July 28th, the day before the Fourth Prince ascended the throne.
The Ministry of Rites, the Imperial Household Department, and even the Imperial Clan Court had already made all the arrangements. Although the Fourth Prince, who was in charge, was busy, he actually had some free time in the last few days.
Whenever he has free time, he wants to see someone.
Fourth Master instructed Su Peisheng to prepare a carriage. Upon receiving the order, Su Peisheng came out with a bitter expression on his face.
As evening fell, a carriage quietly drove out of the palace gate.
When Fourth Master arrived at the estate, he went straight to the horse farm. A young eunuch had already led out Fourth Master's favorite horse. The horse paced back and forth a few steps, and Fourth Master turned over, put on his protective gear, and mounted the horse: "Your Master Li hasn't arrived yet?"
Logically speaking, Li Chenjiao should have arrived earlier than him when she set off from the manor.
He had barely finished speaking when a delicate shout was heard from afar.
"Giddy up!" A chestnut horse galloped toward Fourth Master with a delicate shout. When it got close, Li Chenjiao raised her whip and reined in the horse.
The horse beneath him let out a long neigh and then obediently stopped.
Li Chenjiao, dressed in a fierce riding outfit, smiled brightly and said, "You're late, sir."
Her riding skills weren't good; she learned them from the Fourth Prince. What she did just now was just a pretty show; in reality, she had a hard time reining in her horse.
Upon seeing her, Fourth Master smiled. He tightened the reins, and neither of them rode fast. The wind was howling, and neither of them spoke.
After riding slowly for two laps, Li Chenjiao was already panting heavily. Her knees hadn't fully recovered and she really couldn't take any more exertion.
The July sunset was so hot it made her back scorching. After dismounting, she touched her back. She wanted to laugh, but then she felt it wasn't quite right. But then she thought... she had already smiled at the Fourth Master earlier.
Fourth Master wasn't actually tired. After dismounting, he dismissed everyone and strolled leisurely with Li Chenjiao to the hexagonal pavilion next to the horse farm to escape the setting sun.
Li Chenjiao didn't ask anything and silently ate the pastries on the stone table.
Fourth Master's sitting posture was somewhat inappropriate, but Li Chenjiao pretended not to notice.
"What are we having for dinner?" Li Chenjiao asked, taking advantage of a lull in her mouth.
Fourth Master looked at her, her cheeks still puffed out as she spoke: "You order."
Li Chenjiao swallowed, then thought for a moment: "Shall we use it outside?"
There probably won't be many more opportunities in the future.
Fourth Master agreed, and soon after, Li Chenjiao was pulled into the carriage by Fourth Master in a daze.
The Fourth Prince was dressed in casual clothes when he left the palace, and Li Chenjiao was dressed even more simply and plainly, so she didn't attract any attention.
There are still many inns and restaurants along the roadside in the outskirts of Beijing for travelers to rest. Li Chenjiao randomly picked a restaurant that looked good. The closer she got to the capital, the greater the risk of being discovered.
The restaurant also had private rooms. Li Chenjiao had eaten pastries earlier, but she was still hungry when the dishes were served.
Fourth Master picked up his wine cup first.
As Li Chenjiao raised her wine cup, she blurted out as if possessed, "Should I change my address tomorrow? To Master."
The wine cups clinked together, producing a crisp sound.
Fourth Master looked at her and said, "No need to change your address, no need to change your address."
Li Chenjiao felt that Fourth Master was already drunk even before drinking any alcohol.
She didn't say anything, but silently took a sip.
The private room in the restaurant was separated by a screen, and inside was a small couch.
The two ended up drinking quite a bit, and eventually collapsed in front of the bed, completely dizzy.
After tonight, both Li Chenjiao and Fourth Master's identities will change.
The Fourth Prince is the newly enthroned emperor. Li Chenjiao may become a favored concubine, or she may become something else, but that's all for tomorrow.
Tonight, Li Chenjiao is still the Fourth Prince's concubine, the person in his heart, and the one he drank with.
The night wind blew open the window, ruffling Li Chenjiao's hair.
Before she could even raise her hand, someone had already brushed it aside for her, accompanied by a sigh that sounded like satisfaction. Li Chenjiao couldn't discern the various emotions contained in that sigh.
"Tonight we sleep together, and a hundred years from now, we will be the same."
The oath contained in that sentence was so heavy that Li Chenjiao was startled and immediately sobered up a bit.
She couldn't help but think, spoiling the mood, that a hundred years seemed too long.
Fourth Master seemed to misunderstand her expression, and silently held her hand as if to convey something.
Li Chenjiao didn't know what to say, so she simply held Fourth Master's hand tightly in silence.
On a sweltering July night, the two held hands tightly, their hands soon becoming sticky with sweat, yet neither of them let go.
The Fourth Prince left before dawn the next day; otherwise, the Forbidden City would probably have been in chaos.
When Li Chenjiao woke up, the Fourth Prince was not by her side. Anyway, the Fourth Prince had ascended the throne, so it was none of her business. The investiture of the old people from the Prince's residence was a matter for later.
Li Chenjiao thought for a moment, and she figured she might even become a Noble Consort. She patted her face before getting up. Outside, it was Granny Lin knocking on the door.
Yesterday, only Granny Lin came out with her; the other maids stayed at the mansion to look after the children.
Li Chenjiao let Lin Mama in and noticed that the usually calm and composed Lin Mama was smiling strangely, as if she wanted to laugh but had to suppress it.
She took a deep breath and suppressed her emotions: "Master, something has happened."
Li Chenjiao quickly replied, "Did someone find out that I wasn't at home?"
Granny Lin shook her head: "It's much more important than that..."
Li Chenjiao asked, "Huh? What's that? What could possibly happen?"
Lin Mama exhaled and inhaled again: "The Fujin passed away last night. She died suddenly last night... I heard she drowned."
Li Chenjiao was dumbfounded; she never imagined it would be the Fujin (princess's wife)...
She had an inopportune thought: Oh no, maybe she really could live and die with the Fourth Prince.
"Tonight we sleep together, and a hundred years from now, we will be the same."
————(End of text)————
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