Li Tiao was feeling dizzy and disoriented. Hearing Hongye's exclamation, she asked, "What happened now?"

After opening my mouth, I found that my throat hurt terribly.

Hongye rushed over anxiously: "Master, what's wrong?"

As she spoke, she raised her hand and touched Li Tiao's forehead: "Your Highness, your forehead is so hot. I'll go find the imperial physician right away."

Li Tiao tried to stop Hongye and say it was alright, but Hongye had already turned and left.

Feeling extremely unwell, Li Tiao was too weak to wake Hongye and drifted off to sleep again.

I was awakened again by the voice of the imperial physician.

"Red leaves..."

"Master, you're awake?"

What's wrong with me?

"The imperial physician said you have caught a cold and has prescribed a medicine. I will go and prepare the medicine for you right away."

After Hongye finished speaking, she saw the imperial physician out and went to prepare the medicine. Li Tiao sat up, put on her clothes, and wanted to get out of bed, but it was too cold. She thought that she was a patient now, so she might as well be lazy.

So, as I leaned against the door, I was drifting off to sleep again when the door was suddenly pushed open.

She slowly opened her eyes and glanced at the door, thinking that Hongye had finished preparing the medicine, but instead found that a woman she did not recognize had entered.

Despite not feeling well, Li Tiao forced herself to get out of bed because the other person's attire resembled that of a master. Since she was a master, Li Tiao, in her current status, had to pay her respects to the other person.

But the other person pulled Li Tiao back: "Sister Li, please lean against me. I didn't mean to bother you because you look uncomfortable."

Calling yourself "older sister"?

Li Tiao was extremely puzzled: "Since you know me, just call me by my name. Given my current status, it's not appropriate for you to call me 'sister,' but you are..."

"This servant serves the Fourth Prince, this servant..."

Li Tiao's expression changed, and she recognized who this person was: "Then you don't need to call me sister anymore. Is there something you need?"

"Could you possibly find a way to say a few words on my behalf to the Emperor?"

Li Tiao was speechless. Was this person clueless or deliberately trying to annoy her, making her speak up for the Fourth Prince in front of the Emperor?

"You're Song Gege, right? As you can see, I'm feeling quite unwell right now and can't really entertain you, so I won't keep you any longer. As for what you said... I'm sorry, I can't help you with that."

"I know it's presumptuous of me to come to you, but now that the Prince has moved out of the Princes' quarters, it's not easy for someone of my status to enter the palace even once, so I still hope you can..."

"Princess Song, I already said..."

"But you can't just watch me go and die, can you?"

Li Tiao was astonished. Was she being sent to her death?

Last night, the Fourth Prince managed to anger Consort De to death. How could he be going to his death so soon? Li Tiao doesn't think the Fourth Prince would be willing to die.

Although Li Tiao knew she deserved to have spoken out of turn and caused this mess, after spending a lot of time with the Fourth Prince, she could tell that even if she didn't end up with him and he was destined to replace the Crown Prince, he still longed for that position.

"You're overthinking it. The Fourth Prince wouldn't bear to die," Li Tiao said irritably.

She didn't actually want to take her anger out on others, but this Song Gege seemed to have no tact whatsoever. She was feeling extremely unwell and had a fever; every word she spoke felt like her throat was on fire.

But Song Gege was still impatient and even questioned him.

Just watch him go to his death? Even if that's the case, so what? The Fourth Prince really wanted to kill him; he was just lucky to survive.

"Swords are merciless, not to mention that I didn't request to go to war; it was the Crown Prince who recommended me."

"A war?" Li Tiao asked, "What do you mean?"

"This morning at court, the Emperor issued an edict to quell the Dzungar rebellion and personally led the troops into battle. The Crown Prince recommended that you go with him."

So that's what happened. Although Li Tiao's mind was foggy due to the fever, she remembered this matter. Historically, it seems that the Fourth Prince did indeed go.

However, Li Tiao felt that none of this had anything to do with her anymore.

"Since the Emperor has gone, what's wrong with the Fourth Prince going along?"

"It's not impossible, but my health isn't good to begin with, what if..."

Li Tiao really didn't want to deal with Song Gege anymore. The Fourth Prince wasn't feeling well.

Haha, I was careless at first because I thought he was "potentially impotent," but later Li Tiao realized what "young and vigorous" really meant!

Thinking of this, Li Tiao felt even more suffocated. How could she have endured such pain and pleasure with someone who wanted to kill her at every moment for so long!

"You shouldn't be asking me about the Fourth Prince's health, Consort Song. You could talk to the Emperor instead. After all, the Emperor is the Fourth Prince's father. If the Fourth Prince's health is really not good, the Emperor should have his own reasons."

"Let's not even talk about how I can't see the Emperor at all. Even if I did see him, I wouldn't be able to say anything in front of him. Only you, Sister Li, can help me. After all, you used to serve the Master and you should know that he... never stays overnight in the inner courtyard and is always taking medicine to recuperate."

Li Tiao couldn't help but cough until her cheeks turned red.

"It's considered rather improper for a woman to say such things, but I can only say this to you, Sister Li, and not to anyone else. After all, this concerns Master's...dignity...So, Sister Li, I beg you to put in a good word for me before the Emperor, and not let Master..."

Before Song Gege could finish speaking, Hongye entered.

Li Tiao instructed Hongye, "Help Song Gege up."

"Girl Song, what brings you here?" After handing the medicine to Li Tiao, Hongye was also quite puzzled by Song Gege's actions.

After pinching her nose and finishing the herbal medicine, Li Tiao said, "Princess Song, I've said everything I needed to say. Please go back now."

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