between her brows.
Although she was over forty years old, she was also a new daughter-in-law. Mrs. Guo originally didn't want to say these to her, but when she saw her appearance and thought of her having worked as a maid in the Qianqing Palace for more than twenty years, she thought for a moment and told her her unhappiness.
Chang was very surprised, but also somewhat grateful.
Mrs. Guo could consult her on such matters, which showed that she did not regard her as an outsider.
She thought for a while before speaking carefully: "When I was working in the Qianqing Palace, Empress Yuan had passed away, but the Fourth Prince came to visit the Emperor, sometimes alone, sometimes with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, but every time he came, he would mention Empress Yuan... He was on good terms with the eunuchs in each palace, and never forgot to send a gift on birthdays and New Year's Day. Later, when he left the palace and opened his own residence, he never forgot... People in the palace said that the Fourth Prince was kind... But the rules where he lived were the strictest. One of the people who worked with me in the Qianqing Palace at that time was transferred from the Empress Dowager's Cining Palace. She was the goddaughter of the eldest aunt in the Cining Palace at that time. She was only fifteen or sixteen years old at the time. When she was not on duty, she liked to visit people very much. She was sweet-mouthed, and the eunuchs and female officials in the palace liked her very much. Even so, she never knew the people who served the Fourth Prince... I always feel that the Fourth Prince is probably different from the impression he gives people..."
Mrs. Guo heard a buzzing sound in her head.
She thought about Cheng Chi's actions since he came to Beijing.
Is he taking sides
Doesn't he know how dangerous this is
Or is there something else dangerous
How could Mrs. Guo sit still
She wanted to call Cheng Chi to ask, but she was concerned about Chang who was beside her.
Chang used to serve others, so it was her instinct to read people's expressions. Old Madam Guo frowned slightly. She had guessed something, so she simply stood up with a smile and said, "Is there still a while before my sister-in-law's birthday? I want to go to the official room. I wonder if there is enough time?"
Mrs. Guo breathed a sigh of relief.
Having such a smart and elegant sister-in-law can save people a lot of trouble!
She smiled and told Chenxiang to take Chang to the official residence, and hurriedly asked someone to find Cheng Chi who was entertaining guests in the flower hall.
Cheng Chi came over quickly.
Mrs. Guo went straight to the point and told Cheng Chi her concerns and what Chang had said.
Cheng Chi sighed, knowing that his mother had become suspicious.
But what evidence could he use to convince his mother about his past life
He had no choice but to tell Madam Guo about the Crown Prince's death: "… This matter cannot be resolved by not taking sides. Our Cheng family is already involved. If we want to get ourselves out of it, we can only take precautions and be more careful."
Neither Cheng Chi nor Cheng Shao told Madam Guo the cause of the crown prince's death.
Madam Guo didn't believe it and said, "Silang, tell me the truth, what happened? Even if it's like this, you are a minister and the crown prince is the legitimate heir. You should respect the crown prince. What is there to worry about? Did you find out something?"
Cheng Chi simply followed what Madam Guo said and said that he found that the Fourth Prince had contacts with civil servants who looked like him and had some ability but low positions, as well as some Tongzhi and Qianshi of Shanxi Camp, and suspected that the Fourth Prince was eyeing Dabao. He said: "This is nothing. As you said, we just need to follow the emperor. We will follow whoever is the emperor. But now the Fourth Prince has been sending gifts every few days, and the people in the capital are not fools. Even if I want to distance myself from the Fourth Prince's Mansion, I can't do it now!"
Mrs. Guo listened with a frown on her face.
Cheng Chi hurriedly comforted Madam Guo: "Second Uncle also knows about this matter. I have discussed everything with Second Uncle these days. You don't have to worry."
How could Mrs. Guo not be worried? She wanted to continue asking, but a little maid came through the curtain to report that Madam Pengcheng had arrived.
Ever since her great-grandsons started school at Chaoyangmen, she came more often.
Mrs. Guo had no choice but to drop the subject and invite Mrs. Pengcheng in.
Cheng Chi and Madam Pengcheng exchanged greetings and a few words, then went to the flower hall to entertain the guests.
Chang, who heard the noise, also came back.
The three of them sat there talking and smiling, but Cheng Chi turned around and went to the study.
He asked Huaishan: "You told me last time that Cheng Lu had already talked to the chief historian of the Fourth Prince's Palace, and then he was appreciated by the Fourth Prince through the recommendation of the chief historian. Has Cheng Lu made any new moves recently?"
Huaishan hesitated and said, "This month, Cheng Lu went to the Fourth Prince's residence six times. Except for one time when the Fourth Prince was not at home and was received by the Chief Secretary, he met the Fourth Prince on the other five occasions, and the Fourth Prince even invited him to dinner..."
"Keep watching him." Cheng Chi said firmly, "Give him a helping hand when necessary, so that the Fourth Prince can trust him sooner and let him become the Fourth Prince's aide sooner. With his character, he will definitely find a way to deal with the Cheng family..."
There will be a lot more things to do by then!
Huaishan smiled and said "yes" and stepped back.
Cheng Chi sat alone in the room thinking for a while, then went to the flower hall with a smile.
Everyone had already sat down, and they just had to wait for the auspicious time to kowtow to Mrs. Guo before the meal could begin.
Cheng Chi's gaze could not help but fall on Zhou Shaojin, who was standing next to Madam Guo, wearing a rose-red boa and looking gentle and calm.
Wait until the next holiday and take his little girl to the temple fair.
Let her go out for a walk too.
Don't always stay at home and hang around the stove and the children.
Cheng Chi made a decision, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.
Zhou Shaojin looked very happy.
Cheng Chi has been very tired these days. He has to spend one or two quarters of an hour every night organizing the content of his lessons for the Crown Prince. He is also busy with the affairs of the Censorate. It is right to hold a birthday party for the old lady and let everyone relax.
Zhou Shaojin smiled with his lips pursed.
Xie invited everyone to go to Hongluo Temple to burn incense.
She is going to fulfill her vow.
Zhou Shaojin really wanted to have another child, so he gladly accepted the invitation.
People like Lady Pengcheng's granddaughter-in-law Qiu, who had already given birth to three sons, didn't need to pray for a child, but it was nice to be able to go and have fun, so she agreed with a smile.
So there are seven or eight people going.
Everyone discussed how to go, when to go, whether to stay overnight before coming back... After finally agreeing on everything, something happened the day before they set off.
It was suddenly revealed that the Third Prince had committed adultery with an actor kept in his home during the period of national mourning for the Crown Prince, and that the actor had given birth to a daughter.
He cried out that he was wronged, saying that the actress had just become pregnant before the prince died, and it was impossible for her to do such an unfilial thing.
But the two events happened too close in time, and no one can guarantee when the child was conceived.
The Emperor values brotherhood the most.
The third prince went to the Qianqing Palace to apologize several times, but was rejected by the Qianqing Palace eunuch Liu Li without any hesitation.
He was in a state of utter despair and was said to be so thin that only bones were left.
Zhou Shaojin felt cold at the words and asked Cheng Chi privately: "Did the Fourth Prince do this? Did the Third Prince really have a daughter with the actress he kept at home?"
"I don't know if he did it." Cheng Chi said seriously, "He did have a daughter with the actress he kept at home, but just as the Third Prince said, the time was too recent to prove that he had an affair with the actress during the period of national mourning." As he spoke, his voice gradually lowered, and he said, "But it was indeed the Fourth Prince who fanned the flames - after the actress became pregnant, the Third Prince was afraid of being made a fuss, so he ordered someone to kill the actress. Who knew that the actress suddenly disappeared. The Third Prince searched for her for a long time but couldn't find her, and he didn't dare to make it public, so he gradually put the matter aside. In fact, the actress had long been taken to another villa by the Fourth Prince for recuperation... He just revealed this matter now..."
"The Fourth Prince is too cruel." Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but mutter as he listened, "He even took advantage of pregnant women and children... The Third Prince is too unreliable. Isn't he going to compete with the Fourth Prince for the throne? How can he be a wise ruler if he does such a thing!"
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Hey guys, today's update.
O(∩_∩)O~
※(To be continued)