Li Tiao could tell from the conversation outside that one of the people was the Fourth Prince's, but she couldn't tell if the other one was Li Dequan's voice, because she didn't have much interaction with Li Dequan.
But the other person's voice was definitely that of a eunuch.
Thinking back to what Hongye said, Li Tiao didn't know if Kangxi was outside, but Li Dequan should be there. If Li Dequan was there, then it proved that Kangxi would find out where he was sooner or later.
So Li Tiao winked at Hongye, signaling her to go to the back. Although the door was blocked by the Fourth Prince, the Tibetans could still hide there for a while.
But just as Li Tiao and her companion were about to turn around and go to the back, the gate of the mansion suddenly opened with a whoosh.
The door was kicked open, and even when Li Tiao turned around to look, the person who kicked the door hadn't retracted their foot yet.
Just as I feared, it happened; it really was Emperor Kangxi.
She swallowed hard to ease her tension, and then Li Tiao tried to greet Emperor Kangxi.
However, Emperor Kangxi stopped him, saying, "We're not in the palace, so there's no need for so much formality."
They cautiously welcomed Kangxi into the house.
Li Tiao instructed Hongye to boil water, but Kangxi stopped her again.
Since Emperor Kangxi didn't concern himself with formalities, Li Tiao was naturally happy to have some peace and quiet. However, she noticed that Emperor Kangxi was staring at her. Feeling uneasy, Li Tiao also felt a little embarrassed and raised her hand to touch her head.
"You've really gone to great lengths to run away, you even shaved your head."
Li Tiao swallowed hard and gave an awkward smile.
"I originally thought you would leave after you left the city gate, so all the people I sent were waiting for you outside the city gate. Who knew you would get off the carriage in the capital."
It was unclear whether Kangxi's words were praise or a reprimand, but Li Tiao felt fortunate that she had been shrewd back then.
"Your Majesty, that Granny Su..."
"You still care about Su Ma La Gu? Why didn't you think of her when you asked her to help you run errands?"
Li Tiao had thought about it, but... however, she always felt guilty towards Su Mala Gu about this matter, and Li Tiao remained silent after Kangxi said so.
“Suma La Gu is fine, you don’t need to worry about her.” Kangxi said, “But you are someone I don’t quite understand.”
Li Tiao wanted to say that she didn't understand Kangxi either, but while she dared to be "arrogant" in front of the Fourth Prince, she didn't have the guts to "talk back" to Kangxi. So she remained silent in the face of Kangxi's words.
"This house seems to belong to the fourth son, right?"
This time, Li Tiao didn't remain silent. She nodded and said, "Your Majesty, it is the Fourth Prince's residence."
"You're hiding in the fourth prince's residence?" Kangxi laughed. "You and the fourth prince are really in sync. I only gave the fourth prince a slight hint, and he immediately found you."
Li Tiao was alarmed. Was the Fourth Prince's discovery of this place a hint from Emperor Kangxi?
But that's not the point right now. The key is Master Kang. He's smiling... but is he hiding a knife behind his smile?
"I asked you before what your plans were for the future, but you didn't answer. Now? Have you thought it through?" Kangxi asked. "Or are you just going to continue living as a man?"
As I said before, Li Tiao dared not reveal her true thoughts because she did not understand what Kangxi meant.
"Your Majesty, Li Tiao hasn't decided yet."
"Have you not decided yet, or do you not intend to tell me?" Kangxi asked, twirling the ring on his finger.
Kangxi's tone sounded perfectly normal, but the way he turned the thumb ring made Li Tiao feel a bit uneasy. Maybe it was because she had watched too many TV dramas before she transmigrated, but she always felt that Kangxi was a bit strange and unsettling.
"Your Majesty, of course, I haven't decided yet."
"Since you haven't made up your mind, then you shall follow my arrangements."
Kangxi's authoritative tone made Li Tiao's heart skip a beat; how was he going to arrange things for her?
"Your Majesty, Li Tiao is currently staying with the Fourth Prince. Shouldn't we first speak with the Fourth Prince...?"
"What? Do you think I can't even make decisions for the fourth prince?"
"No, that's not what Li Tiao meant."
"As long as you understand, that's fine. Since you insist on living here, then you can stay here for now. You can move out after I've arranged your new identity."
A new identity? Thinking back to when Kangxi pretended not to recognize her during the ice skating spree in the palace... Li Tiao really wanted to swear, but she dared not say anything.
Having said what needed to be said, Master Kang left, saying before he left, "Don't mess with your hair... just keep it as it is."
Li Tiao was extremely respectful, but she didn't utter a single word.
No sooner had Master Kang left than the Fourth Prince arrived.
"What did Father Emperor say?"
Faced with the Fourth Prince's questioning, Li Tiao was about to speak, but remembering what Master Kang had just said, she became furious: "The Emperor came with you."
The Emperor said he gave you a hint, and that's how you found this place.
"If you hadn't come looking for us, the Emperor wouldn't have been able to find this place for a while."
The Fourth Prince was a little confused, but when he saw Hongye nodding, he realized that Li Tiao wasn't just saying that out of anger.
He calmed down a bit and recalled what had happened before he found Li Tiao...
Li Dequan deliberately let himself enter the palace, and the Fourth Prince was extremely annoyed!
Because he hadn't found Li Tiao for a long time, he was afraid that the Crown Prince would find her first, so he became careless.
Seeing the Fourth Prince's frustrated expression, Li Tiao knew that Kangxi had actually been able to find this place because of the Fourth Prince, and she was furious.
"This was my oversight. The most urgent thing is to find out Father Emperor's opinion."
Li Tiao rolled her eyes at the Fourth Prince: "His Majesty only said that I can continue to live here temporarily until he gets me a new identity. Once I have a new identity, I can no longer live here."
"A new identity? What identity?" the Fourth Prince asked.
"Who knows?" Li Tiao was extremely frustrated: "Now that the Emperor knows about this place, not only are your people guarding the outside, but also the Emperor's people. Even if you want to run away, you can't escape."
Li Tiao thought that the Fourth Prince was truly her nemesis.
What is the meaning of Heaven sending me to this place? Is it so that the Fourth Prince will bring me death?
If that's really the case, then this time travel trip was a losing proposition.
"I can help you leave this place, away from Father Emperor's men," the Fourth Prince said after a long silence.
Li Tiao might have been pleased to hear this before, but now...
She said, "So what if I avoid the Emperor's people? I still can't avoid your people, Fourth Prince. The Emperor isn't stupid. If Li Tiao disappears, the first person he'll think of will definitely be you. He can still find me by following you..."
At this point, Li Tiao's eyes darted around slyly: "Or perhaps Fourth Prince, you could be merciful and not let your people follow me?"
The Fourth Prince was naturally unwilling: "I told you before why I want you to be under my nose, so Li Tiao, you must not try to be clever."
"Then let's wait for the Emperor to give Li Tiao a new identity and let her participate in the imperial concubine selection again." Although Li Tiao did not want things to develop to this point, she now knew that the only one who could help her leave was the Fourth Prince, so she could only provoke him like this.
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