As for Li Chenjiao, she only ate half of the fruit in the jade bowl, and the rest was stopped by several maids.
Li Chenjiao looked helpless, but she couldn't win against these girls who were staring at her like she was nothing.
She tapped her calves with the handle of her fan, having previously been sitting upright, but now she was half-lying down.
Fortunately, the soft couch at the head of the table was quite spacious; although it couldn't fully accommodate a person, it was easy to stretch out most of the way.
Just looking at Li Chenjiao made him feel even more relaxed and comfortable.
Green Chrysanthemum, that girl, somehow found a four-cornered stool with a soft cushion and placed it next to Li Chenjiao's legs to make her more comfortable.
Qiu Hu stood some distance away, fanning himself to cool off.
Green Bamboo then took away the fruit that Li Chenjiao hadn't finished eating.
Li Chenjiao half-closed her eyes, feeling sleepy again.
As expected, she was right to stop the two maids from washing and dressing her up. There was no need for washing and dressing up at all; once she put on makeup, there would be no trouble.
Qiu Hu fanned herself and said softly, "It seems that the Princess Consort has thought this through."
The fact that they didn't order that Princess Niohuru clearly shows they were wary of her, and this Liu woman who suddenly appeared today doesn't seem easy to get along with either.
In any case, she is not as easy to get along with as Bai Jia Gege.
Li Chenjiao kept her eyes closed, and when she heard this, she didn't even flinch: "It's a good opportunity to see Fourth Master's attitude."
Qiu Hu paused in his fanning motion: "This..."
Li Chenjiao suddenly opened her eyes and smiled like a delicate flower: "I was just joking. I'm pregnant right now, so I can't serve Fourth Master. Let's see how it goes."
How long can such pampering last?
Li Chenjiao was quite curious about the answer.
She shrugged, her expression unchanged, and quickly closed her eyes again. She then raised her hand and yawned, saying, "I'll just lie here for a while. Wake me up when lunch is ready, okay? By the way, do you have any plum juice? I'm craving some right now."
Every summer, Li Chenjiao's sweet soups are always plentiful, and sour plum drink is always a favorite of her mistress, Qiu Hu's expression remains unchanged.
The two green-clad individuals exchanged a knowing glance and smiled.
Lately, my master has been eating fish in vinegar sauce, plum juice, and preserved fruit every two days. It's a good omen.
Li Chenjiao didn't have time to think about so much. Her sweet dream had been disturbed, and now that she had some rare peace and quiet, she could fall into a deep sleep as soon as she closed her eyes.
Li Chenjiao slept soundly. Although the Fourth Master had been exempted from paying respects, official documents continued to arrive. No matter what, the Fourth Master would patiently write a few words on the greeting slips from various places.
Outsiders say that the Fourth Master is cold-blooded and unapproachable, and only deals with official business. However, the Fourth Master also knows that it is not good to offend everyone.
Over the years, Fourth Master has figured out how to strike the right balance.
While Fourth Master was dealing with unimportant official documents, Su Peisheng had already found out everything about Dai Duo and was now grinding ink and reporting to him.
Fourth Master remained silent until Su Peisheng finished his report, at which point he felt his mouth was dry before calmly putting down his writing brush.
"Clean background?"
Su Peisheng nodded.
The Fourth Master grunted in response, and then fell silent.
After a while, Fourth Master picked up the book next to his desk, flipped through a couple of pages, and then looked down to read it.
Su Peisheng: That's it?
Well, it seems the master has no intention of recruiting us yet?
Su Peisheng stopped what he was doing and inexplicably put away the note that Fourth Master had approved.
As he was tidying up, he suddenly heard his master's voice again: "How is the matter of finding a tutor for the eldest prince?"
Su Peisheng's mind raced, but he spoke quickly: "As instructed by the master, three were finally selected. They were all from poor families and talented scholars who had failed the imperial examinations and were now unable to take them again. However, one of them was older and very easy-going."
The Fourth Prince hummed in agreement again: "When we return to the capital, please come to my residence to meet me."
The Fourth Master used the word "please," which clearly shows that he still values politeness.
Su Peisheng agreed.
The study quickly fell silent again.
Su Peisheng went out to change the tea, and only spoke when it was almost lunchtime.
Fourth Master rubbed the corner of his eye. The latticed window in the study couldn't block out the blazing sun, and his left arm was burning hot from the sun. After putting down his book, he asked, "How is your Master Li?"
Su Peisheng paused for a moment, recalling the news the eunuch had reported when he went out to change the tea. He deliberately hesitated for half a second before slowly speaking.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, the concubine just ordered lunch. Today's meal included salt and pepper chicken, steamed fish, stir-fried cabbage with vinegar, and pumpkin and mung bean soup. She also ordered a bowl of plum juice."
Fourth Master glanced at Su Peisheng first: "Why are you stammering?"
Su Peisheng hurriedly bowed: "Just now, news came from outside that someone from the manor has arrived—it is said that the Fujin (principal wife) is worried that the secondary Fujin and Bai Jia Gege are both overworked, so she sent someone to bring Liu Gege, who recently entered the manor during the selection of candidates."
He spoke carefully, and it sounded quite reasonable.
The study seemed to grow colder as Su Peisheng finished speaking, and Su Peisheng couldn't help but shiver.
The Fourth Prince started tapping on the table again, repeating, "Is the Princess Consort worried that Lady Li and Lady Bai are overworked?"
That excuse is just too absurd.
Is he the kind of person who indulges in sensual pleasures and debauchery once he's outside?
Why did the Princess Consort rush to send someone from the manor halfway through the journey? Did she really think he was such a lustful person?
Fourth Master frowned deeply, and the chill emanating from him intensified.
Su Peisheng dared not utter a sound, wondering what the Fujin was doing. Sending people to the Fourth Prince's place for no reason was indeed quite unreasonable.
No wonder Fourth Master is unhappy right now.
Originally, Fourth Master was in a fit of rage, and Su Peisheng was serving him with trepidation. But by sheer coincidence, someone walked right into the line of fire.
Outside, there was the sound of a young eunuch knocking on the door.
Su Peisheng's heart skipped a beat, and he prayed silently, "What if it's someone from Master Li's side?"
But fate did not favor him.
Su Peisheng walked out of the room only after being prompted by the Fourth Master's gaze.
However, he looked even more dejected when he returned.
"My lord, someone from Consort Liu's quarters has arrived. She said that because of the sweltering summer heat, she specially went to the kitchen to make sour plum drink, which was chilled in well water for half a day. If you drink it now—"
Su Peisheng was interrupted before he could finish speaking.
"Get out."
Fourth Master was directly venting his anger on Su Peisheng.
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