For dinner, Li Chenjiao had the small kitchen prepare a pot. With winter almost over, it was the perfect time to eat something warm and comforting.
However, just as the small kitchen was ready, Fu Lu hurriedly came in from outside. He first went to his master, Su Peisheng, and whispered a few words to him.
Su Peisheng looked back at Fulu and waved his hand, signaling Fulu to go out first.
He peered inside for a while, just as Li Chenjiao came out of the inner room, he went in and bowed to the concubine, saying, "Greetings to the concubine. This servant has important matters to report to the Fourth Prince."
Li Chenjiao nodded: "Go in quickly."
Well, the pot can be taken care of by himself. Today, the Fourth Master was really quite clueless about romance, which reminded Li Chenjiao of the Fourth Master when she first entered the manor.
Sure enough, not long after Su Peisheng went into the inner room, Li Chenjiao heard what sounded like something falling to the ground. She took a few more steps into the outer room, leaned against the screen by the door, and spoke to Lümei, who was standing outside, "Is it cold outside?"
She chatted idly.
Green Plum, somewhat flattered, curtsied: "It's not too cold today. I drank the ginger soup that the kitchen made and I'm not cold at all."
Li Chenjiao waved her hand, telling her to decline: "That's fine then. You've been working hard these past few days."
These past few days, Lümei has been making little horses. It's getting cold, and doing needlework is still hard work.
Green Plum hurriedly replied, "This servant has been negligent. It is my duty, but I haven't even finished what Master asked for today..."
Seeing her politeness, Li Chenjiao waved her hand and said, "I didn't mean to rush you." As she spoke, she patted Lümei's shoulder reassuringly.
While the master and servant were chatting, Li Chenjiao, who was standing a little inside, was the first to hear footsteps from inside.
Li Chenjiao straightened up and looked back as expected: "Master?"
She had been leaning against the screen, but when she heard the sound, she didn't panic much. When she turned around, her eyes were glistening with tears, as if filled with endless anticipation, and her voice was soft and gentle.
Fourth Master stopped in his tracks, suddenly feeling a pang of guilt.
Li Chenjiao paused for two seconds, as if she had realized something: "Master, is something wrong outside? The snow is so thick right now, why are you dressed so lightly? Qiu Hu, go and get that cloak. Don't worry, Master, we haven't had dinner yet. The kitchen has made some pancakes, would you like to take some with you?"
She opened her mouth with a string of concerned words.
The magnificent mahogany screen couldn't block the cold wind outside. The cool breeze blew in and ruffled the loose tassels at Li Chenjiao's temples, making her appear even more delicate.
Fourth Master stepped forward and shook Li Chenjiao's hand, his eyes showing disapproval: "What are you doing standing in this storm again?"
Li Chenjiao smiled and replied, "My hands are cold too. If we're really talking about who has colder hands, it's just that Li Chenjiao's hands are a little colder."
In just a short while, Qiu Hu had already arrived with the cloak.
Li Chenjiao took the cloak, raised her hand, and tiptoed to tie it on Fourth Master. She couldn't help but say, "It's windy outside, please be careful not to get tired. Have you put away all the official documents?"
Su Peisheng, who was behind, nodded quickly, thinking to himself that the concubine was indeed sensible and understanding. No wonder she was favored. Her words were truly comforting.
Fourth Master pulled Li Chenjiao inside to avoid the cold wind, and looked at her intently for a moment: "I have something to attend to outside. I'll come here for dinner after this is over."
Li Chenjiao smiled and nudged Fourth Master, saying, "It's getting late, you should go now."
Just then, Green Bamboo hurriedly came from the other end of the covered walkway, carrying a food box.
Li Chenjiao personally handed it to the Fourth Master, who raised an eyebrow, took it, and walked out of the East Courtyard into the wind and snow.
Li Chenjiao was still leaning against the screen, but her shoulders were much more relaxed than before: "Is the pot ready?"
Green Bamboo quickly agreed.
Li Chenjiao walked inside, and suddenly exclaimed, "Oh! My travelogue!"
As for what was happening outside, Li Chenjiao wasn't really concerned. If it was something serious, it would eventually get back into the mansion from outside.
...
For the Fourth Master, what allowed him to leave the East Courtyard at this moment was indeed a major event.
Moreover, it concerns the Emperor, who is currently at Mount Wutai, and it's not just about the Emperor.
Su Peisheng had just reported that "His Majesty's imperial procession is on a tour of Mount Wutai. After the worship ceremony, the people requested that the Longevity Pavilion be built on the top of the Bodhisattva Peak."
If it were just this one thing, it would be fine, since it would be a good thing for His Majesty to be loved by his people.
The Emperor also declined the offer because he did not want the people to spend money.
Originally, it was thought that the matter would end there, but a few days later, the people suddenly said that since His Majesty did not want to trouble the people and waste money, why not build the Longevity Pavilion and the Thousand-Year Pavilion, with the two pavilions side by side, which would be a beautiful story in the future.
There used to be a Thousand-Year Pavilion at the foot of Mount Wutai. But with the changing dynasties, no one can say for sure when that pavilion actually came into existence.
However, the common people generally did not understand anything, they just thought of expanding the Thousand-Year Pavilion into the Longevity Pavilion to show the virtue of the Emperor and the Crown Prince.
If it were just the Emperor, that would be fine, but there's also a Crown Prince.
Isn't this exactly what His Majesty dislikes?
Unfortunately, there was a busybody named Gao Shiqi by His Majesty's side who painted the existing Thousand-Year Pavilion and presented it to the emperor, which thoroughly angered His Majesty.
Leaving aside others, Gao Shiqi, who presented the painting, was the first to be punished and almost lost his head. Although the Crown Prince did not accompany the Emperor to Mount Wutai, he was still scolded and questioned by his father, the Emperor, even though he was far away in the capital.
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