Sumalagu smiled: "You're a clever girl. You want this old servant to find a way to help you get away from all the noise and hustle and bustle of the palace, right?"

"Li Tiao was terrified, Li Tiao was just..."

"Get up. There's no one else here, just you and this old servant. There's no need to be so formal."

Li Tiao stood up and cautiously looked at Su Mala Gu.

"I heard about what happened last night. You don't want the Emperor to arrange for you to leave because you're afraid he might have ulterior motives in making you leave. I understand."

Sumalagu's tone was initially very gentle, but after a pause, it suddenly became serious: "But don't even think about having this old servant arrange for you to leave."

"You were able to leave yesterday, that was your good fortune. Now that you haven't, nobody can say what will happen. But the only proper course of action is to either die or keep you by my side and watch over you closely."

Her words made Li Tiao tremble slightly: "Granny, what do you mean by that..."

"Don't you think the Fourth Prince can replace the Crown Prince? Whether you actually figured it out or you're just talking nonsense, once you have such thoughts, to put it seriously, that's suspected of rebellion. Do you think it's safer to keep him under your nose or to leave so that no one can find you?"

If it were you, what would you do?

"Granny, Li Tiao only said those things back then because..."

“This old servant knows that you truly have no intention of rebelling, but no one dares to take the risk,” Su Mala Gu said. “Back then, this old servant traveled from Shengjing to the capital with the Empress Dowager, and witnessed the reigns of Emperor Taizong, Emperor Shizu, and the current Emperor. We have seen too many things. It is always wise to take precautions.”

The Emperor already knew about your claims that the Fourth Prince would replace the Crown Prince, yet he still made you acknowledge this old servant, which shows he had no intention of killing you.

Regardless of what the Emperor truly thinks, if you stay put, you might have a chance to survive. But if you run away… even if the Emperor doesn't kill you, the Crown Prince's men won't let you go.

Li Tiao knew that Su Mala Gu was analyzing her current situation for her, but even though she knew, Li Tiao still felt that it was a hidden threat.

At this moment, Li Tiao suddenly realized that although she said she came here because of the Sixth Prince, it was actually because of what she had said before about the Fourth Prince replacing the Crown Prince.

Thinking of this, Li Tiao dared not mention it to Su Mala Gu anymore, and obediently followed her every day to eat vegetarian food, chant Buddhist scriptures, and pray for blessings.

Li Tiao, who originally had terrible handwriting, improved her handwriting while copying Buddhist scriptures.

It seemed that everything in the palace had nothing to do with Li Tiao anymore. Compared to everything in modern times, and even compared to life in the palace, it was incredibly boring here.

But I felt completely at peace.

A month passed, and the weather grew colder and colder, but it was almost time to return to the palace.

She didn't have high expectations, but she wasn't too opposed to it either. As Li Tiao counted down the days until the forty-ninth day, the atmosphere at Zhaoxi Mausoleum seemed to become a little unusual.

To be precise, it was the people working at Zhaoxi Mausoleum who noticed Li Tiao's shifty expression and her hesitation to speak.

Li Tiao believed she hadn't done anything wrong while she was there, so she didn't shy away from her questions and directly pulled a palace maid aside to ask.

"What's wrong?"

"Replying to Lady Li, we know nothing..."

"Then I'll go ask Granny Su, and see if she finds out you've been gossiping about the master like this in private..."

Upon hearing Li Tiao's words, the palace maids quickly knelt down: "Princess Li, we servants have only heard that the Fourth Prince seems to have someone serving him again..."

That's it... Li Tiao thought it was something serious.

He was a prince, so Li Tiao never intended for him to be with only one person for life. Although she said "that's fine" to him, she was still a little uncomfortable inside.

Originally, Li Tiao was counting down the days to see when she would return to the palace, but now she's stopped counting and doesn't care which day it is. She even thinks that if Su Mala Gu doesn't want to return to the palace, she can stay here for a few more days.

Despite her thoughts, Sumalagu returned to the palace at the planned time, and Li Tiao naturally went back with her.

Hongye, whom Li Tiao hadn't seen in a long time, came to pick her up.

After bidding farewell to Sumalagu, Hongye was extremely excited: "Master, you've finally returned."

"Look at you, making it sound like I'm not coming back."

“Master, you have no idea how many things have happened while you were away,” Hongye said. “There’s another Song Gege by my side now.”

Li Tiao had heard about this, so she wasn't surprised to hear Hongye say that. But looking at Hongye like that, Li Tiao wondered if this Song Gege was very favored.

It seems normal for men to be fickle, especially since he was a prince.

After asking what was on her mind, Hongye didn't even dare to look at Li Tiao anymore.

“Hongye, it’s not that serious!” Li Tiao felt that Hongye’s attitude was too exaggerated: “My lord is a prince, and I have never thought that I am the only person serving him. Even if the newly arrived Song Gege is very favored, it is normal.”

When Hongye heard Li Tiao say that, she looked at Li Tiao, wanting to say something, but still afraid that Li Tiao couldn't accept it, so she remained silent.

"Hongye!" Li Tiao stopped and looked at Hongye seriously: "What's the matter?"

"Master, hurry up and leave. We still need to pack our things after we get back to the Prince's residence. Not to mention, you need to take all the silver you've saved up."

"Pack your things? Take them away?" Li Tiao was extremely surprised: "Are you moving out of the Prince's residence? Moving to the mansion that the Emperor bestowed upon you?"

When Li Tiao asked her that question, Hongye dared not look at her anymore.

"Hongye, I was going to find out sooner or later. Now that you've told me, I'm mentally prepared. It's better than being completely clueless when I actually have to face it later."

Hongye hesitated, still not quite daring to speak, but she knew that Li Tiao was right: "Your Highness, the Prince and Song Gege have moved out of the Prince's Residence and into a house bestowed by the Emperor outside the palace. Song Gege went with them."

"Your Majesty, you are not staying there. The imperial decree orders you to stay with Granny Su for the time being."

Li Tiao was greatly surprised and finally understood why Hongye was stammering. Recalling the attitude of the palace maids when she was guarding the tomb... there was a clue to it.

However, Li Tiao didn't quite understand what was going on.

"Is this the master's intention or..." Li Tiao was surprised, but her feelings were getting worse.

Although the Fourth Prince has many flaws, is a scoundrel, and has a vicious tongue, he is the kind of person who would rather kill himself than let himself "go free." How could he allow himself to live alone in the palace?

There's only one possibility... Is the thing I'm worried about about to happen?

“Master, it’s not what the master meant… Besides staying with Granny Su for the time being, there’s something else…”

Li Tiao suppressed her anxiety and immense unease, wondering what could possibly be worse.

"what else?"