Noticing the Fourth Prince's actions, Li Tiao's heart leaped into her throat. It seemed that the Fourth Prince also knew that Chunxi was behind it all.

Chunxi didn't even dare to look at the Fourth Prince, keeping her head down.

"Chunxi, as Princess Li's maid, how could you not know that a thief broke into Princess Li's room?"

"Replying to Your Highness, this servant...didn't notice."

"What should the punishment be!"

Suddenly, the Fourth Prince's voice changed, becoming extremely serious, which startled Chunxi. Then, Chunxi looked at Li Tiao.

Li Tiao was speechless. What did this man think she was? He gave the embroidered purse to a man other than the Fourth Prince, and almost got himself killed for being "immoral."

Do you still expect me to speak well of her?

If you think you're made of paper, you'll have no temper.

Li Tiao looked away, keeping her eyes down and refusing to respond to Chunxi's gaze.

"Master, I truly didn't mean it. If that thief could even get into the prince's residence, then I..."

However, before Chunxi could finish her excuse, the Fourth Prince stopped her again: "You mean all the princes are at fault? How dare you! This is the inner palace. According to you, the entire palace is no longer safe!"

"Master, that's not what I meant. I meant..."

The Fourth Prince ignored Chunxi's excuses and shouted outside, "Someone come here!"

"Sir, what are your orders?" Su Peisheng entered quickly.

"Go and tell my fourteenth brother that I have agreed to what he asked me to discuss earlier."

Su Peisheng didn't ask any questions, and went out after agreeing to the Fourth Prince's request.

Seeing this, Li Tiao couldn't help but ask, "Sir, what is your so-called solution...?"

"Is it just a matter of scolding Chunxi a few times?" Li Tiao thought to herself. "Heh, he's quite chivalrous."

"Does Your Highness need to tell you?" The Fourth Prince regained that look in his eyes, as if Li Tiao owed him thousands of taels of silver.

Li Tiao curved her lips into a smile and said in the tone and manner of a well-bred lady, "Of course, Master doesn't need it."

"Affected!" That was the only word in the Fourth Prince's mind, yet he still found Li Tiao to be so vivid.

Li Tiao remained silent, and the Fourth Prince was not one to speak first. In addition, Chunxi was extremely nervous, making the quiet atmosphere in the room incredibly awkward.

Li Tiao wanted to find an opportunity to go out, but just as she was about to move, she noticed the Fourth Prince's gaze and quickly continued to sit like a statue.

Fortunately, the Fourteenth Prince arrived quickly.

"Fourth Brother, I heard you were looking for me?"

"Yes, something came up."

Taking this opportunity, Li Tiao paid her respects to the fourteenth prince.

"Get up, we're all family, no need to be so polite." After saying that, the Fourteenth Prince looked at Chunxi, who was still kneeling on the ground.

Although Li Tiao didn't understand what was going on, she felt that the situation seemed a bit inappropriate, so she pulled Chunxi up and prepared to go out with her.

After all, it wouldn't be appropriate for him to be present while the two princes were talking.

But Li Tiao was stopped by the Fourth Prince: "There's no need to rush. Your father and fourth brother only have a few words to say, and we need your advice on this matter, so you can stay."

Although she was puzzled, since the Fourth Prince said that Li Tiao could listen, Li Tiao stayed. She glanced at Chunxi out of the corner of her eye and was about to send Chunxi to serve tea and snacks when she heard the Fourth Prince start talking to the Fourteenth Prince about so-called important business!

"Fourteenth Brother, the other day you said Chunxi seemed alright? And asked me, as your older brother, if I could give her to you. Do you still have that thought now?"

Li Tiao was shocked and looked at the Fourth Prince and the Fourteenth Prince in disbelief.

Chunxi knelt down immediately, her voice trembling with tears: "Master, this servant..."

However, the Fourth Prince completely ignored Chunxi, calmly looking at the Fourteenth Prince and waiting for his answer.

The Fourteenth Prince smiled and said, "I thank you in advance, Fourth Brother. I didn't expect you to remember what I said before. Since you asked, I'll say it again: of course I want it."

But that day, Fourth Brother and Little Brother said that Chunxi was Princess Li's dowry maid, and that Princess Li had to speak up. So now...

Although the Fourteenth Prince did not finish speaking, everyone understood what he meant.

Not only did the Fourteenth Prince look at Li Tiao, but Chunxi also looked at Li Tiao as if she were grasping at a straw.

Becoming the center of attention, Li Tiao belatedly realized what the Fourth Prince's method was.

The Fourth Prince had already marked out the route, so Li Tiao should have just followed along.

However, if Li Tiao were to agree, Chunxi would definitely hate her from now on, because it was clear that Chunxi did not want to serve the Fourteenth Prince.

So Li Tiao replied almost without thinking: "Fourteenth Prince, look at the question you asked. You are the master, and it is only right that I have no reason to disagree with the request for a maid."

Although it's true that Chunxi was my dowry maid, I've already married our master, so naturally I must respect him. As long as our master agrees, I have no objections.

The moment she finished speaking, Li Tiao looked at the Fourth Prince with a smile, thinking to herself, "Trying to make me the villain, huh!"

With his eyes lowered and lips curving slightly, the Fourth Prince seemed quite interested. When he looked up at the Fourteenth Prince again, he resumed his usual stern and unsmiling demeanor.

“Fourteenth brother, we are brothers. My younger brother is asking me, his older brother, for a servant. As his older brother, I have no reason to refuse…”

Upon hearing what the Fourth Prince said, Chunxi panicked and cried out in a disregard for etiquette, "Your Highness!"

The interrupted Fourth Prince gave Chunxi a cool look, telling her to shut up, before turning to the Fourteenth Prince again: "If Fourteenth Brother hasn't changed his mind yet, you can take her away now. From now on, Chunxi will be your servant!"

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!