The first day of the fourth lunar month.
Fourth Master accompanied the Emperor to Mount Wutai, and Li Chenjiao has been staying up late these past few days reading storybooks.
When the sun was high in the sky, Qiu Hu helped her up. Still half asleep, Li Chenjiao ate breakfast and then yawned as she returned to bed.
In March, spring blossoms are in full bloom, and today is another sunny day.
Sunlight streamed into the room through the window lattice. Li Chenjiao, still half asleep, raised her elbow to shield her eyes, revealing glimpses of her brows and the corners of her eyes bathed in the warm spring light.
Such perfect weather, ideal for taking a nap, was unfortunately disturbed by someone.
The two young maids were tending to the bonsai trees under the eaves. When they heard the commotion outside the courtyard, they exchanged a glance and tiptoed into the inner room to close the small window tightly.
Xiao Luzi, who was sweeping in the courtyard, came out of Xinlutang to tell the servants walking around outside to be quiet.
However, Xiao Luzi was still a little surprised when the new Lutang was released.
Right now, only my own princess, Princess Wu, and Miss Xu are in the manor. Princess Wu has been suffering from severe morning sickness lately and hasn't even left the East Wind Courtyard. Princess Xu's courtyard is also far from my own princess's New Green Hall.
What's all this commotion about outside Xinlutang?
Upon leaving the courtyard, Xiao Luzi saw Yu Ru and, swallowing his shock, smiled and nodded: "Did the mistress of the manor give any instructions? Why did Miss Yu Ru come to the estate?"
The Fourth Prince has only just left the capital, could it be that the Princess Consort is already getting restless?
Xiao Luzi then noticed the chests and trunks being carried by several servants behind Yu Ru, and was puzzled again.
It can't be the princess consort coming to stay at the estate.
"It's Xiao Lu Zi. This year, the young lady selected new ladies for the manor. As instructed, she told Xie Gege to go to the estate early to prepare to serve the Fourth Master."
Xiao Luzi truly hadn't expected this turn of events, but he still managed a forced smile: "I was wondering why there was such a fuss. I figured Miss Yuru was busy right now, so I didn't want to disturb her. It's just that our Princess has been having a terrible headache lately and can't stand any noise. And then there's Princess Wu's East Wind Courtyard right behind. If people didn't know better, they'd think this was the rule of our Fourth Master's Mansion."
Yu Ru stood there, knowing full well that there was no need to offend Li Gege for the sake of Xie Gege. She simply waved her hand behind her and said, "Keep it down."
Xiao Lu smiled and thanked Miss Yu Ru for her understanding before quickly returning to Xin Lu Tang.
The two maids were waiting under the eaves. When they saw Xiao Luzi return, Qiu Ci quickly stepped forward and asked, "What's all the commotion outside?"
Xiao Luzi whispered, "This year, a new lady named Xie entered our household through the preliminary selection. The head of the household arranged for her to stay on the estate."
Qiu Ci exclaimed "Ouch!" and then, remembering that her mistress was resting inside, quickly covered her mouth: "Fourth Master only left a few days ago, and the main courtyard is already being too—"
Qiu Hu hurriedly pulled Qiu Ci back: "It's almost lunchtime. Xiao Lu, go and find out about this Xie Gege's background."
Only Xie Hengyi and her maid, and Yu Ru from the main courtyard, knew about Xie Hengyi's background. When Xiao Luzi returned to Xinlutang after ordering food from the kitchen, he could only shake his head helplessly in front of the two maids.
"I only heard from the gatekeeper's servant that this Princess Xie is extremely beautiful."
Just as Qiu Ci was about to say something, she heard the voice of her own princess in the inner room.
Qiu Hu hurriedly went in through the corridor, and Qiu Ci, though somewhat sullen, quickly went to the side room to prepare tea.
When she woke up, her hair was disheveled. As Qiu Hu came in to help her with her hair and dressing, Li Chenjiao caught a glimpse of the two red beads hanging from her earlobes in the mirror.
It was just like the plate of candied hawthorns that Fourth Master had Fulu deliver a few days ago, bright red and moist with sugar frosting.
Li Chenjiao touched herself, and now she felt even hungrier.
As Qiu Hu styled her mistress's hair, she lowered her head and said, "A new lady named Xie was selected this year, and she has already been settled on the estate by the Fujin."
Li Chenjiao was taken aback for a moment, then raised her hand and yawned: "Is this a case of acting first and informing later?"
Qiu Hu didn't immediately understand what her princess meant until she realized it.
Although she couldn't say she was completely relieved, Qiu Hu inexplicably felt at ease seeing her princess's attitude.
After lunch, Li Chenjiao, as usual, leaned against a rocking chair in the corridor and read a storybook. Springtime was indeed much more comfortable and pleasant than winter.
When Li Chenjiao heard from the servants outside that Xie Gege had come to pay her respects, she only hummed in response.
"Please invite Xie Gege to sit in the west wing first. I'll be right there." Li Chenjiao folded a page from the storybook and handed it to Qiu Hu for Qiu Ci to keep.
In the west wing, Qiu Ci invited this Xie Gege to sit down inside, and the next second she heard Xie Gege casually say something.
"I don't like drinking green tea, nor do I like eating sweet or savory snacks."
After speaking, Xie Hengyi glanced at Qiu Ci's face and said with a smile, "Thank you."
The east and west wing rooms were not far apart. Li Chenjiao heard this sentence just as she arrived at the door of the west wing room and spoke as she stepped into the west wing room.
"The kitchen has just made a bowl of sweet soup with candied osmanthus flowers. Go and bring two bowls. Add some peach gum to my portion," Li Chenjiao instructed Qiu Ci.
After giving his instructions, he stood still, gave a slight nod to Madam Xie, and glanced at her briefly, as if he didn't care about her appearance at all.
Xie Hengyi slowly stood up and performed a respectful curtsy, then took the opportunity to sized up Li Chenjiao.
As she entered, her soft shoes touched the wooden threshold, revealing two pointed pearls on her cloud-patterned brocade shoes, which were then completely covered by the hem of her cheongsam when she stood still.
The cheongsam, made of light blue silk, features a stone-green begonia vine pattern with gold thread visible through the hem. A jade pendant with two eyes and a dragon-fish hangs quietly from the waist, entwined with the begonia pattern.
The woman in front of me, Princess Li, was very pretty. Her willow-leaf eyebrows concealed her beauty, and her face was as bright as a lotus flower, yet within that brightness lay a touch of heroism. She wore light makeup and had a peach-like face.
She wore no jewelry, except for a single, high-quality pearl that hung quietly behind her ear from her black hair, which was styled in a bun, perfectly complementing the pair of red jade earrings she wore.
Xie Hengyi hadn't read many poems seriously, but the line "Even the lotus cannot compare to a beauty's makeup" was particularly profound to him.
A gentle breeze was blowing, and Xie Hengyi stared at her without any attempt to hide his gaze, speaking as if he didn't care at all.
"Miss Yu Ru previously said that there was a Lady Li in the manor who was like a celestial being, and now that I have seen her in person, she is indeed so."
Xie's words directly brought up Yu Ru's praise of Li Chenjiao's beauty in front of her, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
Li Chenjiao sat down on the small couch and chuckled upon hearing this: "It's just the gossip of the maids and wives. It's not worth making Princess Xie stand here."
You, Xie, did not come to her courtyard because of a few words from Yu Ru. You wanted to use the main courtyard as a shield and try to stir up trouble for the main courtyard.
Just then, Qiu Ci brought out the sweet soup. Before Xie Shi could speak, Li Chenjiao said, "You must be tired from your journey. Please have some sweet soup to soothe your throat."
The topic was glossed over in a single sentence.
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