Consort De suddenly turned around and glared at the Fourth Prince.
Li Tiao also looked up at the Fourth Prince.
But Consort De said nothing and stormed off.
Sixth brother? The Fourth Prince's sixth brother is the Sixth Prince. Since he's gone, then...
Li Tiao's mind was in a mess. Although she knew that she was probably close to finding out the secret behind the bad relationship between the Fourth Prince and Consort De, her mind was so confused that she couldn't figure it out for the time being.
Moreover, she was quickly pulled aside by the Fourth Prince, and the door behind her was slammed shut with a bang.
After listening to so much from the Fourth Prince and Consort De, Li Tiao was still wondering how to respond.
However, the Fourth Prince didn't give her time, because he had already begun to interrogate her: "Li Tiao, you just can't get rid of your habit of eavesdropping, can you?"
Although eavesdropping was wrong, Li Tiao still found it somewhat unbelievable that the Fourth Prince would question her so confidently. She looked over in disbelief.
When Li Tiao realized that the Fourth Prince did not seem to have acted out of guilt, she belatedly realized how tactless she had been to ask him why he had treated her that way.
She was a prince, and she knew from the beginning that she was a fake Manchu noblewoman.
How dare someone like me question others? I'm just asking for trouble!
Li Tiao thought so.
After figuring these things out, Li Tiao, while not entirely unaffected by the sadness, was able to cope with it well.
"Your Excellency, it was I who broke the rules. Whether you punish me or not, please decide. I will have no complaints."
The Fourth Prince clenched and unclenched his fist, struggling to control the choking breath that was stuck in his throat: "Guards!"
"Your Highness, is it time for a beating?" Although Li Tiao was quite sensible, she was still a little afraid of the actual beating, so she asked before the Fourth Prince could finish speaking.
Although she didn't think the Fourth Prince would soften his heart, she didn't know why she still held onto hope.
However, it seemed that the Fourth Prince had come specifically to shatter Li Tiao's hopes. He gritted his teeth and said, "Yes, give her a beating! Guards, Li Gege has committed insubordination. Give her twenty strokes of the cane!"
As instructed by the Fourth Prince, the maids have already brought the things over.
Li Tiao was terrified and trembling all over when the nanny dragged her to the bench to be beaten. However, her mind was calm, so calm that she even thought about when the last time she almost got beaten was.
She vaguely remembered that the reason the board hadn't been applied last time was because the Fourth Prince had protected her.
For some reason, tears just started flowing down Li Tiao's cheeks without her even realizing it.
"Master, you mustn't! What if the mistress is pregnant? Twenty strokes of the cane will be..." Although Hongye was the Fourth Prince's woman, she ultimately spent more time by Li Tiao's side and couldn't help but come to protect her mistress.
The Fourth Prince's eyelids twitched, and he raised his hand slightly. The maids holding the paddles immediately put them down as well.
Hearing Hongye's words, Li Tiao realized that it wasn't impossible for her to be pregnant, but at this point, she had to save face even if it meant not making steamed buns.
The Fourth Prince had already made up his mind; if all else failed, he even considered becoming sisters with Consort De. Li Tiao thought she couldn't let the Fourth Prince's hopes be dashed, so she had to be sensible.
So he calmly said, "I drank the contraceptive soup."
“Master…” Hongye looked at Li Tiao, who was lying on the bench, in disbelief: “Master, how come I didn’t know you… if this continues, you will be punished with a beating.”
"Who's the master, you or me? Do I need to tell you what I've done? Besides, you're the master's person. If you find out I drank contraceptive soup, wouldn't the master know too?"
He was extremely calm; his words were only fueling the fire, and he didn't seem to beg for mercy in the slightest.
The Fourth Prince's breath became even more turbid, and he raised his hand again.
Hongye was a dutiful maid, and at this moment she couldn't care less why Li Tiao had to say those things that would anger the Fourth Prince. She watched as the Fourth Prince actually ordered the beating.
She pleaded for Li Tiao again: "Master, what the mistress said was just an angry outburst. I have been serving the mistress by her side all along, and I know better than anyone whether she has taken the contraceptive medicine or not."
And what if the contraceptive soup doesn't work, sir...?
"Get out!"
The Fourth Prince shouted and turned to go into the inner room, leaving a group of servants waiting to be ordered around.
"Master, let's go." Hongye quickly came over to help Li Tiao up and take her back to her own room.
“Master, how could you say such things just now? Even if you did drink the contraceptive soup, you can’t admit it.” Even after returning to Li Tiao’s own room, Hongye was still a little shaken.
Li Tiao chuckled softly, "I really don't want to have children."
"But my lady, didn't you want a child before? Please don't blame me for being nosy or saying something unpleasant, but having a child would make your situation much better."
Seeing that Li Tiao was in low spirits, Hongye tried her best to comfort her: "My lady, although I don't know exactly what Consort De and the master said to each other, I think everyone knows that the master and Consort De don't get along."
They were probably just saying things in anger; you shouldn't take their angry words seriously.
Although I will have a primary wife and secondary wives in the future, if you have a child now, especially a young prince, he will be my eldest son. Even if I have a primary wife in the future, you will still have someone to rely on.
Besides, if you really have a child now, the master might just make you a concubine if he's in a good mood.
So, Master…
Every word Hongye said was directed at Li Tiao, implying that this was a family with a real throne to inherit, and having a child would only be a good thing.
As an indigenous person from ancient times who also served in the palace, Li Tiao understood Hongye and knew that her words were genuinely for her own good.
However, Li Tiao knew in her heart that although the words spoken by the Fourth Prince and Consort De might have been said in anger, they might also reflect what the Fourth Prince was thinking.
For someone who wants to become emperor, there are certain things that must be given up.
Not to mention that the Fourth Prince and he had no feelings for each other at all; he knew from the beginning that he was an imposter.
Li Tiao asked Hongye, "Hongye, tell me the truth, what do you think everyone is thinking about the Emperor summoning me every day?"
After asking this question, Li Tiao saw Hongye, who had been looking at her just moments before, instantly lower her head. Without Hongye saying a word, Li Tiao already knew the answer.
Earlier, Su Ma La Gu told Li Tiao that the Emperor absolutely had no improper feelings for Li Tiao. Li Tiao knew that from Su Ma La Gu's perspective, she was probably not lying to her. However, from the perspective of onlookers like Hong Ye, things were quite different.
Since that was the case, Li Tiao stood up to go find the Fourth Prince, but as soon as she opened the door, she saw the Fourth Prince standing outside. She said, "Your Highness, this servant has something to say to you."
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