What if Dan Gui wasn't actually a member of the Baijia clan, nor the Song clan, but rather a member of the Fujin clan?

No wonder the Princess Consort hasn't made a move.

But what exactly is the role of Dan Gui's move?

With such a grand commotion, Li Chenjiao suddenly realized that what the Fujin wanted to do was not for her, but for something else.

Li Chenjiao stopped peeling peanuts and tapped the table repeatedly with her hand.

Qiu Ci felt a chill run down her spine: "Princess?"

Li Chenjiao's eyelashes fluttered, and she sighed softly, "Fine, when Dangui comes tomorrow, let her make a fuss as she pleases..."

She had a vague guess in her mind.

In the evening, Li Chenjiao was still shelling peanuts.

While I was shelling peanuts, I heard a noise outside, and then I saw Fourth Master walk in.

This really startled Li Chenjiao, who even forgot to bow: "Master? Isn't Master not coming back for a few more days?"

The Fourth Prince looked at Li Chenjiao, and after a few seconds, he softly hummed in agreement: "There were matters to attend to in the palace, so I returned early." Why does she look thinner?

Li Chenjiao only realized she needed to bow at this moment. Just as she was about to stand up, she saw Fourth Master wave his hand, indicating that she didn't need to get up.

Li Chenjiao didn't stand on ceremony and sat down.

The Fourth Prince looked at the peanuts on the table and pursed his lips: "How has the manor been while I was away?"

Li Chenjiao thought to herself that this was wonderful; the Fujin (principal wife) was even exempt from paying her respects, clearly planning something big.

"Everything is fine in the manor," Li Chenjiao said dryly. Shouldn't the Fourth Prince be asking about his wife?

Fourth Master grunted in acknowledgment, and was about to speak when Qiu Hu hurried in, her face showing a troubled expression: "Princess, Dan Gui is here again..."

Li Chenjiao exclaimed "Huh?" and thought to herself, "Why are they coming twice today? And they even chose to come when Fourth Master is here?"

Seeing the strange expressions on the faces of the master and servant, the Fourth Master said, "Don't I remember there's someone named Dan Gui in your courtyard?"

“Yes, Dan Gui is Bai Jia Gege’s maid. She’s been coming over a lot lately, but I’ve been feeling lazy and haven’t seen her. I suppose there’s some reason for her coming now,” Li Chenjiao said carefully.

Li Chenjiao wasn't sure what role Dan Gui was playing, so she spoke very tactfully.

Upon hearing this, Fourth Master knew all too well the intricacies of the inner court. He snorted, "Does she not even know who her master is? Such a servant should be sold off. Su Peisheng, drag that girl out and give her twenty strokes of the cane, then send her to the main courtyard for the Fujin to deal with."

In the end, the affairs of the inner quarters are decided by the Fujin (principal wife), and since the Fourth Prince encountered this matter as soon as he returned, he naturally felt that the Fujin was not managing the household properly.

Li Chenjiao remained silent.

Why did she feel that all of this was part of the Fujin's scheme?

The Fourth Prince took a sip of tea and suddenly said, "If you can't even manage your own servants, punish Bai Jia as well!"

Li Chenjiao paused for a moment, sighing inwardly, "This time, Bai Jia Shi is... completely ruined."

She's only been in the household for a short time, how many foolish things has Bai Jia done? But... it's hard to say whether someone else instigated this.

Fourth Master turned to look at Li Chenjiao: "Have you had dinner yet?"

Li Chenjiao shook her head: "I just sent Xiao Luzi to fetch the meal. I suppose Fourth Master hasn't eaten yet?"

Well, when Fourth Master asks her if she has eaten, he is actually implying that he hasn't eaten yet. Li Chenjiao is already used to it.

The Fourth Prince nodded coolly, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Fourth Master started reading again, and Li Chenjiao quietly ground ink beside him.

"Have you finished reading all the books I gave you?" Fourth Master asked, turning a page.

Li Chenjiao, grinding ink, smiled upon hearing this: "No, there are still two classics and histories I haven't read. They're written in a dry style, and this servant can't understand them."

Fourth Master glanced at Li Chenjiao, then inexplicably hummed in agreement: "Let me see it?"

Li Chenjiao went there eagerly.

He brought the book over, but Fourth Master glanced at the title and said with great disdain, "I read this when I was seven years old." Then he gave Li Chenjiao another disdainful look.

Li Chenjiao stared wide-eyed at the Fourth Master, then at the book, before turning and walking outside.

Fourth Master, this is so shameless! He gave her the book himself, and it was the second one in the book series. She didn't believe that Fourth Master hadn't read it.

Moreover, the inclusion of two classic texts in this otherwise fine travelogue makes it seem like the Fourth Prince is mocking her for not being able to read.

Fourth Master is truly... cunning and wicked.

Li Chenjiao came out from inside, picked up a round fan from the table and fanned herself, looking at the peanuts on the table, lost in thought.

Then Li Chenjiao continued peeling peanuts.

After peeling a small plate, Li Chenjiao picked up the plate, swayed her waist, and went inside with a smile.

Then Qiu Ci, who came in from outside, also fell into deep thought. Had her princess lost weight again? That slender waist, the way she twisted it was so beautiful.

Qiu Ci, whose eyes were shining, was caught by Qiu Hu and taken out, where she was then given another scolding.

Inside, Li Chenjiao swayed her slender waist and entered with a smile, sitting directly opposite Fourth Master.

Fourth Master hadn't noticed anything amiss and continued making annotations. After finishing one section of annotation, he happened to look up.

He saw Li Chenjiao eating peanuts while smiling and staring straight at him.

When Li Chenjiao saw that Fourth Master had finally looked up, her face was almost frozen from smiling, but she still smiled sweetly, her slender hands holding a peanut: "Fourth Master, would you like some peanuts?"

Fourth Master suddenly felt a little dazed, remembering the mung bean cake that Li Chenjiao had given him earlier.

Fourth Master, with a cold face, was about to take the peanut when he saw Li Chen smile sweetly, put her hand away, and eat the peanut herself.

Then he chuckled twice and pushed the plate of peanuts on the table: "Master, please enjoy your meal. This servant will go outside and watch the maids prepare the meal."

Fourth Master watched Li Chenjiao's retreating figure and couldn't help but laugh and scold, "No manners at all."

After laughing and scolding, he still picked up a peanut and ate it. Hmm, it smelled like crabapple blossoms.

After taking a sip of tea, the Fourth Master realized that it truly had the fragrance of crabapple blossoms, and the tea he had brewed was indeed crabapple blossom tea.

Fourth Master put down his teacup, glanced outside, and then continued reading.

The Li family is very good.

Li Chenjiao sat outside, her hands supporting her cheeks as she watched Qiu Hu prepare the meal. Qiu Hu asked softly, "Isn't the Princess inside keeping Fourth Master company?"

Li Chenjiao feigned profundity: "I'm giving Fourth Master a quiet space so he can concentrate on his reading. Oh, right, do you still have the autumn pot and the crabapple blossom cake?"

Qiu Hu smiled helplessly: "You ate it all yesterday."

Li Chenjiao said "Oh," and then asked, "What about my tea?"

Qiu Hu looked up and asked, "Didn't we just serve tea?"

Li Chenjiao was stunned for a moment: "Don't tell me you served Fourth Master flower tea? I didn't even drink it! Qiu Hu!"

Qiu Hu exclaimed, "Hey, Princess, you've gained weight lately."