"Fourth Brother, are you crazy? If Su Ma La Gu were in the palace, you could just ask her, but she's in Zhaoxi Mausoleum. How can you go back and forth like this without anyone noticing?"
"I know, I know!" The Fourth Prince was already somewhat indifferent.
"You make it sound so easy. What if Father Emperor knew? Father Emperor's feelings for Li Tiao... Although we sons shouldn't think of Father Emperor like that, Fourth Brother, think about it calmly. When has Father Emperor ever put so much effort into a woman?!"
Everyone says that Father Emperor had deep feelings for Second Brother's mother, but it's been so long that we can't verify it. But let's just say that as far back as we brothers can remember, Fourth Brother, have you ever seen Father Emperor treat any other woman like that...?
Go find Sumalagu now and inquire about Li Tiao's situation. Isn't this competing with Father Emperor for her...?
The Fourth Prince gave the Thirteenth Prince a cold look, said nothing, but the fierce aura emanating from him showed that he was in a very bad mood at this moment.
"Fourth Brother, what do you think of Li Tiao..."
"From what I've observed, the reason she said I would replace my second brother wasn't because she knew what I was thinking; it was something she actually calculated. Someone who can calculate something like that should be kept by your side no matter what, otherwise there will be endless trouble."
"Did you really calculate it? But even if you did, it means you'll get what you want, so why bother..."
The Fourth Prince ignored the Thirteenth Prince's words and rode off towards Zhaoxi Mausoleum under the cover of night.
The Thirteenth Prince couldn't stop him, so he could only help the Fourth Prince cover it up.
However, the thirteenth prince increasingly felt that Li Tiao was a scourge.
"Fourth Prince? You've left the capital without permission to come see this old servant. What if the Emperor finds out..." Su Ma La Gu was very surprised and worried when she saw the Fourth Prince dressed in black.
"Granny, you probably know why Yinzhen came to see you. Could you tell Yinzhen what's really going on with Li Tiao?"
"Fourth Prince, what can this old servant, who eats vegetarian food and chants Buddhist prayers every day, say to you? Li Tiao left on her own..."
“Granny, Li Tiao isn’t stupid, but she’s not that smart either. If she could leave so easily, she would have left long ago and wouldn’t have waited until now.”
"Fourth Prince, this is my fault. I came to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager, and I thought it would be too lonely for her to be alone in the palace, so I brought her along. But who knew..."
“If that’s really the case, then she’s even less likely to leave, because if she leaves, it will definitely cause trouble for the old lady.” The Fourth Prince felt that Li Tiao seemed to have many secrets, but he also knew that Li Tiao was actually very kind.
Having lived her whole life, Su Ma La Gu was somewhat at a loss as to how to deal with the Fourth Prince.
"Granny..."
"Fourth Prince, Li Tiao once told this old servant that she is a fortune teller and that she predicted that you would replace the Crown Prince in the future. She even let the Crown Prince know about it. You should know that the Crown Prince will definitely not let her go. Now that no one knows where she is, it may be the best way for her."
"What if Father Emperor hid her?" The Fourth Prince spoke his mind. He knew that if he didn't be direct, he might have to keep testing Su Ma La Gu like this.
Su Ma La Gu paused in her chanting, then put down her prayer beads and looked up at the Fourth Prince: "Since you know the truth, Fourth Prince, it's best not to pry into some things."
"Father's illustrious reputation cannot be ruined by a mere Li Tiao..." The Fourth Prince restrained himself greatly: "Granny, back then, because Yinzhen was raised by Empress Xiaoyi's side, he often accompanied her to pay respects to the Empress Dowager. As a result, he was fortunate enough to receive guidance from the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager warned Yinzhen that there are too many things that cannot be done in the royal family. It would be foolish for a prince to insist on doing something he knows is impossible."
If even the princes are like this, then what about Father Emperor?
Su Ma La Gu pursed her lips, her aged eyes filled with hesitation, staring at the Fourth Prince for a long time: "Fourth Prince, your relationship with Consort De has been strained all these years. This old servant thinks it's probably related to the Sixth Prince, isn't it?"
The Fourth Prince neither confirmed nor denied it.
"You must know about the Sixth Prince's background, and as for Li Tiao... you must know about her too, right?"
He knew about this when Li Tiao came to Zhaoxi Mausoleum last time, and had even told Yinzhen about it, so he wasn't surprised by what Su Mala Gu said.
"Leaving aside whether Consort De would tolerate her in the palace given her status, what if her identity were exposed?"
By then, it would be difficult for the emperor to pretend he didn't know, so..."
"Yinzhen knows all this. After finding Li Tiao, Yinzhen will make proper arrangements for her, ensuring she never appears in the palace again, and her identity will not be known to anyone."
Su Mala Gu initially thought that the Emperor was unaware of Li Tiao's quiet departure.
However, as planned, the next day Su Ma La Gu had someone tell Kangxi that Li Tiao was missing. When Kangxi came to ask, he didn't even ask her a question. Only then did Su Ma La Gu belatedly realize that perhaps Kangxi knew from the beginning that Li Tiao wanted to leave.
Later, Su Ma La Gu returned to the palace in person to apologize to Emperor Kangxi, but Emperor Kangxi did not seem to care much and told Su Ma La Gu to relax.
She raised Kangxi from childhood to adulthood, but Su Mala Gu still noticed Kangxi's unusual behavior.
Just as the Fourth Prince said, there are many things the Emperor cannot do as he pleases.
Not to mention that Li Tiao was once the fourth prince's concubine...
Su Ma La Gu had intended to help Li Tiao escape, but it seemed to have backfired, and she had been feeling a bit guilty these past few days.
After hesitating for a long time, Su Ma La Gu said, "That child got off the carriage as soon as she left the palace. As for whether she stayed in the capital or left the city, this old servant doesn't know. But judging from her expression, she probably plans to settle down in the capital now and wait for things to calm down."
After thanking Su Ma La Gu, the Fourth Prince rushed back to the capital overnight.
These past few days, the Fourth Prince had considered the possibility that Li Tiao might be in the capital. He had, but he had searched every inn, big and small, in the capital and still couldn't find her.
Leaving the capital... is also impossible.
Although Emperor Kangxi didn't seem to care much about Li Tiao, the Fourth Prince had secretly sent people to guard the city gates, but they still couldn't find Li Tiao or Hongye.
According to Sumalagu, Li Tiao should still be in the capital.
But where she landed...
Initially, fearing that Li Tiao would run away, the Fourth Prince used various methods to "seize" all of Li Tiao's money. Later, after Li Tiao lived with Su Mala Gu... the Fourth Prince thought that she probably wouldn't be able to save much money.
After all, Su Ma La Gu only ate vegetarian food and chanted Buddhist scriptures every day. She was not a master and could not often reward Li Tiao, so it was difficult for her to save money.
If he didn't have any money... Yinzhen thought of the pawnshop. He had given Li Tiao a hand warmer and a snuff bottle before. They didn't seem like anything special, but if he took them to the pawnshop, he should be able to get some money.
So after returning to the capital, he sent people to guard all the pawnshops and keep an eye on those who came to pawn things with their mistresses and servants.
But still nothing was gained. With the day of leaving the capital fast approaching, the Fourth Prince was like an ant on a hot pan every day.
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