"Mother! Your son has missed you so much!" The Fourth Prince rushed into his mother's arms, making room for his sister at the same time.
Sometimes Li Chenjiao really wondered if Wanwan's sweet talk was inherited from her.
However, Li Chenjiao wasn't buying it: "Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival. No matter what, you have to stay by your father's side. You can only run wild tomorrow. By the way..."
Li Chenjiao remembered what Fourth Master had said last night: the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet would be held at Shouxuan Chunyong, which was located by the water. She gently gave some instructions to the two children, especially Wanwan.
Outside the Shouxuan Spring Palace is a long covered walkway, beyond which lie endless lotus flowers. It is currently August, and the lotus flowers are in full bloom.
The children were very playful, so Li Chenjiao couldn't help but give them a few more words of advice.
Li Chenjiao took the two children out when the time was right. She asked Dongsheng and Zhenshi to take Wanwan to the main hall to wait. The Fourth Prince would send someone to pick up the children later.
She had just finished giving her instructions when she heard a messenger say that Madam Wang had arrived with the eldest princess. Li Chenjiao glanced at the Western clock hanging outside, and it was exactly time. She then took Aman's hand and led the others outside.
The eldest princess was dressed in an unremarkable yet not overly plain manner today. The lotus-colored qipao made her look very young. The eldest princess was half a head taller than the second princess, but her face was thinner, and the jewelry in her hair served as a perfect embellishment.
The eldest princess bowed to Li Chenjiao from afar, but Li Chenjiao waved her hand to decline, saying, "It's hot, so let's not chat and just go."
The eldest princess obediently responded, intending to wait for Li Chenjiao to walk ahead before following behind her, but unexpectedly, Li Chenjiao waved to her first.
“It’s hot. Come stand next to Li E’niang. I’ll shield you both from the sun.”
The eldest princess glanced at Wang Shi subconsciously before slowly walking to Li Chenjiao's side.
Li Chenjiao had just come out of Cangzhuo Hall and was heading to the Thirteenth Prince's courtyard when she unexpectedly saw a familiar face halfway there.
Isn't that Lady Zhaojia? This Lady Zhaojia is the primary consort of the Thirteenth Prince.
Upon seeing this, the two children greeted Madam Zhaojia, but the eldest princess waited until the second princess had greeted her before addressing Madam Zhaojia as "Thirteenth Aunt".
Li Chenjiao noticed, but she didn't say anything. She walked with Zhao Jia, slightly slower than her.
Perhaps because they had met once at Yonghe Palace, Lady Zhaojia smiled when she saw Li Chenjiao from afar. When they walked together, Lady Zhaojia would "subtly" slow down her pace when she saw Li Chenjiao lagging behind her.
Seeing this, Li Chenjiao stopped trying to act that way and naturally walked with Zhao Jia.
Zhao Jia was not a talkative person, and Li Chenjiao, feeling hot, didn't say much either. Aman did most of the talking along the way, and Zhao Jia would occasionally cast a curious glance at the Second Princess.
On the way, they also encountered the Third Princess Consort, Dong E. Dong E pulled Zhao Jia away upon seeing her, and Zhao Jia gave Li Chenjiao a helpless smile.
Li Chenjiao nodded understandingly.
Behind the Third Princess Consort Dong'e, Lady Zhaojia and Lady Cao both smiled at Li Chenjiao.
This time, the Third Master's primary wife and two secondary wives came along, followed by two or three princesses, and then no one else.
Li Chenjiao nodded to the two of them and then followed them to Shouxuan Chunyong.
Today's Mid-Autumn Festival banquet was divided into two sides: one side for the women and the other for the princes and grandsons. There were a few members of the imperial clan, but they were all married, so there was nothing to hide.
This was the first time for Li Chenjiao that a banquet where men and women were not separated, and it was quite a novel experience for her.
However, Li Chenjiao's position was slightly lower, but right next to her were Zhao Jiashi and Cao Shi, so the three of them could talk together.
As soon as Zhao Jia sat down, she couldn't help but pull Li Chenjiao aside and say, "What's going on with your household this time...? Why didn't that person come along? This is truly unprecedented. Would that person really allow you to stand out all by yourself? Don't tell me..."
When Zhao Jia opened her mouth, it was a truly earth-shattering statement, even startling Li Chenjiao.
Cao helped Zhaojia out without asking anything else.
Li Chenjiao silently tugged at Zhao Jia Shi: "You should at least lower your voice. The Fujin (principal wife) has been unwell these past two days and didn't come along. You must be thirsty from the journey, quickly drink a cup of tea to shut your mouth..."
Zhao Jia drank it as instructed, and after finishing, she continued, "Why do you look thinner? Are you sick?"
Li Chenjiao silently wiped the sweat from her forehead.
Anyone who encounters Zhao Jia would be terrified.
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