"I knew you were a vixen. Your whole family are sycophants who crave wealth and power. I never expected you to be even worse, actually trying to harm my fourteenth son!"

When Consort De walked over, she overheard Li Tiao's confused words and slapped Chunxi without saying a word.

Li Tiao did it on purpose, of course. Chunxi had her back to Consort De and couldn't see, but Li Tiao could.

The person who framed her is still so arrogant. If Li Tiao does nothing, Chunxi will really think she's a cat!

"This servant greets Your Highness." After Consort De dismissed Chunxi, Li Tiao quickly bowed.

Then, seeing Consort De glaring at her angrily, Li Tiao covered her head with her hands, involuntarily took a few steps back, and then helped Hongye up.

Hongye was very perceptive: "Master, what's wrong? Is your head hurting again? Should we call the imperial physician to take a look?"

"It's not that exaggerated, she'll be fine after going back and resting." After saying this, Li Tiao bowed apologetically to Consort De, then turned and left with Hongye in her arms.

As for how Consort De treated Chunxi, Li Tiao didn't care.

"It seems Consort De didn't recognize you," Li Tiao said to Hongye after they had walked a distance.

"Replying to Your Highness, it seems you didn't recognize her. Back then, I was a lowly palace maid in Yonghe Palace, and I usually didn't get to see Consort De."

Not knowing each other saves a lot of trouble.

On the way back, Li Tiao thought about Chunxi's words. She said she didn't care, but when she remembered Chunxi's words, "It's just a choice to settle for second best when you can't get what you want"... Tsk tsk tsk, Li Tiao couldn't help but shudder, goosebumps all over her body.

Is the Fourth Prince starting to play the tragic role of a body double in literature?

Tsk, the leading man has turned into a pitiful little thing? How pathetic.

Li Tiao didn't feel much sympathy, but for some reason, she felt a little uncomfortable.

Back at the prince's residence, it wasn't time for the meal yet, and Li Tiao didn't feel like embroidering any fancy purses, so she just sat there in a daze.

But soon there seemed to be a commotion in the courtyard. Li Tiao called to Hongye, "What's wrong?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, it's the young princes. They said they wanted the milk tea or something you made for them last time. They also said they'd give you... some silver..."

Li Tiao was initially not very interested, but upon hearing the word "silver," she instantly perked up, "Let's go take a look."

Although they were called the youngest princes, they were actually the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth princes.

Although Li Tiao was not very old at this time, the three of them could still be called children in front of her.

"Princess Li, could you make that lousy milk tea and barbecue you made last time again? We'll give you money." The Fifteenth Prince spoke on behalf of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Princes.

Looking at the three men exchanging knowing glances, and thinking about the travel money that the Fourth Prince had taken from her, Li Tiao's mind raced with conflicting thoughts.

“It’s nothing special. You should be able to get it outside the palace. Last time I helped you get some, your fourth brother gave me a good scolding when he came back.” Li Tiao pretended to be in a difficult position.

“We went out to take a look. There are quite a few rare things outside the palace, but none of them are the ones you made before, Princess Li. Could you make some more for us? We’ll give you money.”

Li Tiao really liked the silver, but from the young princes' words, she discerned a crucial question: "You can leave the palace too, how do you get out?"

"We're the masters, so let's go out with our waist tokens and eunuchs, all high and mighty."

Seeing the arrogant looks on the young princes' faces, Li Tiao said, "You did tell me about it back then, but at that time I thought your waist tags were fake."

"real!"

"You told me back then that even if it was a fake waist tag, some guards wouldn't be able to tell the difference."

"So...we mean those guards are stupid..."

The young princes were a bit overwhelmed by Li Tiao's questions, and the youngest, the seventeenth prince, took out his waist token: "Don't believe me? Look!"

Li Tiao felt as if she had found a treasure, and she suddenly reached out her hand. However, realizing that Hongye was the Fourth Prince's person, Li Tiao changed her hand and gently patted the Seventeenth Prince's head instead: "What do you want your waist token for, servant?"

"Hey Li Gege, shouldn't you make us that damn milk tea?"

"Isn't it outside the palace?"

"No, there really isn't. If you don't believe me, we can take Princess Li out to see for ourselves sometime."

Li Tiao smiled and said, "If I find out that you've lied to me, don't even think about eating good food here anymore."

"Okay, okay, Li Gege, does this mean you're going to get us some food?"

Li Tiao feigned helplessness: "Fine."

The young princes were accompanied by servants, so Li Tiao didn't need to worry about them and took Hongye to the small kitchen.

"Your Highness, are you really going to leave the palace with those young masters?"

Li Tiao thought to herself, "So she really is the Fourth Prince's person. Nothing has happened yet, and he's already asking me questions."

"Hongye, what are you thinking? I was just joking around with the young princes. How could I possibly go out with them? If people found out, it would be terrible."

While preparing food for the young princes, Li Tiao observed Hongye's expression, but like her mistress, she couldn't discern what Hongye was thinking.

Although the princes were princes and had no worries about food and drink, and were used to delicacies, children still like unusual things.

So the barbecue that Li Tiao prepared for them consisted of meat dishes like chicken wings and pork belly.

Although the Fourth Prince returned just as she was recovering, Li Tiao didn't feel anything was amiss, since the Fourth Prince usually ate a rather bland diet.

However, who knew that after he recovered, the Fourth Prince came as soon as he smelled the aroma.

"Fourth Brother..."

When the young princes saw that the fourth prince was also eating barbecue with them, they instantly lost their previous liveliness and sat up straight and proper, even though they were young.

Li Tiao couldn't help but click her tongue. This person knew perfectly well how cold he was, but he still insisted on coming over to spoil everyone's fun.

Eating barbecue is all about the atmosphere. It's no fun if everyone sits up straight as if they're attending a banquet. So Li Tiao started looking for topics to liven things up.

But before she could speak, the Fourth Prince spoke first.

What were you talking about just now?

Upon hearing the Fourth Prince's question, the young princes became even more serious, and those who were sitting immediately stood up.

"In response to Fourth Brother, we didn't say anything. We were talking about the waist token. Princess Li doesn't trust the brothers."

Li Tiao wailed and quickly gave the young princes a meaningful look, signaling them to stop talking.

However, these young princes were all too serious and didn't understand what Li Tiao meant.

Li Tiao was just flirting with a blind man; it was all for nothing.

"Waist badge? What's wrong with the waist badge?" The Fourth Prince raised an eyebrow and glanced at Li Tiao before continuing to ask the Younger Prince.

"Li Gege asked if there were any barbecue or milk tea items outside, and the brothers said no. Li Gege didn't believe them, so the brothers prepared to take Li Gege out to see. She said that the brothers' waist tags were fake."

The Fourth Prince looked at Li Tiao with a half-smile...