The Fourth Master approached, glanced at Li Chenjiao first, and then nodded slightly to Zhao Mama beside him.
Granny Zhao smiled, but didn't show anything on her face: "It's kind of you, Fourth Master, to take a break from your busy schedule to visit Her Highness. Her Highness has finished lunch but hasn't taken a nap yet, so it's a good opportunity for you to have a chat with her."
Anyone could hear the teasing in Granny Zhao's words.
The Fourth Prince also showed a rare smile: "Mother has never liked being disturbed during her afternoon rest, so please don't talk nonsense, Granny Zhao. Since Mother wants to rest, we will come to pay our respects to her another day."
Granny Zhao smiled without saying a word, and simply bowed to the Fourth Master.
Li Chenjiao really didn't expect that Fourth Master would actually come to pick her up.
She first glanced at the Fourth Master, then at Granny Zhao, feigning unease, before finally giving Granny Zhao a slight nod.
After exchanging glances with Granny Zhao and confirming her expression, Li Chenjiao followed closely behind the Fourth Master.
The snow was heavy today. Qiu Hu held up a wooden-framed oiled paper umbrella for Li Chenjiao, and the soft snowflakes blew in the wind, wetting the hem of her skirt.
The snowflakes pattered against the umbrella, and the wind occasionally blew, causing her skirt to billow. Li Chenjiao then raised her hand to press it down.
Li Chenjiao lowered her eyes, too lazy to even open her mouth in the strong wind and snow. Besides, they were still in the Forbidden City, and it would be impolite to rashly follow the Fourth Prince to speak.
The two, master and servant, could only walk more carefully in the wind and snow, and Qiu Hu dared not let go of Li Chenjiao's arm.
Although the palace paths in Yongxiang were swept clean by the palace servants, the snow fell quickly and heavily, and there were always watermarks left on the ground from the melting snow.
In case of a slip, Qiu Hu would support her mistress—no, now a concubine—so that she could cushion her fall.
Li Chenjiao tucked her hands into her clothes. Today she had come to pay her respects to Consort De. After entering the palace, she had given the hand warmer to Xiao Luzi to put in the carriage, and it must be completely cold by now.
"Follow behind me." Fourth Master's voice cut through the wind and snow.
Li Chenjiao raised her eyes when she heard the sound, then quickly lowered her head again. Fourth Master walked in front, and with each step he took, he also paved a path.
The wind and snow seemed to have lessened.
Li Chenjiao belatedly realized that it was because the Fourth Master was walking in front and blocking the wind and snow blowing in their face.
Li Chenjiao couldn't describe the feeling, but her heart skipped a beat.
Li Chenjiao exhaled, her face blurred by the breath, and spoke softly, "Master, please slow down, I can't keep up."
She controlled her tone, but she didn't know if the Fourth Master could hear her clearly.
After a while, Fourth Master turned around, and Li Chenjiao knew that Fourth Master had heard her.
"If you can't walk fast, then you should slow down, Master." Fourth Master's tone was deep, and the woman holding Li Chenjiao's breasts trembled in fright.
Li Chenjiao turned her head to look at the Fourth Master and slowly smiled.
The Fourth Prince coughed a few times, said no more reprimands, and turned to walk out of the Forbidden City.
But their pace slowed down.
Li Chenjiao's mood suddenly improved, although she was still a little tired.
Once outside the Forbidden City, Li Chenjiao finally reached the Fourth Prince's side: "Fourth Prince, are you going back to the manor?"
When Fourth Master looked down, he could see Li Chenjiao's nose, which was red from the cold, and his brows furrowed.
"There's a heater in the carriage, and I've had blankets prepared. Go back to your residence early. If you're not feeling well, have the physician come and take a look. I have official business to attend to, so I'll come to see you again tonight."
Recently, the local barbarians in Dajianlu, Sichuan, have been causing trouble. The Emperor is busy sending people to quell the unrest, and the Ministry of Revenue is also busy preparing provisions. It is a critical time for the Emperor.
When the Fourth Prince came out of the Ministry of Revenue, the people there were still arguing, and no one could produce any silver.
The Fourth Prince was so annoyed by the noise that he simply turned away with a cold face, and the Ministry of Revenue finally had a moment of peace and quiet.
However, when Fourth Master returns, it will likely be another scene of arguing and chaos.
Li Chenjiao knew that the Fourth Prince would be busier as the year drew to a close, and she really couldn't help with matters of state, so she simply nodded in agreement.
"Then I will wait for Fourth Master to return in the East Courtyard. I just mentioned yesterday that I was going to make dumplings, so maybe I can have some hot ones when you come back."
Because they were outside, Fourth Master didn't do anything intimate. He just moved closer to Li Chenjiao when she spoke so that she wouldn't have to shout for him to hear her.
"You dare to feed me something cold?"
After Su Peisheng and Qiu Hu had walked away, Li Chenjiao held up her umbrella and smiled charmingly: "If Master comes back late, then naturally only the cold food will be left for Fourth Master."
After saying that, he walked alone, holding an umbrella, to Qiu Hu's side.
Li Chenjiao didn't walk fast on the short distance; the wind blew her clothes, making her look like a plum blossom being blown away by the wind in winter.
It was so bright that it made the snow scene pale in comparison.
Qiu Hu hurriedly came forward to help his master.
Su Peisheng sighed inwardly and hurriedly held up an umbrella to shield his fourth master from the wind and snow.
Consort Li was far too bold, leaving the Fourth Prince isolated in the snow.
As Su Peisheng approached, he heard his fourth master say "unruly," but a clear smile could be seen on his face.
Well, Su Peisheng knew he had worried for nothing.
"Go to the Ministry of Revenue," Fourth Master said.
——
Li Chenjiao was extremely sensitive to the cold, so she quickly boarded the carriage.
Just as Fourth Master had said, there was a warm stove and thick wool blankets inside the carriage. Li Chenjiao sighed as soon as she sat down.
In winter, a warm and cozy place like this is the perfect place to sleep comfortably.
Li Chenjiao really intended to make dumplings with the maids, as it was customary to make dumplings on the day of Lidong (the beginning of winter). However, she was too busy following the rules and didn't bother to do it.
These past few days, Li Chenjiao has had a lot of free time since she doesn't have to study the rules anymore. Yesterday, she started thinking about making dumplings, and it just so happened that the small kitchen could be used for cooking.
After having dinner last night, Li Chenjiao asked He Shi to prepare all the necessary ingredients.
If we go back now, we can still make it in time.
Li Chenjiao was so tired that she could barely stand up straight. She figured she wouldn't be able to do anything if she went back, so she simply told He Shi to clean everything up. She said she would go back and take a nap before doing anything else.
Qiu Hu straightened the blanket that had slipped off her master as she spoke.
Li Chenjiao hummed in agreement, but she was too exhausted to do anything else, so she closed her eyes and took a nap.
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