Li Chenjiao looked at the Fourth Master with her bright, sparkling eyes, and let out a breath, as if she were very relieved.
"Due to our different statuses, I must naturally speak and act according to the rules set by our ancestors, and there is no question of being modest or not."
The mere mention of their different statuses effectively sealed the deal regarding Li Si's visit today.
The phrase "different status" can be interpreted in many ways. It could be the difference between Li Chenjiao being a prince's secondary consort listed in the imperial genealogy and a concubine without an official title.
It's also possible that Li Chenjiao entered the Fourth Prince's harem only after going through numerous selections, unlike Li Si'er who was taken back to the mansion by Longkodo through dishonorable means.
Fourth Master glanced at Li Chenjiao and smiled again.
However, Fourth Master did not ask any further questions.
Regardless of whether Li Chenjiao was wronged or not, Fourth Master will have a good talk with his good uncle.
At this moment, Li Chenjiao and Fourth Master were sitting opposite each other. Li Chenjiao raised her hand and tugged at Fourth Master's sleeve: "It seems a bit stuffy right now."
This is a clear expression of dissatisfaction that the Fourth Prince was sitting too close.
With Fourth Master coming to the East Courtyard more often, Li Chenjiao has also learned to speak in a roundabout way, just like him.
Fourth Master seems to have gradually learned from Li Chenjiao, and even her laziness.
Nowadays, when Fourth Master sits in the East Courtyard, he sometimes imitates Li Chenjiao's love of half-lying on the small couch, looking quite leisurely.
You should know that in the past, the Fourth Prince always sat upright and straight, and he would not even bend his back when eating.
That's why they say people who spend a lot of time together start to resemble each other more and more.
At this moment, Fourth Master naturally understood the implication of Li Chenjiao's words.
He laughed in anger, and the next second he sat cross-legged on the tatami mat, and the two of them naturally got closer and closer.
"Do you dislike me?" Fourth Master asked directly.
Li Chenjiao tilted her head, half-propped herself up, and leaned closer to Fourth Master, even closer than they usually were when they were together on the bed.
"What do you think, sir?"
Her eyes shone as she spoke, and she also deflected the question back at the same time.
Fourth Master looked back at her, and with a hint of mercy, raised his hand and pinched Li Chenjiao's cheek: "I see you are becoming increasingly bold."
Li Chenjiao dared not refute. This time, the Fourth Master loosened his grip more slowly, and her words became somewhat muffled: "How could I dare?"
Fourth Master chuckled and released his grip.
“Li Si’er is no good. Master and Longkodo don’t interfere in each other’s private affairs.”
As Fourth Master spoke, he stretched out and leaned against the small couch. The two of them were encircled by the small couch, and it was quite warm.
Li Chenjiao was taken aback when she heard Fourth Master speak so clearly, and she straightened up slightly.
"Yes, I understand."
The Fourth Prince hummed in agreement, his eyes slightly closed.
Li Chenjiao was a little tired after saying these words, so she simply tilted her head slightly and leaned against Fourth Master's shoulder, and soon closed her eyes to take a nap.
The two maids standing outside, not hearing any voices or other noises from inside, quickly retreated to the doorway.
"I'll go tell Madam He not to rush to cook the wontons. Go check if the longan and white fungus sweet soup that Master ordered is ready yet."
This is a sweet soup that my master has been reading about lately. It has the effects of nourishing blood and calming the mind, protecting and beautifying the skin, and stimulating appetite and strengthening the spleen.
However, eating too much longan can cause internal heat, and the season for eating longan is over now. The kitchen is sending out dried longan that has been sun-dried and preserved.
Autumn is dry, so Li Chenjiao likes to think about soups and broths.
The two maids each performed their duties, but when Qiu Ci went to the small kitchen, she caught a glimpse of a figure hiding at the entrance.
Qiu Hu frowned, mindful that her masters were resting. Only when she got closer did she scold, "Lv Lan! Why aren't you by Lin Mama's side learning to serve and care for the flowers and plants in the garden? What are you doing running around in the small kitchen?"
Green Orchid was originally assigned to learn how to care for the flowers and plants in the garden from the nanny, but now she's peeking around in the small kitchen. How can that not seem strange?
In addition, her master had just given her, Qiu Hu, and Granny Lin some instructions a few days ago, so Qiu Ci's gaze toward Lü Lan was now scrutinizing.
Green Bamboo, hearing the commotion, wiped her hands and came out. She hadn't heard Qiu Ci's voice clearly and was still smiling.
"Why are you here, sister? The water's boiling, and Granny's just getting ready to put the wontons in the pot—"
As the girl spoke, she couldn't help but swallow her saliva.
Qiu Ci quickly put her index finger to her lips to shush: "The masters are resting, you little rascal, keep your voice down. Don't rush the wontons, once the water is boiled, call Dong Sheng to bring the water to the clean room."
"Oh, right, tell the nanny not to rush to make the wontons. Wait another fifteen minutes, then go on with your work."
She was quite amiable towards Green Bamboo, but her smile faded considerably when she turned to Green Orchid.
“Abandoning one’s post without permission is punishable. Come with me to Granny Lin’s place first, and we’ll see why you came to this small kitchen from the front.”
Green Orchid bit her lip, wanting to defend herself, but was stopped by a sharp look from Autumn Peach.
"The masters were resting; we have disturbed them—"
Qiu Ci was quite lively and relaxed in front of Qiu Hu and her master, but she was very careful around the young maids.
When they're on duty, you have to make sure they get their tasks done; but when they're not supposed to be on duty at night, they can chat and laugh while they're resting.
However, with the addition of a few maids, her and Qiu Hu's shifts became much easier.
Qiu Ci led Lü Lan to see Granny Lin, but before they could even get there, they heard some commotion coming from outside.
Green Orchid couldn't help but stop in her tracks, her gaze wandering aimlessly.
Qiu Ci turned around, and Qiu Hu was just coming out of the side room behind her, probably to go see the Second Princess.
Qiu Ci frowned at the look in Lü Lan's eyes. She beckoned to Qiu Hu, who understood and walked over.
Qiu Ci whispered a few words into Qiu Hu's ear and then said, "Take her to see Granny Lin."
Yesterday, when she helped water those two chrysanthemums, she accidentally watered them a little too much. Granny Lin loves those two chrysanthemums so much, she didn't dare to go near them.
Qiu Hu glanced at Lü Lan: "Alright, go and see what's going on, but don't wake the masters."
Qiu Ci exclaimed "Eh!" and quickly walked out, only to find that Fu Lu had already arrived ahead of her.
She caught a glimpse of the enormous creature through the lanterns under the eaves, and then noticed Su Peisheng wiping his sweat nearby. She paused for a moment.
"Eunuch Su, what did the master send over? It looks like a trunk—"
Su Peisheng first clarified that it was not a trunk but a dressing case, and then explained that it was a gift from His Majesty during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Qiu Ci exclaimed, "Oh dear, it's kind of you to make this trip, Father-in-law. We just made some pear soup in the kitchen, please have some."
Having walked such a long way, especially the young eunuchs who had been carrying the makeup box the whole way, they were already very thirsty.
Su Peisheng thanked him and didn't refuse.
However, he still had his apprentice Fulu guard the door.
Once the masters wake up, there can't be a shortage of people to serve them.
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