Madam Xie spoke gently and did not try to excuse herself: "It was this servant who broke the rules, but this servant truly admires Fourth Master and could not control my emotions. Please punish me, Fourth Master."
As Xie Hengyi spoke, her words seemed to slowly linger on her face, while her ten fingers intertwined under her sleeves, just enough for the standing Fourth Master to see.
With such a beautiful woman expressing her feelings in front of her, and Xie Shi being very polite in first apologizing for her actions—
This scene reminded Su Peisheng of the first time his master met Princess Li.
However, their master always valued rules, and since it was clear that he was going to Consort Li's courtyard today, it was impossible for him to walk into Consort Xie's courtyard so easily.
However, Su Peisheng paused in ordering his men to drive Xie Gege away, waiting for the Fourth Master to speak.
He was a shrewd man, and he was thinking that if Xie Gege really became favored in the future, then there was no need for him to offend Xie Gege now.
"If everyone were like you, would there be no order in my backyard?"
Fourth Master gave Su Peisheng a cold look, his face showing displeasure.
Su Peisheng understood perfectly well this time, but he put on a wry smile when he met Xie Gege's gaze: "Gege Xie, please. This servant will have someone escort you."
Fourth Master has never liked women who don't follow the rules; Bai Jia Shi from the past is a perfect example.
What? You mean the Li family?
When did Li break the rules?
What displeased the Fourth Prince the most was the commotion caused by Xie Shi today.
He admitted that he was indeed stunned when he saw Xie Shi just now; under the moonlight, Xie Shi was indeed almost indistinguishable from the real thing.
He didn't know how many times Xie had seen the little princess, but her face did indeed resemble the little princess's. It was precisely because of this resemblance that the Fourth Prince felt displeased.
From the moment he learned that Xie had entered the mansion, the Fourth Prince was dissatisfied.
He was dissatisfied with his mother's arrangement, but since she had entered his inner quarters, even though the Fourth Prince wouldn't like Xie Shi much, she would still be given the proper respect due to him.
But after what happened today, Fourth Master still felt nauseous when he was almost at the East Courtyard.
Does Mother think he's just a good-for-nothing who lusts after women? Judging by the people Li Shi chooses to bring into the household, what does she take him for?
In the east courtyard, Li Chenjiao was drinking sour plum juice when she heard Qiu Hu say that Fourth Master had arrived. She was taken aback for a moment, and then straightened up.
Fourth Master has been celibate for several days now, and she still needs to think of a reason.
To throw a tantrum?
As Li Chenjiao was pondering this, she suddenly heard Qiu Hu angrily talking about the commotion ahead.
This was naturally something Xiao Luzi overheard outside.
By now, it's likely that the people in Wu Gege's courtyard, who are closest to her, have heard everything clearly.
Isn't this just like someone handing you a pillow when you're feeling sleepy?
Li Chenjiao's eyes lit up, but she sat back down, seemingly having no intention of getting up to greet the Fourth Master.
Qiu Hu asked in confusion, "Princess, Fourth Master is here."
Li Chenjiao raised her hand to look at her fingernails and casually hummed in agreement.
Qiu Hu thought to herself, "Is my princess angry? This is rather strange. When has my princess ever been angry before, or for any reason?"
When Qiu Hu turned around again, Fourth Master had already entered.
She quickly bowed, glanced at her mistress out of the corner of her eye, and then silently withdrew.
She felt that her daughter was acting strangely today.
"You're becoming less and less respectful of rules these days." Fourth Master sat on the other side of the small couch.
Li Chenjiao slowly raised her double eyelids: "Naturally, I can't learn the rules as well as others."
As she said this, the corner of her mouth couldn't help but twitch. Afraid of being noticed by the Fourth Master, Li Chenjiao simply lowered her head.
Fourth Master choked on his words: "What nonsense are you spouting?"
Li Chenjiao didn't reply, and silently took a sip of plum juice.
Fourth Master glanced at it, but having learned his lesson from last time, he didn't think of Li Chenjiao's pregnancy this time.
Li Chenjiao couldn't keep up the act anymore. She burst out laughing, looked up at the Fourth Master, and asked while resting her chin on her hand.
"I just heard from the servants that someone was singing in the garden? And the Fourth Master scolded him for it. He's so clueless about romance."
Li Chenjiao was actually hoping that Fourth Master would go somewhere else.
Looking at Li Chenjiao's smiling face, Fourth Master felt a little uneasy.
It seemed that Li Chenjiao shouldn't have reacted this way.
Li Chenjiao was too lazy to continue the topic: "Has Your Highness had dinner yet? This servant will have someone prepare hot water first, the sun is really strong in July."
Li Chenjiao had already taken a bath after having dinner.
Fourth Master glanced at Li Chenjiao twice, then got up and went to the clean room.
Li Chenjiao slowly finished the bowl of plum juice, then washed up and went to lie down on the bed.
She looked at the canopy above her head, still feeling a little unreal.
For her, the news of her encountering this happy event felt like a dream; it was something she was completely unprepared for.
When Fourth Master came to bed still steaming after his bath, Li Chenjiao slowly came to her senses. Even in the summer heat, she had already started to complain that Fourth Master was too hot.
When the Fourth Prince approached, she gently pushed him away, blinking her peach blossom eyes slightly, and staring at him as she spoke: "This servant is not feeling well today."
This was one of the rare instances where Li Chenjiao refused Fourth Master in bed.
Li Chenjiao was still afraid that the Fourth Prince would lose face after she said this: "Next time, next time this servant will do as the Fourth Prince wishes."
As for when the next time will be, Li Chenjiao blinked.
Who knows?
Fourth Master didn't think much of it. He turned to look at Li Chenjiao and asked quite seriously, "Where do you feel unwell?"
Li Chenjiao didn't expect Fourth Master to take it seriously, so she lied and said, "Perhaps it's because my period is coming soon."
Li Chenjiao's period is at the end of the month, so there are still about ten days left.
Fourth Master didn't know whether he believed it or not, but he lectured, "Why drink cold things when you're not feeling well? You'll suffer if you catch a cold in the summer."
Fourth Master naturally had no intention of forcing the issue.
He was young and full of energy, but he was not a beast.
He wouldn't force the woman beside him to have his way if she didn't want him, but he wouldn't accept it if she insisted on coming to him.
Li Chenjiao particularly liked this aspect of the Fourth Prince. He was indeed extremely strict about rules in public, but behind closed doors, he would turn a blind eye to a few minor breaches of rules.
The next day was the fifteenth, and Li Chenjiao was helped up by Qiu Hu shortly after Fourth Master left.
This was the first time I had formally gone to the main courtyard to pay my respects since returning from the estate.
Even as Qiu Hu was helping her with her grooming, Li Chenjiao could already tell that today was destined to be anything but peaceful, and the thought of it gave her a headache.
She chose a plain light blue Su-style qipao with a begonia-scented floral pattern and subtle plum blossom design; the color looked refreshing even in summer.
Holding a begonia-shaped fan, he went to the main courtyard to pay his respects before the sun became too hot.
On the way, Li Chenjiao instructed Xiao Luzi to go to the kitchen to order food, otherwise they would be hungry when they came back from the main courtyard.
However, by chance, he ran into Xie Gege on the way.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
