Once outside the front yard, Qiu Hu helped Li Chenjiao up and whispered, "Master, the sun is getting stronger now, let's go back first."
She didn't go in with them, so she didn't know what her mistress and master had said in that short time. But she could still keenly sense that her mistress's mood was not quite right.
Li Chenjiao hummed in agreement and lazily draped Qiu Hu's hand over her shoulder: "Have Pingniang and the others in the small kitchen prepare two light dishes for lunch and send them to the front yard. Also, send a jar of candied fruit. I remember Pingniang made a jar last year that wasn't too sweet, which will help to cut through the bitterness."
Qiu Hu said, "There are still several jars left from last year. The master likes sweeter ones, so I'll have Ping Niang and the others make some more in a few days."
Li Chenjiao hummed in agreement: "That's great... Let's hurry back, it's so hot."
Especially underfoot, it felt like I was walking on wheels of fire, or like the floor had been scorched by the sun, and I felt lightheaded.
Li Chenjiao had only walked out of the front yard for a short while when she unexpectedly ran into an acquaintance at a corner.
"Oh dear... I greet the concubine. May the concubine be blessed."
Looking up, it was none other than Liu, whom I had just seen before.
However, in less than an hour, Liu had changed her qipao, and even the hair ornaments on the two maids' heads were changed.
Li Chenjiao took two steps back to create some distance: "It's Princess Liu."
She maintained her lukewarm attitude.
Liu was a little embarrassed at this moment, as this road was the only way to the front yard of the Fourth Master.
She clearly hadn't expected to run into Li Chenjiao. She had just reminded the concubine and the main wife that they were in the front courtyard, and now she had come running over here again...
Liu was not one of those shameless people.
Her hands were clasped tightly together under her sleeves. Liu was still a little embarrassed. She was usually quite tactful, but at this moment she was still unsure of what to say.
At this moment, Liu's mind was like mush, and she rambled on, "What a coincidence, I didn't expect to run into the concubine here."
Li Chenjiao glanced back at Liu Shi with a half-smile: "It's getting late, Liu Gege, please make yourself at home. I'll head back now."
Liu hurriedly bowed to Li Chenjiao: "Yes, Consort, please take care."
Lady Liu watched Consort Li's figure disappear into the distance. She stared at him for a while, and many thoughts flashed through her mind.
The concubine should have been in the front courtyard for more than half an hour, so why is she out now? Was she kicked out by the Fourth Prince or something? But looking at the concubine's expression just now, she really couldn't figure it out.
However, even the favored concubine was not allowed to stay in the front courtyard for long. Could it be that the princess thought she had such extraordinary abilities?
Liu's heart skipped a beat. She hesitated for a long time before finally deciding to stride towards the front yard.
This injury to her master is a great opportunity for her. Besides, she has no other choice now. If she doesn't go to the front courtyard, she will offend the Fujin (princess).
Now she has no choice but to go, whether she wants to or not.
Liu walked very quickly, and her steps revealed a hint of disorder, indicating that she was not in a very calm state of mind.
...
While her mistress was talking to Consort Liu, Qiu Hu kept her head down and didn't look around. After helping her mistress turn and walk away, she said in a very low voice, "The way the Fujin eats is really disgusting... She just left the main courtyard and now she's invited Consort Liu here..."
Hearing this, Li Chenjiao looked back at Qiu Hu with a smile: "Is that what you think...? Why would the Fujin (wife) personally give up such a good opportunity to gain the Fourth Prince's favor to Liu Shi? Wouldn't it be better for her to do it herself?"
Qiu Hu paused for a moment, then subconsciously said, "That's right... No matter how noble the Fujin is, she still has to serve the master with respect..."
Moreover, there's no reason for the Princess Consort to pass up such a great opportunity.
Li Chenjiao hit the nail on the head: "I guess it's because Fourth Master doesn't really want to see his wife right now?"
Earlier, when she was walking towards the front yard, she ran into Liu, who was coming out of the front yard. However, there was only Liu and no Fujin. So Liu was probably sent back by Fujin at that time, since Liu said that Fujin was still in the front yard.
However, after she arrived at the front yard, the Fujin left shortly afterward.
This is a self-contradictory arrangement.
The Fujin (principal wife) probably wanted to stay behind to take care of the injured Fourth Prince, while Liu was only there in case of emergency. However, the Fujin has now returned to the main courtyard, and Liu only arrived at this time.
Li Chenjiao couldn't help but guess that the Fujin had been sent back to the main courtyard by the Fourth Prince.
Thinking of this, Li Chenjiao suddenly felt a strange mix of emotions.
It seems that the Fourth Prince is growing increasingly disgusted with his wife...
This is definitely good news for Li Chenjiao.
Li Chenjiao laughed, a somewhat unserious laugh, almost a mischievous one. But because of her striking beauty, even her mischievous laugh had a cunning and sly quality to it.
After laughing, Li Chenjiao raised her hand to cover her face again and urged Qiu Hu, "The sun is getting stronger and stronger, let's go back quickly."
Li Chenjiao returned to the East Courtyard, and Liu Shi happened to arrive at the Front Courtyard as well. However, she didn't even get to see the Fourth Prince before being chased out by the Fourteenth Prince, who was cracking his whip.
The Fourteenth Prince during the day was far more intimidating than the Fourteenth Prince who drew his bow and aimed an arrow at Lady Liu last night.
Liu was so frightened that her legs trembled.
She was, after all, a woman who had lived a secluded life in her chambers for a long time; she had never seen such a spectacle before.
"Where did these Liu and Zhang women come from? Who do you think you are? With me here, what business do you have with me? Dingsheng, bring the things and kick everyone out. Let's see who can take responsibility for disturbing Fourth Brother's rest!"
Su Peisheng had been waiting under the eaves. Seeing the Fourteenth Prince's entourage, he couldn't help but mutter to himself.
"Could it be that the Fourteenth Prince's aloofness towards women is something he learned from his master? Why does he always have such a stern and harsh demeanor towards everyone he meets? He's just like his master."
The Fourteenth Prince was unaware of all this; all he knew was that as long as he stayed with his Fourth Brother, no random people could possibly sneak in.
The Fourteenth Prince flicked his whip, the wind whistling past Liu's ears. Liu's first thought was... Could it be that the concubine was also scared away by this scene?
Good heavens! With such a little tyrant around, who would dare to attend to the sick in the front yard?
In the end, Liu slunk out of the front yard.
After she left the front yard, she still sent someone to report back to the main yard.
She wouldn't dare take a single step into the front yard for the time being.
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