Upon hearing Master Li's question, Su Peisheng glanced outside, or rather, glanced at the sky above. It was well past breakfast time...
But Master Li happened to ask the right question; the master had indeed not had breakfast yet.
After all, the Fourth Prince got up very early today to see the Emperor off from the capital. It was still dark, and most of the breakfast shops in the capital had just opened at that time, so the Fourth Prince did not have breakfast then.
After seeing the Emperor off from the capital, he gave the Thirteenth Prince a heads-up beforehand. The Fourth Prince was still hungry, but he did not see the Crown Prince.
It was said that the Crown Prince's leg ailment had flared up, so he did not show up today and stayed in the carriage. The Fourth Prince only offered his best wishes from outside the carriage. With the sound of horses' hooves, he did not even hear the Crown Prince's reply.
After seeing the Emperor off from the capital, the sun had already risen. The Fourth Prince rode his horse all the way back to his residence, his back burning hot. Fortunately, it wasn't the hottest time of the day yet, so he returned home without stopping for a moment.
Naturally, my stomach was still empty at that moment.
But seeing the Fourth Master's expression, Li Chenjiao knew the answer. She smiled and called to Green Plum and Green Bamboo, who were tending to the flowers and plants under the eaves: "Go and see what else the small kitchen has. I remember there is still fish porridge. If it's cold, ask Pingniang and the others to heat it up. Do you have any milk buns? I remember there is also a plate of cherry pancakes. I originally said I was saving them for Aman. Bring them over for the Master to have something to eat first. Qiaoniang's cherry pancakes are not too sweet. They taste refreshing."
Although Li Chenjiao gets up late every day, it has been almost an hour since she had breakfast, and it has naturally cooled down by now that it is hot.
Although it's hot and eating cold food is refreshing, Fourth Master's health is more important, and Li Chenjiao is worried that he might get an upset stomach.
She couldn't afford to offend them.
However, we couldn't let the Fourth Master go hungry, so he naturally had to eat some cakes and pastries to fill his stomach.
"It's so hot today, so the kitchen has prepared some sweet soup. After you've had breakfast, please have some to cool down."
Li Chenjiao took the round fan handed to her by Qiu Hu, and while fanning the Fourth Master, she also touched the Fourth Master's palm.
He was drenched in sweat; it was clear that Fourth Master was terribly hot when he came back from outside.
Li Chenjiao was fanning herself as she fanned the Fourth Master, and the two walked side by side from the covered walkway into the inner room.
Fourth Master lowered his head slightly and spoke up first: "What did you do today?"
Li Chenjiao fanned herself: "I slept in late last night, so I overslept today. After taking Aman to school in the front yard, I came back and went to cool off. It's so hot, and I was worried that the children would be out in the sun, so I thought I'd have Xiaolu and the others make a swing. It's under a tree, so it won't be too hot."
Fourth Master had already seen the swing being set up under the eaves. After hearing Li Chenjiao's explanation, he only glanced at her and said, "Isn't this what you wanted?"
Upon hearing this, Li Chenjiao immediately pulled her hand back from mid-air and then started fanning herself: "Since we're in the East Courtyard, anyone who wants to play on that swing can. Even if you want to play on that swing, I will personally push it for you."
The maids and servants followed behind. The Fourth Master was covered in sweat. When he heard Li Chenjiao's words, he immediately glared at her and said, "What nonsense are you talking about?"
As far back as the Fourth Prince could remember, he had never swung on a swing. As a prince, he had been studying at Wuyizhai since he could remember, and had never slacked off for a single day, not even on his birthday. Naturally, he had never experienced any kind of fun.
Li Chen gave a soft snort and continued fanning herself with her round fan: "Is today's mung bean soup ready?"
Qiu Hu, who was following far behind, chimed in: "It was brewed a quarter of an hour ago and has been chilled for a while now, so it's refreshing right now."
Li Chenjiao hummed in agreement: "Bring up two bowls to help me cool down in the summer heat."
Qiu Hu slowed his pace and responded from a distance.
Fourth Master naturally heard it too. He suddenly reached out and pulled Li Chenjiao's hand, but only lightly held her wrist: "Looking at that swing frame, it doesn't look very sturdy. Have Fulu find some solid wood from the storeroom later."
As soon as Fourth Master grasped Li Chenjiao's wrist, Li Chenjiao felt a sticky sensation on the back of her hand. She endured it for a moment, but when she entered the inner room, she couldn't bear it any longer and pulled Fourth Master to wipe her hands.
After wiping her hands, Qiu Hu brought up the mung bean soup. Li Chenjiao came in from outside and drank the mung bean soup, and naturally felt indescribably comfortable and refreshed.
After drinking the mung bean soup and eating two pieces of cherry pancakes, the Fourth Prince didn't eat much when breakfast was served. Just as the maids cleared away the breakfast, the Second Princess returned from her studies in the front courtyard.
Lunch wasn't ready yet, but as soon as the little girl returned, she was thinking about cherry pancakes. After she ate the cherry pancakes, the Fourth Prince woke up in the other room. As usual, he cried out a couple of times before being carried over by the wet nurse.
So the Fourth Prince took the two children to the study to practice calligraphy. Just then, the Second Princess came back from school and was still in high spirits. The Fourth Prince just joined in, since he was currently in the prime of his life and wanted to be with his older sister, the Second Princess.
With Fourth Master around, Li Chenjiao felt even more at ease, and she simply tried out the swing that Xiao Lu and the others had made.
With the added reinforcement of sturdy ropes and high-quality wood sent by Fu Lu, Li Chenjiao didn't experience any swaying or creaking when she sat on it.
When Fourth Master returned from outside, he would stay in the East Courtyard all day. He ate lunch there, and naturally, he also ate dinner there. He even called for water two or three times during the night.
Since Prince Yu, Fuquan, fell ill in May, the Fourth Prince had not entered the inner courtyard for a while. Now, looking around, it seems that Consort Li in the East Courtyard still receives the most and greatest favor.
Seeing that no new concubines will be brought in this year, it seems that Consort Li's favor will not end anytime soon.
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