Chapter 415, Exploitation
As the emperor's son, the fourth prince was in a fight from the moment he was born. When the prince was around, he fought with the prince. The prince fell, and the eldest prince emerged again.
There are actually quite a lot of forces behind the eldest prince. The Zhou family of the Yue family and the banker of Duke Wen's mansion of the grandfather's family are all powerful families that should not be underestimated.
The Zhou family and the Zhuang family have been operating in the capital for several generations, and they have already formed a relatively solid interpersonal network. In addition, they have experienced the change of the throne, and they are very cautious and low-key in their lives. The fourth prince wants to use these two families to deal with the eldest prince. For a while, I really couldn't find any breakthrough.
But Shi Fuxin, the eldest prince's master, is different.
Shen Nongtang has only been in operation for more than ten years, and it has gained so much prestige at the border, which has already aroused the envy of many people.
Adding that Shi Fuxin is competitive, high-profile, and her reputation outside is not that good, there are many loopholes that can be exploited.
Previously, the fourth prince still considered Chu Yao's status as the commander of the Supervision Department, and he didn't want to confront those two head-to-head. But after hearing what Dongfang Zhangqing said, Chu Yao and his wife played a key role in the downfall of the prince, and his vigilance towards them reached the peak .
The crown prince has been the crown prince for many years, and with the support of the Wei family and officials, his position is actually very stable. He has fought with the crown prince for many years, but he has hardly found a bargain.
Just like that, he was easily overthrown by Chu Yao and his wife, so how could he not be frightened and afraid.
If the fourth prince thought that there was no need to fight to the death with the eldest prince immediately, but to slowly disintegrate and weaken those who followed him, but at this moment, he was eager to get rid of Shi Fuxin.
Confronting the eldest prince head-on, chips against chips, the fourth prince is not afraid, but he is afraid of variables. Shennongtang and Hongyanxiao rise too fast, and Shi Fuxin is like a variable existence.
The fourth prince returned to the prince's mansion with a lot of worries, because he had something hidden in his heart, and he didn't have a good face towards the concubines who came up to please him.
Seeing that the fourth prince directly dismissed the concubine's room, the fourth prince's concubine was a little happy, but before she was happy for a long time, she heard the fourth prince ask: "I haven't seen Mrs. Li for a long time, how is she?"
The smile on the face of the Fourth Prince's Concubine became a bit forced: "Since Li's miscarriage last year, she has been ill. Why did Your Highness suddenly think of her?"
As a couple, the fourth prince is still willing to tell her some outside things about the fourth prince concubine: "The Shi family is the master of the boss. I want to know more about it. Aren't the Li family and the Shi family have a deep connection?"
Hearing this, the Fourth Prince's concubine's complexion improved a lot: "Then shall I call Mrs. Li over now?"
The fourth prince shook his head, then stood up: "I haven't seen her for a long time, let me sit in her room."
Watching the fourth prince leave, the eyes of the fourth prince's concubine flickered: "I'm afraid this Mrs. Li will be back in favor!"
She knew that after the death of the crown prince, the fourth prince and the first prince were fighting in the court. As the master of the first prince, Shi Shi was naturally the target of the fourth prince.
The unclear relationship between the Li family and the Shi family is enough for the fourth prince to take advantage of.
The servant girl smiled and said, "No matter how favored Mrs. Li is, she is still a concubine, and she can't surpass you, the princess."
The fourth prince has quite a few concubines, except for the concubines that can bring direct benefits to the fourth prince or are particularly favored, most of the concubines do not have separate courtyards.
The Li family has no power, and Li Fuzhi is not very popular with the fourth prince, and now she still lives in the same courtyard with the other two concubines.
"Auntie, I've taken some medicine!"
In the west wing of the courtyard, Li Fuzhi was immersed in embroidering flowers. When she saw the maid coming in with a medicine bowl, she couldn't help showing a look of resistance on her face.
The medicine is too bitter, and she has been drinking it for more than a year, and her health has not improved much.
The dowry maid knew what Li Fuzhi was thinking when she saw Li Fuzhi's face, and immediately persuaded her: "Auntie, you can only give birth to your Highness' offspring if you take good care of your body. Although this medicine is a bit bitter, this servant has prepared candied fruit."
Li Fuzhi also knew that if she wanted to gain a foothold in the Fourth Prince's Mansion, she must have a child, so she had no choice but to accept the medicine bowl, and felt bored as if dying.
The servant girl quickly handed over the candied fruit, and said with a smile: "When my aunt recovers, I will definitely give birth to an heir for Your Highness."
Li Fuzhi ate a candied fruit, but still couldn't get rid of the bitter taste in her mouth. Hearing the maid talking about her children, she couldn't help but think of the child she was tricked last year, and her heart ached.
Seeing this, the servant girl hurriedly said: "Auntie, you have been embroidering for a long time, take a break, the rest of the slaves will come to embroider, and I promise you won't miss the due date." Upon hearing this, Li Fuzhi became even more depressed It's great.
In the past, she was also a meticulously pampered lady, but now she has been reduced to a situation where she can barely survive by selling embroidery.
Li Fuzhi recalled the time when she lived in Wuchangbo Mansion. At that time, she was carefree. She only needed to dress herself up and play happily with her sisters. Nothing to worry about.
But the sudden appearance of Shi Zhenghe and his family made those days completely gone forever!
It would be great if Shizhenghe's family never showed up. She is still a girl from Wuchangbo's family, and she will marry into a good family to be the main wife, instead of living in a small courtyard like she is now.
She hated Shi Zhenghe's family very much in her heart, because of this family, her life has undergone earth-shaking changes.
There is also Mr. Li's family who make the Li family worse off day by day, and the more miserable they live, she also feels disgusted from the bottom of her heart.
Facing the old man Li and Mrs. Li who were always dragging their feet, she didn't want to call them grandparents.
Just as Li Fuzhi was thinking about this, and her brows were getting tighter and tighter, the maid suddenly exclaimed: "Auntie, Your Highness is here."
Li Fuzhi regained consciousness, looked up towards the door of the room, and saw the fourth prince walking in with a smile, she was extremely surprised: "Your Highness, why are you here?"
The fourth prince looked at Li Fuzhi amusedly, and joked: "Hearing your tone, it seems that this prince is not welcome."
Li Fuzhi shook her head quickly: "No, no, Your Highness, don't get me wrong, I was too late to expect you to come, I was too surprised just now."
The fourth prince walked up to Li Fuzhi, and naturally took her hand: "I was too busy a while ago, so I left you out in the cold. In the future, this prince will come to see you often."
Li Fuzhi suddenly showed a shy smile on his face: "The business is important. If His Highness can think about the concubine, the concubine will be satisfied."
The Fourth Prince pulled Li Fuzhi to sit down. The servant girl hadn't taken away the medicine bowl yet. Seeing the medicine bowl on the table, she couldn't help asking: "Why, your body hasn't recovered yet?"
Li Fuzhi smiled bitterly.
The servant girl saw her, and hurriedly replied: "Your Highness, my aunt has been drinking medicine for almost a year, but she hasn't improved. The doctor always said to take good care of her, but the more she raises her, the more she loses her energy."
After hearing this, the fourth prince said directly to the personal **** standing at the door: "Then I will post my post to the imperial hospital to find an imperial physician and show it to Aunt Li."
Seeing that the fourth prince actually invited the imperial physician to come over to see her, Li Fuzhi was a little flattered.
Seeing Li Fuzhi looking at him in surprise, the fourth prince stroked the broken hair on her sideburns, and said with a smile: "Your body is what this prince cares about the most. After you take care of it, you will give birth to a little grandson for this prince as soon as possible." ah."
Li Fuzhi blushed, lowered her head and gave an 'hmm'.
The fourth prince expressed concern for Li Fuzhi, and then got to the point: "You haven't been back to your mother's house for a long time, after the imperial doctor has seen it, you should go back to your mother's house to have a look."
Li Fuzhi was surprised that the fourth prince suddenly mentioned her natal family, but she nodded obediently, pretending to listen to the fourth prince.
The fourth prince continued while stroking Li Fuzhi's hand: "This prince wants to know the situation of Shizhenghe's family. After returning, I will ask your grandparents."
Li Fuzhi's heart tightened. At this moment, she seemed to understand why the fourth prince suddenly came to her room.
"What does Your Highness want to know, after I go back, I must ask my grandparents."
Fourth Prince: "Let's ask everyone." As he spoke, he looked at Li Fuzhi with a smile, "Shizheng and his family are getting better and better, why is your family getting worse?"
Li Fuzhi lowered her head uncomfortably.
The fourth prince said again: "I don't like that family, there are no rules, and your family is more my heart. Seeing that family jumping around in front of my eyes is really unlucky. It would be great if they weren't here .”
Li Fuzhi understood what the Fourth Prince meant, and this time she was asked to go back to her natal family, presumably to let her find out information about Shi Zhenghe's family.
(end of this chapter)