That night, Yu Ru painstakingly tried to comfort the Fourth Prince's wife with countless words of advice, but for everyone in the main courtyard, it was not uncommon for the master and his wife to sleep in separate rooms; it was something they were used to.

The endless darkness would eventually swallow up the couple's estrangement. When the next day dawned, the wife would personally see the Fourth Prince off from the main courtyard with the most dignified demeanor. Only when the two walked side by side did it seem as if they were truly a harmonious and loving couple.

But it was just a fleeting illusion.

After seeing the Fourth Prince off, the Fujin seemed relieved, and a faint smile remained on her face as she turned to return to the main courtyard.

Such an expression naturally appeared extremely forced to Yu Ru, and she sighed inwardly, feeling immense heartache.

...

Li Chenjiao knew yesterday noon that the Fourth Master was coming to the East Courtyard. She didn't make many preparations. In the evening, Fulu came to tell her that the Fourth Master had been invited to the main courtyard and that he would come again tomorrow. She didn't show any dissatisfaction, but rather a look of understanding.

The weather was nice today. When Li Chenjiao woke up, Fulu had personally brought a lot of fresh flowers and trees with people from the Imperial Household Department. However, since the Second Princess had already gone to school, Li Chenjiao took the flowers and trees to tease the Fourth Prince, who was already walking steadily.

When the Second Princess returned from her studies at noon, she saw a table full of fresh flowers and plants that could be used to make wreaths in the corridor. The little girl's eyes lit up. There were also dozens of pots of new flower varieties cultivated by the Imperial Household Department outside. Some of them were things that Li Chenjiao had never seen before. In the end, they were all handed over to Granny Lin to take care of.

It was already noon when the second princess returned from school in the front yard. Li Chenjiao took the little girl's hand, and the two of them wiped their faces and hands together. Then, seeing that the weather was nice today, she simply asked the maids to remove the screen so that they could see the autumn colors outside while having lunch.

But halfway through lunch, the second princess suddenly called out excitedly for her father.

Li Chenjiao was poking at the fish pieces with her head down, craving roasted chestnuts, when she subconsciously looked up after hearing what the Second Princess said.

Normally, this shouldn't be the time for the Fourth Master to return to the mansion, but the little girl called out, and Li Chenjiao's gaze followed her to the outside of the corridor.

It really is the Fourth Master?

Li Chenjiao stood up slowly, and the servants outside were already kneeling on the ground. She first helped the Second Princess to her feet, and then let the Second Princess lead her outside.

"Is it cold outside today? You look a little thinly dressed, Master. Have you had lunch yet? The kitchen made steamed perch today, and Aman is drinking crucian carp soup. Would you like to have a bowl to warm yourself up?" Li Chenjiao smiled helplessly as the little girl clung to his arm.

Fourth Master's expression was as indifferent as ever, and he didn't seem to be in a good mood. However, Li Chenjiao was not afraid of Fourth Master's cold face at all. She said such a long string of words and looked at Fourth Master expectantly.

The Second Princess held Li Chenjiao's hand with one hand and Fourth Master's hand with the other: "Drink fish soup, fish soup is delicious."

Fourth Master said sternly, "Go get another bowl." He was speaking to Su Peisheng, who smiled and went to get another bowl of fish soup.

Su Peisheng was truly terrified at this moment. Ever since the Fourth Master left the main courtyard this morning, he hadn't been in a good mood for a single moment, and he hadn't even eaten much breakfast.

The Ministry of Revenue has not had any extra tasks in the past few days. Or rather, it's not just the Ministry of Revenue. Ever since Songgotu was imprisoned in the Imperial Clan Court on the day of the Golden Festival, the court has been unusually calm. Even among the Crown Prince's faction, apart from a few people pleading for Songgotu in the first two days, there have been almost no one there since.

However, no one dared to take advantage of Songgotu's misfortune after he was imprisoned. Even the faction of Prince Zhi, whose minister Mingzhu had pleaded for Songgotu in court just a few days ago, was either thinking of the future or reminding the Emperor that Songgotu was still imprisoned in the Imperial Clan Court.

In the past few days, the faction of Prince Zhi has begun to plead for Suo'etu in the court, but the reason given is that there is no concrete evidence and the Crown Prince is still ill, so it is not good to delay the Crown Prince's recuperation.

These words are undoubtedly malicious and add fuel to the fire.

While claiming to be pleading for mercy, their real intention was to use concrete evidence to definitively implicate Suo'etu in the Imperial Clan Court. They also brought up the Crown Prince, seemingly to suggest that the Crown Prince was still ill, but actually to imply that the Crown Prince and Suo'etu had a very close relationship.

The Fourth Prince had grown tired of hearing these arguments during the morning court sessions these past few days, but his father, the Emperor, had yet to make a statement, only saying that while Suo'etu was now guilty, there was no rush to determine his guilt.

The Fourth Prince didn't stay at the Ministry of Revenue for long today, partly because he didn't have much to do, and partly because he was troubled by the turbulent situation in the court.

Li Chenjiao knew that she should avoid talking too much during lunch so as not to annoy others. She even served less food to the Fourth Master, only saying a few words when serving him food.

She wasn't afraid of offending the Fourth Master; she just knew he wanted some peace and quiet at this time.

After lunch, Li Chenjiao left the Fourth Prince alone in the inner room and went to the corridor with the Second Princess to make flower wreaths. The girls sat at a small table further away, and they were much quieter than usual, probably because the Fourth Prince had arrived.

This gave the second princess, who was weaving a flower wreath, a sudden inspiration.

The Fourth Prince hadn't noticed when Li Chenjiao and the Second Princess went to the outer room. Or rather, ever since he went to the East Courtyard for his meal, his attention hadn't been turned away; he was still thinking about the affairs of the court.

Outside, Li Chenjiao had already started arranging flowers, and the tea in front of Fourth Master had been changed three or four times. It was only when Su Peisheng came in to change the tea that Fourth Master finally stopped him.

"Where is your Master Li?" Fourth Master asked, taking a sip of tea.

Su Peisheng cautiously pointed outside, just as the Second Princess's laughter drifted in.

"Who has spoiled her like this? They didn't even say a word."

Su Peisheng looked down at the ground. Did his master mean that if Master Li gave the order, he could be left out in the cold?

Besides, if we really want to ask Master Li who has spoiled him like this...

Su Peisheng dared not say.

He was muttering to himself with his head down when Fourth Master put down his teacup and went to the outer room. He looked quite angry.

Su Peisheng quickly followed.

When Fourth Master went to the outer room, Li Chenjiao noticed him and exclaimed, "Master, come and see! What do you think of the flower wreath that Aman made?"

Fourth Master stopped in his tracks, and Su Peisheng eagerly awaited his arrival.

"What happened to your hand?" Fourth Master suddenly frowned and pointed to the back of Li Chenjiao's hand, where there was a not-so-obvious red mark.

Su Peisheng: ? Well, Master Li said to show the Second Princess the flower wreath, but the master noticed the back of Master Li's hand that was showing when he reached out.

The master just asked who spoiled him; he should really ask himself that question.