Chapter Ninety-two Dim Sum

  On the second day after giving birth, Li Auntie personally brought over rice and medicine. Zhao Sheng hurriedly struggled to sit up: "Auntie, why have you come..."

  "How could I not come? If I didn't come, you'd be muttering to yourself about me in your heart." Li Aunt sat down on the edge of the bed and put her hand on her forehead: "Hmm, no fever now."

  "It stopped burning last night."

  "How's your body feeling?"

  "It's just no energy, nothing else."

  My head is very heavy and I have no strength in my body, and my mouth tastes bitter.

  Chao Sheng thought he was really unlucky - it might be true that this illness was caused by the Fourth Prince.

  He didn't knock down the tree, so he wouldn't be buried in snow. If he wasn't buried in snow, maybe he wouldn't have caught this cold.

  Auntie Li brought porridge for her: "Come on, open your mouth."

  Tide Sheng Da Jiong: "Auntie, I'll do it myself."

  "Alright, just be honest for a bit and see if you can calm down." Aunt Li said: "Don't you trust me? I used to serve Empress Yan personally, I definitely won't poke the spoon into your nose."

  Chao Sheng had no choice but to open his mouth and drink the porridge in the spoon.

  Auntie Li indeed fed him quickly and well, and in no time Chao Sheng had finished a bowl of porridge. The porridge was very hot, and his body was weak, so he broke out in sweat, feeling somewhat sticky and uncomfortable. However, his body felt much lighter.

  "Auntie, I heard that Song Can..."

  "Auntie Li didn't think much of it: 'Oh, you've heard too? She's been thinking about this all along. At least she got what she wanted.'"

  "But..." Chao Sheng said in a low voice: "I always feel that this matter is not quite right."

  Auntie Li came over with enthusiasm and sat down: "Tell me, what's wrong?"

  "I can't say for sure, and I don't know the details."

  Auntie Li said, "Let me remind you that the Second Prince brought not only her but also a maid who was given to him by his wife as a dowry. Neither of them has any status and they are both placed in the side courtyard."

  Chao Sheng nodded: "Hmm, that's it. The status seems to have gone up, but the name hasn't. Moreover, living in the side courtyard, I have even fewer opportunities to see the Second Prince."

  Aunt Li nodded in approval: "Hmm, that's well said. Song Can knows the Second Prince's temperament and family background all too well. With her always hovering around the Second Prince, is Princess Shu comfortable?"

  If you want to suppress her, it's not impossible, but that's a last resort.

  The second prince's consort had just married in and was not yet stable, and the emotional foundation with the second prince was also unsteady. Yeah, the two of them had quarreled before. So the second prince's consort let the second prince take her in, it seems she was generous and Song Can also got what she wanted——

  However, she was moved to the side courtyard, and her chances of seeing the Second Prince greatly diminished. She could no longer serve him closely at all times. Many of the things she used to be in charge of had to be handed over.

  Furthermore, the second prince's consort even found her an opponent - her own personal maid.

  This is great, Song Can has a rival now. The second prince's consort doesn't need to lower herself to fight with Song Jing.

  Good move.

  Auntie Li can say with certainty: "Song Can has no chance, they are not in the same league."

  Chao nodded slightly.

  "Are you thinking of Huan Xiang?"

  "Uh-huh."

  There's nothing to hide, Chao Sheng has always been straightforward with Aunt Li.

  "The second prince's consort is even more formidable, and she has Xiangyun..."

  "This one doesn't matter for now. The second prince's consort can't take charge of the second prince's household yet, and if Hanyin is being proper, I think the second prince's consort won't take the initiative to act."

  Although it is said so.

  But accidents can still happen.

  The two things in this world that are most impossible to guard against and most unpredictable are accidents.

  Aunt Li patted her hand: "It's good that you're sick, take a few days to rest. These two days Spring Ink has been busy running around like crazy, dropping this and grabbing that. Has she come to see you?"

  "No."

  "She probably wants to come too, but that depends on whether she has time." Aunt Li said: "Looking at how tired she is, I feel uneasy in my heart. But she's happy about it herself."

  This is true, Chun Mo is busy with a happy heart.

  But this won't get her an extra month's pay, nor will anyone be especially grateful to her.

  Auntie Li stroked the comb: "Come, I'll help you comb your hair."

  He touched himself and said with embarrassment: "It's all messed up."

  She turned sideways, and Aunt Li helped her comb her hair bit by bit.

  "Is Sister Chao Sheng asleep?" someone outside the door asked.

  "No." Chao Sheng heard it was Xiao Shun: "Come in."

  Xiao Shun pushed open the door, but it wasn't him who came in.

  Chao Sheng and Li Aunt were both stunned, Li Aunt quickly got up and saluted: "Fourth Prince."

  "Hmm," the fourth prince nodded slightly.

  The room was really too narrow, so Aunt Li hurriedly gave up her stool and put away the porridge pot and bowls on the table, standing by the door herself.

  Chao Sheng also wanted to get down, but the fourth prince stretched out his hand and pressed it: "You just don't move. Is your illness better?"

  "It's much better now." Chao Sheng said: "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness."

  The fourth prince is definitely going to thank him.

  Meng Taizhong wasn't someone who would casually examine the palace maids. In the imperial pharmacy of the Eastern Palace, he was a respected figure who regularly took the pulse of several princes to wish them peace and safety. When a low-ranking servant like Chao Sheng fell ill, if they were lucky, they might be able to get someone from the Taizhong Hospital's lower ranks to take a look at them; usually, they would just buy some medicine themselves to eat. If their luck was really bad, they might even be sent away to recover elsewhere.

  However, people who move away often have a hard time moving back.

  How to say?

  In the palace, the maids and eunuchs each have their own duties. If you leave your post, your work can't be abandoned, someone has to take over. After a while, others will get familiar with it and build relationships too. When you come back, this position won't be yours anymore. As a result, the original odd-jobber gets promoted, and the sick one becomes an odd-jobber.

  This kind of thing has happened before.

  The fourth prince stood in front of the bed, and Chao Sheng could feel that he still had a chill on him. It seemed like he had just come back from outside, without even changing his clothes.

  The fourth prince didn't stay for long, asked what medicine she was taking and instructed her: "Don't be anxious, take a good rest."

  He left as he came, the fourth prince went out of the house, Xiao Shun smiled and came in: "This is for you, I'm going out of the palace with the master, bought at Shun'an Temple."

  Those are two kinds of dim sum, packed in a paper box, lined with red paper, and tied with a auspicious knot.

  Chao Sheng said: "Thanks a lot, still thinking of me."

  Xiao Shun said: "Where is this? This wasn't bought by me. One box costs eight silver coins."

  Chao was stunned for a moment, and Xiao Shun had already left.

  Auntie Li closed the door and came over to take a look at the dim sum.

  She picked up the string and sniffed it. She said with great familiarity: "Lotus seed paste and oil cake are both signature products of that family."

  Xiao Shun said it wasn't him who bought it, so was it... the Fourth Prince?

  The red paper lining on the dim sum box looks so bright and festive.

  Auntie Li pushed the box closer to her: "This is, after all, someone's heartfelt intention."

  These words have a deeper meaning.

  Chao Sheng looked up at Aunt Li with a glance, then lowered his head: "What's the big deal about this?"

  "Alright, stop pretending with me. What are you thinking in your heart? You're already able to go out and make a living, but you don't have any plans?"

  Chao Sheng shook his head: "I want to live a down-to-earth life, things that aren't mine, I won't think about them."

  Auntie Li just said: "It's no use talking about these things now, anyway... you can't make your own decisions."

  Yes.

  Aunt Li left, and Chao Sheng leaned back against the pillow weakly.

  The pastry box on the table looks so conspicuous that it can't be ignored.

  Chao Sheng didn't know what she and the Fourth Prince were... after all.

  Nothing at all.

  The fourth prince never said more than one word to her.

  Perhaps the fourth prince had no intention at all, they just thought too much.

  The tide was too high and he couldn't see himself.

  At first when she came, the fourth prince sent someone to interrogate her.

  That's because Cheng Meiren also came from Huanyi Alley...

  It was because of this that the Fourth Prince finally noticed that there was such a person in his courtyard.

  Later... many things happened later, but Chao Sheng always remembered that the Fourth Prince was a prince, and she was just a slave.

  The fourth prince is already engaged, and she won't think about it anymore.

  One layer upon another of palace halls, one stretch after another of high walls——

  Chao Sheng had only one thought in mind.

  Leave here as soon as possible.

  The fourth prince said he would never leave for his whole life.

  But Chao Sheng hopes to leave.

  Sometimes... her heart would also suddenly beat faster.

  Just like, just like the fourth prince gave her his cloak yesterday.

  Chao Sheng touched his face, as if he felt himself having a fever again.

  A faint warmth on her face.

  The fourth prince is absolutely worthy of being called a white horse prince in girls' dreams.

  He has the identity of a prince and is knowledgeable and refined in manner.

  The future fourth prince's consort will definitely live a good life... at least, happier than the second prince's consort.

  Yes...

  He is going to get married.

  In Chao Sheng's future plans, there is no place for him.

  She never thought of becoming someone like Song Can.

  The tide comes and goes, sometimes confused, sometimes clear-headed, but can't sleep soundly.

  The next day she struggled to get up.

  Now there are so many things, let her lie down, she can't even lie down.

  Aunt Li scolded her: "What's the hurry? If you can rest, take a few more days off. Don't fall ill and suffer later when you're older."

  "Auntie is thinking too far ahead," said Chao Sheng. "Besides, this isn't some kind of serious illness."

  Aunt Li took extra care of her, and others also knew that she had just recovered from illness, so they voluntarily shared some chores with her. After this bout of illness, she became even thinner, looking more delicate, and when she looked at people, her eyes seemed to have a misty look.

  Aunt Li sighed in her heart.

  The child doesn't feel it himself.

  But can an ordinary family with a humble background afford someone with her looks and character?

  The fourth prince would be interested in Chao Sheng, and Li Gu Gu wouldn't find it strange at all.

  If she were a man, I'm afraid he would also have taken a liking to her.

  Alas, it's just unknown what kind of character the future second imperial princess will be.

  If it's good, then it's fine...

  Otherwise...

  Inside the house, there are open and secret struggles; even if a clever person is born, they may also be unable to cope.

  "Auntie? Why keep staring at me?"

  Auntie Li withdrew her gaze and asked nonchalantly, "Did you eat that dim sum?"

  "Oh..." Chao Sheng nodded: "I tried a piece, it's quite delicious. The method is different from the one in the palace."

  "Hmm, others have their own secret recipes." Aunt Li said: "Bring it back for me to take a look, I'll think about it, maybe I can also make something with the same flavor."

  "Alright, I'll bring it back later."

  ——————————————————

  Ouch!

  I've put on a sweater... The weather is really cold.

  These two days Da Chengzi is on vacation, sticking with me...

  Tomorrow he will go to the countryside with his grandmother, tomorrow I can write more words.

  Everyone also give some votes, now is still double points