Chang Yue didn't understand his meaning until the Fourth Master came over under the moonlight, noticed the strange smell, and asked him about it. Only then did she finally understand her master's intention.
"Why does your room smell like medicine? Are you feeling unwell? Have you called a doctor?"
Su Yushan was waiting for him to say those words, but she didn't say it explicitly. "I'm fine, Fourth Master, you're overthinking it."
"Why would there be a medicinal smell if nothing's wrong? What happened?" Hongli didn't believe it and immediately questioned the maid. Changyue glanced at her master, received a suggestive look from him, and immediately understood. She knelt down and said:
"Replying to Fourth Master, the princess is fine. It was this servant who was injured. The princess kindly helped this servant apply medicine, which is why there is a medicinal smell. It's all this servant's fault for being careless. I'll go change the incense right away."
Hongli glanced at her and noticed a long red mark on Changyue's wrist, as if she had been cut by something sharp. He was puzzled and asked her why she was injured.
Chang Yue was about to answer when Su Yushan told her to leave, "It's nothing serious, just apply the medicine and rest for a couple of days and you'll be fine."
Her deliberate concealment made Hongli even more curious. In his impression, Su Yushan was gentle and kind, so surely she wouldn't mistreat her servants behind their backs?
But if it wasn't her, why wouldn't she explain why Chang Yue was injured? What was she trying to hide? Hongli was deeply puzzled and immediately stopped Chang Yue, ordering her to explain the reason.
After the Fourth Prince's repeated requests, Chang Yue had no choice but to comply and reveal the truth, "In response to the Fourth Prince, this servant's hand was cut by Xin'er..."
Chang Yue recounted yesterday's events in great detail, recounting how Jin Gege bullied her mistress and the specifics of Xin'er tearing off Su Gege's hair.
After understanding the whole story, Hongli's expression remained unchanged, and he said in a deep voice, "She is becoming more and more audacious!"
It's hard to imagine how embarrassed Su Yushan must have felt being ridiculed like that. Gently patting the back of Su Yushan's hand, Hongli softly comforted her:
"Leave this matter to me, and I will definitely give you an explanation."
Hearing Hongli's promise with her own ears brought Su Yushan temporary relief, but she couldn't readily agree. Instead, she continued her act, timidly lowering her eyes, filled with self-reproach.
"Thank you for your kindness, Fourth Master, but it was indeed my fault for wearing the wrong jewelry. I have no right to pursue the matter."
The beautiful woman was weak and helpless, facing bullying but not daring to seek justice, only looking for her own fault. Hongli felt pity for her, "It's not your fault, it was my negligence that I didn't explain some taboos about jewelry to you. But even so, she shouldn't have been so aggressive. Don't blame yourself, I will settle the score with her!"
Some scenes, if overdone, inevitably seem too contrived. Su Yushan knew when to stop, raising her eyes to look at him gratefully, her gaze sincere.
"The person who treats me best in this mansion, besides Changyue, is you, Fourth Master."
To be placed on the same level as everyone else, Hongli was indignant and specifically asked, "Between me and Changyue, who treats you better?"
This question left her speechless. She suppressed a laugh and said, "You're jealous of girls?"
“Of course, Fourth Master treats Princess better!” Chang Yue covered her mouth and chuckled, then excused herself and left, not wanting to disturb her any longer.
Even though Chang Yue had already left, Hongli persisted, continuing to press for an answer.
Su Yushan rose and walked slowly to the screen, her delicate eyebrows furrowing slightly, looking quite troubled. "These are two different kinds of feelings. Changyue treats me with sisterly affection, but as for Fourth Master..."
He waited to hear what she would say next, but she hesitated, unable to speak for a long time, as if considering something. Hongli's curiosity was piqued, and he spoke first, dispelling her concerns.
"No need to hold back, just say it."
"Hmm..." After hesitating for a while, Su Yushan said, "Fourth Master treats me with the kindness of a friend."
This definition is truly baffling: "You're clearly my woman, how can you call me a friend?"
Looking back at him, her eyes were full of honesty, "As of now, all I can feel is friendship, not love."
After she finished speaking, Hongli's gaze slowly shifted to the window, and he remained silent for a long time. Su Yushan secretly sighed, realizing she shouldn't have trusted him.
"You're the one who told me to tell the truth, and now you're unhappy."
It wasn't that he was unhappy; he was just thinking, "We've already consummated our marriage and are very intimate. Doesn't that count as love?"
Shaking her head, Su Yushan said seriously, "That was just physical intimacy, not emotional. Fourth Master, you have always been all about physical attraction and never about feelings. You have never had any romantic feelings for anyone. True love is unique and irreplaceable. That is not love."
Su Yushan's analysis caused Hongli to fall into deep thought.
He first judged the women in his backyard by their first impression and then by their personalities. He would usually sleep with them and leave without giving them much thought. He treated each woman equally, but he had different levels of affection for them. For example, he seemed to have more interest in Su Yushan, but at the moment it was just interest. He didn't seem to have any unique love for her yet, so he didn't know how to respond.
Realizing that this topic was not suitable for discussing with him, Su Yushan changed her words and said, "Personal feelings are a small love, while the country, the people and the nation are the great love. As a prince, Fourth Prince, you naturally have great love in your heart. As for these personal feelings, there is no need to take them to heart."
Her tongue was so silver! She could always speak so eloquently that one would be left speechless. Hongli suddenly became curious, "So, would you prefer me to be a friend, or to have romantic love for you?"
In Su Yushan's view, it is not wise to have unrealistic expectations of an emperor. "You have too many women around you, and romantic love is impossible. Rather than hoping for an unfulfilled relationship, it is better to honestly cherish this friendship and not overthink it. That is to be kind to yourself."
Her words made sense, but Hongli was not at ease. Even though he hadn't invested much emotion in her, he always felt that as long as she was his woman, she should treat him wholeheartedly. However, Su Yushan said that she only considered him a friend, which left him at a loss, yet he had no reason to question her.
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