After eating the dried bayberry, Fourth Master quickly spat the pit into the small celadon dish next to him.
"It's sour," Fourth Master said expressionlessly.
Li Chenjiao exclaimed "Ah!" before realizing that the Fourth Master had taken the initiative, and couldn't help but reproachfully say, "Your Highness doesn't like it, but I do."
"Tomorrow I'll have Su Peisheng buy some more and send them to you."
Li Chenjiao smiled and said, "This was bought back when we attacked Suzhou. You might not find this kind of flavor in the capital."
The Fourth Prince wouldn't do something like Emperor Xuanzong, who sent servants a thousand miles to deliver lychees just to please Yang Guifei, nor would he send someone a thousand miles to Suzhou just because of Li Chenjiao's words.
The Fourth Prince remained silent for a moment: "Next time Father Emperor goes on his southern tour, I'll go with you and let you eat to your heart's content."
Because of Li Chenjiao's pregnancy, there really wasn't much time or energy to think about what to eat along the way.
The Fourth Prince's words were undoubtedly a promise, a promise that he would take Li Chenjiao with him next time he went south with the Emperor.
Words spoken in the heat of passion are not always true, but Li Chenjiao still couldn't help but feel pleased to hear them.
She raised her hand and held up her little finger: "Don't joke around."
Fourth Master didn't extend his little finger; he simply raised his hand and touched the back of Li Chenjiao's hand.
Li Chenjiao smiled contentedly and lowered her head to drink the red date and white fungus soup.
"Please have some pear soup, Your Highness. Your voice sounded a bit different earlier. It's dry in autumn, so please drink more."
It's easy to guess that since the Fourth Prince has just returned, there must be countless tasks to handle outside. Even though the Fourth Prince is not a man of many words, he probably still has a lot to say and explain in detail.
So as soon as Li Chenjiao returned, she had the small kitchen prepare snow pear soup, so that the Fourth Master could drink it whenever he came.
The two of them quietly drank the soup. After drinking it, Li Chenjiao felt much warmer. Just then, hot water was prepared in the bathroom, so Li Chenjiao and the Fourth Master took a bath.
When Fourth Master entered the clean room, he could vaguely smell some herbs. He hadn't smelled them so clearly in Li Chenjiao's room before, but now that he was in the clean room, he could gradually smell them.
"Is it mugwort?" Fourth Master asked.
Su Peisheng, who was standing beside the screen with soapberry and other items, hurriedly and respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, it is mugwort. Master Li instructed me to add some calming medicine packets prescribed by the imperial physician. Master Li said that there would be no medicinal smell after bathing."
The Fourth Master removed the sachet and other items from his body, and upon hearing the voice, he softly hummed in agreement: "Your Master Li is very thoughtful."
Su Peisheng understood from the tone: "Yes, Master Li has always been concerned about Fourth Master."
Fourth Master glanced at him: "Do you need to tell me?"
Su Peisheng hurriedly withdrew, as the Fourth Master did not like being served while bathing.
As soon as Su Peisheng stepped out, he saw his foolish apprentice squatting outside the door. He tapped his apprentice on the head without any politeness: "What are you doing standing here?"
Fulu glanced around and whispered, "Over there, at the Niohuru Princess's place—"
Su Peisheng quickly covered his silly apprentice's mouth: "You're drunk too. What princess? Your master doesn't know anything about this."
The master clearly received a bribe from Princess Niohuru, otherwise Princess Niohuru wouldn't have had this encounter with the Fourth Prince today.
But when he met his master's gaze, Fu Lu silently swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue.
"Respect your master, Mr. Li. Never be negligent in any way."
In his words, even if Consort Niohuru were to gain favor, Consort Li might not necessarily fall out of favor.
Late at night, Li Chenjiao and Fourth Master slept in the same bed.
Before going to bed, Li Chenjiao and the Fourth Prince went to check on the Second Princess. The little girl was sleeping soundly, but she was drooling again.
Li Chenjiao silently raised her hand.
Even when we slept in the same bed, I could still smell a faint herbal scent while wearing only my undergarments.
"These days you should rest and focus on your pregnancy. Your mother said you don't need to go to the palace for the Golden Festival. Your mother also gave you some gifts today, and I'll have Su Peisheng send them to you in a few days. Tomorrow, take my token to invite Physician Zhou to check your pulse. Is your small kitchen still empty? I've found a few cooks, and I'll invite them over in a few days so you can see if any of them suit your taste?"
It was rare for Fourth Master to say such a string of words.
The Fourth Prince said he would send over the gifts from the Empress in a few days, naturally because he didn't want Lady Li to be too conspicuous.
The Fourth Master waited a few seconds but heard no reply. He glanced to the side, and after a moment, couldn't help but chuckle.
Li Chenjiao was already asleep with her face turned to the side.
Her sleeping face was peaceful, probably because the Fourth Prince's voice had disturbed her peace. She even moved her lips slightly, and her brows furrowed as well.
Fourth Master covered his face, but still couldn't help but chuckle out loud.
This is the Li family.
Li Chenjiao eventually learned these words from Qiu Hu.
Li Chenjiao got up late again the next day.
After Qiu Hu finished explaining everything, she lazily yawned and asked, "When did Master leave?"
Qiu Hu helped Li Chenjiao to her feet: "As always, she left before Chenshi (7-9 AM)."
“However…” Akiko paused.
"There seemed to be some commotion at Princess Niohuru's place. She didn't leave the courtyard, but the trees in her yard suddenly shed leaves for a while, making a commotion for quite some time."
Li Chenjiao paused for half a second: "She's... quite opinionated."
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