The date for accompanying the Fourth Prince on his southern tour has not yet been set, but the Princess Consort has sent someone to inform us that it will likely be within the next few days.
After Li Chenjiao prepared the list, she had the maids pack up the things to be taken.
While watching the maids take inventory, Li Chenjiao didn't forget to instruct, "This southern tour is tiring, and I don't know when we'll be back. This time, Granny Lin won't come with me. With Granny Lin here, I feel at ease."
Upon hearing this, Granny Lin hurriedly bowed and said, "Yes, this servant will keep a close eye on things."
Li Chenjiao hurriedly told Granny Lin to get up, then looked at the few green ones and pondered for a while: "Green Bamboo and Green Chrysanthemum, come with me. Green Plum and Green Orchid, stay here. And Autumn Porcelain, stay here too."
Green Bamboo is a good cook; he'll surely have something to eat during the Southern Tour.
As for green chrysanthemums.
Green Chrysanthemum used to work as an assistant to the Second Princess and Chen Shi. Both Chen Shi and Zhong Shi had spoken highly of Green Chrysanthemum's competence to Li Chenjiao on several occasions.
This can be considered as Li Chenjiao giving Lüju a chance.
Both Qiu Hu and Qiu Ci are clever and loyal, but Qiu Ci is sweet-talking and knows how to get things done.
Li Chenjiao is going on a southern tour with the Fourth Master and it's uncertain how long it will take before she returns to the manor. By then, the new concubines will have been in the manor for two or three months, and it wouldn't be good if she came back completely clueless.
Li Chenjiao and Xiao Luzi should be taken along; it's always more convenient for eunuchs to handle matters outside than for maids.
After giving her instructions, Li Chenjiao didn't rush to arrange the servants around the Second Princess; she was reluctant to part with them at this moment.
On the fifteenth of April, His Majesty announced his intention to make a southern tour in the imperial court.
The Imperial Observatory and the Ministry of Rites acted swiftly, submitting two memorials and quickly setting the date for the Emperor's departure.
April 26th.
It only takes about ten days.
This time, Li Chenjiao had people inquire about the female relatives of the various families who accompanied the emperor on his southern tour.
Since the Prince of Zhi was not going, the women of his household were also not going. The Crown Prince was going to accompany him this time, and his favored concubine, Consort Li Jia, was going as well, along with the concubines from the Third Prince's residence and the Fifth Prince's concubine.
The princes who followed either didn't go or hadn't gotten married yet.
Li Chenjiao had met all of these concubines before, and they could look after each other if anything happened along the way.
Li Chenjiao felt more relaxed now that she had a better understanding of the situation.
If you really think about it, this is a rare occasion for Li Chenjiao to travel far away. The last time was when Li Chenjiao came to the capital to participate in the imperial examination.
On the fifteenth, the Fourth Prince went to the main courtyard to tell his wife what he needed to instruct her on, but on the sixteenth, he stayed in the front courtyard.
When His Majesty made his southern tour, the Ministry of Rites was the busiest, followed by the Ministry of Revenue.
With the Fourth Prince at the Ministry of Revenue, he was even busier.
After being busy for two or three days, Li Chenjiao only learned the exact date of the southern tour when the Fourth Master had some free time and came to the East Courtyard on April 20th.
It was past dinner time, and Li Chenjiao was only wearing casual clothes. Her hair was not styled, but instead braided at the back of her head. At this moment, she listened to the Fourth Master's words and started playing with her hair.
"Thank you very much, sir. Without you, I would not have had this opportunity."
Li Chenjiao thanked the Fourth Master first, and while speaking, she even served him a cup of warm tea in a very proper manner.
Fourth Master leaned against the soft couch, looking somewhat tired, but upon hearing the sound, he still politely raised his hand to take the tea and drank it all in one gulp.
Seeing that Fourth Master's expression was not good, Li Chenjiao wisely kept quiet.
He casually picked up the embroidery frame from the table and, before leaving the manor, began preparing a first birthday gift for the Second Princess.
Li Chenjiao had prepared plenty of gold, silver, and precious ornaments, but she still planned to make a new dress for the Second Princess.
From then on, she would make a new dress for the Second Princess every year on her birthday.
When Qiu Hu noticed that there was no movement inside, she quietly came in and adjusted the candlelight.
But before she could finish fiddling with it, she ran into a problem.
Seeing that Fourth Master was tired and wanted to rest, it was just that if his master embroidered something in too dim a light, it would hurt his eyes.
Li Chenjiao noticed Qiu Hu's hesitation when she looked up, and then glanced at the Fourth Master, who had closed his eyes and was looking at him as if he were taking a nap. She was stunned for half a second.
The Fourth Prince's complexion, which was rosy after his illness, is now completely gone, and you can still see stubble on his chin.
Li Chenjiao sighed inwardly. She waved her hand, stood up silently, and went into the inner room with her embroidery hoop and thread. She then took a thin blanket from the trunk and carried it to the outer room to cover Fourth Master's legs.
During this time, Fourth Master showed no sign of waking up, so Li Chenjiao quietly moved the large pillow to make him more comfortable.
Fourth Master is really overworked; he's sick all year round and never gets a break.
Li Chenjiao decided to give Fourth Master some peace and quiet.
When Fourth Master woke up, Li Chenjiao also felt sleepy.
She had just coaxed the second princess to sleep, and now, back in her room, she was yawning incessantly.
After washing up at night, Fourth Master clearly had no intention of causing any trouble, and the two of them, covered by the brocade quilt, were unusually quiet.
Li Chenjiao yawned again, and said with a smile, "This southern tour is a rare opportunity to relax."
Fourth Master didn't answer that question, but instead said something else: "I will have Fulu stay behind in the East Courtyard to keep an eye on things, so don't worry about that."
When Fourth Master suddenly said this, Li Chenjiao felt a little embarrassed, and she moved closer to him: "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. With you here, I have nothing to worry about. You should also get some rest."
Li Chenjiao boldly touched the stubble on Fourth Master's chin: "Your Highness looks so worrying."
Li Chenjiao was genuinely afraid that one day Fourth Master would collapse from illness.
The Fourth Prince closed his eyes and after a long while said, "If you are in a position, you should fulfill your duties."
Fourth Master's words left Li Chenjiao speechless.
She withdrew her hand and after a long pause said, "But the Fourth Master holds more than one position."
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