"I heard you went to Kunning Palace yesterday?"
After paying his respects, Kangxi asked Li Tiao directly.
Hearing this, Li Tiao was no longer so apprehensive. When asked about what happened last night, Li Tiao couldn't help but curse herself inwardly for thinking such nonsense.
"Yes, Your Majesty. Last night I was sleepy and thought that walking around outside might help me get back, but because it was dark, I forgot to take a lantern. Who knew that I would end up at Kunning Palace?"
Li Tiao said, "This servant will definitely not go to Kunning Palace without permission again next time."
Emperor Kangxi kept his head down, reviewing memorials, and didn't speak immediately after Li Tiao finished speaking.
Li Tiao thought that such a diligent emperor wouldn't be so absurd.
But Kangxi's next words were: "It's the middle of the night, and the fourth prince only has one servant by his side right now. Why aren't you staying in the princes' quarters? What are you doing running around like this?"
Is this something an old man should say to his daughter-in-law?
Even in modern times, this statement would be extremely inappropriate.
Not to mention in ancient times, when even sons who had grown up had to avoid being around their own mothers.
Did Li Tiao think she had been too optimistic just now?
"Your Majesty... this servant will not do it again next time." Li Tiao naturally wouldn't mention that the Fourth Prince had left the Princes' Residence in the middle of the night, nor could she directly tell Emperor Kangxi about her usual way of getting along with the Fourth Prince.
The "diligent" Emperor Kang put down his vermilion brush and looked up at Li Tiao: "Li Tiao, today it's just the two of us. Can you tell me the truth?"
Li Tiao got goosebumps.
That sounds so awkward.
"Your Majesty... what would you like to hear from me?"
"I still want to ask you something, I..." Before Master Kang could finish speaking, a eunuch outside whispered, "Your Majesty, Consort De from Yonghe Palace has arrived."
Emperor Kangxi narrowed his eyes. "Let her in."
Li Tiao breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that at this moment, the harsh Consort De was more "lovable" than Emperor Kangxi.
"Li Tiao is here too?" After Consort De entered and paid her respects to Emperor Kangxi, she seemed quite surprised to see Li Tiao.
Li Tiao didn't bother to consider whether Consort De's accident was genuine or feigned, and simply smiled politely.
"What brings you here to see me, Consort De?"
"Your Majesty, I have come to discuss the matter of the Fourteenth Prince's concubines. He previously had a maid named Chunxi by his side. Although I was not entirely satisfied with her, she was just a concubine, so I let it go."
Now that Chunxi is gone, and the Fourteenth Prince has no one else by his side, I'm thinking of arranging a marriage for him."
Kangxi said, "Even if the Fourteenth Prince is betrothed now, he will only become a secondary consort or a concubine. You can decide what to do."
"But the fourth prince... he should have a wife by now, and you, as his mother, don't you think about it?"
Li Tiao didn't rule out the possibility that the Fourth Prince might have someone else, but the fact that Consort De glanced at her before answering Kangxi made Li Tiao feel that that glance seemed to have a deeper meaning.
"Your Majesty, I am thinking of the Fourth Prince, but he already has Li Tiao by his side, and the selection of a consort must be done with utmost care. So I think it's better to be cautious. Besides, the Fourth Prince and Li Tiao's relationship is quite good right now."
There was nothing wrong with what Consort De said, but Li Tiao felt that there seemed to be a deeper meaning behind it.
Just as she was wondering whether Consort De was implying something or making a veiled criticism, Li Tiao heard Kangxi ask Consort De in return, "Does the Fourth Prince have a good relationship with this Lady Li?"
Li Tiao paused for a moment, seemingly understanding what Consort De meant.
Consort De glared fiercely at Li Tiao, then smiled and replied to Emperor Kangxi: "Your Majesty, the Fourth Prince has always been very protective of Li Tiao."
"Is that so?" Kangxi's attention was back on the memorial in his hand. He glanced at Consort De and said, "You can handle the matters concerning the Fourteenth Prince's household for now. If there's nothing else, then take your leave. Li Tiao, you may also take your leave."
After leaving the Qianqing Palace with Consort De, and walking to a less crowded area, Consort De raised her hand to hit Li Tiao.
Fortunately, Li Tiao was always on high alert when Consort De was around, so she quickly grabbed Consort De's hand.
“Your Highness, mind your manners,” Li Tiao said. “Or perhaps you don’t want to know where the Fourth Prince has hidden the person you want to know about?”
Consort De shook off Li Tiao's hand: "I underestimated you. I never expected you to be such a vixen. Not content with climbing up to the prince, you even dream of becoming a concubine. Li Tiao, you wouldn't actually become a concubine, would you?"
"Your Majesty, this servant..."
"Your son greets Mother." Before Li Tiao could finish speaking, the Fourth Prince rushed over.
Consort De glanced at the Fourth Prince: "Keep an eye on your princess, she's even coming to see your Emperor father alone now!"
After saying this, Consort De left with her maids and nannies.
Li Tiao had been worried, but seeing the Fourth Prince calmed her down a bit. However, seeing the Fourth Prince's gloomy appearance, Li Tiao became a little scared.
Remembering Consort De's last words, Li Tiao said, "Your Highness, it was the Emperor who sent an imperial edict ordering me to come and clean up the palace."
The Fourth Prince glanced at the aggrieved Li Tiao, feeling a pang of pity. However, once certain thoughts took root in his heart, they became something he was very concerned about.
He composed himself and asked, "What does Father Emperor want with you?"
Although the Fourth Prince had calmed down considerably, Li Tiao still gleaned something from his words.
Just moments before meeting the Fourth Prince, Li Tiao was wondering whether she should tell the truth if he asked her why the Emperor had summoned her. However, at that moment, Li Tiao had no more hesitation.
He relayed Kangxi's words to the Fourth Prince.
Finally, Li Tiao said, "The Emperor was about to ask what he meant when Consort De arrived, so he didn't ask anymore. He didn't continue to ask and had me and Consort De kneel down to take our leave."
Whether it's a hesitant reluctance or a coy refusal, it always leaves one feeling intrigued.
Emperor Kangxi may not have had any inappropriate thoughts, but his hesitant attitude still led to many inappropriate speculations.
The Fourth Prince, who had been trying his best to control his emotions, immediately changed his expression after hearing what Li Tiao said.
Looking up at the Fourth Prince walking ahead of her, Li Tiao's mouth moved slightly, but with eunuchs, nannies, and palace maids passing by from time to time, Li Tiao ultimately said nothing and quietly followed behind the Fourth Prince back to his residence.
Suddenly, the Fourth Prince belatedly remembered something he had overlooked earlier and turned to ask Li Tiao, "You just said that you met Li Dequan near Kunning Palace yesterday?"
Li Tiao was taken aback, nodded, and then quickly looked away guiltily.
Her attitude made the Fourth Prince's expression turn ugly: "You also saw Father Emperor last night?"
"No, no..." Meeting the Emperor in the middle of the night, a lone man and woman, how could that not lead to speculation? Li Tiao quickly explained without a second thought: "Last night, I originally intended to go to see you, Master, but I saw you leave the Prince's quarters, so I secretly followed you out, and then..."
Seeing that the Fourth Prince's face had darkened again, Li Tiao swallowed her words.
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