Although the Fourth Master did not enter the backyard, the people around him did.
However, it wasn't at night, but around noon the next day, at a time that wasn't particularly noticeable.
Li Chenjiao had just finished lunch and was talking to Qiu Hu in the inner room. This pregnancy had been quite tiring for her, and Qiu Hu was massaging Li Chenjiao's calves while talking to her.
Li Chenjiao's legs have been sore for the past two days.
"In principle, now that you are a concubine, you should be able to have your family members come into the mansion when you are pregnant... Unfortunately, the master is in office, so it is not easy to move you."
Li Chenjiao understood this principle, but she never harbored such hopes.
Even if her mother could actually come to visit her, she would first have to send a formal invitation, and then wait for the main wife to give her permission before her mother could enter the mansion and pay her respects to her.
It takes a lot of money to bribe people here.
It wasn't easy to get the invitation to the Princess Consort.
As long as I know that everything is alright at home, all this running around is unnecessary. Knowing that everything is alright at home is already a relief.
Li Chenjiao knew her father; he was an upright man, but his career in officialdom had not been smooth sailing, otherwise he wouldn't have remained untouched in Shandong.
Ama's personality, to put it nicely, is loyal and upright, but to be honest, Li Chenjiao, as his daughter, is still a bit old-fashioned.
Fortunately, there was my mother, a capable woman, who managed to smooth things over between the households in the backyard, which prevented my father from offending too many people in the officialdom.
In his life, it was already quite good for my father to become a fourth-rank local official.
The rest is up to my brother's fate.
Regardless, things are getting better and better for their family.
Li Chenjiao was once pampered and spoiled when she was a young lady in her boudoir.
The master and servant were talking about the things they were sending home and to their brother during the New Year when they soon heard Green Plum outside say that Eunuch Su, who served Fourth Master, had arrived.
Why is Su Peisheng here at noon?
Li Chenjiao cleared her throat: "Please invite Eunuch Su in."
Qiu Hu stood up at this moment, and before she stood up, she helped Li Chenjiao straighten her skirt so that there wasn't a single wrinkle.
Su Peisheng, whose blue-topped peacock feather was still covered in snow, entered with his eyes lowered and bowed, saying, "Greetings to Master Li?"
Li Chenjiao raised her hand and asked Su Peisheng why he had come.
Su Peisheng smiled and pointed behind him: "This servant has brought people to Master Li as instructed by Master."
As soon as Su Peisheng said this, Li Chenjiao understood a bit. She just didn't know whether the Fourth Master had Su Peisheng send a cook or a midwife to help her give birth.
Green Plum, who was standing at the door, deftly lifted a corner of the curtain to block the wind, and said in a steady voice, "Please come forward a couple of steps, Granny."
The maids, all from the Imperial Household Department, respectfully stepped forward upon hearing the sound.
Li Chenjiao glanced over and noticed that their clothes suggested they were from two different groups of people.
Could it be that Fourth Master sent everyone here together?
Su Peisheng spoke up at the right moment to explain: "This time there are four midwives, all of whom come from respectable families. There are also six cooks, four of whom were selected from the Imperial Household Department, and the other two were found by the master from outside."
Li Chenjiao stood up and thanked Fourth Master first: "So many people have come all at once, I'm a little overwhelmed. Thank you for your trouble, Father-in-law."
Su Peisheng understood what Master Li meant and quickly replied, "Yes, Master said that Master Li can take his time to look at them. If they are suitable, he can keep them; if they are not, he can send them to the front yard. Master is waiting for my reply, so I will take my leave now."
Su Peisheng came here today for this purpose. He wasn't in a hurry, since his master was having a meal at the Ministry of Revenue and was not short of servants.
However, the Fourth Master didn't look too good when he came out of the main courtyard today, and his face was gloomy when he arrived at the Ministry of Revenue. Su Peisheng was able to catch his breath by making this trip, but he still had to hurry back.
Li Chenjiao did not try to stop Su Peisheng, but said to the outside, "Is it snowing outside? Xiao Luzi, see Eunuch Su off."
Xiao Luzi had been waiting at the door, and responded with a bow upon hearing the sound.
After Su Peisheng left, Qiu Hu glanced at the two rows of people standing outside and asked his master in a low voice what he thought.
Li Chenjiao waved her hand, not in a hurry: "It's windy and cold outside. Let Granny Lin take them to the side room for tea first, and then have Madam Zhong come over to check on them when she has time. As for that girl, Lüzhu, just leave the three of them to keep an eye on her."
Li Chenjiao's assignments may seem casual, but they were actually carefully considered.
Granny Lin has a sharp eye and is very good at keeping people in check.
Zhong was the wet nurse of the Second Princess. She didn't talk much, but she was very attentive. Zhong was meticulous, and it was just right for her to keep an eye on the midwives' every move.
As for Green Bamboo, this girl looks kind and always has a smile on her face. She seems simple and honest, but in reality, she is straightforward and reserved. She keeps everything she sees to herself and is not in a hurry to point it out.
Moreover, this girl is a good cook, making her even more suitable.
Li Chenjiao had no intention of showing up at all.
She had already met many servants and maids from the Imperial Household Department and outside, and had figured out some tricks of the trade.
Like Qiu Hu and Qiu Ci, who were the first to follow her. Qiu Hu, needless to say, had grown up with her since she was a child. Her loyalty was beyond question, and she also had a good temperament. Otherwise, her mother would not have chosen Qiu Hu to accompany her to the capital for the imperial concubine selection.
Although Qiu Ci was chosen by the Imperial Household Department, she was clever and had been serving Li Chenjiao since she first entered the household.
At that time, Li Chenjiao did not use any coercive or leniency methods. She simply treated Qiu Hu and Qiu Ci equally, which quickly made Qiu Ci more loyal.
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