Fourth Master did not go to Li Chenjiao's place that night, but the next morning he went straight to Li Chenjiao's Luxiaotang without having breakfast.
In summer, dawn breaks early. When the morning light was just beginning to break, the maids were already up and running their errands in an orderly fashion. When the Fourth Master arrived, he still startled all the maids.
Qiu Hu was quite well-mannered, and she quickly stepped forward: "The West Wing has just been prepared with Lu'an tea. The Consort rested late last night. Now that Master has arrived, this servant will go and invite the Consort here."
Upon hearing this, the Fourth Master waved his hand and said, "No need to disturb her sleep. Your master didn't sleep well last night."
Qiu Hu lowered her head and smiled: "Yes. Master—although you go to bed late, you sleep soundly."
Fourth Master grunted in agreement and strode toward the west wing.
"Has the imperial physician come to check on Ping An's pulse?"
Qiu Hu replied, "I invited her the other day. These past few days, Your Majesty has been taking the medicine prescribed by the imperial physician, and her health has improved considerably. The imperial physician also said that Your Majesty's pregnancy is much more stable this time."
Fourth Master hummed in agreement again: "We'll invite Physician Zhou to examine your master again tomorrow."
Qiu Hu led Fourth Master to the west wing. She didn't stay long and simply had Xiao Luzi come to serve and talk to him.
Firstly, to avoid suspicion, and secondly, because the master has never liked maids serving him.
Fourth Master casually picked up a book from the table. He had only turned two pages when he noticed something, and a smile appeared in his eyes, as faint as the tea leaves floating in a cup of Lu'an tea.
Li's habit of writing things in books hasn't changed even now.
Li Chenjiao's current residence, Luxiaotang, is a courtyard with two sections, three rooms in the east wing and two rooms in the west wing, which is more than enough for Li Chenjiao to live in.
The maids continued to live in the back rooms, and when they were on night duty, they would rest in the side rooms or the warm pavilion.
However, Li Chenjiao always rested in the east wing, where the clean room was also located. In the summer, Li Chenjiao was even more particular about cleanliness, and it was inconvenient for her to go back and forth.
There was also a room where Li Chenjiao ate her meals.
The west wing was mostly where Li Chenjiao received guests, and also where she read books in her spare time.
The layout is similar to that of Li Chenjiao in the east courtyard of the mansion, but she doesn't usually come to the west wing. The book was used by Li Chenjiao to block the sun when she was sitting and dozing off yesterday when Bai Jiashi came.
The Fourth Master, rarely in a leisurely mood, casually flipped through a few pages and mentally remarked that Li Shi's handwriting had at least improved somewhat.
As for what Li Chenjiao left behind in the book, Fourth Master just shook his head and smiled.
——
Qiu Hu walked from the west wing to the east wing, where two maids were guarding the door.
Qiu Hu glanced at the time, pondered for a moment, and then whispered to the two maids as she approached, "Is the hot water and the clothes that the mistress will wear today ready? Wait another quarter of an hour, then go in and wake the mistress up. Green Bamboo, go to the kitchen now and bring back breakfast to set it out."
My master has been sleeping well lately, but since he's here, it's not right for me not to be there to serve him.
Before the two maids, Green Chrysanthemum and Green Bamboo, could respond, they heard their master coughing from inside.
The maids exchanged glances, some carrying hot water, some fetching meals, and others going in to serve.
"Has Master woken up?" Qiu Hu said softly, his voice barely audible.
Li Chenjiao was clearly still a little dazed. She sat blankly on the gold-embroidered quilt, her black hair hanging down, with a lock of hair sticking up on top of her head without her noticing. She raised her hand to pull out a handful of hair, then yawned. Her already clear and bright pupils became even brighter, just like the water in the lotus pond outside.
The moon-white brocade nightgown was half-open, revealing a section of the collarbone, adding to the languid feel.
Li Chenjiao yawned repeatedly: "What birds are chirping outside? They're really disturbing us."
It turned out that it wasn't their master who woke up, but rather the birdsong outside that woke them.
Qiu Hu glanced outside and said, "The sound sounds like a magpie. It's a good omen. It just so happens that Fourth Master came early this morning. This servant will help Master with his washing and grooming."
Li Chenjiao exclaimed "Ah!" and quickly realized what was happening. She straightened up a bit and asked, "Fourth Master is here? When did he arrive? Did Master tell you not to come and call me?"
Instead of blaming her, Li Chenjiao first guessed and asked.
Qiu Hu smiled and said, "As expected of my master, you are so insightful. I was just about to tell you to get up when Fourth Master stopped me."
Li Chenjiao muttered, "Fourth Master's mood is just too unpredictable."
Just yesterday, I heard from Xiao Luzi that Fourth Master was upset and in a bad mood, but now, listening to Qiu Hu's words, it seems that Fourth Master's mood has improved.
Li Chenjiao touched her abdomen and let Qiu Hu help her stand up to wash up.
In the summer, Li Chenjiao was very clean. As she wiped her face, she instructed, "It's Consort De's birthday soon. Have you prepared all the birthday gifts I asked you to prepare?"
Qiu Hu said "Eh," while she and Lü Ju tied their hair up with hairpins on either side of her head: "It's all ready. It would be perfect to send it back in the next couple of days."
Li Chenjiao didn't prepare anything exquisite; she simply embroidered a picture of a hundred longevity symbols, in both Manchu and Han scripts. However, instead of gold thread, she used silver thread dyed to resemble gold and silver, and it shimmered brilliantly in the sunlight, making it exceptionally dazzling.
It's not particularly valuable or extravagant, but it's made with care.
Upon hearing this, Lüju cleverly took out the birthday gift and showed it to Li Chenjiao. Li Chenjiao glanced at it and said, "Put it away carefully and give it to Fourth Master. You can also send it back to the Empress."
Fourth Master had also prepared a birthday gift, and it wouldn't be appropriate for Li Chenjiao to send it back alone, so she should go with Fourth Master.
"By the way, could you go ask Bai Jia Gege and Liu Gege later if they want to send it along as well?"
"You're being quite obedient now." It was Fourth Master's voice.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
