Upon hearing Kangxi's anger, the Fourth Prince panicked, but he quickly calmed down.
"Father, I do not understand your meaning!"
"Don't you understand what I mean?" Master Kang sneered, slowly standing up from behind his desk and walking to the Fourth Prince. He raised his hand and pressed it on the Fourth Prince's head: "Fourth Prince, do you really think I'm so easily fooled?"
The pressure from above made the Fourth Prince frown slightly, but fortunately he was looking down, so Kangxi couldn't see his expression.
Similarly, the pressure from above, and Kangxi's rage, made the Fourth Prince increasingly agitated.
Born into royalty, he had almost given up on the idea of a loving father and filial son, but he never imagined that one day he would have to face such unspeakable shame and filth.
"Father, I have never thought so and will never think so. You are a wise ruler."
If the Fourth Prince wanted to flatter his father, the Emperor, would he be less inclined to have any wicked thoughts?
"You don't need to flatter me so much. Whether I am a wise ruler or not will be judged by posterity. Discussing family matters in front of my son has nothing to do with whether I am a wise ruler or not."
These words, when heard by the Fourth Prince, inevitably reminded him of Li Longji.
Li Longji had his share of problems in history, but historical records don't seem to portray him as so badly.
The Fourth Prince remained silent and said nothing.
"They say the Aisin Gioro family produces many romantics, and it seems you're destined to suffer the same fate..."
"Replying to Father Emperor, I do not believe that keeping Li Tiao is... being a romantic... it's just because she is my woman, so..." Although the Fourth Prince knew that admitting to the Emperor that he was a romantic in front of him might dispel some of the Emperor's thoughts.
However, the Fourth Prince also knew in his heart that the reason he kept Li Tiao was not because of so-called feelings, but because she knew his ambition and knew that he wanted to replace the Crown Prince.
Such thoughts should naturally not be shared with more people.
Kangxi sneered and slowly released his hand from the Fourth Prince's head: "That's right. Li Tiao is just a concubine now. If you really have deep feelings for her, you should find a way to elevate her status."
Otherwise, it will be easy for anyone, whether she is your concubine or your primary wife, to bully her.
You seem unwilling to discuss her identity any further…
“Replying to Your Majesty, Li Tiao is a member of the Han Banner Army, and her family's status is also low. Without children, the rank of concubine is sufficient. Even if she has children, unless they are sons, her status should not be further elevated…”
"Ha!" Kangxi interrupted the Fourth Prince with another cold laugh: "Everyone says you are cold-hearted and ruthless, and now it seems that's really true! You have no feelings for her at all, yet you still want to keep her by your side, and even went so far as to personally instigate the Crown Prince to send someone to assassinate her in order to keep her. You are truly remarkable."
Kangxi's words almost made the Fourth Prince lose all hope for the so-called filial piety and parental love.
The Fourth Prince felt that every word spoken was an expression of sympathy for Li Tiao, but Li Tiao was his woman.
Emperor Kangxi stared at the Fourth Prince, waiting for him to speak in his defense, but the Fourth Prince remained silent.
Finally, Master Kang gave up and called out to the outside, "Come in."
Kangxi's words made the Fourth Prince's heart pound. With his head down, he glanced sideways at the outstretched hand and saw the shoes. He knew the person who had entered was a woman, and he thought of Li Tiao's attire...
Before he could even look up to confirm whether it was Li Tiao or not, he heard Li Tiao greeting Emperor Kangxi.
"Did you hear what the fourth prince said just now?" Kangxi asked Li Tiao.
Li Tiao nodded; she had naturally heard it.
"What are your thoughts? Or do you not want to leave?"
Li Tiao swallowed hard. Actually, she wanted to say that she had no feelings for the Fourth Prince and didn't care what he said.
But just now, after the Fourth Prince was called away by Li Dequan, she was also called away by a palace maid and came here, where she was arranged to listen to Kangxi and the Fourth Prince talking outside.
Even if Li Tiao was stupid, she would know that Kangxi did it on purpose.
Previously, Li Tiao had thought that Kangxi might be from her hometown, but after what Kangxi and the Fourth Prince said just now, Li Tiao would no longer be so foolish as to think that they were from the same hometown.
The person in front of me is a hypocrite who has no respect for his elders!
So even if Li Tiao wanted to run away, she had to cling tightly to the Fourth Prince's leg at this moment and couldn't leave him. After all, if she had no relationship with the Fourth Prince and "Yue Buqun" really did something despicable, Li Tiao would have nowhere to cry!
"Your Majesty, Li Tiao was betrothed to the Fourth Prince by you, so naturally she will follow him."
Kangxi narrowed his eyes: "What's so good about the fourth prince that makes you so devoted to him?"
Li Tiao said, "Your Majesty, the saying goes, 'At home, one obeys one's husband; after marriage, one obeys one's husband; after one's husband's death, one obeys one's son...' No matter how good or bad the Fourth Prince is, he is still Li Tiao's husband, and Li Tiao will naturally be devoted to him."
After saying that, Li Tiao quickly shook off the goosebumps on her body. It was really terrible. For her, a modern soul, to say such "three obediences and four virtues" was a complete subversion of her long-held beliefs.
She silently prayed to herself, "The bad ones won't work, but the good ones will!"
To hell with him, he's a stay-at-home husband!
These were words spoken out of necessity and do not count.
After praying to all the gods in her heart, Li Tiao couldn't help but secretly glance at Master Kang and found him to be extremely serious.
She was extremely nervous. What did Master Kang mean? He was, after all, a wise and benevolent ruler. Would he really do something that would ruin his reputation in his later years?
"Li Tiao, from what you're saying, you'll never leave any husband you marry?"
That was what she meant just now, but that only applies to that moment. If Master Kang hadn't been asking her questions, Li Tiao definitely wouldn't have said what she did. She would have thought that making money and being beautiful on her own was her true pursuit.
However, without understanding what Kangxi meant, Li Tiao naturally could not reveal her true thoughts.
However, how to respond to Kangxi's words is also an art, because his words were clearly a trap.
The Fourth Prince also looked nervously at Li Tiao.
Realizing that her answer was crucial, Li Tiao felt a sudden surge of pressure.
"Judging from your troubled expression, it's clear that your unwavering loyalty to the Fourth Prince is only because I betrothed you to him. Now, if I were to consider..."
"Your Majesty, Li Tiao has only been with the Fourth Prince for a short time. If she were to say at this time that she would be devoted to the Fourth Prince until death, she would obviously be deceiving Your Majesty."
Li Tiao naturally dared not commit the crime of deceiving the emperor.
It just so happens that Li Tiao is currently accompanying Granny Su to keep vigil for the Empress Dowager. Together they can focus on Buddhism, purify their hearts, and reflect on Li Tiao's true feelings for the Fourth Prince.
Li Tiao felt that what she said was very good, and Master Kang should not make things difficult for her anymore.
However, she underestimated Master Kang: "Li Tiao, I won't hide it from you. I told you before that the fourth prince has reached the age to marry, and I'm going to arrange a marriage for him. Once he has a wife, your position as a concubine will be awkward in his household. Have you thought it through?"
Li Tiao thought she had made herself perfectly clear, but Kangxi was still relentless. She mustered her courage and asked, "Your Majesty, if I may be so bold, why do you insist on making me leave you?"
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