Li Tiao's mind went blank for a moment, and her scalp tingled.
What does Master Kong mean by this?
Although she had seen Master Kang once during the previous selection, she had only stood at a distance and been observed. Now, facing the emperor's questioning, Li Tiao was a little intimidated, and she subconsciously looked at the Fourth Prince.
However, the Fourth Prince did not give Li Tiao a second glance.
"Li Tiao, the Emperor is asking you a question."
Consort De's sharp voice made Li Tiao realize that she had to rely on herself.
So Li Tiao temporarily suppressed her panic: "Your Majesty, this servant is foolish and does not know what Your Majesty means by the crime of deceiving the emperor."
"This servant has always been cautious and prudent; the crime of deceiving the Emperor is absolutely unthinkable..."
"Li Tiao, how dare you argue in front of the Emperor? You and Yun Hui look so alike, how do you explain that?" Consort De once again questioned Li Tiao before the Emperor could even begin.
Li Tiao was filled with doubt. What grudge did Consort De have against the Fourth Prince that his own mother so desperately wanted her son to suffer?!
The goal was to avoid angering the emperor, but still be expelled from the palace.
Li Tiao replied to Consort De: "Your Majesty, if I may be so bold, is it not inappropriate for Your Majesty to ask me such a question?"
"Your Majesty, you see, Li Tiao actually dared to question me..."
Li Tiao swallowed hard, extremely nervous. She just wanted to avoid being beheaded.
"Consort De, please be quiet for now. Li Tiao is not wrong!"
When Li Tiao, who had been keeping her head down, heard Kangxi's words, her eyes lit up, and she felt that Kangxi truly deserved to be called one of the greatest emperors of all time.
But then Kangxi asked Li Tiao, "Although Consort De was a bit unruly, Li Tiao, Consort De's words are also something I wanted to ask: Why does the deceased Yun Hui look exactly like you, and I heard that you two knew each other?"
The saying "slap me and then give me a sweet treat" probably applies here.
Li Tiao almost forgot that the Emperor and Consort De should be on the same side when it came to the fact that she and Yun Hui looked so alike.
"Your Majesty, this servant does not know why I look so much like Miss Yunhui. There are so many people in the Qing Dynasty, it is normal for two people to look alike."
Li Tiao didn't dare to easily say the word "twins".
Because she didn't know what the Fourth Prince had actually said, and adhering to the principle that the more she said, the more mistakes she would make, Li Tiao only offered some ambiguous statements.
"That's true, but there was another question I asked you earlier: you and Yunhui seem to know each other?"
It sounded like a question, and Master Kang's tone seemed kind and approachable, but Li Tiao knew that every word he said hit the nail on the head.
"Your Majesty, we both live in the Princes' quarters, so we see each other all the time. To say we know each other is an exaggeration. It's just that we look alike, and out of human instinct, I was a little curious about Miss Yunhui."
Li Tiao was extremely cautious.
"Your Majesty, Li Tiao's words are clearly an attempt to downplay the seriousness of the matter."
Consort De couldn't help but start shouting again.
Li Tiao naturally didn't know what Consort De had said to the Emperor at the beginning, but she knew that even if she didn't want to leave the palace, if she let Consort De say such things under these circumstances, she might have difficulty surviving.
"Your Majesty, this servant..."
"Father, I have something to say, but I don't know if I should say it."
Surprisingly, the moment Li Tiao spoke, the Fourth Prince, who had been silent all along, also spoke.
Li Tiao looked at the Fourth Prince in surprise, afraid that he would drag her down, so much so that she forgot what she was about to say.
"Then you, Fourth Brother, speak up. This is originally a matter for your inner quarters, there's nothing to say about whether it should be said or not."
While Li Tiao was still in shock, Kangxi had already granted the Fourth Prince's request.
So Li Tiao could only pray devoutly to all the gods for her protection once again.
"Replying to Father Emperor, Li Tiao participated in the imperial concubine selection and was assigned to me by Father Emperor. I don't think there's anything wrong with Li Tiao."
Li Tiao was somewhat moved and suddenly understood. The Fourth Prince was indeed the future emperor; his words were truly insightful.
Because she had genuinely participated in the imperial concubine selection, the selection process for the candidates involved rigorous screening from the Imperial Household Department onwards before the Emperor could even see them.
If you have a problem, then a whole bunch of people in the palace, starting from the Imperial Household Department, will be held responsible for this!
Therefore, questioning Li Tiao is tantamount to questioning Master Kang.
The moment the Fourth Prince finished speaking, an eerie silence fell over the Imperial Study in the Qianqing Palace.
Li Tiao dared not get excited. She was now in a state of fear, as if she were about to be struck by lightning, because she had already caught a glimpse of Consort De's livid face.
Finally, Master Kang broke the suffocating silence: "Consort De, I have never met that servant Yun Hui. I don't know if she looks like Li Tiao as you say, but I think you are a little too concerned about that servant Yun Hui."
She was just a maidservant; her death is no big deal. Besides, I heard that the servant was immoral and ate something he shouldn't have, which is why he died.
It's better that such a person is gone; otherwise, would they have been keeping him around to cause trouble in the fourth prince's household?
"Your Majesty, I am not speaking out for Yunhui, but..." The Emperor's words were very serious, and even though Consort De was unwilling, she had to defend herself.
Emperor Kangxi interrupted Consort De: "Consort De, you are the fourth prince's biological mother, so it is only right and proper for you to think of him. However, the fourth prince does not yet have a wife. For you to make such a fuss over a maidservant and a concubine, you have no sense of propriety."
Although Li Tiao and Yun Hui were natural enemies, Kangxi's disdainful attitude was not a bad thing for Li Tiao. However, his attitude of treating human life as worthless made Li Tiao, who had traveled through time, feel somewhat uncomfortable.
If Li Tiao wanted to escape this calamity, she had to find a way to get away, whether it was faking her death or something else, she would do anything, as long as she could escape.
Whether Consort De was too stubborn or what, even if she didn't admit her mistake in front of the Emperor, she could have remained silent after things had come to this point.
But she refused, and even defended herself: "Your Majesty, I know I shouldn't meddle so much in the affairs of the Fourth Prince's household, but this time I'm not doing it for myself, but for the sake of everyone in the palace."
Li Tiao could tell that Master Kang didn't really want to get involved in his son's room, as it was too awkward for him given his status.
So when Li Tiao heard Consort De's words again, she lost her initial tension and instead became somewhat interested in watching the show, as long as it didn't affect her.
"Oh? Is that so? Then tell me, how come you think of the entire palace?"
Li Tiao felt a pang of sympathy for Consort De, because from Kangxi's tone, he was extremely impatient, essentially telling Consort De, "You'd better have something to do, or I won't let you off the hook."
Li Tiao, who was waiting to see the show, was even more confused when she heard Consort De's words. What exactly did Consort De mean? Did she want the Fourth Prince to suffer, or was she herself seeking death?
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