Now that Li Chenjiao has come, she must leave something in the Fourth Master's heart or gain something for herself.
Whether it's the Fourth Prince's favor or his heartache,
Even if it's just a little bit.
Isn't pampering something that comes little by little?
However, her gaze did not reveal any of this; all that could be seen in her eyes was heartache.
Naturally, the sight of the sickly, haggard, and emaciated Fourth Master still evoked some pity in her.
After three years of getting along, if she hadn't developed any feelings for him, then Li Chenjiao should admire herself.
Moreover, it's not difficult to pretend to have something, but a mix of truth and falsehood is just right.
Upon hearing Li Chenjiao's words, Fourth Master was unable to utter the hard-hearted words he was about to say. He seemed to have a lump in his throat and couldn't speak for a long time.
He raised his hand to his forehead, not looking at Li Chenjiao: "Will you feel at ease once you catch a cold?"
Li Chenjiao dared not presume: "Aman has been quite active lately, and I don't want to fall ill—then Your Highness should get better sooner. I'll stay outside and keep watch, so I can detect any disturbances at night as soon as possible."
For the first time, Fourth Master realized that Li Chenjiao was such a stubborn person.
He shook his head, the words stuck in his throat but never uttered. After a moment, he moved his lips and said, "Whatever you say."
After saying this, the Fourth Master closed his eyes, feeling dizzy and hot, his thoughts in disarray.
Li Chenjiao then instructed Qiu Hu to quietly tidy up the couch in the outer room, during which time she watched Su Peisheng go into the inner room once.
Li Chenjiao wasn't sleepy yet. She read a book outside for a while, which she casually picked up from the small table on the couch.
She naturally asked Su Peisheng first, and Li Chenjiao also glanced at the book title.
It looks like a local travelogue.
It's quite rare for this book to appear in the Fourth Prince's front yard.
However, upon further reflection, it seems that Fourth Master, despite his extensive reading, is not a pedantic person; he even once sent Li Chenjiao a travelogue.
The books here with Fourth Master are not all obscure and difficult to understand. For example, the one that Li Nongjiao is holding right now is very simple and easy to understand.
Li Chenjiao was engrossed in reading the book, and Qiu Hu helped add candlelight, but still advised her against it.
"Reading at night is bad for your eyes, Master, you should rest early."
Knowing that Fourth Master was already asleep inside, Qiu Hu kept her voice low, but the concern in her words was unmistakable.
Shen Jiao put down her book and glanced at the eyes first.
“I’m here to take care of your master, not to enjoy myself. If I read a book now, I won’t fall asleep.”
Li Chenjiao was naturally sleepy in the winter, and she was really forcing herself to stay up and keep watch.
Qiu Hu felt a pang of heartache upon hearing her master's words, but there was nothing she could do.
Although her mistress had become a concubine and was considered a mistress in the mansion, she still ultimately had to serve the Fourth Prince.
Li Chenjiao understood perfectly well that this was nothing. She wasn't being asked to do everything herself. She was just sleeping a little later. Even if the Fourth Master got up at night, the servants would take care of it. At most, she would just serve him tea and water.
She turned another page and asked, "How is Aman?"
Qiu Hu replied, "Qiu Ci came once during dinner earlier, but Master was having dinner with Master at the time, so she didn't disturb Master. Although Master wasn't here, the Second Princess was very well-behaved."
Li Chenjiao tilted her head upon hearing Qiu Hu's words: "Didn't Aman look for me?"
Qiu Hu found it amusing to look at her mistress's expression. She told the truth: "When the Second Princess woke up from her afternoon nap, she cried because she didn't see the mistress. It took the nanny a long time to calm her down. Afterwards, the nanny took the Second Princess to the mistress's room, and the nanny played with her. Although the Second Princess still didn't seem very interested, she didn't cry anymore."
The little girl wasn't one to cry easily, and she was always easy to coax in Li Chenjiao's arms.
This girl has been clinging to her mother, Li Chenjiao, ever since she was born.
However, this is probably because Li Chenjiao has been watching over, holding, and accompanying the Second Princess every day since her birth, except during her postpartum period.
Upon hearing this, Li Chenjiao unconsciously smiled.
The two, master and servant, spoke in hushed tones, and Li Chenjiao's drowsiness lessened somewhat.
Around midnight, Li Chenjiao raised her hand to cover her mouth, not knowing how many yawns she had made that night, with tears still clinging to the corners of her eyes from the yawns.
Even when he was ill, Fourth Master was very well-behaved. Li Chenjiao went in to check on him twice during that time. Fourth Master slept very properly, and at first glance, you couldn't tell that he was sick at all.
Li Chenjiao used a handkerchief to wipe the Fourth Master's sweat once.
Fourth Master was sleeping soundly, a rare occurrence. Li Chenjiao, through the warm handkerchief, faintly touched Fourth Master's eyebrows and eyes with her fingertips.
Putting everything else aside, the Fourth Prince is indeed impeccable.
However, Li Chenjiao was genuinely tired. She was preparing to attend to the sick, but she had no intention of staying up all night. She wasn't like Shizi's cat.
Persimmons are always sleeping during the day, but the maids and servants on night watch can see the little guy running around late at night.
Li Chenjiao took a nap on the small couch in the outer room. Seeing this, Qiu Hu quietly stopped what she was doing and stood guard for her master.
During dinner, her master was considerate and she slept for an hour or two, so she wasn't too sleepy now.
Fourth Master slept soundly and peacefully that night, without getting up in the middle of the night. Li Chenjiao woke up once around 4 a.m. and wiped Fourth Master's sweat.
The imperial physician had said that the Fourth Prince had a fever. Li Chenjiao took the opportunity to wipe away his sweat and touched the Fourth Prince's forehead. She then touched her own forehead and smiled.
She didn't want to stay up any longer and let the Fourth Master wake up and see it. It was the fourth watch of the night, and it was still dark outside, but Li Chenjiao was already extremely sleepy.
In winter, dawn breaks early, and it was past mid-morning when the Fourth Prince finally opened his eyes, half-asleep.
The Emperor knows that the Fourth Prince is ill and has ordered that he be exempted from entering the palace for the next few days. The Princess Consort in the main courtyard is also ill, and Consort De in the palace has also instructed her to take good care of herself. Judging from what Granny Zhao said, it seems that he doesn't need to go to the palace before the New Year.
The Princess Consort no longer needs to go to the palace, as do Li Chenjiao and the children in the mansion.
Currently, the area surrounding the capital is suffering from continuous snow disasters, and the palace is keeping everything simple this year according to His Majesty's wishes.
In addition, since the Empress Dowager was recuperating at the Yuanmingyuan Garden and the Emperor was often thinking about her, no one dared to celebrate in a grand manner.
However, when the Fourth Prince woke up, he was still somewhat dazed. It was already daylight outside, and it was clear that the time for court had passed.
"Su Peisheng, what time is it?"
The Fourth Master had just woken up, and his voice was still somewhat low and hoarse.
Su Peisheng rushed in: "Master is awake? It's past Chenshi (7-9 AM) now, and breakfast is ready."
Fourth Master suddenly realized, pressing his forehead as he propped himself up: "Where is Madam Li?"
When he came to his senses, he naturally thought of Li, who had stayed behind to take care of him the night before.
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