Li Chenjiao only looked down when she heard the Fourth Master ask her that; she hadn't even noticed it herself.
She touched the back of her hand: "Perhaps I was scratched by a flower branch just now. If you hadn't told me, I probably wouldn't have noticed. It's nothing."
As she spoke, she simultaneously raised her hand and pressed down on the little girl who was peeking out from behind the screen. The remark "It's alright" was also directed at the Second Princess.
Her tone carried a hint of reproach, and the Fourth Prince naturally understood that Li Chenjiao was upset that his words had caused the Second Princess to worry.
At this moment, the Second Princess was already blowing air onto Li Chenjiao's hand.
Su Peisheng had already brought over a round-backed chair, and Fourth Master gestured for Li Chenjiao to sit down as well.
The maids and servants tactfully retreated to the outside of the corridor, and the girls were led away as well.
Li Chenjiao proactively dragged her armchair closer to the Fourth Master: "Master, haven't you seen how Aman did?"
The Fourth Prince looked at the flower wreath that the Second Princess presented like a treasure. The color scheme was flawless at first glance, and the transitions between the flowers and trees were also perfectly harmonious. "Did you learn this from Granny Zhong? You're ready to graduate. Is this a green begonia? Your mother likes it?"
Fourth Master raised his hand and lightly touched a green begonia at the junction. Such a precious variety was ordered by Fourth Master to be brought here for the mother and daughter to make flower wreaths. Wasn't it all because Li Chenjiao liked it?
Fourth Master's last sentence was a perfect compliment, and the little girl immediately started chattering away.
The Fourth Master kept nodding slightly, but his eyes slowly turned to Li Chenjiao: "I've never seen you wear this outfit before?"
Li Chenjiao was stunned again. To be honest, she couldn't even remember what clothes the Fourth Master wore every time he came. She looked down at herself and said, "These are autumn clothes that were just sent from the sewing room. Does Your Highness think there's anything wrong with them?"
Li Chenjiao didn't forget that today was the 37th day after the First Prince's death. Today, she wore a plum-green autumn outfit made by the needlework shop, with a subtle pattern of a white rabbit holding a pearl as an embellishment, and only a few scattered beads on the collar and cuffs as decoration.
And since she was in her own courtyard, all her jewelry was extremely plain. The Fourth Master's question was probably because he felt that she was dressed too plainly today.
Li Chenjiao couldn't help but grumble to herself. She didn't like to dress too elaborately in her own courtyard, and she did intentionally avoid it because she was the eldest prince's thirteenth birthday. Could it be that the fourth prince thought it was inappropriate to do so?
Li Chenjiao was prepared to refute the Fourth Master when he said something like "There's no need to be so deliberate," but unexpectedly, the Fourth Master just hummed in agreement and said, "The material looks a bit inferior. I haven't had time these past few days, but I'll come to see you more often these days."
Li Chenjiao: ? Why did this suddenly come up again about whether or not he's coming to her place?
Fourth Master looked at Li Chenjiao's hand again, as if he didn't quite believe that it was a flower branch that had scratched her.
It's more like... they think the fabric of the clothes is too rough and hurts Li Chenjiao?
As for whether he's busy or not, Li Chenjiao just said that the autumn clothes she was wearing were made by the sewing room a while ago. Doesn't that mean that he hasn't seen Li Chenjiao wear them because he hasn't been to the East Courtyard recently?
Fourth Master really thought about it and realized that he hadn't been to the East Courtyard for a while. No wonder Li Chenjiao was "secretly complaining" to him.
That's why Fourth Master said what he just said.
This time, Li Chenjiao couldn't understand what the Fourth Prince was thinking at all. Fortunately, the Second Princess, who had been ignored by the two for a long time, was unhappy and pulled Li Chenjiao to ask about the flower wreath her mother had made.
The Fourth Prince, watching from the side, felt his fatherly instincts kick in again: "Do you find it hard to study with Granny Zhong?"
The little girl was busy instructing her "clumsy mother" on how to make flowers, and when she heard the Fourth Master's question, she didn't even turn her head: "It's fun."
Fourth Master choked.
Li Chenjiao gave him a teasing look and picked up the thread: "So what did you play and learn at Granny's?"
The second princess answered obediently, "Studying and writing, listening to Granny play the zither, Granny also taught us how to hold a horsewhip, and we played with flower garlands and... so many things." The little girl couldn't even count them all on her fingers.
Fourth Master asked, "When did you start holding the horsewhip?"
He wouldn't stop the princesses from learning to ride horses, as riding horses can improve their health. However, both princesses were still young, and although he found a teacher to instruct them in riding and archery, he wasn't in a hurry to make arrangements.
Li Chenjiao covered her face and explained, "Granny Zhong said... the two princesses learned to hold the horsewhip from a young age, so that their hands wouldn't hurt when they whipped people later."
Another saying of Granny Zhong is, "A Manchu lady cannot be bullied or wronged in the slightest."
Li Chenjiao thought that what he said made a lot of sense, but seeing the Fourth Master's complicated expression, she chose to swallow her words.
The Fourth Master's expression at this moment couldn't be described as angry, but it didn't seem like he agreed either; it was truly a feeling that was hard to put into words: "You... I'll teach you when I have some free time in a while."
Now it's Li Chenjiao's turn to be dumbfounded.
Isn't this about Aman? How did Fourth Master get dragged into this?
Does she have to learn what the second princess learned now?
Perhaps because the surprise on Li Chenjiao's face was too obvious, Fourth Master openly pinched Li Chenjiao's wrist: "If you don't learn, you might not even be as good as Second Aman in the future."
Upon hearing this, Aman looked up, and the little girl declared in a resounding voice, "Learn!"
Li Chenjiao chuckled twice, and finally agreed, "Okay, I'll learn!"
Very good, Li Chenjiao received satisfied looks from both Fourth Master and Aman.
After Li Chenjiao and the Second Princess each finished weaving a flower wreath, the Fourth Prince also started making one. However, Su Peisheng waited in the corridor with a troubled expression halfway through.
Li Chenjiao waved for him to come over.
Su Peisheng whispered something in the Fourth Master's ear, and the Fourth Master said, "I understand." Su Peisheng then tactfully withdrew.
Li Chenjiao was quite tactful: "I'm not hungry right now, may I have dinner later?"
The Fourth Prince squeezed her hand: "Something's happening outside. If it gets late, I'll have Fulu come and let you know."
This means that if Fourth Master doesn't make it back to the manor in time tonight, Li Chenjiao won't have to wait for him.
Li Chenjiao stood up: "It will get late, Master, remember to bring an outer robe with you."
The Fourth Prince slowly released his grip, then lowered his head and whispered a few words to the Second Princess before walking out of the East Courtyard.
The little girl kicked her legs while sitting, and the little man pouted and said, "Father is so busy."
Li Chenjiao sat back down: "When your father comes next time, will he tell your father not to be so busy?"
The little girl looked up and exclaimed, "Okay!"
As the mother and daughter were talking, crying came from the other room again. Li Chenjiao frowned and said, "Your brother has woken up."
As she spoke, she covered the little girl's ears, saying that all that was needed was for the Fourth Prince to howl a couple of times.
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