After seeing off Bai Jia and Niu Hulu, Li Chenjiao finally had time to have breakfast. However, halfway through her breakfast, an uninvited guest arrived.
"The Princess Wang and Princess Gao from the Prince Zhi's residence say they've come to pay their respects to you." Qiu Hu's expression was also somewhat strange at this moment.
Wang Gege and Gao Gege were waiting outside. After a while, she added, "Xiao Luzi said that both of you went to pay your respects to Consort Li Jia before coming here."
Upon hearing this, Li Chenjiao slowly wiped her mouth and asked, "Did Consort Li Jia see them?"
Bai Jia and Niu Hulu were from their own household, and they had no prior conflicts with Li Chenjiao. Li Chenjiao was naturally willing to give them a friendly look. However, whether the women outside met with him or not was a matter of their relationship with the men.
Although Li Chenjiao thought that the two of them had probably taken it upon themselves to visit the mountain and make good connections, after all, Prince Zhi did not seem to like these two young ladies who had just entered the manor.
Qiu Hu shook her head: "Consort Li Jia made excuses, saying that Prince Hongxi was suffering from some acclimatization issues and she couldn't get away, so she only sent her maid to see him once."
The only grandson accompanying the emperor this time was Prince Hongxi, since Prince Hongxi was already eight years old and had always been in good health.
Consort Li Jia could use Prince Hongxi as an excuse, but Li Chenjiao could not use such an excuse.
However, Li Chenjiao really didn't want to engage in any pretense with those two outside, since there was nothing to talk about. She would rather use that time to write a letter to the Second Princess.
Just as she was racking her brains trying to come up with an excuse, someone from the Fourth Master came to deliver a message, freeing him from his misery.
"Greetings to Master Li. Considering the long journey you've had, and since Your Majesty has heard that the scenery at Wanshu Garden in the north is quite beautiful, I have asked this servant to invite you to visit." Fu Lu smiled, his eyes crinkling.
Although Li Chenjiao is afraid of the sun, it's still better than dealing with people here. Besides, Wanshuyuan should not be too hot there.
Li Chenjiao's eyes lit up, and she smiled, "Alright, let's go then."
She picked up a handkerchief from the side, wiped her hands, and stood up. She then instructed Green Plum, "Go and inform Princess Wang and Princess Gao that I am unavailable today. Have Xiao Luzi escort them to make amends for me." She couldn't even bring herself to suggest that they meet again another day.
Qiu Hu had already gone to prepare umbrellas, handkerchiefs, fans, and other items by now.
Fu Lu waited quietly, and when he heard Li Chenjiao's instructions, he just lowered his head and pretended not to hear.
Li Chenjiao said to him, "Please forgive my rudeness, sir. Let's wait a little longer. Wouldn't it be dangerous to go out now?"
Fu Lu smiled innocently: "This servant understands. Don't worry, Your Highness. His Majesty and the Crown Prince have gone to Rehequan in the northeast corner. Prince Zhi has led the thirteenth and fourteenth princes to Shimadai for target practice."
However, what Fulu didn't mention was that his master had originally been riding horses and shooting targets with Prince Zhi and several other young masters, but after hearing about the scenery of Wanshu Garden, he sent him to invite Consort Li.
Li Chenjiao waited outside until Wang Gege and Gao Gege left. After a while, Fulu led the way to Wanshu Garden.
The journey was indeed less sweltering than in Beijing, with occasional breezes bringing a touch of coolness. The buildings that blended architectural styles from both the north and south, with their blue bricks and gray tiles, added charm to the natural scenery that blended with the mountains and water.
Since it wasn't too hot, Li Chenjiao didn't seek shelter under the umbrella. Instead, she waved a round fan embroidered with two lifelike crabs playing as she walked to send a cool breeze through the air.
This is the season for eating crabs.
The Rehe Imperial Palace was indeed quite large. After several turns, Li Chenjiao was finally led by Fulu to the so-called Wanshu Garden.
Wanshuyuan and Shimadai are adjacent to each other, but they are actually quite far apart from each other, separated by Shimadai. It would be a great pleasure to run a couple of laps in Wanshuyuan after enjoying a horse race.
When Li Chenjiao arrived, the Fourth Prince was sitting astride his horse, giving instructions to Su Peisheng beside him with a dignified expression. There were also quite a few guards standing not far away, but there were fewer than the guards at the testing embankment.
Perhaps it was because Li Chenjiao's gaze was too intense, but the Fourth Master, who was talking to Su Peisheng, suddenly looked up in her direction. Li Chenjiao had a perfectly timed smile of joy on her face, and she quickened her pace.
Seeing this, Fourth Master waved to Su Peisheng beside him, gesturing that they would talk later, and then dismounted.
When the Fourth Prince dismounted, Li Chenjiao also walked towards him. The Fourth Prince scolded her, "Why are you running so fast? You'll feel uncomfortable after sweating."
Su Peisheng, who was following behind, instinctively widened his eyes.
My goodness! Those few steps Master Li took just now weren't even as fast as his usual walking speed! Is that even considered running? Where are your eyes looking?
As Su Peisheng was inwardly complaining, he suddenly heard the Fourth Master's voice again: "Why are you wearing these hairpins today? When we get back to the manor, have someone pick out some of your favorite patterns and send them to you."
Well, he was just muttering about how the Fourth Master's eyes were all off-center, but now the Master can still remember the hairpin that Master Li was wearing today. His eyes are really sharp.
The two masters bestowed so much jewelry upon Master Li, many of which were personally delivered by Su Peisheng, but he could probably only remember a few of them...
The master not only has sharp eyes, but also an exceptionally good memory.
Li Chenjiao dressed simply today. She hadn't originally planned to go out. When she got up to do her hair in the morning, she only picked out the kingfisher hairpin with a begonia pattern that the Fourth Master had given her from her dressing box. She replaced the broken beads on the flower and leaves with new ones, the color of which was more like morning dew.
She found it on her pillow one of the few times she woke up; it was a rare piece of jewelry that the Fourth Prince had personally brought.
Li Chenjiao no longer likes wearing the gorgeous jewelry and headdresses that the Fourth Prince sent her. Instead, she prefers her old things. Although most of the jewelry she brought to the Rehe Palace this time was some that she had acquired after becoming a concubine, it was all for dealing with outsiders. When she wasn't going out, Li Chenjiao naturally preferred her old things.
She smiled for a moment, then stood gracefully in front of the Fourth Prince, raising her arm to let him see her more clearly: "Your Highness only noticed the jewelry I wore today, but what about my clothes? However, Your Highness has excellent eyesight, and you even chose a good hairpin."
She asked half a question, but in the end, she still asked about praising Fourth Master.
Li Chenjiao has now improved her ability to manipulate the Fourth Prince, at least in terms of her speech.
The Fourth Prince snorted, glancing briefly at her qipao, and uttered four rather cold words: "No different."
Listen to what they're saying!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
