The herbal medicine for repelling mosquitoes prepared by Granny Zhong didn't have a strong smell; even if you got close, you could only smell a scent similar to grass and wood.
Li Chenjiao really liked this scent. Every time Fourth Master came, Li Chenjiao could tell he was coming just by smelling the scent.
Unfortunately, Granny Zhong didn't have many servants. When they were almost in the capital, Li Chenjiao was thinking of making some more after returning to the mansion.
When the imperial procession reached the Gaoyou area, the route changed from waterway to land. Li Chenjiao was unfamiliar with this section of the road. On the first day after disembarking from the boat, she ate very little and vomited uncontrollably.
I don't know if it was because she was tormenting the baby in her belly, or if the baby in her belly was tormenting her.
Fortunately, the prescription given by Granny Zhong before she left worked, and Li Chenjiao was finally able to sleep peacefully after drinking a bowl of warm medicine.
When Fourth Master found out, he also sent Su Peisheng to check on her. However, Li Chenjiao had just drunk her medicine and fallen asleep at that time, so Qiu Hu spoke a few words with Su Peisheng.
After Qiu Hu got off the carriage and finished speaking with Su Peisheng, the smile on her face faded slightly when she turned around. Thinking that her master was sleeping peacefully in the carriage, she decided not to rush to get on the carriage.
It was dusk, and the sky wasn't too dark. Xiao Luzi was also on guard. Seeing this, she called out to Sister Qiuhu and pointed to the spot under the shade of the tree.
Qiu Hu refused, saying, "What if my master wakes up and there's no one to serve him?"
The two green-clad women were brewing medicine at the makeshift stove in the imperial kitchen, and Qiu Hu naturally had to stay by their side and serve them.
Finally, Qiu Hu sat on the back of the carriage, leaning against the wheels on the ground, so that she could serve her master if he woke up inside.
The place where Qiu Hu was sitting was not well lit, but there were occasional sounds of eunuchs walking by and guards patrolling outside.
After a while, Qiu Hu suddenly heard the voices of Liu Gege and her maid Ruiluo.
She didn't say anything, but listened to Ruiluo's complaints.
It turned out that Liu Gege had instructed Ruiluo to deliver soup to Fourth Master's tent, but Fourth Master was not there. Instead, she ran into Su Peisheng, who had just returned, and Su Peisheng gave her a severe scolding.
Having served her master for so long, the first thought that popped into Qiu Hu's mind was that Liu Gege was quite willing to spend money.
Not everyone can have hot soup at this time. If your master wants to brew medicine, it costs money. The imperial kitchen won't let anyone help you brew it. You even have to collect the firewood yourself.
The master doesn't order meals every day. He eats whatever the imperial kitchen sends him, and if it doesn't suit his taste, he eats a little less.
Like Bai Jia Gege, whose life was better on the ship, she could only eat dry rations when traveling overland.
When she arrived, Li Chenjiao had Green Bamboo deliver hot water twice. Now that Bai Jiagege and Liu Gege were riding in the same carriage, Li Chenjiao naturally couldn't give any more instructions.
That's why Qiu Hu was secretly impressed by Liu Gege's generosity.
Moreover, it was obvious that Liu Gege had put in a lot of effort to find out that the Eight Treasure Duck Soup was a dish that suited the master's taste, and he could eat it two or three times a month when he was in the mansion.
However, at this point on the road, where can we find ducks? We'll probably have to hunt wild game, which will cost even more money.
The imperial kitchen doesn't hunt wild game, but while the imperial kitchen might not, the guards would. However, the cost of both would easily be over ten taels of silver.
That's enough for our master to eat for a day or two. Isn't that incredibly generous?
Qiu Hu bent his knees slightly and waited until Rui Luo was far away before moving.
She was also wearing the herbs prepared by Granny Zhong, but Granny Zhong had insisted that she accept them when they were preparing the herbs together. The smell hadn't dissipated much yet, so she rarely wore them during the days when they were traveling on the boat.
It's unreasonable for servants to be covered in fragrance; that would be too unlike them. In the end, she only put the sachets away because Master Lu Si didn't come to his master's place, and the master was kind enough to allow them to wear them.
Otherwise, I don't know how badly I would be bitten by mosquitoes.
She raised her hand and waved, then casually picked up a foxtail grass next to the carriage wheel and touched it to examine it.
Waiting for a sound to come from inside the carriage, which sounded like the rustling of clothes, Qiu Hu rubbed her calves and said, "Master is awake?" as she got into the carriage.
Fortunately, Li Chenjiao stopped vomiting for the next few days, and her appetite improved. During the camp breaks, Li Chenjiao saw Fourth Master a few times, but they only had time to talk and eat together.
Fourth Master is really busy.
On the day the Emperor arrived in the capital, it rained again, but even though the rain fell, the air was still very stuffy and oppressive.
The Fourth Prince had to head towards the Forbidden City first, and the women's carriages had to wait all the way to Di'anmen Gate to hear the Emperor's instructions before they could return home.
Li Chenjiao fell asleep halfway through the journey again. It has to be said that once the carriage reached the outskirts of the capital, the road became much smoother and easier.
Li Chenjiao didn't have to worry about the bumpy ride at all while sitting in the carriage, but the cushions on the carriage were not removed, and the maids were staring at Li Chenjiao's body like the pupils of their eyes.
As for what the Emperor said, Li Chenjiao couldn't hear a thing in the carriage. Besides, with the Emperor standing atop the many palace walls, what could Li Chenjiao and the others possibly hear?
They simply went with the flow, saying "returning home" whenever the carriages started moving, and the carriages smoothly headed towards the Fourth Master's residence.
The Third Master's carriage stopped earlier, ahead of the Fourth Master's carriage. Li Chenjiao, who was half asleep, was still somewhat awakened by the noise.
"What's going on outside?"
"All the women have returned to their residences. The inner city isn't that big. Master, please sleep a little longer. It's that singing girl from Third Master's residence making a scene outside."
"What's wrong?" Li Chenjiao asked, but her eyes remained closed.
"They said they accidentally slipped and are making a fuss about it right now."
Upon hearing the words "miscarriage," Li Chenjiao's heart skipped a beat. After a long while, she slowly opened her eyes, remained silent for a long time, and finally let out a deep sigh.
It's all a matter of personal fate, it's just a pity for the child.
Green Chrysanthemum moved her lips, but her heart was not stirred. It was not that he did not know that she was pregnant. Even though she was not yet three months pregnant, he still dared to mess around with Third Master. Now he was just reaping what he had sown.
Ultimately, she was only concerned with the favor she was currently receiving.
——
The commotion quickly disappeared after the carriage had traveled far away. Li Chenjiao pressed her temples and had a few maids smooth her hair when they were almost at the mansion.
I have so many tough battles to fight myself, how can I possibly care about others?
After several months, Li Chenjiao's good days are about to end again.
The rain was drizzling outside. When Li Chenjiao got off the carriage, Dongsheng and Lüju were waiting for her in the east courtyard, but she didn't see anyone from the main courtyard.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
