The news that Fourth Master was going to Guangdong to quell the rebellion in Haikou quickly reached his residence.
The news came after the morning court session. When it reached the mansion, Li Chenjiao was reading a book. It wasn't some kind of storybook or travelogue, but a proper history book. It was a bit dry, but Li Chenjiao still managed to find some fun in the dry text because she was going to tell it to the children.
When Xiao Luzi came in to report, Li Chenjiao had just turned a page. She was still a little confused when Xiao Luzi briefly mentioned that the Fourth Master had volunteered to go to Guangdong to quell the pirates at the morning court session.
Fight pirates? Who? Who volunteered?
Li Chenjiao knew that Fourth Master's martial arts skills were not bad, but going to Guangdong... that would be quite a long journey.
Furthermore, Guangdong is a coastal region where pirates have lived off the water for many years, so their swimming skills are probably superior to even the imperial navy...
However, since Fourth Master volunteered for the mission, he must have already made up his mind beforehand. It's just a mystery how he came up with the idea of fighting pirates...
In Li Chenjiao's memory, Fourth Master did not seem to have ever done this kind of job of leading troops to quell a rebellion.
The only time he did this was when he accompanied the Emperor to quell Galdan's rebellion, and all the princes were present, not just the Fourth Prince.
Li Chenjiao couldn't help but think of their conversation on the night of Princess Wenxian's wedding. However, almost a month had passed since then, and during the few times that the Fourth Prince came to the East Courtyard, the two of them tacitly avoided bringing up the topic again. She almost thought that the Fourth Prince had forgotten about it.
Li Chenjiao thought of many things at once, and finally asked, "Has a date been set yet?"
Xiao Luzi nodded: "His Majesty has already issued an imperial edict to send troops, directly from the Fujian Navy. They are just waiting for the Ministry of Revenue to prepare the provisions and pay. I heard it is scheduled before the Dragon Boat Festival."
Li Chenjiao calculated that there were still half a month left, so there was no rush.
Indeed, it wasn't a major disturbance. Once the Emperor issued his decree, it was a public announcement and enough to deter the rampant pirates in Guangdong.
However, Li Chenjiao remembered that Fourth Master seemed to have never been to Guangdong, so she lost interest in reading.
It's hot in May, and traveling to Guangdong won't be easy; who knows how long it will take to go there and back.
It will take at least a month or two, by which time the weather will get hot, especially in Guangdong...
Li Chenjiao rested her chin on her hand and said, "Go and call Pingniang and Qiaoniang over. I'll ask them to make some easy-to-carry dry rations."
Li Chenjiao was actually worried that Fourth Master would not adapt well to the climate and environment in Guangdong.
Xiao Luzi hurried off.
The news that the Fourth Prince was going to Guangdong spread quickly throughout the mansion. The Fujin (Prince's wife) got the news even earlier, and she began to prepare things for the Fourth Prince to take on his journey.
"There are many mosquitoes in the south, and Guangdong is hot and humid with lots of rain. When the imperial physician comes to examine the Second Prince, I'll ask him if he has any medicinal herbs. I think they'll come in handy..." It's rare for the Princess Consort to care about these things these days.
In the past, although she cared, she would only give a few instructions and have Yu Ru and the others prepare the summer insects and herbs. However, this year, the Fourth Prince's attitude towards her was really cold, as if he was unwilling to even give her a little bit of face. So the Fujin panicked.
She could do without the Fourth Prince's favor and affection, but she couldn't live without the dignity that the Fourth Prince gave her as his primary wife.
That's something the Princess Consort can't live without.
Not only were preparations made at the Fujin's place, but also in various places in the backyard.
Song's leg had long since healed. When she learned that Fourth Master was going to Guangdong to suppress pirates, she was worried for several days. She didn't prepare any things, but she prayed to the gods and Buddhas every day.
Wu's south courtyard was quiet, and no one dared to disturb her. It was said that she was ill. When the Fujin (principal wife) learned of this a while ago, she very "thoughtfully" sent someone with a token to invite the imperial physician to see Wu.
After taking his pulse, the imperial physician simply shook his head and said, "Heart disease." Heart disease is hard to cure.
When the princess heard what the imperial physician had said, she sighed. When she had some free time, she personally went to the South Courtyard to see Consort Wu and even managed to gain some good reputation for herself.
Liu's courtyard was right next to the south courtyard. After hearing the grand spectacle in front, she snorted twice and uttered the word "hypocritical".
She's having a hard time these days and doesn't have time to pity Wu Shi. At least Wu Shi raised a child, and even though she couldn't keep him, she's still better off than her.
Unlike her, who had to watch the kitchen staff's mood every day even when it came to food.
Life is hard for those who aren't favored. Liu was even considering making a scene like Lu over there, but she couldn't bring herself to be as reckless as Lu.
As for the Fourth Prince's plan to go to Guangdong to suppress pirates... Oh, suppressing pirates, then he definitely can't bring his female relatives, so there's nothing to think about.
Yes, this time the Fourth Master isn't going sightseeing; he's going to suppress pirates. Regardless of the conditions along the way, it would be really inappropriate to bring along female relatives.
For Fourth Master, being away for a month or two was nothing; he was already used to it.
Oh, as the day of departure drew ever closer, the Fourth Prince realized he was still somewhat reluctant to part with the troops.
The only thing I couldn't bear to leave was Li Chenjiao in the East Courtyard, and the children.
As before, Fourth Master went to see the children before leaving.
On the 25th, the Fourth Prince went to see the First Princess first. On the 26th, the Fourth Prince returned to the mansion earlier. When he went to see the Second Prince, he stayed for about half an hour before returning to the front courtyard. The Princess Consort didn't even have time to say that she had prepared the medicinal herbs. The Fourth Prince spent the entire half hour in the main courtyard talking to the Second Prince.
That night, the princess also failed to get a good night's sleep.
The next day, the 27th, Li Chenjiao calculated and guessed that Fourth Master was going to Xu's place.
Sure enough, the Fourth Prince went to Madam Xu's place that night. The Third Prince had always been very low-key in the mansion, which was naturally due to Madam Xu's influence. Compared to Madam Xu, Li Chenjiao was hardly the most low-key person in the mansion.
Such a temperament would never be disliked by the Fourth Master. That night, the Fourth Master stayed at Madam Xu's place. Whether he called for Shui Li Chenjiao or not is unknown.
On the 28th, Li Chenjiao thought that the Fourth Master was probably going to come to the East Courtyard, since the Fourth Master always liked to come to the East Courtyard last.
However, Li Chenjiao did some calculations during the day. If Fourth Master came to the East Courtyard on the 28th, then there would still be two nights left, the 29th and 30th...
The imperial court was to send troops to suppress the pirates on the first day of the fifth lunar month, a day that was said to have been chosen by the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.
Li Chenjiao couldn't understand what the Fourth Master was thinking, but she still asked Qiu Hu and the others to prepare, and checked the dry food and medicine packets that had been prepared beforehand several times.
On the 28th, the weather was clear during the day and the moon was full at night.
Li Chenjiao didn't know if the Fourth Master would come, so she waited a while before it was time to eat.
However, the Fourth Prince did not come that night. He went to the main courtyard and had some words to "instruct" his wife before leaving.
It was only after learning that the Fourth Prince was about to send troops out on the first day of the fifth lunar month that he remembered something: the Thirteenth Prince's wedding was also in June. In mid-June, he was going to Guangdong to suppress the pirates, so he might not be able to make it to the Thirteenth Prince's wedding.
For several days in a row, besides making preparations, Fourth Master also felt annoyed.
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