Li Chenjiao actually woke up a little earlier, but when she saw the Fourth Master beside her, she almost thought she was still dreaming.
The quilt was so warm, which reminded her that she wasn't dreaming. She rubbed her eyes and lay back down.
After a moment, she nudged Fourth Master again, at least outwardly she had called him Fourth Master.
Unexpectedly, her gentle push woke the Fourth Master up. When the Fourth Master's eyelashes trembled, Li Chenjiao's breathing slowed down.
She exclaimed and stared at the Fourth Master, clearly indicating that she was prepared to remain still.
Fourth Master seemed to have slept well, his voice still a little hoarse and languid: "What time is it?"
Li Chenjiao looked up and said, "It's past Chenshi (7-9 AM)."
It wasn't quite noon yet, but the Second Princess would probably be back from the front yard in about an hour.
Fourth Master suddenly sat up, as if he had thought of something.
When the blanket was lifted, Li Chenjiao shivered, but seeing the Fourth Master's anxious and flustered appearance, she simply didn't make a sound.
Fourth Master turned to look at her: "I still have things to do outside, I'll come see you again tonight."
He had only come to see Li Chenjiao and inquire about her crimes, specifically why she hadn't written to him...
Unexpectedly, upon arriving at the East Courtyard, she was bewitched by Li Chenjiao and lay down without even realizing it.
The Fourth Prince is going to Yuqing Palace to ask questions today.
Li Chenjiao: ?
Fortunately, the Fourth Master slept fully clothed, so his clothes were only slightly wrinkled.
Li Chenjiao took the cloak from the bedside, wrapped it around herself, and got out of bed. With a hint of reproach, she straightened the Fourth Master's clothes.
"Alright, I'll wait for you, sir."
Fourth Master squeezed Li Chenjiao's wrist: "Go to sleep."
Fourth Master was about to leave, and after thinking for a moment, Li Chenjiao shook her head and saw him off. However, she didn't see him off too far; she only saw him to the corridor before Fourth Master forcefully pushed her back.
Li Chenjiao watched the Fourth Master's figure disappear into the distance. Fortunately, it hadn't snowed in the past few days, but the wind was a little stronger, blowing the Fourth Master's cloak, which looked rather cute.
She looked at it for a while and then laughed: "Fourth Master really never has a day of leisure."
After leaving the manor, the Fourth Prince went straight to Yuqing Palace. He wasn't in a hurry to see Prince Ping; he planned to leave him there for a while.
The Fourth Prince arrived at Yuqing Palace rather late today. The Crown Prince had already eaten breakfast, drunk his medicine, and was playing chess.
Hearing the servant announce that the Crown Prince was holding a chess piece, he said, "The Fourth Prince has arrived? Come quickly and play a game with me."
The Crown Prince had a smile on his face, but it also seemed to carry a hint of unexpected teasing.
Fourth Master stepped forward and sat down opposite the Crown Prince.
The two brothers each held a black or white piece and leisurely began to play.
Both men were skilled at chess. The Fourth Prince had intended to let him win, but as soon as the game started, the Crown Prince seemed to see right through him: "If you win today, I will tell you everything you ask."
In fact, the Fourth Prince had already discussed it with Dai Duo last night, and there was no need for the Crown Prince to tell him the truth at this moment. However, seeing that the Crown Prince was in high spirits, he simply did not go against the Crown Prince's wishes.
The game of chess went on for a long time. Then a servant came in and said that lunch was ready. The two brothers ate lunch again, and then continued eating lunch.
At this time of year, it gets dark early, and the Fourth Prince and the Crown Prince have been locked in a stalemate for almost a whole day.
With the palace gates about to be locked, the Fourth Prince was ultimately the first to be defeated.
After sitting all day, the Crown Prince seemed tired. He let out a soft sigh, looking relieved and indifferent, but his true concern was suppressed deeper inside.
"Regarding the matter of Prince Ping, it was his words that offended my mother first. All the servants around me heard it clearly, and there's no denying it. Fourth Prince, do you understand what I mean?"
The Fourth Prince looked at the black and white chessboard and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, I will have the servants around the Crown Prince interrogated."
The Crown Prince toyed with a black chess piece in his hand: "My servants, Fourth Prince, feel free to give them any orders."
Fourth Prince politely thanked the Crown Prince.
The truth of the matter is known to both the Fourth Prince and the Crown Prince.
Sitting there in silence today seemed pointless to the Fourth Master. He didn't say anything more, but simply stood up to take his leave.
The Crown Prince suddenly called out to the Fourth Prince.
"Fourth brother, now I'm not thinking about those messy things anymore, otherwise, it's hard to say whether things would be like this today..."
The Crown Prince seemed to be saying that he was able to win today's game because he was focused on it, but it also seemed to be more than that.
These words sounded somewhat ambiguous to the Fourth Master. He turned around in confusion, his tall figure silently exuding a sense of oppression.
The Crown Prince sat much more casually: "Fourth Prince, don't overwork yourself while on official business."
He suddenly avoided the topic he had brought up earlier. The Crown Prince looked at the Fourth Prince and simply nodded slightly.
The Fourth Prince looked back at the Crown Prince, as if he were facing not a blood brother, but a traitor in a glorious and immortal dynasty, going against the tide while simultaneously riding the wind.
The feeling was too strange, but the Fourth Prince belatedly realized that this was probably the reason why the Crown Prince had kept him for a day.
Thinking this way, the Fourth Prince's expression softened. The tea had cooled and the chess game was over; he remained the same unmoved Prince Yong. So he nodded slightly and politely cupped his hands to the Crown Prince sitting opposite him, saying, "I have learned a lot from you, little brother."
He slightly raised his eyes, the candlelight reflecting in them and on the prince's face.
"Your subject takes his leave."
The Crown Prince watched the Fourth Prince depart into the distance, and that was all he had to say.
He had already told the fourth prince that he had no desire for the throne, but hoped that after the fourth prince ascended the throne, he would not suffer the same fate as in his previous life.
However, the Crown Prince dared not speak out. He had to be extremely cautious with every step he took, otherwise, given his father's suspicions... The Crown Prince dared not gamble. He had to follow the path of his "self" from his previous life, and at the same time, he had to survive.
After leaving Yuqing Palace, the Fourth Prince, without delay, braved the wind and snow to have all the servants involved in the incident that day, as well as the servants around Prince Ping, detained.
He went directly to the Imperial Clan Court for questioning, without asking Yarjianga for help, as it would easily cause trouble if too much was involved.
He personally interrogated the servants overnight, and they recorded every word they uttered, which the Fourth Prince reviewed himself.
He had seen it, and then traveled through the snow and wind to the Prince of Ping's residence that very night.
The Prince of Ping's injuries had not yet healed, but the Fourth Prince went straight to the point upon meeting him.
"I've heard that the servants around Prince Ping are quite old. Since you're kind-hearted, why don't you call them over so the prince can reward you?"
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