"In response to Your Highness's question, this man is of upright character, and I have never heard of him making any mistakes in his work. However, he has served under the Right Vice Minister more often, and I am not very familiar with him as well. Your Highness's sudden question suggests that there is something amiss with him?"
Upon hearing this, the Fourth Prince glanced at the Left Vice Minister and said, "Nothing, just something amusing."
Upon hearing this, the Left Vice Minister did not think much of it and instead nodded in agreement, saying, "That's right. Everyone else is scrambling to get into the Ministry of Revenue, but this guy is doing just that, submitting his own memorial asking to be transferred to a post outside the Ministry—isn't that interesting?"
The Fourth Prince gave a lukewarm "hmm," clearly not intending to discuss further. After the Left Vice Minister finished speaking, he cupped his hands in greeting: "There are still matters to attend to in the manor, so I, Yinzhen, will not stay any longer."
The Left Vice Minister hurriedly bowed and saw the Fourth Prince off, but he felt a sense of relief.
The Ministry of Revenue was very busy these days, and the Fourth Prince practically lived there, only leaving late at night each day.
If even a prince like the Fourth Prince is like this, then those of us who are his subjects naturally cannot slack off either. The other day, the Minister and the Vice Ministers had to endure so much hardship with him.
The Vice Minister must be overjoyed to hear what the Fourth Prince said.
As for the Fourth Prince leaving the Ministry of Revenue, the name "Li Fuhuai" crossed his mind once more as he mounted his horse.
However, the concept of "love me, love my dog" never applies to the Fourth Prince. Even in private, the relationship between the Fourth Prince and his wife's father, Fei Yanggu, is quite ordinary.
At this moment, Fourth Master naturally had no intention of promoting Li Chenjiao's brother.
Upon returning to the manor and alighting from the carriage, the Fourth Master gave an order: "Investigate the background of the Li family and send the results within the next two days."
Su Peisheng agreed again, understanding what the Fourth Master meant.
He tentatively asked again, "Does Master wish to return to the front yard or—"
Fourth Master kept walking: "To the East Courtyard."
Su Peisheng had expected this, but he still couldn't help but mutter to himself that the Fourth Master was going to the East Courtyard more often than returning to the Front Courtyard.
Fourth Master returned at a moderate pace today. When he arrived at the East Courtyard, Li Chenjiao was having dinner. Upon hearing that Fourth Master had arrived, she put down her chopsticks and stood up.
"What a coincidence that we're here today, just in time for a meal. Qiu Hu, bring Fourth Master some more bowls and chopsticks."
Qiu Hu agreed, and Qiu Ci went to Li Chenjiao's side and gently helped her to greet them.
"Master has arrived? I was having dinner when you arrived. The kitchen made some new cherry pork today. The kitchen is very skilled, so it's not greasy at all, and it has a unique and delicious flavor."
Li Chenjiao gave a half-bow, and after being called up by the Fourth Prince, she turned her head and asked, "Has the Second Princess woken up?"
Lin Mama replied from the side, "The wet nurse just fed her, and now the Second Princess is playing with the persimmons."
Upon hearing this, Li Chenjiao seemed to be used to it: "Tell Granny Chen to bring it over, I'll hold it for a while."
Li Chenjiao always loved to tease the Second Princess during meals.
Granny Lin smiled helplessly and agreed.
The maids outside exchanged glances, none of them daring to make a move.
Qiu Hu, who had just returned from refilling the Fourth Master's bowl and chopsticks, caught a glimpse of this and waved her hand: "The Master doesn't like too many people serving him when he eats. From now on, you can take turns. Today, let Green Plum go in and serve him. You've only just arrived and don't know the Master's likes and dislikes, so just watch from the side and don't say anything."
Green Plum smiled and nodded, following Qiu Hu into the flower hall where dinner was served.
Inside, Li Chenjiao and Fourth Master were already seated. Qiu Hu set out the bowls, chopsticks, and other utensils but didn't rush to serve them. Instead, she stood at a distance that was neither too close nor too far.
Green Plum then stood behind Autumn Pot.
Li Chenjiao held the Second Princess in her arms, looking at her from left to right, but still couldn't help but reach out and touch the Second Princess's face: "Why is our Aman's face so red after taking a nap? She looks like a little peach."
Li Chenjiao softened her words, making them even more alluring. However, Qiu Hu and Lü Mei were standing a bit further away, so they couldn't hear her clearly and could only make out her voice.
Fourth Master looked up and felt that Li Chenjiao's words were somewhat familiar, as if he had heard them before, but he couldn't quite remember them at the moment.
Li Chenjiao noticed the Fourth Prince's gaze and softened her expression: "I have already used some, Your Highness, please use it first."
In fact, Li Chenjiao had just eaten the flower cakes made by He Shi in the small kitchen and didn't have much of an appetite. She had only taken a couple of bites of the cherry meat when Fourth Master arrived.
The Fourth Prince grunted in agreement and picked up his chopsticks to eat.
"I haven't thanked you yet for having Eunuch Su go to the trouble of selecting maids from the Imperial Household Department. I've kept four maids, which I think is more than enough to serve you."
Fourth Master had a rule of not speaking while eating or sleeping, but this habit of not speaking while sleeping had been completely broken long ago.
The Fourth Master was having his meal, so he just listened to Li Chenjiao talk, only occasionally making "hmm" sounds, but he didn't intend to interrupt.
Although Li Chenjiao was talking to the Fourth Prince, she did not neglect the Second Princess in her arms. She would talk about the Second Princess from time to time, and even when she did not mention the Second Princess, she would lower her head and ask the Second Princess, "Is that so, Second Princess?"
However, Li Chenjiao still used some of it during this period. With the Fourth Prince around, Li Chenjiao teased the Second Princess less often.
With his disciplined nature, Fourth Master naturally had to reprimand Li Chenjiao for teasing the Second Princess.
After dinner, Madam Chen took the Second Princess downstairs once, as it was time.
Li Chenjiao sat on the small couch in the inner room and played a game of chess with the Fourth Master. However, Li Chenjiao's chess skills were not good, and she lost quickly despite trying to procrastinate.
When Qiuhu served the tea, Li Chenjiao exclaimed, "What fragrant tea! It doesn't seem like Longjing, but it's certainly not the Pu'er I usually love either."
Li Chenjiao turned to look at the Fourth Master: "You brought new tea, Master? Then I'll have some new tea to enjoy these days."
Fourth Master stared at the chessboard, and only after Li Chenjiao served him the tea did he say, "This year's tribute tea is Emei Snow Tip from the Emei Mountain tea garden."
The Fourth Master's words were naturally a reminder to Li Chenjiao that this was a tribute.
The rarity of the tribute items goes without saying. In other words, Li Chenjiao could appreciate them herself, but if she showed them to others, it would cause quite a stir.
Li Chenjiao naturally understood, but she still smiled and thanked Fourth Master for his advice.
People love rare and precious things, but whether they can keep them is what really matters.
Li Chenjiao knew the principle of not flaunting one's wealth.
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