However, given the current situation, even for Li Chenjiao to get information from outside would be extremely difficult, let alone for Baozhen.
Li Chenjiao didn't give Baozhen any hints; she simply asked Qiu Hu and the others to confirm Baozhen's character.
Two more days passed, and no news came in from outside, nor did any news come out from inside. Li Chenjiao waited for a while, but Baozhen arrived first.
Upon hearing that Baozhen was requesting an audience, Li Chenjiao first glanced at Qiu Hu.
Qiu Hu silently shook her head. They were all just following their master's instructions and didn't say anything more.
Li Chenjiao turned her wrist and beckoned Qiu Hu to come in.
Baozhen had a round face, a tall and slightly plump figure, a healthy-looking complexion, and a friendly smile.
She didn't smile when she came in. She bowed respectfully, and after Li Chenjiao said that there was no need for formalities, she didn't say anything more and simply replied.
"Yesterday, when I went to the kitchen to get my meal, I received a message from my family. I heard that His Majesty has regained consciousness these past two days, but he has ordered a thorough investigation, which is why everyone in Changchun Garden is on edge. I heard that there are some clues in the past two days. As for the Fourth Prince, I heard that he has been recuperating in Chunhui Hall and there has been no news from him."
She and her parents had their own secret methods of exchanging messages, methods that could not be known to anyone.
Baozhen spoke without a single stumble, every word clear and distinct, which drew a second glance from Li Chenjiao.
As Li Chenjiao leaned against the soft couch and looked at Baozhen, the cloisonné enamel and kingfisher feather gold hairpin at her temples made her expression even more solemn: "It's kind of you to go to such lengths to inquire... I should reward you, but I don't know what reward you would like?"
Baozhen kept her eyes straight ahead. She paused slightly, then bowed down and kowtowed deeply: "This servant knows that Consort is kind to her servants. I only ask to serve by Consort's side, which would be a great reward."
Li Chenjiao was not surprised by this answer. She asked, "What about your parents?"
Baozhen smiled and said, "It's common to be separated from one's parents in this world. A good bird chooses a good tree to perch on. Although I'm just a clumsy bird, I still want to make a good future..."
Li Chenjiao told her to get up: "Did you hurt yourself? You're educated."
Baozhen stood up briskly, still respectfully lowering her eyes: "Replying to Consort, I heard it from a storyteller when I was a child. I haven't read many books."
Li Chenjiao nodded slightly: "From now on, you will learn manners from Lümei. Did your parents give you your name?"
Baozhen nodded.
Li Chenjiao hummed in agreement: "Then we won't change it. It's a good name nonetheless."
Baozhen was overjoyed and kowtowed to express her gratitude.
Li Chenjiao had just dismissed Baozhen when Qiu Ci came in happily from outside, saying that the Fourth Master had returned and was already back in the main hall.
Li Chenjiao, who had just seen Baozhen leave, was chuckling and shaking her head as she gently tapped the rim of her teacup and slowly turned it around when she heard Qiu Ci's sound, and the teacup rolled off the small table.
Fortunately, Qiu Hu caught it with his sharp eyes.
There had been no news of the Fourth Master for several days, so when she suddenly heard that he had returned, Li Chenjiao felt a sense of unreality.
Li Chenjiao was genuinely taken aback, and she couldn't help but cautiously ask, "How did you get back?"
Qiu Ci's mouth dropped open upon hearing the question: "Of course... he walked back. Well, I should say that Master was helped back by Eunuch Su."
Li Chenjiao got off the bed without Qiu Hu's help. She slipped on her shoes and waved, "Come on, let's go see the main hall."
After not seeing him for several days, and with the turmoil that occurred on Mid-Autumn Festival night, Li Chenjiao was indeed somewhat worried about the safety of the Fourth Master.
Especially when she thought about the blood that might have been Fourth Master's on her body after she returned that day, Li Chenjiao quickened her pace.
When Li Chenjiao arrived at the main hall, Song Shi had also arrived, along with Xu Shi and Wu Shi, but Bai Jia Shi had not yet arrived.
It was unusual for Madam Song not to be dressed up carefully; she looked as if she had received the news and rushed to the main hall.
When Madam Song saw Li Chenjiao, her lips parted slightly, but she still bowed first.
Li Chenjiao dismissed everyone's formalities, saying only, "Since you're all here, let's go in and see Master together, but please be quiet."
A look of surprise flashed in Song's eyes, but she was the first to agree.
Li Chenjiao walked at the front, and as soon as she entered the main hall, she saw Fulu walking out from afar.
Fu Lu also saw Li Chenjiao and the others. He seemed to be holding something in his hands, but he seemed to be flustered when he saw everyone and put it away. He walked closer and bowed to Li Chenjiao.
"Greetings to Consort Li. His Majesty has just sent me to find you, saying he has something to say to you..." After saying this, Fulu bowed apologetically to Madam Song and the others.
Song subconsciously touched her hair, thinking that she was not in a proper position at the moment, but she was unwilling to leave, so she hesitated.
Seeing this, Li Chenjiao asked, "How is Master's health?"
Fu Lu bowed: "The imperial physician said that there was no major problem, so I came back."
Madam Song breathed a slight sigh of relief. Madam Wu's expression remained unchanged. After bowing, she prepared to leave. Madam Xu waited for a while but didn't say anything. Only after Madam Song turned and left did she follow Madam Song a couple of steps behind.
Fu Lu then gestured for Li Chenjiao to proceed.
Li Chenjiao nodded slightly to Fulu, who then led the way to see the Fourth Master.
This was Li Chenjiao's first time in the main hall. The Fourth Prince's main hall was at least twice the size of her west wing. After seeing the Fourth Prince, Li Chenjiao sat down directly, and oh, she did perform a curtsy.
Fourth Master didn't say she was unruly; he just smiled at her.
Li Chenjiao caught a glimpse of this, grabbed an empty cup from the table, and smashed it in front of Fourth Master, saying irritably, "You can still laugh, Master?"
Fourth Master raised his hand and steadily caught the empty cup, then held it in his hand and played with it.
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