Li Chenjiao, who was not aware of the others, did not know whether the Fourth Prince had a habit of not liking to eat when he was sick. However, she did discover that the Fourth Prince never missed a prescription from the imperial physician.
As expected, as soon as Li Chenjiao finished speaking, Fourth Master's exposed knuckles twitched. He slowly opened his eyes, raised his hand to push Li Chenjiao away, and his expression was somewhat cold.
However, Li Chenjiao was not afraid of the Fourth Master at this moment.
When the Fourth Prince is sick, he is like a tiger taking a nap. He is very easy to please. As long as you don't cross his bottom line, he won't get angry and is very easy to coax.
"Stay away."
Sure enough, Li Chenjiao's smile widened upon hearing Fourth Master's words.
The Fourth Master's tone was unpleasant, but he was actually afraid of passing on his illness to her.
Li Chenjiao responded and then said to the outside, "Where is Master's medicine? Why hasn't it been brought up yet? Be careful it doesn't get cold."
It was Su Peisheng's voice outside.
"Replying to Consort, the imperial physician instructed that the medicine should only be administered after His Highness has eaten, otherwise it may harm his health."
Upon hearing this, Li Chenjiao covered her mouth in surprise, then said to the Fourth Master, "I know you don't have an appetite right now, but—"
Fourth Master could easily tell that this was a coordinated effort between Su Peisheng and Madam Li. He gave a light snort and waved his hand.
Li Chenjiao understood and said, "Eunuch Su, please have dinner served."
Su Peisheng, who had been standing outside, breathed a sigh of relief. No wonder it had to be Consort Li.
Fourth Master didn't let Li Chenjiao help him up. He was afraid that Li Chenjiao would fall if he helped her up. He propped himself up and got off the bed.
Hearing Fourth Master's words, "Stay away," Li Chenjiao merely stretched out her hand half a step away.
When Li Chenjiao went out, she picked up a cloak from the embroidered stool in the outer room and draped it over the Fourth Master when he sat down.
She had just put on her cloak when she suddenly heard the Fourth Master let out a cold snort.
Li Chenjiao was always good at reading people's expressions, so she naturally heard the displeasure in that voice, but the suggestion was probably not directed at her.
She straightened up and then saw the table full of food. She tried to hold back, but her eyes still twitched involuntarily.
She had already lost her appetite while listening to the report, and now, seeing the food on the table, she felt even more nauseous.
The table was covered in clean, green leaves; anyone who didn't know better would think it was the Fourth Prince eating vegetarian food and chanting Buddhist prayers.
Li Chenjiao wasn't going to bring it up right now. She quietly sat down and had Qiu Hu ladle out a bowl of plain soup. It looked bland and watery, but Li Chenjiao just used it as an appetizer.
Li Chenjiao wouldn't bring up the matter in the front yard.
Fourth Master's brows were so furrowed they could have trapped a mosquito. After a long while, he put down his chopsticks and said, "Take it away for everyone in the front yard, and tell the kitchen to make two bowls of shredded chicken noodles and bring them up."
Su Peisheng dared not say more, simply replied "Yes," and withdrew.
Li Chenjiao then spoke up: "Chicken noodles are greasy. Why don't you have some vegetarian dumplings instead? They're easy to eat with dipping sauce. You've been sick these past few days and have really suffered."
She had no choice but to speak up now.
Su Peisheng outside had stopped walking at some point.
Fourth Master hummed in agreement: "Do as you say."
Qiu Hu, being perceptive, went to call Su Peisheng in the evening. Before coming in, Su Peisheng quietly nodded to Qiu Hu.
He had served his master for many years and was indeed shrewd and worldly-wise, but when his master fell ill, Su Peisheng was definitely the first one to be most anxious.
Li Chenjiao said gently, "It's kind of you to make the trip, Father-in-law. I don't need the chicken noodle soup. I'll just have some vegetarian dumplings like Fourth Master."
During the holidays, there's plenty of time to eat rich, meaty dishes, so let's have something lighter these next few days to change things up.
Fourth Master stared at Li Chenjiao for a moment, then remained silent.
"Later, I'll have Su Peisheng take you home."
Li Chenjiao raised her eyes and said, "You asked me to stay at noon, but now you're urging me to leave. It's not right to change your mind so easily."
"When will you call me, Master—"
Upon hearing Li Chenjiao's words, Fourth Master instinctively wanted to refute them, but then he seemed to remember something and suddenly fell silent.
Li Chenjiao smiled and looked at Fourth Master: "You remembered now, Master?"
Fourth Master looked away; "Tomorrow morning, I'll have Su Peisheng send you back."
At this moment, Fourth Master had probably cursed Su Peisheng countless times in his mind.
Li Chenjiao didn't say anything to refute this time. It wasn't appropriate for her to stay in the front yard for a long time. Staying overnight in the front yard to take care of the sick was already enough to make people resent her.
The vegetarian dumplings, dipped in the sauce prepared by the kitchen, tasted pretty good; Li Chenjiao finished her bowl of dumplings.
The Fourth Prince probably didn't have much of an appetite originally, but seeing Li Chenjiao eating so heartily, his appetite seemed to have increased a bit.
Although the bowl of dumplings wasn't completely used, two-thirds of it was still consumed.
After the meal, Su Peisheng brought up the medicine that had been brewed.
Fourth Master drank it with great gusto, practically downing it in one gulp.
Li Chenjiao took advantage of this moment to go to the clean room to take a bath.
The front courtyard where Fourth Master lived was not luxurious; in fact, it could be described as simple. However, there was a faint scent of ink inside and out. Li Chenjiao did not dislike it, but she always felt a bit stuffy after being covered in the scent of ink for a long time.
Li Chenjiao laughed at this: "Look at your master, I'm really suited to being full of money, I can't stand being a little more scholarly."
Qiu Hu disapproved and scolded, but kept quiet because of the maids in the front yard outside.
She behaved very well in the front yard today, naturally because she didn't want the maids in the front yard to look down on their mistress or the east yard.
Li Chenjiao chuckled, still feeling a little unaccustomed to the bath.
The front yard was very large, and there was more than one washroom.
Fourth Master was ill, and it was winter, so taking a bath would easily expose him to the wind and cold. Therefore, he simply wiped his body clean.
After all, even when the Fourth Prince was sleeping soundly during the day, he still sweated quite a bit, so he needed to change his nightgown.
At this moment, Fourth Master's love of cleanliness was fully revealed.
Li Chenjiao glanced around and saw that there was no room for her inside. Clearly, the Fourth Master did not intend for her to stay by his side and take care of him while he was ill.
Upon hearing the noise, Fourth Master merely raised his eyes and waved his hand, saying, "Go and rest. There are people to serve you here."
Li Chenjiao did not refuse, but said, "If word gets out, people will say that I have no manners."
Fourth Master looked at her: "Who dares to say anything about you?"
Li Chenjiao chuckled softly, because of the Fourth Master's gaze and words.
The front yard is full of Fourth Master's men, so Li Chenjiao is at ease; she was just joking.
"But I am also concerned about your health, my lord."
Fourth Master frowned this time: "Troublesome."
Li Chenjiao softened her tone: "Please let me stay and keep you company, so I can feel more at ease."
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