Madam Xu looked up and smiled, her delicate face beaming with genuine joy: "Princess, you are so beautiful and elegant, you look good in anything."
Li Chenjiao picked up her teacup again, lowered her eyes, and took a sip of tea.
It's rare to see Xu speak in such a setting, especially when she's saying such flattering things.
What was Xu trying to express?
Just then, Song entered, her face looking very pale. Judging from her expression, it was probably related to the eldest princess.
After exchanging greetings, they each sat down.
Hu Shi hadn't come until the Fujin finally came out, and everyone understood when they saw Hu Shi behind her.
Li Chenjiao chuckled quietly. Why doesn't the Fujin learn her lesson? She clearly knows that the Fourth Prince doesn't like Hu Shi, yet she keeps keeping Hu Shi by her side. Is it really okay to go against the Fourth Prince like this?
As usual, the Fujin (principal wife) said a lot of polite words, but what everyone was most curious about was the Fourth Prince, who still hadn't arrived.
Under everyone's gaze, the Fujin's expression also turned sour. She raised her hand slightly and told Granny Meng to go to the front courtyard to ask her questions.
He turned to the crowd and said, "Fourth Master is busy with official duties and must be delayed by something. Let's wait a bit."
The crowd agreed.
Li Chenjiao chuckled quietly below, thinking how the Fujin could lie so shamelessly without batting an eye.
Fourth Master's most important trait is punctuality. If he's still not here by now, he probably won't be coming tonight.
Madam... this is truly embarrassing once again.
About fifteen minutes later, Granny Meng returned, her face looking very unpleasant.
He whispered a few words in the wife's ear, and then the wife's face immediately turned ugly.
“Something has come up in the front yard, and Fourth Master is busy right now, so he won’t be coming tonight. We don’t need to wait, let’s start the banquet.”
These words were quite well said, and there seemed to be no problem with them. As always, the Princess Consort was able to hold her own.
Dinner was alright. In these kinds of banquets, the soup made by the kitchen staff is always the best. Li Chenjiao asked Qiu Hu to scoop out half a bowl and drank it with her head down.
"Madam Song, how is the eldest princess now? That child is also a pitiful child..." The Fujin began again.
Madam Song replied dryly, "Reporting to Your Highness, the imperial physician said that the eldest princess is fine, but her body is weak. With proper care, she will be better by next spring."
Song Shi probably still remembers what the Fujin did, because she's speaking very firmly right now.
Li Chenjiao paused in her soup-drinking motion, then looked up at Qiu Hu: "This soup is too greasy. I see there's a bowl of fish soup over there. Let's scoop out a bowl of that."
Whether it's the soup that's greasy or the people who are greasy, you can ponder it carefully.
It should be an autumn pot.
The Fujin (principal wife) and Song Shi (woman Song) were engaged in a heated exchange. Song Shi, who usually seemed quiet, was actually quite sarcastic and barbed when she spoke. With Bai Jia Shi (woman Bai Jia) stirring things up on the sidelines, the situation was getting out of control.
Bai Jiashi is really something else; her mind is sometimes sharp and sometimes stupid, which is both funny and exasperating.
Li Chenjiao watched from the side.
By the time the grand spectacle ended, raindrops were already falling.
The princess consort looked unwell all day and didn't even bother with pleasantries before getting up and leaving.
Then everyone dispersed.
On the way back, the rain gradually intensified. Qiu Hu held up an umbrella and carefully helped Li Chenjiao.
"Autumn is here, and the weather is getting colder," Li Chenjiao said, looking at the flowers in the garden that had been battered and broken by the rain.
Qiu Hu agreed, "Yes, Princess should wear a coat when she goes out in the future, otherwise she will catch a cold."
Li Chenjiao chuckled and agreed.
Once inside the courtyard, Qiu Ci had already prepared hot water, so Li Chenjiao took a comfortable bath.
After taking a bath, Li Chenjiao drank a small bowl of ginger soup and then snuggled into bed.
Qiu Ci sneaked in: "Has Princess gone to bed?"
Li Chenjiao looked up and asked, "What's wrong? Why haven't you gone to the back to rest yet?"
Qiu Ci approached, holding a cup of tea: "I just heard Qiu Hu mention Miss Xu's matter, so I thought I'd come and let you know."
Li Chenjiao became interested and turned over to look at Qiu Ci: "Did you find out something?"
"I heard that the empresses in the palace don't really like indigo blue." Qiu Ci licked her lips.
Li Chenjiao was stunned: "You mean Consort De doesn't like other people wearing indigo clothes? Is there a reason?"
Qiu Ci gently shook her head: "This servant doesn't know either. I only heard about it by chance when I was in the Imperial Household Department. I just remembered it after Qiu Hu mentioned it."
So, is Ms. Xu reminding her?
"I believe what you say, but we can't see the Empress in the mansion, so there's no need to be overly cautious. Just wear less clothing."
Qiu Ci should say, "It's getting late, Princess, you should rest early too."
Li Chenjiao agreed.
Then, not long after Qiu Ci went out, she saw Su Peisheng and Xiao Luzi helping Fourth Master in, one on each side.
Is Fourth Master... drunk again?
Li Chenjiao watched as Fourth Master was helped onto the bed, then waved for Qiu Hu to boil water. After dismissing the others, she skillfully fed Fourth Master a couple of sips of warm water.
"Is Master drunk again?" Li Chenjiao found it amusing. Could it be that Fourth Master's alcohol tolerance was the same as hers?
Whether the Fourth Master heard it or not, he frowned and turned his head, his eyes still closed, as if he was not feeling well.
Li Chenjiao laboriously removed Fourth Master's outer robe, then sat to the side waiting for Qiu Hu to boil the water.
Fourth Master slightly opened his eyes, saw Li Chenjiao beside him, moved his lips, and muttered something.
Li Chenjiao then leaned closer to listen.
"Bad thing" "Bad..."
Li Chenjiao was stunned for a moment, then her lips curled into a smile, "Fourth Master, you're so...so..."
It's really awkward.
Li Chenjiao tentatively asked, "Why is Master drunk again?"
Fourth Master continued to mutter, "The Crown Prince... can drink too much... Master... Master... um..."
Upon hearing that it was the Crown Prince, Li Chenjiao quickly covered the Fourth Prince's mouth. "The Crown Prince, please don't talk nonsense while drunk."
Upon hearing the second half of the sentence, Li Chenjiao breathed a sigh of relief and quickly let go of her hand.
"You wicked thing, always trying to cheat and be cunning, you don't even care about my birthday." Fourth Master said again, this time speaking fluently.
Li Chenjiao chuckled sheepishly, "You remember? Sending Buddhist scriptures was also a token of my goodwill, wasn't it?"
Fourth Master remained silent for a while.
Meeting the Fourth Master's gaze, Li Chenjiao continued to smile sheepishly.
Fourth Master raised his hand to rub his temples, looking exhausted: "He's such a worry."
Li Chenjiao tilted her head: "Then... would you like to eat longevity noodles, Your Highness? This servant... this servant will have the kitchen prepare them..."
The Fourth Master had regained some of his senses by now, and upon hearing this, he laughed in anger.
The little girl is so... delicate. At this point, shouldn't she say she made it herself? Even if she doesn't know how to make it, she can say that and have someone come and pretend it was made by her.
The girl is just... unwilling to do anything and too lazy to make things up.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
